Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs DJI Power 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
Goal Zero Yeti 500 costs $300 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- DJI Power 1000 holds 105% more energy (1024Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- DJI Power 1000 has 3400W more surge headroom (4400W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 15.1 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 28 lb).
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
DJI's first power station is a genuinely strong 1kWh unit — 2,200W output and a 4,400W surge put it ahead of most rivals its size, though the ecosystem leans toward DJI's own drone and camera kit.
Best for: Content creators and drone operators already in the DJI ecosystem.
Where it falls short:
- 400W solar input is modest
- Accessory ecosystem is DJI-centric
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | DJI Power 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $999 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 1024 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 2200 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 4400 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 28 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 400 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 1h 10m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | DJI Power 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 14.5 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 27.6 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 10.9 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 21.8 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | 1.1 hrs |