Abstract: Background To investigate the differences in the application of different simple rainfall erosivity(R) models in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin(YZRB), Methods Based on the daily rainfall data of 25 national meteorological stations from 1980 to 2020, nine typical simple models(A-I) were used to calculate the R value. Model differences were quantified by the efficiency coefficient and relative deviation. The Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope were applied to detect interannual trends. Pearson correlation and hierarchical clustering (intra-group similarity > 90 %) were employed to classify the models, and their performance was compared across four climatic zones: arid, semi-arid, semi-humid, and humid. Results 1)The multi-year mean R values calculated by different models varied substantially, ranging from 101 to 1,677 MJ·mm/(hm²·h·a). Models B, C, and E produced higher values with greater spatial variability than models D, F, and G, while models I showed no outliers, indicating stability. 2) All models exhibited consistent interannual change directions and detected a highly significant abrupt change (p< 0.01 ) around 2005. Most stations showed upward trends, but the magnitudes varied considerably among models. 3) Cluster analysis grouped the models into three categories: Group 1 (A, B, C, E, F, G), Group 2 (D), and Group 3 (H, I). Sensitivity to climatic variability ranked as Group 3 >Group 1 >Group 2, with significant differences (p< 0.01) in semi-arid and semi-humid zones. Conclusion Simplified R models produced consistent interannual trends and abrupt change points in the YZRB but differed significantly in absolute values, change amplitudes, and local trend intensity. Model clusters based on interannual fluctuation similarity showed distinct climate sensitivity, particularly in semi-arid and semi-humid regions. These findings provide a scientific reference for selecting rainfall erosivity models in cold, high-altitude, and ecologically fragile regions.