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SOLIX C800 Plus vs RIVER 3

1,200W
Running power
300W
768 Wh
Battery
245 Wh
24 lbs
Weight
7.7 lbs

At a Glance

This comparison targets buyers deciding between a mid-size portable power station and an ultralight option built for minimal loads. The SOLIX C800 Plus delivers 1200W of running power and 768 Wh of capacity, while the RIVER 3 tops out at 300W and 245 Wh.

That gap shows up in real-world device coverage: the C800 Plus powered 24 out of 53 tested devices compared to 17 for the RIVER 3, and every device the RIVER 3 handled, the C800 Plus handled too. Solar recharge speeds favor the Anker unit as well, with a 300W max input versus 110W on the EcoFlow.

Both use LFP chemistry rated for 3,000 cycles, so longevity is a wash. The tradeoff is weight: the RIVER 3 comes in at just 7.7 lbs, roughly a third of the C800 Plus at 24 lbs, making it far easier to toss in a daypack or carry on a hike.

SOLIX C800 Plus

Overall Winner

SOLIX C800 Plus

Powers 24 of 53 tested devices vs 17 for RIVER 3

Home backup: SOLIX C800 Plus RV / mobile: RIVER 3 Solar: SOLIX C800 Plus

SOLIX C800 Plus wins overall, but the best pick depends on your use case.

Choose SOLIX C800 Plus if...

  • + You want faster solar recharging
  • + You want broader device compatibility
  • + You need all-day runtime headroom

Choose RIVER 3 if...

  • + Portability matters (8 lbs vs 24)

Spec Snapshot

Absolute values shown. Bars are scaled within this comparison for readability.

Each metric is independent. Bar lengths are not comparable across different compare pages.

Capacity

Higher is better | Scale max: 768 Wh | SOLIX C800 Plus leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 768 Wh
RIVER 3 245 Wh

SOLIX C800 Plus: +523 Wh (+213.5%).

Running Power

Higher is better | Scale max: 1,200 W | SOLIX C800 Plus leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 1,200 W
RIVER 3 300 W

SOLIX C800 Plus: +900 W (+300.0%).

Surge Power

Higher is better | Scale max: 1,600 W | SOLIX C800 Plus leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 1,600 W
RIVER 3 600 W

SOLIX C800 Plus: +1,000 W (+166.7%).

Weight

Lower is better | Scale best: 7.7 lbs | RIVER 3 leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 24.0 lbs (10.9 kg)
RIVER 3 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)

RIVER 3: -16.3 lbs (67.9% lighter).

Battery Life

Higher is better | Scale max: 3,000 cycles | Tie
SOLIX C800 Plus 3,000 cycles
RIVER 3 3,000 cycles

Delta: Tie (0%).

Where Compatibility Actually Differs

Out of 53 devices tested, 7 show a different result between these two stations.

Same result: 87%

Both can run: 17 · Differences: 13% (7/53) · Neither can run: 29

Neither can run · 29 devices

These devices exceed both stations on running power and surge.

Digital Air Fryer

Electric Stove (Single Burner)

Microwave Oven (1000W)

Toaster Oven

2-Slice Bread Toaster

Coffee Maker

Electric Skillet

Electric Water Kettle

Instant Pot (6 Qt)

RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)

Sump Pump (1/2 HP)

EV Charger (Level 1, 120V)

Central AC (3-Ton)

Portable AC (12,000 BTU)

Space Heater (1,500W)

Dehumidifier (70 Pint)

Gas Furnace Fan (Blower)

Window AC (8,000 BTU)

Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)

Well Pump (1 HP)

Electric Clothes Dryer

Dishwasher

Washing Machine

Professional Hair Dryer

Circular Saw (Corded)

Electric Chainsaw (14-inch)

Pancake Air Compressor (6-Gallon)

Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)

Corded Drill / Hammer Drill

Full Specs Comparison

Spec SOLIX C800 Plus RIVER 3
Capacity 768 Wh 245 Wh
Running Power 1,200 W 300 W
Surge Power 1,600 W 600 W
Weight 24.0 lbs (10.9 kg) 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)
Energy Density 70.5 Wh/kg 70.0 Wh/kg
Portability Tier portable ultralight
Chemistry LFP LFP
Cycle Life 3,000 3,000
Expandable No No
UPS No No
AC Voltage 120V 120V

Solar Charging

Best-case charging profile using compatible solar panels.

SOLIX C800 Plus

Max solar input 300 W
Connector XT60
Full charge time ~3.7h
Compatible panels 19/20

MPPT: 11-60V

RIVER 3

Faster
Max solar input 110 W
Connector XT60i
Full charge time ~3.2h
Compatible panels 12/20

MPPT: 11-30V

Charge speed comparison

~3.7h
~3.2h

Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)

Device Compatibility

All tested devices grouped by category. Click a category to expand.

SOLIX C800 PlusRIVER 3

Emergency(2)

1/2
1/2
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Full-Size Freezer (15-17 Cu. Ft.)Safe3.4hSafe1.1h
Sump Pump (1/2 HP)FailN/AFailN/A

Entertainment(2)

2/2
1/2
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Desktop PC (Gaming/Workstation)Safe0.5hFailN/A
TelevisionSafe3.2hSafe1h

EV & Transportation(2)

1/2
1/2
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
E-Bike Battery ChargerSafe2.7hSafe0.9h
EV Charger (Level 1, 120V)FailN/AFailN/A

Heating & Cooling(7)

1/7
1/7
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Box Fan (20-inch)Safe6.5hSafe2.1h
Central AC (3-Ton)Voltage FailN/AVoltage FailN/A
Dehumidifier (70 Pint)FailN/AFailN/A
Gas Furnace Fan (Blower)FailN/AFailN/A
Portable AC (12,000 BTU)FailN/AFailN/A
Space Heater (1,500W)FailN/AFailN/A
Window AC (8,000 BTU)Soft Start0.8hFailN/A

Home Infrastructure(3)

1/3
1/3
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)Voltage FailN/AVoltage FailN/A
Garage Door Opener (Residential)Safe3hSafe1h
Well Pump (1 HP)Voltage FailN/AVoltage FailN/A

Kitchen Appliances(11)

2/11
1/11
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
2-Slice Bread ToasterFailN/AFailN/A
Coffee MakerFailN/AFailN/A
Digital Air FryerFailN/AFailN/A
Electric SkilletFailN/AFailN/A
Electric Stove (Single Burner)FailN/AFailN/A
Electric Water KettleFailN/AFailN/A
Instant Pot (6 Qt)FailN/AFailN/A
Microwave Oven (1000W)FailN/AFailN/A
Rice CookerSafe0.6hFailN/A
Slow CookerSafe1.8hTight0.6h
Toaster OvenFailN/AFailN/A

Large Appliances(4)

1/4
1/4
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
DishwasherFailN/AFailN/A
Electric Clothes DryerVoltage FailN/AVoltage FailN/A
French Door RefrigeratorSafe2.6hSafe0.8h
Washing MachineFailN/AFailN/A

Medical(4)

4/4
2/4
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
CPAP MachineSafe9.6hSafe3.1h
Electric Wheelchair ChargerSafe1.6hFailN/A
Medical Nebulizer MachineSafe4.9hSafe1.6h
Portable Oxygen ConcentratorSafe1.5hFailN/A

Outdoor & RV(6)

5/6
4/6
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Pellet GrillSafe5.6hSafe1.8h
Portable Electric CoolerSafe9hSafe2.9h
Portable FanSafe8.8hSafe2.8h
Portable Ice Maker (Countertop)Safe1.5hFailN/A
Portable ProjectorSafe2.7hSafe0.9h
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)FailN/AFailN/A

Personal Care(2)

1/2
1/2
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Electric BlanketSafe3hSafe1h
Professional Hair DryerFailN/AFailN/A

Power Tools(5)

0/5
0/5
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Circular Saw (Corded)FailN/AFailN/A
Corded Drill / Hammer DrillFailN/AFailN/A
Electric Chainsaw (14-inch)FailN/AFailN/A
Pancake Air Compressor (6-Gallon)FailN/AFailN/A
Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)FailN/AFailN/A

Work from Home(5)

5/5
3/5
DeviceSOLIX C800 PlusRuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
LaptopSafe1.5hFailN/A
Laser PrinterSafe0.8hFailN/A
Monitor (27-inch LCD)Safe9.8hSafe3.1h
Starlink SystemSafe5.4hSafe1.7h
WiFi RouterSafe7.2hSafe2.3h

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The Bottom Line

Choose the SOLIX C800 Plus if you need to run higher-draw appliances, want broader device compatibility, or plan to pair with larger solar panels for faster off-grid charging. The RIVER 3 makes sense for travelers and minimalists who prioritize portability over power and only need to charge phones, laptops, and small electronics. Overall, the C800 Plus is the stronger pick, scoring 48.5 versus 33, and it earns the win for buyers who want a single station that covers the widest range of everyday and backup power needs.

SOLIX C800 Plus vs RIVER 3 FAQ

Q Which is better for home backup, SOLIX C800 Plus or RIVER 3?

SOLIX C800 Plus is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.

Q Which has longer runtime, SOLIX C800 Plus or RIVER 3?

SOLIX C800 Plus has higher battery capacity (768 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.

Q Which charges faster with solar panels?

RIVER 3 has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.

Q Which is more portable, SOLIX C800 Plus or RIVER 3?

RIVER 3 is lighter at 7.7 lbs vs 24 lbs. RIVER 3 is rated ultralight for portability.

Q How many devices can each power station run?

SOLIX C800 Plus powers 24 of 53 tested devices, compared to 17 for RIVER 3.