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EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS review

No. 2 of 10 in our portable power stations ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS ranks 2nd of the 10 portable power stations we compare, with 8.9 out of 10. It takes our Best Budget badge.

EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS

8.9/10Best Budget

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS is a small 245Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 300W AC outlet and fast UPS switchover. It suits a router, laptops, phones and lights during a power cut or a weekend away.

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Why it's here

  • Switchover of 10ms or less keeps a router or PC running
  • LiFePO4 battery in a unit small enough to carry in one hand
  • Full recharge in around an hour from the mains
  • The cheapest here, with 300W output and X-Boost for loads up to 600W

Keep in mind

  • 245Wh runs out quickly with anything above a laptop and phones
  • Cannot run a kettle, a heater or most power tools
  • Solar input tops out at 110W, so off-grid recharging is slow

Why the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS scores 8.9

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 portable power stations in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are4th of 10
  • How many rated it3rd of 10
  • How new it is7th of 10

Why it sits behind the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (9.0) beats the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS (8.9) because it leaves owners a little happier.

About the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS

The RIVER 3 UPS pairs a 245Wh LiFePO4 battery with a 300W inverter. X-Boost lets it run some loads up to 600W. In UPS mode, with the unit plugged into the mains, it passes power through and switches to battery when the supply drops. EcoFlow's figure is 10ms or less, which suits routers, desktops and NAS drives.

It measures 25.5 x 21.2 x 11.3cm and weighs 3.55kg, with a carrying handle. Ports are one AC outlet, one USB-C at up to 100W, two USB-A at 12W each and a 12V car outlet at up to 126W. A retailer lists noise at around 30dB.

Mains charging from 0 to 100% takes about an hour. Solar input is capped at 110W, and StorageReview puts a solar recharge at around 2.6 hours at best. The battery is rated for up to 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity. An app for iOS and Android over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi sets charging speed and reserve level, with a screen on the unit too. The UK box holds the unit, a charging cable and a UK manual.

What owners report about the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS

We found little owner feedback specific to the RIVER 3 UPS on the UK pages we could open, so we are not drawing conclusions about how it holds up over months. The technical write-ups available agree it is quiet and light for its capacity.

Who the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS suits

Buy it to keep a router, a desktop or NAS, a TV setup or lights running through a short power cut, or to charge laptops and phones while camping. The one-hour recharge and low weight suit a unit that lives by the sockets and travels now and then.

Look elsewhere for a kettle, heater or power tools, which exceed its output. A 245Wh battery also runs down fast under heavier loads, and 110W of solar input makes off-grid topping up slow. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 or Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 give far more capacity, and the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus handles a kettle or heater.

Questions about the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS

How heavy is the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS?

3.55kg. It measures 25.5 x 21.2 x 11.3cm and has a carry handle.

Can I use the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS with a solar panel?

Yes, up to 110W of solar input. StorageReview puts a full solar recharge at around 2.6 hours at best, so expect longer in UK weather.

What's the difference between the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS and the RIVER 3 Plus?

The Plus is a different model with a higher X-Boost ceiling of 1,200W, against 600W here, according to StorageReview. This page covers only the RIVER 3 UPS.

How loud is the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS?

Quiet. A retailer lists noise at around 30dB, and StorageReview found the fan quiet in use.

How many charge cycles does the EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS last?

Up to 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity, from its LiFePO4 battery.

Other portable power station picks

The other badge winners in our portable power stations ranking.

All 10 portable power stations, compared

  1. 1 Jackery Explorer 1000 v2Best Choice 9.0 Check Price
  2. 2 EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPSThis reviewBest Budget 8.9 Check Price
  3. 3 Bluetti AC180 8.9 Check Price
  4. 4 Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 8.9 Check Price
  5. 5 Bluetti AC70 8.9 Check Price
  6. 6 EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus 8.8 Check Price
  7. 7 Anker SOLIX F3000 8.8 Check Price
  8. 8 OUPES Mega 1 8.6 Check Price
  9. 9 DJI Power 1000 Mini 8.6 Check Price
  10. 10 EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus 8.6 Check Price
See the full portable power stations ranking

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS on Amazon

EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 UPS is a small 245Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 300W AC outlet and fast UPS switchover. 8.9 out of 10.

Check Price on Amazon

How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 15 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from