Two stations. Same bracket. Same promise: a versatile unit, not too large, not too dear, that does the job for camping, the occasional campervan trip, or a modest home backup. And yet, in daily use, they are remarkably different.
I have used both. The AC180 for six weeks last summer in a mate's van. The RIVER 2 Max for two months this winter as backup for my home office. If you are new to the subject, start with the complete guide to portable power stations. I am not going to recite a spec list -- you will find that in the table. I am going to tell you what they are actually like to live with.
| Criterion | Bluetti AC180 | EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1152 Wh | 512 Wh |
| Continuous output | 1800 W | 500 W |
| Peak output | 2700 W | 1000 W |
| Weight | 16 kg | 6.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 340 x 247 x 317 mm | 269 x 259 x 226 mm |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | LFP |
| Rated cycles | 3000+ to 80% | 3000+ to 80% |
| Max solar input | 500 W | 220 W |
| Mains recharge | 1350 W (~45 min full) | 660 W (~60 min full) |
| AC sockets | 4 | 4 |
| USB-C max | 100 W | 100 W |
| Price March 2026 | ~700 euros | ~450 euros |
The first thing that jumps out: these are not direct competitors on paper. The AC180 has twice the capacity and three times the power. But it costs 250 euros more and weighs nearly three times as much.
And that is where the comparison gets interesting. In real life, the "better" station is the one that matches your use, not the one with the biggest numbers.
1800 W versus 500 W. The gap is enormous and will be the deciding factor for many people.
With the AC180, you can plug in a hairdryer (1500 W), a fan heater (1200 W), an induction hob at minimum (1800 W), a kettle (1500 W). The 2700 W peak handles compressor startups comfortably.
With the RIVER 2 Max, you are at 500 W. A 300 W blender, a laptop charger, a small power tool. No heating, no cooking, no hairdryer. EcoFlow offer an X-Boost mode that pushes to 750 W for certain resistive loads, but it works by reducing voltage -- some appliances do not tolerate it well, and efficiency drops.
When I used the RIVER 2 Max as an office backup, I tried plugging in my 800 W fan heater via X-Boost. It ran for five minutes before the station cut out on thermal protection. X-Boost is a one-off bonus, not a normal operating mode.
My verdict here: if you need to plug in anything above 500 W, the AC180 is your only option. Non-negotiable.
1152 Wh versus 512 Wh. More than double.
For camping, 512 Wh covers a weekend of device charging and lighting. Phone per day (15 Wh), laptop (150 Wh), LED lighting (30 Wh), small fan (40 Wh). Total: 235 Wh per day. Two comfortable days.
But add a portable fridge (350-500 Wh per day), and the RIVER 2 Max is flat in twenty-four hours. The AC180 lasts two to three days with the same fridge.
I managed six weeks with the AC180 in the van, recharging solely by solar (two 200 W panels). In summer in southern France, the 1152 Wh plus 500 W solar input combination provided total autonomy. I never plugged into mains. Not once.
6.1 kg versus 16 kg. This is where the RIVER 2 Max claws back the advantage.
Six kilos fits in a rucksack. You lift it from the boot one-handed. You set it on the camping table without thinking. Sixteen kilos you carry with two hands. You set it down and leave it.
The RIVER 2 Max is compact -- 269 x 259 x 226 mm, barely bigger than a shoebox. The AC180 at 340 x 247 x 317 mm takes up noticeable space.
Bluetti opted for raw power. The AC180 accepts 1350 W mains and reaches 80% in about thirty minutes. Pull into a motorway services, plug in, forty-five minutes later you are full.
EcoFlow plays the efficiency card. The RIVER 2 Max charges at 660 W max, reaching 80% in roughly forty-five minutes. Slower in absolute terms, but proportionally similar given the smaller capacity.
In solar, the gap is starker. 500 W input for the AC180 versus 220 W for the RIVER 2 Max. With two 200 W panels, the AC180 absorbs everything. The RIVER 2 Max is capped at a single panel.
EcoFlow dominates here. Intuitive, responsive, feature-rich app. Real-time graphs, consumption history, scheduling, alerts. Bluetooth connects instantly, Wi-Fi enables remote control.
The Bluetti app is adequate. Functional. But utilitarian. Dated interface, less detailed graphs, occasionally finicky Bluetooth. Nothing blocking, but once you have tasted the EcoFlow app, it is hard to go back.
For a deeper dive, I did a full comparison of the three major ecosystems.
I measured both with a sound meter at 30 cm.
AC180 idle: inaudible. Light load (100 W): inaudible. Fan kicks in around 400 W, reaching 35 dB. At full load (1800 W): 45 dB.
RIVER 2 Max idle: inaudible. Fan kicks in around 200 W (fairly early for a 500 W station), reaching 33 dB. At full load: 40 dB.
In practice, the RIVER 2 Max is a touch quieter at peak but its fan engages sooner. The AC180 stays silent across a wider usage band.
I used the AC180 in a van in July in southern France. Ambient: 38 degrees. Station running continuously (fridge + charging). Internal temperature climbed to 42 degrees, fan ran constantly, solar charge throttled from 500 W to roughly 350 W. Normal BMS behaviour, but it cuts real performance.
The RIVER 2 Max, with its lower output, runs cooler in normal use. During my office test at 150 W output, internal temperature stayed at 30 degrees even at 25 degrees ambient. The fan barely triggered during two months.
The AC180 has no add-on battery. You are stuck at 1152 Wh.
The RIVER 2 Max couples with an Extra Battery (512 Wh, around 300 euros). That doubles capacity to 1024 Wh for a moderate outlay. If expandability matters, EcoFlow wins this round.
The AC180 is for you if you want a polyvalent station capable of running anything. If you live in a van part-time. If you have solar panels and want a self-sufficient system. If weight is not critical.
The RIVER 2 Max is for you if you prioritise portability. If your electrical needs are modest. If you change spots frequently. If you want the best app on the market. If 450 euros is your ceiling.
These are not competitors. They sit in a similar price range (250 euros apart) but address radically different profiles.
Buying a RIVER 2 Max expecting it to run a camping fridge for a week is setting yourself up for disappointment. Buying an AC180 to lug on a day hike is masochism.
If I could only keep one? The AC180. Because 1800 W opens possibilities that 500 W never will. Because 1152 Wh provides genuine autonomy. And because 16 kg, in a van or at home, is manageable.
But if I had the budget for both, I would keep both. The AC180 in the van, fixed in place. The RIVER 2 Max in the car boot for light outings, picnics, and beach days.
The right station is the one you use. Not the one with the best spec sheet. If neither quite fits, the Fossibot F800 (768 Wh, 800 W, 9.6 kg, around 350 euros) offers a remarkable middle ground. Use the comparison tool to see all models side by side.
The RIVER 2 Max is slightly quieter at peak (40 dB versus 45 dB). But the AC180 stays silent across a wider range -- its fan only triggers above 400 W, while the RIVER 2 Max fan starts at 200 W. For typical camping use below 300 W, the AC180 is more discreet.
The AC180, decisively. It accepts 500 W solar input versus 220 W for the RIVER 2 Max. With two 200 W panels, the AC180 absorbs everything. The RIVER 2 Max is limited to a single panel.
The AC180. Its 1800 W lets you plug in anything -- fridge, hob, space heater. Its 1152 Wh provides 2 to 3 days of autonomy with a fridge. And the 500 W solar input makes total summer autonomy possible. The RIVER 2 Max is too limited in power and capacity for daily vanlife.
Cedric
