Not everything needs a massive battery; for areas where something more bite-size is warranted, the Ecoflow RIVER 3 fills that slot.
The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Series is a compact portable power station designed for home and outdoor use. Don’t let its small size make you think it doesn’t have much to offer, though, as it supports X-boot, a 10ms UPS capability, and Wi-Fi/BT management. Geared for situations where you don’t want to lug around a huge portable power station, it comes with a 245Wh battery and 300W inverter that can boost up to 600W surge capacity.
The RIVER 3 Series includes two primary models: the RIVER 3 and the RIVER 3 Plus. This review will focus on the entry-level RIVER 3 model. Both units support X-Boost, which helps them handle certain high-demand power devices like tools and appliances. The RIVER 3 can support up to 600W with X-Boost, while the RIVER 3 Plus extends this capability to 1200W, covering about 90% of household appliances.
With portable power stations frequently coming standard with onboard AC chargers, manufacturers have now been including UPS capabilities. EcoFlow, in the newest generation, has sped up the transfer time delay to just 10ms. This fast switchover ensures that nearly all IT devices, such as desktop computers, NAS (Network-Attached Storage) servers, and gaming consoles, remain operational during a power outage.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Specifications
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 245Wh |
| Dimensions | 10×8.3×4.4 in |
| Net Weight | 7.8 lb |
| Battery Chemistry | LiFePO4, 3000 cycles to 80% capacity |
| UPS | <20 ms |
| Noise | <30 dB |
| AC Output | 2 outlets, 300W total (Surge 600W, X-Boost 600W) |
| USB-A Output | 2 ports, 5V=2.4A, 12W max per port, total 24W |
| USB-C Output | 1 port, 5/9/12/15⎓3A Max, 20V⎓5A Max,100W Max per port |
| Car Output | 1 outlet, 12.6V, 10A, 126W max |
| AC Input | 320W, 0-100% in 60 min |
| Solar Input | 110W, 0-100% in as fast as 2.6 hr |
| Car Input | 100W, 11~30V, 0-100% in 2.8 hr |
| Generator Input | 320W, 0-100% in 60 min |
| Optimal Operating Temperature | 68°F-86°F |
| Charge Temperature | 32°F-113°F |
| Discharge Temperature | 14°F-113°F |
| Storage Temperature | 68°F-86°F |
Build and Design
The RIVER 3 model offers a good mix of AC and DC inputs and outputs, providing connectivity for various power needs. On the input side, it supports multiple charging methods, including an AC port for fast wall charging and a DC input that supports solar and car charging. On output connectivity, the RIVER 3 has three USB ports (two USB-A and one USB-C) for charging phones, laptops, and other small devices. It also has cigarette-style port devices that operate off 12V. For larger gear, the unit also has two AC outlets (one two-prong, another grounded) capable of powering different equipment.
Regarding build quality, the RIVER 3 model feels well put together. The unit has a strong plastic body, an onboard carrying handle, and a nice cover that protects the AC and DC input ports. On the cooling side, the onboard fan is rated at 30dB and didn’t make much noise in our testing. The model contains a LifePO4 battery, the industry standard for portable power station cells now, as they offer much greater charging cycle support and are much safer than Lithium Polymer.
For controlling the unit in person, it has an easy-to-read LCD that shows you estimated runtime, battery percentage remaining, and input/output watts. To switch the unit on or off, there is a main power button and discrete AC and DC power buttons.
When measuring the unit’s battery capacity, we leveraged a 300W fan as a load on the unit. Even with it right on the upper limit of the unit’s support, it had no trouble turning it on and running it for the test. EcoFlow rates the RIVER 3 as having a capacity of 245Wh. Our tests measured the full discharge power of 210Wh before turning it off. To bring it back up to a 100% charge, it pulled 270Wh from the wall. At full speed, it was pulling 322W at its fast charging mode.
Remote Management App
EcoFlow has maintained a fantastic management app for their portable power stations that supports Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. The app, geared for iOS and Android devices, offers many options to customize the models depending on the users’ needs. While the local buttons switch the units on and off, the app can change how fast the unit charges, reserve capacities, scheduled tasks, and updates.
In terms of real-time control, you have a nice dashboard that shows you battery capacity, input and output rates, and buttons to activate the DC and AC power segments.
What’s cool about the RIVER 3 compared to previous models is that you get a nice real-time usage chart that you can select to view long-term input and output power. EcoFlow has also added a spot in the settings to view the unit’s overall battery health.
Conclusion
The EcoFlow RIVER 3 is one of the smallest models in the company’s lineup, with only the power banks they offer coming in smaller. It is geared for light usage, where you need to power a few devices at the edge or keep them running through storms and outages without carrying the weight of a larger model. It includes a 245Wh LifePO4 battery with a 300W inverter and still comes standard with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The EcoFlow RIVER 3, like many models before it, includes an onboard AC charger, which can get the unit up to 100% with a 1-hour charge time. The onboard charger lets the unit operate in a UPS mode to keep equipment operational during power outages, with a newer and shorter 10ms transfer time. Overall, this small portable power station has much to offer for those small edge deployments where you don’t want to carry a larger unit than needed. Not everything needs a massive battery or 3000W inverter, so for areas where something more bite-size is warranted, the RIVER 3 fills that slot.
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