GoKawiilis a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.
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If you’re in the market for a tiny power station that punches well above its size and weight then have a look at EcoFlow’s new fourth-generation River series.
The River 260 Gen4 features a 256Wh capacity battery while the 520 Gen4 packs in 512Wh — storing about 2.5x and 5x the energy of the largest airline-approved power banks, respectively. Better yet, the batteries are built using longer-lasting LFP chemistry that’s far less volatile. The River 260 Gen4 features four USB ports, and 300W of max continuous output delivered out its lone AC jack. The River 500 Gen4 features the same USB port selection but offers a pair of AC jacks good for 500W of continuous output.
Both of EcoFlow’s Gen4 power stations feature class-leading energy density that cuts both the weight and size, making these power stations lighter and more compact than similarly-specced competition. That makes them ideal for an overnight camping trip or photo shoot in the literal field. The EcoFlow 520 Gen4 is powerful enough to keep a standard US fridge running for about 4 hours during a blackout.
EcoFlow’s River 520 Gen4 can power a fridge much larger than the one pictured. Image: EcoFlow EcoFlow’s River 260 Gen4 has just one AC outlet with only 300W out, but all the same USB ports. Image: EcoFlow
Here’s a quick comparison to show just how much energy these remarkably small power stations are packing, starting with the River 520 Gen4:
Power Station Capacity (Wh) Dimensions (W × D × H) Volume (Liters) Weight Volumetric Energy Density (Wh/L) EcoFlow RIVER 520 Gen4 512 Wh 13.9 × 17.7 × 22.9 cm 5.63 L 4.6 kg (10.1 lbs) 90.9 Wh/L EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 512 Wh 27.0 × 26.0 × 19.6 cm 13.76 L 6.1 kg (13.4 lbs) 37.2 Wh/L Anker 535 512 Wh 29.2 × 18.8 × 25.1 cm 13.78 L 7.6 kg (16.8 lbs) 37.2 Wh/L Bluetti AC50B 448 Wh 28.0 × 20.0 × 22.0 cm 12.32 L 6.7 kg (14.8 lbs) 36.4 Wh/L
And here’s how the River 260 Gen4 compares to some of the main competition:
Power Station Capacity (Wh) Dimensions (W × D × H) Volume (Liters) Weight Volumetric Energy Density (Wh/L) EcoFlow RIVER 260 Gen4 256 Wh 13.9 × 17.7 × 17.5 cm 4.30 L 3.0 kg (6.6 lbs) 59.5 Wh/L EcoFlow RIVER 2 256 Wh 24.5 × 21.4 × 14.2 cm 7.44 L 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) 34.4 Wh/L Anker Solix C300 288 Wh 16.4 × 16.1 × 24.0 cm 6.34 L 4.1 kg (9.1 lbs) 45.4 Wh/L Bluetti EB3A 268.8 Wh 25.5 × 18.0 × 18.3 cm 8.40 L 4.6 kg (10.1 lbs) 32.0 Wh/L
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