Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Ampace Andes 1500
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
Goal Zero Yeti 500 costs $300 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Ampace Andes 1500 holds 193% more energy (1462Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Ampace Andes 1500 has 2600W more surge headroom (3600W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 23.9 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 36.8 lb).
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 3,000 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
Goal Zero Yeti 500
A rugged, water-resistant unit for people who'll actually beat it up. You pay a premium over similar-capacity rivals for that durability.
Best for: Overlanders and job sites where the unit will get wet, dusty and knocked around.
Where it falls short:
- $699 for 499Wh is expensive per watt-hour
- Only a 2-year warranty vs 5 years from most rivals
- 120W solar input is very low
Ampace Andes 1500
Backed by an Amperex/CATL cell pedigree, the Andes 1500 stands out on charge speed — 0-80% in well under an hour — and a light 36.8 lb for 1.5kWh.
Best for: Buyers who prize fast charging and low weight at 1.5kWh.
Where it falls short:
- Newer brand with a thinner track record
- Not expandable
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Ampace Andes 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $999 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 1462 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 2000 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 3600 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 3,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 36.8 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 1000 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 55 min |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Ampace Andes 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 20.7 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 39.5 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 15.5 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 31.1 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | 1.6 hrs |