EcoFlow River 2 Max Review

In 2022 we’ve seen a revolution in portable power sources, and EcoFlow is one of the companies at the forefront of the new technology. I recently looked at the latest Delta 2 generators and the powerful 400W solar panel. That particular set-up, whilst expensive, is an ideal off-grid solution for an on-site studio.

Now the smaller EcoFlow River 2 Max has been launched as the reinvention of the original River Max. The new design is lighter, and with a large carry handle at the back, the entire unit can easily lift and carry alongside the rest of your kit.

The small electric generator once again supplies a good variety of power sockets to charge and power through AC or DC and will have a maximum output of 500W or 1000W with X-boost. You also have several charging options, including direct mains AC, Solar and 12v. Still, this time, with the newer battery technology, this small unit can suck the life out of the national grid at rapid speed and give itself a full charge in around an hour.

Ultimately, the River 2 Max has been upgraded and boosted over the original version in almost every way.

EcoFlow electric generators stand-out in an increasingly crowded market due to their product design. Like their main competitor, BLUETTI EcoFlow has a large range of products, and both companies lead on design, technology and functionality.

The EcoFlow River 2 Max again shows that EcoFlow carefully considers the design and use of its products. There have been a few interesting welcome changes to the River 2 Max over the original.

The first is the unit looks completely different, and while. The original looked great, and the curved top handle meant that you couldn’t put anything on top, which was a pain if you needed to put your camera down somewhere stable that wasn’t the ground or precariously balanced on top of a bag.

Another advantage of this change in design is that the handle is now positioned across the back of the unit. This means that it’s larger, or at least feels that way, and you can now comfortably carry the generator and a bag in one hand simultaneously. Although this was possible with the previous release, it wasn’t at all comfortable, and it’s surprising just how much of a difference a slight handle change can make to the unit’s usability.

The second point on handling is that the power sockets and buttons have moved positions, so it’s far easier to access the on / off switch if you’ve already plugged something in.

Socket-wise, there’s still just one USB Type-C, but an increase to three USB Type-A. Then there are two AC sockets, which are essentially the main sockets. In this review, I’m looking at the European socket, but it’s also available in the UK, the US and other options; check your regional EcoFlow website for further details.

When it comes to the clever inside technology, there has also been a major overhaul. The battery technology has been updated to use the LFP (LiFePO4), which boosts the battery’s capacity and longevity. Whereas the original battery technology was good for 500 charges up to a capacity of 80%, the new chemistry enables 3000 charges you to 80% and ten years of life.

WhileWhile the battery capacity and life has been extended, there is a small drop in the actual capacity from 576Wh to 512Wh.

Plugging into the main is the fastest option when it comes to charging, enabling an ultra-fast top-up of around an hour. Plugged into 12v on a car journey, the battery takes around 100W per hour, so a good six-hour journey is needed to top up fully. You must be driving or running the car engine; otherwise, the EcoFlow River 2 Max will run down your car battery.

The final option is through Solar; here, the generator will take an input of up to 220W. EcoFlow makes several solar panel options, including a 220W version. In this review, I used the 110W EcoFlow Panel and a larger panel from another manufacturer to test the 220W input. In both cases, the small EcoFlow River 2 Max charged in good time, taking just over three hours on the large panel with 200W input and six on the smaller 110W panel.

A quick note on the panels, the quality of the EcoFlow panels is exceptional, and the efficiency makes them stand out; however, while the technology is excellent, the design of the panels and how they fix the case to support them is a major annoyance for me. While other panels are relatively easy to set up, the EcoFlow design is fiddly, although not complicated. For this smaller 110W panel, that’s fine; however, as the panels get larger to 400W, the size and weight can require at least two people to set up.

Regarding the EcoFlow River 2 Max, the build quality is good, solidly built and should last the ten-year life span without issue. On handling as with the technology, the new design is a major step-up and is one of the best designs for this size of generator out there.

The EcoFlow River 2 Max is a small electric generator with the Canon EOS R5 C, MacBook Pro and lighting, all happily consuming power at a rate of knots; using these out in the field proved to be a good overall test of the units abilities.

Firstly with the 5R, C plugged in through PD, the actual draw on power wasn’t too bad with the PD fast charging the battery that then supplies the camera. Following this, with the lights plugged in through an adapter to the AC power and a fully discharged MacBook Pro, the power draw starts to reach 320W without too much effort. This still gives 200W headroom and double that with X-Boost switched on.

Adding a charger and a monitor quickly boosts the power output to the 500W limit, and in just under an hour, the battery is depleted. That’s not at all bad and what stood out is just how quiet the EcoFlow River 2 Max was throughout the test. While some other generators like it to be known just how hard they are working with fans whipping up, the EcoFlow River 2 Max stayed relatively quiet.

What I also really liked about the EcoFlow River 2 Max was the fact that the on-device display is really clear. You know exactly how much power is being drawn or inputted into the system, and what elevates this beyond other systems is that you can see just how much capacity you have left.

Then if you want more information about the use of the power, you can dip into the App. The App gives you access to a more detailed breakdown of what is going on; of all the apps, it’s probably the most involved and comprehensive that I’ve seen.

While through the test, I pushed the use of the EcoFlow River 2 Max to the extreme and far beyond the normal use for this size of the generator, used as a power source for the R5 C or to charge batteries on the go. This unit is ideal.

The original EcoFlow River Max was good, but there were a few issues with the button and socket layout. The new EcoFlow River 2 Max addresses those small points and builds on the function and features with faster charging times, better longevity and a far superior design.

Along with the new, some of the old features that originally made the River Max stand out to remain. The App is still one of the most in-depth and useful apps for any electric generator out there, clearly detailing the unit’s power draw, input and health.

The X-Boost is also a massive bonus enabling you to use some power appliances that would ordinarily be outside of the capabilities of this capacity generator. However, that is at the cost of the time that the unit will supply power.

The EcoFlow River 2 Max is extremely simple, plug it into the mains or solar to charge and then use it with your devices as you would if you were at home plugging into the mains. With the obvious exception that things like toasters, vacuums, Irons and any appliance over 1000W will have a power draw above the abilities of the River 2 Max.

As photographers and videographers, the benefits of the EcoFlow River 2 Max are obvious. The fast charge feature that enables you to get a full charge in an hour is a huge bonus. That means that if you’re on a shoot for a few days and can’t fully recharge all your devices at the hotel or accommodation, you can rely on the EcoFlow River 2 Max as an additional power source.

You can charge and power devices in the field in a relatively small and lightweight package. The EcoFlow River 2 Max is one of the best compact electrical power generators out there and at 512Wh is a great place to start with this type of technology.