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EcoFlow RIVER 3 review

No. 4 of 10 in our portable power stations ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The EcoFlow RIVER 3 ranks 4th of the 10 portable power stations we compare, with 9.2 out of 10. It takes our Best Budget badge.

EcoFlow RIVER 3

9.2/10Best Budget

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 is a small 245 Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 300 W AC output. It suits desk backup, phone and laptop charging, and light camping and travel.

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Why it's here

  • 245 Wh LiFePO4 battery with a 300 W AC outlet and a 600 W X-Boost mode
  • Fast wall charging, about an hour to full
  • 20 ms UPS switchover keeps a router or PC running through short outages
  • Light at roughly 8 pounds, and quiet in normal use

Keep in mind

  • Smallest battery in the guide, so a CPAP night is about all it handles on loads of that size
  • X-Boost lowers the output voltage, so some devices may not run well in it
  • Solar input tops out around 110 W

Why the EcoFlow RIVER 3 scores 9.2

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 it4th of 10
  • How new it is5th of 10

Level with the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2

The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 and the EcoFlow RIVER 3 score the same, so either is a safe pick. The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 goes first because it leaves owners a little happier.

About the EcoFlow RIVER 3

The RIVER 3 is the smallest battery in EcoFlow's RIVER line. It holds 245 Wh in a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) pack rated for 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity. The body measures 10 x 8.3 x 4.4 inches and weighs 7.8 pounds, with a built-in carrying handle. The battery pack is rated IP54 for dust and water resistance.

The AC output is 300 W, with a 600 W surge and an X-Boost mode for heavier loads. The other ports are two USB-A (12 W each), one USB-C (up to 100 W) and a 12V car outlet (up to 126 W). An LCD shows remaining runtime, battery percentage, and input and output watts. The app connects over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and sets charge limits, a reserve level and schedules.

Charging is the selling point. From a wall outlet or a generator it fills in about 60 minutes, drawing around 320 W. A car outlet takes about 2.8 hours and a 110 W solar panel as little as 2.6 hours. The UPS mode switches over in under 20 ms, which EcoFlow rates for desktops, routers and similar gear. The box holds the station, an AC charging cable, a car charging cable and a quick start guide with the warranty.

What owners report about the EcoFlow RIVER 3

Little owner feedback for this exact model was available on the pages that could be opened, so this page does not summarize what owners report.

Who the EcoFlow RIVER 3 suits

Buy it to keep a router, modem, small desktop or NAS running through short outages, to charge phones, laptops and cameras on a trip, or to power a small fan or light at a campsite. At 7.8 pounds with a handle, it moves easily. The fast wall charge means it is ready again soon after a power cut.

Look elsewhere if you need more than a few hours of runtime. StorageReview measured about 210 Wh of usable discharge, so a CPAP night is roughly the limit, and a mini fridge or space heater is out. Some devices may not run well in X-Boost, and the ports are uncovered, which matters in dusty or outdoor use. For a fridge or a long outage, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 or the BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 is a better fit. For a bit more capacity in a small package, the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus is the closest alternative.

Questions about the EcoFlow RIVER 3

What is the difference between the EcoFlow RIVER 3 and the RIVER 3 Plus?

The RIVER 3 Plus is a separate, larger model. StorageReview lists its X-Boost output at 1,200 W, against 600 W for the RIVER 3. The RIVER 3 is the 245 Wh unit reviewed here.

How long does the EcoFlow RIVER 3 take to charge?

About 60 minutes from a wall outlet or generator. A car outlet takes around 2.8 hours, and a 110 W solar panel around 2.6 hours at best.

Can the EcoFlow RIVER 3 be used as a UPS?

Yes. EcoFlow rates the switchover at under 20 ms, which is meant to keep a router, PC or NAS running through a short outage. Battery size limits how long it lasts.

How loud is the EcoFlow RIVER 3?

EcoFlow rates it under 30 dB. StorageReview reported that the fan did not make much noise, including at a 300 W load.

Is the EcoFlow RIVER 3 waterproof?

No. The battery pack is rated IP54, which is dust and splash resistance. The USB and AC outlets are uncovered, so keep it out of rain and dust.

Other portable power station picks

The other badge winners in our portable power stations ranking.

All 10 portable power stations, compared

  1. 1 EcoFlow DELTA 2Best Choice 9.3 Check Price
  2. 2 Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station (A1763) 9.2 Check Price
  3. 3 Jackery Explorer 1000 V2Value for Money 9.2 Check Price
  4. 4 EcoFlow RIVER 3This reviewBest Budget 9.2 Check Price
  5. 5 Anker SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station 9.2 Check Price
  6. 6 Jackery Explorer 300 Plus 9.2 Check Price
  7. 7 BLUETTI AC70 9.1 Check Price
  8. 8 EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max 9.1 Check Price
  9. 9 BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 9.0 Check Price
  10. 10 BLUETTI Elite 400 8.9 Check Price
See the full portable power stations ranking

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 on Amazon

EcoFlow RIVER 3

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 is a small 245 Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 300 W AC output. 9.2 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 17 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