The Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium is a powerful solar-powered generator that comes from a reputable brand, Goal Zero. The Inergy Apex also comes from a reputable brand, mostly known for its previous solar generator model called the Kodiak.
Overall, which generator is better, the Inergy Apex or the Goal Zero Yeti 1000?
The best generator out of the two is the Inergy Apex. This is because the power-to-weight ratio of the Apex is much higher than the Yeti 1000. Also, the battery life expectancy of the Apex is four times higher than the Yeti, at 2,000 cycles.
In this overview and comparison, were going to be discussing the similarities and differences between these solar generators as well as the unique features of both. Stay tuned!

Yeti 1000 Lithium Statistics & Specifications
(The following stats are provided from Goal Zero’s website)
Yeti 1000 Lithium Overall Stats
GENERAL | CHARGE TIMES | BATTERY DETAILS | PORTS |
---|---|---|---|
Product SKU: 38004 | Wall Charger (5A): 18 Hours | Cell Chemistry: Li-ion NMC | USB Port (output): 5V, up to 2.4A (12W max), regulated |
Chainable: No | Nomad 50: 31-62 Hours | Peak Capacity: 1045Wh (10.8V, 96.8Ah) | 6mm Port (output): 12V, up to 10A (120 W max) |
Weight: 40 lbs (18.1 kg) | Boulder 50: 31-62 Hours | Single Cell Equivalent Capacity: 290.44 Ah @ 3.6V | 12V car port (output): 12V, up to 10A (120W max) |
Dimensions: 10.1 x 15.3 x 9.3 in (25.7 x 38.9 x 23.6 cm) | Boulder 100: 15-30 Hours | Lifecycles: 500 Cycles to 80% capacity (Discharge: 1C, Full charge/discharge, Temp 25C) | 12V Power Pole port (output): 12V, up to 10A (120W max) |
Operating Usage Temp: 32-104 F (0-40 C) | Boulder 200 Briefcase: 8-16 Hours | Shelf-life: Charge every 3-6 months | AC inverter (output, pure sine wave): 120VAC 60Hz, 12.5A (1500W, 3000W surge) |
Warranty: 12 Months | Boulder 100 x 3: 5-10 Hours | Management system: PWM charge controller, low battery protection | Charging port (input, 8mm): 14-22V, up to 10A (120W max) |
Boulder 200 Briefcase x 2: 4-8 Hours | Power Pole Charging port (input): 14-22V, up to 30A (360W max) | ||
Expansion Module Port: Covered port under the lid. To be used with Goal Zero expansion modules only. |
The Yeti 1000 generator is a powerful beast that sits in the middle of goal zero generators. Goal zero’s generators (150Wh or larger) to this date are as follows:
- Yeti 150
- Yeti 200x
- Yeti 400
- Yeti 400 lithium
- Yeti 500x
- Yeti 1000 lithium
- Yeti 1400 lithium
- Yeti 3000 lithium
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Cost
Inergy Apex – Stats
(The following stats are provided from Inergy’s website)
Inergy Apex Overall Stats
PRODUCT SPECS | POWER SPECS | WHAT CAN IT POWER? |
---|---|---|
Charging Temperatures: 32°F to 104°F | Internal Battery: 1,100 Watt hours (90 amp hours, 12.6 volts), Lithium NMC | Smartphones (5-7 watts): 100+ hours |
Discharging Temperatures:20°F to 115°F | Battery Life Expectancy: Up to 2,000 Cycles or 10 Years, 4 times longer life compared to any competitor | Tablets (25-40 watts): 40+ hours |
Dimensions: 14″ W x 7″ H x 8″ D | AC Inverter: 1,500 Watt pure sine wave, 3,000 Watt starting surge | Laptops (50 watts): 20+ hours |
Weight: 25 lbs | Charging: 500 Watts max input, 3 hour recharge time | Electric Blanket (Queen Size, 75 watts): 14 hours |
Warranty: 1-Year | Battery Expansion: Yes. Apex accepts Inergy’s external Lithium-Ion (coming early 2020), 12V lead acid or AGM deep-cycle battery | 50″ LED LCD TV* (65 watts) : 16 hours |
Shoulder Carrying Strap | MPPT Charge Controller: Allows for faster and more efficient charging | Refrigerator* (18 cu ft., 20% duty): 24 hours |
Standard Wall Charger Included | USB-C Charge Ports | Chest Freezer (9 cu ft., 15% duty): 50 hours |
USB Qual Comm 3.0 Charge Ports | Sump Pump (1/3 HP): 2.5 hours | |
3-Position Power Switch: Allows user to charge devices via the USB, USB-C, and 12V output ports without having to turn on the inverter | Basecamp LED Light (6 watts) : 183 hours | |
EC8 Input Plug: Creates an extremely user-friendly, plug and play interface | ||
Compatible with EC8-to-MC4 Adapter | ||
NOT Compatible with MC4-to-Neutrik Adapter |
Inergy Apex
The Inergy Apex has 1,100Wh of power AND it has surge power capable of 3,000 Watts.
The Apex has six AC outlets to plug in lights, devices, tools, etc, making it versatile for various needs off of the grid.
It also has the ability to connect to external batteries, which is a major plus because you can extend the life of the battery to whatever your power needs may be.
Inergy is expecting to come out with Lithium-Ion external batteries to attach to their generators over the summer of 2020.
Inergy Apex Cost
Which Solar Generator Is The Best?
The best generator, in my opinion, is the Inergy Apex because it is lighter, has four times the battery life, and has a more powerful battery than the Yeti 1000.
Inergy Apex vs Goal Zero Yeti 1000 - Stats & Specs
Inergy Apex | Yeti 1000 | |
---|---|---|
Peak Capacity | 1100Wh (12.6V, 90Ah) | 1045Wh (10.8V, 96.8Ah) |
AC Inverter | 1500W Pure Sine Wave, 3000W Surge | 1500W Pure Sine Wave, 3000W Surge |
Charge Controller | MPPT | PWM |
Input(s) | EC8 | 8mm, Power Pole |
Price | $1,250.00 | $1,199.95 |
Weight | 25 lbs | 40 lbs |
Internal Battery Type | Lithium NMC | Li-ion NMC |
Life Cycles | 2000 Cycles | 500 Cycles |
Dimensions | 14" x 7" x 8" | 10.1" x 15.3" x 9.3" |
Max Solar Intake | 500W | 360W |
Pros and Cons of the Yeti 1000 Lithium
Pros
- High-quality display
- Multiple ports
- High power capacity
Cons
- Very costly
Pros and Cons of the Inergy Apex
Pros
- MPPT charge controller
- Lightweight (25lbs)
- High power capacity
Cons
- EC8 standard connections
Follow the manuals which I have attached below:
Which do you prefer? Leave a comment below!
How Much Solar Power Do You Need For These Generators?

This all depends on what you plan to use with the generator and for how long.
Are you going to be wanting to power a mini-fridge or a portable fridge? Then I’d consider using larger solar panels to give you the power you need.
You can simply do this by checking the watts necessary to power each of your devices, appliance, or tools.
For example, let’s say we are using a portable mini fridge that takes in 260 watts of power continuously. This means that the Yeti 1000 would be able to run the fridge for about 4 hours.
Another example would be a blender. If you use a blender that pulls 1200 Watts of power when in use, both the Yeti and the Inergy can power it because their surge power limit is 3000 Watts.
Surge Power Uses

What is surge power good for?
It’s good for all kinds of tools and other applications where you’re only using the generator for short spurts of time using a high amount of Watts. This includes uses like:
- Power tools
- Blenders/mixers
- Starting a car
I’d recommend checking out the amount of power needed for your most essential tools/device/appliances that you’re going to use the generator with, and then seeing if it would work with the generator. After that, find out how long these devices/tools would last with the generator to confirm if you can use it with either generator.
You want to make sure you know the numbers before you buy the generator. This is because you may not need as much power as you think. You may only need a small solar generator with less power to charge lights, batteries, and tablets/phones/laptops.
An example of a small to medium-sized solar generator would be something like the Yeti 400 Lithium or the Sauoki G500. They have less power overall but may be able to suit your power needs comfortably.
If this is not enough power for you, Goal Zero makes two larger solar generators as mentioned earlier, and they are the Yeti 1400 Lithium and the Yeti 3000 Lithium.
Thanks for reading!