EcoFlow RIVER 3 vs Jackery Explorer 300
Same bench, same derating, same five axes. Our pick: EcoFlow RIVER 3 (WattScore 82 vs 74) — but the right answer depends on which spec you're buying for. The table settles it.
★ Bench pick
EcoFlow
RIVER 3
desk backup and weekend car camping
Under $300 · LFP
Jackery
Explorer 300
budget entry point, light duty
Under $300 · NMC
| Spec | EcoFlow RIVER 3 | Jackery Explorer 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 245 Wh | 293 Wh ◂ |
| AC output | 300 W | 300 W |
| Surge | 600 W ◂ | 500 W |
| Weight | 7.8 lb | 7.1 lb ◂ |
| Solar input | 110 W ◂ | 100 W |
| AC outlets | 2 | 2 |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 1 |
| Chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Fast charge to 80% | 30 min | — |
Modeled runtime, reference loads
Full-Size Refrigerator · 150W
Modern 18–22 cu ft units average 100–200W while the compressor runs, cycling roughly a third of each hour. The 1,000W+ startup surge is what disqualifies small stations — capacity is rarely the first problem.
CPAP Machine (no humidifier) · 40W
A bare CPAP draws 30–60W. Turning on the heated humidifier roughly triples draw to ~90–150W — budget for it if you use one. Use the DC adapter where available; it skips inverter losses and buys ~20% more runtime.
The verdict
Buy the EcoFlow RIVER 3 if you want the better all-rounder — it takes the WattScore 82 to 74 on our bench, and it's the stronger pick for desk backup and weekend car camping.
The Jackery Explorer 300 still makes sense if its strengths line up with your use case — it's positioned as budget entry point, light duty, and per-row wins in the table above show exactly where it pulls ahead. Cross-check both against your actual loads with the runtime calculator before deciding.