EcoFlow RIVER 2 PRO Power Station Review – Needs Improvement or a Solid Option?
If you’re in the market for a compact and portable power station, we might just have the perfect option for you. Introducing the EcoFlow RIVER 2 PRO—an incredibly durable little unit that packs plenty of potential, but also has a few small drawbacks.
This pint-sized powerhouse hit the market last year, and while EcoFlow’s stellar reputation is mostly built off the backs of their larger units, we still wanted to test out one of their more entry-level offerings.
While EcoFlow heavily advertises the RIVER 2 PRO as being an incredibly durable unit that you can throw down a set of stairs, just being able to take a beating isn’t enough to sell us. So, today, we’re going to take a deep dive into the RIVER 2 PRO’s features, highlight where EcoFlow nailed it, and point out a few areas where we think they could step up their game. So, let’s get started!
Overview of the EcoFlow RIVER 2 PRO’s Specs:
Before we jump into our testing and our overall impression of the EcoFlow RIVER 2 PRO, let’s see what it’s packing under the hood:
Battery Capacity: The RIVER 2 PRO comes with a 768Wh lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery.
Output Power: It features an 800W inverter, which is rated with a surge capacity of up to 1,600W. This is thanks to ‘X-Boost Technology’, which we’ll get into a little later on.
Weight: At just 17 lbs, it smashes the Tiny Baby Lift Test. With that said, it actually feels a bit heavier than that, which we think is partially due to the slightly weird handle placement. It’s just a bit more awkward than you’d expect a 17 pound power station to be.
Charging Speeds: It’s listed with a 940W AC input, allowing you to hit a full charge in just over an hour. It also has a 220W solar input, which should give you a full charge in about 3.5 hours if you pair it with solar panels.
The specs are really decent. Basically, the RIVER 2 PRO’s 800W inverter lets you power a range of electronics, from laptops to countertop kitchen appliances, although not everything is smooth sailing, as we did encounter some slight overheating issues and the internal fans are loud and inconsistent.
This little unit is also outfitted with EcoFlow’s patented X-Boost Technology, which is basically a surge feature that EcoFlow claims allows the unit to handle up to 1,600 watts of output. While this sounds incredibly impressive for such a small unit, let’s just say it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t worry, we’ll get into that below.
Still, if you’re looking purely at the unit’s specs, there’s no getting around the fact that the RIVER 2 PRO packs a solid punch for its size.
The Design and Features
This power station’s design is a bit... unique. With a handle that juts out in a slightly awkward position, it has a slightly top-heavy shape that almost looks a bit like the side profile of E.T.’s head. Still, it's definitely not ugly, just a bit weird looking at first glance.
But looks aside, the design is actually pretty practical. EcoFlow has kept all the ports from the previous iteration of the RIVER 2 on the PRO version—four 120-volt AC outlets, three USB-A, one 100W fast-charge USB-C, a 12V car socket, and two barrel connectors. All of these are easily accessible on the front of the unit, so you won’t have to worry about not being able to reach individual ports. The decision to have four AC plugs is also huge—most units this size only feature one or two.
The display screen is the same style you get with EcoFlow’s larger units, like the EcoFlow DELTA PRO, so it shows the battery percentage, remaining run time, and plenty of other details. It’s intuitive, easy to read, and honestly one of the better displays out there when you’re talking about functionality. To get one this detailed and easy to read in a tiny, camping-style power station is a really nice touch.
What We Like and Dislike About the EcoFlow RIVER 2 PRO
Now that we’ve gone over some of the basics, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons for this tiny power station. We’ll start with what we liked:
Where We Think EcoFlow Nailed It:
The Forward-Facing Design:
Everything’s right where you can see it, which is especially convenient if you’re setting it up in the back of your car or in a small camping space, like a tent. All of the ports are on the front, and the flat surface lets you stack stuff on top of it. It may sound pretty basic, but we’ve seen plenty of power stations in this class that stick ports on the back, sides, and even the top.
Multiple AC Outlets:
As mentioned, smaller power stations often limit you to one or two AC outlets, but the RIVER 2 PRO gives you four! This is a lifesaver for anyone running multiple devices at the same time. The decision to include so many outlets probably reflects EcoFlow’s focus on much larger power stations, but we’re here for it.
The EcoFlow App:
We’ve hyped up the EcoFlow App plenty of times in the past, so getting access to it on such a small unit is great. Through the app, you can control charging speed, screen timeouts, and other settings you wouldn’t otherwise be able to adjust from the unit. Plus, it makes it even easier to incorporate the RIVER 2 PRO into the EcoFlow EcoSystem, which is a big draw for those who already own and use EcoFlow products.
For such a small power station to have such a solid app and display screen is both rare and really welcome. It just makes it so much easier to monitor your power station and tweak things, even from a distance.
Adding X-Boost Mode:
This feature, theoretically, lets the inverter handle up to 1,600 watts by adjusting voltage. In a way, it kind of “fools” the devices that are plugged into it into thinking they’re getting more power, so the RIVER 2 PRO can be compatible with devices it otherwise wouldn’t be able to connect to. It’s a clever concept, though we found it to be a bit of a “work in progress” when it came to real-world testing.
Areas Where There’s Room for Improvement:
Here’s where the RIVER 2 PRO left us feeling a little underwhelmed.
The X-Boost Reality Check:
We know, we just praised the inclusion of the X-Boost feature, but it doesn’t quite deliver what EcoFlow says, so it also lands into our “room for improvement” section.
While the 1,600W “sustained surge” X-Boost promises sounds great, it doesn’t quite deliver. When we tested it with a 1,500W space heater, the RIVER 2 PRO couldn’t keep up and quickly shut down due to voltage fluctuations. It’s an 800W inverter at heart, and that’s where it performs best, with or without X-Boost.
No Built-In Light:
Given that this unit is branded as a “RIVER” product, you would think EcoFlow is targeting campers and other outdoor enthusiasts, so it’s surprising that there’s no built-in LED light.
Whether you’re using it in an off-grid camping situation or at home during a blackout, it would just be so much easier if they included a built-in light, even if it was just a small one that allowed you to see the ports in the dark. Come on, EcoFlow, step up your light game!
The Low Solar Input:
The 220W solar input is decent, but also a bit underwhelming, especially compared to what you get with the RIVER 2 PRO’s competitors. With sunlight as your only power source, you’re looking at a full charge in around 3.5 hours—not bad, but there’s definitely lots of room for improvement there.
The Unpredictable Fan Noise:
This unit’s internal fan has a tendency to pulse and fluctuate, which can be really distracting. If you’re using it next to you, like at your desk while you charge a laptop, the inconsistent fan noise is really annoying. Where other power stations seem to have a more consistent humming sound, the RIVER 2 PRO’s fan is all over the place. Even when it’s not being overly loud, those volume inconsistencies make it difficult to forget it’s there.
How Does it Compare to the Competition? - RIVER 2 PRO vs. Anker C800 Plus
EcoFlow’s RIVER 2 PRO has some competition, especially with the recent launch of the Anker C800 Plus Portable Power Station. Here’s how these two very similar power stations match up:
Battery and Inverter: Both units have the same 768Wh batteries, but the Anker’s inverter is rated at 1,200 watts—400 more than the RIVER 2 PRO’s.
Price: The C800 Plus is listed at $449, slightly cheaper than the RIVER 2 PRO’s usual price. Anker also offers a $499 version with additional features, like a built-in light (something the RIVER 2 Pro could really use).
Charging Speeds: Anker’s C800 Plus charges a bit faster, with a 1,440W AC input and 300W solar input, it beats the RIVER 2 PRO in both categories. Given that they have the same sized batteries, this means you’d be able to charge the Anker unit quite a bit faster.
The C800 Plus also comes with some nifty extras like IQ Fast-Charging Ports and one extra AC outlet, plus, Anker gives it a drop-tested rating, so they actually back up those durability claims that EcoFlow just seems to advertise.
Basically, the Anker C800 Plus really gives the RIVER 2 PRO a run for its money, but maybe that’s not surprising when you consider that it was just released, while the EcoFlow unit is almost a year old. Things move fast in the world of power stations!
Our Final Verdict
If you’re loyal to EcoFlow or just found a great deal on the RIVER 2 PRO, it’s definitely a really capable little unit that is worth considering. For a unit that looks a bit like E.T., but delivers reliable performance where it counts, it’s a solid choice.
However, if you’re on the fence, you might want to look at the competition, especially if features like a built-in light and a stronger inverter are high on your list. If you’re still on the fence, check out our review of the Anker C800 Plus. Trust us, it’s a really interesting little unit!
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