The brand new EcoFlow River 3 is without doubt one of the finest entry-level moveable batteries I’ve examined

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The EcoFlow River 3 is a brand new compact moveable battery out there from September 10 for $239 (minus one other $70 in case you keep in mind to use the coupon).
• It is moveable and light-weight, making it straightforward to hold. It options quick charging, going from 0% to 100% in 55 minutes, and has a 245Wh output capability.
• Since portability is a precedence for the River collection of moveable batteries, they are much much less highly effective than alternate options and finest suited to smaller duties or shorter use instances.

EcoFlow has introduced the addition of three new moveable batteries to its lineup: the River 3, River 3 Plus, and Delta 3 Plus. Whereas the brand new batteries are actually out there for buy, I have been testing the EcoFlow River 3 for the previous couple of weeks to see the way it performs, and I could not be happier with it.

The EcoFlow River collection is a gaggle of moveable batteries prioritizing portability and comfort, making for light-weight models that may go nearly anyplace. The Delta lineup prioritizes energy, that means that whereas they’re nonetheless technically moveable, EcoFlow Delta batteries are heavier and bulkier than River models, as evidenced by my storage’s nearly 200-lb Delta Professional Extremely battery.  

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I’ve examined Delta and River moveable batteries and totally loved testing the most recent River 3, which has grow to be my favourite moveable battery. The River 3 does not evaluate on to the Delta collection; they’re constructed for various functions. Nonetheless, the River 3 is compact and light-weight sufficient to hold round to cost small units or to put subsequent to a tool someplace removed from an influence supply.

The River 3 is a small, entry-level battery that weighs underneath 8 lbs. It’s good for carrying all over the place you might want additional energy with little compromise. For Pete’s sake, this battery is lighter than my third baby was at delivery. 

EcoFlow has described the River 3 as having a 245Wh capability. I examined its usable capability, which producers point out ought to be about 85% of its marketed capability. The usable capability is the quantity of vitality that can be utilized from the battery underneath regular working circumstances. This typically differs from the marketed capability resulting from voltage cutoffs, security margins, and working circumstances, like temperature.

Throughout my exams, the River 3 had a mean usable capability of 205Wh, about 84% of the marketed 245Wh. The warmer the battery bought, the decrease this proportion fell, which is to be anticipated. In optimum circumstances, this quantity might go as much as 87%, although by no means increased. That is adequate for my private use of a transportable battery, which is fairly informal, because the worst it will see is a tenting journey or a brief energy outage.

The EcoFlow River 3 is highly effective sufficient to supply a 300W output and as much as 600W with X-Enhance expertise, however quiet sufficient to make use of in my workplace with out distractions. It will possibly run with out a fan when the output is underneath 50W, making it utterly silent in comparison with bigger batteries.

The battery’s ports embody two AC outputs, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and one DC carport. EcoFlow says the EcoFlow River 3 has a 20ms switchover, a two-year guarantee, and an IP54 ranking, which implies it could stand up to mild rain and water splashes.

I examined the fast-charging functionality by draining the battery utterly to 0%, then plugging it in and monitoring how lengthy it took to achieve sure factors. The EcoFlow River 3 took 18 minutes from full depletion to 50%, 36 minutes from 0% to 75%, and 55 minutes for a full 0% to 100% cost. 

Different mediums take longer to cost the River 3. You’ll be able to cost it in your automotive throughout a street journey and have it totally charged in underneath three hours, able to maintain your small units charged for the size of a tenting journey. It has a photo voltaic enter of 110W, so it could cost as much as 100% in about three hours with photo voltaic panels and direct daylight, although your mileage could range.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The EcoFlow River 3 is a superb entry-level moveable battery in case you’re in search of a compact energy supply to cost smartphones, tablets, and laptops or maintain the lights on throughout tenting journeys. It is also a sensible choice in case you’re in search of a devoted backup battery for sure units, like powering some lights, a TV, or a CPAP machine throughout a brief energy outage. $169 ($239 minus the $70 coupon) is an effective value for all the above use circumstances.

Many moveable batteries could carry out higher for sure circumstances than the River 3. In comparison with River 2, the EcoFlow River 3 is smaller and simpler to hold, utilizing GaN to make it extra environment friendly and compact. My husband, for instance, has grow to be extraordinarily hooked up to the Anker Solix C300 DC, a competitor of the EcoFlow River 3 with a 288Wh capability.