Head-to-head test
EcoFlow DELTA 3 vs EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
A 27 lb box you carry in one hand against a 74.3 lb box you wheel to the garage wall. They share a name and a chemistry, and almost nothing else, so the useful question is which job you're hiring for.
Full profiles: EcoFlow DELTA 3 β Β· EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus β
Looking for a different matchup? EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra vs DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
First, a signpost. If you typed "DELTA 3 Ultra vs Ultra Plus" and landed here, this isn't that page. Google has been sending that question to this one for months, and the two Ultras are a different conversation. Our DELTA 3 Ultra vs DELTA 3 Ultra Plus comparison answers it, and the link is in the box just above the byline. This page is about the plain DELTA 3, the 1,024Wh unit, against the 3,072Wh Ultra Plus.
Those two are not rivals so much as two answers to two questions. The DELTA 3 is 27 lb, holds 1,024Wh, and runs an 1,800W inverter, the part that turns battery into wall-style AC. The Ultra Plus is 74.3 lb, holds three times the energy, and its inverter runs 3,600W. Both use LiFePO4 cells, the lithium chemistry rated here for 4,000 full charges before it fades, and both take EcoFlow expansion batteries. Both carry a 5-year warranty. The Ultra Plus costs $1,599. The DELTA 3 costs $629.
I wire the heavy ones into houses for a living, so I'll say where I land and then show the work. For backup, the Ultra Plus. It gets through the outage night the DELTA 3 doesn't. For a desk, a CPAP and a Saturday in a parking lot, the DELTA 3, and I'd be glad of the 47 lb I wasn't carrying.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first β the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
This is a capacity story and nothing else. A 1,024Wh pack was never going to run a fridge, a modem and some lights for eight hours, and no inverter spec changes that. If the grid dropping is why you're here, the DELTA 3 is the wrong size, however good it is at what it does.
The 8-hour blackout profile draws 1,645Wh; the DELTA 3 has 870Wh usable after the engine's flat 15% derate and comes up 775Wh shortThe DELTA 3 Ultra Plus covers the same night with 966Wh to spareWeekend camping draws 2,100Wh: the DELTA 3 is 1,230Wh short, the Ultra Plus finishes with 511Wh left
Why it mattersBuying for outages or a two-night trip? The Ultra Plus is the only one of these two that gets to morning.
weight
A 27 lb box goes in the back seat, under a desk, up a flight of stairs in one hand. A 74.3 lb box gets a spot and stays in it. For the small loads, the weight you don't carry is what the DELTA 3 gives you, and you feel it every time. The Ultra Plus's spare capacity is a benefit you'd feel never.
DELTA 3: 27 lb. DELTA 3 Ultra Plus: 74.3 lbA CPAP night draws 320Wh, 37% of the DELTA 3 and 12% of the Ultra Plus; a tailgate draws 670Wh, 77% against 26%A remote workday draws 910Wh: the DELTA 3 misses by 40Wh after the derate, and its 1,024Wh nameplate clears it
Why it mattersIf your list stops at a CPAP, a laptop and a cooler full of drinks, the DELTA 3 is the better tool and the cheaper one. Spend the $970 on something that isn't battery.
cost / lifetime kWh
That edge only pays if you spend the cycles. At one full cycle a day either pack lasts 11 years. At a cycle a week the rating runs past any human timeline, and the cents per kilowatt-hour stay on paper while the $970 leaves your account on day one. The lifetime table is honest and almost nobody collects on it.
Both packs are rated for 4,000 cycles; lifetime energy is 4,096 kWh for the DELTA 3 and 12,288 kWh for the Ultra Plus$629 against $1,599Cost per lifetime kilowatt-hour: $0.15 for the DELTA 3, $0.13 for the Ultra Plus
Why it mattersDon't let the per-kilowatt-hour column talk you up a size. Buy the capacity your loads need and let the price argue as a price.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units β everything else is a tie.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: Four of the six loads go to the Ultra Plus and two are a wash, which is the plainest way to see that these are two sizes, not two rivals.
Read the board as a sizing chart. The Ultra Plus takes the camping weekend, the blackout, the workday and the tailgate, and in two of those the DELTA 3 doesn't finish at all: 1,230Wh short of the weekend and 775Wh short of the night. The CPAP row is a tie because 320Wh is small change to either. The van-life row defeats both, the DELTA 3 covering about a fifth of a 4,685Wh day and the Ultra Plus a little over half.
The workday is the row I'd want a buyer to read twice. The DELTA 3 misses it by 40Wh, and only because the engine knocks 15% off every unit's nameplate for conversion losses. Its 1,024Wh clears 910Wh on paper. In practice that means a day at the desk finishes with the DELTA 3 showing a few percent, or a couple of percent short. Either way it isn't a failure. It's a box sized exactly to the job, with no slack, and that's a fair description of the DELTA 3 generally.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: A 47 lb gap decides where each one lives and who carries it.
weight
Twenty-seven pounds is a one-hand carry up the stairs. Seventy-four is two people, or one person and a hand truck, and a flat route planned in advance. That isn't a knock on the Ultra Plus. A 3,072Wh pack weighs what it weighs, and reviewers who lifted it called the weight thunderous and then praised how the grab handles are placedB9.
The point is that the two units live in different places. The Ultra Plus gets a spot by the panel or in the garage and earns its keep there. The DELTA 3 goes where you go. If I were kitting out a desk, a camera bag and a tailgate, I'd want the one I could pick up without thinking about my back.
Growth Path
Selected because: Both expand, so the port doesn't separate them; the solar ceilings do.
solar input
Both take EcoFlow expansion batteries, so the port is a wash. What differs is how fast each one refills from the sun: 500W of solar input on the DELTA 3 against 1,600W on the Ultra Plus. At full rated input, 1,024Wh at 500W is about two hours. 3,072Wh at 1,600W is a little under two. The bigger box doesn't refill slower, it just needs three times the panel to do it.
That's the honest shape of the growth path. The DELTA 3 grows into a bigger battery you'll still refill from a modest array. The Ultra Plus grows into a system that wants a serious roof's worth of panel to keep up with it.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: The bigger unit is slightly cheaper per lifetime kilowatt-hour, and that figure needs its caveat.
cost / lifetime kWh
$0.15 a lifetime kilowatt-hour for the DELTA 3 against $0.13 for the Ultra Plus. Same 4,000-cycle rating on both, so the bigger pack simply spreads a larger price over three times the energy and comes out a couple of cents ahead.
It's a real number and a nearly useless one. At one full cycle a day both last 11 years. At weekend use the rating outlives the buyer. Nobody is collecting those cents, and the $970 is collected at checkout. Treat the column as a tie and decide on capacity.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: The weight card on the Ultra Plus is the one to read before you plan on carrying it anywhere.
Two cards fire and one of them matters. The warranty card says five years on both, which it is, and the per-dollar version of that is just the price gap wearing a warranty costume. Ignore it.
The weight card on the Ultra Plus is worth reading twice. At 74.3 lb this is a unit you position once. Our spec record doesn't track wheels or a telescoping handle, so look at the product photos before you plan on moving it from the car to the campsite. The DELTA 3, at 27 lb, has no card because it needs none.
Strengths & trade-offs
EcoFlow DELTA 3
Strengths
- +Costs $970 less
- +Lighter by 47.3 lb
Trade-offs
- βWeaker inverter (-1,800W) limits appliance compatibility.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- βSubstantially more expensive (+$970) than the DELTA 3.
- βSignificantly heavier (+47.3 lbs), making it harder to move.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on six real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 Β· 2 nights Β· needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
The DELTA 3 doesn't finish a 2,100Wh weekend. With about 870Wh usable it covers roughly four-tenths of it, 1,230Wh short, so Saturday night is on rations and Sunday is dark. The Ultra Plus finishes with 511Wh left. If two nights away is the plan, decide on this row.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Phone Charger 15WΓ6h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ8h Β· Box Fan 75WΓ14h Β· CPAP Machine 40WΓ16h
SCN-02 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
The night draws 1,645Wh. The DELTA 3 runs dry a little past halfway, 775Wh short, and the Ultra Plus gets to morning with 966Wh to spare. If the grid dropping is why you're shopping, size for this row and nothing else.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Fridge 150WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40WΓ6h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h
SCN-03 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption β the #1 medical use case
Either unit
320Wh a night is 37% of the DELTA 3 and 12% of the Ultra Plus, so both cover it comfortably. For a CPAP alone the DELTA 3 is the one I'd carry to the bedside.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β CPAP Machine 40WΓ8h
SCN-04 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
The DELTA 3 misses a 910Wh workday by 40Wh after the engine's 15% derate, and clears it on nameplate. Call it a day that ends with the screen showing single digits. The Ultra Plus finishes at 35% and, with two 140W USB-C ports against the DELTA 3's 100W, charges a big laptop faster without waking the inverter.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Laptop 60WΓ8h Β· External Monitor 30WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ2h
SCN-05 Β· 4 hours Β· needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
Both handle 670Wh of game day. The DELTA 3 ends at 77% used, the Ultra Plus at 26%. The number you'll feel in the parking lot is 27 lb against 74.3, and that one goes to the DELTA 3.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Blender 400WΓ0.5h Β· LED TV (55") 80WΓ4h Β· Bluetooth Speaker 15WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger (Γ3) 45WΓ2h
SCN-06 Β· 24 hours Β· needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living β the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Neither covers a 4,685Wh day. The DELTA 3 gets about a fifth of the way and the Ultra Plus a little over half. Both take expansion batteries, so either can be grown toward it, but only the Ultra Plus starts within sight of the number.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Mini-Fridge 150WΓ24h Β· Laptop 60WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ5h Β· Fan 75WΓ8h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh Γ 0.85) Γ· LOAD
None of the scenarios above exactly yours? Build it. Toggle what you'd plug in; both units are tested against the combined draw.
Essentials
Comfort & Convenience
High-Draw Appliances
Test duration
8h
Continuous draw
205W
Projected runtime
For this load: DELTA 3 Ultra Plus runs 12.7h vs 4.2h.
$1,599 list Β· direct from EcoFlow
Planning for more than this? Describe your whole setup and get it sizedΒ β
Modeled from the spec record β same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.ΒΉ
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0β174.1hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0β34.8hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0β2.6hΒΉ Runtime = (capacity Γ 0.85) Γ· appliance watts. Within each group, all bars share one time scale (the group's longest runtime), so lengths are comparable across appliances; identical runtimes collapse into a single blue/orange bar. Actual runtime varies with battery age, temperature, and simultaneous loads β see methodology.
Conclusion
November 1, 2026
Verdict: the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus, on Power Score margin
Take the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus if the reason you're shopping is the power going out. It holds 3,072Wh to the DELTA 3's 1,024Wh and runs a 3,600W inverter against 1,800W, and it finishes the eight-hour blackout and the camping weekend with room to spare where the DELTA 3 runs dry partway through both. It costs $1,599 against $629, and because both packs are rated for the same 4,000 cycles, the bigger one works out slightly cheaper per lifetime kilowatt-hour. The DELTA 3 is the right buy for a different life: a CPAP, a laptop, a tailgate, a box that goes in the back seat at 27 lb instead of waiting by the wall at 74.3. If that's your list, keep the $970 and the use of your back.
Today the DELTA 3 is $599, $30 under its typical $629. The verdict weighs typical prices, not today's. Prices checked 28 days ago.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of November 1, 2026. The links below open EcoFlow's current price.
$1,599.00 Β· direct from EcoFlow
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
or check the DELTA 3 price$599.00 list
Written by Gunner Gustafson, Whole-Home Backup Tester Β· Station Arena Test Desk Β· Updated November 1, 2026
Black Friday Β· 26 days out
Prices to beat:DELTA 3 $519DELTA 3 Ultra Plus $1,499
The lowest we have recorded for each. A Black Friday price above it is a sale that unit has already had.
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): CPAP, Apartment Balcony, Camping.
Full specifications
α΅ Derived: price Γ· rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons β
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool βHow these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it β no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews β see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity Γ 0.85 inverter efficiency) Γ· device wattage. Solar recharge estimates assume panels deliver 70% of rated output. Cold weather, battery age, and stacked loads reduce real-world results.
Power Score
Computed from 14 published spec dimensions, weighted per use-case bench. Higher is better; a unit must meet a bench's minimum threshold to be rated.
See the full weight table and data sourcing on our methodology page βClass ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews β no buyer opinions feed it. We score every station on size-independent quality (value, output, portability, endurance, ports, warranty, and more), then percentile-rank it against the other units in its capacity class, so a class-leading compact unit and a class-leading whole-home unit can both earn 5β . Here, DELTA 3 rates 4.5/5 (73rd percentile of 27 Everyday-class units), and DELTA 3 Ultra Plus rates 4.9/5 (96th percentile of 27 Large-class units).
How the class ranking is computed βTest Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
DELTA 3 Ultra Plus: 74.3 lb Is a Commitment
At 74.3 lb the Ultra Plus is a unit you position once. The DELTA 3 is 27 lb and goes wherever you do. Our spec record doesn't track wheels or a telescoping handle, so if the Ultra Plus is going to leave the garage, look at the product photos before you count on carrying it from the car.
Warranty: Five Years on Both
Same term, same maker. The per-dollar version of that fact is only the price gap in a different costume, so coverage settles nothing here.
Full record above β the Test Desk pick is the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus.
Check DELTA 3 Ultra Plus price βor check the DELTA 3 priceOwnership Analysis
What happens after you buy β true cost of ownership, brand trust, and growth potential.
Lifetime value
Service lifeyears at one full cycle per day
Lifetime energy delivered
Cost per delivered kWh
β warranty ends Β· Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains β degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The DELTA 3 is cheaper to buy, but the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus is cheaper to own. At $0.13/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.15/kWh, the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus's higher cycle life and capacity make each dollar go further over the years. One thing to know reading the table: both carry the same 4,000-cycle rating, so the lifetime rows are sticker price and capacity in disguise β the wear horizon is identical and decides nothing here.
Growth path
DELTA 3
EXPANDABLESupports EcoFlow expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit β useful if your needs may climb past 1,024Wh.
Accepts up to 500W of solar. Suitable for a 1-2 panel setup.
Generous port selection supports complex multi-device setups.
Expansion batteries are EcoFlow-specific. You're investing in the EcoFlow ecosystem.
DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
EXPANDABLESupports EcoFlow expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit β useful if your needs may climb past 3,072Wh.
Accepts up to 1,600W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Expansion batteries are EcoFlow-specific. You're investing in the EcoFlow ecosystem.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output β see methodology
Analyst note
Both expand, but the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus's higher solar ceiling (1,600W vs 500W) gives it the stronger off-grid growth path β more panels can feed a bigger bank as it grows.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews β every claim cited to its source below.
EcoFlow DELTA 3
The plain DELTA 3 has a thin file, and I'll say so rather than pad itA0. Most published testing covers the Plus, Max and Ultra variants. What is attributable to the standard model is the noise behaviour: under about 200W the fans often stay off entirely, and under a moderate 500 to 800W load a reviewer found them barely audible from three feet awayA1. The one UPS account in our research was tested on a sibling that shares the switchover spec, so I'll cite it for character only: routers didn't reset and a CPAP didn't interruptA2. Treat all of this as early and preliminary, not a verdict on the unit.
βAt low loads (under 200W) the fans often stay completely off, making the Delta 3 effectively silent; under moderate load (500β800W) the fans are barely audible from three feet away.β
Sources
portablepowernerd.com Β· thesolarlab.com Β· outputreport.com
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus
The Ultra Plus has professional review coverage but no owner history yet. Our research found no forum threads, no idle-drain figures and no cold-weather accounts, and most testing ran days to weeksB0. Within that, the reviews agree. Quiet under sustained load, in the same territory as EcoFlow's DELTA Pro UltraB1B2. Wall power pulled repeatedly with no dips or shutdownsB6. Output that isn't throttled to whatever the input happens to beB4. One tester ran a laptop, a desktop workstation and monitors through an eight-hour day and finished with 40% leftB5.
The complaints are small and consistent. Overload it and the 30A port drops firstB3. The screen washes out in direct sunB7. The weight gets called thunderousB9. On price, one reviewer found the list price hard to justify and the street price a different proposition entirelyB10B11, and the Storm Guard feature that tops the unit up when severe weather is forecast earned a specific mentionB12.
βeven when you're pushing it hard, the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus runs much quieter than older EcoFlow models, like the DELTA 2 Maxβ
Sources
thesolarlab.com Β· postperspective.com Β· appleinsider.com Β· digitaltrends.com Β· storagereview.com
Sources & Research Notes
Every owner claim in this report is traceable to a published source. The bracketed references above resolve here.
Recurring owner themes
- Professional reviewers consistently describe the fan noise as very quiet even under heavy load, comparable to EcoFlow's premium DELTA Pro Ultra line. [DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Β· 3 entries]
- Reviewers report solid UPS/pass-through charging performance with no noticeable switchover issues or output throttling tied to input wattage. [DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Β· 2 entries]
- The unit's high weight (~74 lbs) and premium MSRP are repeatedly flagged as drawbacks, though discounted street pricing is seen as making the value proposition much stronger. [DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Β· 3 entries]
- Build quality/durability is praised as substantial and non-fragile across multiple independent reviews. [DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Β· 2 entries]
- A1
βAt low loads (under 200W) the fans often stay completely off, making the Delta 3 effectively silent; under moderate load (500β800W) the fans are barely audible from three feet away.β
portablepowernerd.com β EcoFlow Delta 3 Tested: 2026 Hands-On Review; thesolarlab.com Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- A2
βUPS switchover works as advertised β a power cut results in a ~10ms handoff, fast enough that routers don't reset, fridges don't skip a compressor cycle, and CPAP machines don't interrupt therapy.β
outputreport.com / thesolarlab.com β DELTA 3 line UPS testing (observed on DELTA 3 Plus, which shares the 10ms UPS spec) Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B1
βeven when you're pushing it hard, the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus runs much quieter than older EcoFlow models, like the DELTA 2 Maxβ
thesolarlab.com β EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: The Ultimate DELTA? Β· unknown Β· [positive]
- B2
βwe'd probably say the noise it creates is similar to what you hear when you run the DELTA Pro Ultra, which is pretty amazingβ
thesolarlab.com β EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: The Ultimate DELTA? Β· unknown Β· [positive]
- B3
βOne weird thing we noticed was the fact that the unit always seems to shut down the 30A port first when you overload the unitβ
thesolarlab.com β EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: The Ultimate DELTA? Β· unknown Β· [mixed]
- B4
βMany power stations limit you to the input wattage when outputting power, but this EcoFlow power station does notβ
thesolarlab.com β EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: The Ultimate DELTA? Β· unknown Β· [positive]
- B5
βI was able to work remotely for an eight-hour day with 40% power left, which included running my laptop, desktop workstation and monitorsβ
postperspective.com β Review: EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Portable Power Station Β· 2026-04 Β· [positive]
- B6
βI didn't experience any shut-offs or dips when I unplugged the EcoFlow from the wallβ
postperspective.com β Review: EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Portable Power Station Β· 2026-04 Β· [positive]
- B7
βwhile facing the sun, I had to employ the classic "cup hands cover" maneuver to get a clear look at the screen statusβ
appleinsider.com β EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus review: Premium, but solid power Β· 2025-11 Β· [mixed]
- B9
βWeighing in at a thunderous 74 pounds, the Ultra is not considered lightweight by any standardsβ
appleinsider.com β EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus review: Premium, but solid power Β· 2025-11 Β· [mixed]
- B10
βWhere it falls short is in price justification at its $2,899 MSRPβ
digitaltrends.com β EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: Portability meets serious firepower Β· unknown (approx. 1 week old at capture) Β· [negative]
- B11
βAt the heavily discounted street price of around $1,499β$1,599, the value equation shifts dramatically in the Ultra Plus's favorβ
digitaltrends.com β EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: Portability meets serious firepower Β· unknown Β· [positive]
- B12
βEcoFlow's companion app adds genuinely useful features like Storm Guard, which automatically charges the unit when severe weather is detectedβ
digitaltrends.com β EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: Portability meets serious firepower Β· unknown Β· [positive]
Research compiled November 1, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the DELTA 3 if youβ¦
- βYour loads are a desk, a CPAP, a camera bag and a Saturday tailgate. Every one of those is inside the DELTA 3's range, and the Ultra Plus would carry 47 lb of battery you never touch.
- βYou carry it. Up stairs, into a back seat, across a parking lot. At 27 lb that's a one-hand job.
- βYou want six AC outlets on a small box and the price of one. The DELTA 3 has six to the Ultra Plus's four, and it costs $629.
Buy the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus if youβ¦
- βThe grid goes down where you live. The blackout night uses 63% of the Ultra Plus and runs the DELTA 3 dry a little past halfway.
- βYou camp for two nights, or you want a weekend without rationing. The Ultra Plus finishes the 2,100Wh weekend with 511Wh left; the DELTA 3 doesn't finish it.
- βYou have, or will have, a real solar array. The Ultra Plus accepts 1,600W of panel against 500W, and that's the difference between a morning refill and an afternoon one.
If neither fits
If your day genuinely runs 4,685Wh, a van with a compressor fridge, heat and real cooking, neither of these covers it as sold. The DELTA 3 covers about a fifth of it and the Ultra Plus a little over half. Start a class up, or price the Ultra Plus with an expansion battery already in the cart.
The Bottom Line
Buy the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus for backup. It finishes the outage night and the camping weekend that the DELTA 3 doesn't, and with the same 4,000-cycle rating it works out a couple of cents cheaper per lifetime kilowatt-hour. The price is $1,599 against $629, and the weight is 74.3 lb against 27.
Buy the DELTA 3 if your loads are small and you carry the box. A CPAP, a laptop, a tailgate: it does all of those, in one hand, for $970 less. And if you came here for the two Ultras, the page you want is the DELTA 3 Ultra vs DELTA 3 Ultra Plus comparison linked above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is this the DELTA 3 Ultra vs DELTA 3 Ultra Plus comparison?
No. This page compares the plain 1,024Wh DELTA 3 with the 3,072Wh DELTA 3 Ultra Plus. The two Ultras, which share a battery and differ on solar input and expansion, have their own page: EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra vs DELTA 3 Ultra Plus. It is linked above the byline on this page.
What's the difference between the EcoFlow DELTA 3 and the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus?
Size, mostly. The Ultra Plus holds 3,072Wh to the DELTA 3's 1,024Wh, runs 3,600W to 1,800W, surges to 7,200W against 3,600W, accepts 1,600W of solar against 500W, and weighs 74.3 lb against 27 lb. Both use LiFePO4 cells rated for 4,000 cycles, both take EcoFlow expansion batteries, and both carry a 5-year warranty. The DELTA 3 costs $629; the Ultra Plus costs $1,599.
Can the DELTA 3 get through a power outage?
Not the full night as modelled here. The 8-hour blackout profile draws 1,645Wh and the DELTA 3 has about 870Wh usable after a 15% conversion allowance, so it covers a little over half of it. The Ultra Plus covers the same night with 966Wh to spare. For a CPAP alone, which draws about 320Wh a night, the DELTA 3 covers it with more than half the pack left.
Which one is cheaper to own?
The Ultra Plus, slightly. Both are rated for 4,000 cycles, so the bigger pack spreads its price over three times the energy and comes out at $0.13 per lifetime kilowatt-hour against $0.15. That only pays if you actually run the cycles. At one full cycle a day both last 11 years, and at weekend use neither rating runs out in a lifetime.
Can I add a battery to the DELTA 3 instead of buying the Ultra Plus?
Yes. Both units take EcoFlow expansion batteries. A DELTA 3 with an expansion battery still runs an 1,800W inverter, though, so adding capacity doesn't add output. If what you need is the 3,600W inverter, the Ultra Plus is the only one of these two that has it.
Where to buy
EcoFlow DELTA 3
$599.00
$599.00 Β· direct from EcoFlow
down from $629 Β· 5% below usual
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra PlusPick
$1,599.00
$1,599.00 Β· direct from EcoFlow
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.