Capacity
Higher is better | Scale max: 768 Wh | RIVER 2 Pro leads
RIVER 2 Pro 768 Wh
Explorer 500 518.4 Wh
RIVER 2 Pro: +250 Wh (+48.1%).
RIVER 2 Pro vs Explorer 500
VS
800W
Running power
500W
768 Wh
Battery
518.4 Wh
18.3 lbs
Weight
13.2 lbs
At a Glance
This comparison targets campers, tailgaters, and light home-backup users deciding between two mid-range portable power stations. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro delivers 800W of running power and 768 Wh of capacity, giving it a clear edge over the Jackery Explorer 500's 500W output and 518.4 Wh battery. LFP chemistry in the RIVER 2 Pro supports around 3,000 charge cycles, nearly four times the Explorer 500's roughly 800 cycles, which matters if you plan years of regular use.
Solar recharging also favors EcoFlow: a 220W max input fills the battery in about 5 hours, while the Explorer 500 tops out at 112.5W and needs roughly 6.6 hours. In device-compatibility testing across 53 products, the RIVER 2 Pro powered 22 devices versus 20 for the Explorer 500. The tradeoff is weight.
At 13.2 lbs, the Explorer 500 is about 5 lbs lighter, a real advantage for hikers and anyone prioritizing portability over capacity.
Overall Winner
RIVER 2 Pro
Powers 22 of 53 tested devices vs 20 for Explorer 500
Home backup: RIVER 2 Pro RV / mobile: Tie Solar: RIVER 2 Pro
Choose RIVER 2 Pro if...
- + You value battery longevity (LFP, 3,000 cycles)
- + You want faster solar recharging
- + You want broader device compatibility
- + You need all-day runtime headroom
Choose Explorer 500 if...
- + Portability matters for your setup
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: 800 W | RIVER 2 Pro leads
RIVER 2 Pro 800 W
Explorer 500 500 W
RIVER 2 Pro: +300 W (+60.0%).
Surge Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 1,600 W | RIVER 2 Pro leads
RIVER 2 Pro 1,600 W
Explorer 500 1,000 W
RIVER 2 Pro: +600 W (+60.0%).
Weight
Lower is better | Scale best: 13.2 lbs | Explorer 500 leads
RIVER 2 Pro 18.3 lbs (8.3 kg)
Explorer 500 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg)
Explorer 500: -5.1 lbs (27.7% lighter).
Battery Life
Higher is better | Scale max: 3,000 cycles | RIVER 2 Pro leads
RIVER 2 Pro 3,000 cycles
Explorer 500 800 cycles
RIVER 2 Pro: +2,200 cycles (+275.0%).
Where Compatibility Actually Differs
Out of 53 devices tested, 2 show a different result between these two stations.
Both can run: 20 · Differences: 4% (2/53) · Neither can run: 31
Neither can run · 31 devices
These devices exceed both stations on running power and surge.
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)
Sump Pump (1/2 HP)
Desktop PC (Gaming/Workstation)
EV Charger (Level 1, 120V)
Central AC (3-Ton)
Dehumidifier (70 Pint)
Gas Furnace Fan (Blower)
Portable AC (12,000 BTU)
Space Heater (1,500W)
Window AC (8,000 BTU)
Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)
Well Pump (1 HP)
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)
Rice Cooker
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 | RIVER 2 Pro | Explorer 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 768 Wh ✓ | 518.4 Wh |
| Running Power | 800 W ✓ | 500 W |
| Surge Power | 1,600 W ✓ | 1,000 W |
| Weight | 18.3 lbs (8.3 kg) | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) ✓ |
| Energy Density | 92.5 Wh/kg ✓ | 86.4 Wh/kg |
| Portability Tier | ultralight | ultralight |
| Chemistry | LFP | Other |
| Cycle Life | 3,000 ✓ | 800 |
| Expandable | No | No |
| UPS | No | No |
| AC Voltage | 120V | 120V |
Solar Charging
Best-case charging profile using compatible solar panels.
RIVER 2 Pro
Faster Max solar input 220 W
Connector XT60i
Full charge time ~5.0h
Compatible panels 17/20
MPPT: 11-50V
Explorer 500
Max solar input 112.5 W
Connector DC7909
Full charge time ~6.6h
Compatible panels 12/20
MPPT: 12-30V
Charge speed comparison
Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)
Device Compatibility
All tested devices grouped by category. Click a category to expand.
RIVER 2 ProExplorer 500
Emergency(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Entertainment(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
EV & Transportation(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Heating & Cooling(7)
1/71/7
1/7
1/7
| Device | RIVER 2 Pro | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Fan (20-inch) | Safe | 6.5h | Safe | 4.4h |
| Central AC (3-Ton) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Dehumidifier (70 Pint) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Portable AC (12,000 BTU) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Space Heater (1,500W) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Window AC (8,000 BTU) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Home Infrastructure(3)
1/31/3
1/3
1/3
| Device | RIVER 2 Pro | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Water Heater (50 Gal) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Garage Door Opener (Residential) | Safe | 3h | Safe | 2h |
| Well Pump (1 HP) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
Kitchen Appliances(11)
1/111/11
1/11
1/11
| Device | RIVER 2 Pro | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Slice Bread Toaster | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Coffee Maker | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Digital Air Fryer | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Skillet | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Stove (Single Burner) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Water Kettle | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Instant Pot (6 Qt) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Microwave Oven (1000W) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Rice Cooker | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Slow Cooker | Safe | 1.8h | Safe | 1.2h |
| Toaster Oven | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Large Appliances(4)
1/41/4
1/4
1/4
| Device | RIVER 2 Pro | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| French Door Refrigerator | Safe | 2.6h | Safe | 1.8h |
| Washing Machine | Fail | N/A | 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)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Power Tools(5)
0/50/5
0/5
0/5
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The Bottom Line
Choose the RIVER 2 Pro if you need higher wattage, longer cycle life, and faster solar charging for weekend camping or occasional outage support. The Explorer 500 makes sense for ultralight setups where you only need to run small electronics and shaving pounds from your pack is a priority. Overall, the RIVER 2 Pro earns the recommendation here, scoring 44 to 40 in our testing and handling two additional devices the Jackery cannot support.
RIVER 2 Pro vs Explorer 500 FAQ
Q Which is better for home backup, RIVER 2 Pro or Explorer 500?
RIVER 2 Pro is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.
Q Which has longer runtime, RIVER 2 Pro or Explorer 500?
RIVER 2 Pro has higher battery capacity (768 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.
Q Which charges faster with solar panels?
RIVER 2 Pro has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.
Q Which is more portable, RIVER 2 Pro or Explorer 500?
Explorer 500 is lighter at 13.2 lbs vs 18.3 lbs. Explorer 500 is rated ultralight for portability.
Q How many devices can each power station run?
RIVER 2 Pro powers 22 of 53 tested devices, compared to 20 for Explorer 500.