Head-to-head test
Anker SOLIX F3800 vs Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
Real-world runtimes, scenario verdicts, and ownership costs compared — which wins for your use case.
Full profiles: Anker SOLIX F3800 → · Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) →
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
$1,999.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Goal Zero
Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
6,834Power Score · The AC & Fridge Zone
$5,998.95 · direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Spec deltas
The Anker SOLIX F3800 (3,840Wh) and Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) (7,988Wh) sit in different weight classes. The real question: do your power needs justify the larger unit, or would you be overpaying for capacity that sits unused? We'd buy the SOLIX F3800.
What the spec gap means in practice: the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s 3,600W inverter has the headroom for a window AC, a full-size fridge, and power tools. The SOLIX F3800's 6,000W inverter still runs most single appliances; the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s real edge is surge headroom for the biggest motor starts and stacking several heavy loads at once. On stamina, the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) keeps a fridge alive for roughly 45 hours vs the SOLIX F3800's 22 hours. The cost? Portability. At 196 lbs, the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) is spread across boxes you site once and leave. The SOLIX F3800 at 132.3 lbs is more manageable, though still not light.
Pick the SOLIX F3800 if you want the unit that wins the head-to-head on balance. Go with the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) if you primarily need it for 8-hour blackout or remote workday. Cost to own runs close here — about $0.17/kWh for the SOLIX F3800 against $0.19 for the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) — so it won't be the tiebreaker. Keep scrolling for the full breakdown. The scenario verdicts below hold a few surprises.
Bench Notes
What each unit does well, where it falls short, and the trade-offs that matter.
Anker SOLIX F3800
With a massive 6,000W output (and 9,000W surge), the SOLIX F3800 can run high-wattage appliances like space heaters, hair dryers, and electric grills without tripping. Weighing in at 132.3 lbs, this is not a unit you want to carry far. It's best suited as a stationary backup or RV companion. A standout feature is the value proposition: at roughly $0.52 per watt-hour, it's one of the most cost-effective options on the market.
Strengths
- +Costs $3,999 less
- +Lighter by 63.6 lb
- +Higher AC output
Trade-offs
- –Very heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
- –Shorter-lived battery — rated for 3,000 charge cycles vs the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s 4,000, so it wears out sooner.
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
With a massive 3,600W output (and 7,200W surge), the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) can run high-wattage appliances like space heaters, hair dryers, and electric grills without tripping. Weighing in at 196 lbs, this is not a unit you want to carry far. It's best suited as a stationary backup or RV companion.
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Faster solar charging
- +Rated for 4,000 charge cycles — much longer battery lifespan
Trade-offs
- –Substantially more expensive (+$3,999) than the SOLIX F3800.
- –Significantly heavier (+63.6 lbs), making it harder to move.
- –Weaker inverter (-2,400W) limits appliance compatibility.
- –Very heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on six real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 · 2 nights · needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Neither unit
Scoring these two at a campsite is a category error: neither travels — the SOLIX F3800 is 132.3 lbs and the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) 196 lbs, and at those weights they roll off a truck bed if they go anywhere at all. The 2,100Wh here is trivial for either — it's the going that doesn't happen. If you need power away from the building, you're shopping the wrong class.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Phone Charger 15W×6h · LED Lights 40W×8h · Box Fan 75W×14h · CPAP Machine 40W×16h
SCN-02 · 8 hours · needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
Both survive the night. The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) finishes at 24% used with 5,145Wh left — 3.1 more nights like it. The SOLIX F3800 finishes at 50% with 1,619Wh, 98% of a second night. If your outages tend to run past one evening, that difference is the whole argument between them.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Fridge 150W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40W×6h · Phone Charger 15W×3h
SCN-03 · 8 hours · needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption — the #1 medical use case
Either unit
A CPAP is about 40W for eight hours, so both cover the night with room to spare and capacity decides nothing. Fan noise would — but neither maker publishes a fan-noise figure, so there's nothing to hold either of them to. Buy on price, weight, and whether you can live with a fan you haven't heard.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD CPAP Machine 40W×8h
SCN-04 · 8 hours · needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) clears the workday at 13% used, banking 5,880Wh — late work, extra calls, or a second laptop charge without arithmetic. The SOLIX F3800 at 28% also finishes, with 2,354Wh of slack for the unplanned.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Laptop 60W×8h · External Monitor 30W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · Phone Charger 15W×2h
SCN-05 · 4 hours · needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
Neither unit
Scoring these two at a tailgate is a category error: neither travels — the SOLIX F3800 is 132.3 lbs and the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) 196 lbs, and at those weights they roll off a truck bed if they go anywhere at all. The 670Wh here is trivial for either — it's the going that doesn't happen. If you need power away from the building, you're shopping the wrong class.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Blender 400W×0.5h · LED TV (55") 80W×4h · Bluetooth Speaker 15W×4h · Phone Charger (×3) 45W×2h
SCN-06 · 24 hours · needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living — the ultimate endurance test
Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
The SOLIX F3800 doesn't finish — 3,264Wh usable against the 4,685Wh this needs leaves it 1,421Wh short, about 69% of the scenario covered. The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) covers it with 2,105Wh to spare.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Mini-Fridge 150W×24h · Laptop 60W×4h · Phone Charger 15W×3h · LED Lights 40W×5h · Fan 75W×8h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh × 0.85) ÷ LOAD
None of the scenarios above exactly yours? Build it. Toggle what you'd plug in; both units are tested against the combined draw.
Essentials
Comfort & Convenience
High-Draw Appliances
Test duration
8h
Continuous draw
205W
Projected runtime
For this load: Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) runs 33.1h vs 15.9h.
$5,998.95 list · direct from Goal Zero
Modeled from the spec record — same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.¹
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0–452.7hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–90.5hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0–6.8h¹ Runtime = (capacity × 0.85) ÷ appliance watts. Within each group, all bars share one time scale (the group's longest runtime), so lengths are comparable across appliances; identical runtimes collapse into a single blue/orange bar. Actual runtime varies with battery age, temperature, and simultaneous loads — see methodology.
Conclusion
July 10, 2026
Verdict: the SOLIX F3800
The SOLIX F3800 takes it on balance: 2,400W more output than the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000), against 4,148Wh less capacity. It costs $3,999 less as well and weighs 63.6 lbs less, which makes it the easier call.
Overall score margin: 5,712 vs 6,834 (−19.6%)
List prices as of July 10, 2026. The links below open Anker's and Goal Zero's current prices.
$1,999.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
or check the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) price$5,998.95 list
Written by Gunner Gustafson, Whole-Home Backup Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated July 10, 2026
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): RV Living, Solar Generator.
Full specifications
ᵈ Derived: price ÷ rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons →
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool →How these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it — no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity × 0.85 inverter efficiency) ÷ device wattage. Solar recharge estimates assume panels deliver 70% of rated output. Cold weather, battery age, and stacked loads reduce real-world results.
Power Score
Computed from 14 published spec dimensions, weighted per use-case bench. Higher is better; a unit must meet a bench's minimum threshold to be rated.
See the full weight table and data sourcing on our methodology page →Class ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews — no buyer opinions feed it. We score every station on size-independent quality (value, output, portability, endurance, ports, warranty, and more), then percentile-rank it against the other units in its capacity class, so a class-leading compact unit and a class-leading whole-home unit can both earn 5★. Here, SOLIX F3800 rates 4.7/5 (80th percentile of 16 Home Backup-class units), and Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) rates 3.4/5 (4th percentile of 29 Whole-Home / Off-Grid-class units).
How the class ranking is computed →Test Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
Weight Reality Check
Neither unit is grab-and-go. The SOLIX F3800 (132.3 lbs) is a two-person lift. The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) (196 lbs) is spread across its boxes — no single lift, but nothing you reposition on a whim. That's a 64 lb difference, and it is paid once — getting the heavier one into position, not every time you move it.
Surge Power: Ratio and Ceiling Disagree
The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) holds the higher surge-to-continuous ratio (2× vs 1.5×), but the SOLIX F3800 holds the higher absolute surge ceiling — 9,000W against 7,200W. These measure different things. The ratio says how much headroom an inverter keeps above its own rating; the ceiling says how big a startup spike it can actually swallow. A motor draws a number of watts at switch-on, not a multiple of someone else's rating, so on raw starting ability the SOLIX F3800 is the stronger unit here — while the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) is the one running further below its own limit at steady state.
UPS Switchover: ≤15ms vs ≤20ms
Both list a UPS mode, at different rated speeds. The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) is rated ≤15ms — fine on paper for routers and most electronics; the fussiest PC power supplies sit right at this line. The SOLIX F3800 is rated ≤20ms — fine on paper for routers and most electronics; the fussiest PC power supplies sit right at this line. If a computer with unsaved work is the thing being protected, the stated class is worth the attention; nothing here is a lab result.
Warranty: No Difference
Both units carry the same 5-year warranty, so coverage isn't a tiebreaker here. Worth saying because the per-dollar framing can suggest otherwise: the SOLIX F3800 works out at 2.5 years of cover per $1,000 spent against the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s 0.8, but that spread is the price gap, not the terms.
Battery Lifespan in Real Years
The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 3,000. In real life: at daily use, that's 11 vs 8.2 years. At weekend use (twice a week), it's 38 vs 29 years. One caution reading years across different sizes: a cycle is 7,988Wh on the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) and 3,840Wh on the SOLIX F3800, so count lifetime energy — roughly 31,952 kWh against 11,520 kWh over the rated life. After hitting the cycle limit, the battery doesn't die — it drops to ~80% of original capacity, which is still very usable.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the SOLIX F3800.
Check SOLIX F3800 price →or check the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) priceOwnership Analysis
What happens after you buy — true cost of ownership, brand trust, and growth potential.
Lifetime value
Service lifeyears at one full cycle per day
Lifetime energy delivered
Cost per delivered kWh
│ warranty ends · Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains — degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
Both units have similar long-term ownership costs ($0.17/kWh vs $0.19/kWh). The price difference is what you see on the sticker — neither is a hidden bargain or rip-off.
Brand trust
Anker
Ecosystem
7-8 SOLIX portable power stations across C-series (compact) and F-series (flagship), plus the X1 home energy system
Support
US-based support. Historically known for incredible no-hassle replacements, but recent reports describe AI-driven support agents giving generic responses and complex return logistics for heavy units (hazmat shipping). The Anker brand reputation is still strong, but SOLIX-specific support quality is trending down.
Community
Moderate — active Reddit (r/Anker, r/AnkerSOLIXCommunity) and growing. Benefits from Anker's massive consumer electronics brand awareness.
App experience
Rated 4.5/5 iOS (~1,100 ratings) · 4.3/5 Android
Unique strength
Parent brand trust from Anker's consumer electronics dominance. InfiniPower technology for long cycle life. Strong $/Wh value in the mid-size and larger units — the S2000, F2600 and C1000 are among the better buys per watt-hour in the catalog.
Worth knowing
Support quality appears to be declining from its historically excellent level. Firmware updates have removed features without warning. Expansion ecosystem is smaller than EcoFlow's.
Goal Zero
Ecosystem
Focused — a compact current line (6th-gen Yeti and Yeti Pro series), the previous-gen X series now out of stock across every model on Goal Zero's own store (checked 2026-09-13: 200X, 500X, 1000X, 1500X, 3000X, 6000X, some listed only as open-box), so buying one new means finding retailer stock, Sherpa power banks for the under-100Wh tier, plus Alta coolers, Nomad/Ranger solar panels, and vehicle integration kits
Support
US-based company (Salt Lake City, owned by NRG Energy). Historically considered premium support, but 2025-2026 reports describe long wait times, unresponsive email communication, and tickets going unaddressed for weeks. The "premium support justifies premium pricing" argument is weakening.
Community
Small but loyal — strong following in overlanding and preparedness communities. Official community forums were recently shuttered, frustrating long-time users.
App experience
Rated 4.4/5 iOS (~1,200 ratings) but recent reviews skew negative — recurring connectivity issues, crashes, and stability problems.
Unique strength
Pioneer of the portable power market — strongest brand heritage. US-based company with ruggedized, weather-resistant designs (IP ratings vary by model). Integrated "Yeti-Ready" ecosystem with coolers, lights, and vehicle kits.
Worth knowing
Typically the priciest brand per watt-hour — though individual pairings vary, and on some pages the Yeti is the cheaper energy. Support quality has declined from its "premium" standard. Perceived as competitively stagnant vs. faster-innovating Chinese competitors. Reliability reports on newer models are concerning.
Analyst note
Goal Zero positions itself as a premium brand with stronger support infrastructure, while Anker competes on value. The question is whether the Goal Zero ecosystem and support premium is worth it for your use case.
Growth path
SOLIX F3800
EXPANDABLESupports Anker expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 3,840Wh.
Accepts up to 2,400W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Generous port selection supports complex multi-device setups.
Expansion batteries are Anker-specific. You're investing in the Anker ecosystem.
Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
EXPANDABLESupports Goal Zero expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 7,988Wh.
Accepts up to 3,000W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Generous port selection supports complex multi-device setups.
Expansion batteries are Goal Zero-specific. You're investing in the Goal Zero ecosystem.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Both expand, so neither locks you out of growth — decide on capacity, price, and the rest, not the expansion checkbox.
The Bottom Line
The full picture comes down to this. The SOLIX F3800 edges ahead on our overall analysis, but the margin is narrow enough that your specific use case should drive the decision. Review the scenario verdicts above — if the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) wins in the scenarios that match your life, it's the right choice regardless of aggregate scores.
If neither the SOLIX F3800 nor the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) feels like the right fit, your power needs probably sit outside what these two target. For lighter use — weekend camping or phone/laptop charging — you'd be overpaying for capacity you'll rarely tap. Consider a unit in the 500–1,500Wh range instead. Prices on portable power stations fluctuate frequently. Both Anker and Goal Zero discount regularly, so check the current price before committing. Prime Day and Black Friday pricing typically drops 20-30%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) worth $3,999 more than the SOLIX F3800?
The short answer: yes, if you'll actually use the extra capability. The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) costs $3,999 more, but that premium buys you 4,148Wh more battery capacity (that's 24 extra hours of running a mini-fridge); a longer-lasting battery rated for 4,000 cycles — that's 11 years at daily use; 600W faster solar charging for quicker off-grid recovery. On a cost-per-watt-hour basis, you're paying $0.75/Wh vs $0.52/Wh. For regular use, we'd pay the premium.
How does the 4,148Wh capacity difference actually affect daily use?
The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s 7,988Wh battery keeps a mini-fridge running for roughly 45 hours vs the SOLIX F3800's 22 hours. Both can handle a full 8-hour blackout setup (fridge + router + lights + phone charging ≈ 1,645Wh), but the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) finishes with significantly more margin. That matters if conditions aren't ideal or the outage runs long. What specs don't mention: runtime drops 20-30% in cold weather (below 32°F/0°C) as battery chemistry slows down. The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s extra capacity provides a critical cold-weather buffer. For occasional phone and laptop charging, both are overkill. This gap only matters for sustained, multi-appliance use.
Can I actually carry the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000), or is the SOLIX F3800 the only portable option?
Neither is "portable" in any hiking sense. The SOLIX F3800 (132.3 lbs) and the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) (196 lbs) are both appliances you place and leave. The 63.6-lb difference matters when loading into a vehicle or moving between rooms, but that's about it. If true portability is your priority, look at units under 20 lbs in a different class entirely.
How fast can each unit recharge from solar panels in real conditions?
On paper, the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) accepts 3,000W vs the SOLIX F3800's 2,400W of solar input. What the spec sheet won't tell you: solar panels typically deliver only 60-80% of their rated output due to panel angle, cloud cover, and temperature. In realistic conditions, expect full recharge in about 3.8 hours for the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) and 2.3 hours for the SOLIX F3800. That gap widens on cloudy days, when the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s higher input ceiling captures more of whatever sunlight is available. One more thing: summer gives you ~7 productive solar hours per day. Winter drops to ~4. If solar is your primary recharge method, the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)'s advantage is substantial.
"4,000 vs 3,000 cycles" — what does that actually mean for me?
In real years: the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) (4,000 cycles) lasts 11.0 years at daily use, 38 years at weekend use (twice a week), or 167 years at twice-monthly camping trips. The SOLIX F3800 (3,000 cycles): 8.2 years daily, 29 years weekends, or 125 years twice-monthly. What most people miss: hitting the cycle limit doesn't kill your battery. Capacity drops to about 80%. Your 7,988Wh unit becomes a ~6,390Wh unit. Still very usable. For weekend users, both batteries will outlast the warranty by years.
Is Anker or Goal Zero more reliable for long-term ownership?
Both brands have strengths and trade-offs. Anker: 5-year warranty standard on portable stations, 10-year on home energy systems. Historically very reliable, though some recent firmware updates have altered product functionality without notice or rollback option. Goal Zero: 5 years on LFP models, 2 years on older NMC models. Battery must be charged within 7 days of purchase and every 6 months to maintain warranty (strict). Product reliability concerns have increased — repeat "Battery Fault" errors reported even on newer Yeti Pro 4000. One piece of advice from the power station community: regardless of brand, buy from Costco or Amazon. Their return policies provide a safety net that manufacturer warranties alone can't match, especially for a product you'll rely on in emergencies. Both brands use LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries in their current lineup, the most proven chemistry for longevity and safety.
Bottom line: should I buy the SOLIX F3800 or the Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)?
We'd buy the SOLIX F3800. Strong value at a lower price, and for most real-world use cases the spec gaps don't translate to meaningful capability gaps. The Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000) makes sense only if you specifically need its higher capacity for demanding sustained loads like full-home backup or commercial use.
Related comparisons
Where to buy
Anker SOLIX F3800Pick
$1,999.99
$1,999.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 + Tank PRO 4000 (Yeti PRO 8000)
$5,998.95
$5,998.95 · direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.