There has been an inflow of energy stations in current months, and even established manufacturers like Anker and UGREEN are getting in on the motion. EcoFlow is among the oldest gamers on this class, and it has been making energy stations — each moveable and home-focused fashions — for some time now. So when the model requested if I needed to check out the River 2 Max, I used to be intrigued.The River sequence is focused at moveable use, and it features a vary of fashions — the usual River 2 comes with a 268Wh battery, the River 2 Max I’m taking a look at has a 512Wh unit, and there is additionally a River 2 Pro that contains a 768Wh battery. All three fashions embrace long-lasting Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries which can be touted with as much as ten years of normal use with none degradation, characteristic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and will be charged in 4 alternative ways — together with solar energy.There’s clearly lots to love right here, and the River 2 Max specifically hits the candy spot for worth. The moveable energy station delivers as much as 500W of energy, which needs to be greater than satisfactory for all of your devices. There’s quick charging as properly, and the unit takes slightly below an hour to completely cost the sizeable battery. So should you’re taking a look at a conveyable energy station with a wise assortment of ports on your subsequent tenting vacation or use open air, this is why you need to think about the River 2 Max.EcoFlow River 2 Max: Pricing and availability (Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)EcoFlow launched the River 2 sequence again in October 2022, and the facility stations can be found in all international markets the place the model has an official presence. The normal River 2 at the moment retails for $239 on Amazon, and the River 2 Max is offered for $399. The high-end variant within the sequence — the River 2 Pro — is on sale for $499, $100 off its standard retail value.Today’s greatest EcoFlow River 2 Max dealsEcoFlow River 2 Max: Design(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Let’s begin with the design of the River 2 Max. EcoFlow did all the suitable issues on the design facet, with the River 2 Max that includes a big deal with on the again that makes it straightforward to maneuver it round. The massive battery means that is an absolute unit, and coming in at 13.4 lb (6kg), it is not precisely mild. But the deal with on the again makes it straightforward to hold the facility station, and the flat prime ensures it’s simply stackable — a key consideration when planning an out of doors journey.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The dual-tone design does not name an excessive amount of consideration to the unit, and the construct high quality is great — this factor is designed to final. The rubber ft on the backside guarantee the facility station stays planted on a floor, and there are vents on the perimeters that permit warmth to dissipate simply — the unit has energetic cooling within the type of followers situated behind the vents.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The AC and DC charging ports are situated behind the unit (simply behind the deal with), and probably the greatest options of the River 2 Max is its versatility with regards to charging. You can cost the interior battery in a complete of 4 methods: AC port, automobile charger, USB-C port, and solar energy. EcoFlow bundles an AC charging cable and a cable to make use of along with your automobile’s outlet with the package deal.EcoFlow River 2 Max: Features(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The River 2 Max has a 512Wh battery, and it has quick charging, taking slightly below one hour to completely cost the battery by way of AC energy. It goes as much as 660W on this mode, and whereas the followers make an audible noise to make sure the facility station does not overheat, it is fairly nice that you would be able to cost such a large battery in simply an hour. If you are trying to go the photo voltaic route, you may want to choose up the requisite photo voltaic panels from EcoFlow, and the facility station can cost at as much as 220W on this mode.You may use the USB-C port to cost the unit, and it really works over the USB PD 3.0 protocol, hitting as much as 100W. The wise charging choices and quick charging potential positively give the River 2 Max a definite edge, notably when you think about what number of gadgets this factor can energy. The better part is that you would be able to energy a number of gadgets whereas charging the unit, and on this mode the unit passes energy by the ports with out counting on the battery.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I bought the Indian model of the unit, and it got here with two AC ports, twin DC 5521 ports, three USB-A ports, and a USB-C port. The EU model has an identical port format, whereas the U.S. mannequin has 4 AC ports as a substitute. The AC and DC ports have devoted energy switches, and there is a LED display screen that reveals the battery stage, enter/output wattage, and utilization time that adjustments primarily based on the gadget that is plugged in.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)EcoFlow additionally has a cellular app that allows you to management varied options of the facility station. The app has a great interface, and allows you to view real-time battery stage and vitality use, and you may regulate AC charging velocity, set charging and discharge limits, auto timeout for the unit, and toggle X-Boost mode. The X-Boost mode is fascinating as a result of it doubles the wattage of the unit to 1000W. By default, the River 2 Max can energy gadgets as much as 500W with out breaking a sweat, however X-Boost allows you to crank that determine as much as 1000W — albeit in small bursts.There’s lots to love on the guarantee facet of issues too, with EcoFlow providing 5 years as normal. The energy station is assured to final 3,000 cost cycles earlier than noticeable battery degradation, so you need to get loads of utilization out of it with none points in any respect.EcoFlow River 2 Max: Performance(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)My intension with the evaluation was to completely cost the battery on the River 2 Max and drain it a number of instances. So I began out utilizing it for charging telephones and a large number of equipment round the home, and I instantly realized that wasn’t going to chop it. The River 2 Max has a 512Wh battery, and it might simply cost the likes of the Galaxy S23 Ultra for a number of weeks earlier than the battery ran out.So I bought creative and began utilizing the AC ports to energy quite a lot of tech. The River 2 Max places out a most of 500W, so it will possibly energy severe gear — what lastly drained the battery was connecting the XGIMI Horizon Pro projector and streaming motion pictures. That lastly did the trick, and it made me understand that the River 2 Max was in all probability designed for simply this use case.Sure, now you can get moveable projectors with built-in batteries that last as long as two hours — just like the Halo+ — however should you’re trying to make use of a full-fledged projector whereas open air, you’ll want a beefy energy station.I had no points powering quite a lot of gear with the River 2 Max — I used it with my Redmagic 4K gaming monitor, a number of projectors round the home, and even linked it to my 75-inch Xiaomi QLED TV, and it carried out flawlessly. It delivers a pure sine wave output with none flicker, and can be utilized to drive delicate audio gear as properly. In this regard, it’s simply probably the greatest energy stations accessible. (Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Overall, I actually like what EcoFlow has managed to do with the River 2 Max. The solely space the place the model might have carried out extra is round USB ports. The River 2 Max has three USB-A and one USB-C ports, and it might have been rather more helpful if it had two or extra USB-C ports.Now, the dearth of further USB-C ports would not have been an enormous deal if the USB-A ports had respectable charging potential. But they’re restricted to 12W, and that makes them unusable for charging something extra highly effective than equipment. Dual USB-C ports or the power to hit 20W over USB-A would have made the facility station that rather more versatile for my very own use case.In an identical vein, a wi-fi charging pad would have made the facility station that rather more alluring for charging telephones, whereas liberating up the USB ports for different gadgets.EcoFlow River 2 Max: The competitors(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)With three fashions within the sequence, the River 2 portfolio has a lot to supply if you would like a conveyable energy station. The River 2 is a superb selection should you’re simply beginning out, and whereas it has a smaller 268Wh battery, it does not miss out on any of the options you get on the bigger items.Jackery is one other model to contemplate, with its Explorer 500 energy station providing 500W of energy with an identical 1000W surge, and loads of ports. You do not get any USB-C ports right here, and there is a solitary AC port alongside twin DC ports. The three-year guarantee is not fairly pretty much as good as what EcoFlow affords, and at $499 it prices extra.EcoFlow River 2 Max: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You can buy this if:You want a conveyable energy station that may energy absolutely anythingYou need a wide variety of AC and DC ports along with USB shopsYou need quick charging and the power to cost by way of solar energyYou want a well-built energy station that is straightforward to holdYou need long-lasting batteriesYou should not purchase this if:You primarily want an influence station to be used with telephonesYou want wi-fi chargingI used the River 2 Max for simply over three months now, and aside from the minor quibble across the solitary USB-C port, I’ve no points with the facility station. It carried out extremely properly in each day use, powering most merchandise I’ve in the home with none points in any respect. The capacity to cost the unit by way of solar energy makes it that rather more versatile, and should you select to make use of the AC possibility, there’s quick charging that takes below an hour to completely cost the battery.The 512Wh battery is ideally fitted to tenting actions, and there is sufficient energy on supply to cost telephones, notebooks, and different tech equipment along with projectors. The undeniable fact that the batteries are primarily based on LiFePO4 tech means they need to be rather more sturdy than normal Lithium-ion batteries, and the long-term guarantee alleviates any worries on this space.Overall, the River 2 Max is a wonderful product, and should you’re in want of a conveyable energy station with terrific charging potential and long-lasting batteries, it is a straightforward advice.
Today’s greatest EcoFlow River 2 Max offers
With loads of charging ports and the power to ship 500W of energy, the River 2 Max has all of the options you are in search of in a conveyable energy station.
EcoFlow River 2 Max: Price Comparison