David Bridges
If I need anything more than the pink Barbie phone, it’s the EcoFlow Power Hat. I know it sounds odd and slightly concerning. I’ve never worn a hat with eight solar panels and dual charging ports on my head, so I’m not sure how it’s going to feel. But picturing my hat simultaneously charging up to two devices when I’m out on a hike is exciting, too. You’ll have to shell out $80 for it, though, which sounds like a lot for a casual beach hat, but not when I think of a power bank with dual output. So, it’s a fair deal.
Adorned with a 360-degree solar paneled brim, the hat sits on your noggin and offers two charging outputs, Type-A and Type-C, to replenish your devices on the go. The eight panels on the hat ensure it gets enough juice to last at least a few hours. The capacity ultimately depends on the amount of sun the solar panels get, but the hat is good for fully charging a 4,000mAh battery (the average battery size on a smartphone) in three to four hours.
Even with all the tech integrated into it, the Power Hat is very light at 370g. Its fully foldable body gives it an inconspicuous form factor, so stuffing it in your backpack shouldn’t be an issue. The hat’s IP65 waterproof rating means it’s built to endure your beach days.
The Power Hat is available in two sizes: medium-large and large-extra large. It retails for $80 and is currently available to pre-order. The company told Gizmodo that “official retail availability is still TBC, but the pre-orders are shipping mid-September.”
EcoFlow is also debuting its RAPID Series during IFA 2024. The RAPID Series consists of two magnetic power bricks with 5,000 mAh and 10,000 mAh batteries. Each uses the company’s patented X-Stream tech with PD 3.0 protocol to deliver fast charging and recharging. They’re both Qi2-certified, meaning they promise twice the speed of regular Qi charging. The RAPID Series power banks are available in silver, light blue, and black.
The company also refreshed its portable power station lineup with the River 3 Series, including a base and a Plus model. EcoFlow promises these power stations are 30% smaller than the industry standard and can power a maximum output of 600W. I love that the River 3 Plus features an extendable capacity, allowing you to stack up to two standalone batteries under it, totaling an output of 858Wh.
Daniel Mercer
