EcoFlow RIVER 3 vs. BougeRV Flash 300: Fast Charge Faceoff

The EcoFlow River 3 and BougeRV Flash 300 are two compact power stations racing to cover your energy needs. It’s a fast-charging showdown between two options with many differences. Our expert analysis is here to walk you through the specs and details that matter most.

This side-by-side comparison strips away the wild marketing claims to reveal the cold hard truth. Which of these power stations is the better choice? Can they power your devices? For the amount of time you desire? Whether you’re looking to juice up your gear in record time or charge electronics when blackouts roll through, you must know if they’re up to the task.

After reading this short guide, you’ll know how the EcoFlow River 3 vs. BougeRV Flash 300 comparison turns out.

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Short Summary

Sometimes we put two power stations and have difficulty spotting meaningful differences. That’s far from the case here. While these two power stations can meet certain demands, it’s crucial to understand what each one is best at.

There still are many similarities between the EcoFlow River 3 and the BougeRV Flash 300. The battery capacity and the number of outlets are almost identical. And those are two of the most important features.

A quick glance at the details and the differences start to pop up. In many ways, the BougeRV Flash 300 is the superior power station because it has:

• Super fast charging rates for wall outlets and solar panels (its primary focus)
• More powerful AC inverter
• Wireless charging pad
• 5-year warranty

That’s a long list of premium features. Don’t write off the EcoFlow River 3 quite yet though. It is a well-designed power station with a:

• Much lower price
• Longer-lasting LiFePO4 battery type
• <20ms UPS function
• EcoFlow app connections through WiFi and Bluetooth

After balancing these differences, most people will be better off with the EcoFlow River 3. While the fast charging and long warranty of the BougeRV Flash 300 power station are noteworthy, the price difference is too much to make up for. The River 3 is a better value with a superior battery and the UPS function is a feature you don’t want to pass up.

Get 5% off most EcoFlow orders with the discount code SOLARWAY5OFF.

Better Value	EcoFlow RIVER 3 245Wh battery and 300W inverter <20ms UPS and 3 USB ports Shorter warranty	R3 on EcoFlow R3 on Amazon
Fast Charging	BougeRV Flash300 Fast Charging Power Station 286Wh battery and 600W inverter Incredibly fast charging rates Shorter battery lifespan	Buy on BougeRV Buy on Amazon

Detailed Comparison: EcoFlow River 3 vs. BougeRV Flash 300

Now let’s pull out the microscope and take a closer look. We’ll review the specs and translate them into meaningful takeaways. After this, we have some comparison charts you don’t want to miss, including a tool to compare any three power stations from our most trusted brands.

• Inverter and Outputs: What Can These Power?
• Battery Details: How Long Will They Last?
• Charging Speeds: Do They Recharge Quickly?
• Weight and Dimensions: Which Is Smaller?
• Final Verdict: Which Is Better?

Inverter and Outputs: What Can These Power?

Small power stations are ideal for charging phones, tablets, and other portable electronics. They can also handle some laptops and short bursts of backup power for medium-sized devices like TVs and small fridges.

In this comparison of the River 3 and Flash 300, they are fairly evenly matched in inverter output power and the number of outlets. They both have:

• 2 x AC outlets
• 2 x USB-A ports
• 1 x USB-C port
• 1 x 12V car cigarette lighter outlet

But they aren’t identical in every way. BougeRV has a wireless charging pad and an inverter with double the output power (600W vs. 300W).

On the other hand, the EcoFlow River 3 has a built-in UPS function that’s perfect for keeping a critical device like a computer running through any power outage. During a blackout, it will switch from the downed wall outlet to battery power in <20ms. For some people, this capability will settle the comparison immediately.

Additionally, although the Flash 300 has a more powerful 600W inverter, the EcoFlow River 3 has a special X-Boost technology to run at 600W. It does this by lowering the voltage, however, so it’s not compatible with every device. If you have power needs over 300W, we recommend the Flash 300 or a larger power station. The EcoFlow Delta 3 is a big step up that’s much better for larger devices.

Inverter and Output Verdict: The EcoFlow River 3’s <20ms UPS function and special X-Boost inverter power combine to make it the more attractive choice. The BougeRV Flash 300 wins some points with its wireless charging pad and more powerful inverter.

Battery Specs: How Long Will They Last?

The battery determines how long the power station will run your devices. This is where many people become frustrated with compact power stations because they don’t meet their needs. No matter what, these will always have a small battery that can be quickly depleted.

The BougeRV Flash 300 has a slightly larger 286Wh battery over the EcoFlow River 3’s 245Wh capacity. This is about 15%. But from a broader perspective, it’s not a huge difference and we don’t put too much weight into the extra capacity.

Batteries of this size are capable of:

• Charging a:
  • 10Wh phone ~20 times
  • 30Wh tablet ~6 times
  • 60Wh laptop ~3 times
• Powering a:
  • 20W fan for ~10 hours
  • 50W CPAP or mini fridge for ~4 hours
  • 200W TV for ~1 hour

As you can see, these are great for small devices. But a 50W CPAP will not last through the night. We recommend this size power station for situations where you only want to charge your portable electronics or have a very short emergency power supply. If you want something to last through the night, consider a larger option. Head over to our Product Guide page for more details about brands and midrange options.

The type of battery also matters quite a bit. While lithium batteries are in both they feature different types and the expected lifespans are not the same.

EcoFlow uses an excellent LiFePO4 battery type rated to have 80% capacity even after 3,000 charge and discharge cycles. Nearly 8 years of daily use before a noticeable battery capacity drop. This BougeRV unit features an NMC battery type which has some safety advantages, but is only rated for at least 700 cycles (about 2 years) with 80% capacity left.

Oddly enough, the warranty coverage is the opposite. EcoFlow just reduced the length to 2 years of its smallest River power station, but it also kept the price way down. BougeRV provides its standard 5-year warranty, even though the battery capacity may be much lower by the end of that period.

Battery and Warranty Verdict: We are more confident in the EcoFlow River 3 battery due to its longer-lasting LiFePO4 battery technology. Despite longer warranty coverage and a slightly larger capacity, the NMC battery type used in the BougeRV Flash 300 is not designed to retain its capacity as well over the years. The EcoFlow power station is a better investment and a lower price.

Charging Speeds: Do They Recharge Quickly?

The main focus of the BougeRV Flash 300 is on its charging rates. That’s where the “Flash” in its name comes from. Yet the EcoFlow River 3 isn’t letting anyone down in this category either.

The Flash 300 has charging rates that are insanely fast for this size battery. It can use up to 600W from a wall outlet or solar panels, recharging to 90% in 30 minutes. That’s impossible to beat. If you need to charge as fast as possible, this is the choice for you.

For a lot of people, this charging speed may be somewhat useful but it’s far from essential. Instead, you can find reasonably fast charging rates on the EcoFlow River 3, including charging from a wall outlet in about an hour or charging from 110W of solar in about 3 hours. Both of those are perfectly fast enough for most needs.

Charging Verdict: There’s no disputing the BougeRV Flash 300 is one of the fastest charging compact power stations on the market. With 600W inputs from AC wall outlets and DC solar panels, you cannot beat it. The EcoFlow River 3 can still charge in about an hour from a wall outlet and 3 hours from solar panels, so it’s not letting anyone down either.

Weight and Dimensions: Which Is Smaller?

The weight and dimensions of compact power stations won’t be high on the list of concerns. But it is worth pointing out that the weight of the Flash 300 is nearly double the River 3. They also have slightly different proportions. And we are big fans of EcoFlow’s integrated handle that’s sturdy yet out of the way.

Overall, these are lightweight portable energy solutions you can take anywhere and store easily.

Final Verdict

There are things to like about both of these small power stations. But this comparison has pulled off the shroud to uncover some major differences, and the EcoFlow River 3 is the better choice.

The EcoFlow River 3 is a much better value and lower price. It brings a nearly identical battery capacity with LiFePO4 technology made to last years longer than the BougeRV’s NMC battery. The inverter is capable and can handle bursts to 600W, matching the BougeRV. Plus, EcoFlow throws in the essential <20ms UPS function and a sleek design.

This BougeRV unit is all about fast charging. Dual 600W inputs are impossible to beat and if you need a fast-charging power station, this is the one for you. It also comes with a longer warranty, but you should expect to see some noticeable degradation in the battery capacity after about 2 years. That’s the downfall to the NMC battery type. You also get a wireless charging pad.

Final Verdict: With a lower price and longer-lasting battery type, the EcoFlow River 3 is the better value and will be a useful power station for much longer. BougeRV has maximized charging speeds on the Flash 300 and included a 5-year warranty, the top two reasons to choose it instead.

Get 5% off most EcoFlow orders with the discount code SOLARWAY5OFF.

Better Value	EcoFlow RIVER 3 245Wh battery and 300W inverter <20ms UPS and 3 USB ports Shorter warranty	R3 on EcoFlow R3 on Amazon
Fast Charging	BougeRV Flash300 Fast Charging Power Station 286Wh battery and 600W inverter Incredibly fast charging rates Shorter battery lifespan	Buy on BougeRV Buy on Amazon

Comparison Charts

This section provides a quick side-by-side look into every detail. See our tips on how to translate these details to get more insight.

EcoFlow River 3 vs. BougeRV Flash 300

Here is the full comparison chart with specs for the EcoFlow River 3 and the BougeRV Flash 300 portable power stations, including links to the official user manuals from EcoFlow and BougeRV:

Compare Any Power Station

Now it’s time for our secret weapon. We’ve compiled an extensive database with the best power stations. And through this tool, you can compare any three power stations from our most trusted brands.

Get 5% off most EcoFlow orders with the discount code SOLARWAY5OFF. See our EcoFlow Sales, Codes, and Prices page for more cost-saving tips.

Wrap Up

When you want to charge your small devices or have a short emergency backup power supply at home, the EcoFlow River 3 is worth every penny. It has a price that’s impossible to beat yet still brings all the essential features with plentiful outlets. Plus, it throws in a useful UPS function with a fast <20ms transfer time.

The BougeRV Flash 300 is an attractive model that prioritizes fast charging like no other. It will rapidly recharge to 90% in 30 minutes from solar or a wall outlet. Its long warranty, larger battery, and wireless charging pad are attractive. But with a price well above the River 3, it’s hard to justify unless very fast charging speed is an absolute must.

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