The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is a workhorse warrior and it’s awesome for off-grid life

Maybe I’ve been spending too much time with portable power stations, but straight out of the box, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Ultra looks slick. It has a refined design without any flashy labeling, and it looks pretty great overall. It comes with a hefty 3,072Wh capacity, paired with a 3,600W continuous output and a 7,200W peak, giving you plenty of power to work with. Power outages, off-grid living, RV trips, and job sites can all benefit from the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Ultra.

And while it feels more complex than, say, the Anker Solix C1000, EcoFlow has made this model for the masses, and it’s easy to navigate. The labeling on the unit itself is intuitive, and this could be really great for those new to the world of power stations, eliminating the guesswork of figuring out what goes where. Although this is pretty standard on portable power stations, I appreciate EcoFlow’s effort here, given this is a slightly more advanced model. I’m also thrilled at the design of the rear power ports. They’re all nicely tucked away behind door flaps that fold down and tuck away, much like the oven doors on The Great British Bake Off.

A face any portable-power-station user could love. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

It’s also massively expandable, and it's super quiet. Here are some study-worthy specs on the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus.

Specs

• Capacity: 3,072Wh

• Continuous output: 3,600W

• Peak output: 7,200W

• Weight: about 74 pounds

• Dimensions: 15.5 in. D × 12.9 in. W ×  24.13 in. H

• Power options: AC, USB-C (140W), USB-A, 30 amp

• Recharging options: Standard AC wall charging, generator, solar, alternator, solar + generator, solar + alternator

• Maximum solar input: 1,600W

• UPS: Under 10 milliseconds

• Battery type: LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate)

• Warranty: 5 years

What can the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Ultra power?

In real-world scenarios, the Delta 3 Max Ultra is able to power most appliances, especially thanks to the 30-amp plug. When testing, I used it to power an air fryer, rice cooker, electric space heater, espresso machine, a microwave, and to recharge my phone.

EcoFlow rates the Delta 3 Max Ultra as capable of keeping a 120W refrigerator cooling for about 35 hours or a microwave running for two hours. If you’re hoping for WiFi router support, this EcoFlow model can keep a 100W model online for more than 10 days, and it’ll recharge a phone at least 240 times.

The display on the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus gives you everything you want to know and nothing more. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

In total, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Ultra offers four AC ports, one 30-amp plug, three USB-C ports (with two of those rated for 140W), and one USB-A port. That gives you plenty of power options should you want to operate the Ninja Slushi in the backyard or roll the power station down to the summer neighborhood festival to power a party speaker.

Plentiful recharging options

When recharging with standard AC wall power, expect the Delta 3 Max Ultra to take about 90 minutes to power up to 80% when starting from zero. In testing, it took me a bit over two hours to get a full charge. But you’re far from limited to AC recharging with the Delta 3 Max Ultra. You can opt for solar with a maximum input of 1,600W, which will get the Max Ultra up to 80% power in about 100 minutes, according to EcoFlow. You can also use generator charging, alternator charging, and a hybrid of solar with an alternator, and solar with a generator. When testing recharging, I used AC and solar. The AC recharging was quieter than when I was testing the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2, and that unit is tiny in comparison.

Recharging port doors open. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Port doors tucked away. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Pile on the power

Some people want a portable power station designed for easy use on short camping trips. Many of these models don’t contain the guts to hook up to battery expansions, meaning they max out at their stated watt-hour capacity. But since the Delta 3 Max Ultra is designed for bigger lifts like home backup during a power outage or off-grid living, EcoFlow made this model compatible with expansion batteries.

The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus with two expansion batteries in a neat little pile. Credit: EcoFlow

Should your power needs increase, this model can accommodate hooking up to an extra 8,000Wh of expansion thanks to the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus Smart Extra Battery.

An app that’s actually kinda fun

Most portable power stations come with an app that gives you extra control of the unit. EcoFlow offers one of my favorite apps in the portable power station realm, and I somehow kind of enjoy playing around with the setting options and viewing the displayed info. Plus, it’s really great to glance at the app to get real-time battery info when recharging the power station.

Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

More than simple convenience, EcoFlow’s app has useful features, including a Storm Guard Mode. With this enabled and the power station plugged in for AC charging, the EcoFlow app will automatically trigger the power station to begin recharging when a storm is incoming. Switch this on and get peace of mind that the power station will be at 100% when the storm arrives.

Another really cool feature found in the EcoFlow app is the Smart Output Priority control. From this menu, you get to decide which port gets power priority, so you can plug several devices or appliances in and control which is getting the lion’s share of power.

Not a “carry around the campground” model

The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is a chunk, weighing about 74 pounds. That’s not an unheard-of weight for a power station that comes with over 3,000Wh. Comparatively, the Anker Solix F3000, which has fairly similar specs, weighs 91.5 pounds, so the EcoFlow is actually significantly lighter.

That being said, this was a heavy lift for me. I’m the type of girl who will never accept help opening the pickle jar, and I can lift my own belongings, thank you. But I (mostly) allowed my partner to carry this puppy around. Not only is 74ish pounds a challenge for me to lift, it’s long enough that picking it up is awkward for my wingspan.

The telescoping handle and wheels are a must on this unit, which was hard for me to carry. This might be a non-issue on the jobsite. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

But EcoFlow doesn’t expect us to carry the Delta 3 Max Ultra around all the time, as they’ve graced us with a set of durable rear wheels and a really convenient telescoping handle. It’s easy enough to roll this model around, and it does alright on solid terrain, but the wheel clearance is rather low. It was close to impossible to roll it on deeper gravel around the campground when I was testing, going for a more dragging vibe than a roll. It’ll do fine rolling around the garage, a driveway, or a hard-packed trail, but otherwise, transportation is an issue. I stand by saying this is not the right model if you’ll need to carry it for any distance save for a few feet, and it would be a real pain to take up or down stairs regularly.

Beware: this mode doesn't wheel around on gravel, but it will cook you lovely rice. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Pricing on the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus

EcoFlow loves a sale almost as much as we do at Mashable, and the brand frequently offers many of its portable power stations at great discounts. Sale prices are so frequent that I recommend shopping EcoFlow models when they’re on sale, especially during popular sale times like Amazon Prime Day events, Black Friday, and major holidays like the 4th of July. Shop during these times and you’re likely to not only get a discount but also get some free extras like solar panels.

At full price, EcoFlow has the Delta 3 Ultra Plus listed at $2,899 but it’s common to find sale pricing that’s closer to $1,600. That’s a price that’s on par with competitor models. If EcoFlow has tossed in extras like a free solar panel, that could tip the scales to make this the most desirable value.

Is the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus worth buying?

If you spend time off-grid, head out on RV trips, or live in an area that’s prone to power outages, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is a beast worth owning. It supplies 3,072Wh of power, has a convenient app, great ports, and versatility in recharging. The option to expand with extra batteries makes this a great option if you think your power needs might increase, but you’re not completely sold on a larger (and more expensive) model. But keep in mind, there are better models for a quick camping weekend, and it’s not ideal to roll around in gravel or sand. Otherwise, EcoFlow has once again made a great portable power station that’s even better if you can snag it on sale.

EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus

$1,424 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $75

 

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