This power station is a summer must-have and it's on super sale right now
Related: The best portable power station for 2025
Portable power stations like this one usually come with a hefty price tag, but this limited-time deal slices $100 from the River 3's usual price.
A portable power station falls into the category of "Things You Don't Think About Until You Need Them." If you live in an area prone to outages (which, for one reason or another, is most areas), The EcoFlow River 3 can be a literal lifesaver. It's way more than a phone charger (though you'll thank yourself for staying connected); it'll keep your lights on, your laptop operating and even power small kitchen appliances (at least for a short while). And it'll do it all a lot more cleanly and quietly than a gas generator.
And it's not just for at-home use, either: If you like camping but not giving up all the luxuries of home, just toss the River 3 in the trunk. Imagine enjoying string lights, heated blankets, even a coffeemaker, all while basking in the great outdoors.
This generator provides 245 watt-hours of power, plus, it's easy to use and charges incredibly fast — just an hour via its AC input gets the job done. There's even optional solar panel charging if plug-in power isn't available.
Over 450 five-star reviewers say the EcoFlow River 3 is a reliable, versatile power supply that brings them much-appreciated peace of mind.
Not surprisingly, its portability is a big selling point. Said this five-star reviewer. "This weighs in about 10 lbs., so it is easily moved by most people." They went on to praise the EcoFlow's app: "It immediately recognized the new device via Bluetooth. Setup on my network was quick and easy and required no real effort on my part... One feature that was new to any EcoFlow device that I have seen was a section that showed the current Wi-Fi connectivity. It allows you to ... see the signal strength, IP address, and even the MAC address. Very handy indeed!"
"One standout feature is the incredibly fast AC switching time," said this longtime EcoFlow enthusiast. "The inverter kicks in in under 1 second, which is faster than my Delta 2 (which takes about 3-5 seconds). For such a small battery, it packs a punch, and with solar power, I can rely on renewable energy year-round."
"My only criticism is that the unusual handle design unintentionally encourages setting the unit down on its face," noted this practically minded customer. Actually, that was not their only criticism: "There is also a small hinged plastic door protecting the AC and DC input ports, and this looks pretty vulnerable to accidental breakage. But we shall see."
This shopper's generally sunny review included one dark cloud: "The 40W solar panel combo is not worth buying, in my opinion. Yes, it works and when you align it perfectly to the sun on a perfect day, you can get 25W of charging power out of it. But this is not always possible. If you just lay or hang it out, you get only 3- 10W. If there are clouds, you get nothing. Charging takes days!"
Here are some other very affordable portable juice boxes:
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
3 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I just got my first gaming keyboard — here's why I'll never use a regular board again
I've never been a gamer or reached for one for the best gaming keyboards, but everything changed when I picked up the Keychron C1 Pro 8K. When I was younger, I'd sit and watch my brother play video games and be shocked at how quickly he could hit the keys, but now I understand a lot of it is down to the keyboard. With the right keyboard, your gameplay can be smoother and more reliable. The Keychron C1 Pro 8K can be customized to suit whatever the situation calls for. Need faster switches or comfier keycaps? No problem, the whole deck is hot swappable. For only $54, this board has a lot to give, and I have to admit, it's made a gamer out of me. The Keychron C1 Pro 8K is a retro mechanical keyboard that has streamlined my productivity and given my gaming a boost. It is wired only, but that allows for speedy 8K polling. The OSA profile keycaps are incredibly comfortable to use, and the keyboard is also fully customizable to suit your preferred keycaps and switches. I've used this keyboard every single day for weeks now. It's my reliable keyboard for work in my home office, and then it moves over to the PC for some evening game play. It's the definition of an all-rounder. Whenever I test out a new keyboard, it's part of the testing process here at Tom's Guide to take a typing speed test. And this keyboard gave me the speediest results I've ever had. And these results were down to the comfortable OSA keycaps and the profile of the keyboard. The OSA keycaps are medium-tall profile with bevelled tops and rounded edges that guided my fingers from key to key with ease. When paired with the Keychron Banana super-switches, the keys are bouncy and propel my fingers across the board. And the rake of the keyboard is varied from the back to the front of the board, with the top row being the tallest. This allows for easy access to all keys, and meant I wasn't accidentally hitting any keys on my way back down the board, and every tap was intentional. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The rake is also improved further with the use of the feet on the underside of the board. These can elevate the board from the back to an angle of 8.5° or 10.7°, depending on your preference. This made typing so much more comfortable. When I first picked up the board, I thought that it being wired only was a negative thing. But it's actually something that I have come to appreciate. A wired-only board will be a no-go for people who appreciate the convenience of multipoint connectivity with Bluetooth or a wireless dongle. But for anyone who isn't jumping between multiple devices, I think wired is the way to go. It means I can make the most of the 8K polling rate, not have to worry about the board running low on battery, and make the most of the classic Keychron lighting options. I have also been caught out a few times with Bluetooth connectivity issues on my Laptop, so this completely mitigates that risk. As I mentioned briefly, the 8,000Hz polling rate of the Keychron C1 Pro 8K is a very big win. It means the board is incredibly fast, and the risk of any missed key inputs is significantly reduced. Although I am no professional gamer, and it will make no real difference to me, the reassurance that every input is caught is ideal. If you do think this polling rate is unnecessary, though, you can head to the Keychron Launcher site and reduce the polling rate of the board. This will also reduce the amount of power the keyboard needs, and if you have it plugged into your laptop like I do, it will save some juice. You can find out more about what makes this keyboard so great in my full Keychron C1 Pro 8K review. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Engadget
5 hours ago
- Engadget
HyperX's claims its latest headset lasts 250 hours on a single charge
HyperX has announced its latest flagship wireless gaming headset, and once again , the brand's primary mission statement seems to be chasing eternal life for headphone batteries. The Cloud Alpha 2 will last, according to its maker, for up to 250 hours on a full charge. While that number halves if you make use of the headsets's simultaneous Bluetooth connectivity, a more than 10-day battery life is impressive for any wireless headset. Its new multi-layer 53mm drivers are engineered to reduce distortion as much as possible, while spatial audio is supported via HyperX's Ngenuity software. The Cloud Alpha 2 isn't actually the longest-lasting headset HyperX has made. The honor still belongs to its 2022 predecessor , which could last for up to 300 hours on a single charge. On paper, losing 50 hours of battery life on a newer headset could be viewed as a disappointment, but the Cloud Alpha 2's ace card is its eye-catching RGB base station. With its colorful programmable buttons and pleasingly chunky-looking dial, you can tweak audio settings, launch shortcuts, adjust the volume and switch between connected devices. HyperX says the control station is the first of its kind on a wireless gaming headset. The Cloud Alpha 2 is compatible with PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Mac and mobile devices wireless over a 2.4Ghz connection, as well as Xbox provided you're happy to go wired. It comes with a detachable 10mm boom mic, but you won't find any active noise-canceling tech built in. HyperX promises all-day comfort from breathable microfiber earpads and the memory foam support around the steel headband The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 headset costs $300 and is available now.
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
The Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra is basically my pool's butler: My review
New York Post may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Owning a swimming pool is one of those life perks that sounds like it should be pure bliss: sunny afternoons lounging by the water, hosting weekend barbecues, floating in a flamingo-shaped tube without a care in the world. But if you actually own a pool, you know the real story: it's fun for about five minutes, then comes the never-ending cycle of skimming, brushing, vacuuming, balancing chemicals and shelling out for professional cleanings when life gets too busy. I learned this the hard way. That's why I've always kept my eye on robotic pool cleaners. I've tried a couple over the years — some decent, some disappointing. But I recently got my hands on the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra, and let me tell you…this is not your average robo-cleaner. This thing is a fully loaded, AI-powered, pool-cleaning beast. Advertisement Amazon Pros: Brushes floors, walls and waterlines Precise surface cleaning Remote control features Water Clarification technology AI Camera mapping 5,500 gallons per hour suction Cons: One of the most expensive robot pool cleaners in the market Might lose Wi-Fi connection underwater Heavy Let's get one thing out of the way first. It's heavy. Like, just-under-30-pounds heavy when dry. It has this solid, industrial feel that makes it obvious you're dealing with a high-end machine, not a toy. When I unboxed it, I could already tell it meant business. No flimsy wheels or cheap plastic here—this thing looks like it belongs in a high-tech lab more than a backyard pool. However, it performed well and continues to make my life easier. What's not to love? Setup was surprisingly easy. After downloading the Beatbot app (which, by the way, is refreshingly clean and intuitive), I charged up the unit, synced it via Wi-Fi, and lowered it into my pool. There's a moment when you watch it sink slowly to the bottom, almost as if it's taking a deep breath before diving into its work. That's actually it calibrating; give it a few minutes, and then the magic starts. I opted for Pro mode right off the bat, because hey, if I'm testing this thing, I want the full experience. Pro mode means it doesn't just clean the pool floor and walls. It also scrubs the waterline and performs surface skimming. Basically, everything short of grilling burgers while you swim. Watching the Aquasense 2 Ultra in action is genuinely impressive. It starts by using AI pool mapping, thanks to 27 onboard sensors, it learns the entire layout of your pool, including steps, curves and obstacles. My pool has an awkward shape with an extended shallow shelf and some built-in seating, which has confused other cleaners in the past. Not this one. It navigated the layout with a kind of robotic elegance, adjusting in real time and never getting stuck. Its roller brushes are no joke. There are four of them, and they really scrub. I noticed it lifting up grime and small debris in just one pass. Even some stubborn algae buildup along the tile line was gone by the end of its first run. It's got a 200W pump motor powering a suction system that can filter up to 5,500 gallons of water per hour, which explains the sheer speed and efficiency of the cleaning. It's like dropping a mini power plant into your pool. It even climbs walls like a pro. The rubber treads make it look like a tiny tank as it scales vertical surfaces and transitions seamlessly from floor to wall. I have this habit of neglecting the waterline (who doesn't?) but this bot made short work of it, scrubbing right up to the edge and removing all that invisible grime that you only notice when it's gone. And, here's one of the best parts: once it's done with the underwater work, the Aquasense 2 Ultra activates its Smartdrain system, releasing water from inside its body to float back up to the surface. Watching it rise like a high-tech dolphin is oddly satisfying. What's revolutionary about Beatbot is how it cleans. Once on the surface, as the robot moves forward through water, its front hatch opens, and the dual side brushes rotate inward. This creates water currents that draw surrounding debris toward the front of the machine, where it is then quickly collected through the front hatch. Al Murillo For the overachievers among us (or control freaks, I see you), the app even lets you manually steer the cleaner to specific spots. It's basically like piloting a submarine with your phone. I used it once just for fun, guiding the robot toward a clump of leaves hiding in the corner, and it picked everything up in seconds. But what really makes this pool cleaner a standout is its ClearWater system. At the end of its cleaning cycle, the Aquasense 2 Ultra releases a clarifying agent directly into the water. Not some harsh chemical cocktail; this stuff is made from natural, eco-friendly materials and it's totally safe for skin. The effect? My pool water looked clearer than it has all summer. I usually toss in a water clarifier once a week, but now? I haven't touched a bottle since. When the cleaner's finished, it doesn't just power down and sit somewhere random. It actually parks itself at the edge of the pool and sends a little ping to your phone through the app. The unit positions itself with the handle in an upward position so you can grab it easily (though fair warning: it's noticeably heavier once it's full of water and gunk). Still, the design makes it manageable. Additionally, when the robot completes cleaning and parks itself at the edge, wait about 3 minutes or so to give the Beatbot time to drain the water inside its body, which will make it lighter and easier to remove. If you retrieve the robot as soon as it docks, it'll be heavier. Cleaning out the waste basket is also simple. Flip open the top hatch, pull out the canister, rinse it off and you're good to go. I do recommend rinsing it thoroughly, especially after a heavy cleaning day. Mine was packed with leaves, pebbles and more than a few surprises I'd rather not mention. Charging is straightforward as well. Just set it back into the dock, but make sure to keep the charger in the shade. I left it out in direct sunlight the first time, and while it didn't cause any issues, the user manual makes a point about avoiding heat buildup during charging. Al Murillo Now, is it perfect? Not quite. For one, it's expensive and definitely at the higher end of the robotic pool cleaner spectrum. If you're just looking for something basic, this may feel like overkill. Also, since it connects via Wi-Fi, there were a couple of times it briefly lost connection while submerged. Nothing major, and it reconnected quickly, but worth noting if you're in the middle of steering it manually. In fact, the robot disconnects from Wi-Fi when underwater because Wi-Fi signals struggle underwater as water (especially saltwater) strongly absorbs radio waves at 2.4GHz/5GHz frequencies. But, as soon as it returns to the surface, it will automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi immediately. While it seems like a negative that WiFi is disconnected, the design of this pool cleaner is actually in your favor. Beatbot is designed precisely for users to just throw it in and completely forget about it, letting it clean autonomously until it finishes cleaning, returns to the surface and sends a notification to the app. At that point, all you need to do is retrieve it — so you can spend your free time not hanging poolside if you don't want to. It's also heavy, as I mentioned before. If you have mobility issues or trouble lifting, you might want to factor that into your decision. Once it's wet, it takes some effort to get out of the water. But hey, a small tradeoff for what it does. The Final Verdict Al Murillo Here's the thing: after a few weeks of using the Aquasense 2 Ultra, I haven't hired a pool service once. I haven't spent hours brushing the walls, vacuuming, or skimming by hand. My water looks and feels better than it ever has, and every time I walk outside, I smile knowing the hardest-working member of the household is already at the bottom of the pool, quietly handling business. So if you're serious about pool maintenance and want something that genuinely cuts down your effort, keeps your water crystal clear, and makes owning a pool feel like a luxury again — not a chore — I can't recommend the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra enough. It's a pricey investment, but for me, it's already paid for itself in time, saved service fees, and the pure satisfaction of knowing that I don't have to lift a finger to have a pristine pool all summer long. Honestly? This thing might just be my favorite member of the household. How I Tested Al Murillo When reviewing the Aquasense 2 Ultra, here's the detailed criteria I kept in mind to see if the model was worth it in the long haul: Cleaning Coverage : I evaluated how effectively it handles all pool zones, including scrubbing of surfaces and its integrated clarifying agent for crystal-clear water. : I evaluated how effectively it handles all pool zones, including scrubbing of surfaces and its integrated clarifying agent for crystal-clear water. Navigation & Obstacle Detection : I tested how well the unit maps the pool, avoids obstacles and navigates complex shapes using its AI-powered camera and array of sensors. : I tested how well the unit maps the pool, avoids obstacles and navigates complex shapes using its AI-powered camera and array of sensors. Battery Life & Runtime Performance: I measured the runtime for various modes (surface versus floor cleaning), assessing how long it can clean before needing recharge, as long as 10 hours for surface or 5 hours for deep cleans on a full charge. I measured the runtime for various modes (surface versus floor cleaning), assessing how long it can clean before needing recharge, as long as 10 hours for surface or 5 hours for deep cleans on a full charge. Ease of Use & Smart Features (App Control, Setup, Retrieval): I gauged user experience —from unboxing and app setup to control via Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi, voice alerts and hassle‑free auto‑return mechanisms like surface parking. I gauged user experience —from unboxing and app setup to control via Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi, voice alerts and hassle‑free auto‑return mechanisms like surface parking. Physical Design & Durability: I assessed handling and longevity, noting factors like the robot's heavyweight construction, corrosion-resilient materials, included brushes/accessory kit and storage cover for protection. For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America's go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We're not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren't already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we're known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
