Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

If you're looking for a generator/inverter to cover your light recreational needs, you'll have a hard time finding a better suite of features for the $599 price.

Which portable generator best suits your particular needs? You have a ton of available options at your disposal, and it can prove challenging to settle on one with appropriate wattage, runtime, and price. As a matter of fact, if you need some help choosing the best generator, we’re here for you. If your particular needs revolve around a 2,000-watt generator for, say, tailgating and camping, the Ryobi 2300-Watt Bluetooth Generator provides some quiet, affordable, and long-lasting power.

Overall, the build on the Ryobi 2300-Watt Bluetooth Generator doesn’t give me any immediate concerns. Everything is contained nicely and neatly in a plastic housing. Like others generators in this power class, it’s much more compact than something like a 5000-watt job site generator.

At 53 lbs, picking it up is very manageable and a couple of handles at the top will help you lift it.

Ryobi includes a telescoping handle that stows neatly away when not in use. It gives the generator a cleaner look than the swinging handle styles that flip down at the front. While the feature is welcome, you’ll notice that it’s not the sturdiest build. I don’t have any issues with using to roll the generator around, just don’t try to lift it with the handle extended.

The wheels are small and work well for rolling around hard surfaces and packed soil. If you’re going to use this offroad for camping or light job site use, be aware that it’s going to sink into soft soil and you’re better off carrying it.

The Ryobi 2300-Watt Bluetooth Generator features a recoil system for startup. I prefer an electric start, but realistically, most small generators like this don’t offer it. Ryobi gives you a bit of a break with an easy start system. With mode presets for off/storage, run/re-start, and cold start, there’s no guesswork with fuel and choke settings.

The Ryobi 2300-watt Bluetooth Generator features an 80cc OHV 4-Cycle engine that pushes 2300 starting watts and 1800 running watts. As we’ve already stated earlier, with this kind of engine and power output, this lightweight generator will work really well for applications that don’t have a terribly high demand. For job site usage, you can plan on running tools in the 12-amp range or less, but those with a high startup surge may limit it to less amperage.

This runs reasonably quiet at just under 68 decibels at 100% load and much quieter (57 decibels) at a 25% load. There are quieter models available, but this one still keeps offensive level noise at arm’s length.

Maybe an 1800-watt generator is a little underpowered for you. Ryobi makes this generator parallel capable, so you can hook up a second one and get 3600 running watts. If that’s the direction you’re heading, Home Depot has a set with 2 generators and the parallel cable for $999.

Not sure what size you need? Here are some helpful tips on figuring out what size works best for you:

There’s a removable panel for when you need to add oil or other servicing.

Caring for your generator by keeping up with regular preventative maintenance will extend the life considerably.

As is the standard for small generator/inverters, the Ryobi 2300-watt Bluetooth Generator has a tiny fuel tank. A larger tank seriously impacts the whole “small footprint” that Ryobi has going for it, and opting for a 1.2-gallon capacity is actually a little more than several major competitors like Briggs & Stratton and Honda give you.

Ryobi does a lot with the space that it has in terms of fuel economy. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s kind of impressive how long this generator runs on its baby-share of fuel. At 25% load, this generator will run for 10+ hours, and at 50% load, it can run for 7.5 hours. If your power needs are modest, you’ll have a reasonable amount of time between refueling.

In this power class, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the Ryobi 2300-watt Bluetooth generator lacks a 240V outlet. You need higher power output to support one. What you get is two 120V 20A outlets, as well as two 2.1A USB outlets for your laptops and smartphones. These aren’t GFCI-protected outlets, so keep an eye on the weather and nearby water sources when you’re using them.

Speaking of smartphones, you can monitor most of the important stats on the Ryobi 2300-watt Bluetooth Generator from your smartphone through the Ryobi Gencontrol app. This app allows the user to monitor power consumption, runtime, fuel level, and load levels from his phone. It can even reset the generator remotely.

From a pricing standpoint, the Ryobi 2300-watt Bluetooth Generator presents a fantastic value at $699. It checks off all the boxes we expect in the 2000-watt class with the exception of GFCI protection. However, the addition of Bluetooth monitoring is a function that’s not as common in this class. As a CARB-compliant unit (you’re welcome, California), it settles in nicely between basic $450 models and high-end units that can run more than $1000.

Ultimately, the Ryobi 2300-watt Bluetooth Generator makes a pretty strong case for itself in the 2000-watt class. I like the blend of features and it gives me enough runtime to cover the majority of light recreational needs. Looking over the other options available, Ryobi gives you a lot bang for your buck at $599.

When he doesn't have his hands on tools himself, Chris is often the man behind the camera lens making the rest of the team look good. In his free time, you might find Chris with his nose jammed in a book, or tearing out his remaining hair while watching Liverpool FC. He enjoys his faith, family, friends, and the Oxford comma.

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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros