EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro vs Bluetti AC500
Side-by-side on the specs that decide it — surge, capacity, runtime and price.
Both models' specs verified against manufacturer listings · Last updated
The short answer
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro costs $1400 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Bluetti AC500 holds 300% more energy (3072Wh vs 768Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Bluetti AC500 has 8400W more surge headroom (10000W vs 1600W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro is 49.1 lb lighter (17 lb vs 66.1 lb).
- Bluetti AC500 is rated for 3,500 cycles vs 3,000 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
The one you actually carry. At 17 lb it is light enough for one hand, yet unlike the true pocket units it has the 800W of output needed to run small appliances rather than just charge devices.
Best for: Backpackers, photographers and festival-goers who care about weight above all.
Where it falls short:
- 800W output limits you to electronics and small loads
- 220W solar input means slow off-grid top-ups
A modular home-backup system, not a portable unit — the AC500 has no internal battery at all until you add B300K packs.
Best for: Serious home-backup builds where you're designing a system, not buying an appliance.
Where it falls short:
- Requires separate battery packs to function at all — budget accordingly
- Total system cost climbs fast
| Spec | EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro | Bluetti AC500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 | $1999 |
| Capacity | 768 Wh | 3072 Wh |
| Continuous output | 800 W | 5000 W |
| Surge output | 1600 W | 10000 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 17 lb | 66.1 lb |
| Max solar | 220 W | 3000 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 10m | 1h 45m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro | Bluetti AC500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 10.9 hrs | 43.5 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 20.7 hrs | 82.9 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 8.2 hrs | 32.6 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 16.3 hrs | 65.3 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | 3.3 hrs |