EcoFlow River 2 Max review | Best 500W portable power station?

The EcoFlow River 2 Max has 500W AC outlets, a 512Wh LiFePO4 or LFP long lasting battery, super fast 660W mains charging and two-way 100W USB power delivery output and charging input. It has a very useful app to control and monitor it remotely and it’s lightweight, especially considering its LFP battery. It’s pretty good value too, comparable to similar units - you can check the current price down below.
These power stations are perfect for power cuts, camping, travel and festivals and around the house and out and about to charge all your tech. And the River 2 Max can charge at up to 220W off solar panels alone when mains isn’t available.
I’ll run through its capabilities and thoroughly test all its claims to help you decide if this is the right power station for you. So let’s take a closer look.
If you want to skip forward or back at any time in this video, please use the chapter markers KZbin creates from the timestamps down below and in the pinned comment.
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As an Amazon affiliate, I get a small commission from purchases made via any Amazon links.
Amazon link:
EcoFlow River 2 Max: geni.us/VRmvHP
EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Solar Panel: geni.us/Kygc
Written article: thetechnologyman.com
My other reviews mentioned in video:
EcoFlow River Max review: • EcoFlow River Max revi...
EcoFlow Delta 2 review: • EcoFlow Delta 2 detail...
Jackery Explorer vs Bluetti AC500S review: • Jackery Explorer 500, ...
Allpowers 500W review: • Allpowers 500W portabl...
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You can find most of the recent tech I've reviewed recently all in one place on my Amazon page. I also have a list some of my recommended tech and my current camera equipment for filming:
UK: amazon.co.uk/shop/thetechnolog...
US: amazon.com/shop/thetechnologyman
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:52 Unboxing, what's included
1:02 Spec including LiFePO4 or LFP battery
1:23 Build quality, weight, dimensions
1:54 Overview of outputs and inputs
3:10 Charging: mains. Confirm charging speeds
3:52 Noise levels charging
4:06 Use app to lower mains charging speed, thermal measurements
4:32 LCD display
4:52 WiFi / Bluetooth connection to app for remote control and monitoring
5:26 12V/24V car charging
5:54 Manually selecting solar (or car charging)
6:07 Solar charging
7:19 USB-C charging
7:36 Performance. Sine Wave output of AC outlets
7:47 X-Boost to power devices up to 1000W continuously
8:27 AC outlet testing and overload protection
9:24 Parasitic draw of AC
9:41 Testing DC outputs with load tester
10:14 Testing USB ports
10:49 Testing UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) demonstration
11:26 Measuring capacity unit - AC load
12:06 Measuring capacity unit - DC load
12:26 Conclusions
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#ecoflow #river2max #portablepowerstation

[@mariuscarrick4256]

This is exactly what reviews should look like.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you!

[@yashinlallchander]

Always find your reviews thorough and well presented. Would have loved if the battery was user replaceable.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you! Yes I thought EcoFlow has the right idea with original EcoFlow Max but it was heavy and to be honest I always left the expandable battery attached. I'd hoped they'd been able to completely separate the battery from the rest of the power station for this version - but on the plus side this is remarkably light for a LFP power station and I'm looking forward to see what comes next.

[@vhateverlie]

If it claim of 3000 cycles is accurate with heavy to moderate use that's 5-10 years of use and by that point it'll probably be obsolete compared to what will be (presumably) on the market by then. I do like the idea of keeping it from becoming ewaste though

[@SebasSebas-ht4uc]

Hola desde Spain!! Excelent Job!! Una pregunta porfavor : la River2 Max admite batería auxiliar?? Se puede ampliar la capacidad de la batería? Gracias!!!!

[@lyla031293]

Thank you for this video very helpful❤❤

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Very glad it helped thanks for leaving a comment!

[@panz3r696]

Great video, I'm looking at this exact unit as a back up for my campervan, if my DC to DC dual leisure battery system were to have issues.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Glad it helped - yes a very useful backup!

[@henryjtodd]

Eerie… I was looking at exactly this unit yesterday. This review is both thorough and timely 🙂. I can’t think of anything you haven’t covered… I’m looking at it for powering a shed for working; ~50W load so the 86% tested efficiency you found would certainly do me for a full day. Nice that it can function as a UPS in the house the rest of the time and be ready for a day trip somewhere with the family if needed.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thank you very glad it was helpful - it took me far too long partly because wanted to test solar charging and hardly saw the sun for weeks! I agree the UPS function is a great feature of these power stations.

[@tubevideoguy762]

​@@TheTechnologyManALWAYS annoys people like myself when watching a power station review and it has the wrong plug type....😂i know very american thing to say!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

@@tubevideoguy762 😂I think the Allpowers one I reviewed had universal plug sockets so no "wrong" plug to irritate you!

[@BufordPusser582]

Great review thank you

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1979Spica]

Excellent review. About to return a Rocksolar unit and looking for a more powerful replacement. This fits the bill for about 150$ more than the inferior unit.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

I hope you like it!

[@1979Spica]

@@TheTechnologyMan it is head and shoulders above the Rocksolar unit. Can do so much more. I picked up a decent but inexpensive solar panel which can easily deliver 70w

[@1979Spica]

I ended up getting the River 2. Not the max version. It ended up being cheaper by $50 than the Rocksolar. Very happy with its capabilities and size

[@andycook2596]

Hi. Thanks for the thorough review and description. I’m considering buying one of these units for an off-grid cabin. I’ll likely use other proprietary solar panels, but can the power bank handle constantly having solar plugged in?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Thanks glad it helped! Should be ok and has a 5 year warranty if not! You could check with EcoFlow they may recommend one of their Delta series for continuous use.

[@mr.harris8185]

Very good review. My understanding is that it does not have the UPS feature but rather a EPS feature which is just a little slower but appears to work as well for most devices.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

I think they quote 30ms switch over - in my experience it works fine as a UPS. They just suggest not using for a critical server that requires 0ms switch over.

[@Michelle-sr9nk]

Thanks for this video, it was very helpful. I am in South Africa and we are experiencing terrible power cuts every day. This unit looks like it will power my laptop. second screen and a led light for the office, for 2-5 hours at a time. Did you run appliances for a few hours while you were testing the unit? I am just concerned about its longevity if used regularly, it is not cheap but as there are way more expensive options out there I am very keen on this one. Also concerned about warranties, although I read EcoFlow is opening an office here soon.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes I've used it extensively - it should last but I've never had to test their warranty so can't comment on that.

[@stephenwill9792]

What accessories (cables/adapters) would you recommend and/or have found useful? Can an extension cord be plugged into the AC ports to provide more 3-prong outlets? Thanks again!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes you can use a multi-gang extension lead - so long as you're aware what you're plugging in. I mostly use the solar charging cable and mains charging cable.

[@shaunburford3984]

Really useful video. I'm planning on using the River 2 Max, instead of a leisure battery system in my van conversion. Quick question, can you connect the car charging and the solar charing at the same time, by having the T60 split in someway? Would it automatically switch between the two charging methods, ie when the engine is running? Or would the best thing to do, to just unplug the solar and then plug in the car charging cable when you're on a long drive or need it? Hope that makes sense. Ta Shaun

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Glad it helped. Sorry not tried that - I would just switch over as needed.

[@grega4163]

Thank you for this comprehensive review! I purchased one of these units (prior to seeing your review) for use with an astrophotography rig running from the DC outputs BUT I have been unable to get it to work; both the DC55 ports AND the cigarette lighter output both cut out as my astro control box starts up (the panel reads 25-30W) and the unit reads OVERLOAD. So I was both heartened and frustrated to see you were able to draw 36W and 120W, respectively, with no issue. I've updated the firmware, etc. and (so far) EcoFlow has not suggested anything that has helped. Were there any specific settings you were using? Perhaps I have just simply not turned on/off something in the app...? Thanks!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

The only thing I can guess is they are drawing more than that on startup and either current or voltage protection is kicking in. Do you know exactly what they are rated at - both Volts and Amps?

[@grega4163]

@@TheTechnologyMan The specs for the ASIAIR Plus recommends a 12V @ 5A capable supply when under maximum possible load (the Air has 12V power ports that can be used to power other gear). I've used other power station's DC5521 outputs to run it in the past with the same setup that I tried on the EcoFlow to no avail. I could perhaps understand the DC5521 ports not functioning due to some sort of spike in current, but the cigarette lighter should be good with 12V @ 10A - well beyond what I'd be trying to power even with variable current (to, say, a heater strap). The unit reports under 30W during startup before it shuts down on either the DC5521 or the cigarette connection... I'm just wondering if I have a "bad" unit or if there was some sort of setting somewhere that I need to adjust, since you seemed to be able to run both DC outputs at max rated specs with no problem!

[@MJ12GRAVITON]

This would be a deal breaker for me, as I would use for the same exact thing. I would suggest trying power board and psu into the asi air etc

[@LookatBowen]

Great review - you mentioned it can act as a UPS. Does it make a noise in the UPS mode? I want to connect my router and Rasperry Pi to it, as it controls the smart home, which I know sounds like overkill, but that is while we are home. When we go camping it seems a great device for a fridge, charging drone, phones and with the ability to be charged by the 12v socket in the car, or via solar, it has plenty of versatility. If not used as a UPS, what would you recommend?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Sometimes charging, the fans will come on, but it should be pretty quiet.

[@MrSquidDaddy]

If you connect a car charger and a usbc charger at the same time, does the charge rate go to 200 watts, or does the device choose one input over the other? Thanks.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

I'll double check next time I have this to hand but IIRC they won't work together and the car charger will take over from the USB-C.

[@wfcastro8861]

Question - I saw your river max review and found a new unit for an amazing deal of $200 usd , would you do that over this newer unit of similar capacity?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

If the River Max has the features you need then sounds a good deal. I would check on guarantee - the battery would be a good few years old now.

[@JeromeMoisand]

Terrific review, thank you! I was a little confused about the comment around 9:20 and the unit discharging if left connected to AC. Why would that be? My use case is a koi pond air pump which continuously draws 40W, which I'd like to protect against power outages, so it's a (not demanding) UPS scenario. I wonder if there is a cheaper unit with similar features, but less peak wattage and less pricey... I'd use a US version of the power station.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Glad it helped! Having the inverter on for the AC does drain the battery. By UPS if you mean the power station will be plugged into mains and only need to supply the air pump when there's a power outage then running off AC would be fine - especially if the pump draws 40W continuously. Otherwise running the pump off DC would be more efficient.

[@JeromeMoisand]

@@TheTechnologyMan Thank you for your answer. Yes, this is what I meant. Wouldn't this damage the battery over time though, with a lot of mini discharge / mini recharge cycles? Also, are you aware of a less expensive portable power station (e.g. with less peak wattage) which would suit such a scenario?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

@@JeromeMoisand In UPS mode it’s not using the battery. But I’m not sure I would buy one of these just for their UPS. Depending on how long your power outages are, you could look into a dedicated UPS which will be cheaper.

[@cococamper]

Is it possible to make our own 5521 to female socket lighter cable? I mean its just a barrel connector and some connect + and - wire, right?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yes you can - I'm forever making my own cables!

[@UberEvan]

I have an mc4 to dc5521 cable from another battery, can this battery take solar charging by this method?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

The input is XT60 - sorry I don't know what your setup is?

[@NatureLover-qm3rr]

What can the dc5521 cable be used for?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

I have an electric pump, some LED lights and a battery charger that use this connection.

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Buy direct from EcoFlow: tidd.ly/46h9RIc. What are you looking for in a power station? Does the River 2 Max tick all the boxes or is there another model you’d like me to look at? Let me know down below! Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:52 Unboxing, what's included 1:02 Spec including LiFePO4 or LFP battery 1:23 Build quality, weight, dimensions 1:54 Overview of outputs and inputs 3:10 Charging: mains. Confirm charging speeds 3:52 Noise levels charging 4:06 Use app to lower mains charging speed, thermal measurements 4:32 LCD display 4:52 WiFi / Bluetooth connection to app for remote control and monitoring 5:26 12V/24V car charging 5:54 Manually selecting solar (or car charging) 6:07 Solar charging 7:19 USB-C charging 7:36 Performance. Sine Wave output of AC outlets 7:47 X-Boost to power devices up to 1000W continuously 8:27 AC outlet testing and overload protection 9:24 Parasitic draw of AC 9:41 Testing DC outputs with load tester 10:14 Testing USB ports 10:49 Testing UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) demonstration 11:26 Measuring capacity unit - AC load 12:06 Measuring capacity unit - DC load 12:26 Conclusions

[@JeromeMoisand]

You should pin this useful comment! (and feel free to delete my reply afterwards!)

[@stephenwill9792]

Thanks for the informative review! Can you explain in simple terms what the Car Input open socket is for on the front of the EcoFlow RIVER Max? Is it just for plugging in 12v devices? Can that open socket support a dual USB adapter for charging other devices? What can the two DC5521 Output (barrel input located below Car Input ) openings be used for to get the most flexibility?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Glad it helped! Yes a USB adapter is a useful use case. Lots of items for a car use the car socket - pumps, jump starters etc. The DC5521 I don't find that useful, but I have some battery chargers that use that connection, and some LED lighting.

[@stephenwill9792]

@@TheTechnologyMan Many thanks!

[@promptdaplug2165]

How long would this be able to run an Xbox series S?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Including monitor / TV? I did run an xBox of one of these portable power stations. IIRC it used around 150-200W, So a couple of hours of one off the River 2 Max. Will depend hugely on the demands of the game. I'd suggest buying a cheap energy monitoring plug and checking exactly what you use.

[@stephenwill9792]

Re/The EcoFlow app for the River 2 Max. Can you do a video as to the Settings and also the optimal settings for this unit using the app and and explain depth of discharge? How does one decide on the best AC Charge Speed? Also what are the best Discharge/Charge Levels when using AC, solar input? I am trying to understand each feature/setting of the app. Thanks!

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Good suggestion! If you're using this regularly I'd reduce the charging speed unless you're in a rush.

[@Dirt-Diggler]

Looks like s nice bit of kit 🤔 but the company's build quality and quantity control worry me ☹️

[@TheTechnologyMan]

The build quality is still good - and it comes with a 5 year warranty so personally I wouldn’t be too worried. Both the Delta 2 and original River Max that I was comparing it too were both significantly more expensive.

[@tombombadil7406]

hello from Ukraine, ecoflow is using here in a lot of extreme situations and it's fucking good. I'm using it last 2 month, my friends in frontline using it last 6 month - nice device, highly recommend it

[@TheTechnologyMan]

That's great I really hope things improve over there soon!

[@Klein-Morretti]

At least they honor warranties unlike *cough* Bluetti.

[@AJ_Alive]

Dartmoor?

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Yep!

[@pavlostelmakh2601]

My ecoflow river 2 max only has ~65% efficiency 😢 with AC sockets on

[@TheTechnologyMan]

Do you have another energy monitoring plug to use - that sounds a little low.