Anker

Lore & Background

Anker was founded in 2011 by Steven Yang in Shenzhen, Guangdong, before moving its headquarters to Changsha, Hunan. Initially focused on replacement laptop batteries, the company shifted in 2011 to smartphone battery chargers, wall adapters, portable power banks, and conferencing gear. In early 2014, Anker hired Zhao Dongping, formerly Google's head of sales in China, who became president in 2020. Until 2016, Anker products were sold almost exclusively on Amazon Marketplace and Newegg, later expanding to big-box stores such as Best Buy, Target, and Kohl's, as well as e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Amazon, and eBay.

Anker's product lines include the Anker Prime, Anker Nano, and Anker Zolo series covering chargers and accessories. The company launched the Anker SOLIX sub-brand in 2023 for residential and portable energy products, including the Solarbank E1600 balcony system and the SOLIX F3800 portable power station, which raised over US$5 million through crowdfunding. The SOLIX X1 home energy-storage unit launched in 2024 and received a Red Dot Design Award. In January 2026, Anker SOLIX introduced the E10 modular whole-home backup power system for the U.S. market, expandable from 6 kWh to 90 kWh, supporting solar charging and an optional tri-fuel generator.

In audio, Anker began offering audio products in 2014 and established the soundcore sub-brand on April 25, 2018, producing Bluetooth earbuds, headphones, speakers, and smartglasses. The Nebula projector line was merged into soundcore in August 2025, with the first combined product being the Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro. The eufy brand, launched in 2016, focuses on smart home devices such as robotic vacuums and security cameras. Anker also entered 3D printing under AnkerMake, debuting the M5 model via Kickstarter, but discontinued its 3D printer line in 2025, shifting to UV flatbed printers under eufyMake.

Reader's Guide

Anker's significance lies in its transformation from a niche Amazon-focused seller of replacement laptop batteries into a global consumer electronics powerhouse spanning charging, audio, smart home, and energy storage. The company's early adoption of the Amazon Marketplace as a primary sales channel allowed it to build a strong direct-to-consumer presence, later expanding into major retail chains worldwide. Its sub-brand strategy—with soundcore for audio, eufy for smart home, and Anker SOLIX for energy—enabled targeted market penetration across diverse categories.

Anker's legacy is marked by both innovation and controversy. The company successfully crowdfunded major products like the SOLIX F3800 power station and the AnkerMake M5 3D printer, demonstrating its ability to leverage community funding. However, the eufy security camera privacy scandal in 2022, where claims of local-only storage were contradicted by evidence of cloud uploads, damaged trust and led to sponsorship losses. Additionally, multiple power bank recalls since 2023, including a June 2025 recall of five PowerCore models affecting about 481,000 units with 33 reported fire and explosion incidents, raised safety concerns. In September 2025, a U.S. House committee chair requested an investigation into Anker for potential security risks and tariff evasion, adding regulatory uncertainty to the company's profile.

Did You Know?

• The Anker SOLIX F3800 portable power station raised over US$5 million through crowdfunding.
• In June 2025, Anker voluntarily recalled five models of PowerCore power banks due to a potential manufacturing issue, with about 481,000 units affected and 33 reports of fire and explosion incidents.