Looking for something more powerful than a regular battery bank, but more portable than some of the so-called "portable" power stations?

EcoFlow's River Mini is just what you've been looking for, combining decent charging capacity with heaps of connection options into a package that you really can put in your backpack for a few days hiking or otherwise.

It won't power your hungrier devices, but it'll certainly make a good fist of keeping most electronic devices online, with 210Wh capacity and 300W pure sine wave output working well for most devices.

So, should you buy the EcoFlow River Mini Wireless?

EcoFlow River Mini Battery Life and Specs

Before we talk about the River Mini's extensive array of ports and connectivity options, you're going to want to know about the capacity and other relevant specs.

• 210Wh/58,400mAh
• Pure Sine Wave, 300W/120v (US)
• 100W USB-C (only on River Mini Wireless)
• 3x USB-A port
• 12v car socket
• 15W Wireless Qi

Coming with a very respectable and useful range of seven ports, the EcoFlow River Mini Wireless has connectivity and charging at the forefront of its design. As you'd expect, it's a portable power station, after all. One thing to note is that this review covers the River Mini Wireless, which features a 15W Qi wireless charging mat on top of the unit.

A 210Wh battery isn't the biggest, but it's more than enough to charge your smartphone and a couple of other devices a few times over. Of course, the capacity of the devices you're plugging into the EcoFlow River Mini makes a dent in your charging capacity.

The River Mini and River Mini Wireless (both units have the same capacity) can happily charge my 17.6" laptop with its 120W AC adapter. However, plugging the laptop in causes the prospective battery capacity of the River Mini to plummet. In that, although the River Mini or River Mini Wireless has the capacity to charge such a unit (and charge it for a little while), it will rinse through the battery faster than you might expect.

Something else important to note is the River Mini's pure sine wave output, which means you can run slightly more delicate devices when you're out and about. A pure sine wave is more akin to the power your device pulls from the wall outlet at home rather than what's known as a modified sine wave, which for want of a better explanation, produces a blockier wave versus the smooth output of the pure sine wave.

River Mini vs. River Mini Wireless

The River Mini Wireless is slightly more expensive than the non-wireless version. However, it comes with a few perks that make the extra outlay worthwhile.

First up, the River Mini Wireless comes with the aforementioned 15W Qi wireless charging mat on top of the unit. It's a small touch, but handy if you want to free up the USB-C or one of the USB-A ports for another device.

This leads us to the next plus point: the wireless version comes with a 100W USB-C port. For smartphone owners and owners of certain laptops, like a MacBook Pro or an XPS 13, the option for 100W charging is a massive boon. Depending on the laptop power draw, plugging in your laptop for a few hours will put a serious dent in the EcoFlow River Mini Wireless capacity. Being able to charge directly over USB-C avoids the conversion inefficiency of having to activate an AC adaptor.

Finally, the River Mini Wireless comes with more connection options in the box. In the River Mini Wireless box, you'll also find EcoFlow's Solar to XT60 charging cable and 12V XT60 charging cable, both of which give the River Mini Wireless another edge over its non-wireless counterpart.

EcoFlow App

The final handy benefit to the wireless version is the companion app, which is available for Android and iOS.

Download: EcoFlow for Android | iOS

The EcoFlow app is very simple to use. First, download the app. Once downloaded, press the IoT Reset button on the front of the River Mini Wireless, and it'll begin broadcasting a 2.4GHz wireless signal to which you can connect your Android or iOS device.

Select your EcoFlow model, in this case, the River Mini Wireless, and you can start managing your power unit via your smartphone. Options include changing the maximum charge rate (which is handy), switching between charge modes, checking what's eating through your power, current output, and estimated remaining charge time.

The EcoFlow app is a handy option, but it won't make or break your experience with the River Mini Wireless. Still, if you pick one up, you should give it a try.

How Long Does the EcoFlow River Mini Take to Charge?

EcoFlow describes the River Mini as hitting "the Goldilocks zone" of portable power. What that means is that the River Mini delivers enough power to make it useful while small enough to be actually "portable", but not require a small truck to transport.

We'd also add that its fast charging time also makes it a really handy addition to your power options. The River Mini will reach maximum charge in around 90 minutes or so from a regular power outlet, and you'll get a really good chunk of power into the battery within an hour if you're in a rush. Total percentages vary, and while EcoFlow reckons you'll get up to 80 percent in 60 minutes, I found it was a little less (not much, mind).

One really handy thing is that you can charge the River Mini using a 12V XT60 connector. Yes—we're talking about charging the unit from the 12V socket in your car, adding another charging option to the River Mini. It'll take a while, and I never actually used it to complete a full charge, opting to use it as a top-up option while on slightly longer journeys, just to keep the juice topped up. EcoFlow's XT60 cable will set you back an additional $21, but other 12V XT60 cables will also do the job, and if you're traveling around in a van or similar, it's a really handy addition.

Can You Charge the EcoFlow River Mini With Solar Panels?

It's a slightly different story when it comes to solar panels, as you might expect. The lower overall capacity of a solar panel pushes the charging time up significantly, but that it's an option is still welcome, especially if you have some portable panels for when you're out camping or otherwise.

Of course, your solar charging time will vary depending on your panels. I borrowed a set of 60W panels and plugged them into the EcoFlow River Mini using EcoFlow's solar to XT60 cable. Reaching full charge took around four hours, though the River Mini wasn't completely empty when I started charging, so your mileage will vary. EcoFlow's Solar to XT60 cable costs an additional $49.90 and is available in 1.5m or 3.5m. As they cost the same, grab the longer version for a little more positioning versatility when you need it.

One thing to note is that the River Mini has a 100W max for solar panel charging, which is a very slight limitation.

Should You Buy the EcoFlow River Mini Wireless?

The EcoFlow River Mini Wireless does hit that Goldilocks zone, the perfect area between weight, power, and charging.

The footprint of the River Mini Wireless and the weight of the unit—2.85kg/6.28lbs—make it a really attractive proposition for a whole host of portable power options, not least because it packs in more power than you'll find with other options and will actually fit in a bag.

It comes with an extensive range of connection options, multiple charging options, and really can deliver power to almost anything you throw at it. Its 300W output is really good, especially for the size, and although it is a limitation for your larger portable electronics, it'll cover your phones, laptops, camera, lights, and more.

The EcoFlow River Mini Wireless retails for $399. With the additional cables in the wireless package and, of course, the wireless functionality, the River Mini Wireless is a handy portable power station to keep in your backup power options.