My Thoughts on the Ecoflow River 3 Portable Power Station (after 1 month of use)

Ecoflow always seems to be offering the latest and greatest when it comes to portable power. One of their most recent releases, the River 3, is a compact but mighty power station that seems to have a lot going for it.

Perfect for emergency backup or weekend camping use, it’s a very promising piece of technology. Needless to say, I anticipate it being a very popular product for the upcoming storm season.

I was lucky enough to receive a sample of it to test out for myself. I’ve spent the last month using it and I’m here to report on everything I like and don’t like about it. Let’s get right into it…

What I Liked

Decent Amount of Output Ports

Considering the size, I think that Ecoflow did a great job at providing a nice variety of ports on the front of the unit. There are two AC outputs (one grounded), three USB ports (including one USB-C), and a DC barrel-style output. The AC output is capable of 600W if you activate X-boost within the app, giving it a huge advantage over other similar-sized power stations that typically cap-out at 200-300W. And while there is only one USB-C port, it’s capable of 100W, so you get fast charging for whichever device you plug in.

Excellent build quality

I’m always impressed by Ecoflow’s ability to make their power stations stand out from the competition. The sheer build quality is downright remarkable. Being that it’s IP54 water resistant, it can withstand outdoor environments with ease. Water splashes, dusty wind, and camping-centric use is no match for it.

In addition, I love the use of matte grays and blacks that give the River 3 an appearance that’s sleek, streamlined and attractive.

Incredibly quiet operation

The internal cooling fan does a wonderful job at keeping everything running smoothly by drawing air from one side of the unit, through the inside, and out the other end. It does this with a built-in cooling fan that stays very quiet, even when it’s cranked up to the maximum. It produces minimal noise output that can hardly be heard, even in a quiet outdoor environment.

Wonderful app

The Ecoflow app is my favorite when compared to any other power stations’ app. First of all, it doesn’t crash, works on both iOS and Android, and is laid out in a very functional manner. You’re given the ability to tweak and adjust a multitude of settings without any guesswork, upgrade firmware, wirelessly control, and more, all from your smartphone or tablet. Best of all, if you own multiple Ecoflow products, they all appear simultaneously on the home screen for easy access.

UPS functionality

The River 3 acts as an uninterruptible power supply so you can keep critical devices plugged-in while leaving the unit plugged into the wall to act as a safeguard in the unexpected event of a power outage. Perfect for keeping routers, modems, or other network hardware fully operational in times of storms and common power outages. And with a 20ms response time, you may not even know that a power outage occurred; the switchover is automatic and super fast!

Fast charging

Charging from AC is downright amazing. Within just 60 minutes, the River 3 can go from fully depleted at 0% to a 100% full charge. The BMS automatically applies the fastest possible current to replenish the internal cells without any damage or longevity issues.

Excellent form factor

Tipping the scale at just 7lbs. 12oz, the River 3 has a fantastic form factor. Measuring just under 10 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 4.5 inches tall, it’s about 30% smaller than the industry standard for a power station of this capacity. I like to compare it to the size and form of a large lunch box, with a built-in handle that’s super easy to grab.

What I Didn’t Like

Only one USB-C port

I would have loved to see more USB-C inputs on the River 3. There’s only one, although it is rated to 100W, which is quite substantial, and gives it the ability to re-charge USB-C powered devices very quickly.

Solar input capped at 110 watts

While it’s somewhat understandable given the small size of the River 3, it should be known that the maximum solar input is only 110 watts. While this replenishes the internal cells in just under 3 hours, it would have been nice for it to support a larger solar array for quicker charge times.

No wireless charger

The top of the River 3 is the perfect size for a wireless charging pad, but Ecoflow did not include this. I think it would have been a nice addition to give it an induction charger in this spot, but alas, it may have made it hard to justify given the budget-friendly price-point and small form factor.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I have to say that Ecoflow did a great job at creating the River 3 power station. It’s small form factor yet list of enticing features definitely outweigh any of the potential downsides that I pointed out. Sure, it’s not going to be suitable for multiple days of heavy, consistent use, but it’s the perfect for weekend excursions and emergency backup, even if you use it solely for its UPS functionality.

Regardless, in my opinion, Ecoflow knocked it out of the park with the River 3. I love the build quality, quiet operation, and just about every single feature. If you’re in need of a smaller-sized portable power station that’s affordably priced and built for long-lasting use, the River 3 definitely delivers.