The Ecoflow River 3 is a truly portable power station that weighs in at under 8 pounds and is 30% more compact than its River 2 precedessor. The AliExpress model has a slightly lower 230Wh capacity compared to the 245Wh on Amazon. Other than that, the two are identical; it has two 300W (600W surge) AC outlets, one 100W USB Type-C port, and two 18W USB Type-A ports. The River 3 can be recharged using traditional AC from 0% to 100% in only one hour.
The River 3 uses LiFePO4 cells, which are safer and retain their charge longer than other lithium battery types. The 230Whr battery is meant for lower powered electronics like your PC or laptop, phone, tablet, or just about anything else that doesn't use too much electricity (ideally under 200W). Power hungry electronics and appliances won't last long.
Although the River 3 is typically used as a mobile backup power solution when you have no available grid power, it can also work as an always-on passthrough AC power strip. It has an EPS function that will automatically swap to battery power when there is a power outage. The shutoff delay is less than 10ms, which is fast enough for even sensitive electronics like PCs to remain powered on during the switchover.
The River 3 is a smart battery and thus you can change settings, check on its status, and power on or off outlets remotely, all from your phone. In my personal experience, Ecoflow has good product support.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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