RIVER 2 Max
- you want one box: 13.4 lb
- you plug in four AC devices
- you refill in an hour
RIVER 3 Max
- a PC needs a 10ms switchover
- it sits by a bed: under 30dB
- you run loads up to 600W
Prices and stock checked by our price engine on November 13, 2026 at 9:29 AM EST. Each product is rechecked several times a day; the time refreshes when you load the page.
Sixty watt-hours apart. The real choice is one box with four outlets, or two pieces with a real UPS.
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max stores 512Wh and delivers 500W from four AC outlets in one 13.4 lb box, refills from the wall in an hour, and switches over in under 30ms; EcoFlow warns it can reach 62dB at high power. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max is a RIVER 3 Plus with an EB300 extra battery clipped underneath: 572Wh and 600W from three outlets, a switchover under 10ms and a rating under 30dB, at about 18.1 lb in two pieces. Both take 220W of solar. For camping and a car, the RIVER 2 Max is the handier box; for a PC, a router or a bedroom, the RIVER 3 Max. EcoFlow US listed the RIVER 2 Max as sold out on October 30, 2026, and by November 8 its US page redirected to the RIVER series. EcoFlow US no longer lists the RIVER 3 Max bundle (checked November 8, 2026). The closest model it sells today is the RIVER 2 Max 500: 499Wh, 500W (1,000W X-Boost), 220W of solar and a 60-minute wall refill, at 13.2 lb.
Below: what separates them with numbers, a 20-second calculator for your own gear, eight modeled situations, a third option, and what published tests found on each.
Almost the same energy. The RIVER 2 Max is the compact single box with more outlets and a faster wall refill. The RIVER 3 Max has 100W more, the better UPS and the quieter rating, and its battery unclips as a 140W USB-C bank. EcoFlow US listed the RIVER 2 Max as sold out on October 30, 2026, and by November 8 its US page redirected to the RIVER series. It no longer lists the RIVER 3 Max bundle (checked November 8, 2026). The RIVER 2 Max 500, a 499Wh version of the RIVER 2 Max, is the one EcoFlow US sells.
- you carry one 13.4 lb box
- you need four AC outlets
- you refill in an hour
- a desktop PC needs a UPS
- it runs a CPAP by your bed
- you run up to 600W
The five differences that decide it
Both use LFP cells rated for 3,000 cycles to 80%, take 220W of solar, have X-Boost for heating loads, a 12V car outlet and the EcoFlow app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and carry a 5-year US warranty. Capacity is within 60Wh. 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 435Wh usable on the RIVER 2 Max and 486Wh on the RIVER 3 Max; StorageReview got 410Wh out of a RIVER 2 Max.
Appliance for appliance, the RIVER 3 Max lasts 12% longer than the RIVER 2 Max.
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What to buy instead today
The RIVER 2 Max 500 is the version of the RIVER 2 Max that EcoFlow US sells: 499Wh instead of 512Wh, with the same 500W output, at 13.2 lb. It lists no UPS switchover time, so it doesn’t replace the RIVER 3 Max’s 10ms UPS. EcoFlow US hasn’t listed the RIVER 3 Plus on its own since November 4, 2026, so the RIVER 3 Max can’t be rebuilt from parts there. For more Wh, the RIVER 2 Pro stores 768Wh and delivers 800W, at 18.2 lb.
The third option: the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro at $369
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro: $369 today
If what you need is runtime in one box: 768Wh, 800W from four AC outlets with X-Boost to 1,600W, 220W of solar and a 70-minute wall refill, at 18.2 lb. Its EPS switches in under 30ms, like the RIVER 2 Max’s, slower than the RIVER 3 Max’s 10ms. The RIVER 2 Max 500 already stands in for both models here, so this is the step up in battery. Our RIVER 2 Pro review goes deeper. See the RIVER 2 Pro at EcoFlow.
Eight modeled situations, worked out
Same formula as the calculator above: 85% of the rated capacity, with the RIVER 3 Max’s EB300 attached.
Wi-Fi router through an outage
About a day and a half on either. The RIVER 3 Max’s sub-10ms switchover is the safer bet for a router that must not reboot; the RIVER 2 Max is rated under 30ms.
Full-size fridge in an evening outage
Seven to eight hours on either, if the inverter starts the compressor. Neither carries a fridge through a full day.
CPAP, one night
One full night on both, with a little left. By a bed, the RIVER 3 Max is rated under 30dB; The Technology Man measured the RIVER 2 Max at 46dB at 1 m while fast charging.
A weekend of laptop and phone top-ups
Seven or eight laptop charges either way. The RIVER 3 Max’s EB300 has a 140W USB-C port and works unclipped; Android Central found the RIVER 2 Max’s single USB-C and 12W USB-A ports its main weakness.
A 550W appliance
Only the RIVER 3 Max. X-Boost on either is for heating loads at reduced power, not motors; Basic Tutorials ran a drill drawing almost 600W on a RIVER 2 Max, but that is above its 500W rating, so don’t count on it.
A 300W desktop PC on battery
About an hour and a half on either. The Technology Man’s desktop PC stayed on when he pulled the plug on a RIVER 2 Max; the RIVER 3 Max is rated under 10ms and adds a USB-B port for EcoFlow’s Power Manager software, which saves and shuts down on low battery.
Refill from the wall before a storm
The RIVER 2 Max, with 660W of AC input: StorageReview refilled one in just under an hour. The RIVER 3 Max takes about an hour and a half at 380W, by our estimate.
Refill from solar, each at its maximum
Close: same 220W input, 60Wh apart. Camera Jabber refilled a RIVER 2 Max in just over three hours at about 200W.
Nine 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 and RIVER 3 Max weight, dimensions and full specifications
Weight: 13.4 lb for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max and about 18.1 lb for the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max (10.4 lb station plus 7.7 lb EB300, our sum). Dimensions: 10.6 × 10.2 × 7.7 in, and 9.2 × 9.1 × 5.8 in on top of 9.2 × 8.8 × 4.3 in.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 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
- RIVER 2 Max512Wh, 13.4 lb
- AC charging cable
- Car charging cable
- Quick start guide
RIVER 3 Max
- RIVER 3 Plus286Wh, 10.4 lb
- EB300 Smart Extra Battery286Wh, 7.7 lb, clips on without cables
- AC charging cable
- Manuals
RIVER 2 Max contents from EcoFlow US; the RIVER 3 Max is the RIVER 3 Plus box plus an EB300 Smart Extra Battery.
07 · ChargingHow fast each one refills
Shorter bar, faster refill. Each row is scaled to its slower unit.
RIVER 2 Max: StorageReview measured 581Wh drawn from the wall at about 615W for a full refillRIVER 3 Max: EcoFlow US gives no full-charge time for 572Wh; ours divides capacity by the 380W input
Our solar times assume panels deliver 70% of their rating; the brands’ figures assume ideal sun.
Every port, side by side
RIVER 2 Max
RIVER 3 Max
Practical consequence: the RIVER 2 Max adds a fourth AC outlet, a third USB-A port and two DC barrels, though two of its four outlets are two-prong, per StorageReview. The RIVER 3 Max adds a 140W USB-C on the EB300 that works with the battery unclipped, and a USB-B port for EcoFlow’s Power Manager software.
09 · NoiseNoise: RIVER 2 Max vs RIVER 3 Max
The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max is the quiet one: EcoFlow rates it under 30dB at 1.5 ft. The Technology Man measured the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max at 46dB at 1 m while fast charging, and EcoFlow warns of up to 62dB at high power.
Only the RIVER 2 Max has a reviewer measurement.Every figure we found, with its source
What reviewers heard: 46dB at 1 m during full-speed charging, about 10dB above the office (The Technology Man, UK unit); fans audible while fast charging (Android Central).
What reviewers heard: Fan noise rose during high-power use (Root-Nation, EU unit); EcoFlow notes real noise may differ with the extra battery attached.
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 vs RIVER 3 Max
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 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.
Figures from EcoFlow US for both.RIVER 3 Max: EB300 drops to 100W above 95°F
- In a cold car or garage, bring either one inside to charge: neither charges below 32°F.
- For storage, keep the RIVER 3 Max between 68°F and 86°F, per EcoFlow US.
App, UPS and smart features
The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max is the better UPS: under 10ms, with a USB-B link that tells a PC to save its work, and a battery that unclips. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max matches it on app control.
Same app. The gap is the UPS and the extra battery.Green zone: a switch under about 16ms, which most desktop PCs ride through without restarting.
Can it tell a PC to save its work? The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max has a USB-B port for EcoFlow’s Power Manager software, which saves data and shuts a PC down on low battery. EcoFlow lists no such link for the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max.
Can you add a battery later? The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max can’t be expanded. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max already carries its one extra battery; an EB600 in place of the EB300 gives 858Wh.
Does it work as a UPS? The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max switches to battery in under 10ms. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max’s EPS is rated under 30ms; The Technology Man’s desktop PC stayed on through it.
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, 1,200W on the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max.
How does the app connect? Both use the EcoFlow app over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Warranty and support
EcoFlow’s US warranty table lists both the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max and the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max at 5 years, with no registration condition.
Same term, same 3,000-cycle rating.Subject to each brand’s warranty terms and eligibility.
EcoFlow rates both at 3,000 cycles to 80%, about 8 years at one full cycle a day. Calendar aging and heat also reduce capacity, so read the rating as a ceiling.
- Keep proof of purchase: the 5 years run from delivery to the original buyer.
- If your RIVER 3 Max was built from a RIVER 3 Plus and an EB300 bought separately, keep both receipts: each is covered from its own delivery date.
What reviewers report
We have not lab-tested these two units. Here is what published reviews found, with the source, author and date for each point. Reviews of UK and EU units are flagged, and the Android Central and Business Standard reviews used Indian units: those models charge from 230V outlets and have different sockets, so their charge times and outlet findings don’t carry over to US units. The only hands-on RIVER 3 Max reviews we found are two by Root-Nation, on an EU unit.
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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer Measured output was a clean 120V at 60.0Hz with no flicker on incandescent or LED lights. StorageReview, Jordan Ranous, October 2022
- RIVER 2 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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 MaxReviewer 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
- EcoFlow US lists neither today. It listed the RIVER 2 Max as sold out on October 30, 2026, and by November 8 its US page redirected to the RIVER series. It no longer lists the RIVER 3 Max bundle (checked November 8, 2026), and hasn’t listed the RIVER 3 Plus on its own since November 4, 2026.
- The RIVER 2 Max’s fan can be loud: EcoFlow warns of up to 62dB at high power; The Technology Man measured 46dB at 1 m while fast charging.
- Leaving the RIVER 2 Max’s inverter on drains it: The Technology Man saw 2 to 3% an hour with nothing plugged in.
- The RIVER 2 Max’s EPS is rated under 30ms, not a true UPS: fine for most appliances, borderline for some desktop PCs.
- X-Boost is for heating loads only, at reduced power: 1,000W on the RIVER 2 Max, 1,200W on the RIVER 3 Max.
- The RIVER 3 Max comes in two pieces; the EB300 drops to 100W in and out above 95°F.
- Two of the RIVER 2 Max’s four outlets are two-prong, per StorageReview.
- Neither charges below freezing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max and the RIVER 3 Max?
The RIVER 2 Max stores 512Wh and delivers 500W from four outlets in one 13.4 lb box. The RIVER 3 Max is a RIVER 3 Plus with an EB300 extra battery: 572Wh and 600W from three outlets, a switchover under 10ms and a rating under 30dB, at about 18.1 lb in two pieces.
Are they still sold?
No. EcoFlow US listed the RIVER 2 Max as sold out on October 30, 2026, and by November 8 its US page redirected to the RIVER series. EcoFlow US no longer lists the RIVER 3 Max bundle (checked November 8, 2026), and hasn’t listed the RIVER 3 Plus on its own since November 4, 2026. The RIVER 2 Max 500 is the version of the RIVER 2 Max that EcoFlow US sells.
Which one runs longer?
Nearly the same: about 7 hours for a 60W fridge on the RIVER 2 Max and 8 on the RIVER 3 Max. StorageReview got 410Wh out of a RIVER 2 Max.
Which one is the better UPS?
The RIVER 3 Max, rated under 10ms with a USB-B link for EcoFlow’s Power Manager software. The RIVER 2 Max’s EPS is rated under 30ms.
Which one is quieter?
The RIVER 3 Max, rated under 30dB at 1.5 ft. The Technology Man measured the RIVER 2 Max at 46dB at 1 m while fast charging.
Which one charges faster?
From the wall, the RIVER 2 Max: about an hour at 660W. The RIVER 3 Max takes about 1.5 hours at 380W by our estimate.
How much do they weigh?
13.4 lb for the RIVER 2 Max. About 18.1 lb for the RIVER 3 Max, by our sum: 10.4 lb for the station and 7.7 lb for the EB300.
What warranty do they have?
5 years for both, per EcoFlow’s US warranty table, with no registration condition.
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; the RIVER 3 Max’s spec table there is the RIVER 3 Plus’s, completed by EcoFlow US’s extra battery page. Usage observations are attributed to named reviewers. Prices and availability were checked on October 31, 2026.
- Specs: EcoFlow US, RIVER 2 Max (page since removed), EcoFlow US, RIVER 3 Max (page since removed; its spec table was the RIVER 3 Plus’s) and EcoFlow US, RIVER 3 Plus Smart Extra Battery (EB300: 286Wh, 7.7 lb, 140W USB-C), read on October 31, 2026; warranty terms from the EcoFlow US warranty policy.
- Both bundles showed sold out at EcoFlow US on October 31, 2026. On November 8, 2026, the RIVER 2 Max’s US page redirected to the RIVER series and the RIVER 3 Max’s returned a 404 error. RIVER 3 Max weight, stacked height and full-charge times are our sums and estimates from EcoFlow’s figures.
- Reviewer reports on the RIVER 2 Max: 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).
512Wh and 500W in one 13.4 lb box against 572Wh and 600W in two pieces, with a 10ms UPS. EcoFlow US lists neither today: the RIVER 2 Max 500 is the closest model it sells.
Prices checked November 13, 2026 at 9:29 AM EST
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Originally published: November 13, 2026