Anker SOLIX Review · Home Battery
Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 Pro UK Review: Price, Installation & Is It Worth It?
The Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro is a 5kWh battery and solar inverter in one stackable box. Here's what it costs in the UK today, why it still needs an electrician, how the Anker SOLIX app and smart meter work, and how it compares with EcoFlow.
Last reviewed: 18 October 2026
Quick answer: The Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 Pro (model E5000 Pro) is a 5kWh LiFePO4 battery with a built-in solar inverter that takes up to 5kW of panels. It costs £1,749 on Anker's UK store, or £2,998 with one BP5000 expansion battery (10kWh). In the UK it must be hardwired by a qualified electrician, who then notifies your network operator under G98. It is on the ENA Type Register for a hardwired G98 connection (reference ANKER/19908/V1), but it is not approved as a self-install plug-in device, so you can't legally just plug it into a socket. Panels and installation are extra.
What the Solarbank 4 Pro Actually Is
It's a battery and solar controller in one box. It isn't a battery you add to an existing solar inverter, and it isn't a portable power station either. Panels plug straight into it (up to 5kW across four separate MPPTs), the energy goes into a 5kWh LiFePO4 battery, and it can feed up to 2,500W into your home once it's hardwired. Stack up to five BP5000 expansion batteries and you reach about 30kWh, which is whole-home backup territory rather than a top-up.
Searching for the Anker Solarbank 4? In the UK, the Solarbank 4 Pro (model E5000 Pro) is the version on Anker's UK store, and the earlier Solarbank 2 and 3 were designed for European plug-in rules (more on those in the FAQ).
It works with the Anker SOLIX app across Smart Mode, Time-of-Use Mode and Dynamic Tariff Mode, and Anker says it supports more than 870 UK electricity tariffs, including Octopus. The Smart Meter Gen 2 with CT clamp lets it see your home's real-time usage instead of guessing. Because it's self-contained, it suits both a standalone off-grid setup (shed, workshop, annexe) and a hybrid battery hardwired into your consumer unit.
Anker Solarbank 4 Pro Specs
| Spec | Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro |
|---|---|
| Model | Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro |
| Battery | 5.024kWh LiFePO4 |
| Expansion | Up to 5 × BP5000 (about 30kWh in total) |
| Solar input | Up to 5,000W across 4 independent MPPTs (4–12 panels) |
| AC output | 800W by default; 2,500W once hardwired and notified |
| Cycle life | 10,000 cycles |
| Warranty | 10 years (Anker quotes a 15-year design life) |
| Weather rating | IP66 |
| Monitoring | Anker SOLIX app + Smart Meter Gen 2 with CT clamp |
| Grid paperwork | G98 notification to your DNO, done by your electrician |
IP66 means it's dust-tight and resists high-pressure water jets, but it isn't submersible. Outdoors it still needs a well-drained, ventilated spot away from pooling water, heavy run-off and salty or corrosive air. A patio is fine; low grass or gravel that puddles isn't.
Legal Status: Hardwire Only, For Now
Worth being clear about before you buy, because it changes your total cost.
The Solarbank 4 Pro ships with an 800W output limit, the same figure as the UK's plug-in solar rules, and it has been demonstrated plugged into an ordinary socket. That doesn't make it legal to self-install. The UK plug-in rules (SI 2026/848) exclude battery storage, and when we last checked the ENA register on 30 September, Anker's submissions (ANKER/21630/V1 and ANKER/21631/V1) were listed under "Energy Storage Device" as Non-compliant, not under "Plug-in Solar".
Anker's own UK listing says the same: it needs a hardwired installation by a qualified electrician on a dedicated circuit, ideally someone registered with a Part P scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Once it's installed and the G98 notification has been made, the output can be raised from 800W to 2,500W. Anker also expects it to be paired with the Smart Meter Gen 2. Budget for the electrician as part of the total cost, and don't buy expecting a plug-in option today. We'll update this page if the register changes.
Anker's terms say it isn't responsible for problems caused by ageing wiring or a non-compliant installation, so ask your electrician to check the consumer unit's condition as well as the battery connection.
Anker Solarbank 4 Pro UK Price
Anker's UK store currently sells two configurations. Panels aren't included, so you choose your own.
| Option | Battery | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro | 5kWh | £1,749 £2,129 | Check price → |
| Solarbank 4 Pro + 1× BP5000 | 10kWh | £2,998 £3,728 | Check price → |
| BP5000 expansion battery (add later) | +5kWh | £1,299 £1,599 | Check price → |
Expansion batteries stack on the base unit, so you can start at 5kWh and add a BP5000 later. Right now the 10kWh set costs £2,998, which is £50 less than buying the two parts separately (£1,749 + £1,299 = £3,048), and it saves a second delivery and installer visit.
Anker BP5000 expansion battery
The BP5000 is a 5kWh expansion battery that stacks on top of the Solarbank 4 Pro. It adds storage only: the Solarbank 4 Pro base unit still handles the solar input and the connection to your home. Anker's UK store sells it for £1,299 on its own, or as part of the £2,998 10kWh set.
You can stack up to five BP5000s on one Solarbank 4 Pro for about 30kWh in total. For most homes, one is the sensible maximum: a 10kWh system covers a typical evening and overnight use, and each extra 5kWh earns less because there is less left to shift. Our battery calculator shows where the extra capacity stops paying for itself.
Solarbank 4 Pro solar panel bundles
Anker also sells the Solarbank 4 Pro with its own 500W bifacial solar panels, in packs of two, four or eight, with pitched-roof brackets included. Bundle prices move with Anker's offers more than the battery on its own, so check the current price before you compare quotes. The prices below were checked on 18 October 2026. Installation by an electrician is still extra.
| Battery | Panels | Suits | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5kWh | 2 × 500W (1kW) | A small roof or a first system | £2,149 | Check price → |
| 5kWh | 4 × 500W (2kW) | Most semi-detached roofs | £2,399 | Check price → |
| 5kWh | 8 × 500W (4kW) | Big roofs, most solar for the money | £2,999 | Check price → |
| 10kWh (with 1 × BP5000) | 2 × 500W (1kW) | Charging cheaply overnight more than from solar | £3,348 | Check price → |
| 10kWh (with 1 × BP5000) | 4 × 500W (2kW) | Higher evening use | £3,398 | Check price → |
| 10kWh (with 1 × BP5000) | 8 × 500W (4kW) | Large homes and high use | £3,798 | Check price → |
Four 500W panels (2kW) is the sensible starting point for most homes. Eight panels (4kW) makes the most of the Solarbank's 5kW solar input if your roof has the space.
What a complete system costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Solarbank 4 Pro (5kWh) | £1,749 |
| Solar panels (e.g. 4 × 450–500W) | Roughly £100–£150 per panel |
| Electrician: dedicated circuit, bi-directional RCBO, isolator, G98 | Get two or three quotes |
| Smart Meter Gen 2 | Sometimes a free gift; otherwise about £89 |
Why buy direct from Anker rather than a marketplace reseller: you get the full warranty, official firmware and app support, and Anker's own returns process. Third-party listings for battery hardware are also where most fake and grey-import stock turns up.
Prices checked on Anker's UK store on 18 October 2026. Anker changes its sale prices often, so check the current figure before you buy. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Estimate Your Savings
A rough estimate for your home, panel direction and region. It includes panels and installation, not just the battery.
Assumes about 900kWh a year per kW of south-facing panels, adjusted for region and direction, with 80% of it used at home thanks to the battery (capped at your household's usage), valued at 26.32p/kWh (the October 2026 price cap). Panels are costed at £250 per kW. The overnight-tariff figure assumes charging at 8.5p and using the energy at 26.32p with 95% round-trip efficiency, one cycle a day, using only battery capacity that solar hasn't already filled. Export payments aren't included: without an MCS-certified installation you usually can't claim the Smart Export Guarantee. Treat the result as a guide, not a quote.
Anker SOLIX Installation: What to Ask Your Electrician
Anker's installation manual covers the unit itself. These are the points that come up when UK owners get theirs hardwired, based on real installer conversations:
- Bi-directional RCBO: the protective device has to handle current flowing both ways (into the battery and back out), so a standard one-directional RCBO won't do.
- 4mm² cable and an outdoor isolator: installers commonly cite H07RN-F rubber flexible cable for the run.
- Check the consumer unit type first: a split-load board (two RCDs covering separate banks of circuits) needs a different approach from an all-RCBO board, and a spare 32A way isn't automatically usable without checking what protects it.
- Leave spare cable slack: between the isolator and the unit, so adding a BP5000 later doesn't mean redoing the run.
- Mention the Smart Meter Gen 2: its CT clamp is separate from your supplier's smart meter. Both can coexist, but flag it so nothing gets crossed during the install.
- Placement rules still apply: once it's hardwired it counts as a permanent battery installation under BS 7671 Amendment 4, the same as a wall-mounted unit. That means no lofts and no escape routes, and clearances apply even though it's stackable. See our Battery Storage Rules guide.
- G98 notification included: ask for it in the quote and request the confirmation once it's submitted.
Installers who do solar and battery work regularly will know all this. Mentioning these points when you ring round tends to get a straighter answer on price and timing than "I need a battery hardwired."
Registration and G98
Because it's hardwired and grid-tied, a G98 notification has to go to your District Network Operator (DNO) within 28 days of it being commissioned. That's standard for any small grid-connected generator or battery, not something specific to Anker. Your electrician normally handles it as part of the job. Check it's in the quote and keep the confirmation.
Much of the real-world install detail above came from owners comparing notes in the Anker SOLIX Renewable Energy Support Hub Facebook group. It's worth joining to see finished installs and ask questions before you commit.
The Anker SOLIX App and Smart Meter
Setup and day-to-day control happen in the Anker SOLIX app (iOS and Android).
The Anker smart meter doesn't replace your supplier's smart meter. Your supplier's meter still handles billing; Anker's CT clamp only feeds data to the battery. Anker has included the Smart Meter Gen 2 as a free gift during some promotions, and otherwise sells it separately for about £89, so check the listing before you order.
Solarbank vs Anker SOLIX Power Stations
"Anker SOLIX" covers two very different kinds of product, and it's easy to confuse them.
| Product | What it is | Capacity | Connects to the grid? | Needs an electrician? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solarbank 4 Pro (E5000 Pro) | Home battery + solar inverter | 5kWh, stacks to 30kWh | Yes, hardwired | Yes |
| SOLIX C1000 | Portable power station | 1,056Wh | No | No |
| SOLIX F2000 | Portable power station | 2,048Wh | No | No |
| SOLIX F3800 | Large power station (expandable) | 3,840Wh | Only with a transfer switch | For a home connection, yes |
| Solarbank 2 (E1600) / Solarbank 3 (E2700 Pro) | EU balcony batteries | 1.6–2.7kWh per unit | Not sold for the UK | Not sold by Anker UK |
The C1000, F2000 and F3800 are power stations: you charge them from a socket or solar panels and plug appliances straight into them. Nothing connects to your home's wiring, so there's no register or paperwork. They're great for backup, camping or a garden office, but they won't cut your bills much. Our best portable power station guide compares the C1000 Gen 2 and the new 2kWh S2000 with EcoFlow and Jackery. The Solarbank 4 Pro is the opposite: a fixed home battery wired into your consumer unit, built to run your house on solar and cheap-rate power.
You may see the Solarbank 2 E1600 Pro and Solarbank 3 E2700 Pro on European sites and some UK resellers. Those are balcony batteries made for EU plug-in rules and aren't sold through Anker's UK store, so check warranty cover and UK compliance carefully before buying one.
Anker SOLIX vs EcoFlow vs Jackery
The brands overlap less than the search results suggest. Here's how the Solarbank 4 Pro sits against the alternatives UK buyers usually compare it with.
| Product | What you get | Price | Install route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker Solarbank 4 Pro | 5kWh battery + 5kW solar input | From £1,749 + panels | Electrician (hardwired) | Most storage and solar input for the money |
| EcoFlow STREAM plug-in kits | 800W panel kit, no battery | From £449 | Self-install (Compliant) | Cheapest legal way to start |
| Thunder Bolt 920W | 2 × 460W panels, no battery | £749.99 (£20 off with our code) | Self-install (Compliant) | Garden, wall or flat roof |
| EcoFlow PowerOcean | Whole-home battery system | Installer quote | Accredited installer | Full installer-fitted system |
| Jackery Explorer range | Portable power stations | From £239 (compared here) | No grid connection | Backup and portable power |
Anker vs EcoFlow: if you want to fit something yourself today, EcoFlow's STREAM plug-in kits are on the ENA register as Compliant and the Solarbank isn't. If you're happy to pay an electrician, the Solarbank gives you a 5kWh battery and room for up to 5kW of panels for much less than a typical installer-fitted battery system. Anker vs Jackery: Jackery's UK range is centred on Explorer portable power stations, so the fair comparison is Jackery against Anker's C1000 and F-series, not against the Solarbank.
For every compliant plug-in kit, see our plug-in solar hub. For installer-fitted batteries, see Best Home Battery UK.
Is the Anker Solarbank 4 Pro Worth It?
What we like
- £1,749 for 5kWh of LiFePO4 storage plus a 5kW solar inverter
- Stacks to about 30kWh without a new inverter
- Four MPPTs suit split or east–west roofs
- 10,000-cycle rating and a 10-year warranty
- Tariff-aware app with Octopus support
What to weigh up
- Not legal to self-install: you need an electrician and G98
- Panels and installation aren't included
- No Smart Export Guarantee without an MCS-certified install
- 2,500W output can't cover big loads like an electric shower
- Pricing and bundles change often
Our verdict: it's worth it if you have room for at least four panels, you're on (or will switch to) a time-of-use tariff, and you're happy to pay an electrician. In that case it's one of the cheapest ways to get a 5kWh battery and solar inverter in the UK. If you want something you can plug in yourself this year, buy a compliant plug-in kit instead and come back to the Solarbank if Anker gets a compliant self-install version onto the register.
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Shop Solarbank 4 Pro →10-year warranty · 10,000 cycles · Expandable to 30kWh