AC180 vs RIVER 2 Pro

This comparison targets buyers choosing between a mid-capacity portable power station and a lighter, more modest unit for camping, tailgating, or light home backup. The AC180 delivers 1800W of running power and 1152 Wh of capacity, while the RIVER 2 Pro tops out at 800W and 768 Wh. That gap shows up clearly in device coverage: the AC180 powered 39 out of 53 tested devices compared to just 22 for the RIVER 2 Pro.

Solar recharge is another differentiator. The AC180 accepts up to 500W of solar input and refills in roughly 4.1 hours; the RIVER 2 Pro maxes out at 220W with a 5-hour charge window. It also offers 20ms UPS switching, a feature the RIVER 2 Pro lacks entirely.

The tradeoff is weight: at 36.2 lbs, the AC180 is nearly double the RIVER 2 Pro's 18.3 lbs, which matters for backpacking or frequent vehicle loading.

Buyers who need to run higher-draw appliances, want faster solar charging, or rely on UPS functionality for home backup should pick the AC180. The RIVER 2 Pro makes sense for users who prioritize portability above all else and only need to power smaller devices like phones, laptops, and LED lights. With a compatibility score of 73.5 versus 44 and almost twice the device coverage, the AC180 is the clear winner in this matchup.