EcoFlow WAVE 3: The Best Portable Air Conditioner for Summer 2025
Summer is here, and it’s forecast to be one of the hottest in history.
With 100°-plus temperatures expected all over the US, you might be thinking twice about taking that camping or RV trip you’ve been looking forward to all year.
Now there’s a much better solution than just hibernating at home.
EcoFlow WAVE 3 is a portable air conditioner + space heater that’s compact enough to use anywhere — on or off-grid.
When it comes to ease of use and performance, it leaves other portable and recreational vehicle AC systems in the dust…
But don’t just take our word for it.
Find out why EcoFlow WAVE 3 is the answer for the summer heat in 2025 and beyond.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Portable Air Conditioner
Here are the essential factors to consider if you’re in the market for portable AC and space heating off-grid.
Cooling and Heating Performance
BTU Rating: The capacity of HVAC systems for cooling and heating is primarily measured in British Thermal Units per hour (BTU/h).
BTUs indicate the amount of heat energy that can be added or removed from a space in one hour. A higher BTU/h rating indicates a greater heating or cooling capacity.
For example, one 'ton' of air conditioning capacity is equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h (3.52 kW) of cooling power.
If an AC or heating unit's BTUs are too low, it won’t effectively cool your space.
EcoFlow WAVE Portable AC offers 6100 BTU cooling capacity and 6800 BTU heating capacity, significantly higher than units of a similar size and weight.
Size the AC/Heater for Your Space: Measuring the square footage and cubic volume of the area you intend to cool or heat is essential to ensure an HVAC unit has enough BTUs to do the job.
Anyone who’s ever bought or rented real estate likely understands square footage. Multiply the space’s length by its width to measure square feet. For example, a 15-foot-long by 10-foot-wide space measures 150 sq. ft.For AC and space heater it’s also necessary to factor in the height of a space. The average ceiling height for residential properties is eight feet, but for portable applications like tent/car camping or vans and RVs, the height of the space can vary significantly.
Measure cubic volume by multiplying length x width x height. For spaces like tents where the height may vary, measure to the highest point. For example, a two-person tent that’s 84"L x 60"W x 45"H has an approximate cubic volume of 226,800 cubic inches or 131.25 cubic feet.
Once you have the length, width, and height of your space, free online BTU calculators are a good starting point for determining how much heating or cooling power you need.Additional factors to consider about your space (if applicable) include
Insulation levels
Window area and type
Sun exposure
Number of occupants
Heat-generating appliances
Single or Dual Hose (Duct Type)
Many portable ACs rely on an inefficient single-hose design for cooling. This design draws air from inside the room, creating negative pressure and forcing warmer air in through cracks and openings.
Dual-hose units with separate intake and exhaust ducts improve efficiency by using outside air for cooling, resulting in better performance and lower energy consumption.
EcoFlow WAVE 3’s unique Flexible Dual Duct design offers outstanding efficiency and greater flexibility in positioning the unit.
For example, thanks to the Dual Ducts, you can operate WAVE 3 outside your tent instead of taking up valuable space inside.
It’s also compact enough to place between the front seats of a van, SUV, or Class B motorhome, providing up to 8 hours of cooling or heat between charges.
Temperature Range
Summer 2025 is expected to be one of the hottest on record…
While it’s impossible to predict just how hot or cold temperatures will be in the coming years, checking out historical averages for locations you plan to visit is a smart way to ensure your portable AC/Heater provides enough power to keep you comfortable in extreme conditions.
When checking historical averages, pay close attention to the highest recorded temperatures and humidity levels. Extreme heat and humidity can significantly reduce an AC's cooling capacity, as the unit has to work harder to remove moisture from the air.
On average, an air conditioner can lower the temperature of a well-insulated, enclosed area by 15°F to 20°F, provided its cooling power in BTUs is sufficient for the size of the space.
Choosing an AC with a high enough BTU rating to achieve your desired temperature in the conditions you expect to encounter is essential to your comfort.
Undersized ACs will struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature, while significantly oversized ACs can cycle on and off too frequently, reducing efficiency.
(Source: Hearing Health Foundation)
Noise Level
EcoFlow WAVE 3 is designed to operate quietly inside or outside confined spaces like campers, tents, cars, and RVs.
It operates at 44 decibels (dB) in sleep mode, ensuring a good night’s rest without letting external temperatures or operating noise stand in your way.
Dehumidification
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity…
In many parts of the US, high humidity causes almost as much discomfort as extreme heat.
EcoFlow WAVE 3 has built-in dehumidification functionality, helping to protect you against sticky heat.
Customize your desired moisture level to ensure the air isn’t too dry, which can lead to sore throats and irritated lungs in the morning.
Power and Portability
Planning on using your portable AC primarily for off-grid adventures like camping and RVing?
If so, charging options, power consumption requirements, and portability should be primary considerations before making a purchase decision.
EcoFlow WAVE 3 delivers outstanding performance in each category.
Let’s break it down.
Power Consumption
Air conditioning and space heating are energy-intensive applications that guzzle a lot of power.
(Source: Energy Information Agency)
According to the EIA’s most recent Residential Energy Consumer Survey, air conditioning consumes the most electricity by end-use in the average American household.
By choosing an energy-efficient portable air conditioner, you can save more money on electricity bills, whether you plug it into AC power to charge its battery or use grid power to run it at home.
For off-grid applications, conserving battery or generator power with an energy-efficient Dual-Hose portable AC like EcoFlow WAVE 3 can extend run times and cut costs compared to an inefficient single-hose unit.
Charging Methods
Most portable ACs and space heaters don’t have built-in battery storage.
EcoFlow WAVE 3 is no exception…
Without the EcoFlow Wave 3 Add-on Battery or a compatible DELTA series smart battery, you’ll need to leave the unit plugged into a standard household wall outlet to heat or cool your space.
For off-grid applications, the Add-On Battery unlocks a world of possibilities for portable wireless cooling and heating.
Unlike most battery-powered portable AC units, EcoFlow WAVE 3 + Add-On Battery offers a wide variety of charging options, including:
Direct solar charge input: 400W (11-60V, 13A Max).
Approximate charge time: 2 hours (in peak sunlight conditions)
Vehicle alternator charging
Charge while you drive with the EcoFlow 800W Alternator Charger
Approximate charge time: 102 minutes
AC power:
Up to 700W of household electricity/shore power.
Approximate charge time: 2 hours.
Car power (DC) outlet
100W maximum for emergency charging
Approximate charge time: 10 hours
Fast Multi-Charging
Charge even faster by connecting a 400W portable solar panel and AC power at the same time. Go from zero to 100% in just 75 minutes during peak sun hours.
Battery Storage Capacity
EcoFlow WAVE 3 Add-On Battery provides 1024Wh storage capacity — enough for up to 8 hours of cooling or heating power between charges.
If you’re looking for longer run times and added functionality, consider pairing EcoFlow WAVE 3 with a compatible DELTA Series portable power station.
For example, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 offers seamless compatibility with WAVE 3 and can operate the unit for up to 40 hours between charges.
Not only that, it can elevate your entire off-grid experience by powering just about anything.
It’s highly expandable, but not at the expense of portability.
Speaking of which…
Portability
Unlike many “portable” air conditioners and space heaters, EcoFlow WAVE 3 + Add-On Battery is completely wireless and simple to set up almost anywhere.
The unit itself weighs just under 38 lbs with a footprint of 20.4×11.7×13.2 in — extremely compact for over 6000 BTUs of cooling/heating power.
The add-on battery slots seamlessly into the bottom of the unit, increasing the height by 4 inches without taking up any additional floor space.
The battery weighs just over 21 lbs for a combined weight of 60 lbs when mounted to the WAVE 3. If that’s too heavy, it’s easy to disconnect the battery to carry separately and reconnect when you’re ready to cool down (or warm up).
Pound for pound, it’s got the best performance of any portable AC + heater currently on the market.
Durability
EcoFlow WAVE 3 is rated IPX4 for waterproofing, meaning it can operate in light rain.
However, it must not be submersed underwater or left outdoors for extended periods of heavy precipitation.
The Add-On battery is rated IP65 for dust and waterproofing, meaning it’s dust-tight and can withstand heavy waterjet spray without damage.
Overall, EcoFlow WAVE 3 is designed to perform optimally in an exceptionally wide range of outdoor and indoor operating conditions.
Longevity
EcoFlow WAVE 3 Add-On Battery uses industry-leading LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery chemistry — a significant improvement on traditional lithium-ion (Li-ion) or Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) “deep cycle” batteries when it comes to lifespan, safety, and efficiency.
Cycle life is a much more accurate measure of battery lifespan than calendar time, particularly for Li-ion-based batteries, which don’t require maintenance or degrade significantly when stored under the recommended conditions.
A “cycle” is one full discharge/charge of a battery, and “cycle life” estimates how many times you can recharge the battery before its storage capacity diminishes to a specific point — usually +/-80% or +/-50% of the original.
EcoFlow’s WAVE 3 Add-On battery has a cycle life of 4000 charges before its capacity diminishes to +/-80% — the equivalent of over a decade of regular use.
Here’s how the different types of battery chemistry stack up by average cycle life.
Average Battery Cycle Life by Chemistry
Chemistry | Approximate Cycle Life at 80% Depth of Discharge (DoD) | Notes |
Flooded Lead Acid (FLA) | 500-1500 | Cycle life is heavily affected by maintenance and DoD. Regular maintenance and shallow discharges are crucial for achieving the higher end of this range. |
Gel Cell (SLA/VRLA) | 500-1000 | More sensitive to deep discharges and overcharging than AGM. |
Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) (SLA/VRLA) | 800-1500 | Generally more robust than Gel Cell for cycling applications. |
Traditional Lithium-ion (Li-ion/NCA/NCO) | 500-1000 | (Older Li-ion chemistries) Cycle life can vary depending on the specific formulation. |
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC/NCM/LNMC) | 1000-3000 | Very common in EVs and power tools. Good energy density. Cycle life can vary based on specific formulation and operating conditions. |
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4/LFP) | 3000-8000+ | Generally considered safer and more stable than NMC. Significantly longer cycle life, especially at shallower DoD. |
Final Thoughts
Off-grid summer adventures have never been cooler, thanks to the EcoFlow WAVE 3 Portable Air Conditioner.
And with built-in space heating functionality, your winter excursions can be just as comfy.
EcoFlow is constantly innovating with new Smart Devices launching regularly, including the Glacier Classic Portable Refrigerator/Freezer that takes you from camping to glamping effortlessly.
Check out our selection today!