Head-to-head test
EcoFlow RIVER 3 vs Anker SOLIX C300 DC
EcoFlow has stopped selling the RIVER 3, and everything it did that the C300 DC can't sat behind its two AC outlets. If your gear charges over USB, the Anker is the one to buy. If anything you own has a wall plug, neither unit on this page answers you.
Full profiles: EcoFlow RIVER 3 → · Anker SOLIX C300 DC →
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
EcoFlow has dropped the base RIVER 3 from its store, so only one of these two can still be bought new from its maker. That's the headline, and it changes the question. You're no longer choosing between two 300W boxes. You're deciding whether the one that's left fits your gear.
Both are stamped 300W, and that's where the confusion lives. On the RIVER 3 it's household AC from 2 outlets, with 600W of surge behind it. On the SOLIX C300 DC it's a DC port total spread over four USB-C and two USB-A ports, with no inverter anywhere in the case. Same number on the label, a completely different list of things you can plug in.
So the call splits cleanly. If your load list is phones, tablets, a laptop and camera batteries, the C300 DC is the better tool: 43Wh more capacity (288 against 245), about 1.6 lbs lighter (6.17 against 7.8), and two 140W USB-C ports. If anything on your list has a wall plug, the Anker was never a candidate, and the RIVER 3 PLUS, EcoFlow's smallest live RIVER 3, is where to look next.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
That makes the retirement less of a coin toss than it looks. The part of the RIVER 3 you'd actually miss is exactly the part you can no longer buy in this box, and the Anker doesn't offer a substitute for it at any capacity. So a buyer who needs AC isn't choosing between these two at all; they're shopping the RIVER 3 PLUS. A buyer who doesn't need AC wasn't going to use the RIVER 3's best feature anyway.
RIVER 3: discontinued, badge 'Left EcoFlow's store', successor RIVER 3 PLUSRIVER 3: 2 AC outlets, 300W continuous, 600W surge, UPS switchover ≤20msSOLIX C300 DC: 0 AC outlets, DC-only, no listed UPS mode
Why it mattersDecide which side of the wall-plug line your gear lives on first; the C300 DC only wins for the people on the USB side.
Capacity
The port layout spends that saving well. Two 140W USB-C ports means a large laptop whose own charger is rated above 100W runs at full speed, and a second one can charge alongside it, while the RIVER 3 offers a single USB-C port that stops at 100W. For a bag full of USB-C devices, the Anker charges more of them, faster, from a lighter box.
SOLIX C300 DC: 288Wh, 6.17 lbs; RIVER 3: 245Wh, 7.8 lbsSOLIX C300 DC: 4 USB-C ports rated 140W, 140W, 100W and 15W; RIVER 3: 1 USB-C at 100WReviewers credit the Anker's light weight to dropping the AC inverterB1
Why it mattersIf your heaviest load is a big laptop, the C300 DC is the better buy on its own terms, not just because it's the one still on sale.
So the 43Wh is margin, not capability: 145Wh left after an afternoon against 108Wh, and a shorter miss on the CPAP night. Useful, but nobody should buy either box expecting it to finish a night on a wall-plug load. These are afternoon stations, and the C300 DC is the slightly roomier one.
Usable energy after the flat 0.85 derate: RIVER 3 208Wh, SOLIX C300 DC 245WhCPAP Overnight needs 320Wh: RIVER 3 112Wh short, SOLIX C300 DC 75Wh shortAfternoon Off-Grid needs 100Wh: both finish, with 108Wh and 145Wh left over
Why it mattersAnyone shopping for a full night or a blackout should skip both and go up a size class rather than split hairs here.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: The DC-only card decides this page: the C300 DC has no AC outlets at all, and the UPS, warranty and noise cards all trace back to that or to the RIVER 3 no longer being sold.
Four cards fire, and three of them are the same fact seen from different angles. The C300 DC has no inverter, so it has no AC outlets, nothing for a UPS switchover to protect, and no fan-heavy component to publish a noise rating for. The RIVER 3 had all of that, and EcoFlow has stopped selling it. Read the UPS card as a description of what you'd be giving up, not as a reason to go looking for old stock.
The warranty card is the one that cuts against our pick, and it's a fair hit. Anker covers the C300 DC for 3 years; our record carries 5 for the RIVER 3. If you already own a RIVER 3, that longer term is a reason to keep it rather than swap. If you're buying today, 3 years is the term on the table for this unit.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: Six of seven modeled loads come back 'neither'; the one both units finish is a 100Wh afternoon, which tells you what size of job these boxes are for.
The grid is mostly a wall of 'neither', and most of it fails before capacity gets a vote. On five of the seven loads the Anker can't plug in the appliances at all, and the RIVER 3 runs out of energy long before the end: 208Wh usable against 1,645Wh for an eight-hour outage. Tailgate Party is the odd one: the RIVER 3's 600W surge starts the 400W peak, then its 300W continuous rating can't hold it.
The row worth your attention is Afternoon Off-Grid, the only one both finish: 48% used on the RIVER 3, 41% on the Anker. That's the honest job description for both units. Phones, a laptop, a fan for a few hours. At that size the tiebreak is what rides in the bag, and the lighter one is also the one you can still buy.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: At 6.17 lbs against 7.8, the Anker is the lighter carry while holding 288Wh to the RIVER 3's 245Wh.
weight
1.6 lbs is the difference between something you decide to pack and something you forget is in the daypack. At 6.17 lbs the C300 DC is the lighter of two already-light boxes, and it carries 43Wh more while doing it.
The saving costs Anker nothing a USB buyer would notice, because what it left out is the inverterB1. That's the clearest way to read this section: the C300 DC isn't a slimmer RIVER 3, it's a different shape of product with a component removed and the weight handed back to you.
Brand Trust
Selected because: If you already own a RIVER 3, EcoFlow's support terms are what you're living with now; if you're buying, Anker's are the ones you're signing up for.
For RIVER 3 owners, the EcoFlow column is now about aftercare. Support runs by phone, email and chat with polarized outcomes, and EcoFlow offers no parts or service once a unit is out of warranty, so the 5-year term on our record is effectively the service life you can count on.
On the Anker side, the parent brand built its name on easy replacements, but SOLIX support has been trending down from that high starting point, with generic AI-driven responses and awkward returns on heavier units. A 6.17 lb box sidesteps the worst of the shipping hassle. Firmware updates removing features without warning is the caveat worth carrying into the purchase.
Strengths & trade-offs
EcoFlow RIVER 3
Strengths
- +Longer warranty
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- –No major technical downsides compared to rival.
Anker SOLIX C300 DC
Strengths
- +Lighter by 1.6 lb
- +Larger battery capacity
Trade-offs
- –No major technical downsides compared to rival.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on seven 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, and for two different reasons. The Anker has no AC outlets, so the lights and box fan in this load never plug in. The RIVER 3 can plug them in but holds 208Wh usable against a 2,100Wh weekend. Bring one of these for phones, and something far bigger for camp.
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. The fridge and router in this load have wall plugs, which rules the Anker out before capacity comes up, and the RIVER 3's 208Wh usable is a fraction of the 1,645Wh an eight-hour outage needs.
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
Neither unit
The closest miss on the board, and still neither. A night is modeled at 320Wh: the RIVER 3 comes up 112Wh short and the Anker 75Wh short. Both get you most of the way, so plan around a top-up or buy bigger.
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. The monitor and router here need AC, which the Anker doesn't have, and the RIVER 3's 208Wh usable is well short of a 910Wh workday. The Anker's 140W USB-C keeps a laptop topped up, but that's a top-up, not a day.
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. The RIVER 3's 600W surge gets the 400W peak started, then its 300W continuous rating can't hold it. The Anker has no AC outlets, so the blender and TV never plug in. A tailgate wants a bigger inverter.
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, by an order of magnitude. A day of van life is modeled at 4,685Wh, and the Anker can't plug in the fridge at all. These are door-pocket phone chargers in that setting, not house batteries.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Mini-Fridge 150W×24h · Laptop 60W×4h · Phone Charger 15W×3h · LED Lights 40W×5h · Fan 75W×8h
SCN-07 · an afternoon · needs 100Wh
Afternoon Off-Grid
Phones and a speaker at the park, beach, or campsite — the small-unit job description
Either unit
Both finish, comfortably: the RIVER 3 at 48% used, the Anker at 41%. This is the job these boxes are built for. With the energy covered, the tiebreak is the bag: 6.17 lbs against 7.8, and only the lighter one is still sold by its maker.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Phone Charger (×2) 30W×2h · Bluetooth Speaker 10W×4h
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
Only the RIVER 3 can run this load — the SOLIX C300 DC has no AC outlets for the wall-plug gear in it.
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 0–16.3hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–2.8hHigh-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
October 5, 2026
Verdict: the SOLIX C300 DC
Buy the SOLIX C300 DC, on one condition: everything you plan to charge plugs into USB. The RIVER 3 has left EcoFlow's store, so it can't be the recommendation, and the comparison that's left is narrower than it looks. Every advantage the RIVER 3 held over the Anker lived behind its inverter: 2 AC outlets, 300W continuous with 600W of surge, and a UPS switchover rated at no worse than 20ms. On the DC side the C300 DC is ahead on everything that matters to a device-charging buyer: 288Wh against 245Wh, 6.17 lbs against 7.8, four USB-C ports against one, and two of them rated at 140W where the RIVER 3 tops out at 100W. The honest catch is the warranty, 3 years against the RIVER 3's 5, and Anker publishes no noise figure. If you need a wall socket, don't settle for the Anker and don't chase leftover RIVER 3 stock either. EcoFlow points buyers to the RIVER 3 PLUS, and that's the unit to compare instead.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 5, 2026. The links below open Anker's current price.
$349.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated October 5, 2026
Black Friday · 26 days out
Price to beat:SOLIX C300 DC $200
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, 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 rates 4.1/5 (50th percentile of 25 Personal-class units), and SOLIX C300 DC rates 4.4/5 (67th percentile of 25 Personal-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.
The C300 DC Has No AC Outlets. Decide That Before Anything Else.
The Anker's 300W is a total across its USB and DC ports, not an inverter rating. Anything with a wall plug never plugs in, at any wattage. That's the design, and it's why the unit is light and carries four USB-C ports. The RIVER 3 had 2 AC outlets, but EcoFlow no longer sells it, so if you need a socket, the RIVER 3 PLUS is the unit to compare, not this one.
The RIVER 3's UPS Mode Leaves With It
The RIVER 3 could sit between the wall and a router and take over within a rated 20ms or less, and the Anker lists no UPS mode at all. If you own a RIVER 3 doing that job, it's a reason to keep it. If UPS duty is why you're shopping, it's a reason to look at EcoFlow's live range rather than either unit here.
5 Years on a Unit You Can't Buy, 3 on the One You Can
Our record carries a 5-year term for the RIVER 3 and 3 years for the C300 DC. For a current RIVER 3 owner, that longer cover is a solid reason not to swap. For a buyer today, 3 years is the term on the unit that's actually for sale, and it's the honest weak spot in our pick. If you find leftover RIVER 3 stock, confirm what cover the seller actually honours before treating the 5 years as yours.
Anker Publishes No Noise Figure
EcoFlow lists 30dB for the RIVER 3, and on its RIVER line that figure is a maximum under heavy charging or discharging, not a quiet-mode floor. Anker publishes nothing for the C300 DC. That's a documentation gap, not evidence of a loud unit, and a box with no inverter has less to cool. If it's going on a nightstand, look for hands-on reports first.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the SOLIX C300 DC.
Check SOLIX C300 DC 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 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 SOLIX C300 DC works out at $0.23/kWh over its rated life. If you already own the RIVER 3, the hardware comparison still holds: over its rated life the RIVER 3 delivers about 735 kWh and the SOLIX C300 DC about 864 kWh. One thing to know reading the table: both carry the same 3,000-cycle rating, so the lifetime rows are sticker price and capacity in disguise — the wear horizon is identical and decides nothing here.
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 unit is out of warranty, which matters more than usual now that the RIVER 3 has left its store. For an owner, the warranty term is the support window.
Anker
Ecosystem
7-8 SOLIX portable power stations across C-series (compact) and F-series (flagship), plus the X1 home energy system
Support
US-based support. Historically known for incredible no-hassle replacements, but recent reports describe AI-driven support agents giving generic responses and complex return logistics for heavy units (hazmat shipping). The Anker brand reputation is still strong, but SOLIX-specific support quality is trending down.
Community
Moderate — active Reddit (r/Anker, r/AnkerSOLIXCommunity) and growing. Benefits from Anker's massive consumer electronics brand awareness.
App experience
Rated 4.5/5 iOS (~1,100 ratings) · 4.3/5 Android
Unique strength
Parent brand trust from Anker's consumer electronics dominance. InfiniPower technology for long cycle life. Strong $/Wh value in the mid-size and larger units — the S2000, F2600 and C1000 are among the better buys per watt-hour in the catalog.
Worth knowing
Firmware updates have removed features from SOLIX gear without warning, and SOLIX support has slipped from Anker's historically strong standard. Neither unit here expands, so Anker's smaller expansion ecosystem costs you nothing.
Analyst note
This was once a contest between EcoFlow's deeper catalog and Anker's parent-brand trust. With the RIVER 3 off EcoFlow's shelves, it's simpler: EcoFlow's support terms matter to people who already own one, and Anker's matter to anyone buying the C300 DC today. If you need AC and want to stay with EcoFlow, its catalog still has a RIVER 3 to sell you, just not this one.
Growth path
RIVER 3
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 245Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 110W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Limited ports. You'll likely need a power strip or splitter.
SOLIX C300 DC
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 288Wh, 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.
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 is no longer sold (EcoFlow points owners to the RIVER 3 PLUS). That leaves the SOLIX C300 DC: it is sealed at 288Wh, so buy the size that covers you now. The RIVER 3's fixed 245Wh still matters if you already own one, but it isn't a reason to pick it over the SOLIX C300 DC.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
EcoFlow RIVER 3
What exists on the RIVER 3 comes from review desks comparing it with the RIVER 2, not from owners several years in, and our own research notes it should be read as directionalA0. Within that, the picture is consistent: operation under 30 dB that EcoFlow and reviewers describe as quieter than a libraryA1, plus IP54 sealing, a faster UPS switchover and a 2x runtime mode over its predecessorA2. Coverage called it the better small-unit buy for camping, van life and home UPS duty where noise and durability matterA3.
Being better than the unit it replacedA4 tells you EcoFlow iterated well. It doesn't tell you how the RIVER 3 ages, and with the unit gone from EcoFlow's store, that's now a question for current owners rather than shoppersA0.
“The RIVER 3 operates under 30 dB — EcoFlow calls it 'whisper quiet,' quieter than a library — one of the most significant upgrades over the louder RIVER 2.”
Sources
backuppowerhub.com · ecoflow.com · rv.com · versus.com
Anker SOLIX C300 DC
The C300 DC's coverage agrees on what it's for. Owners praise the portability and say the capacity covers several phone and laptop refills, a fan for hours, or a small lighting setupB3. Reviewers count two USB-A and four USB-C ports plus a 12V car socket, and two-way USB-C on PD 3.1 that refills the unit to 80% in about an hourB2.
The one mixed note is really a boundary: reviewers frame it as a device charger for travelers, explicitly not a box for AC appliancesB4. Nobody who has used it seems confused about that lineB3B4, which is worth more than a rave. You'll know within a day whether you bought the right shape.
“A 288Wh unit that ditches the heavy AC inverter to focus on DC power, keeping it very light at about 6.2 lbs.”
Sources
the-gadgeteer.com · forbes.com · androidpolice.com · batteryessence.com · bestbuy.com · campingsolar.us
Sources & Research Notes
Every owner claim in this report is traceable to a published source. The bracketed references above resolve here.
Recurring owner themes
- The RIVER 3 improves on the RIVER 2 across the board — quieter (sub-30 dB), IP54-rugged, faster UPS, more capacity, lighter, and cheaper — a rare strict upgrade. [RIVER 3 · 3 entries]
- Light DC-only design (no AC inverter), fast USB-C charging, and good port selection for device charging are the highlights. [SOLIX C300 DC · 3 entries]
- A1
“The RIVER 3 operates under 30 dB — EcoFlow calls it 'whisper quiet,' quieter than a library — one of the most significant upgrades over the louder RIVER 2.”
backuppowerhub.com / ecoflow.com — RIVER 2 vs RIVER 3 · 2026 · [positive]
- A2
“Over the RIVER 2, the RIVER 3 adds IP54 waterproofing, a faster UPS switchover, a 2x runtime mode, and a more compact, lighter form factor.”
backuppowerhub.com — RIVER 2 vs RIVER 3 · 2026 · [positive]
- A3
“Recommended as the better buy for most in 2026 — for camping, van life, or home UPS backup, where durability and noise matter, the data consistently favors the RIVER 3.”
backuppowerhub.com / rv.com — RIVER 3 review · 2026 · [positive]
- A4
“Holds more capacity and weighs less than the RIVER 2 while costing less, making it effectively a strict upgrade on the same platform.”
ecoflow.com / versus.com — RIVER 2 vs RIVER 3 · 2026 · [positive]
- B1
“A 288Wh unit that ditches the heavy AC inverter to focus on DC power, keeping it very light at about 6.2 lbs.”
the-gadgeteer.com / forbes.com — SOLIX C300 DC review · 2026 · [positive]
- B2
“Offers 2 USB-A and 4 USB-C ports plus a 12V car socket; two-way USB-C with PD 3.1 recharges the unit to 80% in about 1 hour.”
androidpolice.com / batteryessence.com — SOLIX C300 DC review · 2026 · [positive]
- B3
“Owners praise its portability and capacity — enough to charge a phone and laptop several times, run a fan for hours, or power a small light setup.”
bestbuy.com owner reviews — SOLIX C300 DC / C300X · 2026 · [positive]
- B4
“A DC-focused design with app integration and solar support — best for modern travelers charging devices, not running AC appliances.”
androidpolice.com / campingsolar.us — SOLIX C300 DC review · 2026 · [mixed]
Research compiled October 5, 2026.
What Owners Actually Report
Drawn from 29 comments on independent review channels — not from retailer reviews, which skew to the first week of ownership. Each line is our summary of one commenter's claim, linked to the original. We record what they said, including where it contradicts the spec sheet.
EcoFlow RIVER 3
35 claims from 21 comments · 30 from owners · 9 with figures
- UPS switchover
- 5 · 47% negative
- Price & value
- 6 · 17% negative
- Runtime
- 2 · 0% negative
- Warranty & support
- 6 · 73% negative
- Other
- 2 · 100% negative
What owners complain about
Accepts 80V-170V before switching over, which he calls poor for a home-office UPS.
UPS switchovermeasuredowner34 agreedsource →
Surge protection is only 150J, so he keeps it behind an older UPS's surge-only port.
Othermeasuredowner34 agreedsource →
Screen showed jumbled alphanumeric symbols, and the returned unit came back with Wi-Fi disabled.
Durabilityowner6 agreedsource →
What owners praise
Kept router and switch alive about 4 hours per charge during the 5 day post-Milton outage.
Runtimemeasuredowner38 agreedsource →
Happy sticking with their RIVER 3 units at $169 each.
Price & valuemeasuredowner45 agreedsource →
Works awesome as a UPS for Starlink router, switch and camera through rural spikes and outages.
UPS switchoverowner38 agreedsource →
Anker SOLIX C300 DC
12 claims from 8 comments · 10 from owners · 5 with figures
- Solar input
- 4 · 100% negative
- Runtime
- 2 · 0% negative
- Charging
- 2 · 39% negative
- Other
- 1 · 0% negative
- Size & weight
- 1 · 0% negative
What owners complain about
28V input ceiling blocks a 25.6V LiFePO4 bank, which can reach 29.2V fully charged.
Solar inputmeasuredowner4 agreedsource →
Says the C300 DC has no pass-through charging and just cycles between 98% and 100%.
Charging7 agreedsource →
DC5521 plugs with poor tolerances have heated up at 5A; wishes it used XT60 throughout.
Build qualityownersource →
What owners praise
BiPAP with heated hose and humidifier at 80% used 47% of the 288Wh pack over 5 hours of sleep.
Runtimemeasuredowner5 agreedsource →
Can be charged over USB-C at up to 140W, which he thinks is fantastic.
Chargingmeasuredownersource →
His favorite unit: small, transportable, very efficient on 12V and charges well off solar.
Otherownersource →
Claims are weighted by how specific they are, whether the commenter owns the unit, and how many readers agreed. Comments that mention a product under a rival's review count for more, because the commenter had no reason to be there. This is what buyers report, not our test results — for measurements we ran ourselves, see the methodology.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the RIVER 3 if you…
- →You already own a RIVER 3. Keep it: the C300 DC holds 43Wh more but takes away your AC outlets and your UPS switchover, and your 5-year term outlasts Anker's 3.
- →You came here wanting the RIVER 3's AC outlets. Don't hunt leftover stock of a unit its maker has dropped; compare the RIVER 3 PLUS, EcoFlow's smallest live RIVER 3, instead.
Buy the SOLIX C300 DC if you…
- →Your load list is a phone, a tablet, a laptop and camera batteries, and you're sure it stays that way. 288Wh behind four USB-C ports is the right tool, and owners describing several device refills per charge are describing exactly that useB3.
- →You carry a large laptop whose own charger is rated above 100W. The C300 DC has two 140W USB-C ports; the RIVER 3 offered one port at 100W.
- →It goes on your back. 6.17 lbs is the lighter carry here, and it costs you no capacity to get it.
- →You turn gear around fast between trips. Two-way USB-C on PD 3.1 puts it back at 80% in about an hourB2.
If neither fits
Anyone who arrived with an overnight number in mind. The smallest overnight load modeled here is a CPAP night at 320Wh, and neither 208Wh nor 245Wh of usable energy finishes it. A fridge, a full workday of monitors, or a blackout is several times further out. Close this tab and shop the next capacity class, where you get a proper inverter and enough battery to reach morning.
The Bottom Line
Buy the SOLIX C300 DC if your gear is USB and stays USB. The RIVER 3 is gone from EcoFlow's store, and everything it did that the Anker can't was behind its inverter. Take the inverter out of the question and the C300 DC is lighter, holds more, and feeds a big laptop faster from two 140W ports.
The one way this goes wrong is buying the Anker by accident. If there's a wall plug anywhere in your plans, it can't help you at any capacity, and the right next tab is EcoFlow's RIVER 3 PLUS. Know which side of the plug you're on, and the choice makes itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the EcoFlow RIVER 3 discontinued?
Yes. EcoFlow has dropped the base RIVER 3 from its own store, and it points buyers to the RIVER 3 PLUS as the smallest RIVER 3 it still sells. The RIVER 3's specs are still accurate if you own one or find one, but it's no longer a unit we can recommend buying.
Does the Anker SOLIX C300 DC have an AC outlet?
No. It's DC-only, so its 300W comes from USB-C and USB-A ports with no inverter and no wall socket anywhere on the case. Anything with an ordinary plug, like a lamp, a box fan or a laptop's own power brick, never plugs in. If you need that, look at an AC-equipped unit such as EcoFlow's RIVER 3 PLUS.
Is the SOLIX C300 DC a good replacement for the RIVER 3?
Only if you never used the RIVER 3's AC outlets. On USB charging the Anker is ahead: 288Wh against 245Wh, 6.17 lbs against 7.8, and two 140W USB-C ports against one at 100W. It loses the outlets, the UPS switchover and two years of warranty, 3 against 5.
Can either of these run a CPAP all night?
No. An overnight CPAP is modeled at 320Wh, and after the standard derate the RIVER 3 has 208Wh usable and the C300 DC 245Wh, leaving them 112Wh and 75Wh short. Either gets you most of the way, but neither reaches morning. For a full night, shop a larger unit.
Which one charges a laptop faster?
The Anker. Two of its USB-C ports deliver up to 140W against the RIVER 3's single 100W port, which matters if your laptop's own charger is rated above 100W. The same port works in reverse, refilling the C300 DC to 80% in about an hour from a PD 3.1 source.
Where to buy
EcoFlow RIVER 3
Left EcoFlow's store
Anker SOLIX C300 DCPick
$349.99
$349.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.