EcoFlow River 3 Review: A Power Station Designed for Everyday Life
EcoFlow has been on quite a roll lately. Recently, the portable power station manufacturer not only launched the Delta Pro 3—an updated version of one of its most popular models—but it has also released a slew of other products heading into the fall camping season. Those include a second-generation version of its Power Kit for camper vans and new additions to its River line of solar generators.
We’ve managed to get our hands on one of those new models, the River 3 power station. Keeping with tradition, this unit exhibits EcoFlow’s trademark high-quality construction and excellent design in a compact and lightweight package. While it may not have the capacity to power an RV, it offers plenty of performance to meet the day-to-day needs of most people.
Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t
It only takes one glance at the new River 3 to understand what EcoFlow is going for with this model. The unit is designed to be portable, allowing users to take it with them on all manner of adventures. The new addition to the River line is considerably smaller than the previous generation River 2 model, while still offering outstanding levels of performance. And with a weight of just 7.7 lbs, you won’t have to strain to move it from the house to the back porch or from the RV outside to the campsite.
The River 3 comes with a 245Wh LifePO4 battery and is capable of providing 300W of sustained output with a 600W boost mode when needed. That’s enough juice to power a wide range of electronic devices and small appliances. For instance, during our testing, we connected a lamp that ran for nearly 20 hours on a single charge. We were also able to recharge a smartphone more than 25 times and a laptop multiple times.
The power station’s array of charging ports isn’t as impressive as some other models, but it still provides plenty of ways to keep your gadgets running. The River 3 is equipped with two 120V AC ports (one with three prongs and the other with two), two standard USB-A 12W, a USB-C PD 100W port, and a 12V vehicle port. That’s enough to plug in up to six devices and appliances at the same time. As usual, we would have liked to have seen one of the USB-A ports swapped out for an additional USB-C plug, but considering the size and capacity of this power station, some compromises are to be expected.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
Fast Charging and Wireless Connectivity
EcoFlow’s line of power stations have had fast-charging capabilities for a while now, but the River 3 further improves on that feature. The device’s battery can recharge in less than an hour without putting any undue stress on the power cell. It can even accept up to 110W of input from a solar panel, which is an impressive number for a solar generator of this size and capacity. A 12V charging cable is included in the box for fast charging in your car, too. While that’s by far the slowest way to recharge the device, it is always handy to have this option while in transit.
The power station also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, allowing users to monitor and control the device via a smartphone app. That’s a feature that is common on larger models from a variety of manufacturers but isn’t always found on the more cost-effective units. While this level of app interaction isn’t a necessity for a solar generator of this size, it is a very nice addition nonetheless.
Other features of note include the ability to use the River 3 as an uninterruptible power supply with a 20ms response time, making it a great option for keeping mission critical devices running during a blackout. The power station also carries an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, making it safe to use in the outdoors. The device is even durable enough to survive a 1.5-meter drop and is rated to withstand temperatures of up to 932ºF, making it UL 94V-0 fireproof. In other words, it is ultra-safe to use in a wide variety of environments.
Photo Credit: Kraig Becker
Beautiful Design
One of the features we loved the most about the River 3 doesn’t show up on any spec sheet. The power station’s new design doesn’t just make it smaller; it also gives it a more modern aesthetic that allows it to naturally blend into the decor of your home or RV. Unlike most power stations—which tend to stand out like a sore thumb—this model looks elegant and unobtrusive, allowing you to install it in an office, bedroom, or on the kitchen counter without it appearing out of place.
The River 3 is also whisper quiet, making almost no noise even while charging. EcoFlow says it emits less than 30dB of sound, which is about equal to someone whispering in your vicinity. In our experience, it was even quieter than that, which only adds to its ability to blend into the background in any environment.
The power station is also very affordable, with an MSRP of $239—on sale for $169 at the time of publication. That price represents an amazing value for everything that you get here. The unit delivers the perfect combination of storage capacity, power output, and portability in a stylish design that looks great but is also rugged enough to survive in the outdoors. All of that makes it very easy to recommend the River 3 to anyone looking for a compact solar generator for life on the go.
To find out more about the River 3 and order one for yourself, visit the EcoFlow website.
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