Head-to-head test
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX vs Jackery Explorer 500
Jackery has stopped selling the Explorer 500, and the RIVER 3 MAX would have beaten it anyway: more battery, more than twice the solar input, and 3,000 rated cycles against 800, so the live question is whether a 500 owner should replace theirs, not which one to buy.
Full profiles: EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX → · Jackery Explorer 500 →
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
Jackery no longer sells the Explorer 500; its product page now forwards to the HomePower 1000 v2. That changes the question on this page. You can't buy a 500 from its maker, so the comparison that matters is the RIVER 3 MAX against the 500 you already own, or against a leftover unit sitting on a retailer's shelf.
On that comparison the RIVER 3 MAX wins nearly line by line. It carries 54Wh more battery, though in a body 4.8 lb heavier, since it's the RIVER 3 Plus with an extra battery attached. It adds two AC outlets, a 100W USB-C port and a listed UPS mode, and its pack is rated for 3,000 cycles where the 500's older lithium-ion cells are rated for 800.
The catch we owe you up front is weight: at 18.1 lb the RIVER 3 MAX is 4.8 lb heavier than the 13.3 lb Explorer 500, so the replacement is the bigger lift. Solar goes the other way: 220W of input refills its 572Wh in about 2.6 hours of ideal sun, where the 500 needed about 5.2 at 100W.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
rated cycles
That means an Explorer 500 that has seen daily duty is already at or past its rated life after about 2.2 years, and Jackery's own rating for that point is 80% of original capacityB1. A 500 that has slipped to roughly 80% of 518Wh is a smaller battery than it used to be, and the RIVER 3 MAX replacing it has room for well over three times as many cycles ahead of it.
RIVER 3 MAX: 3,000 rated cycles, 572Wh; Explorer 500: 800 rated cycles, 518WhLifetime energy: 1,716kWh for the RIVER 3 MAX against 414kWh for the Explorer 500Daily use: 8.2 years for the RIVER 3 MAX against 2.2 years for the Explorer 500
Why it mattersIf your 500 has been a daily workhorse and its runtime has visibly shrunk, that's the owner for whom replacing it with the RIVER 3 MAX pays off fastest.
continuous output
That's the usual trade, and here it buys more than the 54Wh. A laptop charges straight off the 100W USB-C port instead of through its brick on the single AC socket the 500 offers, and the RIVER 3 MAX still has two outlets free for a fan and a light.
RIVER 3 MAX: 572Wh at 18.1 lb; Explorer 500: 518Wh at 13.3 lbRIVER 3 MAX: 3 AC outlets, 100W USB-C, 600W continuous; Explorer 500: 1 AC outlet, no USB-C, 500W continuous
Why it mattersAnyone tempted to hunt down remaining Explorer 500 stock should stop: there's no spec here the 500 delivers that the RIVER 3 MAX doesn't match or beat, apart from one extra USB-A port and a lighter body.
The UPS mode does. Plugged into the wall with the CPAP running through it, the RIVER 3 MAX is rated to take over in no more than 10ms when the grid drops, so the machine keeps breathing for you. Through the 500, an outage at 3 a.m. stops the CPAP until you wake up and swap the plug.
RIVER 3 MAX lists a UPS mode rated ≤10ms; the Explorer 500 lists no switchover specCPAP Overnight (320Wh): RIVER 3 MAX finishes with 166Wh to spare, Explorer 500 with 120Wh
Why it mattersCPAP users replacing a 500 should treat the listed UPS mode as the reason to buy, with the extra 46Wh of margin as a bonus.
Capacity
The RIVER 3 MAX covers the same ground the 500 did with a little more in the tank, and that's where it stays: it takes no further battery. Buy it as the unit you'll keep at that size, not as a starting point.
RIVER 3 MAX is fixed at 572Wh: it is the RIVER 3 Plus with its one extra battery already attached, and takes no further battery; Explorer 500 is fixed at 518WhJackery's replacement for the Explorer 500 is the HomePower 1000 v2, which Jackery's own forwarding treats as a step up in size rather than a same-size swap
Why it mattersA 500 owner whose needs haven't grown should replace like for like with the RIVER 3 MAX; one whose needs clearly have should compare the HomePower 1000 v2 against a bigger station, not against this page.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: 3,000 rated cycles against 800 is the gap that decides whether an existing Explorer 500 is near the end of its rated life.
Read this section as a clock, not a price tag. The Explorer 500 can't be bought new from Jackery, so its cost figures describe money already spent. What still matters is how much life is left: 800 rated cycles is about 2.2 years of daily use or 7.7 years at weekends only, against 8.2 and 28.8 years for the RIVER 3 MAX.
So the weekend camper with a 500 has years of rated life in hand and no reason to rush. The daily user is the one whose 500 has likely run through its rated cycles and is down toward 80% of what it held newB1. For that owner, the RIVER 3 MAX's 1,716kWh of rated lifetime energy is the replacement that won't be back on this page in two years.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: UPS mode, USB-C, app control, warranty and solar all fall on the RIVER 3 MAX's side.
rated cycles
Four of the five cards point the same way. The RIVER 3 MAX lists a UPS mode, runs an app, carries a 5-year warranty on our record against 2 for the 500, and is rated for 3,000 cycles against 800. None of that is decoration: the UPS mode alone decides the CPAP question.
The solar card is aimed at the 500: its 100W ceiling means about 5.2 hours of ideal sun for a full refill. The RIVER 3 MAX takes 220W into 572Wh, about 2.6 hours, so if you were hoping the replacement would also fix slow solar charging, it does.
Growth Path
Selected because: Jackery has nothing left at the Explorer 500's size, and the RIVER 3 MAX is fixed at 572Wh, so neither side offers a same-size route that grows.
solar input
Growth only counts if you can still buy in, and nobody can buy into an Explorer 500 now. Its 518Wh was always a fixed ceiling; with the unit discontinued, it's a ceiling with no successor at its height, because Jackery's replacement starts a class up.
The RIVER 3 MAX doesn't grow either: it is the RIVER 3 Plus with its one extra battery already attached, so 572Wh is its ceiling. For someone replacing a 500, that's still the right size: the capacity you already know works, with 54Wh more on top.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: CPAP Overnight is the one standard job either unit fully covers, and the RIVER 3 MAX takes it.
Five of the six rows come back neither, and they should. A weekend camp at 2,100Wh or an 8-hour blackout at 1,645Wh is several times what either box holds; the RIVER 3 MAX covers about 23% and 30% of those, the 500 about 21% and 27%. These are both small stations, and the page shouldn't pretend otherwise.
The row that counts is CPAP Overnight, which both pass and the RIVER 3 MAX takes. The margin is modest, 166Wh left against 120Wh. The listed UPS mode is the real difference, because it's what keeps the machine running through a grid drop without anyone getting up.
Strengths & trade-offs
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
- +Longer warranty
- +Faster solar charging
- +Rated for 3,000 charge cycles — much longer battery lifespan
Trade-offs
- –No major technical downsides compared to rival.
Jackery Explorer 500
Strengths
- +Lighter by 4.8 lb
Trade-offs
- –Lacks smartphone app control for remote monitoring.
- –Shorter-lived battery — rated for 800 charge cycles vs the RIVER 3 MAX's 3,000, so it wears out sooner.
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 comes up 1,614Wh short (about 23% covered), the Explorer 500 1,660Wh (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 comes up 1,159Wh short (about 30% covered), the Explorer 500 1,205Wh (27%). 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
RIVER 3 MAX
Both carry a 40W CPAP through eight hours: the RIVER 3 MAX finishes with 166Wh to spare, the Explorer 500 with 120Wh. The RIVER 3 MAX takes the row on that margin and on its listed UPS mode, rated no worse than 10ms, which keeps the machine running if the grid drops while it's plugged in through the unit. The Explorer 500 lists no such mode, and Jackery no longer sells it.
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 comes up 424Wh short (about 53% covered), the Explorer 500 470Wh (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
Neither unit
Neither covers the full 670Wh, but both get most of the way: the RIVER 3 MAX about 72%, the Explorer 500 about 66%, and both start the 400W peak. Plan a shorter event or a recharge break. Only the RIVER 3 MAX is still on sale.
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 comes up 4,199Wh short (about 10% covered), the Explorer 500 4,245Wh (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 runs 2.4h vs 2.1h.
$319 list · direct from EcoFlow
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 0–32.4hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–6.5hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limits¹ 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
November 1, 2026
Verdict: the RIVER 3 MAX
Buy the RIVER 3 MAX. The Explorer 500 has left Jackery's store, so it can't be the recommendation, but the spec sheet would have settled this without the retirement: the RIVER 3 MAX holds 572Wh against 518Wh, runs 600W continuous against 500W, carries three AC outlets against one plus a 100W USB-C port the 500 lacks, and lists a UPS mode rated no worse than 10ms where the 500 lists none. Its LFP pack is rated for 3,000 cycles against the 500's 800, which works out to 1,716kWh of lifetime energy against 414kWh. It also takes 220W of solar against the 500's 100W. Its one honest soft spot is weight: at 18.1 lb against 13.3 it's the heavier box by 4.8 lb, because it carries a second battery. If your loads have outgrown this size, Jackery's own replacement, the HomePower 1000 v2, is a step up in class rather than a like-for-like swap.
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.
$319.00 · direct from EcoFlow
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated November 1, 2026
Black Friday · 26 days out
Price to beat:RIVER 3 MAX $319
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
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): UPS, CPAP, Solar Generator, Tailgating.
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 rates 4.3/5 (58th percentile of 20 Compact-class units), and Explorer 500 rates 3.3/5 (1st 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.
Explorer 500: Solar Recharge Takes 5.2h+
At its 100W rated solar ceiling, refilling the full 518Wh takes about 5.2 hours of sun — as a floor, since the rated figure assumes ideal panel angle and clear sky, and real days deliver less. Not practical as the primary charge source for daily off-grid use; treat solar as a top-up and plan on a wall outlet or generator.
Explorer 500: No App Control
Without app control, you have to physically walk to the Explorer 500 to check battery level, adjust settings, or monitor power draw. The RIVER 3 MAX lets you do all that from your phone, including getting low-battery alerts.
Only the RIVER 3 MAX Lists a UPS Mode
Plug the RIVER 3 MAX into the wall, plug your router or CPAP into it, and it's rated to take over in no more than 10ms when the grid drops. That's a rating, not our measurement, but it's a rating the Explorer 500 doesn't carry at all. Through the 500, an outage lasts until someone notices and moves the plug.
Warranty: 5 Years vs 2
Our record carries 5 years of cover for the RIVER 3 MAX and 2 years for the Explorer 500. Since Jackery no longer sells the 500, that term matters only to existing owners: count 2 years from your purchase date to see whether yours is still covered. A replacement RIVER 3 MAX starts its own 5-year clock.
Battery Lifespan in Real Years
3,000 rated cycles against 800 is about 8.2 years of daily use for the RIVER 3 MAX against 2.2 for the Explorer 500, or 29 years against 8 at weekends only. Hitting the rating doesn't kill a battery; it means roughly 80% of original capacity. If you own a 500 that's been used daily, that's probably where it is now.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the RIVER 3 MAX.
Check RIVER 3 MAX 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 Explorer 500 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 RIVER 3 MAX works out at $0.19/kWh over its rated life. If you already own the Explorer 500, the hardware comparison still holds: over its rated life the RIVER 3 MAX delivers about 1,716 kWh and the Explorer 500 about 414 kWh.
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
Tested subscription paywalls for advanced app features in early 2025 before community backlash paused the plan. No parts or service offered out of warranty.
Jackery
Ecosystem
12-15+ models across Explorer (portable) and HomePower (home backup) series, plus SolarSaga panel ecosystem and innovative form factors
Support
US-based support but widely criticized. Reddit reports describe slow/dismissive responses, scripted AI agents, strict receipt requirements for warranty claims, and refurbished replacements for clearly defective units. Strongly recommended: buy from Costco or Amazon for return protection.
Community
Smallest community of the major brands — Reddit r/Jackery has ~2,000 members. YouTube presence is solid due to brand recognition.
App experience
Rated 2.3-3.3/5 iOS and Android — the weakest app experience of the major brands. Multiple confusing apps (Jackery app vs Jackery Home) and mandatory login even offline.
Unique strength
Highest brand recognition and widest retail distribution (Costco, Home Depot, Best Buy, Amazon). The "Toyota" of power stations — dependable, proven, wide availability. Innovative form factors like the Solar Gazebo and Solar Mars Bot.
Worth knowing
A couple of older models still ship NMC chemistry with a shorter rated lifespan, so check the cycle rating on the specific unit — though most of the current line has moved to LFP. Generally perceived as overpriced for the specs offered compared to newer competitors. App experience is significantly behind rivals.
Analyst note
Jackery's best card is retail reach: Costco, Home Depot, Best Buy and Amazon all stock the brand, which makes returns easy. That card doesn't help much with a model Jackery no longer sells. EcoFlow's edge on this pair is that the RIVER 3 MAX is current and backed by the far better-rated app of the two.
Growth path
RIVER 3 MAX
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 572Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 220W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Explorer 500
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 518Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 100W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Limited ports. You'll likely need a power strip or splitter.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Growth only counts if you can still buy in, and the Explorer 500 is no longer sold (Jackery points owners to the HomePower 1000 v2). That leaves the RIVER 3 MAX: it is sealed at 572Wh, so buy the size that covers you now. The Explorer 500's fixed 518Wh still matters if you already own one, but it isn't a reason to pick it over the RIVER 3 MAX.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAX
Field coverage of the RIVER 3 MAX is mostly at the level of the RIVER 3 platform rather than this exact model, which our research flags plainlyA0. On that platform, reviewers single out the IP54 build and quiet runningA2, and the LFP pack's 3,000-plus cycle rating to 80%, which they translate as roughly a decade of everyday useA3.
Reviewers also credit the RIVER 3 family with genuine portability for people who don't need to run a whole houseA4, though that source may describe a sibling model, so we lean on it for character only. Long-term owner reports on this specific SKU are thin so far.
“Offers up to 858Wh of LFP battery storage — the largest capacity in the RIVER 3 line — as a compact, portable unit.”
Sources
powerstationadvisor.com · ecoflow.com · backuppowerhub.com · amazon.com · portablepowernerd.com
Jackery Explorer 500
Coverage of the Explorer 500 agrees on its strengths and its limit. Reviewers describe it as compact at about 13 lbB2 and pitched at weekend users and occasional campersB3. The limit is chemistry: it runs older lithium-ion cells rather than LiFePO4B0, and Jackery rates them for 80% capacity after 800 cyclesB1.
Reviewers covering Jackery's later LiFePO4 models point to exactly that chemistry change as the longevity upgradeB4. For an owner, the practical reading is simple: a lightly used 500 still has life in it, while a hard-used one is the unit the cycle rating warned aboutB1.
“518Wh capacity with a 500W output, on traditional lithium-ion cells — Jackery rates 80% capacity retention after 800 cycles.”
Sources
backuppowerhub.com · jackery.com · greencitizen.com · poweredportablesolar.com · batteryessence.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
- Largest RIVER 3 capacity (up to 858Wh), quiet IP54 build, and 3,000-cycle LFP are the standout points. [RIVER 3 MAX · 3 entries]
- Affordable, portable Jackery entry unit, but on older lithium-ion chemistry with limited cycle life vs newer LFP models. [Explorer 500 · 3 entries]
- A2
“Built on the same RIVER 3 platform reviewers praise for sub-30dB whisper-quiet operation and IP54 ruggedness.”
backuppowerhub.com — RIVER 3 review · 2026 · [positive]
- A3
“LiFePO4 chemistry rated for 3,000+ cycles to 80% — roughly a decade of everyday use.”
backuppowerhub.com / amazon.com — RIVER 3 line · 2026 · [positive]
- A4
“Reviewers value the RIVER 3 family for quality engineering and genuine portability for those who don't need to power a whole house.”
portablepowernerd.com — RIVER 3 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B1
“518Wh capacity with a 500W output, on traditional lithium-ion cells — Jackery rates 80% capacity retention after 800 cycles.”
backuppowerhub.com / jackery.com — Explorer 500 review · 2026 · [mixed]
- B2
“Weighs about 13 lbs — a compact, portable unit.”
greencitizen.com / poweredportablesolar.com — Explorer 500 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B3
“The 518Wh capacity at $449 is the most affordable entry into Jackery's reliable ecosystem — good for weekend warriors and occasional users.”
backuppowerhub.com — Explorer 500 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B4
“An older lithium-ion unit; the newer Explorer 500 v2 uses LiFePO4 rated for far more cycles, offering significantly better longevity.”
batteryessence.com / backuppowerhub.com — Explorer 500 v2 review · 2026 · [mixed]
Research compiled November 1, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the RIVER 3 MAX if you…
- →Your Explorer 500 has been a daily workhorse and its runtime has visibly shrunk. The RIVER 3 MAX is the same size class with more battery, faster solar charging, and 3,000 rated cycles ahead of it, though it's 4.8 lb heavier.
- →You run a CPAP and want it to keep going when the power cuts out at 3 a.m. The RIVER 3 MAX lists a UPS mode rated no worse than 10ms; the 500 lists none.
- →You charge laptops and phones off the box more than anything else. A 100W USB-C port and three AC outlets beat one outlet and no USB-C.
Buy the Explorer 500 if you…
- →You already own an Explorer 500 that's lightly used and still covers your night. Keep it: weekend-only use is about 7.7 years of rated life, and there's no prize for retiring a working battery early.
- →You own one and want to stay with Jackery for the next unit. The HomePower 1000 v2 is what Jackery points you to, but it's a bigger class of station, so judge it against your real loads rather than as a straight swap.
If neither fits
Close this tab if you're sizing for a blackout or a full weekend off-grid. At 1,645Wh and 2,100Wh those jobs need several times what either unit holds, and the RIVER 3 MAX covers about 30% and 23% of them. Look at home-backup stations instead.
The Bottom Line
The Explorer 500 is gone from Jackery's store, and the RIVER 3 MAX is the unit to buy. More battery, faster solar charging, a UPS mode, USB-C, and a pack rated for 3,000 cycles against 800: the retirement only made official a verdict the spec sheet had already reached.
If you own a 500 that still does its job, enjoy it. When it stops doing its job, the RIVER 3 MAX is the replacement at the same size, and it'll still be going long after the 500's rating would have run out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Jackery Explorer 500 discontinued?
Yes. Jackery no longer sells it, and its product page now forwards to the HomePower 1000 v2. Its specs are still accurate for anyone who owns one, but you can't buy a new one from Jackery.
What replaced the Jackery Explorer 500?
Jackery points buyers to the HomePower 1000 v2. Jackery has nothing left at the 500's size, so that's a step up in class rather than a like-for-like replacement. If you want something the same size, the RIVER 3 MAX is the closer match.
Should I replace my Explorer 500 with a RIVER 3 MAX?
Replace it if it's been used daily or its runtime has shrunk. Its cells are rated for 800 cycles, about 2.2 years of daily use, while the RIVER 3 MAX is rated for 3,000. If you only use yours on weekends and it still covers your needs, keep it.
Does the Jackery Explorer 500 have USB-C?
No. Our record shows no USB-C port on the Explorer 500. The RIVER 3 MAX has one 100W USB-C port, enough to charge a laptop directly.
Can the RIVER 3 MAX run a CPAP all night?
Yes. An eight-hour night at 40W is about 320Wh, and the RIVER 3 MAX has about 486Wh usable after a standard 85% derate, leaving 166Wh to spare. It also lists a UPS mode rated no worse than 10ms, so the CPAP keeps running if the grid drops while it's plugged in through the unit.
Brand matchup
EcoFlow vs Jackery: measured across every matchup →Related comparisons
Where to buy
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EcoFlow RIVER 3 MAXPick
$319.00
$319.00 · direct from EcoFlow
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Jackery Explorer 500
Left Jackery's store
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.