RIVER 2
- you already own one
- loads stay under 300W
- you carry it: 7.7 lb
RIVER 2 Max 500
- a CPAP for a full night
- loads up to 500W
- four outlets, 220W solar
Prices and stock checked by our price engine on November 13, 2026 at 3:29 AM EST. Each product is rechecked several times a day; the time refreshes when you load the page.
If you own a RIVER 2 and it runs out before morning, this is the upgrade that fixes it.
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 stored 256Wh and delivered 300W from two AC outlets at 7.7 lb; EcoFlow US no longer sells it, and the RIVER 2 (240) with 243Wh is the version on sale. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 stores 499Wh and delivers 500W from four outlets at 13.2 lb, with 220W of solar against 110W. Both refill from the wall in 60 minutes and switch in under 30ms. For phones and a laptop, the RIVER 2 you already own still does the job.
Below: the five differences with numbers, a 20-second calculator for your own gear, eight modeled situations, a third option with a faster UPS, and what published tests found.
The RIVER 2 Max 500 nearly doubles the battery and adds 200W, two outlets and twice the solar input, for 5.5 lb more. EcoFlow US no longer sells the RIVER 2; its RIVER 2 (240) replacement keeps the same small format.
- it charges phones and laptops
- you carry it: 7.7 lb
- it keeps a router up
- a CPAP must last the night
- you need four outlets
- you use 220W of solar
The five differences that decide it
Both belong to the RIVER 2 family: LFP cells rated for 3,000 cycles to 80%, a 60-minute wall refill, an EPS under 30ms, X-Boost for heating loads and the EcoFlow app. These five gaps decide it.
Will it run your setup? Check in 20 seconds
Estimates use 85% usable capacity and 70% of rated solar output. Real results vary with temperature, inverter load, shade and appliance cycling. Fridge and freezer watts are daily averages and do not include compressor startup surges.
Runtime by appliance, one at a time
Simple energy estimates, not measured runtimes. About 218Wh usable on the RIVER 2 and 424Wh on the RIVER 2 Max 500. Gough Lui measured 217Wh from AC on a RIVER 2; on the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max, StorageReview got 410Wh out.
Appliance for appliance, the RIVER 2 Max 500 lasts 95% longer than the RIVER 2.
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What the current options cost today
The RIVER 2 (240) keeps the RIVER 2’s 7.7 lb body, 300W inverter and inputs with 243Wh in EcoFlow’s spec table. The RIVER 2 Max 500 is the step up in the same family. Both prices move often.
The third option: the RIVER 2 Pro at $369
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro: $369 today
One size up from the RIVER 2 Max 500: 768Wh instead of 499Wh, 800W from four AC outlets with X-Boost to 1,600W, the same 220W of solar and a 70-minute wall refill, at 18.2 lb. Its EPS switches in under 30ms. Pick it if a full night of runtime or a bigger appliance matters more than 5 lb. See the RIVER 2 Pro at EcoFlow.
Eight modeled situations, worked out
Same formula as the calculator above: 85% of the rated capacity, no extra battery added.
Wi-Fi router through an outage
The RIVER 2 keeps a router online for about 18.1 h; the RIVER 2 Max 500, about 35.3 h. Both switch over in under 30ms (EPS), fast enough for a router.
CPAP, one night or more
The RIVER 2 covers about 5 hours of an 8-hour night, the RIVER 2 Max 500 1.3 nights. A heated humidifier can double the draw, so halve these figures if you use one.
Full-size fridge in an outage
About 3.6 h on the RIVER 2 and 7.1 h on the RIVER 2 Max 500. The RIVER 2’s 300W inverter may not start every compressor.
A weekend of laptop and phone top-ups
About 4 laptop charges from the RIVER 2 against 7 from the RIVER 2 Max 500. Over USB-C you skip the inverter: 1 × 60W on the RIVER 2, 1 × 100W on the RIVER 2 Max 500.
A 400W blender on battery
Only the RIVER 2 Max 500, for about 1.1 h. The RIVER 2 stops at 300W; X-Boost on it is for heating loads up to 600W at reduced power, not for motors or electronics.
Refill from the wall before a storm
A tie: both refill from the wall in 60 min to full, the RIVER 2 at 360W and the RIVER 2 Max 500 at 660W, per EcoFlow.
Refill from solar, each at its maximum
About 3.3 hours of good sun for the RIVER 2 and 3.2 for the RIVER 2 Max 500. That assumes you own panels that size; clouds and winter sun stretch both.
Carrying it to a campsite
7.7 lb for the RIVER 2 against 13.2 lb for the RIVER 2 Max 500.
Six more differences, the spec sheet and the box
Smaller gaps that rarely decide the purchase, then the full specifications and what ships in the box.
RIVER 2 and RIVER 2 Max 500 weight, dimensions and full specifications
Weight: 7.7 lb for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 and 13.2 lb for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500. Dimensions: 9.6 × 8.5 × 5.7 in and 10.6 × 10.2 × 7.7 in. Everything else is in the sheet below.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 and EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 full specifications
Every published figure for both units, grouped. Green marks the better value.
What’s in the box
RIVER 2
- RIVER 2256Wh, 7.7 lb
- AC charging cable
- Car charging cable
- User manual
RIVER 2 Max 500
- RIVER 2 Max 500499Wh, 13.2 lb
- AC charging cable
- Manual
- No extra battery port
RIVER 2 contents as EcoFlow US listed them when it was on sale; RIVER 2 Max 500 from its US page.
07 · ChargingHow fast each one refills
Shorter bar, faster refill. Each row is scaled to its slower unit.
RIVER 2: T3 measured just under an hour from the wall on a US unitRIVER 2 Max 500: 60 min from the wall at 660W, per EcoFlow US
Our solar times assume panels deliver 70% of their rating; the brands’ figures assume ideal sun.
Every port, side by side
RIVER 2
RIVER 2 Max 500
Practical consequence: the RIVER 2 Max 500 adds two AC outlets, a third USB-A, two DC5521 barrels and a 100W USB-C against the RIVER 2’s 60W. Both have a 12V car outlet.
09 · NoiseNoise: RIVER 2 vs RIVER 2 Max 500
EcoFlow publishes no noise figure for either. TechSmart heard bursts of about 45dB while a EcoFlow RIVER 2 recharged; on the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max, sibling of the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500, The Technology Man measured 46dB at 1 m while fast charging.
Fans mostly run while charging or under heavy loads.Every figure we found, with its source
What reviewers heard: Mostly silent, with occasional bursts of about 45dB while recharging (TechSmart); the fan spins up during fast AC charging and heavy loads (TechRadar, Australian unit).
No decibel figure published.
What reviewers heard: No reviewer measured the Max 500; on the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max, which shares its chassis, The Technology Man measured 46dB at 1 m while fast charging (UK unit).
Measured by a tester Brand figure
- The fans run hardest while fast charging, so charge during the day if the unit sits by a bed.
Cold, heat and storage: RIVER 2 vs RIVER 2 Max 500
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 and the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 share the same limits: charging from 32°F to 113°F, running from 14°F to 113°F. Neither has a water rating.
Figures from the EcoFlow US pages.- In a cold car or garage, bring it inside to charge: charge only above 32°F.
- For storage, EcoFlow’s US pages give 68°F to 86°F as the best range: keep some charge in it and top it up every few months.
App, UPS and smart features
Same app, same basic EPS under 30ms; Gough Lui measured about 16ms on a EcoFlow RIVER 2. Neither takes an extra battery, so the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 is the bigger box, not an expandable one.
Same features; the gap is size, not software.Green zone: a switch under about 16ms, which most desktop PCs ride through without restarting.
Does it work as a UPS? The EcoFlow RIVER 2 switches in under 30ms (EPS), the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 in under 30ms (EPS). EcoFlow calls the slower mode EPS, a basic switchover.
Can you add a battery later? The EcoFlow RIVER 2: no extra battery port. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500: no extra battery port.
Can it run a heater or kettle above its rating? Both have X-Boost for heating loads at reduced power: up to 600W on the EcoFlow RIVER 2, 1,000W on the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500. It doesn’t help motors.
How does the app connect? Both use the EcoFlow app over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, with charge limits and remote control of the outputs.
Warranty and support
EcoFlow’s US warranty table lists the EcoFlow RIVER 2 at 5 years; an existing unit keeps the term it was sold with. It has no row for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500; the RIVER 2 Max row says 5 years, so confirm the term at checkout.
Both are rated for 3,000 cycles to 80%.Subject to each brand’s warranty terms and eligibility.
EcoFlow rates the RIVER 2 at 3,000 cycles to 80%. EcoFlow rates the RIVER 2 Max 500 at 3,000 cycles to 80%. Calendar aging and heat also reduce capacity, so read the rating as a ceiling.
- For the RIVER 2 Max 500, ask EcoFlow or the seller to confirm the term at checkout: the US table has no row for it.
- If you find a RIVER 2 for sale, check that seller’s warranty: EcoFlow US no longer sells it.
What reviewers report
We have not lab-tested these two units. Here is what 12 published reviews found, with the source, author and date for each point. We found no independent test of the RIVER 2 Max 500 itself, so its points come from the RIVER 2 Max and say so. UK, EU and Australian units are flagged: their charge times and outlets differ from US units.
RIVER 2: T3 (December 2022), TechRadar (August 2025, Australian unit), Trusted Reviews (September 2023, EU unit), Gough’s Tech Zone (goughlui.com) (March 2025, Australian unit), TechSmart (South Africa) (August 2023), tech-ish (Kenya) (April 2026)RIVER 2 Max 500: no test of this model; findings from the RIVER 2 Max: StorageReview (October 2022), The Technology Man (February 2023, UK unit), Android Central (August 2023), Basic Tutorials (December 2022, EU unit), Camera Jabber (December 2022, EU unit), Business Standard (April 2023)
Usable capacity
- RIVER 2Reviewer Overall conversion losses were generally under 10% of rated capacity in the reviewer’s tests. TechRadar, Lindsay Handmer, August 2025, Australian unit
- RIVER 2Reviewer Running a 50W air purifier from AC until empty yielded 164Wh, about 64% of rated capacity; DC outputs are more efficient. Trusted Reviews, David Ludlow, September 2023, EU unit
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): in the lab the unit powered off after delivering 410Wh from its 512Wh battery, in line with typical 80% inverter efficiency. StorageReview, Jordan Ranous, October 2022
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): two 100W bulbs at just under 200W ran 2 h 19 min and used 439Wh, about 86% of the rated 512Wh. The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit
Charging
- RIVER 2Reviewer Fully charged from the wall in just under an hour, drawing about 340W. T3, Richard Baguley, December 2022
- RIVER 2Reviewer A 100W panel supplied by EcoFlow delivered only about 50W on a sunny day, so a full solar charge would take a couple of days. T3, Richard Baguley, December 2022
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): recharged from 2% to 100% in just under an hour, pulling 581Wh from the wall at a steady draw of about 615W. StorageReview, Jordan Ranous, October 2022
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): charging at 600W took the battery from flat to 80% in just over 40 minutes and to full in just under 63 minutes (UK 230V mains). The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): car charging ran just under 100W on 12V and just under 190W on a 24V bench supply, capped at 8A. The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit
Noise and heat
- RIVER 2Reviewer Fan stays off on USB-C but spins to high speed during fast AC charging or heavy loads, and is still audible at the 100W charge limit. TechRadar, Lindsay Handmer, August 2025, Australian unit
- RIVER 2Reviewer The fan rarely turned on during testing, so the reviewer found it very quiet. Trusted Reviews, David Ludlow, September 2023, EU unit
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): fans at full-speed charging measured 46dB at one metre, about 10dB above office background noise. The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): fans are audible while fast charging at up to 660W, though a full charge takes just under an hour. Android Central, Harish Jonnalagadda, August 2023
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): under heavier load the fan noise rises and the reviewer found it a bit annoying at times, his main deduction. Basic Tutorials, Simon Lüthje, December 2022, EU unit
UPS and output
- RIVER 2Reviewer A small toaster oven and an electric heater tripped the overload after about 30 seconds; the outlet reset once unplugged. T3, Richard Baguley, December 2022
- RIVER 2Reviewer Load-tested 12V and USB ports delivered their rated power; AC held voltage at full load and X-Boost avoided shutdowns. TechRadar, Lindsay Handmer, August 2025, Australian unit
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): measured output was a clean 120V at 60.0Hz with no flicker on incandescent or LED lights. StorageReview, Jordan Ranous, October 2022
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): uS unit has 4 AC outlets (two grounded 3-prong, two 2-prong), 3 USB-A at 12W and one 100W USB-C. StorageReview, Jordan Ranous, October 2022
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): pulling the mains plug caused no visible effect on a desktop PC; the reviewer found the quoted 30ms switchover adequate. The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit
Daily use and issues
- RIVER 2Reviewer The US unit has two AC outlets, but only one is three-prong; the second is two-prong for ungrounded plugs. T3, Richard Baguley, December 2022
- RIVER 2Reviewer Charging some power banks from it failed; some could only charge the River 2 instead. Front buttons are easy to press by accident in a bag. TechRadar, Lindsay Handmer, August 2025, Australian unit
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): rear AC and DC inputs were awkward to reach with gear stacked on top, since the grippy feet resist turning the unit. StorageReview, Jordan Ranous, October 2022
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): leaving the AC inverter on with nothing plugged in drained 2 to 3% of the battery per hour. The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): main complaint: a single USB-C port, and the three USB-A ports are limited to 12W, too slow for anything beyond accessories. Android Central, Harish Jonnalagadda, August 2023
Practical limits before you buy
- The RIVER 2 stops at 300W. Anything that draws more, like a microwave or a coffee maker, won’t run on it.
- X-Boost is for heating loads only, at reduced power: up to 600W on the RIVER 2, 1,000W on the RIVER 2 Max 500. Motors need the continuous rating.
- EcoFlow US no longer sells the RIVER 2. Its page redirects to the store’s power station collection; the RIVER 2 (240) is the version on sale.
- Only one of the RIVER 2’s two AC outlets is three-prong, per T3’s US unit.
- A toaster oven and a heater tripped the RIVER 2’s overload after about 30 seconds in T3’s test, even with X-Boost.
- Two of the RIVER 2 Max 500’s four AC outlets are two-prong, per EcoFlow’s photos: a grounded three-prong plug needs one of the other two.
- EcoFlow’s RIVER 2 Max 500 page lists no switchover time. The under-30ms EPS figure is EcoFlow’s for the RIVER 2 Series; treat it as a basic UPS, not a server-grade one.
- Neither charges below freezing. In a cold car or garage, bring it inside first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the EcoFlow RIVER 2 and the RIVER 2 Max 500?
Size. The RIVER 2 stored 256Wh and delivered 300W from two outlets at 7.7 lb; the RIVER 2 Max 500 stores 499Wh and delivers 500W from four outlets at 13.2 lb. Both refill from the wall in 60 minutes.
Is the RIVER 2 still sold?
EcoFlow US no longer sells the RIVER 2: its page now redirects to the store’s power station collection. Its closest current model is the RIVER 2 (240).
How long does each run a CPAP?
About 5 hours for the RIVER 2 and about 1.3 nights for the RIVER 2 Max 500, at 40W for 8 hours without a humidifier.
Can the RIVER 2 run a fridge?
For about 3.6 h at a 60W average, and its 300W inverter may not start every compressor. The RIVER 2 Max 500 runs one for about 7.1 h.
Which one charges faster?
About the same from the wall: 60 min to full on the RIVER 2, 60 min to full on the RIVER 2 Max 500.
Which one is the better UPS?
The RIVER 2 switches in under 30ms (EPS), the RIVER 2 Max 500 in under 30ms (EPS). Under 10ms keeps most desktop PCs running; 20 to 30ms is fine for a router, lights or a fridge.
How much do they weigh?
7.7 lb for the RIVER 2 and 13.2 lb for the RIVER 2 Max 500.
What warranty do they have?
Per EcoFlow’s US warranty table: 5 years for the RIVER 2; no row of its own (the RIVER 2 Max row says 5 years) for the RIVER 2 Max 500.
Is the RIVER 2 (240) the same as the RIVER 2?
Close: same 7.7 lb body, same 300W inverter and the same inputs, with 243Wh in EcoFlow’s spec table against 256Wh for the original RIVER 2.
Related comparisons and reviews
How we compared and sources
Research-based comparison. We have not physically tested these two units. RIVER 2 specs come from EcoFlow’s US page archived on August 22, 2026, RIVER 2 Max 500 specs from its current US page; usage observations are attributed to named reviewers. Checked on October 31, 2026.
- Specs: EcoFlow US, RIVER 2 (archived August 22, 2026) and the RIVER 2 user manual and EcoFlow US, RIVER 2 Max 500, read on October 31, 2026; warranty terms from the EcoFlow US warranty policy.
- EcoFlow US availability, October 31, 2026: the RIVER 2 page redirects to the store’s power station collection; the RIVER 2 (240) and the RIVER 2 Max 500 are on sale. We found no independent test of the Max 500: its reviewer findings come from the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max, which shares its chassis and spec table, and are labeled that way.
- Reviewer reports on the RIVER 2: T3, Richard Baguley, December 2022, TechRadar, Lindsay Handmer, August 2025, Australian unit, Trusted Reviews, David Ludlow, September 2023, EU unit, Gough’s Tech Zone (goughlui.com), Gough Lui, March 2025, Australian unit, TechSmart (South Africa), Mike Joubert, August 2023, tech-ish (Kenya), Hillary Keverenge, April 2026; on the RIVER 2 Max (for the RIVER 2 Max 500): StorageReview, Jordan Ranous, October 2022, The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit, Android Central, Harish Jonnalagadda, August 2023, Basic Tutorials, Simon Lüthje, December 2022, EU unit, Camera Jabber, Camera Jabber Team (no named author), December 2022, EU unit, Business Standard, Khalid Anzar, April 2023.
- Runtime = capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts. Solar harvest = min(panel watts, max input) × sun hours × 0.70. Cost per lifetime kWh = price ÷ (cycles × capacity in kWh).
256Wh and 300W at 7.7 lb, or 499Wh and 500W at 13.2 lb. The RIVER 2 is no longer sold by EcoFlow US.
Prices checked November 13, 2026 at 3:29 AM EST
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Originally published: November 10, 2026