RIVER 2 Max 500
- you want one box, four outlets
- you refill fast: 60 min
- you carry it: 13.2 lb
RIVER 3 Max
- it guards a PC or router: under 10ms
- you want 572Wh and 600W
- you like a detachable USB-C battery
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.
Similar energy, different shapes. One is a single box with four outlets; the other is two pieces that come apart.
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 stores 499Wh in one 13.2 lb box and delivers 500W from four AC outlets, refilling from the wall in 60 minutes. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max is a RIVER 3 Plus with an Extra Battery 300 clipped underneath: 572Wh, 600W from three outlets, a UPS that switches in under 10ms and a detachable 140W USB-C battery, at about 18.1 lb for the stack. If you already own a RIVER 3 Max, it’s the better one to protect a PC or a router; the Max 500 gives a quicker refill and one more outlet in a single piece. EcoFlow US no longer lists the RIVER 3 Max bundle (checked November 8, 2026); buying new, the Max 500 is the one of the two it sells, and the step up is the RIVER 2 Pro: 768Wh and 800W (1,600W X-Boost), 220W of solar and an EPS under 30ms, at 18.2 lb.
Below: the five differences with numbers, a 20-second calculator for your own gear, eight modeled situations, a lighter third option, and what published tests found.
The RIVER 3 Max has 73Wh more, 100W more output and a true UPS under 10ms, in two stacked pieces. The RIVER 2 Max 500 is one box with a fourth outlet, DC5521 ports and a refill twice as fast. EcoFlow US no longer lists the RIVER 3 Max bundle (checked November 8, 2026); buying new, the Max 500 is the one it sells, and the RIVER 2 Pro is the step up.
- you refill in 60 min
- you need four outlets
- you want one piece
- a PC must not reboot
- you want 572Wh
- you want a 140W USB-C bank
The five differences that decide it
Both use LFP cells rated for 3,000 cycles to 80%, the EcoFlow app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, X-Boost for heating loads and 220W of solar. 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 424Wh usable on the RIVER 2 Max 500 and 486Wh on the RIVER 3 Max. Root-Nation measured nothing on the RIVER 3 Max; on the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max, StorageReview got 410Wh out.
Appliance for appliance, the RIVER 3 Max lasts 15% longer than the RIVER 2 Max 500.
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What to buy instead today
The RIVER 2 Max 500 is the one of the two EcoFlow US sells: 499Wh, 500W (1,000W X-Boost), 220W of solar and a 60-minute wall refill, at 13.2 lb. The RIVER 2 Pro stores 768Wh, 1.3 times the RIVER 3 Max’s battery, and delivers 800W, at 18.2 lb. Neither matches the RIVER 3 Max’s 10ms UPS: EcoFlow US gives no switchover time for the Max 500, and the RIVER 2 Pro’s EPS switches in under 30ms. Prices move often; ours refresh daily.
The third option: the EcoFlow RIVER 2 (240) at $199
EcoFlow RIVER 2 (240): $199 today
The RIVER 2 Pro is the closest current model above the RIVER 3 Max, so it’s covered in the price section above. If you want a lighter box than either: the RIVER 2 (240) stores 243Wh and delivers 300W at 7.7 lb, with an EPS that switches in 30ms and a 5-year warranty. That’s about half the Max 500’s battery at a little more than half its weight, for phones, a laptop and a router rather than a fridge. Our RIVER 2 review goes deeper. See the RIVER 2 (240) 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 Max 500 keeps a router online for about 35.3 h; the RIVER 3 Max, about 40.5 h. Both switch over fast enough for a router: under 30ms (EPS) on the RIVER 2 Max 500, under 10ms on the RIVER 3 Max.
CPAP, one night or more
The RIVER 2 Max 500 covers 1.3 nights, the RIVER 3 Max 1.5 nights. A heated humidifier can double the draw, so halve these figures if you use one.
Full-size fridge in an outage
About 7.1 h on the RIVER 2 Max 500 and 8.1 h on the RIVER 3 Max.
A weekend of laptop and phone top-ups
About 7 laptop charges from the RIVER 2 Max 500 against 8 from the RIVER 3 Max. Over USB-C you skip the inverter: 1 × 100W on the RIVER 2 Max 500, 100W + 140W on the RIVER 3 Max.
A 600W desktop PC on battery
Only the RIVER 3 Max, for about 49 minutes, and its under-10ms switchover keeps a PC running when the grid drops; EcoFlow quotes 42 minutes for its own 600W desktop test. Its USB-B port can tell EcoFlow’s Power Manager software to save your work. The RIVER 2 Max 500 stops at 500W.
Refill from the wall before a storm
60 min to full for the RIVER 2 Max 500 (660W, EcoFlow), about 1.5 h for the RIVER 3 Max (380W, our estimate for 572Wh).
Refill from solar, each at its maximum
About 3.2 hours of good sun for the RIVER 2 Max 500 and 3.7 for the RIVER 3 Max, if you own panels that size. Clouds and winter sun stretch both.
Carrying it to a campsite
13.2 lb for the RIVER 2 Max 500 against about 18.1 lb for the RIVER 3 Max.
Seven 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 Max 500 and RIVER 3 Max weight, dimensions and full specifications
Weight: 13.2 lb for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 and About 18.1 lb for the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max. Dimensions: 10.6 × 10.2 × 7.7 in and 9.2 × 9.1 × 10.1 in. The RIVER 3 Max weight and height are our sums of EcoFlow’s figures for its two pieces.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 and EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max full specifications
Every published figure for both units, grouped. Green marks the better value.
What’s in the box
RIVER 2 Max 500
- RIVER 2 Max 500499Wh, 13.2 lb
- AC charging cable
- Manual
- No extra battery port
RIVER 3 Max
- RIVER 3 Plus286Wh, 10.4 lb
- Extra Battery 300286Wh, 7.7 lb, clips on without cables
- AC charging cable
- Manuals
From EcoFlow’s US product pages; the RIVER 3 Max is a RIVER 3 Plus box plus an Extra Battery 300.
07 · ChargingHow fast each one refills
Shorter bar, faster refill. Each row is scaled to its slower unit.
RIVER 2 Max 500: 60 min from the wall at 660W, per EcoFlow USRIVER 3 Max: EcoFlow gives 60 min for the RIVER 3 Plus alone; ours divides 572Wh by 380W
Our solar times assume panels deliver 70% of their rating; the brands’ figures assume ideal sun.
Every port, side by side
RIVER 2 Max 500
RIVER 3 Max
Practical consequence: the RIVER 2 Max 500 adds a fourth AC outlet, a third USB-A and two DC5521 barrels. The RIVER 3 Max adds a 140W USB-C on its extra battery, which charges and discharges and works on its own when you unclip it.
09 · NoiseNoise: RIVER 2 Max 500 vs RIVER 3 Max
EcoFlow rates the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max under 30dB at 1.5 ft. It publishes no figure for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500; on the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max, which shares its chassis, EcoFlow warns of up to 62dB at high power.
Fans mostly run while charging or under heavy loads.Every figure we found, with its source
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).
What reviewers heard: Root-Nation noticed only louder fan noise during high-power use (EU unit); no reviewer published a dB figure.
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 Max 500 vs RIVER 3 Max
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 and the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max share the same limits: charging from 32°F to 113°F, running from 14°F to 113°F. Only the RIVER 3 Max’s battery pack carries a water rating, IP54, and its EB300 drops to 100W above 95°F.
Figures from the EcoFlow US pages.RIVER 3 Max: EB300 drops to 100W above 95°F.
- 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
The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max switches in under 10ms and can tell a PC to save its work; the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 offers a basic EPS under 30ms. Neither takes a further battery, though the RIVER 3 Max can swap its EB300 for an EB600.
Same app on both. The gaps are the UPS and expansion.Green zone: a switch under about 16ms, which most desktop PCs ride through without restarting.
Can it tell a PC to save its work? EcoFlow lists no such port for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max has a USB-B port for EcoFlow’s Power Manager software, which saves data and shuts a PC or NAS down before the battery runs out.
Can you add a battery later? The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500: no extra battery port. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max: an EB600 in place of its EB300, for 858Wh.
Does it work as a UPS? The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 switches in under 30ms (EPS), the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max in under 10ms. EcoFlow calls the slower mode EPS, a basic switchover.
Can it run a heater or kettle above its rating? Both have X-Boost for heating loads at reduced power: up to 1,000W on the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500, 1,200W on the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max. 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 3 Max at 5 years. 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.
Checked on EcoFlow’s US warranty table.Subject to each brand’s warranty terms and eligibility.
EcoFlow rates the RIVER 2 Max 500 at 3,000 cycles to 80%. EcoFlow rates the RIVER 3 Max 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.
What reviewers report
We have not lab-tested these two units. Here is what 8 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 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)RIVER 3 Max: Root-Nation (May 2025, EU unit), Root-Nation (August 2025, EU unit)
Usable capacity
- 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
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): near the 500W limit it delivered only 391Wh (76%); the DC output with a 10A load gave 431Wh (84%). The Technology Man, Gidon, February 2023, UK unit
Charging
- 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
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): fully charged the 512Wh battery within one hour on 230V mains; car charging ran at about 96W. Basic Tutorials, Simon Lüthje, December 2022, EU unit
- RIVER 3 MaxReviewer The EB300 has its own 140W USB-C port for input and output, so it also works on its own as a 286Wh power bank. Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, August 2025, EU unit
Noise and heat
- 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
- RIVER 2 Max 500Reviewer On the 512Wh RIVER 2 Max (same chassis and spec table): running lights, a laptop charger and a monitor at the 500W limit drained it in just under an hour, and it stayed relatively quiet. Camera Jabber, Camera Jabber Team (no named author), December 2022, EU unit
- RIVER 3 MaxReviewer During high-power use, the only change the reviewer noticed was louder fan noise. Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, May 2025, EU unit
UPS and output
- 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
- RIVER 3 MaxReviewer The reviewer stresses that X-Boost power up to 1200W is for resistive loads like heaters and hair dryers, not for desktop PCs. Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, May 2025, EU unit
- RIVER 3 MaxReviewer A dedicated USB-B port lets EcoFlow’s Power Manager software watch UPS status on a PC or a NAS. Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, May 2025, EU unit
Daily use and issues
- 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
- RIVER 3 MaxReviewer The Extra Battery 300 stays clipped to the power station almost permanently, so both pieces travel together without trouble. Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, May 2025, EU unit
- RIVER 3 MaxReviewer In daily use the RIVER 3 Max barely drains itself on standby, unlike the reviewer’s RIVER 2, which lost about 30% in a week. Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, August 2025, EU unit
- RIVER 3 MaxReviewer The battery latch is very secure; the reviewer sometimes found it hard to detach the extra battery on purpose. Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, August 2025, EU unit
Practical limits before you buy
- The RIVER 2 Max 500 stops at 500W. 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 1,000W on the RIVER 2 Max 500, 1,200W on the RIVER 3 Max. Motors need the continuous rating.
- 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.
- EcoFlow US no longer lists the RIVER 3 Max bundle (checked November 8, 2026). EcoFlow US hasn’t listed the RIVER 3 Plus since November 4, 2026 either; the Extra Battery 300 is still listed on its own.
- The RIVER 3 Max’s extra battery slows down in the heat: its input and output drop to 100W above 95°F, per EcoFlow.
- The RIVER 3 Max’s IP54 rating covers the battery pack only, not the whole unit, and not immersion.
- 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 Max 500 and the RIVER 3 Max?
The RIVER 2 Max 500 is one 13.2 lb box with 499Wh, 500W and four outlets. The RIVER 3 Max is a RIVER 3 Plus stacked on an Extra Battery 300: 572Wh, 600W, three outlets and a UPS under 10ms, at about 18.1 lb.
How long does each run a CPAP?
About 1.3 nights for the RIVER 2 Max 500 and about 1.5 nights for the RIVER 3 Max, at 40W for 8 hours without a humidifier.
Can the RIVER 2 Max 500 run a fridge?
For about 7.1 h at a 60W average. The RIVER 3 Max runs one for about 8.1 h.
Which one charges faster?
The RIVER 2 Max 500: 60 min to full from the wall at 660W, against about 1.5 h for the RIVER 3 Max at 380W.
Which one is the better UPS?
The RIVER 3 Max, which switches in under 10ms. EcoFlow’s RIVER 2 Max 500 page lists no switchover time; EcoFlow gives under 30ms (EPS) for the RIVER 2 Series. Under 10ms keeps most desktop PCs running; 20 to 30ms is fine for a router, lights or a fridge.
How much do they weigh?
13.2 lb for the RIVER 2 Max 500 and about 18.1 lb for the RIVER 3 Max; the stacked weights are our sums of EcoFlow’s figures.
What warranty do they have?
Per EcoFlow’s US warranty table: no row of its own (the RIVER 2 Max row says 5 years) for the RIVER 2 Max 500; 5 years for the RIVER 3 Max.
Can I split the RIVER 3 Max?
Yes. The Extra Battery 300 unclips and works on its own as a 286Wh power bank through its 140W USB-C port; the RIVER 3 Plus then runs alone on 286Wh.
Related comparisons and reviews
How we compared and sources
Research-based comparison. We have not physically tested these two units. Specs come from EcoFlow’s US product pages; usage observations are attributed to named reviewers. Prices and availability were checked on October 31, 2026; RIVER 3 Max availability was rechecked on November 8, 2026.
- Specs: EcoFlow US, RIVER 2 Max 500 and EcoFlow US, RIVER 3 Max (page since removed) and EcoFlow US, Extra Battery 300, read on October 31, 2026; warranty terms from the EcoFlow US warranty policy.
- The RIVER 2 Max 500 page gives no switchover time, noise figure or outlet count: the under-30ms EPS is EcoFlow’s RIVER 2 Series figure, and the four outlets are counted on EcoFlow’s photos. The RIVER 3 Max weight and height add EcoFlow’s figures for the RIVER 3 Plus and the Extra Battery 300.
- Reviewer reports 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; on the RIVER 3 Max: Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, May 2025, EU unit, Root-Nation, Denis Zaychenko, August 2025, EU unit.
- 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).
One box with 499Wh, four outlets and a 60-minute refill, or a 572Wh two-piece stack with 600W and a UPS under 10ms. EcoFlow US no longer lists the stack (Nov 8, 2026).
Prices checked November 13, 2026 at 3:29 AM EST
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Originally published: November 10, 2026