The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro is a 768Wh portable power station that can keep your laptop, smartphone, TV, Wi-Fi router, and other appliances running for hours during load-shedding.
This was our finding after EcoFlow sent us a RIVER 2 Pro to review.
We particularly liked its lightweight design, wide range of ports, and the extensive functionality it offered thanks to its battery management system, LCD display, and smartphone app.
The icing on the cake was EcoFlow’s impressive X-Boost technology, as well as fast switchover time and impressive charging speeds.
We unpack our full experience with the EcoFlow RIVER2 Pro, below.
Fastest charging speeds ever
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro is fitted with a 768Wh LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) battery that is safe, durable, and efficient.
This battery is designed to last much longer than other batteries, offering over 3,000 cycles – around 10 years of everyday use.
It charges from 0% to 100% in an impressive 70 minutes, which is 5x faster than other portable power stations on the market and 27% faster than the previous EcoFlow RIVER series power stations.
This means that even when load-shedding hits stage 6, you will easily be able to charge up your EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro between outages to ensure you always have backup power.
Recharging can be done in the following ways:
- AC charging – 870W max (0-80% in 56 minutes, 0-100% in 70 minutes)
- Car charging – 100W max (9 hours)
- Solar charging – 220W max (3.5 hours)
- USB-C charging – 100W max (9 hours)
Solar and car charging are performed with an XT60 port on the back using the included 12V DC to XT60 connector.
You also get an AC kettle plug for charging, and a DC5521 cable for DC output, with your RIVER2 Pro purchase.
Thanks to its 768Wh battery, the RIVER 2 Pro is then able to power your devices for extended periods of time.
This includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:
- Smartphone (11W) – 57 charges
- Light (10W) – 60 hours
- Portable Wi-Fi router (10W) – 60 hours
- Mini fridge (50W) – 3-18.6 hours
- Air pump (120W) – 1 hours
- Space heater (1,500W) – 77 hours (46 minutes)
Power output and X-Boost
Alongside its 768Wh capacity, the RIVER 2 Pro boasts an 800W power output.
Our first question was: How can an 800W power station power a 1,500W space heater, as listed above? This is where EcoFlow’s X-Boost technology comes in, doubling the AC output power to 1,600W.
X-Boost provides extra wattage by temporarily reducing the voltage delivered to your devices, enabling the power station to deliver higher wattages to high-draw appliances such as coffee machines, kettles, and power tools.
It employs intelligent voltage control to achieve this, while protecting your power station from over- and under-voltage.
As a result, the 800W RIVER 2 Pro can power approximately 80% of high-wattage devices – including your microwave (typically 800-1,000W) or electric kettle (typically at least 1,000W) – making it an excellent solution for load-shedding or camping trips.
To power these devices, the RIVER 2 Pro offers a broad array of ports. These include:
- 1x three-prong AC socket
- 2x two-prong AC sockets
- 1x 12V DC output
- 2x DC5521 ports
- 1x USB-C port (100W)
- 3x USB-A ports
This is further complemented by the RIVER 2 Pro’s UPS function with a 30ms switchover time.
This enabled us to plug our important devices into the RIVER 2 Pro while it was connected to a main power supply, ensuring they didn’t lose power in the event of load-shedding or an unexpected outage.
Superior energy management
All inputs and outputs are managed by the RIVER 2 Pro’s state-of-the-art Battery Management System, which monitors the device’s voltage, current, and temperature to extend its lifespan.
This data can be viewed from the EcoFlow smartphone app, allowing you to see the amount of remaining battery charge and how long the battery life will last at current usage rates.
The RIVER 2 Pro’s LCD display also shows most of this data, including the amount of time required for the power station to reach a full charge from its current state.
Using the EcoFlow app, users can then set timeouts (auto shutoffs), charge limits to protect the battery, a backup reserve allocation, control the AC input charging speed, and update the RIVER 2 Pro’s firmware.
Our verdict
The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro’s portability and 768Wh battery make it a great backup power solution for South African homes and offices.
It cannot be overstated how valuable X-Boost is, and its extensive port selection and energy management features were also incredibly impressive.
Click here to get your EcoFlow River 2 Pro power station now.
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