Portable power stations are a great way to keep your devices and appliances running when you’re off the grid, camping, RVing, or during emergencies. But with so many brands and models on the market, how do you choose the best one for your needs? In this post, we’ll compare three popular brands of portable power stations: Goal Zero, Jackery, and Bluetti. We’ll look at their features, pros and cons, and how they stack up against each other in terms of battery capacity, output power, charging options, portability, and price. Let’s get started!
Battery Capacity
One of the most important factors to consider when buying a portable power station is how much battery capacity it has. This determines how long it can run your devices and appliances before it needs to be recharged. Battery capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh), which is the amount of energy a battery can deliver in one hour.
Goal Zero, Jackery, and Bluetti all offer a range of power stations with different battery capacities, from small and lightweight ones that can fit in a backpack to large and heavy ones that can power a whole RV. Here are some examples of their products and their battery capacities:
| Brand | Model | Battery Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Zero | Yeti 200X | 187 Wh |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 500X | 505 Wh |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1000 Lithium | 1045 Wh |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1500X | 1516 Wh |
| Jackery | Explorer 160 | 167 Wh |
| Jackery | Explorer 240 | 240 Wh |
| Jackery | Explorer 500 | 518 Wh |
| Jackery | Explorer 1000 | 1002 Wh |
| Jackery | Explorer 1500 | 1488 Wh |
| Bluetti | EB150 | 1500 Wh |
| Bluetti | EB240 | 2400 Wh |
| Bluetti | AC200P | 2000 Wh |
As you can see, Bluetti has the highest battery capacity among the three brands, with its EB240 model boasting a whopping 2400 Wh of energy. This means it can run a mini-fridge for about 40 hours, a laptop for about 50 hours, or a TV for about 20 hours. However, this also means it’s the heaviest and most expensive of the bunch, weighing over 48 lbs and costing over $1800.
Goal Zero and Jackery have similar battery capacities in their products, with Goal Zero having a slight edge in some models. For example, the Yeti 1500X has more battery capacity than the Explorer 1500 by about 28 Wh. However, this also means it’s slightly heavier and more expensive than the Jackery model.
Winner: Bluetti (for highest battery capacity), Goal Zero (for best balance of capacity and weight)
Output Power
Another important factor to consider when buying a portable power station is how much output power it can provide. This determines how many and what kind of devices and appliances you can run with it at the same time. Output power is measured in watts (W), which is the amount of energy a device consumes per second.
Goal Zero, Jackery, and Bluetti all offer a range of power stations with different output power ratings, from low to high. Here are some examples of their products and their output power ratings:
| Brand | Model | Output Power Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Zero | Yeti 200X | 120 W continuous / 200 W surge |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 500X | 300 W continuous / 1200 W surge |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1000 Lithium | 1500 W continuous / 3000 W surge |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1500X | 2000 W continuous / 3500 W surge |
| Jackery | Explorer 160 | 100 W continuous / 150 W surge |
| Jackery | Explorer 240 | 200 W continuous / 400 W surge |
| Jackery | Explorer 500 | 500 W continuous / 1000 W surge |
| Jackery | Explorer 1000 | 1000 W continuous / 2000 W surge |
| Jackery | Explorer 1500 | 1800 W continuous /3600 W surge |
| Bluetti | EB150 | 1000 W continuous /1200 W surge |
| Bluetti | EB240 | 1000 W continuous /1200 W surge |
| Bluetti | AC200P | 2000 W continuous /4800 W surge |
As you can see, Bluetti has the highest output power rating among the three brands, with its AC200P model boasting a massive 2000 W of continuous power and 4800 W of surge power. This means it can run most household appliances, such as a microwave, a blender, a hairdryer, or a vacuum cleaner. However, this also means it’s the heaviest and most expensive of the bunch, weighing over 60 lbs and costing over $2000.
Goal Zero and Jackery have similar output power ratings in their products, with Goal Zero having a slight edge in some models. For example, the Yeti 1500X has more output power than the Explorer 1500 by about 200 W. However, this also means it’s slightly heavier and more expensive than the Jackery model.
Winner: Bluetti (for highest output power), Goal Zero (for best balance of power and weight)
Charging Options
Another important factor to consider when buying a portable power station is how you can charge it. This determines how long it takes to recharge the battery and how you can keep it topped up when you’re away from the grid. There are three main ways to charge a portable power station: AC wall outlet, car cigarette lighter, and solar panel.
Goal Zero, Jackery, and Bluetti all offer a range of power stations that can be charged by all three methods, but they differ in their charging speeds, input ports, and solar compatibility. Here are some examples of their products and their charging options:
| Brand | Model | Charging Speed | Input Port | Solar Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal Zero | Yeti 200X | 4 hours (AC), 4 hours (car), 2-6 hours (solar) | 8mm | Any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 500X | 8.5 hours (AC), 8.5 hours (car), 4-10 hours (solar) | 8mm or USB C PD | Any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1000 Lithium | 18 hours (AC), 9 hours (car), 6-12 hours (solar) | Anderson Power Pole or USB C PD | Any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1500X | 14 hours (AC), 14 hours (car), 6-12 hours (solar) | Anderson Power Pole or USB C PD | Any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Jackery | Explorer 160 | 5 hours (AC), 5 hours (car), 5-10 hours (solar) | 8mm or USB C PD | Jackery SolarSaga series or any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Jackery | Explorer 240 | 7 hours (AC), 7 hours (car), 7-14 hours (solar) | 8mm or USB C PD | Jackery SolarSaga series or any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Jackery | Explorer 500 | 7.5 hours (AC), 16 hours (car), 9.5-16.5 hours (solar) | Anderson Power Pole or USB C PD | Jackery SolarSaga series or any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Jackery | Explorer 1000 | 7 hours (AC), N/A (car), 8-10 hours (solar) | Anderson Power Pole or USB C PD | Jackery SolarSaga series or any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Jackery | Explorer 1500 | N/A (AC), N/A (car), N/A (solar) | Anderson Power Pole or USB C PD | Jackery SolarSaga series or any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Bluetti | EB150 | 10-12 hours (AC), N/A (car),3.5-6.5 hours(solar) | Anderson Power Pole | Any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Bluetti | EB240 | 15-16 hours(AC), N/A(car),6-9.5hours(solar) | Anderson Power Pole | Any solar panel with MC4 connector |
| Bluetti | AC200P | 5.5-6hours(AC),N/A(car),3.5-6hours(solar) | Aviation Plug | Any solar panel with MC4 connector |
As you can see, Bluetti has the fastest charging speed among the three brands, with its AC200P model boasting a rapid recharge time of only 5.5-6 hours from an AC wall outlet and only 3.5-6 hours from a solar panel. This means it can be fully charged in less than a day, even when you’re off the grid. However, this also means it’s the heaviest and most expensive of the bunch, weighing over 60 lbs and costing over $2000.
Goal Zero and Jackery have similar charging speeds in their products, but they differ in their input ports and solar compatibility. Goal Zero uses either an 8mm port, an Anderson Power Pole port, or a USB C PD port for charging, while Jackery uses either an 8mm port or an Anderson Power Pole port for charging. Goal Zero is compatible with any solar panel that has an MC4 connector, while Jackery is compatible with its own SolarSaga series of solar panels or any solar panel that has an MC4 connector.
Winner: Bluetti (for fastest charging speed), Goal Zero (for best input port and solar compatibility)
Portability
Another important factor to consider when buying a portable power station is how easy it is to carry and transport. This determines how convenient it is to use and store, especially when you’re traveling or camping. Portability is mainly affected by the weight and size of the power station, as well as the handle design and the wheels (if any).
Goal Zero, Jackery, and Bluetti all offer a range of power stations with different levels of portability, from compact and lightweight ones that can fit in a backpack to bulky and heavy ones that require a cart or a vehicle. Here are some examples of their products and their portability features:
| Brand | Model | Weight | Size | Handle | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal Zero | Yeti 200X | 5 lbs | 7.9 x 5.1 x 5.1 in | Single top handle | No |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 500X | 12.9 lbs | 11.25 x 7.5 x 5.8 in | Single top handle | No |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1000 Lithium | 40 lbs | 10.1 x 15.3 x 9.3 in | Dual side handles | No |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1500X | 45.6 lbs | 10.1 x 15.3 x 10.4 in | Dual side handles and telescoping handle | Yes |
| Jackery | Explorer 160 | 3.84 lbs | 7.4 x 4.59 x 6.73 in | Single top handle | No |
| Jackery | Explorer 240 | 6.6 lbs | 9 x 5.2 x 7.8 in | Single top handle | No |
| Jackery | Explorer 500 | 13.32 lbs | 11.84 x 7.59 x 9.2 in | Single top handle | No |
| Jackery | Explorer 1000 | 22 lbs | 13.1 x9.2×11.1in | Dual side handles | No |
| Jackery | Explorer 1500 | 33 lbs | 14x10x12in | Dual side handles and telescoping handle | Yes |
| Bluetti | EB150 | 37.9 lbs | 14.6×6.5x14in | Single top handle | No |
| Bluetti | EB240 | 48.5 lbs | 19x6x14in | Single top handle | No |
| Bluetti | AC200P | 60.6 lbs | 16x11x15in | Dual side handles and telescoping handle | Yes |
As you can see, Jackery has the best portability among the three brands, with its Explorer series of power stations being the lightest and most compact of the bunch. For example, the Explorer 160 weighs only 3.84 lbs and can fit in a backpack, while the Explorer 1500 weighs only 33 lbs and has wheels and a telescoping handle for easy transport. However, this also means it has lower battery capacity and output power than the other brands.
Goal Zero and Bluetti have similar portability features in their products, but they are generally heavier and bulkier than Jackery’s products. For example, the Yeti 200X weighs more than the Explorer 160 by about a pound, while the Yeti 1500X weighs more than the Explorer 1500 by about 12 lbs.
Winner: Jackery (for best portability)
Price
Another important factor to consider when buying a portable power station is how much it costs. This determines how affordable it is and how much value it offers for your money. Price is mainly affected by the battery capacity, output power, charging options, and portability features of the power station, as well as the brand reputation and warranty.
Goal Zero, Jackery, and Bluetti all offer a range of power stations with different prices, from budget-friendly to premium. Here are some examples of their products and their prices (as of July 2023):
| Brand | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Zero | Yeti 200X | $299.95 |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 500X | $699.95 |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1000 Lithium | $1299.95 |
| Goal Zero | Yeti 1500X | $1999.95 |
| Jackery | Explorer 160 | $139.99 |
| Jackery | Explorer 240 | $199.99 |
| Jackery | Explorer 500 | $499.99 |
| Jackery | Explorer 1000 | $999.99 |
| Jackery | Explorer 1500 | $1599.99 |
| Bluetti | EB150 | $1099.00 |
| Bluetti | EB240 | $1899.00 |
| Bluetti | AC200P | $2199.00 |
As you can see, Jackery has the best price among the three brands, with its Explorer series of power stations being the most affordable of the bunch. For example, the Explorer 160 costs only $139.99, while the Explorer 1500 costs only $1599.99. However, this also means it has lower battery capacity and output power than the other brands.
Goal Zero and Bluetti have similar prices in their products, but they are generally more expensive than Jackery’s products. For example, the Yeti 200X costs more than the Explorer 160 by about $160, while the Yeti 1500X costs more than the Explorer 1500 by about $400.
Winner: Jackery (for best price)
Conclusion
In conclusion, Goal Zero, Jackery, and Bluetti are all reputable brands of portable power stations that offer a variety of products for different needs and preferences. However, based on our comparison of their battery capacity, output power, charging options, portability, and price, we can say that:
- Bluetti is the best brand for highest battery capacity and output power, but it’s also the heaviest and most expensive.
- Goal Zero is the best brand for best balance of battery capacity and output power, as well as best input port and solar compatibility, but it’s also slightly heavier and more expensive than Jackery.
- Jackery is the best brand for best portability and price, but it also has lower battery capacity and output power than the other brands.
Therefore, depending on what you’re looking for in a portable power station, you can choose the brand that suits your needs best. If you want to learn more about each brand and their products, you can visit their websites or check out their reviews on Amazon.
We hope this post has helped you make an informed decision on which portable power station brand to buy. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading!
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