Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Jackery Explorer 1500 v2
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.
- Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 holds 208% more energy (1536Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 has 3000W more surge headroom (4000W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 24.6 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 37.5 lb).
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
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2
2000W output and 4000W surge at $999 makes this one of the better value picks for actual home backup, not just camping.
Best for: First-time home-backup buyers who need real surge on a budget.
Where it falls short:
- 1536Wh means about a day of fridge-plus-devices
- Not expandable
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $999 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 1536 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 2000 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 4000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 37.5 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 600 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 1h 30m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 21.8 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 41.4 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 16.3 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 32.6 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | 1.6 hrs |