EcoFlow RIVER 2 vs Anker 535 PowerHouse
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 costs $230 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Anker 535 PowerHouse holds 100% more energy (512Wh vs 256Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Anker 535 PowerHouse has 150W more surge headroom (750W vs 600W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 is 9.0 lb lighter (7.7 lb vs 16.7 lb).
Neither of these will start a sump pump or well pump — both surge below the ~3,400W those motors need. If home backup with pumps is your use case, look at higher-surge models instead of either of these.
The cheapest way into LiFePO4. 256Wh is a device charger, but at under $200 with a 60-minute recharge it's hard to argue with.
Best for: Budget campers who just need to keep phones, cameras and a laptop alive.
Where it falls short:
- 300W output runs devices only
- 256Wh is a single evening of real use
A durable half-kWh unit for devices and light loads. Dependable, but the low output and slow charging make it a device-first companion.
Best for: Campers charging phones, laptops and lights, not appliances.
Where it falls short:
- 500W output is device-scale
- 120W solar input, slow recharge
| Spec | EcoFlow RIVER 2 | Anker 535 PowerHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $429 |
| Capacity | 256 Wh | 512 Wh |
| Continuous output | 300 W | 500 W |
| Surge output | 600 W | 750 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 7.7 lb | 16.7 lb |
| Max solar | 110 W | 120 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h | 2h 30m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | EcoFlow RIVER 2 | Anker 535 PowerHouse |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | ❌ | ❌ |
| Mini fridge | 6.9 hrs | 13.8 hrs |
| Chest freezer | ❌ | ❌ |
| CPAP machine | 5.4 hrs | 10.9 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |