Head-to-head test
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX PLUS vs DJI Power 500
Only one of these is still for sale, and it's the smaller battery: the DJI Power 500 is the pick exactly as far as a sealed 512Wh covers your night, and not one watt-hour further.
Full profiles: EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX PLUS → · DJI Power 500 →
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
EcoFlow no longer sells the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS, so this page has exactly one live candidate: the DJI Power 500. EcoFlow points anyone shopping at this size to the RIVER 2 Pro instead. The RIVER's specs below are still accurate, and still useful if you own one, but the only recommendation this page can make is the DJI or neither.
The honest read of the spec table is that the retired unit is the bigger battery. It holds 858Wh to the DJI's 512Wh, a 346Wh gap (858 minus 512), plus a 12V car socket the Power 500 doesn't have and a UPS switchover rated ≤10ms against ≤20ms. The DJI answers with 1,000W of continuous output against 600W, 4.7 fewer pounds (20.8 lb against 16.1), and a 4,000-cycle rating against 3,000.
So the question this page actually answers is whether 512Wh is enough for you. A CPAP night, 320Wh in our model, fits with 115Wh to spare. A 670Wh tailgate doesn't, and the sealed DJI has no expansion battery to close the gap. If your use looks like the first, the Power 500 at $299 is the pick. If it looks like the second, neither of these is your unit.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
That's fine for a few minutes of something heavy and wrong for an evening. The 670Wh tailgate leaves it 235Wh short, and because the box is sealed there's no expansion battery to make up the difference later. The RIVER covers that same afternoon with 59Wh spare, which is cold comfort when EcoFlow no longer sells it.
DJI Power 500: 1,000W continuous outputDJI Power 500: 512Wh capacity, 435Wh usable at the 85% derateTailgate Party load: 670Wh; the Power 500 falls 235Wh shortDJI Power 500: expandable = No
Why it mattersIf the 1,000W rating is what drew you to the DJI, work out how long you need it; past a few minutes, this is the wrong size of battery.
Daily cycling is exactly the duty a 4,000-cycle rating is built for: one full cycle a day works out to 11 years on paper. A light box that gets drained beside the bed and refilled with the coffee is the job this unit fits best.
CPAP Overnight load: 320WhDJI Power 500: 435Wh usable, 115Wh left after the nightDJI Power 500: 4,000 rated cycles, 11 years at one cycle a dayDJI Power 500: 16.1 lb
Why it mattersIf you can plug back in every morning, the Power 500 suits a nightly CPAP; if you need two nights between charges, 115Wh of leftover won't get you there.
So the 300W figure is real but conditional on an accessory this page can't price for you. It counts as an advantage only once that adapter is in the cart.
DJI Power 500: 300W max solar inputDJI Power 500: no built-in solar charge controller; needs a separate proprietary DJI adapterThe Power 500 ships with only a wall plug, no solar or car-charging cablesB4512Wh divided by 300W = about 1.5 hours
Why it mattersAnyone buying the Power 500 to run off panels should price DJI's adapter before treating it as a solar unit.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Runtime: Will It Power Your Gear?
Selected because: The Power 500 gives you 435Wh to work with (85% of 512Wh), and whether that covers your day decides this page now that the RIVER is off the market.
continuous output
435Wh is the whole budget, and it's a small one. The RIVER has 729Wh usable from its 858Wh, which is why it reaches 80% of our 910Wh remote workday where the Power 500 reaches 48%. Those figures are still true; they just no longer pick anything for a shopper. For an owner, they're the measure of what switching would cost.
Divide 435 by your load in watts and you have hours. A 40W CPAP gets about 11 (435 divided by 40). The Power 500's own 1,000W rating gets about half an hour. Same battery both times, and only the first is what this unit is for.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: Four of the six test loads are too big for either unit, and of the two that fit, only one goes to a unit you can still buy.
Four of our six loads are out of reach for both, and that's the most useful result here. The 8-hour blackout needs 1,645Wh, more than three times the Power 500's 435Wh usable (1,645 divided by 435), and even the retired RIVER covers under half of it. Neither of these is outage insurance.
The two that fit split one apiece. The 670Wh tailgate goes to the RIVER, which helps an owner and nobody else. The 320Wh CPAP night goes to the Power 500, and that's the row to read if you're buying today.
Growth Path
Selected because: The Power 500 is sealed and the RIVER's expansion port belongs to a unit EcoFlow no longer sells, so the size you buy is the size you keep.
solar input
The Power 500 is sealed: 512Wh is what arrives and what stays. That's the honest catch with our pick, and the reason to size it up front rather than plan on bolting on capacity later.
The RIVER's expansion port doesn't rescue the comparison. The MAX PLUS is already the RIVER 3 Plus with EcoFlow's larger EB600 battery attachedA2A9, so the port was mostly spent before it left the factory, and the whole package has now left EcoFlow's range. If you think you'll outgrow 512Wh, buy bigger now.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: At 16.1 lb against 20.8 lb, the Power 500 is the lighter carry, and that's the main reason to choose a small battery on purpose.
weight
4.7 pounds (20.8 minus 16.1) sounds like a rounding error until you carry it. At 16.1 lb the Power 500 is a one-hand grab from a back seat; the RIVER is the box you notice by the end of the campsite path.
Weight is the one spec where a smaller battery is purely a gift. If you carry this thing more often than you drain it, the Power 500's size is the feature, not the compromise.
Strengths & trade-offs
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX PLUS
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
Trade-offs
- –Shorter-lived battery — rated for 3,000 charge cycles vs the Power 500's 4,000, so it wears out sooner.
DJI Power 500
Strengths
- +Lighter by 4.7 lb
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
- +Rated for 4,000 charge cycles — much longer battery lifespan
Trade-offs
- –Sealed capacity — the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS can add batteries to grow past 512Wh; this one can't.
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 · 2 nights · needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 2,100Wh: the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS comes up 1,371Wh short (about 35% covered), the Power 500 1,665Wh (21%). This is well outside what either unit is for; the right answer here is a larger station, not a choice between these two.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Phone Charger 15W×6h · LED Lights 40W×8h · Box Fan 75W×14h · CPAP Machine 40W×16h
SCN-02 · 8 hours · needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 1,645Wh: the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS comes up 916Wh short (about 44% covered), the Power 500 1,210Wh (26%). Treat this as partial cover — enough for the essentials in it, not the whole list.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Fridge 150W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40W×6h · Phone Charger 15W×3h
SCN-03 · 8 hours · needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption — the #1 medical use case
Either unit
Both carry the night: a 320Wh CPAP night is 74% of the Power 500's usable energy and 44% of the RIVER's. The Power 500 takes the row, and it's the only one of the two sold new. Its catch is margin. 115Wh left at sunrise means one night per charge, so it suits the sleeper who can plug back in every morning.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD CPAP Machine 40W×8h
SCN-04 · 8 hours · needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 910Wh: the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS comes up 181Wh short (about 80% covered), the Power 500 475Wh (48%). Treat this as partial cover — enough for the essentials in it, not the whole list.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Laptop 60W×8h · External Monitor 30W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · Phone Charger 15W×2h
SCN-05 · 4 hours · needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
RIVER 3 MAX PLUS
The RIVER takes this row, covering 670Wh with 59Wh to spare, which is good news only if one is already in your garage, because EcoFlow no longer sells it. The Power 500 runs out 235Wh short, about 65% of the afternoon. If this is how you'd use it, the answer you can buy is a bigger battery than either.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Blender 400W×0.5h · LED TV (55") 80W×4h · Bluetooth Speaker 15W×4h · Phone Charger (×3) 45W×2h
SCN-06 · 24 hours · needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living — the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 4,685Wh: the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS comes up 3,956Wh short (about 16% covered), the Power 500 4,250Wh (9%). This is well outside what either unit is for; the right answer here is a larger station, not a choice between these two.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Mini-Fridge 150W×24h · Laptop 60W×4h · Phone Charger 15W×3h · LED Lights 40W×5h · Fan 75W×8h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh × 0.85) ÷ 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: RIVER 3 MAX PLUS runs 3.6h vs 2.1h.
Planning for more than this? Describe your whole setup and get it sized →
Modeled from the spec record — same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.¹
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0–48.6hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–9.7hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0–0.4h¹ Runtime = (capacity × 0.85) ÷ 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 — see methodology.
Conclusion
October 11, 2026
Verdict: the Power 500
Buy the DJI Power 500. EcoFlow has discontinued the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS and points shoppers at this size to the RIVER 2 Pro, which leaves the Power 500 as the only unit on this page you can order new. It earns the pick for a specific buyer: it's 16.1 lb, runs 1,000W continuous, and DJI rates its pack for 4,000 cycles, which suits someone running a CPAP every night and recharging every morning, since a 320Wh night still leaves 115Wh of its 435Wh usable. What it can't do is stretch. It's sealed at 512Wh, so a 670Wh evening runs out 235Wh short with no expansion battery to fix it. If your loads look like that, skip it and compare the RIVER 2 Pro or a larger station instead.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 11, 2026. The links below open DJI's current price.
$299.00 · direct from DJI
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated October 11, 2026
Black Friday · 26 days out
Price to beat:Power 500 $299
We have never seen it discounted, so any real cut would be a first.
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Full specifications
ᵈ Derived: price ÷ rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons →
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool →How these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it — no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews — see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity × 0.85 inverter efficiency) ÷ 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 →Class ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews — 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 5★. Here, RIVER 3 MAX PLUS rates 4.9/5 (95th percentile of 20 Compact-class units), and Power 500 rates 4.6/5 (74th percentile of 20 Compact-class units).
How the class ranking is computed →Test Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
Power 500: Fixed Capacity
The Power 500 is sealed at 512Wh, and that is the ceiling. Normally the counterpoint would be that the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS can add expansion batteries, but that isn't a live option here: the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS is no longer sold, and EcoFlow points owners to the RIVER 2 Pro. For a new purchase the expansion question doesn't arise between these two, so the Power 500's fixed 512Wh is simply what you get.
Surge Power: Inverter Quality Indicator
The RIVER 3 MAX PLUS has a 2× surge-to-continuous ratio vs the Power 500's 1×, and the higher absolute ceiling with it — 1,200W against 1,000W. At 2× it clears the 2× rule of thumb for absorbing motor startups — fridges, AC compressors and power tools briefly draw 2-3× their rated wattage. And the Power 500 publishes no surge rating above its 1,000W continuous output, so its ratio is a statement of what's documented, not a measured limit — plan its motor-starting ability at face value rather than reading it as certain to trip.
UPS Switchover: ≤10ms vs ≤20ms
Both list a UPS mode, at different rated speeds. The RIVER 3 MAX PLUS is rated ≤10ms — quick enough on paper that desktop PCs and routers should ride through, treating that as the rating it is. The Power 500 is rated ≤20ms — fine on paper for routers and most electronics; the fussiest PC power supplies sit right at this line. If a computer with unsaved work is the thing being protected, the stated class is worth the attention; nothing here is a lab result.
Five years on both records, on different terms
Both units carry five years. The Power 500's is DJI's maximum, up to five years when bought from DJI's own store, so that's where to buy it if the full term matters to you. The RIVER's five is stated plainly, but EcoFlow no longer sells the unit and offers no parts or service once a warranty ends. For a RIVER owner, the term on the receipt is the whole support plan. For a shopper, the only warranty on this page you can still buy is DJI's.
Battery Lifespan in Real Years
The Power 500 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 3,000. In real life: at daily use, that's 11 vs 8.2 years. At weekend use (twice a week), it's 38 vs 29 years. One caution reading years across different sizes: a cycle is 512Wh on the Power 500 and 858Wh on the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS, so count lifetime energy — roughly 2,048 kWh against 2,574 kWh over the rated life. After hitting the cycle limit, the battery doesn't die — it drops to ~80% of original capacity, which is still very usable.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the Power 500.
Check Power 500 price →Ownership Analysis
What happens after you buy — 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
│ warranty ends · Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains — degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The RIVER 3 MAX PLUS is no longer sold, so there is no price to work its cost per kWh from, and this comparison doesn't quote one. On what you can actually buy today, the Power 500 works out at $0.15/kWh over its rated life. If you already own the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS, the hardware comparison still holds: over its rated life the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS delivers about 2,574 kWh and the Power 500 about 2,048 kWh. One caution on the lifespan row: the Power 500 takes longer to reach its cycle rating, but a cycle moves a different amount of energy on each unit — the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS still delivers more over its shorter horizon. Years measure wear, not usefulness.
Brand trust
EcoFlow
Ecosystem
Largest in portable power — 12-15 models across DELTA Pro, DELTA 3, and RIVER 3 series, plus solar panels and smart home panels
Support
US-based phone/email/chat support (1-800-368-8604). Experiences are polarized — many report hassle-free prepaid-label replacements, but others report long waits and refurbished units sent for new claims. Pro tip: buying from Costco or Amazon gives you a stronger return safety net.
Community
Largest community in the space — Reddit r/Ecoflow_community (~31K members), multiple Facebook groups, and an official community forum
App experience
Rated 4.6/5 iOS (~8,400 ratings) · 4.2/5 Android (~17,000 ratings)
Unique strength
Fastest-charging technology (X-Stream), deepest product ecosystem, and most active innovation cadence. At the top of the range sit two whole-home paths: the TITAN line, one 5 kWh unit that grows to 30 kWh, and the DELTA Pro Ultra platform, which stacks batteries and inverters further — flagship paths, not line-wide features.
Worth knowing
EcoFlow offers no parts or service once a warranty runs out, which matters more than usual on a unit it no longer sells: for a RIVER 3 MAX PLUS owner, the warranty term is the support story. Buying through Costco or Amazon has long been the stronger return safety net with this brand.
DJI
Ecosystem
New entrant (2024) — five power station models to date: Power 500, Power 1000 (since superseded by the V2 but still sold), Power 1000 V2, Power 1000 Mini, Power 2000. Buying a "Power 1000" listing? Check which revision it actually ships.
Support
Leveraging DJI's established global support and repair center network from the drone business. Generally positive reputation inherited from drone operations, but limited power-station-specific track record.
Community
No dedicated power station community yet. Discussions happen within r/dji (~250K members, mostly drone users). Very small power-specific presence on Facebook and forums.
App experience
Rated 3.5/5 iOS and Android (DJI Home app ratings reflect entire DJI ecosystem including drones/cameras, not power-station-specific). Users report the on-device screen is more reliable than the app.
Unique strength
Runs quiet — 23-30dB published on most of the range (manufacturer best-case figures), at the quiet end of the category; our record carries no figure for the Power 1000 V2. Fast wall charging, quickest on the Power 1000 V2 at ~56 min — that figure is the V2's, not the whole line's. 700+ battery patents from drone R&D. SDC ports for ultra-fast DJI drone charging. Premium industrial design and build quality. LFP batteries rated for 4,000+ cycles.
Worth knowing
Two catches on this model: no built-in solar charge controller, so solar needs DJI's separate proprietary adapter, and no battery expansion, which DJI offers only on the newer Power 2000 and Power 1000 V2. The SDC ports are proprietary too, so their fast-charging edge mostly helps people who already own DJI gear.
Analyst note
EcoFlow has the deeper bench and a large owner community to search when something goes odd, which is now the main thing it offers a RIVER owner. DJI brings hardware pedigree and a repair network from the drone business but a short power-station track record, and its app rating covers the whole drone line rather than this box. For a new purchase at this size, the brand question narrows to the Power 500 against EcoFlow's RIVER 2 Pro, and that comparison belongs on the RIVER 2 Pro's own spec sheet.
Growth path
RIVER 3 MAX PLUS
EXPANDABLESupports EcoFlow expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 858Wh.
Accepts up to 200W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
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.
Power 500
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 512Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 300W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Growth only counts if you can still buy in, and the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS is no longer sold (EcoFlow points owners to the RIVER 2 Pro). That leaves the Power 500: it is sealed at 512Wh, so buy the size that covers you now. The RIVER 3 MAX PLUS's expandability still matters if you already own one, but it isn't a reason to pick it over the Power 500.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX PLUS
Field evidence on this exact configuration is thin. Our research turned up short hands-on reviews rather than months of ownership, and no owner threads naming the MAX PLUS specificallyA0. Those reviewers clocked a mains refill of about 2.3 hoursA1, highlighted the UPS switchover rated under 10 millisecondsA3, and called it a good middle ground for a weekend off-gridA5.
The recurring caution is the boosted output. One review describes the extended 1,200W mode as meant for resistive loads like heaters rather than sensitive electronicsA7; another says it won't run a high-power hairdryer or microwaveA4. If you own one, plan around 600W and treat anything above it as a bonus.
“The RIVER 3 Max Plus (Wireless) can go from empty to full from mains in around 2.3 hours, which is very quick given its capacity.”
Sources
wandering-bird.com · root-nation.com · phonearena.com
DJI Power 500
Power 500 field data is thin too, drawn from established review sites rather than long-term ownersB0, but it points one way. In testing it ran a 905W load and briefly took a 1,500W spike above its 1,000W rating, and the same testing found it more efficient than DJI's larger Power 1000B3. One review flagged the box contents: a wall plug and nothing else, no solar or car-charging cablesB4.
Cycle life is where the sourcing loosens. The cited range is 3,000 to 4,000 cycles for roughly a decade of useB1, and our spec column carries the top of it. Read the 11-year daily-use figure on this page as the DJI's best case rather than its promise.
“A 512Wh LFP battery with up to 1,000W output; the automotive-grade LFP cells are rated up to 3,000-4,000 cycles for roughly a 10-year lifespan.”
Sources
dji.com · thesolarlab.com · techradar.com · views-sounds.com · t3.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
- Owners/reviewers consistently note the Max Plus is a modular upgrade (base unit + EB600 battery) rather than a distinct unit, and reference its 858Wh combined capacity — this conflicts with the 1196Wh figure given in the task brief, suggesting a possible spec discrepancy or regional/bundle variant not covered by available sources. [RIVER 3 MAX PLUS · 3 entries]
- Reviewers agree the extended 1200W X-Boost output is best suited to resistive/heating loads, not sensitive electronics like PCs. [RIVER 3 MAX PLUS · 2 entries]
- Sub-10ms UPS switchover is repeatedly highlighted as a standout, real-world-tested feature across the River 3 Plus/Max/Max Plus family. [RIVER 3 MAX PLUS · 2 entries]
- Light, efficient LFP unit with strong real-world output and drone-pilot appeal; the caveat is minimal included accessories. [Power 500 · 3 entries]
- A1
“The RIVER 3 Max Plus (Wireless) can go from empty to full from mains in around 2.3 hours, which is very quick given its capacity.”
wandering-bird.com — REVIEW: Ecoflow River 3 Max Plus- vanlife essential or not? · 2025-11 · [positive]
- A2
“The RIVER 3 Max Plus (Wireless) is created by taking the RIVER 3 Plus (Wireless) and attaching the larger EB600 extra battery, giving a total capacity of 858Wh.”
wandering-bird.com — REVIEW: Ecoflow River 3 Max Plus- vanlife essential or not? · 2025-11 · [positive]
- A3
“UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) switching on the RIVER 3 Plus/Max models is under 10 milliseconds”
wandering-bird.com — REVIEW: Ecoflow River 3 Max Plus- vanlife essential or not? · 2025-11 · [positive]
- A4
“It won't run a high-power hairdryer or microwave, but that's true for most portable power stations unless you go for one of the big Delta units.”
wandering-bird.com — REVIEW: Ecoflow River 3 Max Plus- vanlife essential or not? · 2025-11 · [mixed]
- A5
“For typical wild parking or a weekend off-grid, the Max Plus version is a brilliant middle ground.”
wandering-bird.com — REVIEW: Ecoflow River 3 Max Plus- vanlife essential or not? · 2025-11 · [positive]
- A7
“the extended output is designed for resistive loads – things like hair dryers, heaters, or compact air conditioners. It's not meant for sensitive electronics like desktop PCs.”
root-nation.com — EcoFlow River 3 Max Review (discusses River 3 Max Plus family) · 2025-05 · [mixed]
- A9
“With the EB300, you transform the station into the River 3 Max model, while the larger expansion battery gives you the EcoFlow River 3 Max Plus.”
phonearena.com — EcoFlow River 3 Plus Review · 2025-03 · [positive]
- B1
“A 512Wh LFP battery with up to 1,000W output; the automotive-grade LFP cells are rated up to 3,000-4,000 cycles for roughly a 10-year lifespan.”
dji.com / thesolarlab.com — Power 500 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B3
“In testing it ran a 905W load and briefly handled a 1,500W surge above its 1,000W rating; reviewers found it outperformed the larger DJI Power 1000 in efficiency testing.”
thesolarlab.com / views-sounds.com — Power 500 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B4
“Reviews are positive overall, though one noted it ships with only a wall plug — no solar adapters or car-charging cables included.”
t3.com / techradar.com — Power 500 review · 2026 · [mixed]
Research compiled October 11, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS if you…
- →You already own one and you're eyeing the Power 500 as a replacement. Keep yours: you'd give up 346Wh, the 12V car socket and the quicker UPS rating to save 4.7 lb.
- →You came here to buy one new. EcoFlow no longer sells it and points shoppers to the RIVER 2 Pro, so compare that against the Power 500 on its own spec sheet before you decide.
Buy the Power 500 if you…
- →You run a CPAP every night and can recharge every morning. A 320Wh night leaves 115Wh of its 435Wh usable, and a 4,000-cycle rating is built for that rhythm.
- →You fly DJI drones. The SDC ports fast-charge DJI batteries, and that edge is worth most to people already holding DJI gear.
- →You carry it more than you drain it. 16.1 lb is a one-hand lift from the trunk to the picnic table.
- →You need short bursts of real power. It's rated 1,000W continuous and one test ran it at 905WB3; just remember the battery lasts about half an hour at full draw.
If neither fits
Anyone buying for an outage should close this tab cheerfully. Our 8-hour blackout needs 1,645Wh, more than three times what the Power 500 delivers, and a weekend of camping needs 2,100Wh, so shop a station a class or two up. The same goes for van life: a 4,685Wh day is more than ten times the Power 500's 435Wh usable, and it has no 12V car socket for a fridge.
The Bottom Line
Buy the DJI Power 500. The RIVER 3 MAX PLUS has left EcoFlow's range, and the Power 500 is the one of these two you can actually order. Its best job is the nightly one: a CPAP drawn down to its last 115Wh and refilled every morning, which is the duty its 4,000-cycle rating was built for.
Its limit is the same 512Wh, sealed. If your evenings run past what that holds, don't buy it hoping to grow; compare EcoFlow's RIVER 2 Pro or step up a class. If 512Wh covers you, go get the DJI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX PLUS discontinued?
Yes. EcoFlow no longer sells the RIVER 3 MAX PLUS and points shoppers at this size to the RIVER 2 Pro. Its specs on this page are still accurate for anyone who owns one. For a new purchase between these two, the DJI Power 500 is the only live option.
Can the DJI Power 500 run a CPAP all night?
Yes. A CPAP night in our model is 320Wh, and the Power 500 has 435Wh usable (85% of 512Wh), so it finishes the night with 115Wh left. That's one night per charge, which works well if you can recharge every morning and poorly if you can't.
Can the DJI Power 500 run a 1,000W appliance?
Yes, briefly. It's rated for 1,000W continuous, and in testing it ran a 905W load and took a short 1,500W spike. At 1,000W, though, 435Wh of usable energy lasts about half an hour. It's a strong inverter on a small battery.
Does the DJI Power 500 come with a solar cable?
No. It ships with a wall plug and nothing else, no solar or car-charging cables. It also has no built-in solar charge controller, so reaching its 300W solar input means buying DJI's separate proprietary adapter. Budget for that before you count on solar.
Should I replace my RIVER 3 MAX PLUS with a DJI Power 500?
Probably not. You'd give up 346Wh of capacity (858Wh against 512Wh), the 12V car socket and the ≤10ms UPS rating, in exchange for 4.7 lb less weight, 400W more continuous output and 1,000 more rated cycles. Switch only if the carry weight bothers you or you need to run something above 600W that isn't a heater-type load.
Brand matchup
EcoFlow vs DJI: measured across every matchup →Related comparisons
Where to buy
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX PLUS
No longer sold
DJI Power 500Pick
$299.00
$299.00 · direct from DJI
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.