EcoFlow Wave 3 Review: A More Powerful, Quieter Portable AC

Introduction

The portable battery-powered air conditioner market has grown quickly since the EcoFlow Wave 2 arrived two years ago. Now EcoFlow has released the Wave 3, a new version that promises more cooling power, better efficiency, and a safer battery chemistry. After extensive testing in both a controlled room and a real RV, the Wave 3 proves to be a meaningful upgrade over its predecessor.

What’s New in the Wave 3

The Wave 3 delivers 6,100 BTUs of cooling power, which is 1,000 more than the outgoing Wave 2 model. Heating output also increased to 6,800 BTUs, up 700 from the previous version. Airflow improved as well, with the unit now pushing 330 cubic meters per hour compared to 290 on the old model.

One of the most significant changes is the battery. The Wave 3 uses a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery instead of the older NMC chemistry. This new battery is rated for 4,000 charge cycles versus just 800 on the old model, and LFP chemistry has a near-zero risk of thermal runaway. The trade-off is weight: the battery comes in at 21 pounds versus 17 pounds on the Wave 2. The complete unit with battery attached weighs around 55 pounds.

Despite the larger compressor and smaller 1,024Wh battery, the Wave 3 still offers the same 8-hour runtime on eco mode as the outgoing model. That efficiency improvement comes from a redesigned compressor that also runs quieter. From a meter away, max mode measures around 58 dB, and eco mode drops to about 50 dB.

What’s in the Box

The Wave 3 ships with an AC power adapter cable so you can run it from wall power, a generator, or an inverter. If you buy the version with the battery, you also get a 12V car port to XT60 adapter. A plastic cable clip attaches to the back for tidy cable management.

The unit includes two insulated hoses, which are new for the Wave 3. These stretchy hoses have a foil lining inside that transmits less heat through the hose compared to the thin plastic hoses on the Wave 2. The smaller hose is the exhaust, and the larger hose is the intake. Both clip onto the unit and route outside through a window or tent opening. The hoses nest inside each other for easy storage.

A drainage hose plugs into the back of the unit, and a button lets you manually dump collected water. A cardboard template is included for cutting your own window adapter, though the foam template from the Wave 2 works better if you have one.

Performance Testing: Heating

In heating tests, the Wave 3 impressed with its low-temperature capability. The manual states the unit should not heat below 41 degrees Fahrenheit, but real-world testing showed it continuing to output warm air down to 30 degrees. At 31 degrees outside with snow falling, the unit was still blowing 99-degree air. It finally stopped heating when outdoor temperatures hit 30 degrees.

That is a meaningful improvement over the Wave 2, which stopped warming in the upper 30s. For campers in desert environments where overnight temperatures can dip into the 20s, the Wave 3 offers more usable heating range. However, it still cannot heat below freezing, which remains a limitation for winter camping in very cold conditions.

In a well-insulated 180-square-foot room, the Wave 3 held temperatures comfortably. With the thermostat set to 76 degrees overnight, the room stayed warm even as outdoor temperatures dropped. On max heat mode, the unit output 108-degree air and maintained the room at 77 degrees. The compressor ran steadily without the random shut-offs that plagued the Wave 2.

Performance Testing: Cooling

Cooling tests were conducted in the same 180-square-foot room on a warm day with outdoor temperatures around 81 degrees. Starting from a room temperature of 77 degrees, the Wave 3 ran on battery power in max cooling mode. The battery lasted about 2.5 hours and lowered the room temperature by 4 degrees to 73 degrees.

In eco mode, the unit draws about 180 watts and can drop the output air temperature by 15 degrees below ambient. With the room at 77 degrees, the output air measured 60 to 62 degrees. That makes eco mode a solid choice for sleeping or taking the edge off a hot space while maximizing battery life.

Power Consumption and Efficiency

The Wave 3 shows clear efficiency gains over its predecessor. On max cooling mode, the unit pulls about 465 watts from AC wall power and about 425 watts from DC power. That 40-watt difference makes DC operation noticeably more efficient. On max heating mode, the unit draws 632 watts from AC and 593 watts from DC.

The unit does draw 3 watts from the wall even when turned off, so unplugging it when not in use saves a small amount of energy. The included app provides a four-way power chart showing input from wall, solar, battery, and the power the machine is using, which makes it easy to monitor the system.

Charging Options and Flexibility

The Wave 3 battery includes both an XT-150 battery port for charging and a built-in 400W XT60 input that accepts 11 to 60 volts. This allows direct solar charging, third-party battery charging, or use with EcoFlow’s new 500-watt alternator charger.

Charging times vary significantly by input voltage. From a 12-volt source, the battery takes about 12 hours to charge. At 24 volts, that drops to 3 hours 45 minutes. At 48 volts, charging takes 2 hours 40 minutes. The maximum charge rate is 400 watts, so higher voltages beyond that point do not speed things up further.

The Wave 3 can run directly from a 12-volt vehicle system in eco mode, though it needs about 15 volts at 13.3 amps to run indefinitely without draining the battery. At 14.4 volts, which is typical of a running vehicle’s charging system, the unit only draws 5 watts from the battery, allowing it to run for a very long time. This makes the Wave 3 the first over-6,000 BTU air conditioner that can run directly from a vehicle’s 12-volt system.

With a 300-watt solar panel at 24 volts, you can run the air conditioner in eco mode while also charging the battery at about 120 watts. At 48 volts with 400 watts of solar input, the battery charges at 225 watts while the unit runs on 170 watts, reaching a full charge in about 4 hours.

Real-World RV Cooling Test

A real-world test in a 24-foot Class B RV showed how the Wave 3 performs in typical camping conditions. Starting at 82 degrees inside the RV on a sunny day, the unit ran on max cooling mode for about 2 hours 15 minutes before the battery died. The interior temperature dropped 4 degrees to 78 degrees and held there.

The test revealed an important installation consideration. The hoses running from the unit to the window were quite warm, measuring 99 degrees, and this heat was radiating back into the RV. Positioning the unit so the hoses route directly outside, or placing the unit outside with only the hose entering the window, would improve cooling performance further.

Buying Advice

The EcoFlow Wave 3 is a significant upgrade over the Wave 2. It offers more cooling and heating power, quieter operation, better build quality, and a safer, longer-lasting battery. The improved efficiency means the same 8-hour eco mode runtime despite a smaller battery capacity.

The battery is essential if you plan to use the unit off-grid. Without it, the Wave 3 can only run from AC power. The battery enables all DC functions, including solar charging, battery charging, and use with the 500-watt alternator charger. If you already own an EcoFlow power station with a compatible battery port, you may be able to skip the included battery and save money.

The main limitation remains heating below freezing. The unit stops heating around 30 degrees Fahrenheit, which limits its usefulness for winter camping in very cold conditions. EcoFlow has stated that sub-freezing heating was not a priority based on their market research, but it is worth considering if you camp in cold climates.

Conclusion

The EcoFlow Wave 3 delivers on its promise of a more powerful, quieter, and more efficient portable air conditioner. The LFP battery is a major improvement for longevity and safety, and the ability to run from 12-volt vehicle systems opens up new use cases. For campers, RV owners, and anyone needing portable climate control, the Wave 3 is a compelling choice that addresses most of the shortcomings of the previous model.