The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is a premium power station that is more than enough for home power loss emergencies, if a little too heavy to be used regularly for off-grid vacations.
The peace of mind that comes with knowing you'll have electricity during difficult times has produced a robust industry. There are several manufacturers offering a range of portable power stations, solar panels, and alternator chargers aimed at meeting every need, large or small.
Among these companies in the market is EcoFlow. A company with a growing catalog of power stations and accessories ranging from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand for larger, more industrial models.
At the upper end of these products is its latest EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus. A mouthful to say, with a substantial weight, storage capacity, and power output, with a price tag to match.
EcoFlow sent over the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus to put through the paces and see how it measures up for home use.
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is a heavy, expensive portable power station that EcoFlow touts with a more powerful output and more options for charging. Add in smart output options with the EcoFlow proprietary app, and it aims to provide long-lasting power when it is needed most.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Specifications
- 74 pounds
- 12.8in width x 24in length x 15.5in height
- Capacity: 3072Wh / 51.2V / 60 Ah
- Cycle Life: 3-year standard warranty EV-grade full-tab LFP batteries for 10 years of reliable use.
- AC Output: 120V~60Hz 3600W total (surge 7200W), 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
- 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
- 12V DC Output Port: 12.6V-30A, 378W Total/ Anderson: 30A Max (Shared power with car cigarette lighter)
- X-Boost: 4,600W
- Cigarette Lighter Output Port: 12.6V-10A, 126W Total
- CAR 10A Max (Shared power with Anderson port)
- Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) mode with 10ms switchover time
- Communication Method: Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Inside the Box
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus arrived in a single large box. One that is well packed and padded for protection during shipping.
EcoFlow provided a base power station for review, which does not include any of the optional accessories like solar panels or a branded alternator charger.
Inside the standard box, EcoFlow includes the power station, a single AC cable, and the instruction manual with a warranty card.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Quality and Features
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is incredibly well-made. It does not feel cheap or fragile.
Everything from the outer shell case to the plastic buttons and the AC cable feels substantial and durable enough to withstand day-to-day wear and tear from home use. Let alone any campsite, worksite, or outdoor function.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: The front screen and the companion app
The overall design is sleek and modern in shades of grey and black. There's a textured grid pattern on top and hinged covers for the large ports on the back of the unit.
The Ultra has a very bright display screen on the front of the unit, and the digital text and bars are visible in indirect sunlight. But, while facing the sun, I had to employ the classic "cup hands cover" maneuver to get a clear look at the screen status.
Weighing in at a thunderous 74 pounds, the Ultra is not considered lightweight by any standards. This pushes it out of the boundary of what I would consider to be a "portable power station".
If you have health issues or injuries that prevent you from lifting over 25 pounds, you will need an alternative means of transporting the power station safely.
The Ultra has two built-in handles to make transport more manageable. Unlike many portable power stations, this unit includes two built-in, heavy-duty wheels on the back side to make transport easier.
There's also a collapsible built-in extendable handle at the front.
This is a small thing, but I appreciate EcoFlow having the self-awareness to see a 74-pound power station as something that needs a little bit of assistance to move around. Lifting the Ultra is possible, but using the two wheels to tilt and pull the unit makes the task much easier.
The back of the unit has the wall outlet input and the DC/solar inputs.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Charging Options
To accommodate for a range of options, EcoFlow offers multiple charging methods for the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus:
- Wall Charging: 1,800W Input. 0-80% in 89 minutes.
- Generator Charging: Up to 3,200W via smart generator. 0-80% in 53 minutes.
- Solar Charging: 1,600W Input. 0-80% in 101 minutes.
- Alternator Charging: 1,000W Input. 0-80% in 142 minutes.
- Solar + Alternator Dual Charging: Dual 2,600W Input. 0-80% in 60 minutes.
EcoFlow sells a range of solar panels for outdoor charging the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus, separately, ranging from 60W to 500W. Bundles of the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus unit and solar panels are available in the EcoFlow online store, or solar panels can be purchased separately.
Accessories like the solar panels and the alternator charger vary in price, with the mid-range 220W solar panels costing $279 and the 800W Alternator Charger priced at $289 at the time of writing.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Usage
For my testing, I allowed the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus to run nearly empty on power before testing the wall charging method. This is the standard for most consumers.
Accurate to its marketing, the Ultra charged to 80% within one hour without any issues, and without an abundance of sound and fury.
EcoFlow has mastered the engineering of whisper-quiet power station operation, and I cannot sing its praises for this enough. EcoFlow power stations are the quietest units I have ever tested.
There's also a proprietary app to connect to the Ultra via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Accessing the rear connections
The EcoFlow app is clean and basic, allowing you to dial in your personal preferences and/or track power input and output levels. It is a solid app.
Where the EcoFlow app stands out is through its Storm Guard Mode. For this, the app and the Ultra monitors for severe weather alerts and automatically trigger AC charging remotely, to ensure the power station is charged before harsh weather arrives.
I have never seen this feature on a portable power station before testing EcoFlow products. As someone who lives in the southern United States, I appreciate it very much.
For testing, I put the Ultra through scenarios that occur in my day-to-day apartment life. Specifically, the moments when I lose power.
Working from home means the loss of power is the loss of everything. I have no remote office to drive to while waiting for the weather outage or maintenance to pass, so having continuous power is essential.
To simulate this scenario, I fully charged the Ultra with the wall charging option and powered various appliances directly from the power station. At the same time as charging my phone and operating my workspace (Mac Studio, router, external monitor, Xencelabs 24 pen display, and a handful of peripherals via power strip).
I ran my router, Mac Studio, and Xencelabs drawing tablet for over ten hours. In the end, there was more than enough power remaining to charge my phone, a small battery backup for the phone, and an iPad.
EcoFlow advertises a 10ms UPS feature with the Ultra, so I tested the UPS functionality with my workstation for sudden blackouts, and it worked perfectly. I had zero loss of power with the switchover to the Ultra on the workstation, and more importantly, zero loss of important work files.
I ran my refrigerator and (an instant pot pressure cooker) for five hours on the Ultra, and I easily could have kept it running for more (I had to pull the refrigerator out of its apartment-size cubby hole to set up the test and five hours of the fridge hanging out in the way was my limit when I didn't NEED to have it out there).
Based on this testing, there is no doubt the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus can handle a wide range of appliances, vital medical equipment, large worksite tools, and campsite equipment without issue.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Great but spendy
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus normally retails for a staggering $2,899 for just the power station and nothing else. At the time of this writing, EcoFlow is selling the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus at a discount for $1,499.00.
A power station like this for an office environment, construction crews, and disaster relief crews is a solid investment that typically comes with funding and expenses to soften the financial hit. For many households, this is a serious investment.
For this high level of retail cost, this is not a spur-of-the-moment purchase, and it is a decision to be weighed against income, needs, and space.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Review: Technically portable.
I have reviewed several portable power stations, and the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is easily my pick for the versatility of charging options, generator charging, noise, and UPS functionality. Also, the excellent capacity and delivery of power.
That said, I could not afford the Ultra easily if it came down to it. It is expensive, but knowing what I know now, I see that I would be paying for a quality power station.
What I do not like is the consistent trend among every manufacturer to make solar panels an optional accessory.
I have said this before, but for the high level of investment being made with these power stations, adding even the smallest solar panels available as the default bundle would be a huge comfort to consumers. It would go a long way towards brand loyalty, too.
The battery life and output of the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus are incredibly good, the quiet operation is a huge perk, and the EcoFlow app is solid. But with all of that said, I would not pay the full, non-discounted, $2,800 for the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus.
I would find a way to pay the $1,499 discounted cost and consider it a great deal.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra 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 Ultra Plus cons
- Very high cost for entry
- Solar panels are not included
- Very heavy weight
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus (and all EcoFlow accessories) are available in the EcoFlow online store with the base model retailing for $1,499 under a sale at the time of publication, $2,899 when not on sale. It's also available at the same $1,499 sale price from Amazon.
