DJI Power 500 vs Jackery Explorer 1000
Side-by-side on the specs that decide it — surge, capacity, runtime and price.
Both models' specs verified against manufacturer listings · Last updated
The short answer
DJI Power 500 costs $390 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Jackery Explorer 1000 holds 96% more energy (1002Wh vs 512Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- DJI Power 500 is 5.7 lb lighter (16.3 lb vs 22 lb).
- DJI Power 500 uses LiFePO4 while the other uses NMC — roughly double the usable cycle life.
- DJI Power 500 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 500 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
If you plan to cycle the battery daily, think twice about the Jackery Explorer 1000. Its NMC cells are rated for 500 cycles against the LiFePO4 rival's longer life — over years of regular use that's the more expensive unit, whatever the sticker says.
The smaller DJI unit: 512Wh and 1,000W make it a capable weekend companion, with fast charging and low noise as the standouts.
Best for: Weekend campers and creators who want a light, fast-charging half-kWh unit.
Where it falls short:
- 512Wh is a single-day capacity
- No expansion
The original Explorer 1000 — light and popular, but its Li-ion cells are rated for only ~500 cycles, a fraction of the LiFePO4 v2 that replaced it.
Best for: Occasional users who find it much cheaper than the v2.
Where it falls short:
- ~500 cycles vs 4,000 for the v2
- 1,000W output and 200W solar input
| Spec | DJI Power 500 | Jackery Explorer 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $359 | $749 |
| Capacity | 512 Wh | 1002 Wh |
| Continuous output | 1000 W | 1000 W |
| Surge output | 2000 W | 2000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | NMC |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 500 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 16.3 lb | 22 lb |
| Max solar | 200 W | 200 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 10m | 1h 42m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | DJI Power 500 | Jackery Explorer 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.3 hrs | 14.2 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.8 hrs | 27.0 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.4 hrs | 10.6 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.9 hrs | 21.3 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |