EcoFlow Wave 3 review: a portable air conditioner and heater that’s better in every way

I’ve been testing the EcoFlow Wave 3, a follow-up to the all-in-one battery-powered air conditioner, heater, and fan I reviewed final summer time. EcoFlow has dialed again its absurd advertising with a extra highly effective unit that may be recharged by a number of strategies, together with the solar. Solely now it may mechanically (attempt to) preserve a set temperature vary and act as a devoted dehumidifier, too.

I used to be grateful to have EcoFlow’s Wave 2 with me final summer time whereas vanlifing round Portugal and Spain. That much less highly effective A/C helped to offset daytime temps hitting 37 levels Celsius (98.6 diploma Fahrenheit) and made 25C (77F) nights snug sufficient to sleep. But it surely solely labored in small areas and underneath simply the best circumstances.

The third-generation transportable warmth pump from EcoFlow can’t carry out miracles. We’re nonetheless solely speaking 6100BTU (1800W) of cooling and 6800BTU (2000W) of heating. And placement is proscribed by cumbersome consumption and exhaust hoses, and the area wanted for a receptacle to gather any drained water.

However if you happen to personal a van, surf shack, work shed, roof-top tent, boat, or one other small area requiring occasional temperature management, then the Wave 3 could possibly be for you. Costs are discounted for a restricted time to $849, or $1,399 with the battery bundle, earlier than they rise considerably subsequent month.

Whereas the Wave 2 was restricted to areas smaller than 10 sq. meters (107 sq. toes), the Wave 3 is designed to work in areas as much as 17 sq. meters (180 sq. toes). To check the declare, I used the Wave 3 as a heater inside a 14.8 sq. meter (161 sq. toes) tiny dwelling in regards to the dimension of a transport container, and as an A/C inside a 9 sq. meter (97 sq. toes) Class-B Sprinter van. The Wave 3 has built-in Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth), so I might join it to my Starlink Mini and handle operation remotely over the wonderful EcoFlow app.

As a heater in a one-room tiny dwelling, the Wave 3 might solely simply address the area, however was a marked enchancment over the Wave 2. With temperatures starting from 8C (46F) to 10C (50F) exterior, the Wave 3 at most warmth might preserve temperatures inside at round 14C (57F) to 17 C (63F). I acquired 13 hours of runtime off the non-compulsory 1024Wh LFP battery utilizing a mixture of Eco and Sleep modes beginning within the night and working by the evening. The warmth was weak, however it was the distinction between needing one down-filled quilt as a substitute of two.

In Sleep mode — the bottom setting — the Wave 3 is comparatively quiet at round 45dB when measured from a distance of 1 meter. The sound turns into exhausting at Eco or above, reaching 60dB in Max mode, making it a lot louder than the 53dB I measured from the Wave 2. It additionally makes a gradual 36dB buzzing sound when charging earlier than falling silent after the battery is full.

After reviewing its predecessor, I already had a good suggestion of how nicely the extra highly effective Wave 3 would cool my van through the day (combined) and at evening (good). It carried out as I anticipated, however I nonetheless hoped for extra.

Just like the Wave 2, the brand new EcoFlow Wave 3 is helpless to chill the inside of my van when parked in direct daylight, even with insulated solar reflectors put in within the home windows. There’s an excessive amount of warmth produced by all that tumbler and metal to maintain it from seeping into the inside, even in Northern Europe in April.

On one sunny afternoon when the skin temperature by no means exceeded 18C (64F), I shut all of the doorways and home windows, put the reflectors in place, and cranked the Wave 3 as much as most cooling. As a substitute of reducing the inside temperature, it rose from 24C (75F) to 28C (82F) over a interval of 90 minutes earlier than I known as it quits. To maintain my van cool in these conditions, I’d must completely set up a high-capacity (and costlier) rooftop A/C on my van. High quality, I anticipated this consequence, and EcoFlow is clearer in regards to the limitation this time.

I strongly advise pet house owners to not depend on the Wave 3’s new Pet Mode. Whereas it’d add a couple of minutes of consolation to your animal, the Wave 3 cannot preserve them protected in a sunny car parking zone.

As anticipated, the Wave 3 did significantly better once I parked within the shade. On a barely hotter 19C (66F) afternoon, the Wave 3 introduced the inner temps all the way down to 16C (61F) — the unit’s lowest setting — and maintained it. So, just like the Wave 2, I anticipate the Wave 3 would preserve me snug in my van at evening even when exterior temps have been 25C (77F) or perhaps a little larger.

When working off the battery in Max cooling, the Wave 3 died after virtually three hours of operation. The 8-hour runtime EcoFlow claims is just for the much less highly effective Eco mode.

I didn’t stress-test the dehumidifier. I imply, it really works, and it may be helpful to stop mould from rising in an RV when parked in storage through the low season, for instance. That may assist maximize your worth for cash by making the Wave 3 helpful year-round.

The EcoFlow Wave’s dual-use heating and cooling portability and BTUs per sq. inch have all the time set it other than rivals. The third-generation Wave 3 takes a profitable formulation and improves on it, with out the unrealistic advertising hype that created confusion and disappointment from consumers of the Wave 1 and Wave 2.

However EcoFlow’s Wave 3 warmth pump stays a distinct segment product for anybody who want to sometimes warmth or cool small areas in temperate climates, particularly in the event that they’re situated off the grid.

Pricing for the Wave 3 is a multitude as a consequence of EcoFlow’s insistence on utilizing limited-time coupons to goose buying. On the time of publication, you should purchase the Wave 3 with out the battery for $849 ($799 with coupon), however then you definitely miss out on the photo voltaic charging and portability. Most could be higher off with the Wave 3 plus battery combo, presently discounted to $1,399, earlier than rising to its full listing value of $2,198 after Might twenty fifth. And whereas EcoFlow usually provides steep reductions on its Chinese language-manufactured merchandise all year long, these could possibly be Trumped by tariffs transferring ahead.

Pictures by Thomas Ricker / The Verge