Goal Zero and Jackery are two prominent vendors of portable solar power systems. Goal Zero has been in the business for more than a decade, while Jackery made its entry in 2015. As of today, both brands are famous for their series of award-winning solar power stations and solar chargers.
Here is our take on Goal Zero Vs Jackery with a look at two of the brand’s best-seller products – Goal Zero Yeti 1500X and Jackery Explorer 1500. Yeti 1500X is a mid-range variant of Goal Zer’s third generation of Yeti power stations. Goal Zero unveiled it at CES 2020 along with nearly half a dozen of other variants.
Jackery’s reply to Yeti 1500X came up a bit late, however. Called Explorer 1500, it is an incredible power station with the typical portability and design attributes of the entire Explorer series. Along with Explorer 1500, Jackery also unveiled an Explorer 2000 power station in the middle of 2022.
THE MODELS AT A GLANCE
Jackery Explorer 1500 At a Glance
- 1800W Solar Power Station with 3600W Peak Power.
- 1488Wh (36V, 41.3Ah) Panasonic 18650 Li-ion Batteries.
- Three Full-Size 110V AC, 60Hz, 1800W Sockets.
- USB C PD 60W, USB 3.0 18W, and 12V/10A Carport.
- SolarPeak Technology for Fast and Smart Solar Charging.
- 15KG Weight and a Size of 14 x 10.4 x 12.7 Inches.
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X At a Glance
- 1500W Solar Power Station with 3000W Surge Capacity.
- 1516Wh Li-ion NMC Battery Pack Under the Hood.
- Two 120V AC Outlets and Multiple DC and USB Ports.
- AC Input of 14-50V, up to 10A (150W Max)
- Solar Charging Input of 14-50V, up to 50A (600W Max)
- 20.7KG Weight and 15.25 x 10.23 x 10.37 Size.
Table of Contents
Goal Zero Vs Jackery: Explorer 1500 Vs Yeti 1500X
Here, we would like to compare the two hot, mid-range solar power stations from Goal Zero and Jackery. Both are perfect mid-range solar power stations with 1488Wh and 1516Wh battery packs and matching inverters. Hence, it would be nice to have a comparison of Goal Zero Vs Jakcery to let you find the best of the duo.
Jackery Explorer 1500 – Introduction
Jackery Explorers are well known for their special and portable designs for use in various outdoor and recreational applications.
Added with a decent battery pack, Explorer 1500 can be a perfect portable power source for your RVs, boats, and trailers. With a high-wattage inverter, it can power up your outdoor parties and run ovens, mini-fridges, coolers, fans, heaters, and more.
In the meantime, it can be a lifesaver in an emergency as it can comfortably power up a CPAP and other medical equipment. So, it would be a great idea to have an Explorer 1500 with the required solar panels to ensure you have unlimited off-grid and emergency power right anytime, anywhere. Order a unit of Explorer 1500 on the link below.
Specs-wise, 
Meanwhile, it sports different USB and DC outlets to support a variety of your handsets and gadgets. They include a 60W USB-C port, a USB 3.0 Quick Charge port, and so on.
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X – Introduction
Next, in our Goal Zero Vs Jackery article, we would love to have a look at Yeti 1500X. It is a more powerful device with a battery of 1516Wh and a 2000W power inverter.
Coming to the application, it is also a smart choice for use in your RVs, campers, trailers, boats, or households.
Including dual AC sockets, Yeti 1500X features different charging outlets to run electrical devices like laptops, phones, cameras, power tools, TVs, CPAPs, and more. It also features a highly portable profile, though packing up a big battery, so you can take it anywhere by carrying on its handles.
Specs-wise, the battery inside Yeti 1500X is a 140.4Ah @ 10.8V Li-ion NMC pack.
The inverter is a 2000W pure sine wave unit that can surge at 4000 watts. This is is an area where the Goal Zero model has a clear edge over Explorer 1500, apart from its rather powerful battery pack.
Sporting multiple charging ports, Yeti 1500X can deliver power to up to ten devices at a time. The charging options include an 18W USB QC port, a 60W PD port, a regulated 12V carport, and more.
Compatible Solar Chargers
Both brands offer exclusive solar panels for their power stations. Goal Zero, as you know, has a collection of its award-winning Boulder solar panels. Well, they appear in multiple variants, including both briefcases and regular flat panels. All the models are compatible with Yeti 1500X.
However, considering its higher storage capacity, it is better if you use a 200W Boulder panel. If you want to mount the panel somewhere like an RV roof, boat deck, or home roof, the single panel is a nice choice. But if you would like to carry the panel on your trips, the below Boulder 200 Briefcase is the fine pick.
As you see, it is a highly efficient mono solar charger. You can fold it down like a briefcase after use and carry it along comfortably on your adventures. Its strong kickstands and handle help you manage it easily in the wild or in an emergency. This panel is also available in a 100W variant with the same briefcase form.
At the same time, Jackery has also got some cool solar panels. In its SolarSaga series, there are multiple models; 60W, 100W, and 200W variants. SolarSaga 200, a 200W folding solar panel is the finest choice for Explorer 1500. With two pieces of SolarSaga 200, you can charge the device in four hours.
Well, the four-fold solar charger offers a higher conversion rate of up to 23%. And it can perform quite well in hot and other rough climatic conditions. It has got strong built-in kickstands so that you can position it anywhere to collect as much sunlight as possible to ensure enough power in your lovely power station.
Winner: There is no winner as both brands offer reliable solar chargers for their models.
Storage Capacity and Output
Fine, this is one key area where these two power stations come closer and are the competitors. Of course, we have taken up the two power stations for comparison as they fall in the same power category. So, let us check out which one is the best choice in our Goal Zero and Jackery face-off.
With a 1516Wh battery pack and a 2000-watt pure sine wave inverter, Yeti 1500X has an edge over its Jackery alternative. Explorer 1500, as said above, is a 1488Wh power station and it packs a 1800W inverter only. The former has a surge capacity of 4000 watts, while the latter has 3600 watts.
Meanwhile, Explorer 1500 has three AC sockets, while Yeti 1500X has only two AC outlets.
Winner: Goal Zero Yeti 1500X – Bigger battery and powerful inverter.
Charging Options
Next, let us see what charging options both devices have. When it comes to the AC outlets, Explorer, as said above, is the clear winner with three AC sockets. The Goal Zero power station has only two AC sockets even if it features a better inverter capacity to support more powerful AC appliances.
Regarding the USB ports, both machines sport multiple options, including USB-C 60W PD ports. Jackery has a USB-C PD port, one USB-A, one USB 3.0 Quick Charge port, and so on. Meanwhile, Yeti 1500X has one USB-C 60W PD port, a USB QC port, and more.
It is when both the power stations incorporate basic DC sockets. The Jackery has got a 12V carport and an 8mm DC outlet at 12V~30V (100W Max). It is when Goal Zero Yeti features a 6mm port at 10A (120W max), a 12V carport, a 12V Power Pole port up to 10A (120W max), and so on.
Winner: Almost Tie. Both models have all the essential charging points, but Explorer has three AC sockets as an advantage.
Design and Portability
The next key thing to check out in a Goal Zero and Jackery comparison is the portability factor. Of course, designed for off-grid and portable power needs, they should be compact and lightweight for the purpose. It is clear that both power stations meet the requirements even if they are large power stations.
Like all the Yeti power stations, 1500X has two strong handles on both ends. Meanwhile, the Jackery has its typical built-in solid handle with gripping threads. Meanwhile, design-wise, Yeti is a boxy one, while its Jackery rival is rather oval in form factor, and both the models feature durable and strong profiles.
Here, let us have a look at the exact size and weight measurements. The Jackery is a clear winner with a size of 14 x 10.4 x 12.7 in and a light profile of 33.1 lbs. It is when Goal Zero is rather hefty and bulky. It has a size of 19 x 14 x 14 inches in and a weight of 43 lbs.
Winner: Jackery Explorer 1500.
Goal Zero Vs Jackery
Goal Zero and Jackery are obviously two famous brands. They have been two top-performing vendors with highly professional and well-engineered power stations for a long time. But Goal Zero has a history of five years more than Jackery in offering highly sophisticated solar power systems.
Jackery has been following the path of Goal Zero since 2015 with a series of stylish and practical portable power stations. Meanwhile, Goal Zero started its journey with a line of three lead-acid-based full-fledged power stations back in 2007. They were Yeti 150, Yeti 400, and Yeti 1250.
The Jackery power stations, under the branding Explorer, are now spread out in several models. Starting with a 167Wh base variant to a high-end 2060Wh variant, the brands offer half a dozen of power stations.
Apart from power stations, Goal Zero has also been offering a number of suitable solar chargers, smaller solar power banks, emergency and survival lights, torches, and more. Jackery offers a series of SolarSaga solar chargers for its power stations, at the same time.
Of course, it is a fact that Goal Zero has made a strong presence in the market with a line of award-winning Yeti power stations. They range from a base 187Wh model to a colossal 6071Wh model, thanks to the release of the new Yeti X series at CES 2020.
Available Markets
Both the Yeti and Jackery power stations are available in the USA and Canada. Above, we have already had the links to buy the products in the USA. If you are located in Canada, you can buy Yeti 1500X and Explorer 1500 here.
Final Thoughts
That has been our take on the Goal Zero and Jackery power stations. We have tried our best to explore all the key features of Yeti 1500X and Explorer 1500 in detail. Both devices have some advantages in different things as they fall in the same segment in terms of power and output. It is now up to you to pick a model that matches your requirements perfectly. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Vahid Vee is a full-time blogger who is highly passionate about portable and off-grid power backup systems. As a keen observer of the global portable power market, he is really excited to share with you the latest trends, new products, and other developments in the market. #Contact Email @ veevahid@gmail.com – LinkedIn – Full blog profile.