is a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for almost 20 years.
Anker is pushing portability limits with the launch of its giant 58-liter Solix EverFrost 2 dual-zone refrigerator / freezer. It’s portable because it has wheels, a handle, and slots for two batteries. But this thing weighs 64 pounds (29kg) empty and quickly reached 120 pounds when I filled my review unit with drinks and food. It can be recharged from a standard wall socket, 12V car socket, USB-C charger, and from up to 100W of solar from a traditional panel or Anker’s new beach umbrella.
The 58L (about 61 quarts) model I’ve been testing has far greater capacity than the largest solar fridges I’ve reviewed from EcoFlow (38L) and Bluetti (40L) — both of which allocate precious space to integrated ice makers. As an avid vanlifer and cocktail enthusiast, I’m definitely tempted by the idea of making ice on the road. I never do it, though, because water and electricity are just too valuable when venturing away from civilization. I’d rather bring a fridge that stuffs as much usable capacity into the smallest footprint possible.
Unfortunately, that’s not what Anker has done.
Instead, Anker allocated that space to two large fan housings in each lid. It’s all part of the air-cooling tech found in the EverFrost 2 lineup, which includes 40L and 23L models. Surprisingly, the 40L Solix EverFrost 2 model is actually slightly larger in length, width, and height than the 40L Bluetti model, despite lacking an ice maker and using a much smaller battery.
In my testing, the 58L Solix EverFrost 2 certainly does what it’s supposed to. The two zones control temperatures independently from -20 to 20 degrees Celsius / -4 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to operate as a large portable refrigerator, freezer, or a fridge and freezer running simultaneously. You can even turn off one of the two compartments completely.
At $799.99 for the cooler and one battery during the preorder sale, the 58L model is much cheaper than the EcoFlow Glacier with its comparably-sized battery and costs a few hundred less than the Bluetti Multicooler, which ships with a much larger battery. It’s less compelling when the $1,099.99 list price kicks in.
I didn’t test the shrunk-down 40L EverFrost 2 which seems like an even better deal at its $599.99 preorder price ($899.99 MSRP) — but it, like the Bluetti, has just a single compartment. Both Anker models begin shipping on March 7th.
However, you should avoid these if noise, space optimization, and power efficiency are high on your list of concerns, as they are on mine. My 58L review unit also beeps a lot due to an issue with a sensor in one of the lids — oops.
My biggest gripe with the 58L Solix EverFrost 2 fridge applies to all bench-style coolers: locating items can be problematic as things pile up inside. The two compartments on Anker’s largest model are especially deep, which makes finding things a pain in the ass when full. The inclusion of baskets usually addresses this problem so you can lift everything out to see what’s underneath. After sharing my concern with Anker, company spokesperson Emeline Bonnefoy said that individual baskets will be available for $19.99 starting in May, or two for $24.99.
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