EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Review – An Awesome Portable Power Station with a Big Quirk
The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus is an impressive upgrade on EcoFlow’s DELTA 2. It offers really fast charging capabilities, versatile output options, and a really solid build that just hits that sweet spot for small-to-medium capacity power stations.
However, it has a notable flaw that could impact its long-term usability, which we’ll discuss in detail a little later. For fans of EcoFlow, or anyone considering picking up a budget-friendly portable power station, there’s a lot to like about the DELTA 3 Plus—but only if EcoFlow addresses one little issue.
So, let’s take an in-depth look at the latest power station to join the EcoFlow family. We’ll provide a quick overview, run you through some of our own tests, explain the main issue we have with it, and give our overall opinions on where EcoFlow nailed it, and where they fell a little short.
Our First Impressions: Compact Power with a Slight Catch
Right away, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus feels like a noticeable improvement over its predecessor, boasting increased functionality at a really low price point. In fact, the DELTA 3 Plus is even available at a lower price than what the Delta 2 was priced at when it was first launched back in September of 2022!
Just from an aesthetic perspective, this new version looks awesome. It has a really sleek exterior, the display screen is sharp, the ports are arranged nicely, and it packs plenty of cool features, which we’ll dive into a little later.
However, the internal cooling fan system raised some pretty immediate concerns. In short, the fans don’t always work as they should. They turn on and off erratically, which raises the risk of having the unit overheat when it’s running heavy loads.
With that said, EcoFlow should be able to resolve this issue with a simple software update, especially given this is something that they’ve done in the past for their other power stations.
So, stay tuned for that update. For now, let’s take a quick look at what this little unit has to offer.
Breakdown of the Specs
Before we dive into our testing, it’s always a good idea to start by seeing what specs the manufacturer has listed. For the DELTA 3 Plus, EcoFlow claims the following:
Battery Capacity: It has a 1,024Wh battery, which is expandable to just over 5,000Wh if you purchase the DELTA 3 Expansion Battery. It’s also backwards compatible with some of EcoFlow’s older expansion batteries, but we’ll get into that a little later.
Output Power: It packs a 1,800W inverter. That inverter is supposed to have a surge capacity of 3,600W, but we were rightfully skeptical about that.
Input Ratings: It supports both AC charging and solar charging. The AC input is rated for 1,500W, which should allow you to juice it up in just less than an hour. The solar input has a combined rating of 1,000W thanks to dual 500W solar input ports, so charge times should be just over that if you have the right solar panel setup.
Weight and Size: At just 27 lbs, this little unit easily passes the Tiny Baby Lift Test. It’s easily light enough for situations where you’d need to carry it a reasonable distance, like if you take it camping or need to pull it out of storage during a power outage. The small size also means it would easily fit on a shelf or in the trunk of your vehicle.
With these specifications, the DELTA 3 Plus packs more than enough power for short outdoor adventures, and it can double as a reasonable source of backup power during outages, blackouts, and emergencies.
Testing the DELTA 3 Plus: The Good, the Great, and the Overheating Issue
Now that we’ve provided a quick little overview, let’s get into the nitty gritty by looking at the unit in more detail and covering some of the results of our testing.
The Interface & Connectivity:
When it comes to output ports, the DELTA 3 Plus offers plenty. It features three 120V grounded outlets, three small 120V outlets without grounds, two 140W USB-C ports, and two standard USB-A ports. Plus, it has a 12V DC outlet (more on that later).
One thing we appreciated about the layout of output ports is the fact that the grounded 120V outlets are rotated. Even though the sideways positioning may look a little odd at first glance, it prevents overcrowding and interference when multiple plugs are in use at the same time.
Let’s say you’re plugging a bulky camera battery directly into the unit. Normally, this would block one of the other ports, but since they’re turned sideways, you can plug your battery into one of the outer plugs, freeing up space so you can still use the others. It’s a small detail, but a really thoughtful design element.
Now, back to that 12V DC outlet. The DELTA 3 Plus includes a 12V car socket, which may not sound like a huge deal, but it’s a welcome feature that EcoFlow has recently cut from some of the other power stations they have released. For a unit that a lot of people are going to bring on camping trips, having the option to run 12V accessories and appliances is a really useful feature.
As we mentioned earlier, this unit is also compatible with previous versions of EcoFlow expansion batteries, like those designed for the DELTA 2. This is another really welcome decision from EcoFlow, and it’s one that adds flexibility if you already own one or more of the older versions.
Backwards compatibility with accessories is always something we like to see, and it’s the type of thing that encourages people to become brand loyal. Rather than trying to make a quick buck by forcing their customers to buy the latest battery, EcoFlow just has one standard adapter that works for almost every expansion battery they have released—great stuff.
Testing the Charging Speed:
When we actually ran this thing through some tests, the DELTA 3 Plus put up some fairly solid performances. Its AC charging speed is incredible. With a standard wall outlet, you’re supposed to be able to charge it from 0% to 100% in just 56 minutes.
When we tested it, not only did it charge up in under an hour, it even beat the advertised speed by a minute—fully charging from totally dead in just 55 minutes. A minute may not sound like much time, but when you consider the fact that most of the power stations we test don’t even come close to the advertised charging times, beating the advertised is actually a huge bonus.
The unit also handled pass-through charging from both solar and AC inputs, making it a solid choice for those who need continuous power. If you don’t know, what this means is that you can charge up the unit’s internal battery, while simultaneously supplying power to any devices or appliances you have plugged into it. It’s another really useful feature, and one that a surprising number of entry-level power stations lack.
Testing Surge Capacity and Noise Levels:
Although EcoFlow claims this thing has a surge capacity of 3,600W, we think that’s a bit of an exaggeration. When we tested it, we were able to surpass the output rating and get it up to 2,600W, which it could hold for about a minute, but anything beyond that, it seemed to shut down pretty much immediately.
While it’s not the advertised surge capacity, it’s still respectable. The truth is, having a realistic surge capacity of 2,600W can be really useful, as it gives you a bit of wiggle room if you accidentally overload it.
As for the noise, this unit is really quiet. In fact, aside from the DELTA Pro Ultra, it’s pretty much the quietest power station we’ve tested from EcoFlow.
However, this quiet performance might not be such a great thing, as part of the reason why it doesn’t make a lot of noise is the fact that the internal fans aren’t always doing their job. So, it’s quiet because the loudest internal mechanism doesn’t run as it should. Is this a win? Not really.
With that said, even when the fans did run at full capacity in short bursts, it wasn’t overly loud, so it’s definitely the type of power station you could easily run indoors.
The Overheating Issue and Efficiency Testing:
This is the issue we mentioned right at the start of this article. Basically, when we were testing the DELTA 3 Plus under higher loads to check its efficiency, we used it to power a 1,573W appliance. Almost immediately, the DELTA 3 Plus heated up, which should be expected, but normally a power station would address this by running the cooling fans at full blast.
Instead, we noticed that the fans weren’t kicking in at full tilt, even when it was obvious the power station was working hard. This resulted in dangerously high internal temperatures that got as hot as 138°F.
Not only could this lead to the unit shutting down prematurely, it could actually threaten the overall lifespan of the power station. It’s just way too hot, and shutting the fans off when it’s hitting those temperatures is a really glaring design flaw.
We wanted to make sure this wasn’t just a one-off issue, so we let the unit cool down for nearly 24 hours. When we tried again with the same load, it managed to run for 32 minutes, but still had a really hot internal temperature of 126°F. Again, the fans were inconsistent. They should have been running at full tilt for as long as we were running that demanding load, but they didn't.
While the overheating issue was still there, running that 1,573W load for 32 minutes did translate to an efficiency rating of 82%, which is pretty decent. Here at The Solar Lab, we usually give any power station that has an efficiency rating over 80% a thumbs up, so the DELTA 3 Plus just made it in. We’ll give it a B+ to an A- for efficiency.
The main takeaway? Even under controlled conditions, the DELTA 3 Plus just kept getting way too hot. During several tests, the fans would turn on and off with zero consistency. It just doesn’t make any sense why the fans acted that way. Luckily, it’s also the type of issue a basic software update should be able to address. So, EcoFlow, if you’re reading this article, just fix it!
The fact that the EcoFlow App already includes features like Smart Stop and Storm Guard makes us think that adding more sensitive, temperature-based fan controls would be a really straightforward firmware update.
What We Like and Dislike About the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
While the overheating issue is a doozy, there’s plenty to love about the DELTA 3 Plus.
The Pros
Really Fast, Flexible Charging:
As we mentioned, the DELTA 3 Plus fully charges in under an hour via AC. If you’re unfamiliar with typical charge speeds for power stations, just trust us, this is really fast!
The solar charging was also right on the money, and we were able to hit really close to that 1,000W combined input by using both of the 500W solar plugs. Why EcoFlow insists on splitting their solar inputs into two ports, rather than just one big one, we don’t really know, but it works well, and that’s the main thing.
Charging flexibility is another part of the reason why this thing excels when it comes to charging. Not only does it support AC and solar charging, which you can even do simultaneously, it also supports charging via EcoFlow’s new 800W Alternator Charger, making it ideal for campers, RV enthusiasts, and road-trippers.
It also works with EcoFlows Smart Gas Generator. In fact, it even automatically controls these units using a new Smart Stop feature, turning them on when needed, and shutting them off when they’re not required, so you don’t burn unnecessary fuel. You also have the option to manually control this via the EcoFlow App, which brings us to the next thing we really liked about this power station.
Smart Connectivity and the Display Screen:
The new version of the EcoFlow App is really impressive and the DELTA 3 Plus is fully compatible with it. The app interface is really intuitive, and it gives you plenty of control over the power station.
As mentioned, you can now control the EcoFlow Smart Generator from your phone. The app allows you to monitor and control plenty of things, from keeping an eye on charge speeds to turning the unit on and off. Storm Guard is another nifty feature that alerts you of incoming storms, giving you ample time to charge up your DELTA 3 Plus before you risk losing power.
As for the built-in display, the DELTA 3 Plus comes equipped with the latest version of the EcoFlow screen. It’s the same one that EcoFlow uses on their more high-end power stations, and it’s just really good. It clearly displays all of the information you would want to see, and it allows you to customize the unit to your exact preferences. So, if you would rather do things the old-fashioned way and use the built in controls and display, rather than using the mobile app, you can easily do so with this unit.
The Variety of Output Ports:
EcoFlow went to town when they were setting up the ports for this unit. For a unit of this size, it’s crazy how many options you have. Six AC outputs is the type of thing you’d normally see on one of the much larger units that was designed for whole-home backup, rather than a budget-friendly, portable power station.
Plus, the inclusion of a 12V DC port is a really welcome addition. You’ve also got USB-A and USB-C fast-charging ports. They just smashed it in the output ports category.
Backwards Compatibility with Previous Expansion Batteries:
We’ve mentioned this a few times, but it’s a really solid decision from EcoFlow. Basically, you don’t have to go out and drop a ton of money on a whole new set of batteries if you’re already invested in EcoFlow products. You can just upgrade your power station, then keep using your older equipment.
Even for those who do not already own these batteries, having more options means you can keep an eye on sales. if, for example, the DELTA 2 Expansion Batteries end up being cheaper than the newer versions, you can just pick them up and the DELTA 3 Plus will be compatible with them.
The Price:
We can’t discuss the pros of this unit without mentioning the price. Right now, EcoFlow has it listed with an MSRP of $799, but we have not seen it go above $649. While this may be part of some sort of promotional launch sale, that’s a crazy low price for a name-brand power station that packs these kinds of features and specifications.
To top that off, we also have a 5% off discount code through both EcoFlow and ShopSolar.com, which we’ll leave down below. If EcoFlow can just address that overheating issue caused by the inconsistent fans, it might be the best deal out there.
The Cons
While we were definitely impressed with this unit, and there’s a lot to love, there are still a few issues.
The Overheating Issue:
We’ve already covered this in a fair amount of detail, but it’s a serious issue. With any luck, by the time you’re reading this, EcoFlow will have already released a software update that corrects this issue, but as of right now, it’s a serious concern.
If it wasn’t for this issue, we’d be talking about a power station that was practically perfect for its class.
The Lack of Built-In Lights:
We’re always huge fans of brands that take the time to add built-in LED lights to their power stations. It’s such a simple addition, and one that would really come in handy during power outages. We’ve been begging EcoFlow to start adding lights to their power stations, but they really seem reluctant to do so.
Expensive Solar Panels:
This isn’t exactly a fault of the DELTA 3 Plus, but EcoFlow’s solar panels are ridiculously overpriced. A 400W Solar Panel from EcoFlow costs about 700 bucks, which is nuts. For perspective, the Serious 415W Bifacial Solar Panels we used to test this thing’s solar input are only $187.
In what world should a fairly basic solar panel cost more than the power station it’s paired with? Come on, EcoFlow!
With that said, it’s a pretty easy issue to overcome. Other retailers, like Shop Solar, bundle the DELTA 3 Plus with non-EcoFlow brand solar panels, so you can still get your new power station with solar panels at a great price.
Comparisons with Competitors
The DELTA 3 Plus enters a competitive field of portable power stations, including similar models like the Jackery 1000 PLUS and the Anker F2600.
Where it stands out is in its rapid charging speed, wide range of input and output options, and, most of all, that really low price point. We mentioned above that it’s supposed to be priced at $799, but we keep seeing it at just $649. Plus, with a 5% off coupon, it’s just really hard to beat.
So, it more than holds its own, but fans of either Anker or Jackery might want to go with what they know. However, given that one of the most common criticisms of EcoFlow is the fact that their products can be overly expensive, having them release a low-cost, high-performance power station means it’s going to attract a lot of first-time customers.
Our Final Verdicts - Is the DELTA 3 Plus Worth It?
For most people, including ourselves, the DELTA 3 Plus is going to be a hugely attractive option. It offers reliable, efficient power and a lot of flexibility. However, the fan issue when it’s running high loads is a genuine concern, especially if you plan on using this unit for continuous heavy-duty applications.
With that said, if EcoFlow releases a firmware update to address this, the DELTA 3 Plus could easily become one of our top recommended power stations. Until then, it’s a great choice for those who primarily need portable power for moderate or occasional high-load use, especially given the very reasonable price.
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