Goal Zero Yeti 500 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 $340 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- DJI Power 500 holds 3% more energy (512Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- DJI Power 500 has 1000W more surge headroom (2000W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 3.4 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 16.3 lb).
We'd skip the Goal Zero Yeti 500 in this matchup. It costs $340 more than the DJI Power 500 while matching or trailing it on capacity, surge and cycle life — there's no spec here that justifies the premium.
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
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 500 | DJI Power 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $359 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 512 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 1000 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 2000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 16.3 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 200 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 1h 10m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | DJI Power 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 7.3 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 13.8 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 5.4 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 10.9 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |