Very nice review, Todd! I’ve become a real fan of EcoFlow having a Delta Mini, Delta 2 and River Pro. I am now awaiting delivery of my River 2. I’m going to set the River 2 on pass through to my modem and router for emergency preparedness-together they pull less than 20 watts, giving me about 10-12 hours of off grid use. Rarely do we have outages that go longer than 6-8 hours, but sadly, that could change. Although I could set up many of my home circuits on a single manual transfer switches and use one larger portable battery, e.g., EcoFlow Delta Max, I actually like the idea of having different smaller batteries, each dedicated to a single appliance of single function. This approach minimizes weight, readily affords different use cases, and avoids the impact of one large battery failure bringing down all circuits.
Love the fast charging, reuse life/warranty, and USB C input/output feature and portability. Would buy but am holding out for something similar with a wireless charger on top.
Excellent video, you described the new model lines so clearly! I think the River Max is a sweet spot with the great price and decent specs, looking forward to your full video about how it performs! I think either the Max or Pro would work really well for a decent camping setup powering a 12v fridge, LED lights, and charging cameras and phones on the road.
Yeah, I think the max is a really good size - enough to power things for a decent amount of time but not too big. Curious how much heavier the Pro feels, my old Pro is a beast. The smallest River is cool but I think most people would do better with at least the max, especially if running a fridge.
Thank you for the review, Todd. Great units depending on one’s needs. The 5 year warranty makes it very appealing. Waiting for the new River 2 pro to be available.
Yeah that warranty gives you confidence in the company. All these little known solar generator brands will probably dissappear in a year leaving thier customers with bricks. But I do have the eb3a and no problems so far. I also of the old river pro with the extended battery . Both are great companies. And the best ones in my opinion in this solar generator market
@@stephencacciatore I just bought the river 2 on Amazon for 179. There is 2 coupon codes already included. Too good of a price to pass up. Now I'll do my own vs battle powering a dc fridge. Kinda nerdy lol
Please let us all know as soon as you have the AC port no load numbers over 12hrs on the River Max. Great review looking forward to River Max full review! Then I can make some informed purchasing decisions. Thanks
Todd, thank you so much for the replying back to me and I can't wait to see your review and I really hope this unit is close to all the hype because I really need to buy a unit soon.
Yeah, would probably be 4-6 weeks before I'd get a review done but I think units have started shipping out so maybe other UA-camrs will beat me to it. The Delta 2 is a very good option if you want the flexibility to run bigger appliances or expand. The River series is nice, but pretty limited AC-wise
Really happy eco flow finally upgraded to LFP, coming from Bluetti EB70s and really frustrated with their archaic features, happy to say I’ve just purchased my first Ecoflow product. Thanks to your excellent and informative videos.
I agree. Impressed at how quickly EF switched their entire line over to LFP (still waiting on the Delta Max). Surprised that Bluetti was first with LFP but hasn't upgraded the EB55 and EB70S to match the design and integrated charging of the EB3A. They have a big gap in their product line from 500-1,500wh products today that match Ecoflow's feature set and performance.
what i want in a River 3 Pro would be dual charging, prefer solar charging scheme and maybe the option to have different maximum charge states from solar and AC, say solar can get you up to 90% and AC can be set to 60%. i'd throw one of these under each of my entertainment centers with a solar pannel to get them mostly off grid and have battery backup for the common instances of power outages, they use about 60w when not in use and when the TV is on with sound system and mini PC is gaming its about 400w, just to get some of that running off of solar, without needing to tie in anything to a pannel would be great. Edit in an emergency i can completely disconnect everthing so it draws no power at idle, but the TV itself seems to require internet to start up(i'm starting to hate smart TVs)
I have the river pro with the extended battery. I have yet to use the extension battery. But I love having the option. I feel like they purposely did not include an extension port on the new river pro. Want an extension battery? Pay more and buy the delta 2. Still in my opinion it's not a big deal. Just buy 2 of the new river pros lol
Yeah. From a lot of questions I've seen, people are confused about what the extra battery did and assumed it also doubled the output power, not just runtime. I also think that since the EF extra batteries can't be charged or discharged by themselves (only thru the main unit) and weren't that much cheaper than the main unit, may people opted for a second River rather than a River + extra battery so maybe they weren't great sellers. In any case, these are geared for portability so I get why they dropped expansion in favor of cheaper prices. The Delta 2 is pretty compact and much more powerful if you need to step up to that level.
@@todd.parker if they did it like the vigorpool captain which 2 of those double the output that would make more sense. I guess that ecoflow with the extended battery wasn't as popular as it should of been. But hey costco had such a good deal on the riverpro with the extended battery.
11-24-2022 == Geez Todd I've watched alot of youtube videos in my time, and yours are the most professional I ever saw!! You should make a video on How You Make Your Videos!! The pan & zooms and voice-over is incredible, the many other videos and the never-ending "um"s and "Uh"s drive me crazy. You are a perfectionist I can see, appreciate that, incredible details "5521" and testing. If I was Ecoflow, I would have you running the Marketing Department! Great Job, I'm waiting for the River 2 PRO to buy asap...
I've got the River 2! Just took possession a couple days ago. Looks good and the app is flawless (finally!) Because I also have the River Pro & extra battery, and the app problems with that are legendary! Ecoflow finally updated all their riff-raff, and things work across the board, with one app! Which is why I want to stick with Ecoflow for my next purchase, a BIG solar battery/generator! Maybe the Delta Pro??
Yeah, they really modernized and simplified their product line and it's the best option out there. If you can afford the Pro, it's a beast. The Delta 2 is great if you need something smaller that's still expandable up to 3kw. The Max should be upgraded to LFP soon so I'd wait on that model.
@@todd.parker Hi there, are you refering to the normal River pro, or the upgraded River 2 pro? Just asking. I'm actually pretty curious about how the normal River pro and the River 2 Max would compare to each other, since I find that the original River pro has a considerable higher amount of Wh but it's not LFP, so I guess both have their pros and cons, but since I am still deciding between these two it looks like a tough call!
@@michaelvm2404 The River 2 Max is a midsize unit that isn't really comparable to an existing River. The River 2 Pro is a 1:1 replacement for the River Pro and upgrades it to a LFP battery and new design but you lose expandability if that matters to you. The Pro won; ;the out for another month or two but is probably worth the wait. Hopefully, I'll get a pro soon and will do a follow-up video testing all 3 models.
@@todd.parker thanks a lot for your reply. Would you say that the original River pro is still worth buying now? I know that you say that the River 2 Max is not comparable to it, but if you would have to choose one, would you buy the original River pro then? Lastly, have you heard about the Bluetti EB70? It looks pretty similar to the River pro in capacity and price, but has LFP in it... Cheers!
@@michaelvm2404 I’d say that if you are only using it periodically the older River Pro is fine especially if you find it on close out. If you cycle it daily, LFP is key. The Bluetti is solid but has a loud, external power brick, basic display, and no app support so I’d stick with EF
From 1 hour charging, to detailed display, LFP battery, and X boost, ecoflow is the way to go. I can live with the new handle. Any idea when the river pro 2 coming out?
Hi Todd, another high quality produced and informative review. I need the capacity of the Pro, and I am holding off until I see your review because I need a unit to use in our RV to run AC and DC appliance such as a TV, DVD player, small coffer maker, and some other AC appliance and I want more than enough power. Any idea when a review will be coming for the Ecoflow River 2 Pro ?
Glad you liked the video. I'm still waiting for my review unit but it's supposed to ship out soon. I think the River 2 Pro will be a really good unit, looking forward to reviewing it so stay tuned.
Thanks for the great review . Quick question is there any difference with EF 2 series regarding the functionality with using the EcoFlow as a UPS .. with using it in-line and not having to pull out plugs of your devices while it’s charging ? I gather the EF 2 series has an auto switch over should the mains power go down. With other brands of portable power stations which have no UPS function I gather one needs an Automatic Inverter Switch accessory .
This is really cool. I see you have noted the AC standby loss on the MAX is 10% over 24 hours, but on the DC test I see the MAX down there idling at 100%. Did you not run that test or have you run it since? It appears that the River 2 has remarkably low DC consumption but not so great on the AC side while the MAX is really good with AC consumption. I'm hoping the MAX has a low DC standby consumption as well.
In my initial tests with the Max the DC standby losses were 0% after 24 hours which is really amazing (they must shut down the ports when there isn't a load which is smart). AC losses were also very good as you mentioned. My unit was pre-production and not giving me full capacity so I'm waiting on a final unit to do a full set of tests along with the Pro. I think these are all very good units and the Max seems to be in the sweet spot.
@@todd.parker They need to fix something or maybe they're working on it now but there is no cart available for either unit. Only a link to amazon and the code is invalid on that site. I'll check back later. Thanks for reply.
@@rizipt I just saw this language they gave me: "Product and code are also available on EcoFlow website from November 2nd, 2022" so maybe you need to wait until next week to purchase
@@todd.parker Bc the handle is in that orientation, when you go to move it, the unit is facing down, so the fan opening is facing up. That's not deal and things can fall into it. Also, bc the handle is oriented that way, people will be more likely to set it down face down, leaving the fan oriented upwards. i get why they put the handle that way from a packaging form factor standpoint, i just would never want a cooling fan of a portable unit, facing upwards
0.2C rate which is slower and gives the unit more time to waste power from the inverter, therefore, increasing the inefficiency in a lower capacity test doesn't seem logical.
Can’t find the R2 Pro at any price much less the 10 % off that you mentioned, Best buying attempt I can make results in “sold out”. Any suggestions? TIA
Probably because I always leave it off...it's not that useful. It drops the voltage from 120V down as low as 80-90V when it kicks on which can damage anything electronic - TVs, microwaves, computers, etc. so it's only. good for running something like a small heater that's maybe 10-20% over the max AC output and would normally trip into overload. The marketing hype on this feature is overblown, you can't run something that is 2X the max output like they advertise because the power would be 60V and nothing would like that!
Great review, I wonder if you could clarify something I noticed the Eco pro has a photo with a button in the middle of the AC plugs and one without is there a difference between the two?
This has the AC power to run a CPAP but the battery may not last a full night depending on the model and settings. You need to measure the power draw and divide the battery capacity to calculate runtimes
There is a pretty big size/weight difference between the Delta 2 and the River 2 Max/Pro so there's a place for both options imo. I agree that if you want to run any appliance or tool, you should step up to the D2. Yeah, Bluetti tends to have overly large inverters and less efficient electronics that really hurt their standby losses and efficiency.
@Todd Parker Noisy fan most annoying when it speeds up in middle of night and wakes me while sleeping with a CPAP. Maybe I need a long extension cord 😉
I think the Pro won't be on sale for a while but you can get the River 2 and Max now. See the Ecoflow site for links to each: www.ecoflow.com/us/river-2-portable-power-station/?aff=290
Amazon was showing $130 off the $599. With a different code (not this channels) it can drop the price down to $430 out the door shipped to you. As he said the Pro won’t be released until nov. smart move as it will have another discount. People will maybe but both.
Researching, as this is all new to me. Hoping to purchase something soon for my van. While looking at Ecoflow, I came across your video. Comparing the River 2 Pro to the Bluetti Eb55, for only $100 more, the River 2 Pro seems like the better choice in every area - correct? And do you know when they are coming out? Thanks
The River 2 is a much more modern power station (app control, nice display) than the EB55 but it lacks a wireless charger if that's important. I don't think the Pro will be on sale until January but might be worth the wait. Max and River 2 are out now
You might want to look at getting an extra battery for the Delta 2. Otherwise the largest River Pro model would be best but is still smaller than the D2 so it won’t fully recharge it (probably only half with losses)
It really depends. How much power does your desktop + monitor pull? If you’re unsure you can buy a meter, plug everything in and measure the total watts. If it exceeds 600w, it won’t run it at all. To calculate runtime, take the battery capacity (256wh), cut 15-20% off for losses (205wh) and divide that by your load. If the PC used 200w, it would run for an hour.
It does seem that’s the way they are headed. I’d expect at LFP Delta Max soon to bring all 3 products to that chemistry. The Delta Pro is already LFP but it would be good to see a new model with 240v output, better expansion connectors, and an extra battery that can be charged and discharged by itself like Bluetti.
Some of their products don’t allow for use when charging with solar (can’t simultaneously charge a device with solar input), wasn’t clear if you can charge while using solar input? Thanks.
What happened to the most important feature to drive like the RIVER series 1 up to 1800W with the X-Boost mode on? The Max 500W AC load makes the River 2 totally useless since most of the 110V devices need higher wattage. Why you ignored this most important feature in your video?
XBoost isn’t a magic fix for a small inverter, you’re still limited to the wattage but it will reduce the voltage and deliver higher amps instead. In short, I’ve found it’s only useful to power things like a heater that are 10-20% over the limit. Beyond that, the voltage drops so low, appliances don’t work at all or could be damaged. I mention the feature but I never turn it on because it can easily destroy more sensitive appliances. If you need more power, buy a bigger unit, don’t be fooled by the marketing
@@todd.parker I’m using exclusively the XBoost of the tiny EcoFlow RIVER Max Plus with 360Wh for 1000 Watt electric grill, 700W Instapot pressure cooker and water boiler. The tiny EcoFlow RIVER Max Plus with 360Wh with XBoost fit underneath the passenger sit of my car. All this will not be possible anymore with the new version 2. Again useless for me
soo, I got mine River 2 a month ago and since I did little offgrid over that period and so I did not use the device, just left it at 100%. Imagine my surprise now, when I turned it on today to find 0%. Quite not what I would expect frome LiFePo which supposedly should selfdischarge about 2% a month... 😑 The app... hehe, if you try to register the device from the app you'll get a bunch of chines when trying to use the camera (for proof of purchase). oh well 🤷😁 still it't nice to have it than not. but honestly i would preffer to have the option to switch wifi entierly 😞 Now I'll see about that legendary customer service - i just wrote them about thay suprising discharge. I'm also scared if panels are fine as I mentioned did not have yet any offgrid use from that and too few sunny days to test it in my apartment.
Hmmm. Did you long press the power button until it said OFF on the screen? If not, then there is enough draw from the electronics to drain it eventually. If you did that, test it again to be sure, then reach out to support
@@todd.parker Since that was a month ago I absolutely don't remember 😅 but the app says the auto shutdown is after 2h. Yup, that's the plan now - charged it, long-pressed it, will check daily. Also I've updated firmware (says they tweaked discharge algorithm) and I've set charge discharge limits. just in case. Now about those panels, I imagine a simple multimeter should show some current at least.
@@zoladkow Yeah, it's confusing. The auto shutdown turns the AC inverter and ports off after a certain time if there is no load because that uses quite a bit of power. However, the unit itself it still on (the computer that controls the battery and buttons) which is why you should drain it to 60-80% then long press power until if says OFF and it won't lose power for long term storage.
I just got mine and found the booklet well short of my needs to operate this. Does it need the cell phone app or can I use panel controls only ? How do I charge with AC wall plug. I plugged mine in and it's not doing anything, except showing 99 hours and 26 % forever, as long as I push the power button every few minutes to activate the screen.
You can use it without the app for sure but there are advanced settings like charging speed and min/max charging thresholds, and XBoost that you can only do in the app. It sounds like something might be wrong with your unit. If you plug it into the wall, it should start charging. Maybe try charging it in your car or with solar to see if it kicks in.
You can change between 50 and 60hz but not the voltage. You should try to cancel your order. You can buy a voltage converter to output 120v from 220v but they are expensive
It really depends on how much AC output you need (inverter size) and how long you want to run those loads for (battery size in kWh). In general, I think Ecoflow has the best product line, support, and value but to pick which model, you need to have a good sense of how much power you need
@@todd.parker Thanks for responding Todd, my main interest is to spend no more than $700 US for a backup battery that could power a 65in TV for 3 hours at least
ok i know its not doable like on a bigger scale but why is it not possible to buy two charge one with the other one and then when first about to die charge the other rinse and repeat. now make same thing to power a home and then free power for life. copy righted. tm. please answer like i wasn’t smarter than a 5th grader because i’m not.
Pretty much every time you charge something, you lose 20-30% of the power to heat so if you charged one from the other, the battery might only fill to 75%. After a few cycles, you're at 0. Think of it like transferring water between 2 leaky cups. But the point of having battery storage is to run appliances and as soon as you plug something in, that will start to empty the cup.
N big loss with no battery expansion. Use the solar port with a 36V scooter battery. Most are 200wh to 500wh but some 760wh ones are out there. You can get them cheap from Jag 35
What I hate about the solar saga. Why you’d make a panel not waterproof I will never understand. Worse it lasted a whopping 5 uses before needing a warranty replacement.
Yeah, most of these portable panels aren't waterproof and don't hold up and by the time people learn that, it's too late. These EF panels are really well made. A 1:1 replacement for the Jackery panels are the XTAR 100w panels - they look similar but actually put out 100w and are waterproof. Check out my review of those.
The Bluetti EB3A retails for $299 and has a $60 coupon right now so it's $239. The Ecoflow River 2 is exactly the same $299 retail, $60 sale discount plus my 10% off code makes it cheaper...
I agree that the 246wh units from any company are pretty small and are mostly good for charging USB devices or small things that have AC charging bricks. The Max and Peo are a more usable size for AC appliances and DC fridges
If you connect a car charger and a usbc pd charger at the same time, does the device charge at 200 watts, or does it pick one over the other and charge at 100 watts? Thanks.
Revamp is an understatement. They did improve the River 2 on a massive scale, charging wise and design wise.
Very nice review, Todd! I’ve become a real fan of EcoFlow having a Delta Mini, Delta 2 and River Pro. I am now awaiting delivery of my River 2. I’m going to set the River 2 on pass through to my modem and router for emergency preparedness-together they pull less than 20 watts, giving me about 10-12 hours of off grid use. Rarely do we have outages that go longer than 6-8 hours, but sadly, that could change. Although I could set up many of my home circuits on a single manual transfer switches and use one larger portable battery, e.g., EcoFlow Delta Max, I actually like the idea of having different smaller batteries, each dedicated to a single appliance of single function. This approach minimizes weight, readily affords different use cases, and avoids the impact of one large battery failure bringing down all circuits.
Cool idea, thanks for sharing
Love the fast charging, reuse life/warranty, and USB C input/output feature and portability. Would buy but am holding out for something similar with a wireless charger on top.
Excellent video, you described the new model lines so clearly! I think the River Max is a sweet spot with the great price and decent specs, looking forward to your full video about how it performs! I think either the Max or Pro would work really well for a decent camping setup powering a 12v fridge, LED lights, and charging cameras and phones on the road.
Yeah, I think the max is a really good size - enough to power things for a decent amount of time but not too big. Curious how much heavier the Pro feels, my old Pro is a beast. The smallest River is cool but I think most people would do better with at least the max, especially if running a fridge.
Thank you for the review, Todd. Great units depending on one’s needs. The 5 year warranty makes it very appealing. Waiting for the new River 2 pro to be available.
This guy...Always enjoy your videos and the level of depth that you go into is very much appreciated
Thanks so much Robert!
Aside from being small and portable. I like the display since its bright and easy to read.
Thanks tons for an in-depth look at our new RIVER 2 series! Super enjoy your informative and comprehensive presentation!! Keep up the great video 😆😆😆
Thanks so much!
Was leaning towards an eb3a but the 5 year warranty on the river 2 may have made up my mind.
Yeah that warranty gives you confidence in the company. All these little known solar generator brands will probably dissappear in a year leaving thier customers with bricks.
But I do have the eb3a and no problems so far. I also of the old river pro with the extended battery . Both are great companies. And the best ones in my opinion in this solar generator market
I can also get the river 2 right now for $191 I know there were specials on the eb3a for $179 but I missed out on those.
@@stephencacciatore I just bought the river 2 on Amazon for 179. There is 2 coupon codes already included. Too good of a price to pass up. Now I'll do my own vs battle powering a dc fridge. Kinda nerdy lol
Please let us all know as soon as you have the AC port no load numbers over 12hrs on the River Max. Great review looking forward to River Max full review! Then I can make some informed purchasing decisions. Thanks
Todd, thank you so much for the replying back to me and I can't wait to see your review and I really hope this unit is close to all the hype because I really need to buy a unit soon.
Yeah, would probably be 4-6 weeks before I'd get a review done but I think units have started shipping out so maybe other UA-camrs will beat me to it. The Delta 2 is a very good option if you want the flexibility to run bigger appliances or expand. The River series is nice, but pretty limited AC-wise
Really happy eco flow finally upgraded to LFP, coming from Bluetti EB70s and really frustrated with their archaic features, happy to say I’ve just purchased my first Ecoflow product. Thanks to your excellent and informative videos.
I agree. Impressed at how quickly EF switched their entire line over to LFP (still waiting on the Delta Max). Surprised that Bluetti was first with LFP but hasn't upgraded the EB55 and EB70S to match the design and integrated charging of the EB3A. They have a big gap in their product line from 500-1,500wh products today that match Ecoflow's feature set and performance.
what i want in a River 3 Pro would be dual charging, prefer solar charging scheme and maybe the option to have different maximum charge states from solar and AC, say solar can get you up to 90% and AC can be set to 60%. i'd throw one of these under each of my entertainment centers with a solar pannel to get them mostly off grid and have battery backup for the common instances of power outages, they use about 60w when not in use and when the TV is on with sound system and mini PC is gaming its about 400w, just to get some of that running off of solar, without needing to tie in anything to a pannel would be great.
Edit in an emergency i can completely disconnect everthing so it draws no power at idle, but the TV itself seems to require internet to start up(i'm starting to hate smart TVs)
I have the river pro with the extended battery. I have yet to use the extension battery. But I love having the option. I feel like they purposely did not include an extension port on the new river pro. Want an extension battery? Pay more and buy the delta 2. Still in my opinion it's not a big deal. Just buy 2 of the new river pros lol
Yeah. From a lot of questions I've seen, people are confused about what the extra battery did and assumed it also doubled the output power, not just runtime. I also think that since the EF extra batteries can't be charged or discharged by themselves (only thru the main unit) and weren't that much cheaper than the main unit, may people opted for a second River rather than a River + extra battery so maybe they weren't great sellers. In any case, these are geared for portability so I get why they dropped expansion in favor of cheaper prices. The Delta 2 is pretty compact and much more powerful if you need to step up to that level.
@@todd.parker if they did it like the vigorpool captain which 2 of those double the output that would make more sense. I guess that ecoflow with the extended battery wasn't as popular as it should of been. But hey costco had such a good deal on the riverpro with the extended battery.
Thank you for such good review, helped me to decide buy or not to buy (ordered one already) :D
Hope you enjoy it!
11-24-2022 == Geez Todd I've watched alot of youtube videos in my time, and yours are the most professional I ever saw!! You should make a video on How You Make Your Videos!! The pan & zooms and voice-over is incredible, the many other videos and the never-ending "um"s and "Uh"s drive me crazy. You are a perfectionist I can see, appreciate that, incredible details "5521" and testing. If I was Ecoflow, I would have you running the Marketing Department! Great Job, I'm waiting for the River 2 PRO to buy asap...
Thanks Dan, really appreciate that!
I've got the River 2! Just took possession a couple days ago. Looks good and the app is flawless (finally!) Because I also have the River Pro & extra battery, and the app problems with that are legendary! Ecoflow finally updated all their riff-raff, and things work across the board, with one app! Which is why I want to stick with Ecoflow for my next purchase, a BIG solar battery/generator! Maybe the Delta Pro??
Yeah, they really modernized and simplified their product line and it's the best option out there. If you can afford the Pro, it's a beast. The Delta 2 is great if you need something smaller that's still expandable up to 3kw. The Max should be upgraded to LFP soon so I'd wait on that model.
@@todd.parker Hi there, are you refering to the normal River pro, or the upgraded River 2 pro? Just asking. I'm actually pretty curious about how the normal River pro and the River 2 Max would compare to each other, since I find that the original River pro has a considerable higher amount of Wh but it's not LFP, so I guess both have their pros and cons, but since I am still deciding between these two it looks like a tough call!
@@michaelvm2404 The River 2 Max is a midsize unit that isn't really comparable to an existing River. The River 2 Pro is a 1:1 replacement for the River Pro and upgrades it to a LFP battery and new design but you lose expandability if that matters to you. The Pro won; ;the out for another month or two but is probably worth the wait. Hopefully, I'll get a pro soon and will do a follow-up video testing all 3 models.
@@todd.parker thanks a lot for your reply. Would you say that the original River pro is still worth buying now? I know that you say that the River 2 Max is not comparable to it, but if you would have to choose one, would you buy the original River pro then?
Lastly, have you heard about the Bluetti EB70? It looks pretty similar to the River pro in capacity and price, but has LFP in it... Cheers!
@@michaelvm2404 I’d say that if you are only using it periodically the older River Pro is fine especially if you find it on close out. If you cycle it daily, LFP is key. The Bluetti is solid but has a loud, external power brick, basic display, and no app support so I’d stick with EF
From 1 hour charging, to detailed display, LFP battery, and X boost, ecoflow is the way to go. I can live with the new handle. Any idea when the river pro 2 coming out?
I’ve heard January
Hi Todd, another high quality produced and informative review. I need the capacity of the Pro, and I am holding off until I see your review because I need a unit to use in our RV to run AC and DC appliance such as a TV, DVD player, small coffer maker, and some other AC appliance and I want more than enough power. Any idea when a review will be coming for the Ecoflow River 2 Pro ?
Glad you liked the video. I'm still waiting for my review unit but it's supposed to ship out soon. I think the River 2 Pro will be a really good unit, looking forward to reviewing it so stay tuned.
Excellent as usual Todd, thanks!
Thanks Ken!
What I like best is the mkre than 3000 charge cycles it has which translates to years of use and abuse.
The use of LFP batteries is a pretty good move.
Todd, good job on another informative quality review.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm trying to decide if it's worth getting one. I see a lot of complaints on Amazon. I ordered one waiting for it to get here.
Got River 2 Pro for the price of Max due to prime days and extra codes available for this unit via YT.
River 2 replaces the River mini wireless? Could you do the comparison between both👍🏻
You can buy the old generation for a really good price at Costco
Yeah, now is a good time to snap up the older units at a discount for sure
800 lifecycle vs5000 tho?
Considering it only weighs 3.5 kilos. It is lighter than most of competitors in its bracket.
Thanks for the great review . Quick question is there any difference with EF 2 series regarding the functionality with using the EcoFlow as a UPS .. with using it in-line and not having to pull out plugs of your devices while it’s charging ? I gather the EF 2 series has an auto switch over should the mains power go down. With other brands of portable power stations which have no UPS function I gather one needs an Automatic Inverter Switch accessory .
NCM batteries..... In the previous models? 🙂Really???
It is interesting they chose to not put a rubber boot on the cig socket of the smaller one. Saving what? 25 cents at most I bet. Still great stations.
Yeah, especially because the Max and Pro have it. You can always buy some off Amazon but it is a curious omission
This is really cool. I see you have noted the AC standby loss on the MAX is 10% over 24 hours, but on the DC test I see the MAX down there idling at 100%. Did you not run that test or have you run it since? It appears that the River 2 has remarkably low DC consumption but not so great on the AC side while the MAX is really good with AC consumption. I'm hoping the MAX has a low DC standby consumption as well.
In my initial tests with the Max the DC standby losses were 0% after 24 hours which is really amazing (they must shut down the ports when there isn't a load which is smart). AC losses were also very good as you mentioned. My unit was pre-production and not giving me full capacity so I'm waiting on a final unit to do a full set of tests along with the Pro. I think these are all very good units and the Max seems to be in the sweet spot.
@@todd.parker Yes I'm real interested in the Max. Do you get a promotional code for that as well?
@@rizipt My code should work on all the River 2's on the Ecoflow site.
@@todd.parker They need to fix something or maybe they're working on it now but there is no cart available for either unit. Only a link to amazon and the code is invalid on that site. I'll check back later. Thanks for reply.
@@rizipt I just saw this language they gave me: "Product and code are also available on EcoFlow website from November 2nd, 2022" so maybe you need to wait until next week to purchase
Things can fall into the fan with placement like that, and get inside of the unit or break the fan entirely
Which placement - around back?
@@todd.parker Bc the handle is in that orientation, when you go to move it, the unit is facing down, so the fan opening is facing up. That's not deal and things can fall into it. Also, bc the handle is oriented that way, people will be more likely to set it down face down, leaving the fan oriented upwards. i get why they put the handle that way from a packaging form factor standpoint, i just would never want a cooling fan of a portable unit, facing upwards
0.2C rate which is slower and gives the unit more time to waste power from the inverter, therefore, increasing the inefficiency in a lower capacity test doesn't seem logical.
That is the standard test used to measure efficiency across units and it’s good because it’s long enough to factor in inverter overhead
Can’t find the R2 Pro at any price much less the 10 % off that you mentioned, Best buying attempt I can make results in “sold out”. Any suggestions? TIA
OMFG!! Why doesn't anyone show the X-BOOST?! That is the big benefit of a unit this size!
Probably because I always leave it off...it's not that useful. It drops the voltage from 120V down as low as 80-90V when it kicks on which can damage anything electronic - TVs, microwaves, computers, etc. so it's only. good for running something like a small heater that's maybe 10-20% over the max AC output and would normally trip into overload. The marketing hype on this feature is overblown, you can't run something that is 2X the max output like they advertise because the power would be 60V and nothing would like that!
Great review, I wonder if you could clarify something I noticed the Eco pro has a photo with a button in the middle of the AC plugs and one without is there a difference between the two?
I assume that’s the button to turn AC on and off so if it’s missing, it’s probably a mistake!
Great video! Do you have an up to date coupon code?
Does the UPS automatically switch to feed ac thru when power is restored AND does it recharge itself.
You said,..."maybe a CPAP machine." Can you please clarify your statement please? Thank-You
This has the AC power to run a CPAP but the battery may not last a full night depending on the model and settings. You need to measure the power draw and divide the battery capacity to calculate runtimes
Delta Mini or River Pro? For that price just get the Delta line and run proper power tools.
Bluetti really missed it with such poor standby losses 👀
There is a pretty big size/weight difference between the Delta 2 and the River 2 Max/Pro so there's a place for both options imo. I agree that if you want to run any appliance or tool, you should step up to the D2. Yeah, Bluetti tends to have overly large inverters and less efficient electronics that really hurt their standby losses and efficiency.
No mention of the noisy fan on the River 2 Max?
I definitely cover that and give you decibel measurements
@Todd Parker Decibel ratings were for the River 2 but not for the very noisy River 2 Max 😉
@@dougofford6567 Ah, gotcha. I have a pro-production River 2 Max unit so I didn't do any real testing on that one yet. Bummer it's so loud.
@Todd Parker Noisy fan most annoying when it speeds up in middle of night and wakes me while sleeping with a CPAP. Maybe I need a long extension cord 😉
01:33 Amazon shows me the Max is $599, not even seeing the 2 Pro model listed on there. How do we get the pricing you’ve shown?
I think the Pro won't be on sale for a while but you can get the River 2 and Max now. See the Ecoflow site for links to each:
www.ecoflow.com/us/river-2-portable-power-station/?aff=290
Amazon was showing $130 off the $599. With a different code (not this channels) it can drop the price down to $430 out the door shipped to you.
As he said the Pro won’t be released until nov. smart move as it will have another discount. People will maybe but both.
@@donaldducko6580 i did see the $130 off, it I would think the price they advertise, would then get a code off. Was hoping it was an error on Amazon
@@todd.parker thanks so much!
At 8:04, is that a USB induction hotplate? Am quite interested in the product you're using, already have River 2 max and Im digging it.
No I think that’s my MacBook Pro
Will the power station stay on if there’s no current draw or will it eventually switch off?
It will eventually turn off to save battery but it’s configurable
I just went to look - it's sold out. Is your 10% code good on Amazon only or on their site as well? Thanks
It *should* work on both sites
Researching, as this is all new to me. Hoping to purchase something soon for my van. While looking at Ecoflow, I came across your video. Comparing the River 2 Pro to the Bluetti Eb55, for only $100 more, the River 2 Pro seems like the better choice in every area - correct? And do you know when they are coming out? Thanks
The River 2 is a much more modern power station (app control, nice display) than the EB55 but it lacks a wireless charger if that's important. I don't think the Pro will be on sale until January but might be worth the wait. Max and River 2 are out now
@@todd.parker I can survive without the wireless charger - I'll wait til January! Thanks for the info.
Hi Todd Which one would be best to recharge a Ecoflow Delta 2 when it goes low on power?
You might want to look at getting an extra battery for the Delta 2. Otherwise the largest River Pro model would be best but is still smaller than the D2 so it won’t fully recharge it (probably only half with losses)
Can the River 2 power a desktop? And if yes, for how long?
It really depends. How much power does your desktop + monitor pull? If you’re unsure you can buy a meter, plug everything in and measure the total watts. If it exceeds 600w, it won’t run it at all. To calculate runtime, take the battery capacity (256wh), cut 15-20% off for losses (205wh) and divide that by your load. If the PC used 200w, it would run for an hour.
Very useful information thanks
I think Delta 2 series, Delta 2 Series Max, Delta 2 Series Pro?
It does seem that’s the way they are headed. I’d expect at LFP Delta Max soon to bring all 3 products to that chemistry. The Delta Pro is already LFP but it would be good to see a new model with 240v output, better expansion connectors, and an extra battery that can be charged and discharged by itself like Bluetti.
Some of their products don’t allow for use when charging with solar (can’t simultaneously charge a device with solar input), wasn’t clear if you can charge while using solar input? Thanks.
Are you asking if you can use the AC/DC/USB output while it's solar charging? That worked for me.
@@todd.parker Yes. Okay thank you. I assumed they would work. Their older models had an issue like that, if I recall correctly. Again thanks. 🙏
Great and professional review.
Glad you liked it!
Great review !
What happened to the most important feature to drive like the RIVER series 1 up to 1800W with the X-Boost mode on? The Max 500W AC load makes the River 2 totally useless since most of the 110V devices need higher wattage. Why you ignored this most important feature in your video?
XBoost isn’t a magic fix for a small inverter, you’re still limited to the wattage but it will reduce the voltage and deliver higher amps instead. In short, I’ve found it’s only useful to power things like a heater that are 10-20% over the limit. Beyond that, the voltage drops so low, appliances don’t work at all or could be damaged. I mention the feature but I never turn it on because it can easily destroy more sensitive appliances. If you need more power, buy a bigger unit, don’t be fooled by the marketing
@@todd.parker I’m using exclusively the XBoost of the tiny EcoFlow RIVER Max Plus with 360Wh for 1000 Watt electric grill, 700W Instapot pressure cooker and water boiler. The tiny EcoFlow RIVER Max Plus with 360Wh with XBoost fit underneath the passenger sit of my car. All this will not be possible anymore with the new version 2. Again useless for me
Todd, checked the webpage of EcoFlow. The new River 2 has X-Boost up to 600W
They put a handle partially covering the cooling fan? What the heck?
It doesn’t cover the fan, it’s just above it. The River 2 is one of the quietest units I’ve tested so it’s not a problem
soo, I got mine River 2 a month ago and since I did little offgrid over that period and so I did not use the device, just left it at 100%. Imagine my surprise now, when I turned it on today to find 0%. Quite not what I would expect frome LiFePo which supposedly should selfdischarge about 2% a month... 😑
The app... hehe, if you try to register the device from the app you'll get a bunch of chines when trying to use the camera (for proof of purchase). oh well 🤷😁 still it't nice to have it than not. but honestly i would preffer to have the option to switch wifi entierly 😞
Now I'll see about that legendary customer service - i just wrote them about thay suprising discharge.
I'm also scared if panels are fine as I mentioned did not have yet any offgrid use from that and too few sunny days to test it in my apartment.
Hmmm. Did you long press the power button until it said OFF on the screen? If not, then there is enough draw from the electronics to drain it eventually. If you did that, test it again to be sure, then reach out to support
@@todd.parker Since that was a month ago I absolutely don't remember 😅 but the app says the auto shutdown is after 2h.
Yup, that's the plan now - charged it, long-pressed it, will check daily. Also I've updated firmware (says they tweaked discharge algorithm) and I've set charge discharge limits. just in case.
Now about those panels, I imagine a simple multimeter should show some current at least.
@@zoladkow Yeah, it's confusing. The auto shutdown turns the AC inverter and ports off after a certain time if there is no load because that uses quite a bit of power. However, the unit itself it still on (the computer that controls the battery and buttons) which is why you should drain it to 60-80% then long press power until if says OFF and it won't lose power for long term storage.
When is the pro available?
I think very soon
I'm hi so if you don't use it frequently does tha damage battery potential
No but you should store it between 60-80% and cycle it to 20 and up to 100% then back down every few months for longevity
@@todd.parker thx Todd from new Zealand
How many years until the battery dies completely???
Depends on a lot of factors but after 3,00 cycles it’s only down to to 80% of its original capacity so this will work for 10+ years, maybe much longer
My questions will any of the old add on or extra batteries work with the river 2 max
They won’t because the connector they need isn’t on the River 2 series
@@todd.parker thanks you are awesome
How many times can you charge macbook pro with EcoFlow RIVER 2 Portable Power Station?
Depends on the model but it seems they range from 70-100wh so the River 2 should charge it 2-3 times
I just got mine and found the booklet well short of my needs to operate this. Does it need the cell phone app or can I use panel controls only ? How do I charge with AC wall plug. I plugged mine in and it's not doing anything, except showing 99 hours and 26 % forever, as long as I push the power button every few minutes to activate the screen.
You can use it without the app for sure but there are advanced settings like charging speed and min/max charging thresholds, and XBoost that you can only do in the app. It sounds like something might be wrong with your unit. If you plug it into the wall, it should start charging. Maybe try charging it in your car or with solar to see if it kicks in.
@@todd.parker Well I've had it plugged into my wall for about 5 hours and it's gone from 23 % to 25%. What should I do here ?
@@SmeeUncleJoe definitely contact support
Hello, I have 220v 50Hz in my country but ordered US version by mistake. Can I charge it from 220v (and use at UPS) for my PC anyway?
You can change between 50 and 60hz but not the voltage. You should try to cancel your order. You can buy a voltage converter to output 120v from 220v but they are expensive
Bought 2 max 2 days ago. Return it. So noice fan. USB c port not working. Can not read ac output. Charging but it said no output. Bad ac.
That’s no good, definitely seems like a defective unit.
I would appreciate it if you or anyone reading this can tell me what is considered the best portable battery with AC capabilities.
It really depends on how much AC output you need (inverter size) and how long you want to run those loads for (battery size in kWh). In general, I think Ecoflow has the best product line, support, and value but to pick which model, you need to have a good sense of how much power you need
@@todd.parker Thanks for responding Todd, my main interest is to spend no more than $700 US for a backup battery that could power a 65in TV for 3 hours at least
@@todd.parker What looks really interesting is the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station. I'm just waiting for you to review it
wireless charging and battery expantiopns slot is a big miss sadly'
I don’t miss the expansion batteries but the wireless charging seems like a strange omission. It’s cheap to add and there’s a spot for it.
Are these wi-fi capable if so do you know if you can permanently disable the wi-fi for health reasons? Thanks
Unfortunately, I don't think there is a setting to turn off the bluetooth or wifi.
@@todd.parker Thanks Todd that is a shame mind
ok i know its not doable like on a bigger scale but why is it not possible to buy two charge one with the other one and then when first about to die charge the other rinse and repeat. now make same thing to power a home and then free power for life. copy righted. tm. please answer like i wasn’t smarter than a 5th grader because i’m not.
Pretty much every time you charge something, you lose 20-30% of the power to heat so if you charged one from the other, the battery might only fill to 75%. After a few cycles, you're at 0. Think of it like transferring water between 2 leaky cups. But the point of having battery storage is to run appliances and as soon as you plug something in, that will start to empty the cup.
Make sure you check out the new Official River 2 group
I did and it’s not. Seems to be only posts by you.
N big loss with no battery expansion. Use the solar port with a 36V scooter battery. Most are 200wh to 500wh but some 760wh ones are out there. You can get them cheap from Jag 35
What I hate about the solar saga. Why you’d make a panel not waterproof I will never understand. Worse it lasted a whopping 5 uses before needing a warranty replacement.
Yeah, most of these portable panels aren't waterproof and don't hold up and by the time people learn that, it's too late. These EF panels are really well made. A 1:1 replacement for the Jackery panels are the XTAR 100w panels - they look similar but actually put out 100w and are waterproof. Check out my review of those.
I may buy this because the other one is SO BIG And heavy. It’s too much lol.
But you can get the same thing from Bluetti, $100 cheaper.
The Bluetti EB3A retails for $299 and has a $60 coupon right now so it's $239. The Ecoflow River 2 is exactly the same $299 retail, $60 sale discount plus my 10% off code makes it cheaper...
How noisy?
The River 2 is very quiet, lots of noise measurements in the video
Ooh ineed this
Now we talking..
There just too small. Can't do anything with them. I guess you can charge you phone 3 times.
I agree that the 246wh units from any company are pretty small and are mostly good for charging USB devices or small things that have AC charging bricks. The Max and Peo are a more usable size for AC appliances and DC fridges
Many phones don't use that much of a charge. You would get more than 3 charges out of it for a phone.
If you connect a car charger and a usbc pd charger at the same time, does the device charge at 200 watts, or does it pick one over the other and charge at 100 watts? Thanks.
Answered around 10:30