Wallbox Pulsar Max vs Pod Point Solo 3S
The Wallbox Pulsar Max wins on more affordable, higher rated, three-phase support, while the Pod Point Solo 3S excels at a strong feature set.
Quick Stats
Full Specs Comparison
| Specification | Wallbox Pulsar Max | Pod Point Solo 3S |
|---|---|---|
| Max Power Output | 7.4kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase) | 7.4kW (single-phase only) |
| Cable Length | 5 metres | 5 metres (tethered version) |
| Connector | Type 2 (tethered or untethered) | Type 2 (tethered or untethered) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions | 198mm × 201mm × 99mm | 330mm × 290mm × 112mm (tethered) |
| Weight | ~4.2 kg | 3.5 kg (untethered) / 6 kg (tethered) |
| IP Rating | IP54 + IK10 (weatherproof + impact-resistant) | IP54 (weatherproof) |
| Certification | OLEV/OZEV approved | OLEV/OZEV approved |
Price & Value
The Wallbox Pulsar Max is £300 cheaper at £699 compared to the Pod Point Solo 3S at £999. The Pod Point Solo 3S price is installed.
When you factor in professional installation (typically £400–£600), the total installed cost for the Wallbox Pulsar Max is approximately £1099–£1299, while the Pod Point Solo 3S comes in at around £1399–£1599. Fully installed, the Wallbox Pulsar Max remains the more affordable option.
If you're eligible for the OZEV grant (available to renters and flat owners), you can claim £350 off the installation cost. That would bring the effective unit-plus-install price down to roughly £749–£949 for the Wallbox Pulsar Max and £1049–£1249 for the Pod Point Solo 3S. Both chargers are OZEV-approved, so eligibility depends on your living situation rather than the charger itself.
Looking at overall value, the Wallbox Pulsar Max offers a compelling combination of price and features at £699. The Pod Point Solo 3S at £999 may still be the better buy if its specific feature set — such as pod point app — is important for your setup. The best value depends on which features you'll actually use day-to-day.
Power & Charging Speed
The Wallbox Pulsar Max (7.4kW / 22kW) supports three-phase charging at up to 22kW, while the Pod Point Solo 3S is single-phase only at 7.4kW. On the standard UK single-phase supply (95% of homes), both charge at roughly the same speed. Three-phase is only relevant if your property has a three-phase electrical supply.
On a standard UK single-phase supply, both will charge a Tesla Model 3 Long Range (75kWh battery) from 20% to 80% in approximately 5–6 hours overnight. Even a Tesla Model Y with its larger battery completes a typical daily top-up well within an overnight window. For the vast majority of UK Tesla owners, single-phase 7kW charging is more than sufficient — you'll wake up to a full battery every morning.
Cable length is an often-overlooked consideration. The Wallbox Pulsar Max comes with a 5 metres cable, while the Pod Point Solo 3S has a 5 metres (tethered version) cable. A longer cable gives you more flexibility for driveway positioning — particularly useful if your charger is mounted on a side wall but your Tesla's charge port is on the rear left. Measure your likely cable run before buying to ensure the cable reaches comfortably without being fully stretched.
For most Tesla owners who plug in when they get home, both chargers provide more than enough power for a full overnight charge. The real-world difference between 7kW and 7.4kW is negligible — roughly 20 minutes over a full charge cycle. Unless you have a three-phase supply and regularly need rapid top-ups during the day, charging speed should not be the deciding factor between these two chargers.
Smart Features
The Wallbox Pulsar Max offers: myWallbox app, Scheduled charging, Power Boost (dynamic load balancing), Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, Eco-Smart (solar integration), Voice control (Alexa/Google). The Pod Point Solo 3S offers: Pod Point app, Scheduled charging, Solar compatible, Adaptive load management, OZEV grant eligible.
Breaking these down by category: for connectivity, the Wallbox Pulsar Max uses Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, while the Pod Point Solo 3S uses its companion app. For energy management, the Wallbox Pulsar Max provides Power Boost (dynamic load balancing), compared to the Pod Point Solo 3S's basic monitoring. Solar and scheduling features are covered in the dedicated sections below.
The most meaningful differentiators: the Wallbox Pulsar Max uniquely offers myWallbox app, Power Boost (dynamic load balancing), Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, Eco-Smart (solar integration), Voice control (Alexa/Google), while the Pod Point Solo 3S exclusively provides Pod Point app, Solar compatible, Adaptive load management, OZEV grant eligible. These unique features often determine which charger is the better fit — if a feature on one charger's exclusive list is a must-have for you, that should heavily influence your decision.
The app experience matters as much as the feature list — you'll use it daily. The Wallbox app is feature-rich with a global user base, though UK-specific features like smart tariffs are more limited. The Pod Point app provides standard charging management features. Both apps are available on iOS and Android, but user reviews suggest the day-to-day experience can vary significantly between brands.
Solar Compatibility
Both the Wallbox Pulsar Max and Pod Point Solo 3S support solar integration, allowing you to charge your Tesla using surplus solar energy rather than drawing from the grid. The implementation and sophistication of solar diversion differs between the two, which can significantly affect how much free charging you actually get.
The Wallbox Pulsar Max uses its Eco-Smart feature with a power meter sensor to detect surplus solar and adjust charging power in real time. The Pod Point Solo 3S supports solar diversion through its energy management system. The key difference is how precisely each charger tracks surplus generation — CT clamp-based systems typically offer more responsive diversion than those relying on smart meter data, which can have a slight delay.
For home battery pairing, the Wallbox Pulsar Max can work alongside a home battery system, though the integration may require additional configuration. The Pod Point Solo 3S can work alongside a home battery system, though the integration may require additional configuration. A home battery lets you store daytime solar surplus and charge your EV overnight at zero cost — effectively eliminating the limitation of only being able to solar-charge while the sun is shining.
A typical 4kW solar array in the UK can provide approximately 1,400–1,700 kWh of free EV charging per year, worth £390–£475 at standard electricity rates (around 28p/kWh). For context, the average UK Tesla owner drives around 8,000 miles per year, requiring roughly 2,400 kWh — so solar could cover 60–70% of your annual charging needs. Over the charger's lifetime, solar diversion can save thousands of pounds and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Warranty & Build Quality
The Wallbox Pulsar Max comes with a 5 years warranty, while the Pod Point Solo 3S offers 5 years. Both offer the same warranty length, so neither has an advantage here. Both are OZEV-approved and suitable for outdoor installation — a longer warranty provides more peace of mind for a product that lives outside year-round and is exposed to British weather.
For weatherproofing, the Wallbox Pulsar Max is rated IP54 + IK10 (weatherproof + impact-resistant) (splash-proof — protected against splashing water from any direction), while the Pod Point Solo 3S is rated IP54 (weatherproof) (splash-proof — protected against splashing water from any direction). A higher IP rating means better protection against rain, hose water, and dust. In practical terms, any rating of IP54 or above is suitable for a UK outdoor installation, but a higher rating provides extra confidence in extreme weather — particularly relevant if your charger is exposed rather than sheltered under a car port.
Build quality is reflected in the materials and construction. The Wallbox Pulsar Max weighs ~4.2 kg with dimensions of 198mm × 201mm × 99mm, while the Pod Point Solo 3S weighs 3.5 kg (untethered) / 6 kg (tethered) with dimensions of 330mm × 290mm × 112mm (tethered). A heavier charger typically indicates more robust construction, though modern chargers use high-quality polycarbonate housings that are both lightweight and impact-resistant. If your charger is in a location where it might get bumped by car doors or footballs, look for IK10 impact resistance in the specs — this is the highest rating and means it can withstand 20 joules of impact (equivalent to a 5kg weight dropped from 40cm).
For extended protection: the Wallbox Pulsar Max comes with a standard 5 years warranty from Wallbox. The Pod Point Solo 3S comes with a standard 5 years warranty from Pod Point. When comparing warranties, also check what's covered — most warranties cover manufacturing defects and component failure, but may not cover damage from incorrect installation or extreme weather events. Having your charger installed by an OZEV-approved installer typically ensures the warranty remains valid.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Wallbox Pulsar Max if you want the best value for money, or overall quality and user satisfaction matter most, or you have or plan to install a three-phase electrical supply, or most compact.
Buy the Pod Point Solo 3S if it suits your specific setup.
Our Verdicts
The Wallbox Pulsar Max makes sense if space is tight or you need three-phase charging. It's compact, well-built, and the 5-year warranty shows confidence from Wallbox. However, at £699 the Tesla Wall Connector (£475) offers better value for most Tesla owners, and the Ohme beats it on smart tariff features. Choose the Pulsar Max for its size, three-phase capability, or if you want voice control.
The Pod Point Solo 3S is the hassle-free choice — if you're happy giving up control over who installs it. The £999 all-in price covers the charger and professional installation, so you don't need to source your own electrician. The trade-off is that Pod Point assigns a third-party installer from their network, and you can't choose who that is or check their reviews beforehand. The 5-year warranty is the longest of any installed package on this list, which does provide some peace of mind. It lacks the smart tariff features of the Ohme, but if convenience matters more than flexibility, it's a solid option.
