You're at the gate. Your phone is at 4%, your laptop is wheezing at 12%, and every single outlet at the airport is either broken or occupied by someone who looks like they’re settling in for a three-day camping trip. It sucks. We’ve all been there, staring at that little red battery icon like it’s a ticking time bomb. Most "power banks" are either too weak to charge a laptop or so huge they feel like carrying a brick in your backpack.
The Jackery Explorer 100 Plus exists in that weird, perfect middle ground.
I’ll be honest, when I first saw the 99Wh capacity, I thought it was just another marketing gimmick to skirt around FAA regulations. But after actually lugging this thing through three different time zones, my opinion shifted. It’s tiny. Like, "fits in the palm of your hand" tiny. Yet, it puts out 128W of total power. That’s enough to actually fast-charge a MacBook Air while simultaneously topping off your phone and your AirPods. It’s a specialized tool for a specific kind of person—the traveler who hates being tethered to a wall.
Why 99Wh is the Magic Number for the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus
There is a very specific reason Jackery capped this unit at 99Wh. If you’ve ever been stopped by TSA or an international flight crew because your battery was "too big," you know the headache. The FAA and most international aviation authorities (like IATA) have a strict 100Wh limit for lithium-ion batteries in carry-on luggage.
Anything over that requires special permission, which usually means a "no" from the gate agent. By hitting 99.2Wh, the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus is basically a "Get Out of Jail Free" card for air travel. You can walk onto a plane with this thing in your bag, no questions asked. It’s the largest capacity you can legally carry without a permit.
But capacity is only half the story.
What really matters is how that energy gets out of the box. Most cheap power banks use slow USB-A ports that take six hours to charge a tablet. This Jackery uses dual USB-C ports that support PD (Power Delivery) up to 100W.
That’s a huge deal.
If you’re using a high-end laptop like a MacBook Pro or a Dell XPS, it needs that high-wattage handshake to charge at full speed. This little orange cube provides it. You aren't just slowing the battery drain; you're actually gaining percentage while you work.
Heat, Safety, and the LiFePO4 Transition
Let's talk about the guts. Old-school portable power stations used standard Lithium-ion (NMC) batteries. They were light, sure, but they had a shorter lifespan—maybe 500 cycles before the capacity started dropping off a cliff.
Jackery moved to LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) for the Explorer 100 Plus.
Why should you care? Because LiFePO4 is significantly safer and more durable. It doesn't have the same "thermal runaway" risks as older chemistries. More importantly for your wallet, it’s rated for 2,000 cycles to 80% capacity. Basically, you could drain this thing and recharge it every single day for over five years, and it would still hold 80% of its original juice.
Most people don't realize how hot these small units get. When you're pulling 100W through a tiny chassis, physics wants to turn that energy into heat. Jackery’s BMS (Battery Management System) is surprisingly aggressive. I’ve noticed it throttling slightly if it gets baked in the sun, but in a standard coffee shop or airplane cabin, it stays remarkably cool. It has six layers of protection, covering everything from over-voltage to short circuits. It’s peace of mind you don't get with those $20 "no-name" bricks you find in airport gift shops.
Real-World Performance: What Can It Actually Charge?
Numbers on a box are boring. You want to know if it'll keep your gear alive during a power outage or a long flight. Here is the reality of a 99Wh capacity:
- iPhone 15/16 Pro: You’re looking at about 4 to 5 full charges.
- MacBook Air (M2/M3): It’ll give you roughly one full charge from 0% to nearly 100%.
- iPad Pro: About 1.5 to 2 full charges depending on how much you're cranking the brightness.
- Camera Batteries (like Sony NP-FZ100): You can get about 4 or 5 recharges out of it.
Is it going to run your coffee maker? No. Don't even try. It’s a DC-only device. There is no AC outlet (the 3-prong plug you have at home). Some people see the "Explorer" name and think they can plug in a toaster. You can't. This is strictly for USB-powered devices.
The Design Is... Very Jackery
If you've ever seen a Jackery, you know the vibe. It’s grey and bright orange. It looks like it belongs in an REI catalog or a high-end "bug-out" bag.
It’s rugged.
The casing is fire-resistant (UL 94V-0 rated) and feels dense. It’s not "light," exactly—it weighs about 2.1 lbs. That’s roughly the weight of two cans of soda. You’ll feel it in your backpack, but it’s not going to ruin your day. The rounded corners are a nice touch because it doesn't snag on cables or fabric when you're shoving it into a tight luggage pocket.
One thing I love? The screen. It’s a clear LCD that tells you exactly what’s happening. It shows the input wattage, output wattage, and the remaining battery percentage.
I hate guessing.
When you're charging via a solar panel (yes, it works with those too), seeing the input watts helps you angle the panel to catch the most sun. If you’re using the Jackery SolarSaga 100W, you can top this thing off in about 2 hours in direct sunlight. That’s incredibly fast for a portable setup.
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Where the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus Falls Short
I’m not here to tell you it’s perfect. It isn't.
First, the price. Jackery usually charges a premium. You’re paying for the brand, the safety certifications, and the LiFePO4 longevity. You can find cheaper 100Wh banks, but they likely won't have the 100W PD output or the same thermal management.
Second, the lack of an AC outlet is a dealbreaker for some. If you have an older laptop that doesn't charge via USB-C, or you need to plug in a specialized piece of medical equipment like a CPAP (even a small one), this won't work for you. You’d need to step up to the Explorer 300 Plus for that, but then you're carrying a much larger unit.
Third, the "3-port" claim is technically true, but there’s a catch. You have two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. If you use all three at once, the 128W total power is shared. You won't get 100W to your laptop if your phone and watch are also plugged in. It’s better to charge your big device solo if you’re in a hurry.
Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of It
If you decide to pick one up, don't just throw it in a drawer. Lithium batteries hate being stored at 0% or 100% for long periods. If you’re keeping it for emergencies, try to keep it around 60-80% charge.
Also, get a high-quality USB-C to USB-C cable that is rated for 100W.
I’ve seen people complain that the Jackery is "slow," only to find out they were using a cheap cable from a gas station that maxes out at 15W. The bottle-neck is almost always the cable, not the power station. Look for cables with an "E-Marker" chip; they’re designed to handle the high-wattage handshake required for fast charging.
If you’re camping, don't leave the unit sitting in the direct sun. Even though it's built for the outdoors, heat is the enemy of battery health. Tuck it under the shadow of your solar panel or under a camp chair.
Actionable Steps for Potential Users
If you are trying to decide if this is the right fit for your kit, follow this logic:
- Check your labels: Look at the "input" requirements on your laptop's power brick. If it says anything under 100W, the Explorer 100 Plus will handle it at full speed.
- Verify your travel plans: If you fly more than twice a year, this is the safest "big" battery you can buy. Don't risk having a larger unit confiscated at security.
- Consider the "Solar" factor: If you want to go off-grid, pair this with a Jackery SolarSaga 40W or 100W panel. It’s one of the few small-scale batteries that handles solar input efficiently without needing a separate charge controller.
- Compare the weight: If 2 lbs feels too heavy for your "everyday carry," look at a standard 20,000mAh power bank. You'll lose the high-speed charging and the ruggedness, but your bag will be lighter.
Honestly, the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus is about reliability. It’s for the person who wants to sit in a park for four hours working on a novel, or the traveler who needs to ensure their phone and laptop survive a 14-hour flight with a broken seat-power outlet. It’s small, it’s tough, and it follows the rules. In a world of cheap, disposable electronics, having a battery that lasts 2,000+ cycles is a refreshing change of pace.