The main differences between the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i are that the Honda EU3200i has more power potential, an extra 30A 125V locking plug outlet, a bit more run time, and more efficient fuel usage.
On the other hand, the Honda EU2200i still has 1800 running watts, a lighter weight, slightly lower sound levels, and a price that is a lot more budget-friendly.
These differences can give the impression that your decision is mostly about your power needs.
However, it is important to mention that at the time of writing, the overall customer reviews of the Honda EU3200i are not that positive due to the issues people experience.
The quality of the Honda EU3200i can improve over time but it currently even looks smarter to go for two Honda EU2200i generators in parallel or just stronger alternatives if you have high power needs.
Additionally, if you just have a few smaller electrical devices, a single Honda EU2200i generator can be a good investment too.
Important differences Honda EU2200i vs EU3200i
While they are from the same brand, the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i still vary in many details.
At the same time, you don’t have to know about every single one of these differences to make a decision.
You can find the details of the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i that are most likely to influence your choice in the first table below.
| Feature | Honda EU2200i | Honda EU3200i |
|---|---|---|
| Running Watts | 1800 Watts | 2600 Watts |
| Starting Watts | 2200 Watts | 3200 Watts |
| Outlets | (1) 20A 125V Duplex | (1) 20A 125V Duplex, (1) 30A 125V locking plug |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 0.95 Gallons | 1.2 Gallons |
| Run Time @Rated Load | 3.2 Hours | 3.3 Hours |
| Fuel Efficiency (kWh Per Gallon) | 6.063 | 7.150 |
| Weight | 47.4 lbs (21.5 kg) | 59.1 lbs (26.8 kg) |
| Sound Levels | 48 dBa To 57 dBA | 54 dBa To 58 dBA |
| Dimensions | 20″ L x 16″ W x 11″ H | 22.5″ L x 12″ W x 17.8″ H |
| Price Category* | $$$ | $$$$$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Other features Honda EU2200i and EU3200i
It is also possible that you still want to know about the smaller differences between the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i before making your decision.
Additionally, the common features can help you confirm whether one of these generators is the right choice for you.
| Feature | Honda EU2200i | Honda EU3200i |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Voltage | 120 Volts | 120 Volts |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Recoil Pull Start | Yes | Yes |
| Electric Start | No | No |
| Low Oil Shutdown | Yes | Yes |
| Fully Enclosed Design | Yes | Yes |
| AC Frequency | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Built-In Digital Smart LCD | No But Honda My Generator BlueTooth App Available | No But Honda My Generator BlueTooth App Available |
| Hour Meter | In Honda App | In Honda App |
| Fuel Level | No | Yes |
| Wattage Meter | In Honda App | In Honda App |
| Run Time Remaining | In Honda App | In Honda App |
| Engine Type | 4 Stroke | 4 Stroke |
| Low THD | Not Specified But Should Be Below 3% | Not Specified But Should Be Below 3% |
| Remote Generator Operation | Yes | Yes |
| Covered Outlets | No | No |
| USB Ports | No | No |
| Parallel Ready | Yes | Yes |
| CO-Minder | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Optional | Optional |
| Engine Displacement | 121cc | 130cc |
| Run Time @25% Load | 8.1 Hours | 8.6 Hours |
| GX130 Fuel-Injected Engine | No | Yes |
| Country Of Origin | Not Mentioned | Not Mentioned |
| Warranties* | 3 Year Limited | 3 Year Limited |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Honda EU2200i vs EU3200i more in-depth
People who are more familiar with generators and know what they need for their intended uses could be able to choose between the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i with the tables above and a quick look at the prices.
That being said, it is also possible that you are not entirely sure about to what extent certain differences should influence your choice.
In that case, the more in-depth explanations of some of the most important features below can help you make a better decision.
Starting and running watts
Since these machines are basically built to provide you with power, the starting and running watts of the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i are some of the most important features.
These influence what electrical devices you can get and keep running.
Starting watts are relevant for machines that need an extra initial burst of power to get going.
That being said, many people will care more about the running watts which influence what and how many electrical devices you can keep powering with your generator.
The Honda EU2200i comes with 2200 starting watts and 1800 running watts.
These are definitely not the most impressive numbers and will mostly be suited for relatively small electrical devices.
When you get to machines like an electrical grill and/or just want to power a good amount of devices at the same time, you likely want to go for the extra power of the Honda EU3200i.
This generator comes with 3200 starting watts and 2600 running watts.
It is worth briefly mentioning that you can also put two Honda EU2200i models in parallel to get more power potential. This has advantages and disadvantages.
Winner: Honda EU3200i
Outlets Honda EU2200i and EU3200i
Even if your generator creates enough electrical power, you still need to be able to connect your devices to this source to be able to get the benefits.
In simpler words, what outlets the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i have is relevant too.
Both of these generators have a duplex of 20A 125V outlets.
The difference is that the Honda EU3200i adds a 30A 125V locking plug on top of this.
This can be helpful if you have devices you absolutely don’t want to unplug accidentally or simply have fewer adapters available.
Just how important this aspect of the Honda EU3200i is depends on what you intend to power.
That being said, this second Honda generator does have the advantage.
Winner: Honda EU3200i
Fuel tank and run time
The Honda EU2200i and EU3200i both convert gasoline into electricity. However, how much fuel they store and how efficiently they use this is different.
First of all, the Honda EU2200i stores about 0.95 gallons of fuel whereas the Honda EU3200i stores 1.2 gallons.
In combination with the higher power generation, the run times at the rated load of these generators are very similar.
The Honda EU2200i is able to run for 3.2 hours at rated load with a full tank. For the Honda EU3200i, this number is 3.3 hours.
At 25% of the rated load, these run times become 8.1 hours for the Honda EU2200i and 8.6 hours for the Honda 3200i.
In simpler words, the Honda 3200i stores more fuel and is also able to run for longer amounts of time.
Winner: Honda EU3200i
Fuel efficiency
With the numbers above, you can also estimate how many kWh (kilowatt hours) the Honda EU2200i and EU3200i are able to get out of one gallon of fuel.
This detail can be relevant in terms of long-term budget impact and environmental concerns.
After a few calculations, you can find that the Honda EU2200i gets about 6.063 kWh out of one gallon of fuel.
On the other hand, the Honda EU3200i does better in this area by getting about 7.150 kWh out of the same amount of fuel.
In short, the Honda EU3200i seems to get more energy out of one gallon of fuel.
Winner: Honda EU3200i
Price
By now it should be clear that the Honda EU3200i is an upgrade over the Honda EU2200i in many ways.
Unfortunately, the features of generators are not the only details that matter. Better performance also often comes at a bigger price tag.
This is also the case in the comparison between the Honda EU2200i and Honda EU3200i.
The exact difference can vary over time and depending on where you get them.
However, the Honda EU3200i is definitely a lot pricier.
Sometimes to the extent where two Honda EU2200i generators in parallel would be a cheaper way to reach certain power levels.
Winner: Honda EU2200i
User reviews Honda EU2200i vs EU3200i
In a comparison between two generators of the same brand like the Honda EU2200 and EU3200i, the feature and price details are often enough.
That being said, even in a situation like this, it can be smart to look at customer reviews since these sometimes reveal unexpected downsides.
This actually seems to be the case with the Honda EU3200i.
There are not (yet) as many reviews as the Honda EU2200i but so far there are a good number of customers who find their Honda EU3200i does not start (well) after a relatively limited time of owning the machine.
More specifically, there are customers who notice this is because of a flooded engine which could be because of the GX130 fuel-injected engine design of the EU3200i.
On the other hand, the Honda EU2200i has a lot of customers who are really happy with their investments.
Because of this big difference in customer experiences, it may be smarter to stick to one or two Honda EU2200i generators or one of the Honda EU3200i alternatives.
Is the Honda EU2200i or EU3200i right for you?
The Honda EU3200i has more power potential, an extra outlet, a slightly longer run time, and more fuel efficiency.
On the other side, the Honda EU2200i still offers a decent amount of watts, is lighter and slightly more silent, and comes at a price that is a lot more budget-friendly.
In theory, choosing between these two Honda generators is a case of figuring out what your power needs are.
However, at the time of writing, the customer reviews imply that the design of the Honda EU3200i is not perfect yet.
There are just a few too many people that mention their generator starts acting up relatively soon.
It is possible that the Honda EU3200i issues are solved by the time you read this.
That being said, for now, it looks like two Honda EU2200i models in parallel or if you want to keep things compact, stronger alternatives are better choices for people with high power needs.
Lastly, if you plan to only power a few relatively small electrical devices, a single Honda EU2200i can be a good choice too.
