EcoFlow RIVER Mini vs BLUETTI EB3A: Best small power station in 2022
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- Опубликовано: 15 июл 2024
- Save up to $150 on the EcoFlow RIVER Mini and up to $900 (-48%) on larger Ecoflow units during Prime Days July 4-17th!
Buy RIVER Mini Wireless from Amazon:
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Buy RIVER Mini Wireless from EcoFlow:
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Buy EB3A from Amazon:
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Buy EB3A from BLUETTI
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
2:20 Similarities
5:00 Key Differences
9:00 EB3A Pros
9:45 RIVER Mini Pros
14:00 RIVER Mini Cons
16:25 EB3A Cons
19:40 Final Thoughts
To see the full video of Jasonoid's lithium battery explosion, check out his video here:
• Lithium Battery Pack E...
I was provided review units from both companies but my thoughts and opinions are my own and I don't pull any punches. 
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Hi all. Quick update on the EB3A - it's ALIVE. After no signs of life for a few days, I just plugged it in and it came back enough for me to connect via Bluetooth and install the 2 firmware updates to get it going again. It’s charging now so we’ll see if it’s back to normal. Guess the trick is to leave it at 0% for at least 1.5-2 days if it gets hung on firmware updates. I also received a reply from Bluetti offering to replace the unit so I'm happy with their service, just took a few extra days.
Did Bluetti respond finally?
Not yet. I emailed Thursday July 7th at 6pm and haven’t heard back. I’ll post updates as time goes on. For comparison I emailed Ecoflow 22 hours later on Friday July 8th at 4pm and received a reply from them Monday first thing in morning which is as fast as I’d expect given I posted at the start of the weekend.
@@todd.parker Bluetti better start uping their customer service game, there's a lot of complaints about it. I love their stuff but that customer service HAS to improve.
@@Tommyr Agreed. This is making me think I should reach out to customer support with any company I’m thinking of reviewing and if they don’t reply within 3 days, game over. I intentionally cover the top brands because support is so crucial and have stopped covering Goal Zero because their support and quality has slipped. Even though my unit seems ok, I’m going to keep going with Bluetti so I have some personal experience to back up what I’ve heard in comments. They are only 1.5 days into their 2 day window if we exclude the weekend so it’s not too late for them…
For anyone following along, I waited until Monday at 6pm to send a follow up email to support which was exactly 2 business days from when I emailed since they say they will reply within 48 hours. I received a reply early this morning on Wednesday the 13th apologizing for the delay and asking for my serial number and address so they could send me a RMA label to exchange the unit. Assuming I got a replacement unit, that is a satisfactory resolution and although they missed their window by about a day and a half, I consider that to be a reasonable response time of about 4 business days because 2 days were the weekend. Ecoflow responded in less than 12 hours so they are much faster and also will answer the phone if you call. I’ve heard that calling Bluetti is pretty much impossible so stick to email. Hope this was helpful for anyone considering these brands. I feel that both companies will take care of you compared to many other brands out there so keep support quality in mind when shopping or you could own an expensive paperweight.
I'll take the safer battery chemistry. I know Bluetti has a lot of knocks when it comes to customer service, they really need to step up their game. Fortunately so far I have had no problems with my new EB3A. And my 1 year old EB70 has been working flawlessly.
Yeah, I agree. If Ecoflow makes the switch to LFP, it will be a pretty unbeatable combination but for now, Bluetti is the best choice for that chemistry
Best comparison on these devices I’ve seen! Very fair and thorough, giving very helpful insights I would not have thought of.
Awesome video Todd :) Excellent review of both of these power stations! I love how you broke it down so nicely.
Great video Todd, per your usual excellence!
Well, do know, I appreciate the review I do have the bluetti eb3a and this unit does power my full size refrigerator just fine so for emergency applications.
Another excellent review as usual Todd, thanks! Since GZ isn't keeping up, I have been trying to decide whether to go w/ EF or Blu. I almost bought the River Mini the other day when I found it for $186. But as slick as it looks, it can't replace the Rockpals 300s we are using for portable use. I do want to switch the lightweight units for multiple reasons, but like the GZ 200X, neither of these are up to what we want to replace the RPs. W/ this video I realized why I have had a hard time comparing these 2 units. It's quite complex. But you have the talent & skills to make the complexities as easily understandable as possible. Seriously, I don't know how I could be handling the 4 Yeti 1000s I bought w/out your expertise on that unit, presented so impressively in your videos!
Thanks so much for the kind words. This was my first comparison video and it took more effort than I expected to cover it without it being super long. This size unit is so small that it’s good to grab fit a bit of power in a pinch. It they are too small to run a fridge or other appliances for very long.
Going with the Bluetti for the UPS feature. Going to use it on my home security system.
There used to be a saying a couple of decades ago (before smartphones were around), that the best camera you have is the one you have with you. The same can be said with these little power stations. I never hesitate to pack the River Mini if there’s a situation that may call for it. Whereas with my larger/heavier power stations seldom leave the house as much.
I feel the eb3a is a clear winner. The 600w inverter would come in handy with pass through charging. UPS feature and the battery chemistry alone makes the eb3a a better buy.
I agree that for most people it’s the best choice for the reasons you outlined. I find myself grabbing the River Mini more often because I mostly use this to keep my MacBook Pro alive so portability is key, especially if working from a coffee shop. At any larger size, there would be no competition because LFP is so much better and you care less about weight when it mostly sits in one spot.
The Ctechi gt200 320wh would be a better option (far cheaper as well) if you don't need a 600w inverter or ups. Besides the tiny battery on the eb3a won't last long on a 600+ watt device. 200w is more than enough to run a laptop.
@@user-fs4fd3gv3r the eb3a is 209.00
@@davidparker7156 where did you find it for 209?
@@RayRay-rn7gm on sale black Friday. They drop the price all the time to that price
Great review Todd.
Thanks 👍😀
Thanks for watching!
Great review. I have seen many reviews on these units, but you cover what others have not. I also like real world experience, such as your Bluetti issue. Very helpful to know. I am anxiously awaiting EcoFlow moving to LFP. Then, I have a near perfect device. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful. I agree re: LFP with Ecoflow. That would be perfection
Ecoflow is releasing the Delta 2 in a few days which has LFP and Bluetooth.
@@TheCarmacon Yep! My review will be out next week. It’s a killer option
The comparison video that NEVER seemed to end! This much time out of my life to learn...he really can't make up his mind. I was seriously waiting for the announcement of his engagement to the Ecoflow unit, was I going to be invited to the wedding?? BTW, I chose the Bluetti...just makes more sense.
I like the idea of the EB3A being used as a UPS.
I watched quite a few, to compare diff compact power stations, what made me buy EB3A is not all those details that I originally focus on (i started research on EB55). It is how the company improve their products that amaze me, the company cares, that's all what matters.
thanks so much i learned a lot🤓
Wonderful review thank you brother!
Glad you liked it!
Great review as usual sir
Thanks so much!
I came away after watching this video with a feeling/belief/opinion that your comparison is excellent, fair, unbiased, & covered all the similarities & differences. Well Done!
My take away was the several comments you made about Eco Flow having excellent CUSTOMER SERVICE which is almost an over riding consideration between ANY PRODUCT of Eco Flow or Bluetti, NOT BATTERY CHEMISTRY.
My Eco Flow Delta Mini will be delivered later today, Better Customer Service was a major factor in my decision to buy the Eco Flow Delta Mini now rather than waiting for Bluetti to upgrade their EB70S with features similar to their new EB3A.
I don't have a so-called "Smart" phone so the charging on top of any power station is a feature I have no need for.
I will be using my Eco Flow Delta Mini as a backup power source during those times when the grid is down & for weekend camping so it's highly unlikely that I'll ever actually use up the so-called 800 Battery cycle life of the Lithium Ion battery pack in the Delta Mini unit.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada
Thanks so much, I try to be tough but fair. I think you’ll really like your Delta Mini. Enjoy!
@@todd.parker I just recently bought a few of the Bluetti products (panels and power stations), I contacted customer service with a few questions, and then with a few shipping issues after ordering through amazon. They have been very good about getting back (usually within 48hrs) to me via email and I've had a replacement handle sent for the solar panel. Just wanted to give feedback on my personal experience over the past few weeks. Good job on the review
@@todd.parker got an alert saying to text a number for something, has your profile picture. Scam maybe?
@@brandoneasterday4658 Scam. So many!
@@todd.parker these people are non stop. I've stopped answering phone numbers I don't recognize, it's horrible...
It looks like something happened during your firmware upgrade process on the EB3A. Remove the power cord and let the station discharge to 0% - this may take a day and a half depending on how much battery was left. After it shuts off, then charge it via the power cord. The latest firmware of Arm & Dsp are both on version .10 - which fixes many problems folks were having. I hope this helps, Todd :)
Thanks for the info! I tried that but now the screen doesn’t even turn on. I think it’s a double whammy of a messed up charger and failed firmware update together. Looks like I got lucky
@@todd.parker Hiya Todd, once the screen turned off did you try to plug the AC power cord in? Generally this trick works by letting the failed upgrade drain on it's on with nothing on or plugged in, which can take ages depending on how full the battery was when it happened, and then inserting the power cord once it's fully drained. Sure hope you get it sorted. :)
@@Jayling the battery was at 0% when I attempted the firmware update since it wouldn’t charge. I left it unplugged for at least a day but when I plugged it in, nothing happens.
@@todd.parker Drat. I was really hoping it would work for you. Sorry I'm out of ideas. Good luck to you, Todd.
Good news. I had given up hope because nothing would happen when I plugged it in but just now, it started making buzzing noises and I got back to the dashed lines on the display. Was able to connect and just ran both updates and it seems to be taking a charge. Thanks for your help!
Excellent review video. The only reason I'd get the EF River Mini is if portability was crucial. Otherwise, I would absolutely go with the EB3A and its LiFePO4 batteries.
Yeah, I agree. I wish EF switched to LFP
@@todd.parker then it'll be the same size as the eb3a
I have this Ecoflow Mini and the River 2 Max. The Max is LiFiPO4 like the Bluetti. I still love the Mini and tend to take it everywhere as it’s such a great size. The max is better obviously and about the size as the Bluetti.
Out of the box, the firmware needs to be updated with the Bluetti, not just one update either but two. Both were out of date on both the EB3A's that i got. I charged both up to 100%, and then updated the firmware. After the update, both batteries read only about 70%, at which point both then proceeded to charge back to 100% again. If you buy one of these, you should definitely update both firmware updates before using, which can really only be done using the app. After updating, all good. If EcoFlow would drop the 22+ year old battery chemistry in their smaller products, they would dominate the market with their very efficient electronics, maybe one day. Great review!
Yeah, I wish I saw the firmware update before the charging issues drained the battery so low. Mine is now working great again. I agree EF needs to make the switch
The dc efficiency for dometic dz95 is what matters most for me with units around 1k watts. This mini runs the 35l domectic with solar for a solid weekend. I still have to pry my door open and fans on all the time. Press and hold the button for 3-5 seconds and let go to turn unit off!!!
The EB3A is a clear winner, 2500 cycles is a very big deal. Don't really flip out on design, shinny will scratch and show dust more than the subdued black. I don't go back packing, 4 pounds more isn't a big deal. AND, by lowering voltage the EB will go higher than 600 watts, it surges at 1200 watts! The EB is cheaper too, $229.00 on Amazon Friday special.
I agree that the LFP battery is a big deal. Only at this tiny size is it a bit more of a preference thing but the EB3A is a great unit
The power lifting mode doesn't actually put out more than 600W, it lowers the voltage to keep under 600W total. Take a 1200W kettle. 1200W / 120V = 10A. 120V / 10A = 12ohms. So the heating coil would be 12ohms. If you put 60V into the kettle, 60V / 12 = 5A. 60V x 5A = 600W. It does claim to have a 1200W surge, but people have found it's not enough surge time to start fans or motors much over 700W.
@@golllluk right. I went into that a bit in my standalone review but as you so nicely explained, since the voltage drops to stay within the max, the appliances you can safely use with this is limited and I’d only recommend using it for cases where you’re only 20-30% over the max so the voltage doesn’t drop too far. The marketing of this feature is problematic because they don’t explain how it works and all the limitations. Both Ecoflow and Bluetti do this so I’m not singling Bluetti out
Now you need to compare Bluetti EB3A vs BougeRV Flash300
The EB3A also has a feature in the app, for hi power or beast mode for powering power tools. That's surprising to see that it wouldn't charge, I would send it back or call their tech support. It may need a reset or update, since it should be covered under their two year coverage.
I was able to recover it after a few days. Was a bad firmware update but it’s working great now
I got the bluetti and so far it has worked fine.
I am happy with it and the safer battery makes me glad I made that choice.
I mainly got it as a power source for my cpap when the electricity goes out.
I discovered that my cpap uses about 50% of the bluetti battery capacity overnight when I use the ac inverter.
It only uses 25% of the capacity if I used the DC to DC converter that allows me to run my cpap from a cigarette lighter.
I do agree that the outlets would be better on the side.
Those are some great runtimes for a CPAP
@@todd.parker : of course, the runtime was without the heater on.
I personally don't like the extra moisture so running without the heater is normal for me.
I don't think the small bluetti would power the cpap all night if the heater was on.
just for the value of charging cycles, bluetti definitely will be a good choice. but the version we can buy from China only offers one power outlet. so probably will wait for newer model.
Eb3a has ups mode and can be used as such.
Wow, this truly was a great review, learned so much! The best review I have seen of these devices. And I was happy to see my choice was not bad.
I just ordered the Ecoflow River Mini Wireless here in Finland. 299€ limited time sales price… We are not getting these things cheap here… 😬
I hope the Mini will not be too small capacity for me when on the road with my small van. I should work 4 times per day with my laptop… Well, I just ordered the XTAR SP100 too, haha… I hope they play well together.
Thanks for mentioning you are in Finland. Your power station & XTAR SP100 solar panel should definitely play well together. In fact, that SP100 Solar panel should play well with any power station.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada U.S.A.
Sounds like a great setup, I think you’ll like it but keep your expectations realistic, 210wh is pretty small
@@todd.parker yes, I have calculated and studied this, I really should have a energe efficient laptop plus I probably anyway have to go and charge the Ecoflow and laptop very often somewhere. Plus we don't have so much sun here in Finland, mostly cloudy days.
One major draw back when charging with the internal AC charger is you can not dual charge the internal battery with 2 solar arrays or add an external battery to boost the run time. The EB55 has a power "brick" but this outputs DC to the Bluetti so you can replace this with a DC input from Solar or a separate LIFEPO4 battery which allows 400W charging.
That's a good point, it sort of lets you dual charge it since there are technically 2 DC inputs. I wish all units had multiple DC inputs like Goal Zero has so you can charge from solar and car at the same time which is a common vanlife scenario. That said, I'm very happy to see slow and loud Bluetti charging bricks to the way of the dodo.
I go with the bluetti EB3A
I purchase the EBT 3 3 am unable to get through to customer service it stopped charging I'm so frustrated right now I don't know what to do thanks for your presentation it's someone helped anyway thank you
Calling is pretty much useless but if you email with the description of your problem, serial number, photos, etc. they should reply within 2-3 business days.
Im curious, during your portable fridge test, did you pre-chilled the fridge or did you run them starting room temp? I have a dometic cf3-45. I was hoping to get at least 24hrs if i pre chill it.
I was not pre chilled but I don’t think a small unit like this is enough to run a fridge for more than a long day trip. I’m traveling now and have a 2,000wh battery running my fridge, phones, and occasionally a small microwave and if I get a rainy day or two, my battery gets really low. I think 600-700wh the smallest battery I’d want for a long weekend with some solar coming in just to have some buffer but o know people get away with less
If you do another review, it would be nice to know if either one of these will run an AC brushed motor like in my Intex DuraBeam mattress.
I'll keep that in mind. So you've had trouble powering an air mattress pump from this kind of unit?
Great comparison. I was debating which of these to get for an upcoming camping trip and ended up with the non-wireless version of the Ecoflow. There's currently a flash sale where they include their 60w solar panel for free, so that sealed the deal
I dont see a 60w free solar panel anywhere on their site?
How did you get the free panel?
@@Toycoma Ecoflow was having flash sales during Prime day. Ecoflow Mini was $199 w/ free solar panel during one of the flash sales. They also had River Pro + 110w panel for $499.
EB3A, $209 with $90 coupon on Amazon, 7/17/22.
EcoFlow has a better app, Bluetti has the better battery chemistry. Bluetti doesn't have the best software, but that can be fixed after purchase, Ecoflow has inferior hardware, that's not something that can be fixed. If EcoFlow implements LFP batteries in newer models, they win, simple as that. I don't mind the extra size and weight if I get significantly better longevity.
And unfortunately with the EB3A I did have it temporarily bricked as well, but letting it drain completely and then recharging it allows you to fix the problem. It'd be nice if there was an easy way in to disconnect and reconnect the battery to reset it, or a method of hard resetting it from outside, but it's at least not a permanent issue.
I hope bluetti comes out with a battery bank to extend the run time of the eb3a. With car charger in to charge both from solar and solar out to boost the eb3a run times.
I don’t see that happening because it would need a special port like the AC200MAX. This is a very small unit so it you need longer runtimes, it’s probably best to get a bigger unit, wish they would update the EB70
I wonder why the AC ground prong openings are so large on many of these units? Do they use them for airflow possibly?
I'm not sure, good question
How do you connect to the River Mini via wifi if you are not home on a shared wifi access point?
You’re logged in so I think the data is transferred via the cloud
thanks for the review comparison. One feature of the eb3a I haven't seen covered is the "power-lifting " , a feature I think could be useful for us campers. I think boiling water, making toast and hair dryers via solar power is pretty cool ...more convenient than the stove, could save propane and be safer(if one is tent bound because of weather). I have the river pro and this feature works great. bluetti power lifting doesn't work. my eb3a only puts out about 350watts for a 1000watt kettle or toaster, not enough to work the device. Unlike the river pro that puts out 600 watts which operates them just fine though slower obviously. btw my river pro froze during and update, I believe due to a starlink internet glitch in the middle of the update. totally bricked it... had to get a new one. I really like the river pro except the battery chemistry.
I covered the power lifting in the EB3A review but honestly don’t see too much use for it unless you’re powering the kinds of appliances you mentioned and they are 20-40% over the limit, not the 2-3x EF and Bluetti claim. It’s odd the EB3A isn’t working but maybe the voltage drops so low it struggles to run.
I think your opinion re the power lifting feature is definitely the mainstream opinion hence not a lot of time or energy goes into testing, or demonstrating. I expected the EB3A TO work like the xboost feature of the ecoflow, which it does in principle but not at all in functionality. Since this is an advertised feature people should know it doesn't work as such. though it could be I have a defective unit.
My EB3A powers up to 600W AC without problems. Won't run a 1000W kettle but my 500W kettle works great.
@@MarkSpohr a 500w kettle shouldn't require powerlift since it is a 600w inverter. the ecoflow has a 600w inverter w/xboost. and powers a 1000w kettle (toaster, hair dryer whatever 1000w appliance) @600w which is slow but the devices work fine. the eb3a with a similarly sized 600w inverter tries to power the same devices, which are within bluetti specifications @~350watts max. which isn't functional for any of the devices. it doesn't keep the wattage up like the EF . Bluetti power lift in my experience is just not a functional system. trying to power a 1000w resistance load @350w has been a non starter for me. hoping for a firmware update someday. I do like most of the rest of the little box a notable exception is the 12v socket which tends to not grip the plugs well.
Also, you mention that the EB3A has a UPS mode, but the River Mini also has pass-through power. So what does the AC output of the River Mini do when you disconnect the AC charging cable?
I also think that the power flows directly from the wall to the appliance with the EB3A while the River Mini may be powering it from the battery and charging it from the wall but I'm not 100% sure. If you have both plugged in and and AC load attached, both with switch from the wall to battery power but the EB3A will do it faster.
Hi todd. My river pro has about 70% charge left. I want to top it off but im afraid iy hurt the batteries. Thsnk you so much😊😊
Charging to 100% is totally fine when actively using it but if you’re leaving it for long term storage, drain it to 70% or so
@@todd.parker tnk u so much😊😊
Good review, but the whole review had the undertone of you liking the River Mini in-spite of all the advantages of the Bluetti . For 21 minutes, I felt as if I was listening to someone try to sale me option A even though option B has better specs for the same price.
I went into it thinking the EB3A would win out because it’s specs look so much stronger on paper but my thinking changed as I saw is that those specs don’t necessarily translate into better real world performance or certain specs like a double size inverter is somewhat pointless on such a small battery and makes it less efficient. My top line opinion is that you really just need to decide if you want to pick a LFP battery or a smaller and nicer designed unit because they perform similarly in the real world. At any larger size, I’d strongly recommend the LFP unit but since this is so portable, it’s more of a toss up.
@@todd.parker I agree, because of the size some of the better specs are obsolete and your review pointed this out well and made some really good real world observations.
I've used my EB3A camping with a 537W kettle and 350W waffle maker. Works great. Make coffee and waffles for 6 people. The River wouldn't work at all.
@@MarkSpohr I took mine out for an entire day at the beach. Usually I go to the beach and leave after a few hours bc it’s too hot, phone is dying and ice is melted, but for the first time in my life I spent the entire day on the beach, the ranger drove by on his 4 wheeler to let us know it was closing time. I powered my fan, the whole family’s phones and portable frig and I kept the eb3a charged with a 160 watt solar panel, best and most comfortable beach day of my life. I’m not a camping person, I’m a beach person and this thing was perfect for it. One of the best impulse buys of my life.
How did you get in touch with Bluetti? I've veen trying now for days. All I get is all phone lines are busy and the in box is full. Unreal. I do like my new power source. But it would be nice to actually get some help if I need it. Since I'm new to all this sort of stuff. Guess I'm still living in the 20th century. Lol Back when you could still get customer service. Lol
I’ve heard their phone support is near useless but if you email, you’re supposed to get a response within 48 hours. Took a bit longer for me but they are pretty good that way.
Also how do I get my Bluetti to go on eco mode? And can I run a 60 watt fridge on eco. Mode? Thanks for some help I can't seem to get from the Bluetti Co. ??
Eco mode is an option on my fridge, not the Bluetti but there are additional settings in the EB3A’s app to save a bit of energy
Eco mode just means that if there is less than 10w(?) load, the Bluetti will turn itself off after a set time. Supposedly you can set it with combinations of power button presses, but using the app is easiest. You still get full power available in eco mode.
My Eb3a is not working like I wanted it to.
In my setup the eb3a is charded with solar and will work as a UPS to power my home-server.
First I had the server hooked up with the AC Output. But everytime it charges the internally battery from 99 to 100% the AC output turns of for 1-2seconds. Enough to shut the server down.
I mitigated this by letting it charge only to 85% (DC Input will be switch on and off).
Yesterday the charge dropped from 80 to 0% in an instant. The server was off and I turn DC on. It was really empty. It took 1-2hours to charge back to 100%. This battery does not track State of Charge very well.
The other downside is the Inverter. This is very inefficient. 34W directly from the Wall. EB3a in between it is 55W.
Bluetooth is for me a plus. This makes shure I dont need internet or a cloud to connect to the EB3a. With a python script I can pull data to my homeserver and control it via MQTT.
Did you say that Jasonoid has a video showing an ecoflow exploding or catching fire? Could you provide a link to that video please? Thanks in advance.
Never mind I found it.
I’ll drop it here in case others need it: ruclips.net/video/1qOM5ih0IHg/видео.html
All I want is a unit that will charge up a very small personal heater for van dwelling. Don't need fridge, laptop, or phone, just something to run a very small personal heater for the desert nights. Any suggestions? Thsnks!
I wouldn't recommend either of these units because they are too small to run a heater for any length of time. Even the smallest electric space heater will use 150-250w so these would be out of juice in an hour or less. Making heat uses a lot of power! I'd look at the Delta 2 since it gives you 1,000wh of power (~5 hours of runtime) and can run bigger appliances if needed. You might want to look into getting an electric blanket too - it's more efficient to heat your body than the air. See Jasonoid's video on it here: ruclips.net/video/PopluGVg-jw/видео.html
If you plugged in a car inverter and then connected an ac device to it, would it be converted to dc power and last longer than if plugged into the eb3a ac outlet?
Technically, you’d be charging it via DC and discharging via AC at the same time which is supported so it would last longer for sure. You charge at about 100w
Does the River mini require a wifi network for the app to work or does it create a network itself? If you’re off the grid there’d be no wifi around.
You can have it join your home Wi-Fi or direct connect which means your phone directly connects to the unit’s Wi-Fi so you can talk to it on the road. I’m doing that now and it works great, in fact it’s more responsive because you’re not going through the cloud
I would be interested in a power station that could increase the output watts. More precisely, on an input current from a generator of 1900 W, I would like to be able to connect between a battery station and get 2100 W on output current from the battery station, i.e. a plus of 200 W. While it could be used as a UPS, MPPT controller for solar panels and be a portable silent power source. Is there such a Powerstation?
I think most work this way because they support passthrough charging which basically routes AC power from the wall directly to the appliance. If you unplug, it would probably trip an overload if it exceeds the inverter
I updated the firmware on my EB3A and now the screen stays on for a full minute. That being said, I wish I had not purchased the EB3A because of the 600 watt inverter. I think a 300 watt inverter would be more suitable for the battery capacity. What I do find useful though is the UPS mode.
Good to hear they updated the screen timeout. I'll have to update my EB3A now. I talked about the limited use of such a large inverter in the video. It's cool for short bursts but I don't know if the overhead is worth it with such a small battery. Those same electronics in a 500wh or 700wh unit would be great.
The idle time issue can be solved by simply turning the EB3 off when not needed.
True, but when you're running smaller AC loads, this overhead reduces also runtimes. Bluetti went for a very large inverter relative to the battery compared to other units that are usually roughly 1:1. It's all about balancing inverter output with the battery size.
@@todd.parker My intended use is for a tear drop camper, running 12 V LED lights and charging phones and a tablet. Thanks for a great review on the EB3.
Got my Eb3a for 208$.
I feel like this video is heavily biased. And that’s fine.
But I got the feel of pushing river. To me for basically the same price you pay a premium for the “look/feel” of the river that will degrade 5x faster.
If you want your money to last as long as possible the Eb3a is just objectively better.
If you prioritize looks and feel over actual longevity then the river is the choice. (Sadly a lot of people now days pick this option)
Just my 2 cents
You also overlooked the fact the Eb3a can power much higher power items vs the river. Not for long sure. But if you need it for some type of emergency the river just can’t power anything requiring a huge power requirement like the Eb3a. 🤷♂️
Just a lot of things you overlooked and didn’t factor in. And based on the video it came off as you did it intentionally.
Both have their pros and cons. I just feel like this video is a very biased look without fully talking about everything they both have and don’t.
Good feedback, thanks. In the beginning of the video I said you pretty much need to decide if size/weight is your priority or battery chemistry and features. I’m a huge fan of LFP but if feel like at this very small size, it might be worth the trade off. Any larger battery should 100% be LFP and I’m not going to review NCM units anymore. Longevity aside, even though the EB3A has better specs, it doesn’t necessarily translate into longer runtimes like with my fridge test - it died hours before the River Mini because of efficiency differences. I talked about the larger inverter as a pro but it’s sort of like having a V8 engine with a 1 gallon gas tank. Yeah, it’s more powerful for peaks but that makes it less efficient and if you need to power loads that large, you need much more capacity. Ultimately I didn’t pick a winner because both are good for their intended purposes and everyone has different priorities
@@todd.parker I agree with you. Any power station / solar generator under 1000Wh is fine running NCM / Lithium-Ion cells. Over 1000Wh capacity? Yeah... LFP / LiFePO4 is a must for longevity. Why? Because you are going to lose portability over 1000Wh in capacity power station / solar generator anyways, so might as well go with the more durable and longer lasting battery chemistry.
Lets not forget how far we've come from SLA or AGM in battery chemistry. NCM or LFP are both substantial upgrades. So cheers for that fact.
I love my eb3a, it powers my refrigerator just fine. Also I have other ways to recharge my unit so the battery power is no problem.
Just after purchasing the EB3A and I have noticed the app is completely different to your one. Maybe they have updated since.
Yep, they did a major redesign recently
Hasn't the Mini been discontinued? I've heard the River 2 is a better option. What're your thoughts??
The new River 2 is a great matchup to the EB3A. Check out my video on the River 2 for details. The River 2 wireless is smaller and has a wireless charger so if that’s important to you, pick one up on sale
most panels over 24 volts are a minimum of 250 watts so even if I wanted to use a 30 volt panel I kant at maximum radianse.
This is a tiny unit, you’d never use a 250w panel
i own a few bluetti products that I have never updated because I always here people have problems after updating. I just bought the EB3A and thought I might as well try updating........what could go wrong with such a small unit, Right? I will not turn on at all now. Not even with the charging cable. I have contacted Bluetti, sent a video and asked for a RMA Number(return of Merchandise ) I initially wanted an exchange at first. Due to their poor customer service and not sending me the return info, I now just want my money back. I only want a small unit with the Lithium ion phosphate for saftey reasons. It does state in ther return policy that they will not accept a return without a RMA number. Guess I will have to hassle Paypals return policy. Such a bummer.
If you still have it, let it drain to 0% then leave it unplugged for 2 days, plug it in and try to connect via Bluetooth in the app. I was able to update the firmware then. Crazy process.
I like Bluetti
Would you recommend EB3A or River 2?
It's a close one but unless you need wireless charging or a really big AC inverter (that will only run for a short time), I'd lean towards the River 2, mostly because of the longer warranty, better support, and better efficiency.
@@todd.parker thanks for the reply! My plan is use it as my motorcycle battery tender power source, since I live in condo my parking spot is far away from power outlet.
The stopped charging pisses me off. I had a RAV small power station that I loved so much but it died in 13 months. I had bought it for power outages but ended up only using it for charging my cell and I didn't have a power outage in the 13 months. I had to get rid of it and it was so frustrating that I had paid over $250 for what amounted to 1 year of phone charging. I was hoping that Bluetti would last longer. I thought they had the new batteries and were better.
The Bluetti ended up coming back to life and is working well. They offered to replace it so you’ve covered if something goes wrong
@@todd.parker Thank you for letting me know. I am looking at replacing my paperweight power station and Bluetti is one of the brands that I am looking at. I know that I want the better batteries to give me half a chance.
In Australia the Bluetti is 3 time the price of the Ecoflow River.
Heh, then Ecoflow 100%. Better support too
Can both of these apps work without any internet connection?
Yep. You can connect to the Bluetti via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with the Ecoflow - the direct connect mode works offline, just join the EF’s Wi-Fi network and control it that way. I used it on a road trip this summer and it was perfect
@@todd.parker Can you download the app without a phone, or do you have to go into the app store? I want to use the power boost feature of the EB3A to boil some water in the morning, and I want to just use a dumb cheap tablet to turn it on....would much rather just a button on the actual device though...
@@IntenseGrid you need to install the app on your iOS or Android device so you need the internet for that
You should have tested the River and not the River Mini against thr EB3A. They have different capacities.
You’re right that the River is closer spec-wise. I felt like that was a pretty old model at this point vs. the Mini but I should have mentioned that in the video.
I think a better comparison would be Bluetti EB3A vs. Ecoflow River in terms of capacity and price range.
Fair. I forget about the regular River because it’s pretty old at this point but you’re right that they are even closer in spec. Considering that the mini held its own
Bluetti EB3A vs EcoFlow River (not the mini) is a much more level comparison.
You refer to this EcoFlow River Mini as 'the River Pro' in the video, this is going to be confusing to people as there is a model called the 'EcoFlow River Pro' (and it's not the one you are reviewing).
Compare it with the Jackery.
Jackery isn’t competitive to Ecoflow and Bluetti. Their 240 has a slow AC charger, no USB-C, no wireless charger, weaker AC output, poor screen, limited solar input, etc. It is well behind these other units on every point and costs the same or more.
@@todd.parker I HAVE 2 BLUETTI AC200P to my home panel. I needed a small one for the green house drip system. Don't need anything you mentioned for that.
@@rockyninja5089 but why would you pay the same amount for an inferior product? If you’re using this non-stop, the EB3A will give you 4-5x the lifespan because it’s the only one with a LFP battery
@@todd.parker in Canada the Bluetti is close to 400, double from Jackery. To run a water pump a few minutes? It'll survive.
@@rockyninja5089 That’s cool. Not sure why you asked the question if you had your mind made up but maybe some else will find this thread useful
These stats make the bluetti a better/safer value: LiFePO4 Battery with 2,500+ Life Cycles to 80%
LFP is the way to go in general but for a tiny unit like this, you might opt for less weight and bulk. Ecoflow has already replaced this with the LFP River 2
Already ordered the EB3A. If I only traveled 2-wheeler, the size might be a difference. But the sidecar has plenty of room. The EB3A will handle my 200w solar panels unlike the River. Wireless charging is a plus as well as a good handle at camp to run radio equipment.
Thank you for the review.are the li ion batteries so vulnerable?? I mean this is so scary. There are millions of power stations woth li ion and not lipo batteries. If the risk is imminent, they should be banned.
99.999% will never have an issue but if they are defective or damaged they start on fire spectacularly so I prefer to avoid them. They also only are rated at 500-800 cycles vs. 3,000 for LFP, are more toxic to manufacture and use nickel and cobalt that are mined in sketchy ways so LFP is just much better all around. It’s less energy dense but power stations that switched chemistry only got a few pounds heavier
You kant kompare the mini to the eb3a…… the EcoFlow River 600 is a better komparison.
Maybe for inverter size but battery size is how we typically group units into size classes
I agree. I wish the Ecoflow River 600 would have been used instead of the mini. 268 wh bluetti and 288 wh river. Seems like a better comparison.
Lifepo4 vs standard lithium.
Yep, that’s the biggest decision to make here
Excellent EcoFlow CUSTOMER SERVICE vs Bluetti's marginal CS is the over riding consideration, in my opinion, NOT BATTERY CHEMISTRY for those of us that will be using any power station to backup the grid if it goes down or for weekend camping trips.
I doubt I'll ever use more than 200 battery cycles & plan to use the "Slow Charge" rate of 200W instead of the 880W "Fast Charge" on my Delta Mini + I'll not let the battery charge drop below 30% B4 recharging 'em.
Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries become THE major consideration for people that will be wanting to power everything in their off grid shelter & know they will be fully discharging those batteries every night. They'll NEED those 2,500 battery cycles.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada.
Hey, this is me Steve and I just saw this
@@stevesheridan3511 it’s a scammer, sorry
@@todd.parker yes sir, I figured that out real fast. I had fun with him though! Got him to the point of asking fir the shipping money. Then I laid it on him! Lol. But for 2 minutes I was hoping...but no email. And your name not attached to the account the message came from was telling.
I certainly could use an ac200p though! 😆
I went with rav power
The shiny polished exterior of the River has the opposite effect on me. I don’t care for it
The light you failed to mention the light that’s not a pro for you
I show the light in the EB3A Pro’s section. They aren’t much of a feature to me but it’s still a pro for some folks
Darn, just received a new unit. All the negative comments have me spooked and I probably better return to amazon. I don’t need a $250.00 cell phone charger that has rotten customer service and bricks right away. Gotta stop buying stuff after watching RUclips reviews.
The screen time needs to be in the app Thats a big fail
I heard the latest firmware changes it to a minute. I agree it should be a setting
Great video .. but customer service isn't that great
I know they are working on improving Bluetti’s support but I agree that it requires patience right now. Email works best. Ecoflow’s support is excellent
River mini lost me when you said had the potential to BLOW UP
Heh, yeah I get it but it's the same battery chemistry in your phone too. I 100% prefer LFP and it's good o see that EF is quickly switching everything over. You should check out the River 2 or River 2 Max - both are very good
River Mini Wirless is not the same as the River Mini & both don’t have USB kwik 4arge (charge)
They are pretty much the same except for the matte vs. shiny case, charging pad, and included cables
I like them both but I think the Bluetti is better because of the battery chemistry - That said it sounds like a Horror Story about their Customer Service Department and I have read that comment everywhere after months of researching them every place
Now that Ecoflow has their LFP River 2, things have gotten interesting
Why the piano black?!?!?! It looks great until you start using the product. Piano black is for stuff that sits in the house and never gets moved, not a portable power station. One camping trip and that polished mirror finish will be ruined.
Yeah it not the most rugged finish! The non-wireless version is matte black if the fingerprints are a problem
@@todd.parker I'm more worried about the scratches it will get, but it's for camping and things like that so I guess looks doesn't matter for that. It does look sharp and is very compact.
Can't go wrong with either unit. Thanks for the review!
@@todd.parker ps are you going to test the EB3a again when you get a working unit. It breaking worries me and it may not have been a fully functioning unit to begin with.
Seems like a lot of work for you and it may not be worth it, but I do wonder if another unit would perform better.
@@SteveJud43 I did an in-depth review of the EB3A you can check out. I was able to recover my unit and now it’s working great again so it was a case of bad firmware, not a hardware issue and Bluetti offered to replace the unit so you should feel confident buying one
standby losses..who cares..turn it off, not a negative IMHO
It’s important because that’s overhead. If you have a power station that uses 20w/hr as soon as you turn on the port and you’re charging a phone at 5w, you’re wasting 15w. Once your phone is charged, if you don’t immediately unplug it and shut off the port, you’re wasting additional power so it all adds up, especially with a smaller battery. It’s also indicative of how efficient the electronics are.
600 watts is not massive, you kant even run a kook top or electrik kettle with their normal operation.
It is relative to the battery size. It’s all about proportions
I'll take the one that won't explode,💥💣 and burn my bus to the ground.😖😎
Fair. Now there’s the LFP River 2 though…
You kant konnekt from anywhere with the EcoFlow the WiFi needs to be konnekted to a router, which Walmart, McDonolds, & Starbucks will not allow so getting Firm Ware is impossible, so when you device bricks itself bekause of a Firm Wear error you are fkd….. so it is not portable.
If you’re at home it connects to your Wi-Fi and you can control it from anywhere. On the road you can direct connect via Wi-Fi which is actually more responsive
BLUETTI SUCKS ! THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS BAD !
I agree their service is…problematic right now. Let’s hope they figure this out
ecoflow is so shit it got banned in my country lol
What country was Ecoflow banned from selling in?
What Country? Not telling us which country equates to your comment as having no more substance than the tooth fairy.