Hello, power seekers! Welcome to another thrilling post from PortablePowerLife.com, your ultimate destination for everything related to portable power stations and alternative energy solutions. Today, we are going to compare two of the most popular and versatile portable power stations on the market: the Jackery 500 and the Goal Zero 500X. These two models are both great choices for anyone who needs reliable and eco-friendly power for camping, RVing, tailgating, or emergency backup, but which one is better for your specific needs? Let’s find out!
What are the Jackery 500 and the Goal Zero 500X?
The Jackery 500 and the Goal Zero 500X are portable power stations that use lithium-ion batteries to store and provide electricity for your appliances and devices. They are both compact, lightweight, and easy to carry around. They are also both compatible with solar panels that can help you recharge them from the sun when you are off-grid or in an emergency situation. They also have smart features such as LCD screens, pure sine wave inverters, multiple safety protections, etc.
The Jackery 500 is a mid-range model that offers a balance between power and portability. It has a 518Wh lithium-ion battery that can power up to seven devices simultaneously. It also has a 500W pure sine wave inverter that can deliver up to 1,000W of surge power. This means that you can run most of your household appliances with this power station, such as refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, hair dryers, TVs, laptops, etc.
The Goal Zero 500X is a higher-end model that offers more power and versatility. It has a 505Wh lithium-ion battery that can power up to nine devices simultaneously. It also has a 300W pure sine wave inverter that can deliver up to 1,200W of surge power. This means that you can run some of your appliances with this power station, but not as many or as powerful as with the Jackery 500. However, it also has more output ports than the Jackery 500, including two AC outlets, four USB-A ports (two of them are fast charging), two USB-C ports (one of them is PD), one car port (12V/10A), one 6mm port (12V/10A), and one integrated MPPT charge controller.
Design and Weight
Winner: Jackery 500 (lighter and more compact)
The first thing you might notice when looking at these two power stations is their size and weight. The Jackery 500 is smaller and lighter than the Goal Zero 500X, making it easier to carry around and store in your vehicle or tent. It weighs 13.32 lbs and measures 11.8 x 7.6 x 9.2 inches. It has a sleek orange design with a large LCD screen on the front panel that shows you the input and output power, battery level, charging time, and discharge rate. It also has two rows of ports on the front panel, including three AC outlets, one car port (12V/10A), two USB-A ports (one of them is fast charging), one USB-C port (PD), and one DC input port.
The Goal Zero 500X is heavier and bulkier than the Jackery 500, making it harder to carry around and store in your vehicle or tent. It weighs 12.9 lbs and measures 11 x 7.5 x 5.8 inches. It has a similar orange design with a smaller LCD screen on the front panel that shows you the input and output power, battery level, charging time, and discharge rate. It also has two rows of ports on the front panel, including two AC outlets (one of them is GFCI), one car port (12V/10A), four USB-A ports (two of them are fast charging), two USB-C ports (one of them is PD), one integrated MPPT charge controller port (8mm), one expansion module port (APP), one regulated port (6mm), one light-a-life port (6mm), and one DC input port.
If you are looking for a portable power station that is easy to carry around and store in your vehicle or tent, the Jackery 500 might be a better option for you. It also has a built-in handle that makes it more convenient to transport. The Goal Zero 500X, however, might be more suitable for you if you need more output ports and don’t mind the extra weight and bulkiness.
Battery Capacity and Output
Winner: Jackery 500 (higher capacity and output)
The next thing you might want to consider when comparing these two power stations is their battery capacity and output. The battery capacity is the amount of energy that the battery can store and provide. The output is the amount of power that the inverter can deliver at any given time.
The Jackery 500 has a slightly larger battery capacity than the Goal Zero 500X, meaning that it can provide longer runtimes and more power for your appliances and devices. It has a 518Wh lithium-ion battery that can power up to seven devices simultaneously. It also has a 500W pure sine wave inverter that can deliver up to 1,000W of surge power. This means that you can run most of your household appliances with this power station, such as refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, hair dryers, TVs, laptops, etc.
The Goal Zero 500X has a slightly smaller battery capacity than the Jackery 500, meaning that it can provide shorter runtimes and less power for your appliances and devices. It has a 505Wh lithium-ion battery that can power up to nine devices simultaneously. It also has a 300W pure sine wave inverter that can deliver up to 1,200W of surge power. This means that you can run some of your appliances with this power station, but not as many or as powerful as with the Jackery 500.
If you are looking for a portable power station that can provide longer runtimes and more output power, the Jackery 500 might be a better option for you. It also has a faster recharge time than the Goal Zero 500X, taking only about four hours to fully charge from an AC outlet or a solar panel (with an optional adapter). The Goal Zero 500X, however, might be more suitable for you if you only need to power some smaller devices or appliances for shorter periods of time.
Solar Charging
Winner: Tie (both models have similar solar charging capabilities)
Another important factor to consider when comparing these two power stations is their solar charging capabilities. Both models are compatible with solar panels that can help you recharge them from the sun when you are off-grid or in an emergency situation. However, there are some similarities and differences in their solar input ratings and charging times.
The Jackery 500 has a high solar input rating of up to 100W with an MC4 to DC cable (sold separately). This means that you can connect one 100W solar panel (also sold separately) to this power station and charge it in about seven hours under ideal sunlight conditions. The Jackery 500 also has a built-in MPPT charge controller that optimizes the solar charging efficiency and protects the battery from overcharging.
The Goal Zero 500X has a similar solar input rating of up to 120W with an MC4 to APP cable (sold separately). This means that you can connect one or two solar panels (also sold separately) to this power station and charge it in about six hours under ideal sunlight conditions. The Goal Zero 500X also has an integrated MPPT charge controller that optimizes the solar charging efficiency and protects the battery from overcharging.
If you are looking for a portable power station that can recharge faster and more efficiently from solar panels, the Goal Zero 500X might be a better option for you if you use two solar panels. It also has a wider range of compatible solar panels that you can choose from.
The Jackery 500, however, might be more suitable for you if you don’t need as much solar input or if you already have some MC4 solar panels that you want to use.
Other Features
Winner: Tie (both models have similar features)
The last thing you might want to compare between these two power stations is their other features. Both models have some similar features that make them user-friendly and reliable, such as:
- LCD screens that show you the input and output power, battery level, charging time, and discharge rate
- Pure sine wave inverters that provide clean and stable power for your sensitive devices
- Multiple safety protections that prevent overloading, overcharging, overheating, short-circuiting, etc.
- Eco-friendly and noiseless operation that does not emit any harmful emissions or loud noises
However, there are also some differences in their features, such as:
- The Jackery 500 has one car port (12V/10A), while the Goal Zero 500X has none
- The Goal Zero 500X has one USB-C port (PD), while the Jackery 500 has none
- The Goal Zero 500X has one expansion module port (APP), while the Jackery 500 has none
- The Goal Zero 500X has one regulated port (6mm), while the Jackery 500 has none
- The Goal Zero 500X has one light-a-life port (6mm), while the Jackery 500 has none
If you are looking for a portable power station that has more ports and options for expansion and regulation, the Goal Zero 500X might be a better choice for you. However, if you are looking for a portable power station that has a car port and a simpler design, the Jackery 500 might be more suitable for you.
Comparison Chart
Here is a comparison chart that summarizes the main differences between the Jackery 500 and the Goal Zero 500X:
| Feature | Jackery 500 | Goal Zero 500X |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Weight | Lighter and more compact | Heavier and bulkier |
| Battery Capacity and Output | Higher capacity and output | Lower capacity and output |
| Solar Charging | Similar solar charging capabilities | Similar solar charging capabilities |
| Output Ports | Fewer output ports | More output ports |
| Solar Input Ports | One solar input port | One solar input port |
| Car Port | Yes | No |
| USB-C Port (PD) | No | Yes |
| Expansion Module Port (APP) | No | Yes |
| Regulated Port (6mm) | No | Yes |
| Light-a-Life Port (6mm) | No | Yes |
Final Verdict
So, who has the best power stations: Jackery 500 or Goal Zero 500X? Well, it depends on your personal preferences and needs. Both models are excellent portable power stations that can provide reliable and eco-friendly power for your outdoor adventures or emergency situations. However, they also have some pros and cons that you should consider before making your purchase.
The Jackery 500 is the winner in terms of design, weight, battery capacity, output, car port, and price. It is also faster to recharge from an AC outlet or a solar panel. However, it is also less versatile, less expandable, less regulated, and has fewer ports than the Goal Zero 500X.
The Goal Zero 500X is the winner in terms of versatility, expandability, regulation, number of ports, USB-C port (PD), expansion module port (APP), regulated port (6mm), and light-a-life port (6mm). It is also faster to recharge from solar panels if you use two panels. However, it is also more expensive, heavier, bulkier, less powerful, less expandable, and has no car port.
We hope this post has helped you decide which portable power station is better for you: Jackery 500 or Goal Zero 500X. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And don’t forget to check out PortablePowerLife.com for more reviews and tips on portable power stations and alternative energy solutions. Thanks for reading!
