Are you planning your next camping trip or outdoor adventure and weighing up the differences between EcoFlow River vs EcoFlow River Pro? Then this comparison will come in handy when you’re choosing between these two for your portable power supply.
One of the most common occurrences on an outdoor trip is your devices running out of juice and not having a wall outlet handy to keep you connected. This is where a portable power supply comes up trumps. While the River and River Pro have all the ports you’ll ever need and can power a plethora of devices for hours on end, some subtle differences could swing your decision either way. In this post, we’ll first define some comparison points, then dive into detail for each power station.
River
Capacity: 288Wh
Cycle life: 500+
Solar Input: 200W
Max Device No. Supported: 10
River Pro
Capacity: 720Wh
Cycle life: 800+
Solar Input: 200W
Max Device No. Supported: 10
Things To Consider When Choosing Between EcoFlow River vs River Pro
Portability: How compact and easy to carry are they?
One of the most important things when considering any portable power station is that you can pick it up and take it anywhere. With River and River Pro falling comfortably below the 20 lbs mark, they are both great lightweight options to take on any off-the-grid adventure. However, If a balance between capacity and weight is a priority, then EcoFlow River is perfect for you. But if you’re looking for something lightweight that will keep you powered for longer, EcoFlow Pro’s larger capacity could swing the balance.
Output: What can they run?
EcoFlow River Pro and EcoFlow RIVER’s output are on the same playing field at 600W. The higher output your power station has the more demanding devices you can run off it. But thanks to EcoFlow’s x-boost mode, both can power devices up to 1800W.
Capacity: How long can they run for?
The greatest difference between EcoFlow River vs EcoFlow River Pro is the capacity. Broken down, capacity determines the time you can stay powered for, with larger capacities geared towards more heavy-duty appliances and emergencies like a home blackout. With both power stations, you can attach an additional battery doubling River and River Pro’s capacity with ease. However, there are some distinct differences between River and River Pro when it comes to the additional battery, we’ll cover this further in.
Cycle Life: How long do they last?
Simply put, cycle life means the number of charge or recharge cycles before the battery starts to noticeably reduce its performance. One cycle means using the power station from full to zero charge. With River and River Pro both having an NCM battery, they both surpass entry-level portable power stations before seeing a noticeable impact on performance. However, if you’re planning to use your device more frequently, the River Pro is a great choice with its long cycle life.
Charging Speed:
Gone are the days of it taking half a day to charge your portable power station. With EcoFlow River and River Pro, you can hook them up to a standard AC outlet and receive a full charge in 1.6 hours. If you need power sooner, you can charge either device to 80% in under an hour. With groundbreaking recharge speeds you can spend more time exploring the great outdoors and less time charging.
Solar Compatibility:
EcoFlow River and River Pro pack a 200W solar input. In its simplest form, solar input determines the max wattage your device can take to charge it by using the sun’s rays but if you want a deeper dive into solar panels, you can find out here. With River and River Pro, you can easily hook up 2x EcoFlow 110W Solar Panels or using an EcoFlow Solar solar panel connector take advantage of third-party solar panels to add juice to your device.
Now, let’s take a deeper dive into an EcoFlow River vs River Pro comparison:
River vs. River Pro Capacity:
One of the greatest differences between these two portable power stations is capacity. Although EcoFlow RIVER’s capacity is the smaller of the two, packing 288Wh capacity out the box, it can power your essential devices for hours on end. If you’re looking to power the bigger stuff for longer, EcoFlow River Pro’s capacity is 2.5x greater than EcoFlow RIVER’s capacity, delivering a whopping 720Wh.
Thanks to the modular design, you can opt to double EcoFlow River and River Pro’s capacity by hooking them up to an extra battery. The River extra battery takes RIVER’s capacity up to 576Wh whilst River Pro’s extra battery takes its capacity to a staggering 1440Wh. So if you’re looking to power more heavy-duty appliances on your outdoor adventures, River Pro is a great option.
EcoFlow River vs River Pro Weight
Another factor to consider when looking at portability is the weight of EcoFlow River vs EcoFlow River Pro. Weighing in at 11bs (5kg) EcoFlow River is the lighter of the two, but not by much. Although EcoFlow River Pro weighs 5.8lbs (2.6kg) more, they are both still below 20lbs. When looking at what else is on the market, most standard portable power stations weigh up to 80lbs, making EcoFlow River and River Pro two of the best portable power options out there.
EcoFlow River vs River Pro: Battery Expansion
When it comes to adding an extra battery to double your capacity for River or River Pro you’ll need to consider your portability needs. RIVER’s extra battery attaches to the bottom and weighs just 5.5lbs, so you can carry both with one hand. For River Pro, the extra battery is an independent unit coming in at 16lbs. Whichever you go for, they both double the capacity of the base unit.
Battery Cycle Life
If device longevity is the priority for you, then River Pro offers you 800+ charging cycles before battery performance is reduced to 80% of its original capacity. If you opt for River you’ll have slightly fewer charge cycles at 500+ before any impact on performance. So if you’re on camping trips or outdoor adventures every weekend then River Pro would be the one for you. But if your outdoor trips are more sporadic then cycle life won’t be as much of a concern.
Solar Compatibility
When it comes to solar compatibility these two are almost on the same playing field. With a 200W solar input and solar panel connector compatibility on both devices, the only real difference is their solar charging time. Once hooked up to 2x 110W EcoFlow Solar Panels, you can expect EcoFlow River to receive a full charge in under 3 hours. Whereas its counterpart EcoFlow River Pro reaches 100% solar recharge in 4-8 hours due to its higher capacity.
EcoFlow River vs River Pro Comparison: The Verdict
When weighing up your options between EcoFlow River vs EcoFlow River Pro there’s not much in it. With output and charging speed being like-for-like and battery life cycles and solar compatibility being too close to call, we must look at the main differences between the two to help us decide. With the main differences falling between capacity and portability it entirely depends upon your needs. If you’re after a portable power station that can power the more heavy-duty appliances on your outdoor adventures, then EcoFlow River Pro is the one for you. However, if portability is your priority, then EcoFlow RIVER’s lighter weight, modular design, and smaller size make it a better option. With two more River models in the series, If you really want to weigh up your options, check out the full River series comparison here.
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