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AC70 vs RIVER 3

1,000W
Running power
300W
768 Wh
Battery
245 Wh
22.5 lbs
Weight
7.7 lbs

At a Glance

This comparison targets buyers choosing between a mid-capacity portable station and an ultralight compact unit. The Bluetti AC70 delivers 1000W of running power with 768 Wh of capacity, while the EcoFlow RIVER 3 offers 300W and 245 Wh.

That gap matters for device coverage: the AC70 powered 24 out of 53 tested devices compared to 17 for the RIVER 3, and every device the RIVER 3 can handle, the AC70 handles too. Solar recharge speed favors the AC70 as well, with a 500W max input that fills the battery in roughly 2.7 hours versus 3.2 hours on the RIVER 3's 110W input.

Both use LFP cells rated for 3,000 cycles, and neither supports expansion batteries or UPS functionality. The tradeoff is weight: the RIVER 3 comes in at just 7.7 lbs, less than half the AC70's 22.5 lbs, making it far easier to toss in a daypack or carry on a hike.

AC70

Overall Winner

AC70

Powers 24 of 53 tested devices vs 17 for RIVER 3

Home backup: AC70 RV / mobile: RIVER 3 Solar: AC70

AC70 wins overall, but the best pick depends on your use case.

Choose AC70 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 23)

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 | AC70 leads
AC70 768 Wh
RIVER 3 245 Wh

AC70: +523 Wh (+213.5%).

Running Power

Higher is better | Scale max: 1,000 W | AC70 leads
AC70 1,000 W
RIVER 3 300 W

AC70: +700 W (+233.3%).

Surge Power

Higher is better | Scale max: 2,000 W | AC70 leads
AC70 2,000 W
RIVER 3 600 W

AC70: +1,400 W (+233.3%).

Weight

Lower is better | Scale best: 7.7 lbs | RIVER 3 leads
AC70 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg)
RIVER 3 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)

RIVER 3: -14.8 lbs (65.7% lighter).

Battery Life

Higher is better | Scale max: 3,000 cycles | Tie
AC70 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 draw more continuous watts than either station can deliver.

2-Slice Bread Toaster

Coffee Maker

Digital Air Fryer

Electric Skillet

Electric Stove (Single Burner)

Electric Water Kettle

Instant Pot (6 Qt)

Microwave Oven (1000W)

Toaster Oven

RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)

Sump Pump (1/2 HP)

EV Charger (Level 1, 120V)

Central AC (3-Ton)

Gas Furnace Fan (Blower)

Portable AC (12,000 BTU)

Space Heater (1,500W)

Dehumidifier (70 Pint)

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)

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 AC70 RIVER 3
Capacity 768 Wh 245 Wh
Running Power 1,000 W 300 W
Surge Power 2,000 W 600 W
Weight 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)
Energy Density 75.3 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.

AC70

Faster
Max solar input 500 W
Connector XT60
Full charge time ~2.7h
Compatible panels 19/20

MPPT: 12-58V

RIVER 3

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

MPPT: 11-30V

Charge speed comparison

~2.7h
~3.2h

Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)

Device Compatibility

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

AC70RIVER 3

Emergency(2)

1/2
1/2
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Desktop PC (Gaming/Workstation)Tight0.5hFailN/A
TelevisionSafe3.2hSafe1h

EV & Transportation(2)

1/2
1/2
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
E-Bike Battery ChargerSafe2.7hSafe0.9h
EV Charger (Level 1, 120V)FailN/AFailN/A

Heating & Cooling(7)

1/7
1/7
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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 CookerTight0.6hFailN/A
Slow CookerSafe1.8hTight0.6h
Toaster OvenFailN/AFailN/A

Large Appliances(4)

1/4
1/4
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 3Runtime
Electric BlanketSafe3hSafe1h
Professional Hair DryerFailN/AFailN/A

Power Tools(5)

0/5
0/5
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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
DeviceAC70RuntimeRIVER 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

Pick the AC70 if you need real home-backup muscle or want to run higher-draw appliances; its 1000W output and 768 Wh capacity cover significantly more gear. 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 AC70 is the stronger buy, earning a 46.5 score versus 33 for the RIVER 3 and covering a wider range of devices.

AC70 vs RIVER 3 FAQ

Q Which is better for home backup, AC70 or RIVER 3?

AC70 is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.

Q Which has longer runtime, AC70 or RIVER 3?

AC70 has higher battery capacity (768 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.

Q Which charges faster with solar panels?

AC70 has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.

Q Which is more portable, AC70 or RIVER 3?

RIVER 3 is lighter at 7.7 lbs vs 22.5 lbs. RIVER 3 is rated ultralight for portability.

Q How many devices can each power station run?

AC70 powers 24 of 53 tested devices, compared to 17 for RIVER 3.