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EcoFlow unveils RIVER Gen4 to keep you connected while camping

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger
Written By
Published on 10 September 2026
  • EcoFlow’s RIVER Gen4 series keeps you connected when you’re far away
  • The company unveiled the RIVER Gen4 at IFA in Berlin
  • Both models are smaller than comparable products

Staying connected while camping or away from mains connections has become a lot easier, thanks to EcoFlow‘s two new portable power stations designed to help you use energy on the go.

Unveiled at IFA 2026 in Berlin on 4th September, the RIVER Gen4 portable power station series can keep connected when mains electricity is out.

EcoFlow says its RIVER Gen4 delivers “practical, dependable energy in a smaller, lighter form”.

It comes in two sizes: the RIVER 260 Gen4 offers 256 Wh of capacity, 300 W of AC output and up to 600 W with X-Boost for selected devices.

What is X-Boost?

X-Boost is a power management function that allows portable power stations to run high-wattage applications that exceed their ordinary AC output. It does this by lowering voltage but maintaining the current. The tradeoff is that appliances run more slowly.

The RIVER 260 Gen4 is about 29.7% smaller and 16.9% lighter than the RIVER 3, the previous model.

The other size, the RIVER 520 Gen4 provides 512 Wh, 500 W of AC output and up to 1,000 W with X-Boost. EcoFlow says both sizes support UPS functionality.

This model is a massive 59.1% smaller and 23.5% lighter than another previous model, the RIVER 2 Max.

However, EcoFlow insists RIVER Gen4’s active idle power is about 30% lower than the industry average. It also optimises power delivery for devices drawing less than 100 W, so more of every watt-hour reaches camping lights, routers, fans, and compact fridges.

EcoFlow also said that when the power display reaches 0%, the Emergency Power Mode safely extends the useable discharge range, which makes it easier to make essential calls, messages and navigation in an emergency.

Another benefit is that it doesn’t drain its energy when not used. If it is left in controlled storage conditions, a fully charged unit will retain about 99% of its charge after a whole year. That means it’s ready to use whenever needed.

Both models can also recharge really quickly. The RIVER 260 Gen4 reaches 80% in 42 minutes and RIVER 520 Gen4 does so in 50 minutes.

Beyond AC charging, one high-power 140 W bidirectional USB-C port provides an all-in-one charging solution for DC wall, solar and car charging through compatible adapters.

Paired with the EcoFlow 60 W Lightweight Portable Solar Panel, RIVER Gen4 Series forms one of the smallest and lightest solar generator setups on the market, making off-grid power is easier to pack and carry.

Ports are not sacrificed to size: RIVER 260 Gen4 carries five outputs and RIVER 520 Gen4 six, with fast charging on every USB-C port, so phones, cameras and laptops can charge together while the AC outlets run lights, a router or a portable fridge.

Refrigerator Runtime Mode adapts power delivery to refrigerator loads to extend cooling time during a home outage, and operating noise stays below 30 dB under a 200 W load – quiet enough for a tent, a desk or a bedside. LFP cells and more than 40+ BMS protection features cover charging, discharging and everyday use.

Written By

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

He has represented The Eco Experts on national television several times, including the BBC’s Sunday Morning Live and ITV Tonight .

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

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