Head-to-head test
DJI Power 500 vs Goal Zero Yeti 300
For $9 more than the Yeti 300, the Power 500 hands you 215Wh more capacity and nearly triple the output — the same money buys a device charger on one side and a small-appliance unit on the other.
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
DJI
Power 500
2,341Power Score · Appliance Class
$299.00 list · direct from DJI
Goal Zero
Yeti 300
1,602Power Score · Device Hub
$349.95 list · direct from Goal Zero
Spec deltas
The DJI Power 500 costs $9 more than the Goal Zero Yeti 300 and gives you 215Wh more capacity for it — 512Wh against 297Wh. When two units are priced this close, the one carrying nearly a Yeti's worth of extra battery is the one to beat.
Output is where the gap turns stark. The Power 500 sustains 1,000W to the Yeti's 350W — nearly triple — and that's the difference between a unit that runs a small appliance and one built for phones, a laptop, and not much past it. Testers found the Yeti shutting down within a couple of minutes when a coffee maker pushed it near its limit; the DJI ran a 905W load without flinching.
The Yeti 300 isn't without merit: it's 2.4 lbs lighter at 13.7 against 16.1, its IP54 shell handles dust and splashes, it switches to battery a touch faster, and its inverter has more surge headroom relative to its size. For a grab-the-lightest-thing device charger, those add up. But at a $9 difference, they're deciding between two units that aren't in the same weight class of capability.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
Capacity
That near-price, far-capacity gap is exactly why the DJI lands at 18 cents per lifetime kilowatt-hour against the Yeti's 29 — same 4,000-cycle chemistry on both, so the DJI is cheaper per unit of energy purely because you get so much more battery for almost the same money.
Power 500: $359 for 512WhYeti 300: $349.95 for 297Wh
Why it mattersA buyer weighing these on price is really choosing between equal cost and unequal capacity — and should take the unit with more of it.
For the person two feet from the unit at 3 a.m., this is the whole decision — the DJI runs the machine to morning with reserve left over, while the Yeti runs out of battery before the night is done, on a load it was never quite big enough for.
CPAP overnight draw: about 320WhYeti 300 capacity: 297Wh; Power 500: 512Wh
Why it mattersAnyone buying this for CPAP or medical backup should rule the Yeti 300 out on capacity alone and take the Power 500.
continuous output
But the Yeti's best burst, 600W, still sits below the DJI's steady 1,000W, so the higher ratio is flattering a very low starting point. The DJI simply runs at a wattage the Yeti can only briefly touch, which is why a load that trips the Yeti barely registers on the DJI.
Power 500: 1,000W continuous, 1,000W surge (a 1× ratio)Yeti 300: 350W continuous, 600W surge (a 1.7× ratio)
Why it mattersThe surge-ratio edge is real but academic here — for anything demanding, the DJI's higher baseline matters far more than the Yeti's higher multiplier.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
PowerScore Breakdown
Selected because: nearly triple the output and 215Wh more capacity at the same price — the DJI's core case
overall power score
The Power 500 wins the score on the two numbers that decide what a unit can actually do: 512Wh of capacity against 297Wh, and 1,000W of continuous output against 350W. That output gap is the one you'd hit first — the Yeti is a phones-and-laptop unit, and the DJI runs a coffee maker or a small microwave the Yeti can't sustain.
The Yeti's counterpoint is that its inverter surges proportionally higher, to 600W from a 350W base. It's a genuine spec, but the DJI's steady 1,000W already clears the Yeti's peak, so the higher ratio never translates into running anything the DJI can't.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: near-identical sticker but 18 vs 29 cents per lifetime kWh; the DJI is the value pick despite the higher tag
cost / lifetime kWh
Eighteen cents a lifetime kilowatt-hour against twenty-nine, on batteries that share the exact 4,000-cycle rating. The DJI didn't earn that on longevity — it earned it by handing you 215Wh more capacity for $9 more money.
The Yeti's only price argument is that its sticker is marginally lower, and even that's within a rounding error. Reviewers have flagged that the Yeti's price stings for the capacity you get, and this comparison is why: the same money buys far more battery next to it.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: surge ratio and UPS speed favor the Yeti, noise disclosure favors the DJI — an honest split to surface
The fair-fight flags split, and two go the Yeti's way: it switches to battery in 10 milliseconds against the DJI's 20, and its inverter carries the higher surge-to-continuous ratio for motor startups. Both are legitimate, if narrow, wins.
The DJI takes the disclosure flag. It publishes a 25dB noise figure; Goal Zero lists none for the Yeti 300. That silence isn't proof it's loud, but a brand confident in a quiet unit usually says so.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: 13.7 vs 16.1 lbs is the Yeti's clearest win and worth giving its due
weight
At 13.7 lbs the Yeti 300 is 2.4 lbs lighter than the 16.1-lb DJI, and paired with its IP54 dust-and-splash rating and rubberized, sturdy build, it's the more grab-and-go of the two for rough handling.
It's a modest edge, though. Neither unit is heavy, and the 2.4 lbs you save comes with 215Wh less battery — the smaller unit is lighter partly because there's less of it to carry.
Strengths & trade-offs
DJI Power 500
Strengths
- +Costs $50.9 less
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- –No major technical downsides compared to rival.
Goal Zero Yeti 300
Strengths
- +Lighter by 2.4 lb
Trade-offs
- –Weaker inverter (-650W) limits appliance compatibility.
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
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 2,100Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 1,645Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
Power 500
The Power 500 runs a CPAP to morning; the Yeti 300 doesn't quite make it. A full night needs roughly 320Wh, which is more than the Yeti's entire 297Wh battery holds and comfortably inside the DJI's 512Wh. For the machine next to your pillow, that's the difference between a full night and a 3 a.m. alarm.
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
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 910Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 670Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 4,685Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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 six 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: Power 500 runs 2.1h vs 1.2h.
$299 list · direct from DJI
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 0–29hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–5.8hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0–0.4h¹ 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 16, 2026
Verdict: the Power 500
These two cost within $9 of each other, and that's where the resemblance ends. The Power 500 holds 512Wh against the Yeti 300's 297Wh, sustains 1,000W against 350W, and runs a CPAP overnight the Yeti can't finish — while costing 18 cents per lifetime kilowatt-hour against 29. The Yeti keeps a few honest points: it's 2.4 lbs lighter, carries an IP54 rating, has a quicker switchover, and its inverter surges to nearly double its continuous number. But at essentially the same price, the DJI is the far more capable box. Take the Power 500 unless you specifically want the smallest, lightest unit for phones and a laptop.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of July 16, 2026. The links below open DJI's and Goal Zero's current prices.
$299.00 list · direct from DJI
or check the Yeti 300 price$349.95 list
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated July 16, 2026
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
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 — see Sources & Research Notes below.
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, Power 500 rates 4.4/5 (67th percentile of 19 Compact-class units), and Yeti 300 rates 4.0/5 (43rd percentile of 22 Personal-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.
The Yeti's Inverter Surges Proportionally Higher
The Yeti 300 bursts to 600W from a 350W continuous base — a 1.7x ratio that helps with motor startups. The Power 500 rates 1,000W both continuous and surge, a flat 1x. The catch: even the Yeti's peak burst sits below the DJI's steady output, so the higher ratio is measured against a much lower floor.
Yeti Switches Over a Touch Faster
The Yeti 300 flips to battery in 10 milliseconds against the Power 500's 20 — both fine for a desktop or router, but the Yeti's is the tighter margin if you're leaning on it as a home UPS for always-on equipment.
Warranty Value Comparison
The Power 500 gives you 16.7 years of warranty per $1,000 spent, vs the Yeti 300's 14.3 years. That's 1.2× more coverage per dollar. An underrated factor if you're keeping this unit for years.
Only the DJI Publishes a Noise Number
The Power 500 is rated at 25dB. Goal Zero lists no noise figure for the Yeti 300 at all. If it's running where you sleep or work, that missing spec is a real unknown worth checking before you commit.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the Power 500.
Check Power 500 price →or check the Yeti 300 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
The Power 500 wins on both sticker price and long-term value. At $0.15/kWh over its lifetime, it's meaningfully cheaper to own. Clear value winner.
Delivers each lifetime kWh for $0.14 less — check the Power 500 price →
Brand trust
DJI
Ecosystem
New entrant (2024) — 4 power station models: Power 500, Power 1000 V2, Power 1000 Mini, Power 2000
Support
Leveraging DJI's established global support and repair center network from the drone business. Generally positive reputation inherited from drone operations, but limited power-station-specific track record.
Community
No dedicated power station community yet. Discussions happen within r/dji (~250K members, mostly drone users). Very small power-specific presence on Facebook and forums.
App experience
Rated 3.5/5 iOS and Android (DJI Home app ratings reflect entire DJI ecosystem including drones/cameras, not power-station-specific). Users report the on-device screen is more reliable than the app.
Unique strength
DJI brings hundreds of battery patents from its drone business, builds some of the quietest units in the category, and backs them with an established global repair network.
Worth knowing
It's only about two years into power stations, with no dedicated owner community yet and no expansion-battery ecosystem across its four models.
Goal Zero
Ecosystem
Focused — 5-6 active portable power station models across Yeti and Yeti Pro series, 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
Goal Zero is the US-based pioneer of portable power, with rugged IP54 hardware and an ecosystem of coolers, panels, and vehicle kits.
Worth knowing
It's the priciest brand per watt-hour, its support has slid in 2025-2026, and the official community forums were recently shuttered.
Analyst note
Goal Zero brings US heritage and a rugged, weather-ready build; DJI brings newer engineering, a quieter unit, and a large parent company's repair network. At nearly the same price with the DJI holding far more capacity, the newcomer is the stronger bet for most buyers here.
Growth path
Power 500
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 512Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 300W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Yeti 300
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 297Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 200W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Neither expands, and that's no knock on either — each is a complete unit at a fixed size. Buy the capacity that covers your needs now (the Power 500 gives you the larger ceiling); you can't add to either later.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
DJI Power 500
At about 16.1 lbs the Power 500 is an easy grab-and-go that reviewers rate as simple to transportA2. Its automotive-grade LFP cells are good for 3,000 to 4,000 cycles, roughly a decade of useA1, and in testing it ran a 905W load and briefly absorbed a 1,500W spike past its own 1,000W rating, coming in more efficient than DJI's larger Power 1000A3. The one honest gap is the box, not the battery: it ships with only a wall plug — no solar adapter, no car cable — so plan for those if you'll be charging off-gridA4.
“A 512Wh LFP battery with up to 1,000W output; the automotive-grade LFP cells are rated up to 3,000-4,000 cycles for roughly a 10-year lifespan.”
Sources
dji.com · thesolarlab.com · techradar.com · views-sounds.com · t3.com
Goal Zero Yeti 300
The Yeti 300 is a genuinely well-built compact: 297Wh of modern LFP rated for 4,000-plus cycles, with rubberized corners, a sturdy handle, IP54 dust-and-water resistance, and a 0-to-100% recharge in about 50 minutesB1B2. The honest limit is the one testers ran straight into — its 297Wh and roughly 300W ceiling suit a laptop for 4 to 6 hours or 20 to 30 phone charges, but push near that ceiling and it struggles, shutting down within a couple of minutes when asked to run a coffee makerB3. Reviews also note the price stings for the capacity you actually getB4.
“297Wh LiFePO4 battery rated for 4,000+ cycles — daily use for over 10 years — with a 200W pure sine inverter (300W surge).”
Sources
goalzero.com · batteryskills.com · campingsolar.us · trailandkale.com · the-gadgeteer.com
Sources & Research Notes
Every owner claim in this report is traceable to a published source. The bracketed references above resolve here.
Recurring owner themes
- Light, efficient LFP unit with strong real-world output and drone-pilot appeal; the caveat is minimal included accessories. [Power 500 · 3 entries]
- Modern LFP (4,000+ cycles), IP54 ruggedness, and fast charging are the praise; small capacity and high price are the caveats. [Yeti 300 · 3 entries]
- A1
“A 512Wh LFP battery with up to 1,000W output; the automotive-grade LFP cells are rated up to 3,000-4,000 cycles for roughly a 10-year lifespan.”
dji.com / thesolarlab.com — Power 500 review · 2026 · [positive]
- A2
“Weighs only about 7.3 kg, making it easy to transport.”
dji.com / techradar.com — Power 500 review · 2026 · [positive]
- A3
“In testing it ran a 905W load and briefly handled a 1,500W surge above its 1,000W rating; reviewers found it outperformed the larger DJI Power 1000 in efficiency testing.”
thesolarlab.com / views-sounds.com — Power 500 review · 2026 · [positive]
- A4
“Reviews are positive overall, though one noted it ships with only a wall plug — no solar adapters or car-charging cables included.”
t3.com / techradar.com — Power 500 review · 2026 · [mixed]
- B1
“297Wh LiFePO4 battery rated for 4,000+ cycles — daily use for over 10 years — with a 200W pure sine inverter (300W surge).”
goalzero.com / batteryskills.com — Yeti 300 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B2
“Just over 12 lbs, meets IP54 for dust and water resistance, with top-tier build quality — rubberized corners and a sturdy handle; recharges 0-100% in 50 minutes.”
campingsolar.us / trailandkale.com — Yeti 300 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B3
“The 297Wh capacity limits it to lighter-duty use — 4-6 hours on a laptop or 20-30 phone charges — and it struggled near its 300W limit, shutting down after 2 minutes with a coffee maker.”
batteryskills.com — Yeti 300 review · 2026 · [mixed]
- B4
“A modern LFP (not NMC) rugged compact unit, though the ~$300 price stings for the capacity.”
the-gadgeteer.com — Yeti 300 review · 2026 · [mixed]
Research compiled July 16, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Power 500 if you…
- →Anyone comparing these on price — for $9 more you get 215Wh more capacity and nearly triple the output
- →CPAP and medical-backup users, where 512Wh clears a night the Yeti's 297Wh can't finish
- →Buyers who'll run a small appliance — a coffee maker, a compact microwave — that the Yeti's 350W ceiling stalls
Buy the Yeti 300 if you…
- →Buyers who want the lightest, smallest unit for phones, a laptop, and little else — 13.7 lbs and IP54-rugged
- →Anyone who values the quicker 10-millisecond switchover for always-on gear
- →Users starting motor loads that spike then settle, where the Yeti's higher surge ratio helps
If neither fits
Anyone planning a weekend of camping, an all-day blackout, or a fridge running for hours. Both units sit at or under 512Wh — well short of those jobs — so step up to a 1,000Wh-plus unit rather than pushing either past its class.
The Bottom Line
Nine dollars apart on the sticker, worlds apart on capability: the Power 500's 512Wh and 1,000W against the Yeti 300's 297Wh and 350W, at 18 cents per lifetime kilowatt-hour against 29. The Yeti's lighter body and IP54 shell are real, but they're deciding a device charger against a small-appliance unit.
Take the Power 500. Reach for the Yeti 300 only if you want the smallest, lightest box for phones and a laptop and will never ask it to do more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the DJI Power 500 or Goal Zero Yeti 300 the better buy?
The Power 500, and it's not close for the money. It costs just $9 more than the Yeti 300 but holds 215Wh more capacity and puts out nearly triple the continuous watts. Over its life that works out to 18 cents per lifetime kilowatt-hour against the Yeti's 29.
Can the Yeti 300 run a coffee maker or small appliance?
Not reliably. Its 350W continuous ceiling is below what many coffee makers and appliances draw, and testers watched it shut down within a couple of minutes when pushed near that limit. The Power 500's 1,000W output handles those loads comfortably.
Which one can run a CPAP overnight?
The Power 500. A CPAP needs roughly 320Wh for a full night, which exceeds the Yeti 300's entire 297Wh capacity but sits well within the DJI's 512Wh. If overnight medical use is the job, the Yeti simply isn't big enough.
Does the Yeti 300 have any advantage over the Power 500?
A few narrow ones. It's 2.4 lbs lighter, carries an IP54 dust-and-splash rating, switches to battery a bit faster, and its inverter surges proportionally higher. For a lightweight, rugged device charger those matter, but none change that the DJI holds far more capacity and output for nearly the same price.
Where to buy
DJI Power 500Pick
$299.00
$299.00 list · direct from DJI
Goal Zero Yeti 300
$349.95
$349.95 list · direct from Goal Zero
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.