Verdict: buy the APsystems EZ1-LV if you need hardware now. Wait for the Hoymiles HiFlow Pro if your goal is a 1,200W system and you can tolerate launch uncertainty. APsystems publishes a $325 price, a 900VA rating, dual MPPT, and an explicit “UL 3700 certified” claim. Hoymiles has the more ambitious expansion story, but its street price and public certification listing were not confirmed when I checked on July 18, 2026.
Compare inverter cost, panel size, state rules, and payback before ordering either one.
Compare balcony solar options →This is a comparison of two current US plug-in products, not a repeat of our older EcoFlow, Hoymiles, and APsystems comparison. That article covers the previous Hoymiles HMS generation. HiFlow Pro is a new product launched July 15, 2026.
The useful differences at a glance
| Question | Hoymiles HiFlow Pro | APsystems EZ1-LV |
|---|---|---|
| US launch status | Announced July 15, 2026 | Available from APsystems |
| UL 3700 wording | Manufacturer says “compliant” | Product page says “UL 3700 certified” |
| Published system output | Up to 1,200W using as many as four parallel units | 900VA per microinverter |
| Solar inputs | Confirm exact US model before buying | Two inputs with independent MPPT |
| Commissioning | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, claimed under 60 seconds | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi through AP Easy Power |
| Published direct price | Not confirmed | $325 with a 5m power cord |
| Export control | No clear US accessory details at launch | Optional $90 APmeter |
| Warranty | Confirm with US seller | 12 years |
| Best reason to buy | Planned 1,200W expansion | Known price and simpler two-panel build |
The certification language matters. Hoymiles calls HiFlow Pro the first US UL 3700-compliant plug-in microinverter in its July 15 launch announcement. I found no public primary listing that justified changing “compliant” to “certified.” APsystems uses the stronger phrase “UL 3700 certified” on its official EZ1 product page.
UL 3700 itself is an Outline of Investigation for interactive plug-in PV equipment and systems. The UL scope covers more than a familiar wall plug. It addresses the complete equipment, connectors, receptacle, circuit protection, and bidirectional-current conditions. A logo or inverter-level claim does not make every panel, cord, outlet, and installation compliant.
HiFlow Pro is the better expansion concept
Hoymiles says up to four HiFlow Pro microinverters can operate in parallel, in separate sockets, with total output capped at 1,200W. That is the main reason to wait. You could start small and add capacity as panel space or daytime load grows.
The launch also promises Bluetooth and Wi-Fi commissioning in less than 60 seconds through the S-Miles Home app. Fast setup is useful, but it should not drive a $1,000-plus system decision. The harder questions remain unanswered in the launch material:
- What does each US unit cost at retail?
- Which exact model number appears in an NRTL certification directory?
- What cords and receptacles are included or required?
- How does a four-unit layout satisfy local circuit rules?
- Is there a supported zero-export controller for US homes?
Hoymiles reports 99.8% static and 99.5% dynamic MPPT efficiency. Those are component performance figures, not annual energy guarantees. Shade, panel angle, clipping, downtime, and self-consumption will have a larger effect on your bill.
Buyers building a complete system should also compare the integrated kits in Craftstrom vs Mango Power. For the previous Hoymiles HMS generation and STREAM pricing, use the older EcoFlow vs Hoymiles vs APsystems post.
EZ1-LV is easier to specify today
APsystems gives buyers enough information to price a real build. One EZ1-LV costs $325 direct, includes a 5m power cord, connects to two modules, and reaches 900VA. Its two independent MPPT channels are valuable when one panel gets morning shade or the panels face different directions.
The built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connect to AP Easy Power. If your utility or approved design requires zero export, APsystems sells the APmeter for $90. That accessory measures grid flow and controls EZ1 output. It does not erase legal requirements.
The tradeoff is scale. One 900VA unit does not equal a 1,200W AC system. Adding units, parallel cables, panels, mounts, and export controls changes the economics. Do not assume the $325 inverter price represents a finished kit. For export-control accessories, see zero-export meters for balcony solar.
My comparison assumptions
The verdict above uses these exact assumptions:
- US 120V residential use, with panels mounted on a balcony, patio, or yard structure.
- Two panels for the EZ1, because its official page specifies two independent inputs.
- Up to four separate HiFlow Pro units for 1,200W, exactly as Hoymiles described at launch. I am not assuming that one HiFlow Pro outputs 1,200W.
- Inverter prices exclude panels, mounting, outlet work, permits, tax, and labor.
- No federal residential solar tax credit. The residential credit expired for purchases after December 31, 2025.
- Savings come only from self-consumed energy. Export compensation is set to $0 in the conservative case.
- Production case: 800W of panels x 4.0 peak-sun-hours x 365 days x 80% system factor = 934 kWh/year.
- Bill-value case: 75% self-consumption x 934 kWh x $0.25/kWh = about $175/year.
That example does not prove payback for either inverter. A full $1,500 build would take about 8.6 years at $175 annual savings. A shaded renter balcony could take much longer. A sunny home with high daytime load and a $0.35/kWh rate could do better.
State law still outranks the product page
UL 3700 compliance is a product-safety fact, not blanket permission to plug in. State statutes, local electrical codes, your authority having jurisdiction, lease terms, and utility rules can still apply. Zero export also does not automatically waive interconnection or permitting.
Check the plug-in solar law map and our UL 3700 explainer before buying. If your state has no live plug-in-specific law, assume ordinary grid-tied interconnection rules remain in force until your utility or local authority says otherwise.
Which buyer should pick which inverter?
| Buyer | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wants to order a two-panel system now | APsystems EZ1-LV | Published price, output, warranty, and certification claim |
| Needs independent tracking for two panel orientations | APsystems EZ1-LV | Dual independent MPPT |
| Utility-approved design requires zero export | APsystems EZ1-LV | APmeter is a documented accessory |
| Wants a future 1,200W modular layout | Wait for HiFlow Pro | Four-unit parallel architecture targets that ceiling |
| Wants proof of certification before purchase | EZ1 now, reassess HiFlow later | APsystems makes the clearer current claim |
| Wants the lowest complete-system cost | Neither automatically | Panels, mounts, cords, meter, and electrical work decide the total |
| Lives where plug-in rules are not live | Neither yet | Product availability is not legal authorization |
My buying rule is simple: do not preorder HiFlow Pro based only on launch language. Wait for a US seller page, exact model number, total installed price, and a searchable certification record. The EZ1 is less speculative today. HiFlow Pro may become the better 1,200W platform once those missing facts arrive.
Run both sizes against your electricity price, sun hours, self-consumption, and state requirements.
Calculate my balcony solar payback →Related: Craftstrom vs Mango Power | Zero-Export Meters for Balcony Solar | Best Balcony Solar Kits
Dana Whitmore
Energy Engineer & Billing Analyst · Optiwatt Energy Advisor
Dana has spent the past three years analyzing residential electricity billing data across PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E service territories. She's reviewed billing records for thousands of California households, and built the simulation engine that powers this site's rate-plan comparisons. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and lives in the Bay Area.