The catch
Anker SOLIX C300
Normal AC output cannot go beyond 300 W.
Side by side
Anker SOLIX C300 vs EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus: Stored energy doesn’t double when RIVER doubles rated AC output
Quick verdict
C300 fits trips built around small devices, especially if recharging the station from a compatible USB-C charger helps. RIVER 3 Plus fits a running load above 300 W, stronger solar input or adding an expansion battery down the line. Base capacities are nearly the same even though EcoFlow's rated AC output is twice as high.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
With a 450 W appliance, the answer changes
C300's normal AC rating falls 150 W short of a steady 450 W load. RIVER 3 Plus, rated 600 W, has 150 W to spare. EcoFlow is therefore the candidate, as long as startup demand and the appliance instructions also fit.
Where this comes from
600 - 450 = 150 W below RIVER 3 Plus, and 450 - 300 = 150 W above C300. Special boost modes are left out.
The catch
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
At base, the battery is still just 286 Wh.
Anker SOLIX C300
- Why pick it
- Refill the AC version through its 140 W USB-C input
- Hold a small-device setup to 300 W or less
- The catch
- Normal AC output cannot go beyond 300 W.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- Why pick it
- Power a supported appliance that draws 300 to 600 W
- Add a matching battery down the road rather than swapping the station
- The catch
- At base, the battery is still just 286 Wh.
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What this page compares
Laptop charging, small appliances and camping with the Anker C300 AC or the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus. The page covers the true 300 W and 600 W limits, plus solar and expansion.
C300 fits trips built around small devices, especially if recharging the station from a compatible USB-C charger helps. RIVER 3 Plus fits a running load above 300 W, stronger solar input or adding an expansion battery down the line. Base capacities are nearly the same even though EcoFlow's rated AC output is twice as high.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I bring a compatible USB-C charger when I travel
C300 takes USB-C input directly. The input EcoFlow documents is on its optional extra battery.
- Anker SOLIX C300
- Better fit
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- Depends
While running, my appliance pulls 450 W
That steady load is under EcoFlow's 600 W, so it is covered. Startup and compatibility need separate checks.
- Anker SOLIX C300
- Not suitable
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- Depends
I might want more stored energy down the road
Two matching expansion-battery options are documented for RIVER 3 Plus.
- Anker SOLIX C300
- Caution
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- Better fit
I have a single small solar panel under 100 W
EcoFlow's higher input ceiling goes unused with a compatible panel below 100 W.
- Anker SOLIX C300
- Good
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
With a 450 W appliance, the answer changes
C300's normal AC rating falls 150 W short of a steady 450 W load. RIVER 3 Plus, rated 600 W, has 150 W to spare. EcoFlow is therefore the candidate, as long as startup demand and the appliance instructions also fit.
How we worked this out
600 - 450 = 150 W below RIVER 3 Plus, and 450 - 300 = 150 W above C300. Special boost modes are left out.
Double the output is not double the trip length
EcoFlow can handle a bigger load, yet its base battery holds 2 Wh less. Under the same load, these capacity labels give almost no reason to expect different endurance. Putting the extra output to use can drain a small battery sooner.
How we worked this out
Nominal capacity is nearly equal, with 288 - 286 = 2 Wh and 2 / 288 × 100 = 0.69%. Rated output differs by 600 / 300 = 2.
Expansion changes what you buy next
RIVER 3 Plus reaches 572 Wh with EB300 and 858 Wh with EB600, and both keep the same 600 W inverter limit. Buy an extra battery for more stored energy. It will not let you run a higher-wattage appliance.
How we worked this out
286 + 572 = 858 Wh, and 286 + 286 = 572 Wh. RIVER 3 Plus's documented rated AC output stays at 600 W.
Option A
Anker SOLIX, A1722
C300
Vertical and easy to carry, this 288Wh LFP station has a 300W inverter and a 140W two-way USB-C port.
- Best for
- Refill the AC version through its 140 W USB-C input
Facts we checked
- Base battery capacity: 288 Wh
- Normal rated AC output: 300 W
- Solar input ceiling: 100 W
- USB-C recharging of the station: Up to 140 W through the supported input/output port
Option B
EcoFlow, RIVER 3 Plus
RIVER 3 Plus
About the size of a toaster, this 286Wh station offers 600W rated output, sub-10ms transfer, and stackable expansion up to 858Wh.
- Best for
- Power a supported appliance that draws 300 to 600 W
Facts we checked
- Base battery capacity: 286 Wh
- Normal rated AC output: 600 W
- Solar input ceiling: 220 W
- USB-C recharging of the station: 140 W input documented on the optional extra battery
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Anker SOLIX C300 | EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base battery capacity | 288 Wh | 286 Wh | With only 2 Wh between them, no useful runtime recommendation can be made. |
| Normal rated AC output | 300 W | 600 W | RIVER 3 Plus has double the normal inverter capacity. Surge figures for C300 are not continuous output. |
| Solar input ceiling | 100 W | 220 W | A larger compatible panel has more room on EcoFlow. |
| USB-C recharging of the station | Up to 140 W through the supported input/output port | 140 W input documented on the optional extra battery | The expansion battery's USB-C input should not be credited to the bare RIVER 3 Plus unit. |
| Expansion route | No matching expansion battery connection documented | EB300 or EB600 | With the right extra battery, EcoFlow reaches a total of 572 Wh or 858 Wh. |
| AC outlets on the US unit | 3 | 3 | The socket count is the same. The combined power limit differs. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Anker SOLIX C300
- Solar input is limited to 100 W.
With EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
- The bare station does not include the extra battery or its USB-C input, which are bought separately.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
A supported load goes above 300 W
Go with EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus. Normal rated AC output goes up to 600 W with RIVER 3 Plus.
Recharging the bare station directly over USB-C matters
Go with Anker SOLIX C300. A 140 W USB-C input/output port is documented for C300.
My appliance requires over 600 W of normal output
Neither model fits. Both are under that requirement when special boost behavior is not counted.
Decision guide
How to decide
Small-device trips where a compatible USB-C charger can refill the station point to the C300. A running load above 300 W, stronger solar input or a battery you add later points to the RIVER 3 Plus. Don't read much into base capacity, which is almost identical even though EcoFlow's rated AC output is double.
Be deliberate about getting the AC version
The C300 and the C300 DC are separate Anker products, and this page compares the C300 with AC sockets. Look at which model is selected on Amazon before you buy. A cheaper DC-only unit is no substitute if any of your devices needs an ordinary wall-style outlet.
Remember how small the battery is
RIVER 3 Plus has a 600 W inverter and so more appliance options, yet the base battery stays under 300 Wh. That works for short tasks and modest loads. Before assuming the larger wattage label covers an all-day job, work out energy use from the real operating time and allow for losses.
Price the whole expansion bundle
RIVER 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Max and RIVER 3 Max Plus are different battery configurations. Set bare unit against bare unit, and if you need the extra battery, price it on its own. A larger bundle also changes what you have to carry and where it fits.
What this page can’t tell you
- Everything here rests on US-model specifications. The load examples are calculated, with no hands-on runtime tests behind them. Confirm startup demand and port limits, and read the appliance instructions, before connecting equipment.
- Quoted battery capacity describes nominal stored energy, so expect less usable output. Conversion losses, standby use, temperature and battery condition all play a part. A transfer-time claim does not certify compatibility with critical equipment.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the portable power stations we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anker SOLIX C300 |
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| EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Anker SOLIX C300
Refill the AC version through its 140 W USB-C input
See price & reviews on AmazonEcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
Power a supported appliance that draws 300 to 600 W
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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