Capacity
Higher is better | Scale max: 1,152 Wh | AC180 leads
AC180 1,152 Wh
RIVER 2 Max 512 Wh
AC180: +640 Wh (+125.0%).
AC180 vs RIVER 2 Max
1,800W
Running power
500W
1,152 Wh
Battery
512 Wh
36.2 lbs
Weight
13.4 lbs
At a Glance
This comparison targets buyers weighing raw capacity against grab-and-go portability. The AC180 delivers 1,800W of running power and 1,152 Wh of stored energy, enough to cover 39 out of 53 devices in our compatibility testing. The RIVER 2 Max manages 500W and 512 Wh, handling 20 of those same 53 devices.
That gap shows up in real scenarios: the Bluetti unit can sustain higher-draw appliances for home backup and supports UPS switching at 20 ms, while the EcoFlow tops out at lighter loads like laptops and small electronics. Solar recharge favors the AC180 as well, accepting up to 500W of panel input versus 220W for the RIVER 2 Max. The tradeoff is weight.
At 36.2 lbs the AC180 is nearly three times heavier than the 13.4 lb RIVER 2 Max, a real factor for camping or travel.
Overall Winner
AC180
Powers 39 of 53 tested devices vs 20 for RIVER 2 Max
Home backup: AC180 RV / mobile: RIVER 2 Max Solar: AC180
AC180 wins overall, but the best pick depends on your use case.
Choose AC180 if...
- + You want faster solar recharging
- + Built-in UPS with 20ms switchover
- + You want broader device compatibility
- + You need all-day runtime headroom
Choose RIVER 2 Max if...
- + Portability matters (13 lbs vs 36)
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.
Running Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 1,800 W | AC180 leads
AC180 1,800 W
RIVER 2 Max 500 W
AC180: +1,300 W (+260.0%).
Surge Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 2,700 W | AC180 leads
AC180 2,700 W
RIVER 2 Max 1,000 W
AC180: +1,700 W (+170.0%).
Weight
Lower is better | Scale best: 13.4 lbs | RIVER 2 Max leads
AC180 36.2 lbs (16.4 kg)
RIVER 2 Max 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg)
RIVER 2 Max: -22.7 lbs (62.8% lighter).
Battery Life
Higher is better | Scale max: 3,500 cycles | AC180 leads
AC180 3,500 cycles
RIVER 2 Max 3,000 cycles
AC180: +500 cycles (+16.7%).
Where Compatibility Actually Differs
Out of 53 devices tested, 19 show a different result between these two stations.
Both can run: 20 · Differences: 36% (19/53) · Neither can run: 14
Only AC180 can run 19
2-Slice Bread Toaster RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Coffee Maker RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Digital Air Fryer RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Electric Skillet RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Electric Stove (Single Burner) RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Electric Water Kettle RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Instant Pot (6 Qt) RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Toaster Oven RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Rice Cooker RIVER 2 Max: Running shortfall
Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Space Heater (1,500W) RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Window AC (8,000 BTU) RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Dishwasher RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Washing Machine RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Desktop PC (Gaming/Workstation) RIVER 2 Max: Running shortfall
EV Charger (Level 1, 120V) RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Portable Ice Maker (Countertop) RIVER 2 Max: Surge shortfall
Professional Hair Dryer RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Laser Printer RIVER 2 Max: Running + surge shortfall
Neither can run · 14 devices
These devices have startup surges that exceed both stations.
Microwave Oven (1000W)
Central AC (3-Ton)
Dehumidifier (70 Pint)
Portable AC (12,000 BTU)
Electric Clothes Dryer
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)
Sump Pump (1/2 HP)
Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)
Well Pump (1 HP)
Circular Saw (Corded)
Corded Drill / Hammer Drill
Electric Chainsaw (14-inch)
Pancake Air Compressor (6-Gallon)
Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | AC180 | RIVER 2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,152 Wh ✓ | 512 Wh |
| Running Power | 1,800 W ✓ | 500 W |
| Surge Power | 2,700 W ✓ | 1,000 W |
| Weight | 36.2 lbs (16.4 kg) | 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg) ✓ |
| Energy Density | 70.2 Wh/kg | 83.9 Wh/kg ✓ |
| Portability Tier | portable | ultralight |
| Chemistry | LFP | LFP |
| Cycle Life | 3,500 ✓ | 3,000 |
| Expandable | No | No |
| UPS | Yes (20 ms) | No |
| AC Voltage | 120V | 120V |
Solar Charging
Best-case charging profile using compatible solar panels.
AC180
Max solar input 500 W
Connector DC7909
Full charge time ~4.1h
Compatible panels 19/20
MPPT: 12-60V
RIVER 2 Max
Faster Max solar input 220 W
Connector XT60i
Full charge time ~3.3h
Compatible panels 17/20
MPPT: 11-50V
Charge speed comparison
Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)
Device Compatibility
All tested devices grouped by category. Click a category to expand.
AC180RIVER 2 Max
Emergency(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
| Device | AC180 | Runtime | RIVER 2 Max | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Size Freezer (15-17 Cu. Ft.) | Safe | 5h | Safe | 2.2h |
| Sump Pump (1/2 HP) | Soft Start | 0.7h | Fail | N/A |
Entertainment(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
EV & Transportation(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
Heating & Cooling(7)
4/71/7
4/7
1/7
| Device | AC180 | Runtime | RIVER 2 Max | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Fan (20-inch) | Safe | 9.7h | Safe | 4.3h |
| Central AC (3-Ton) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Dehumidifier (70 Pint) | Soft Start | 0.9h | Fail | N/A |
| Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) | Tight | 0.8h | Fail | N/A |
| Portable AC (12,000 BTU) | Soft Start | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
| Space Heater (1,500W) | Safe | 0.5h | Fail | N/A |
| Window AC (8,000 BTU) | Safe | 1.1h | Fail | N/A |
Home Infrastructure(3)
1/31/3
1/3
1/3
| Device | AC180 | Runtime | RIVER 2 Max | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Water Heater (50 Gal) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Garage Door Opener (Residential) | Safe | 4.5h | Safe | 2h |
| Well Pump (1 HP) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
Kitchen Appliances(11)
10/111/11
10/11
1/11
| Device | AC180 | Runtime | RIVER 2 Max | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Slice Bread Toaster | Safe | 0.5h | Fail | N/A |
| Coffee Maker | Safe | 0.5h | Fail | N/A |
| Digital Air Fryer | Tight | 0.5h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Skillet | Safe | 0.5h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Stove (Single Burner) | Tight | 0.4h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Water Kettle | Safe | 0.5h | Fail | N/A |
| Instant Pot (6 Qt) | Safe | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
| Microwave Oven (1000W) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Rice Cooker | Safe | 0.9h | Fail | N/A |
| Slow Cooker | Safe | 2.7h | Safe | 1.2h |
| Toaster Oven | Tight | 0.4h | Fail | N/A |
Large Appliances(4)
3/41/4
3/4
1/4
| Device | AC180 | Runtime | RIVER 2 Max | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | Tight | 0.4h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| French Door Refrigerator | Safe | 3.9h | Safe | 1.7h |
| Washing Machine | Safe | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
Medical(4)
4/44/4
4/4
4/4
Outdoor & RV(6)
5/64/6
5/6
4/6
Personal Care(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
Power Tools(5)
0/50/5
0/5
0/5
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The Bottom Line
Choose the AC180 if you need serious home backup capacity, higher wattage device support, or faster solar charging from a larger panel array. Pick the RIVER 2 Max if portability is the priority and your power needs stay under 500W.
The AC180 is the clear winner here, scoring 73.5 to the RIVER 2 Max's 40 and powering nearly twice as many tested devices. In our 53-device benchmark, AC180 powers 39 devices and RIVER 2 Max powers 20.
AC180 vs RIVER 2 Max FAQ
Q Which is better for home backup, AC180 or RIVER 2 Max?
AC180 is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.
Q Which has longer runtime, AC180 or RIVER 2 Max?
AC180 has higher battery capacity (1,152 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.
Q Which charges faster with solar panels?
RIVER 2 Max has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.
Q Which is more portable, AC180 or RIVER 2 Max?
RIVER 2 Max is lighter at 13.4 lbs vs 36.2 lbs. RIVER 2 Max is rated ultralight for portability.
Q How many devices can each power station run?
AC180 powers 39 of 53 tested devices, compared to 20 for RIVER 2 Max.
Q Does AC180 or RIVER 2 Max have UPS mode for power outages?
Only AC180 has UPS (uninterruptible power supply) mode with a 20ms switchover time, which keeps connected devices running during a power outage without interruption.