It hasn't been on the market for very long and won't be available in stores until next month, but we've already tried it out: The new EcoFlow River 3 is said to shine with its compactness and mobile application options.
Does this also work with small tools related to cars? There are some exciting new features, especially compared to the predecessor. So let's take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses in our test report.
Smaller, lighter, more mobile: The new EcoFlow River 3
With just 3,3 kg is the EcoFlow River 3 a real lightweight among power stations. When you unpack it, you are immediately surprised when you lift it out of the box.
This makes it the ideal companion for anyone who does not want to go without a “real” power supply when on the move. Whether at the campsite, on a long car journey or working with a laptop in the car – the compact size of 22,5 x 20,8 x 11,3 cm makes it the perfect travel companion that even fits in your backpack in an emergency.
The biggest advantage of the River 3 over its predecessor, the River 2, in our opinion, lies not only in the weight, but also in the additional power. With a constant output power of 300 watts, and a capacity of 245 watt hours The new River 3 always delivers enough power to operate smaller devices such as laptops, battery-powered air pumps, electric impact wrenches, but of course also smartphones or Bluetooth headphones.
In our test, it was able to charge a laptop, a flasher and a pair of Bluetooth headphones simultaneously for about 2 hours and 28 minutes with electricity – compared to the predecessor, in our case there is an increase of significantly over half an hour (about +37 minutes).
More power, same connections
As far as the connections are concerned, at first glance nothing has actually changed: There is the familiar 230-volt socket, a car socket, two USB-A and one USB-C interface around the LCD. But in terms of charging speed, the River 3 has really improved.
The USB-C port in particular has been upgraded and now delivers 100 watts,, which means that smartphones can be charged much faster than with the River 2 and also much faster than with many other comparable devices. Normally around 60 watts is the average. With the River 3, the annoying wait for a fully charged device is significantly reduced.
Loading times: Fast and flexible
One of the absolute highlights of the EcoFlow River 3 is the brutally fast charging time. While other power stations almost always need several hours and sometimes even a whole night, the River 3 can be charged from a normal socket in just one hour fully charged again. This makes them particularly interesting for those who don't have much time to charge the station while on the go.
And as is almost “usual” with EcoFlow, version 3 can also be optionally equipped with a solar panel Depending on the panel and the weather conditions, the charging process can take up to three times as long. Practical: A car connection is also installed so that the power station can also be charged while driving.
This is not only important for the Camper It makes sense not only for the car repair shop or the car dealership around the corner, but also for the car workshop or the car dealership around the corner. Because every now and then there are smaller devices for the car or motorcycle that require a power connection. In our test, for example, it was an electric impact wrench and the EcoFlow 3 also did well for loading new software via the laptop.
EcoFlow app: Smart control via smartphone
And as with most EcoFlow devices, the EcoFlow River 3 also comes with smart control. The in-house EcoFlow app The power station can not only be monitored, but also controlled. With the app you can, for example, see the current battery Level and view the remaining term or the power flows of the connected devices.
And especially practical: The River 3's connections can be switched on and off directly via the app - perfect for relaxing in front of the Caravan to turn off the lights or the radio from your smartphone. However, this function only works for the sockets and car connections; unfortunately, the USB ports cannot be deactivated remotely. It's a shame, even if it's not really necessary.
Conclusion: Strong, but not without weaknesses
The EcoFlow River 3 made a thoroughly positive impression in our small test. It is more compact and lighter than its predecessor and, with 245 watt hours, delivers a solid capacity for countless mobile applications. As always, the workmanship is top-notch and far from cheap. The faster charging time and the improved connections are also clear plus points in our opinion.
Depending on the connected device, three hours of battery life or even longer is not really a problem. The River 3 also scores with its excellent flexibility and a very quiet operating noise of less than 36 decibelsAs always, EcoFlow launches a device that is an excellent choice for those looking for a small, lightweight and powerful power station. Especially one that is suitable for everyday use as well as for outdoor adventures or, as in our case, for some work using a laptop and software on the vehicle.
- Constant output power: 300 watts
- Maximum output power: 600 watts (X-Boost)
- energy storage capacity: 245 Wh (expandable up to 858 Wh with River 3 Max Plus)
- Dimensions River 3: 255 × 207 × 113 mm
- Weight River 33,3 kg
- connections River 3: 1x AC socket, 1x car socket, 2x USB-A (12 watts), 1x USB-C (100 watts)
- Charging time: Less than 1 hour via AC (socket), Solar charging option: Max. 110 watts
- volume during operation: Below 30 dB
- Battery technology: LiFePO4 battery, GaN technology
- battery protection class: IP54 (dust and splash protection)
- Housing: Fireproof, fall-proof from a height of 1,5 m
- UPS function: Switching time under 20 ms
- steering: Via EcoFlow app (Bluetooth and WLAN)
- Display on screen: charge level, power consumption, remaining running time
- additional batteries: EB300 (286 Wh), EB600 (572 Wh)
- extension with additional batteries: Available from River 3 Plus, capacity extension up to 858 Wh
- Available models: River 3, River 3 Plus, River 3 Max, River 3 Max Plus
- Price: Not yet known, market launch in Q4 2024
Comparison of running times and charges (River 3 vs. River 2):
- laptop (60 watt hours): River 3: 4 times, River 2: 4 1/4 times
- smartphone (10 watt hours): River 3: 25 times, River 2: 25 1/2 times
- home projector (100 watts): River 3: 2 1/2 hours, River 2: 2 1/2 hours
- Wireless headphones (20 watt hours): River 3: 12 times, River 2: 12 3/4 times
- camping lantern (25 watts): River 3: 9 3/4 hours, River 2: 10 1/4 hours
- mini fridge (50 watts): River 3: 5 hours, River 2: 5 hours
- electric scooter (500 watt hours): River 3: 1/2 times, River 2: 1/2 times