Zappi GLO vs EO Mini Pro 3: A Solar Specialist Against the World's Smallest Charger
These two chargers sit at similar price points — £599 for the Zappi GLO, £550 for the EO Mini Pro 3 — but they're built for completely different buyers. The Zappi GLO exists to squeeze every watt from your solar panels. The EO Mini Pro 3 exists to disappear into the tightest installation spot your house can offer. Your decision probably comes down to one question: do you have solar panels?
In a nutshell:
- Zappi GLO: The undisputed king of solar EV charging, with an ecosystem that grows with your home energy setup
- EO Mini Pro 3: The smallest charger on the market, with competent smart features packed into an A5-sized box
Is the Zappi GLO's Solar Diversion Worth £49 More?
If you have solar panels, yes — and it's not even close. The Zappi GLO offers three charging modes: Fast (full grid power), Eco (a blend of solar and grid), and Eco+ (charges exclusively from surplus solar). That Eco+ mode means genuinely free miles when the sun cooperates. The EO Mini Pro 3 does include a CT clamp for solar diversion, which is commendable at this price, but it's a simpler implementation. It can't match the granular control of the Zappi's dedicated modes.
Where the Zappi really pulls away is the myenergi ecosystem. Pair it with an eddi hot water diverter or a libbi home battery and you've got whole-home energy management that routes surplus solar exactly where it's most useful. No other charger manufacturer offers anything comparable. The EO Mini Pro 3 is a standalone unit — capable, but isolated.
Does Size Actually Matter for an EV Charger?
More than you'd think. The EO Mini Pro 3 measures 215mm × 140mm × 100mm. That's roughly the size of a paperback novel. At 2.5 kg, a strong child could hold it in one hand. Compare that to the Zappi GLO at 439mm × 282mm × 130mm and 5.4 kg — a perfectly normal size for a charger, but over twice the footprint.
This matters if you're mounting on a narrow pillar, inside a garage with limited wall space, or anywhere aesthetics are a priority. Some homes simply don't have room for a full-sized charger in the right location. The EO Mini Pro 3 solves that problem better than anything else available. If your installer has flagged space constraints, this is probably your charger.
Smart Features and Connectivity: Different Strengths
Both chargers support scheduled charging on smart tariffs like Octopus Go, so you'll get cheap overnight electricity either way. The EO Mini Pro 3 has one trick the Zappi lacks: British Gas Power+ integration through Hive, which credits back 25% of your charging costs. That's a meaningful saving if you're already a British Gas customer, though it does lock you into their ecosystem.
On connectivity, the EO edges ahead with Ethernet alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth — the most reliable connection option for a charger, especially useful in garages with weak Wi-Fi. There's also an optional 4G add-on. The Zappi GLO relies on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only, with no wired fallback. Given the myenergi app's historical reputation for connectivity hiccups, that's a notable gap.
The Zappi counters with RFID access for up to 126 users — overkill for most homes but genuinely useful if you share a driveway or run a small business. The EO doesn't offer physical access control.
One thing worth flagging: the Zappi GLO dropped the on-unit display that the older Zappi 2.1 had. Everything's through the app now. The EO Mini Pro 3 never had a screen either, so both chargers require your phone for monitoring and control.
Cable Length: A Practical Difference
The Zappi GLO comes with a 6.5-metre tethered cable. The EO Mini Pro 3 gives you 5 metres. That 1.5-metre difference can matter depending on where your charger sits relative to your parking spot. If you're mounting on a side wall and your charge port is on the opposite flank of the car, the Zappi's extra reach could save you repositioning hassle.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Zappi GLO if:
- You have solar panels or plan to install them soon
- You want to build out a myenergi ecosystem with battery storage or hot water diversion
- You need RFID access control for multiple users
- Cable reach matters — 6.5 metres gives you more flexibility
Buy the EO Mini Pro 3 if:
- Installation space is tight and a full-sized charger won't fit
- You're a British Gas customer who can benefit from the 25% Power+ cashback
- You want Ethernet connectivity for rock-solid reliability
- You don't have solar panels and want to save £49
For most Tesla owners without solar, neither of these is the obvious pick — you'd likely be better served by the options in our best Tesla home charger guide. But if you're choosing between these two specifically, solar panels are the deciding factor. Got them? Zappi GLO, no question. Don't have them and need something small? The EO Mini Pro 3 earns its place on your wall.