Goal Zero Yeti 1000 vs DJI Power 500
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 $840 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 holds 93% more energy (988Wh vs 512Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 has 1600W more surge headroom (3600W vs 2000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- DJI Power 500 is 19.0 lb lighter (16.3 lb vs 35.3 lb).
The Goal Zero Yeti 1000 is poor value on paper: 0.82 Wh per dollar versus 1.43 for the DJI Power 500. Only worth it if you specifically need its higher output or 240V capability — otherwise you're paying a large premium per watt-hour.
The 6th-gen Yeti 1000 finally brings a real 2,000W inverter to Goal Zero's mid-size. Now it competes on output, not just toughness.
Best for: Buyers who want Goal Zero's ruggedness with real appliance-starting output.
Where it falls short:
- 35.3 lb for under 1kWh is heavy
- Premium price against lighter rivals
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
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | DJI Power 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199 | $359 |
| Capacity | 988 Wh | 512 Wh |
| Continuous output | 2000 W | 1000 W |
| Surge output | 3600 W | 2000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 35.3 lb | 16.3 lb |
| Max solar | 600 W | 200 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 12m | 1h 10m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 1000 | DJI Power 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 14.0 hrs | 7.3 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 26.7 hrs | 13.8 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 10.5 hrs | 5.4 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 21.0 hrs | 10.9 hrs |
| Sump pump | 1.0 hrs | ❌ |