The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus is a great portable power station for casual use and emergencies, with an excellent cost for what it delivers to the end-user.
Unpredictable weather, accidents, maintenance, and random acts of chaos can lead to extended periods of time without reliable home electricity. It happens every day.
The expansion of the portable power station market in recent years has found consumers in a buyer's market, as manufacturers push to create smaller, more powerful, quieter, and cost-effective options. Especially for those unexpected powerless moments in life.
The peace of mind that comes with knowing you'll have electricity during difficult times is something that this industry can actually put a price on. While few offer "cheap" options, it is a comfort to know that you are making an investment for when those scary or uncertain moments arrive.
Or maybe you just want to glamp or party outdoors like a rock star with reliable, quiet power that is there when you need it.
Among these companies carving out places in the market is EcoFlow: A company founded by engineers with a mission statement on clean, sustainable power for everyone and a drive to deliver top-notch equipment like their new EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus portable power station.
EcoFlow sent over the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus to put through the paces and see how it measures up.
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus is a compact power station that the company touts as a beefier version of their Delta 3 Max model. One that offers a more powerful output, more options for charging, and smart output options with the EcoFlow proprietary app.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus Review: Specifications
- 49 lbs
- 12in height x 19in length x 10in width
- Capacity: 2,048Wh / 51.2V / 40 Ah
- Cycle Life: 3-year standard warranty EV-grade full-tab LFP batteries for 10 years of reliable use.
- AC Output: 120V~60Hz 3000W total (surge 6000W), 20A(x4) Max per port
- AC input: 100-120V~15A 50/60Hz
- USB-A Output: USB-A(x1) 5V-3A/9V-2A/12V-1.5A, 18W Max
- 12V DC Output Port: 12.6V-30A, 378W Total/ Anderson: 30A Max (Shared power with car cigarette lighter)
- X-Boost: 3800W
- USB-C Output: USB-C(x1) 5/9/12/15V-3A, 20V/28V— 5A, 140W Max (HID)USB-C(x2) 5/9V/12V/15V-3A 20V-2.25A, 45W Max per port, total 45W
- Cigarette Lighter Output Port: 12.6V-10A, 126W TotalCAR 10A Max (Shared power with Anderson port)
- Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) mode with 15ms switchover time
- Communication Method: Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus: Inside the Box
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus arrived at my apartment in a single large box. It was incredibly well packed and padded for protection during shipping.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus review: The plain side view.
EcoFlow provided just the power station for review, but you can get it with many optional accessories like solar panels or its alternator charger.
Inside the standard box, everything is straightforward with just the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus power station, a single AC cable, and an instruction manual.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus: Quality and Features
The Delta 3 Max Plus is incredibly well-made and does not feel cheap or delicate at all. Everything from the case to the buttons and the cable feels durable.
It's easily capable of withstanding day-to-day wear and tear from any campsite, worksite, or outdoor function, while also handling stable indoor use.
The unit has a cool visual look as well, sleekly styled in grey and black. There's a textured grid pattern on top and hinged covers for the large ports on the back of the unit.
There's a bright display to the front of the unit. The illuminated text is very easy to read in the dark and still works well in direct sunlight.
This is a feature that I appreciate, and it has the added benefit of having a sci-fi visual aesthetic that reminds me of Iron Man booting up his armor.
Like other portal power stations on the market in this range, the Delta 3 Max Plus is not lightweight by any standards. It weighs in at a hefty 47 pounds.
If you have health issues or injuries that prevent you from lifting over 25 pounds, you will need an alternative means of carrying and moving the Delta 3 Max Plus safely.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus review: Opening the front panels
The Delta 3 Max Plus has two built-in handles to make transport more manageable, and we'd prefer it have wheels and a handle that collapses like luggage. As it stands, outside of using a cart or hand truck, the handles are all you have.
EcoFlow made a deliberate decision to split the ports on the Delta 3 Max Plus between the front and the back of the power station. The front of the unit has the four AC ports, the USB-A port, USB-C (140W) port, and two USB-C (45W) ports.
The back of the unit has the wall outlet input and the DC/solar inputs.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus: Charging Options
To accommodate for a range of options, EcoFlow offers multiple charging methods for the Delta 3 Max Plus:
- Wall Charging: 1800W Input. 0-80% in 64 minutes.
- Generator Charging: Up to 2600W via smart generator. 0-80% in 43 minutes.
- Solar Charging: 1000W Input. 0-80% in 96 minutes.
- Alternator Charging: 1000W Input. 0-80% in 95 minutes.
- Solar + Alternator Dual Charging: Dual 1000W Input. 0-80% in 51 minutes.
EcoFlow offers a variety of solar panels for outdoor charging for the Delta 3 Max Plus separately, ranging from 60W to 500W. Bundles of the Delta 3 Max Plus unit and solar panels are available in the EcoFlow online store or solar panels can be purchased separately.
EcoFlow also offers its 800W Alternator Charger in the online store as a bundle with the Delta 3 Max Plus or separately.
The added accessories, like the solar panels and Alternator Charger, vary in price, but none of the options are what I would describe as inexpensive. The mid-range 220W solar panels cost $279, and the 800W Alternator Charger is priced at $289.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus: Usage
For my testing, I allowed the Delta 3 Max Plus to run nearly empty on power before testing the standard wall charging. Accurate to its marketing, the Delta 3 Max Plus DID charge to 80% within one hour.
The true star of the show that I feel EcoFlow is underselling in their marketing is the remarkable absence of sound, while charging or under load.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus review: the front display.
The Delta 3 Max Plus is beyond whisper-quiet while wall charging and in operation. It is the quietest portable power station I have ever used.
A common trend with power station manufacturers is brand-specific apps to control features and monitor levels, and EcoFlow has followed suit. The EcoFlow app is basic, allowing you to sync up the Delta 3 Max Plus over your Wi-Fi network and dial in your personal preferences or track input and output.
Where it shines is the Storm Guard Mode, when the app and Delta 3 Max Plus monitors severe weather alerts. It automatically triggers AC charging remotely to ensure the power station is at full before the weather arrives.
I have never seen this feature on a portable power station before. As someone who lives in tornado alley in the United States, I like it very much.
For testing, I wanted to put the Delta 3 Max Plus through scenarios that occur in my day-to-day apartment life. Specifically, when I lose power.
Working from home means the loss of power is the loss of everything. There's no remote office to drive to and make camp at while waiting for the weather or outage to pass.
To simulate this, I fully charged the Delta 3 Max Plus with the wall charging option and ran various appliances directly from the station.
I ran my router, Mac Studio, and a Xencelabs drawing tablet for over ten hours perfectly fine. It had more than enough power remaining to charge my phone, a small battery backup for the phone, and an iPad.
Testing the UPS functionality with my workstation for sudden blackouts by yanking the AC cord out of the wall executed perfectly. There was zero loss of power on the workstation and, more importantly, no loss of working files.
I ran my refrigerator for five hours on the Delta 3 Max Plus, and it easily could have kept running for more.
Based on my testing, I have zero doubt the Delta 3 Max Plus can handle other appliances, vital medical equipment, large worksite tools, and disaster-critical equipment when it matters most.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus: Solid but not inexpensive
The Delta 3 Max Plus normally retails for $1,899 US for just the power station and nothing else. At the time of this writing, EcoFlow is offering the Delta 3 Max Plus for $1,099.00 US.
For this level of retail cost, this is an investment and not a spur-of-the-moment purchase.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus review: Powered on and ready
I have reviewed many portable power stations. The Delta 3 Max Plus is easily in my top 3 for the versatility of charging options, generator charging, whisper-quiet charging, and excellent capacity and delivery of power.
What is not great is that every manufacturer makes solar panels an optional accessory.
I have said this before, but for the investment being made with these power stations, adding even the smallest solar panels available would be a huge comfort to consumers. It would go a long way towards brand loyalty, too.
The battery life and output of the Delta 3 Max Plus is solid, and the quiet operation is a huge feature. But while I would not pay the full, non-discounted, $1,800 for the Delta 3 Max Plus, I would shell out the $1,099 discounted cost and consider it a good deal.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus Pros
- Excellent storage capacity and power output
- Excellent array of outlets for a variety of appliances and tech
- Sturdy, high-quality build
- Incredibly quiet operation
- Storm Guard via the EcoFlow app is excellent
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus Cons
- Higher cost for entry
- Solar panels are not included
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus (and all EcoFlow accessories) are available in the EcoFlow online store, with the base model retailing for $1,099.
