Head to head
Sunlighten Amplify Full-Spectrum Infrared vs Sunlighten Solo System (portable)
$5,799 against $2,099. Here is where the $3,700 difference actually goes.
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Higher lab score
Sunlighten
Amplify Full-Spectrum Infrared
$5,799
8.6 / 10
Indoor installs where a traditional sauna's moisture is not an option
Sunlighten
Solo System (portable)
$2,099
7.8 / 10
Renters, small apartments, and anyone testing whether they will actually use a sauna
Specifications side by side
| Spec | Sunlighten Amplify Full-Spectrum Infrared | Sunlighten Solo System (portable) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,799 | $2,099 |
| Lab score | 8.6 | 7.8 |
| Max temp | 170°F | — |
| Heat type | Full-spectrum (near/mid/far) | Far infrared |
| Electrical | 120V (20A dedicated) or 240V by model | Standard 120V |
| Warranty | 7 years | 7 years |
| EMF | Low-EMF SoloCarbon heaters | — |
| Form | — | Lay-down soft shell |
The verdict
Sunlighten Amplify Full-Spectrum Infrared takes the higher score here. The indoor infrared cabin that actually gets hot — 170°F, which most infrared cabins never reach. If infrared has disappointed you before, this is why.
The counter-argument for the Sunlighten Solo System (portable) is straightforward: it costs $3,700 less. Packs away under a bed. The compromise is real — you sweat lying down with your head outside — but it is the only sauna on this list a renter can own.
Put plainly — if your constraint is budget, take the Solo System (portable) and put the $3,700 toward installation, which is the line item most first-time buyers underestimate. If your constraint is that you want to buy once, the Amplify Full-Spectrum Infrared is the one you will not be replacing.
What each one is good at
Sunlighten Amplify Full-Spectrum Infrared
Strengths
- Reaches 170°F, closing most of the gap with traditional saunas
- Thick insulation and double-pane glass hold heat properly
- 7-year warranty is among the longest in the category
Compromises
- Costs more than a full outdoor thermowood barrel
- 240V models still need an electrician despite 'plug-in' marketing on smaller ones
- Assembly is a two-person half-day job indoors
Sunlighten Solo System (portable)
Strengths
- Plugs into any standard outlet with no electrical work at all
- Stores flat when not in use
- Cheapest route to consistent infrared sessions at home
Compromises
- Head stays outside the unit — no facial or respiratory heat
- Not a social or ritual experience
- Soft-shell durability is well below a cabin
Prices captured September 2026 from manufacturer and retailer pages and subject to frequent promotion. Confirm before buying. See our testing method for how lab scores are assigned.