Capacity
Higher is better | Scale max: 2,042 Wh | Explorer 2000 Plus leads
Yeti 1500X 1,516 Wh
Explorer 2000 Plus 2,042 Wh
Explorer 2000 Plus: +526 Wh (+34.7%).
Yeti 1500X vs Explorer 2000 Plus
VS
2,000W
Running power
3,000W
1,516 Wh
Battery
2,042 Wh
45.6 lbs
Weight
61.5 lbs
At a Glance
This comparison targets buyers weighing a midsize portable power station against a higher-capacity LFP unit for home backup, off-grid use, or heavy solar charging. The Explorer 2000 Plus delivers 3000W of running power and 6000W surge, a full 50% more output than the Yeti 1500X's 2000W/3500W ratings. That extra headroom shows in device coverage: the Jackery powered 47 of 53 tested devices versus 43 for the Goal Zero.
Battery longevity is another sharp dividing line. The Explorer 2000 Plus uses LFP cells rated for 4000 cycles, eight times the Yeti 1500X's 500-cycle NMC pack. Solar input caps at 1400W on the Jackery versus 600W on the Goal Zero, though the Yeti 1500X compensates with a faster 5.4-hour solar charge time thanks to its smaller 1516 Wh battery.
The tradeoff is weight: the Explorer 2000 Plus hits 61.5 lbs, roughly 16 lbs heavier than the 45.6 lb Yeti 1500X.
Overall Winner
Explorer 2000 Plus
Powers 47 of 53 tested devices vs 43 for Yeti 1500X
Home backup: Explorer 2000 Plus RV / mobile: Yeti 1500X Solar: Tie
Explorer 2000 Plus wins overall, but the best pick depends on your use case.
Choose Yeti 1500X if...
- + Portability matters (46 lbs vs 62)
- + You want faster solar recharging
Choose Explorer 2000 Plus if...
- + You value battery longevity (LFP, 4,000 cycles)
- + You want broader device compatibility
- + You need all-day runtime headroom
Spec Snapshot
Absolute values shown. Bars are scaled within this comparison for readability.
Each metric is independent. Bar lengths are not comparable across different compare pages.
Running Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 3,000 W | Explorer 2000 Plus leads
Yeti 1500X 2,000 W
Explorer 2000 Plus 3,000 W
Explorer 2000 Plus: +1,000 W (+50.0%).
Surge Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 6,000 W | Explorer 2000 Plus leads
Yeti 1500X 3,500 W
Explorer 2000 Plus 6,000 W
Explorer 2000 Plus: +2,500 W (+71.4%).
Weight
Lower is better | Scale best: 45.6 lbs | Yeti 1500X leads
Yeti 1500X 45.6 lbs (20.7 kg)
Explorer 2000 Plus 61.5 lbs (27.9 kg)
Yeti 1500X: -15.9 lbs (25.8% lighter).
Battery Life
Higher is better | Scale max: 4,000 cycles | Explorer 2000 Plus leads
Yeti 1500X 500 cycles
Explorer 2000 Plus 4,000 cycles
Explorer 2000 Plus: +3,500 cycles (+700.0%).
Where Compatibility Actually Differs
Out of 53 devices tested, 4 show a different result between these two stations.
Both can run: 43 · Differences: 8% (4/53) · Neither can run: 6
Only Explorer 2000 Plus can run 4
Neither can run · 6 devices
These are 240V or high-voltage devices — neither station supports them.
Pancake Air Compressor (6-Gallon)
Central AC (3-Ton)
Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)
Well Pump (1 HP)
Electric Clothes Dryer
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | Yeti 1500X | Explorer 2000 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,516 Wh | 2,042 Wh ✓ |
| Running Power | 2,000 W | 3,000 W ✓ |
| Surge Power | 3,500 W | 6,000 W ✓ |
| Weight | 45.6 lbs (20.7 kg) ✓ | 61.5 lbs (27.9 kg) |
| Energy Density | 73.2 Wh/kg | 73.2 Wh/kg |
| Portability Tier | portable | heavy |
| Chemistry | NMC | LFP |
| Cycle Life | 500 | 4,000 ✓ |
| Expandable | Yes | Yes |
| UPS | No | No |
| AC Voltage | 120V | 120V |
Solar Charging
Best-case charging profile using compatible solar panels.
Yeti 1500X
Faster Max solar input 600 W
Connector Anderson + DC7909
Full charge time ~5.4h
Compatible panels 17/20
MPPT: 14-50V
Explorer 2000 Plus
Max solar input 1,400 W
Connector DC8020
Full charge time ~7.3h
Compatible panels 19/20
MPPT: 11-60V
Charge speed comparison
Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)
Device Compatibility
All tested devices grouped by category. Click a category to expand.
Yeti 1500XExplorer 2000 Plus
Emergency(2)
2/22/2
2/2
2/2
Entertainment(2)
2/22/2
2/2
2/2
EV & Transportation(2)
2/22/2
2/2
2/2
Heating & Cooling(7)
5/76/7
5/7
6/7
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 2000 Plus | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Fan (20-inch) | Safe | 12.8h | Safe | 17.2h |
| Central AC (3-Ton) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Dehumidifier (70 Pint) | Tight | 1.2h | Safe | 1.7h |
| Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) | Safe | 1h | Safe | 1.4h |
| Portable AC (12,000 BTU) | Soft Start | 0.8h | Safe | 1.1h |
| Space Heater (1,500W) | Safe | 0.7h | Safe | 1h |
| Window AC (8,000 BTU) | Safe | 1.5h | Safe | 2h |
Home Infrastructure(3)
1/31/3
1/3
1/3
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 2000 Plus | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Water Heater (50 Gal) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Garage Door Opener (Residential) | Safe | 5.9h | Safe | 7.9h |
| Well Pump (1 HP) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
Kitchen Appliances(11)
11/1111/11
11/11
11/11
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 2000 Plus | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Slice Bread Toaster | Safe | 0.7h | Safe | 1h |
| Coffee Maker | Safe | 0.7h | Safe | 0.9h |
| Digital Air Fryer | Safe | 0.6h | Safe | 0.8h |
| Electric Skillet | Safe | 0.7h | Safe | 1h |
| Electric Stove (Single Burner) | Safe | 0.6h | Safe | 0.8h |
| Electric Water Kettle | Safe | 0.7h | Safe | 1h |
| Instant Pot (6 Qt) | Safe | 0.7h | Safe | 1h |
| Microwave Oven (1000W) | Tight | 0.6h | Safe | 0.7h |
| Rice Cooker | Safe | 1.1h | Safe | 1.5h |
| Slow Cooker | Safe | 3.5h | Safe | 4.8h |
| Toaster Oven | Safe | 0.6h | Safe | 0.8h |
Large Appliances(4)
3/43/4
3/4
3/4
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 2000 Plus | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | Safe | 0.6h | Safe | 0.8h |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| French Door Refrigerator | Safe | 5.1h | Safe | 6.9h |
| Washing Machine | Safe | 0.8h | Safe | 1.1h |
Medical(4)
4/44/4
4/4
4/4
Outdoor & RV(6)
5/65/6
5/6
5/6
Personal Care(2)
2/22/2
2/2
2/2
Power Tools(5)
1/54/5
1/5
4/5
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The Bottom Line
Grab the Yeti 1500X if portability matters most and your loads stay under 2000W; its lighter frame and quicker solar top-ups suit weekend camping and lighter backup duties. The Explorer 2000 Plus is the better fit for home outage prep, high-draw appliances, and long-term ownership thanks to its 3000W output, broader device compatibility, and 4000-cycle battery life. With a score of 93 versus 82.5 for the Goal Zero, the Explorer 2000 Plus earns the clear recommendation here.
Yeti 1500X vs Explorer 2000 Plus FAQ
Q Which is better for home backup, Yeti 1500X or Explorer 2000 Plus?
Explorer 2000 Plus is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.
Q Which has longer runtime, Yeti 1500X or Explorer 2000 Plus?
Explorer 2000 Plus has higher battery capacity (2,042 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.
Q Which charges faster with solar panels?
Yeti 1500X has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.
Q Which is more portable, Yeti 1500X or Explorer 2000 Plus?
Yeti 1500X is lighter at 45.6 lbs vs 61.5 lbs. Yeti 1500X is rated portable for portability.
Q How many devices can each power station run?
Explorer 2000 Plus powers 47 of 53 tested devices, compared to 43 for Yeti 1500X.