Gimme: EcoFlow Delta 3 Max

Power hungry EcoFlow Delta 3 Max, originally published in the Financial Mail.

There are cheaper alternatives, but the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max comes at a premium for its slick interface, fast recharge times and high power output.

Rolling blackouts may be a thing of the past, but the price of electricity is still going up. Since 2020, costs have more than doubled, with another increase scheduled for 2027. This is why a portable power station is still worth considering; it’s way cheaper to set up than solar and can follow you around when you move.

Enter the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max, with its 2kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery and a 2400W output that reaches 3200W for heavy-duty appliances through its X-Boost feature. This may sound like jargon, but it just means that it can power your home appliances, including a 1200W microwave, a 1000W coffee machine or a 600W blender.

Despite being a hefty 20.3kg, the Delta 3 Max is 13% lighter than its predecessor. It has handlebars on each side for portability and the option of a folding cart to wheel it from room to room. Its portability is a big plus.

Setup is simple with the EcoFlow app, which requires Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and enables easy device management, such as firmware updates and custom settings.

You can choose to have it beep, select auto timeout separately for the device and LCD display, adjust screen brightness, optimise charging to keep it quiet, schedule charging times and more.

The interface is symmetrical, so you won’t have clashing cables. Outputs include three USB-C slots and one USB-A. There are also two slots each for three-pin and two-pin plugs. The USB-C slots have one 100W port and two 30W ports.

A small LCD display shows battery percentage, remaining days, output, input and active Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections. I found the display quality questionable — pressing it can cause text to appear distorted, but a soft reset resolved this glitch.

I’ve been using the Delta 3 Max around my house to charge my laptop via the 100W USB-C slot. I’ve also used it for my 1800W hairdryer and my electric blanket. During testing, it powered my coffee machine, kettle, microwave and washing machine without feeling like it was taking strain.

EcoFlow says it can power a 50-inch TV at 110W for 15.9 hours, a 10W Wi-Fi router for 175 hours and a 200W fridge for 24.6 hours. Its fast recharge times set it apart from other brands. The power station charges from flat to 80% in 51 minutes via wall charging through a supplied cable. With solar, using a 500W input, it will go from flat to 80% in just under 3.5 hours. I charge it on my solar, so there’s no dent in my electricity bill.

The Delta 3 Max requires an upfront investment of R19,999, which is a fraction of the cost of a solar and battery installation. It may appeal to people who are renting office or home space.

While there are cheaper alternatives, EcoFlow comes at a premium for its slick interface, fast recharge times, high power output and 10-millisecond auto-switch for backups. There are a few downsides, including its weight, the 500W solar charging cap and a lack of support for additional batteries.

Cool factor 4/5
Usability 4.5/5
Value for Money 4/5

Originally published in the Financial Mail.