Jackery 500 vs Goal Zero 500X
Several portable power stations are available on the market, and most offer great value for money compared to the power they produce. This article compares the Jackery 500 to Goal Zero YETI 500X.
Key Takeaways
- The Jackery 500 has a larger inverter to generate 500 watts of AC. The Yeti 500X produces 300 watts of AC but has a larger surge capacity of 1,200 watts.
- The Goal Zero 500X has 8 output sockets of varying sizes, providing greater flexibility to the user.
- The Goal Zero is lighter and 2/3rds of the size of the Jackery 500.
- Both units can be charged and discharged simultaneously, but the Yeti can be charged from multiple sources simultaneously, reducing its charging time to just 3.5 hours compared to the Jackery 500’s 7.5 hours.
Comparison Of The Jackery 500 And Goal Zero YETI 500X
Here’s a direct side-by-side comparison of the two systems based on specifications from their respective manufacturers’ websites.
| System | Jackery 500 | Goal Zero YETI 500X |
| Price (From manufacturers Web Site) | $ 499.00 | $549.95 |
| Digital Display | Displays input, output, Battery charge percentage | Displays input, output time left to full discharge |
| Pure Sine Wave Inverter | 120 volt – 500 Watt AC | 120 volt – 300 Watt AC |
| Capacity (Watt Hour) | 518 watt-hours | 505 watt-hours |
| Surge | 1,000 watts | 1,200 watts |
| Battery | Lithium-ion NMC Battery | Lithium-ion NMC Battery |
| Estimated number of lifetime cycles | 500 Cycles to 80% capacity | 500 Cycles to 80% capacity |
| Management system | MPPT charge controller | MPPT charge controller |
| Expandable Up To | Not expandable | Not expandable |
| Solar Input | SolarSaga 100W Max | Goal Zero Chargers 200W Max |
| Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter) | Not included | 1400W Max |
| Dual Charging | Not included | Yes |
| Simultaneous charge and discharge | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11.8 x 7.6 x 9.2 in (30.1 x 19.3 x 24.2 cm) | 7.5 X 11.5 X 5.8 in (19.05 X 28.57 X 14.73 cm) |
| Weight | 13.32 lbs. (6.04 kg) | 12.9 lbs. (5.85 kg) |
| INPUTS | ||
| AC Wall socket Charge | Yes | Yes |
| DC Input: | 12V-30V (100W Max) | 11V-22V (150W Max) |
| Standalone Solar Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Car Battery Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Generator Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Lead Battery Charging | Yes | Yes |
| OUTPUTS | ||
| AC Output | 110 Volts, 60 Hertz, 500 Watts (1000 Watts Surge) | 2 X 120 Volts, 60 Hertz, 300 watts (1,200 Watts surge) |
| USB-A Output | 1 X 5V, 2.4A | 2 X 12W Plugs |
| USB-A Output 5V 3A | 2 X 5V 3A Plugs | No |
| USB -C Output 18-Watt max | No | 5 – 9 volts |
| USB -C Output 60W | No | 5 – 20 volts |
| Car Output | 12 Volt, 10A, 120 watts | 12 Volt, 10A, 120 watts |
| DC Output | 12V, 7A, 84 watts (6.5mm*1.4mm) | 12 Volt, 10A, 120 watts |
| Recharging Times | ||
| Max charging from multiple sources | Not applicable | 180 Watt Max 3.5 Hours |
| AC Adapter | 7.5 Hours | (60W): 10 hours (120W): 4.5 hours |
| Solar (20W panel) | Not applicable | Nomad 20: 30-60 Hours |
| Solar (50W panel) | Not applicable | Nomad 50: 12-24 Hours |
| Solar (100W panel) | 9.5 Hours In ideal weather | Nomad 100: 6-12 Hours |
| Solar (200W panel) | Not applicable | Boulder 200 Briefcase: 3-6 Hours |
| 12V From A Car Outlet | 7.5 Hours | 4.5 hours (120 Watt) |
| Electric generator | 7.5 Hours | 3 – 3.5 Hours |
While it may be interesting to look at how each product compares side by side, it is necessary to see how they stack up against each other when using real-world examples.
| Item | Consumption | Jackery 500Useful Time It Can Operate The Device | Goal Zero YETI 500XUseful Time It Can Operate The Device |
| Alternating Current (AC) Devices | |||
| Television | 60 watts | 7.5 hours | 5 hours |
| Electric Blanket | 100 watts | 3 hours and 54 minutes | 3 hours |
| Portable Fridge | 400 watts | 1.2 hours | Cannot run |
| Blender | 500 watts | 50 minutes | Cannot run |
| Air Pump | 50 Watts | 8 Hours | 6 hours |
| Direct Current (DC) Devices | |||
| POV camera | 5 watts | Recharge the camera 102 times | Recharge the camera 101 times |
| Digital Camera | 10 watts | Recharge the camera 51 times | Recharge the camera 50 times |
| Drone | 60 watts | Recharge the drone 10 times | Recharge the drone 10 times |
| Heated Travel Mug | 100 watts | Recharge the mug 5 times | Recharge the mug 5 times |
| Phone | 12-watt hours | Recharge the Phone 41 times | Recharge the Phone 40 times |
| Laptop | 50 watt-hours | Recharge the computer 10 times | Recharge the computer 10 times |
| Light Bulb | 11 watts | 49 hours | 46 hours |
| Torch | 5 watts | 103 hours | 101 hours |
On the face of it, the Jackery 500 has the following two advantages over the YETI 500X:
- The Jackery has 518 watt-hours of power, slightly more than the Goal Zero YETI 500X’s 505 watt-hours. This small difference doesn’t add much extra usage time, maybe an extra phone charge.
- The Explorer’s larger inverter of 500 watts (with a 1,000-watt surge) can power a portable fridge for an hour. In contrast, the YETI’s 300 watts can’t achieve this.
⚖️ Verdict: Is the 500-watt capability of the Jackery enough to convince me over the Yeti? Not when you consider the YETI takes half the time to recharge. We need to look at more data to decide.
Analysis of specs and real-world results
Let’s dive deeper into our real-world testing and see if there are any glaring mismatches in favor of each.
Pros of the Explorer 500
✅ The 500-watt 120-volt AC output. If devices don’t exceed 1,000 watts in surge, it can power what the Goal Zero YETI 500X can’t.
✅ Can be charged and discharged simultaneously.
✅ Costs less than the Goal Zero YETI 500X.
Cons of the Explorer 500
✖️ The surge capacity (1000 watts) may be an issue with small appliances requiring a surge capacity of more than twice the regular consumption.
✖️ Can only be charged from one source at a time.
✖️ Can only be charged by solar panels rated at 100 watts or less (longer charging time).
Pros of the YETI 500X
✅ Surge capacity of four times its normal AC output of 300 watts. Power equipment needing more than a 1000-watt surge capacity.
✅ Lighter and smaller than the Explorer
✅ Will accept a charge from 200-watt solar panels
✅ Charging from multiple sources simultaneously (3.5 hours).
✅ More output plug options (2 extra USB-C)
Cons of the YETI 500X
✖️ Offers only 300-watt/120-volt AC current, compared to 500-watt/120-volt of the Explorer.
✖️ 25% more expensive than the Jackery.
Comparison Of The Price Point Of Both Models
The price of each product is detailed below.
Jackery 500
The Jackery 500 typically retails for $499.00. You get approximately 1.0381 watt-hours for every dollar spent.
The package includes the Jackery 500 unit, car charger cable, AC cable (2 parts), and the owner’s manual.
In addition to this, a Jackery Solar Saga 100w solar panel for recharging is available at $299.00
Goal Zero YETI 500X Portable Power Station
The Goal Zero YETI 500X retails for $699.00. So, for every dollar spent, you get approximately 0.7225 watt-hours.
The package includes the YETI 500X Portable Power Station, 60W Power Supply (AC Wall Charger), and the user manual.
In addition, there is a whole host of accessories, including solar panels of up to 200 watts, car charging cables, and protection cases.
Final Verdict
Although it has a smaller AC inverter, the 500X has more power outlets, is smaller and lighter, and provides the greatest charging flexibility to the owner.
In the Jackery 500’s favor is the manufacturer’s excellent reputation, the lower price, and the higher AC power on offer.
For camping where there is a need to run higher consumption AC appliances, I would opt for the Jackery and use the $125 saved to contribute to purchasing the Jackery Solar Saga 100-watt solar panel at $299.00.
If you are trekking and need to carry one over long distances without assistance, I would happily purchase the YETI 500X, knowing it is a great product.
Frequently Asked
How Do The Jackery 500 And YETI 500X Compare Against Others?
We have another thorough comparison of the Bluetti AC60 vs Jackery Explorer 500 that looks at a whole range of factors, including battery capacity (Watt Hours), power rating (Watts), inverter size, surge capacity, charge/recharge time, portability, outlets, number of battery cycles, and the price.
These metrics are shown below when comparing the Jackery 500 and YETI 500X with the following competitors.
- Flashfish 320W.
- Zendure SuperBase Pro.
- Anker 555 Portable Power Station.
| Feature | Jackery 500 | YETI 500X | Flashfish 320W | Zendure SuperBase Pro | Anker 555 Portable Power Station |
| Battery Capacity (Watt Hours) | 518 watt-hours | 505 watt-hours | 292 watt-hours | 607 watt-hours | 1024-watt-hour |
| Power Rating (Watt) | 500 watts | 500 watts | 320 watts | 600 watts | 1000 watts |
| Inverter Size | 500 watts | 300 watts | 320 watts | 600 watts | 1000 watts |
| Surge Capacity | 1,000 watts | 1,200 watts | 320 watts | 1,000 watts | 1364 watts |
| Charge Time – The best combination | 7.5 Hours | 3.5 hours | 3.5 hours | 2.9 hours | 5.5 hours |
| Portability | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great |
| Outlet Ports | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Battery Cycles | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 3,000 |
| Current Price | $425.00 | $549.95 | $239.99 | $399.00 | $899.99 |
