This Compact Solar Generator Is $199 Right Now

If you're in the market for a portable power solution to keep the lights on or your gadgets charged during brownouts or camping trips, you might want to check out the new EcoFlow River 3. This compact solar generator comes with a 45W solar panel and is currently priced at $199, down from $338— that's a 41% discount. It packs a 245Wh battery and offers a 300W output, which can go up to 600W with its X-Boost technology for those slightly more power-hungry devices. For those needing more endurance in their portable power setup, the River 3 reportedly doubles the runtime for lower-power devices (under 100W), thanks to its X-GaN tech. And if you’re worried about noise, its X-Quiet feature keeps it quiet at less than 30dB (according to EcoFlow) when operating below 50W.

The River 3 has a pretty decent range of ports—two AC outlets, USB-A, USB-C, and a carport—so you’ve got options to work with. It can also double as a UPS with a 20ms switch rate, quick enough to keep your devices running when there's a power outage. Its fast-charging feature allows it to fully charge in 55 minutes when plugged into an AC outlet, as noted in this ZDNET review. And, when using solar power, it can reportedly recharge in about three hours with a 110W input, although this depends on the amount of direct sunlight available.

You can manage the River 3 remotely via EcoFlow's app, adjusting settings, checking on its status, and switching outlets on or off right from your phone. It also has an IP54 rating, meaning its battery pack is water-resistant.

While the River 3 is great for powering small devices and even running a CPAP machine during short outages, for larger appliances that demand heavy-duty power, you might want to look at the beefier Delta 3 Plus, which comes in at $899.