If you’re looking for a reliable and versatile portable power station, you might have come across two popular brands: Goal Zero and Jackery. Both of them offer a range of products that can power your devices and appliances in various situations, such as camping, RVing, home backup, and off-grid living. But how do they compare in terms of features, performance, and value? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of their best-selling models and see which one has the edge over the other.
Goal Zero Power Stations
Goal Zero is a company that specializes in portable power stations, solar generators, and solar panels. They have been in the market since 2009 and have a reputation for innovation and quality. Their power stations are designed to be durable, safe, and easy to use. They also have a variety of capacities, outputs, and charging options to suit different needs.
Some of their most popular models are:
- Goal Zero Yeti 200X: This is their lightest and most compact power station, weighing only 5 lbs and delivering 187 Wh of power. It has a high-speed USB-C PD port that can charge laptops, tablets, and phones in a fraction of the time. It can also be charged from the sun with their portable solar panels.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Core: This is their most affordable 1000 Wh power station, offering a great power-to-price ratio. It has multiple AC outlets, USB ports, and a 12V car port to power various devices. It can also be paired with their home energy storage system for backup power.
- Goal Zero Yeti 3000X: This is their most powerful and versatile power station, boasting 3032 Wh of capacity and 2000W of continuous output. It can run large appliances like refrigerators, electric grills, and sump pumps for hours. It also has an integrated MPPT charge controller that optimizes the solar charging efficiency.
Jackery Power Stations
Jackery is another company that focuses on portable power stations, solar generators, and solar panels. They have been in the industry since 2012 and have a loyal customer base. Their power stations are known for their lightweight design, long battery life, and quick charging speed. They also have a range of models with different capacities, outputs, and charging options to fit various scenarios.
Some of their most popular models are:
- Jackery Explorer 240: This is their entry-level power station, weighing only 6.6 lbs and providing 240 Wh of power. It has an AC outlet, two USB ports, and a 12V car port to charge small devices like phones, laptops, and cameras. It can also be charged from the sun with their compatible solar panels.
- Jackery Explorer 1000: This is their flagship power station, weighing 22 lbs and delivering 1002 Wh of power. It has three AC outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a 12V car port to charge multiple devices at once. It can also be fully charged within 1.8 hours with their SolarSaga 200W solar panels.
- Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro: This is their newest and most advanced power station, weighing 55 lbs and offering 2934 Wh of power. It has four AC outlets, two USB-C PD ports, two USB-A ports, two DC ports, and a car port to power large appliances like refrigerators, electric grills, and CPAP machines. It also has an intelligent battery management system that protects the battery from overcharging, over-discharging, over-current, short circuiting.
Comparison
Now that we have an overview of the two brands and some of their models, let’s compare them in terms of some key aspects:
Capacity
Capacity refers to how much energy the power station can store in its battery. The higher the capacity, the longer it can run your devices before needing to recharge.
In this aspect, Goal Zero has an advantage over Jackery as it offers higher-capacity models like the Yeti 3000X (3032 Wh) and the Yeti 6000X (6071 Wh), while Jackery’s highest-capacity model is the Explorer 3000 Pro (2934 Wh). However, Jackery’s models are generally lighter than Goal Zero’s models with similar capacities.
Winner: Goal Zero
Output
Output refers to how much power the power station can deliver to your devices at any given time. The higher the output, the more devices it can run simultaneously or the more powerful devices it can handle.
In this aspect, Jackery has an edge over Goal Zero as it offers higher-output models like the Explorer 3000 Pro (3000W continuous, 6000W surge) and the Explorer 2000 Plus (2200W continuous, 4400W surge), while Goal Zero’s highest-output model is the Yeti 3000X (2000W continuous, 3500W surge). However, Goal Zero’s models have more AC outlets than Jackery’s models with similar outputs.
Winner: Jackery
Charging
Charging refers to how fast and how convenient the power station can be recharged from different sources, such as wall outlets, car outlets, or solar panels.
In this aspect, Jackery has a slight advantage over Goal Zero as it offers faster charging times with its SolarSaga solar panels and car chargers. For example, the Explorer 1000 can be fully charged within 1.8 hours with two SolarSaga 100W panels, while the Yeti 1000 Core takes about 4.5 hours with a wall charger or a Boulder 200 Briefcase panel. However, Goal Zero’s models have more charging options than Jackery’s models, such as USB-C PD ports and MPPT charge controllers.
Winner: Jackery
Value
Value refers to how much you get for your money when buying a power station. The higher the value, the more features and benefits you get for a reasonable price.
In this aspect, both brands offer competitive prices for their products, but Jackery has a slight edge over Goal Zero as it offers more discounts and bundles on its website. For example, the Explorer 1000 is currently on sale for $899, while the Yeti 1000 Core is priced at $999. However, Goal Zero’s products have longer warranties than Jackery’s products (2 years vs 1 year).
Winner: Jackery
Conclusion
Based on our comparison, we can conclude that both Goal Zero and Jackery are reputable and reliable brands that offer high-quality portable power stations for various purposes. However, depending on your specific needs and preferences, you might find one brand more suitable than the other.
If you’re looking for higher-capacity and more durable power stations that can handle longer and heavier power demands, you might prefer Goal Zero. If you’re looking for lighter and faster-charging power stations that can handle shorter and lighter power demands, you might prefer Jackery.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. We hope this post has helped you make an informed decision. Happy exploring!
