12 Best Solar Chargers | Review of the TOP Devices for Camping, Cell Phone, Laptop, and Car | Buyer's Guide 2022
With recent advances in materials and technologies, portable solar battery chargers can make camping/hiking a lot safer, freeing users from struggling for outlets, and be a lifesaver should your car battery die. In this complete and definitive guide, we’re going to learn about how this technology works, the different kinds of panels commonly in use, important aspects to look for, and of course, review the TOP 12 Best Solar Chargers on the market for a few different uses.
So, how exactly do solar panels work? The act of converting light into electricity can seem like sorcery on the surface, but the principle behind it is actually relatively simple. When light particles (called photons) impact the layers of silicon, they excite the different strata of silicon in place, which causes electrons to be lost. These electrons become a steady source of current which can be used for any number of purposes.
Solar panels intended for charging batteries generally contain a transformer, which helps provide a steady voltage, and can convert DC current to AC – something that can be very important, depending on the battery in question.
Hooking solar chargers up is very straightforward. Chargers meant for cell phones or tablets usually provide USB ports that connect directly. Others, intended for additional devices such as laptops or other mid-range battery-powered devices, will have standard outlets to plug into. With a standard charger plug, mobiles and tablets can charge off of these designs readily as well. For charging car or RV batteries, you will want a model of charger intended for that specific use, due to the voltage necessary. These will offer standard positive and negative clamps just like those found on jumper cables.
While hooking these chargers up is remarkably simple, getting the most energy in the shortest amount of time can be tricky. Obviously, you will want to place the panels where they can get the maximum exposure to sunlight for the greatest length of time. This in and of itself isn’t so hard, but protecting your devices from the intensity of the sun’s heat can be a problem, since the cables leading to them generally aren’t that remarkably long.
During the charge time, you will want to frequently check the progress, as over-charging a lot of batteries can be harmful to them. This is a bigger problem with solar chargers, as in some cases, the excess power they continue to produce can “swim” back up, heating them further, which will cause them to deteriorate a lot more quickly.
Attentiveness is important with this kind of charging.
Solar power has its strengths and weaknesses. Sadly, there’s no such thing as a perfect power source with no drawbacks – such a thing is for now still science fiction. In some cases, the benefits of this power source do, however, outweigh their drawbacks.
- Green – Solar power has no environmental impact whatsoever, drawing its energy entirely from the sun itself. No fuel has to be burned, and therefore, no waste is produced.
- Free – Aside from the device itself, solar power is entirely free. Every joule of energy you get from solar power costs literally nothing but time and patience.
- Power in Isolated Places – With portable solar panels, you can have electricity anywhere there is currently sunlight. This, as said before, makes it a fantastic technology to fall back on in emergencies while camping or hiking, and can also be invaluable to getting your vehicle started should the battery die on you.
- Fragility – Solar panels can be fragile, the silicon layers quite thin. The glass plating developing cracks can also hinder the amount of light they absorb.
- Dependence on Weather – Solar panels obviously require sunlight to provide their power. While they’ve gotten remarkably better at producing power from diminished sunlight, bad enough weather can suddenly render them inoperable. This is obviously also a problem at night, should you suddenly find yourself without a power bank or a charged battery.
- Still Slower – Solar power still tends to be slower than wall current, especially when it comes to portable panels. The greater the surface area (and denser the crystals), the more power per time period it can provide.
It may come as a surprise to some that there are several types of solar panels, each with their individual advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these will aid you well in choosing the right chargers for your devices and intended environments.
Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Mono-SI)
These are the oldest solar panel technology, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Monocrystalline panels tend to have the highest-grade silicon cells with the highest efficiency due to being the most developed technology. Mono-SI are optimised for commercial use and have high life-time value. They tend to be somewhat more expensive, and are the more breakable of the technologies due to their rigidity and weight.
Polycrystalline Solar Panels (p-SI)
These are a newer technology, utilizing varied grades of silicon, these tend to be somewhat more affordable due to their manufacturing process. For a long time, they were regarded as considerably inferior to Mono-SI panels. Recent advancements in this particular type of panel have made them mostly as efficient as Mono-SI in some cases, nearly as much so. They tend to be a little more durable, but are also heavy. Unfortunately, they are sensitive to high temperatures and have shorter life spans.
Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels (A-SI)
This is a very new technology utilizing a non-cellular silicon structure mixed with cadmium and other compounds. It’s relatively low cost and easy to produce. It’s not a mature technology, with predictions expecting significant improvements in the coming years. Its advantages, as it improves, are more energy per amount of surface area, flexibility, and possibly durability.
Concentrated PV Cell (CVP)
This technology utilizes optical concentration to collect light with less dense cell structure. The CVP tends to run hot, and requires solar tracking (consistent following of the sun) in order to provide much energy. This technology is generally relegated to large collectors.
CIGS – CIGS
This is another approach to thin-film solar panels. Unlike amorphous (A-SI), CIGS actually has a layer of thin, tiny PV cells. It is currently a very new technology not widely used commercially. It’s facing challenges in the right concentration and surface area, and isn’t likely to be encountered in most products at the moment.
Important Features: How to Choose the Best Solar Charger?
When shopping for a solar charger, there are a lot of important features to consider. Not all of these features are always important, so it’s critical to bear in mind what devices you will expect to charge, and in what environments.
- Portability / Size / Weight
Obviously, in simplified terms, bigger panels will provide more power at a higher speed. However, if you’re planning being on the move (hiking, camping, charging your devices throughout the day on the go), portability and weight are important. Lighter panels that provide sufficient charge tend to be costlier and less durable.
- Wattage / Power
This requires you to know the power needs of your devices. Usually, 5 Watts is enough for charging regular cell phones but if you have a tablet or a powerful smartphone 10 watts would be better. Some models are 5 watts, while others can be up to 100 watts. All mobile devices and tablets operate on the same basic wattage, meaning that chargers with USB ports, or chargers intended specifically for small device charging, will work pretty universally. However, voltage for laptops and other more demanding devices can vary. You will want to examine the wattage and voltage information on your batteries. Mismatched voltage and wattage can result in batteries exploding!
- Price
Of course, your budget will have a lot of bearing on your options. Faster chargers which are durable yet lightweight will be considerably more expensive. Shopping on a budget with this technology means you’ll almost certainly have to sacrifice speed, portability, or durability.
- Charge Interruption Recovery
Some chargers have a reservoir similar to a power bank, which can provide a steady power supply even if the light source is temporarily disrupted. This is similar to battery backups which keep desktop PCs powered up for a time after electricity goes out. If you’re going to be using these chargers in an area with unpredictable weather, this can save a lot of grief.
- Charging Speed
This one is important especially with chargers for vehicle batteries. If you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, you’ll want to be on your way very quickly, given how dangerous such isolation in the wilderness can be. Speed can also be important when hiking, because if you need to call for help, chances are time is of the essence.
- Connections and their Amperage
The higher-end chargers tend to have multiple connections, different types of connections, and varied amperages. This allows a number of devices to be charged, sometimes in parallel, which can make the whole process a lot faster.
- Multiple Device Charging Speed
If you’re planning on charging multiple devices simultaneously, the speed of doing so is a different specification. You’ll want to be aware of this statistic when shopping for chargers.
- Durability
If you’re going camping or hiking, you’ll want the most durable charger you can find – not just hardened against drops, but against high and low temperatures, humidity, and other climatological issues.
- AC / DC Outlets
Some devices and batteries are designed to run off of DC (direct current) while others are designed for AC (alternative current). Knowing your devices’ requirements ahead of time is very important, not unlike wattage concerns. Some chargers offer both, which means you can get the most out of multiple devices sharing a charger.
- USB Connections
If you plan to charge mobile devices, USB ports are a good thing to look for. While you can use a wall plug charger on some of these units, the USB ports guarantee the universal wattage and current needed by tablets and smartphones.
- Controlling System
There are two types of charge control scheme in solar. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is the older, more established standard. It’s affordable and can handle up to 60 amps of power, and uses passive cooling. MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking), a newer technology, can scale higher, can be more efficient, but is costlier and can require fans or other active cooling systems due to the higher energy intensities involved. Overall, PWM controllers are not as efficient as MPPT, with the latter gaining you up to 30% more power.
Some solar chargers can come with additional smart features:
- Portable solar panels with usb-c port. For example, Type C Solar Charger from BigBlue offers triple ports power, namely two USB Ports and one type C Port that offer total current at 5V/3.4A. Another example is OUTXE Rugged Solar Charger that offers dual input type C and micro USB
- Solar panels with flashlight. Most often than not solar chargers come with a nice bonus of having a flashlight which makes it easier to navigate through badly lit conditions. One of these devices is RAVPower Solar Charger
- Solar panels with water resistance / waterproof. If you’re one of those “hiking types”, then you would want your solar charger to be waterproof or at least water resistant. ZeroLemon SolarJuice is one of the good options here
- Backpacks with solar panels. Have you ever dreamed of a backpack with pre-installed solar charger? Then Voltaic Systems OffGrid Solar Backpack Charger will be definitely to your liking
- Caps with solar panels. Probably you have not expected this one, but yeah, there are caps with solar panels. Look at this 5 Panel snapback flat brim baseball cap from SOLSOL, which is compatible with both iOs and Android devices, and works well with Bluetooth.
- Phone cases with solar panels. If you’re looking for an ultra thin and super sleek phone case with an integrated 2,700 mAh battery, then look no further, EnerPlex Surfr Ultra Slim is your safest bet.
My experience with solar chargers only goes back a few years. I’m not an outdoorsy person by any stretch, nor am I much of a traveler. Therefore, I didn’t experience the evolution of this technology from its less-than-practical days, unlike some.
My adoption of this technology came from the fact I actually have to go out and about a good bit more often than I used to. As I grow older, I have more appointments to attend, errands to run and so on. Having gotten used to the non-stop distraction of our multimedia world, I of course cultivated a newfound appreciation for my smartphone during those times in waiting rooms, checkout lines and the like.
It wasn’t long before I realized that outlets in many places come at a premium. It was when a security guard at a doctor’s office complex actually scolded me for using their outlets, that I realized I needed a better solution.
Fortunately, I live in a tropical climate, which means that when the sun shines, even through tinted windows, it shines intensely. Even the less efficient solar chargers can provide quite a bit of steady power, meaning that there are very few places I might find myself where I can’t get the light I need.
Unfortunately, I live in a tropical climate, which means that said sunshine is not reliable by any stretch. When living in a climate prone to rather sudden and severe thunderstorms or other cloudy weather, depending solely on solar power can be an issue. When I experienced my first hurricane season with a solar charger, I very quickly learned how important it is to have a charger that has a power reservoir, and how handy an additional power bank can be. Panels that can work with diminished sunlight are also quite nice to have.
I’ve never attempted to charge my car with solar panels, though there’s no reason to believe this wouldn’t work just fine, provided there’s enough sunlight. However, I would personally be wary of relying on these in climates like my own. With my luck, my battery would die in the everglades during a rainstorm.
Top 12 Best Solar Chargers in 2019
Best Solar Chargers for Camping/hiking
RAVPower 24W Solar Panel with 3 USB Ports – Rugged Mid-Range Solar Charger for Hikers and Campers
This solar charger is a mid-price unit intended to provide additional power for more devices. It does make some trade-offs to be this affordable while charging more devices with a higher wattage, which are addressed below.
Features
- Wattage: 24W.
- Charging Ports: 3 USB.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet.
- Waterproof: Generally, yes.
- Portability: Four segments fold up for easy storage.
- Additional Features: Protective pocket for charging devices, four riveted hoops for mounting/fastening/strapping, smart charging detects and provides optimal power for a given device.
Performance
This device provides a lot of power, with intelligent power management that can deliver the ideal energy for a given device. It can charge your phone as well as two power backs simultaneously, while still being pretty quick at 2.4A per port.
The trade off, for affordability, is that it’s the least rugged of the three camping chargers we’re looking at. The material is mostly water proof, but is likely to show wear faster, and the panels could break with any serious mishandling.
This one is also a lot more susceptible to heat, with the manufacturer warning against placing it on hot sand, asphalt or rocks.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
This one is a prime example of how compromises are made in this kind of technology to provide decent power to a maximum number of devices without the price being too high. It’s a more fragile charger with simply lower build quality all around. However, if you’re willing to take care of it, and be mindful of its susceptibility to heat, it does perform quite well overall.
Like the other two similar units, be mindful of it if you attach it to your backpack, as it may snag, and leaning into it will decimate it.
RAVPower 24W Solar Panel: Check the current price
Anker PowerPort Solar 2-Port 21W Dual USB Charger - High-End Solar Charger for Hikers and Campers
This lightweight solar charger is an excellent solution for campers and hikers. Foldable and canvas-lined, it can be easily attached to backpacks, the sides of tents or even pinned in the windows of campers or RVs to capture lots of light.
It’s durable, rugged and designed to stand up to harsh environments, while providing power for your mobile devices. When camping or hiking, keeping your phone charged at all times can be a matter of life or death. You never know when you may become lost, stranded or injured, and need to call out for help.
Features
- Wattage: 21W.
- Charging Ports: 2 USB.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet.
- Waterproof: Generally, yes.
- Portability: Four segments fold up for easy storage.
- Additional Features: Protective pocket for charging devices, four riveted holes for mounting/strapping.
Performance
This charger utilizes multi-player dense components to provide both a more rugged design as well as faster, more efficient charging speeds. The protective pocket for fragile devices means that, while on the move, your devices can be charged literally by the sun on your back with no real risk to them.
This charger is smaller than some competing models of the same form factor, but that doesn’t mean it’s small. It will drape over a large backpack and obscure the entire thing. This can make it cumbersome, and you could run the risk of it snagging on branches in places with denser flora.
On the other hand, this abundant surface area lends to a faster, more efficient charge time.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
This type of design is ideal for hikers or campers who like to keep their phones on while on the move, as steady sunlight can provide a steady supply of power for these devices. However, you’ll need a power bank or three, and be sure to use the second port to be charging these before nightfall, as this charger cannot store any power of its own.
If you mount this on your backpack, be mindful of it and the device that may be in its pocket, should you lean back while taking a break!
Anker: Check the current price
Renogy 10 Watt Solar Panel Dual USB Solar Charger – Budget Solar Charger for Hikers and Campers
This solar USB charger features a similar rugged design that’s also largely waterproof. Being a lower-density charger, it’s rated for lower power. Designed with hikers and campers in mind, it can also be attached to backpacks, tents or camper windows thanks to fastenings attached to it.
Features
- Wattage: 10W.
- Charging Ports: USB.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet.
- Waterproof: Generally, yes.
- Portability: Three segments fold up for easy storage.
- Additional Features: Protective pocket for charging devices, four nylon hoops for mounting/fastening/strapping.
Performance
This device is lower-power due to being a budget solution with less dense cells. As a result, its speed, which is rated as relatively high, only applies when charging a single device. It can be relatively slow when charging two devices simultaneously with this unit.
That said, the second port should be reserved only for power banks, in all reality. You will need one, as this has no built-in power reservoir.
The nylon hoops are less rugged, and may fray, stretch or break if over-stressed.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
Workload limitations and cheap mounting hoops aside, this charger has more or less the same strengths and weaknesses as the Anker. It’s a little less durable, it’s not as powerful, and the material, while water-resistant is less tough.
It can, like the Anker, provide something that can be snagged in forested areas should you mount it to your backpack, and if you lean back on it, you absolutely will destroy it without even putting your full weight into it.
Renogy: Check the current price
Best-Selling Solar Chargers | Comparison Table
Solar Power Bank 26800mAh, HETP 【2020 Newest Solar Portable Charger】 Portable Charger External Backup Battery...
- 【26800mAh High Capacity 】: The solar power bank built-in 26800mAh Li-polymer battery, it’s enough to charge an iPhone XS for 6.8 times, a Samsung Galaxy S9 for 5.8 times, an iPad Pro for 2 times.
- 【2020 Newest Design - Reliable Portable Charger】: Apply high quality lithium-polymer batteries, Higher quality, safer and more reliable, powerful and longer-lasting life after 100% checked and continuous aging test.
- 【Green Energy-Solar Charger】: The solar panel could absorb light and transfer it into electricity, But affected by the intensity of sunlight and the conversion rate of solar panels, solar charging with solar panels cannot generate large amounts of electrical energy. Please mainly use electric power charging as the main charging method. Solar charging is an emergency backup solution.
- 【Two USB Charging & Fast Charge】: The power bank have two USB ports, with 2.1A and 1.0A output, Charge two devices at the same time. allows you to fully refill the battery in 3.5 hrs at 5V 2.1A.
- 【What You Get】: HETP 26800mAh solar power bank, Micro USB cable, welcome guide, our worry-free 24-month warranty and friendly customer service. USB-C and Lightning cable for iPhone / iPad sold separately.
Pxwaxpy Solar Power Bank 26800mAh, Solar Charger 【Type C & Micro USB Input】 High Capacity Portable Charger Fast...
- 🌞【High Capacity Solar Power Bank】Newest solar power bank with 26800mAh large capacity, which enough to charge iPhone XS up to 6-7 times, Galaxy S10 up to 5-6 times, iPad Air2 up to 2-3 times, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
- 🌞【Fast Charging Portable Charger】 The solar portable charger equip with Type-C and Micro USB input ports & 5V/1A and 5V/2.1A output ports, support charging 2 devices at the same time, provide fast power support for your devices.
- 🌞【Universal Compatibility & Security】 Our external battery pack is suitable for a variety of electronic devices that have a USB port. Such as for iPhone, ipad, Galaxy S9, tablet, camera and much more. Automatically identify the connected device and provide the best charging current, minimize the charging time, safe and long lasting.
- 🌞【Green Energy Solar Charger】The solar panel can absorb sun light and convert it into electrical power. But it is susceptible to weather and solar panel conversion rate, we suggest mainly charged by electricity power in daily use, solar charging is just an emergency backup.
- 🌞【What You Get】Pxwaxpy 26800mAh solar power bank, Micro USB cable, user manual, Pxwaxpy worry-free 90-day money back 24-month warranty and 7*24 hours friendly after-sale, any problem please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Solar Charger 26800mAh, Hiluckey Wireless Portable Charger Power Bank with 4 Outputs & LED Flashlight, USB C...
- Advanced Wireless Portable Charger: Say goodbye to tangled cables, this solar charger supports all phones with wireless charging. All you have to do is to press the power button and set your phone down on the center of the wireless charging pad to get a charge.
- 26800mAh Ultra High Capacity: Handy Phone-sized portable charger powerfully offers 8 charges for a 2000mAh phone or 3 charges for Tablets and it is up to 8 days of reliable power on a single recharge.
- Fast Charging: It can charge 4 devices simultaneously at full speed. Auto-detect your devices' current to deliver the fastest possible charging speed (3A max) which can fully charge for your phone in 1.3 hours.
- 2.5X Recharging: You can fully charge your power bank in 7 hours with a USB C charger (not Included), which is 2.5 times faster than 1A input. The USB C port also can work as output to charge your phone.
- Outdoor Essentials: Equipped with solar panel, just hang it on your backpack to get recharge via sunlight. Built in LED flashlight with "Steady-Flashing-SOS" 3 modes and waterproof/dustproof/shockproof design, it's perfect for outdoor activities.
Solar Charger, CHOETECH 14W Waterproof Portable USB Outdoor Solar Panel Charger with 4 Foldable Solar Panel for...
- 【4 Panels】This solar charger contains 4 ultra light weight SUN-Power solar panels, offers a high conversion rate up to 25%, providing enough power to charge your USB device compared with other 3-panel solar chargers.
- 【Smallest & Most Portable】The most compact solar panel charger on market: 14.8 * 15.3 * 5.4cm in folded size just like a wallet, 360grams in weight. Great for travelling off the beaten path without access to electric and won’t take up much room in your bag.
- 【Power for All】Every USB device will work perfectly with this charger, including tablet and mobile phone in all brands, Kindles, powerbank, camera, headlamps,headphones as long as your devices can be driven by a USB outlet . This is a must to take on holiday especially for places with strong sunlight.
- 【Directly Charge】This solar panel charger only gets power from the sun and then charges other devices simultaneously up to 2.1A. NO storage built in ie battery. This can be placed in garden,on windowsill or the dash of a car with the windscreen,hung by a side window,spread open on tarp or in a tree with 2 "D" clips included to hang it anywhere or secure it on a backpack.
- 【Waterproof & Durable】It is definitely waterproof even you got caught out in a nasty shower. But not recommend using under heavy rain.CE, FCC & RoHS certificated provides safe charging. This charger is perfect for everyday use when on the move in cloudy weather as well as direct sunlight.
HETP Solar Charger 26800mAh, [4 Solar Panel] Solar Power Bank【3 Input IN 2 Output】External Battery Pack Type C...
- ●【26800mAh Huge Capacity】: The solar power bank built-in 26800mAh large capacity battery, powerful enough to charge an iPhone 5-6 times, Samsung 6-7 times, tablet, iPad, or iPad Air 3-4 times.
- ●【Solar Charger with 4 Solar Panel】: Up to 6W output Solar Power, the solar charger is equipped with 4 foldable 1.5W highly efficient solar panels, much faster than single-panel solar chargers.HIGHLY recommended fully recharge via wall charger upon first use.
- ●【3 Input - Type-C, Micro USB or Solar Panel & 2 Output】: S5 power bank built in 3 Input Ports - Type-C, Micro USB, Solar panel charging, multi charging meets different charging needs; With 2 Output, you can share your friends to charging together.
- ●【Power for All Device:】: This power bank Compatible with almost all the devices as iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Sony, Huawei, HTC, LG, Nexus, Tablet, camera, Bluetooth, GPS and more. 【Perfect Outdoor Partner】
- ●【What You Get】: 1x26800mAh [4 Solar Panel] solar power bank, 1xMicro USB cable, User guide, our worry-free 24-month warranty and friendly 24 hours customer service. NOTE: NOT include the Type cable.
Anker PowerPort Solar (21W 2-Port USB Solar Charger) for iPhone 6/6 Plus, iPad Air 2 / mini 3, Galaxy S6 / S6...
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 50 million+ powered by our leading technology
- Fast Charging Technology: PowerIQ delivers the charging speed up to 2.4 amps per port or 3 amps overall under direct sunlight. 21 watt SunPower solar array is 21.5-23.5% efficient, providing enough power to charge two devices simultaneously
- Incredibly Durable: Industrial-strength PET polymer faced solar panels sewn into a rugged polyester canvas offer weather-resistant outdoor durability
- Highly Portable: Compact size (11.1 × 6.3in folded or 26.4 × 11.1in opened) and stainless-steel eye-holes on each corner allow easy attachment to backpacks, trees, or tents. Lightweight and ultra-thin design make it ideal for long treks
- What You Get: Anker PowerPort Solar (21W 2-Port USB Solar Charger), 3ft Micro USB cable, welcome guide, our fan-favorite 18-month warranty and friendly customer service
Solar Charger 26800mAh, Riapow Solar Power Bank with 3 Outputs & 60 LED Lights, USB C Quick Charge Portable...
- Huge Capacity: The 26800mAh power bank has enough power to charge an iPhone 11 Pro over 7 times, the Galaxy S20 over 5 times and any other USB device multiple times. It’s power for days with one single charge.
- Multiple Outputs & 3A Fast Charging: The solar charger can charge three devices simultaneously, making it convenient to share juice with your friends while on the go. It can charge an iPhone 11 Pro to 50% within 30mins.
- 60 Bright LEDs: The 60 bright LED lights on the backside of the charger is a handy tool for your outdoor adventures. It can be turned on by holding down the power button for 3 seconds and can switch between standard-strong-SOS-strobe modes.
- Two Recharging Options: You can plug it into the wall to fast charge it with a fast charging adapter (takes around 8 hours), or put it under the sun to top-up the battery using the solar panel, it will keep you stay powered wherever you are.
- Outdoor Essential: The solar charger is made of highly durable material and constructed to protect it from drops, dust and moisture. It’s the go-to rugged power for your outdoor adventures.
BigBlue 28W Solar Charger Foldable Outdoor Solar Powered Charger With SunPower Solar Panels Dual USB Ports for...
- Built-in Ammeter and Chip: BigBlue 28W solar charger has a digital ammeter that shows the amount of Amps present and an internal chip that assure stable charge. SunPower Solar Panels with high solar conversion efficiency by up to 21.5% - 23.5% is great for any outdoor activities such as camping, climbing, fishing etc
- Wide Compatibility: This solar panel attached a micro USB cable for almost all the Android devices and some of the DSLRs. You will need an extra cable for other devices. Under our test with various phones, this solar panel is compatible with all the phone models, including iPhone, Samsung, HTC, Sony, Nexus, HUAWEI, XiaoMi, etc. Ideal for outdoor camping, hiking or exploring
- Safe Charge: Put your phone inside the pocket with zip closure, keep it safe and clean. Great for outdoor activities such as camping, climbing, fishing etc. Compact size ( 11.2 * 6.3 * 1.1in folded or 33 * 11.22 * 0.2in opened) and stainless-steel eye-holes on each corner allow easy attachment to backpacks, trees, or tents
- Exclusive SmartIC Technology: With the built-in intelligence chip, our solar charger can detects your device to deliver its fastest possible charge speed and assure charging stably (up to 3.4A max overall)
- Special PET Polymer Surface: Protect your solar powered charger and your devices from occasional rain or wet fog; IPX4 waterproof level, but keep it away from water when you have some devices on charge
SWEYE Solar Power Bank, 26800mAh Portable Charger【Newest Version】 Solar Charger High Capacity external battery...
- ☀🔋『Solar Charger with Green Energy』--The portable solar charger has eco-friendly solar panels, which transfer lights into electricity.It great for outdoor enthusiasts and other emergencies.Note:it takes a long time to convert solar energy into electrical power, so you should only use sunlight to charge this portable external battery in case of an emergency.
- ☀🔋『26800mAh High Capacity 』-- Built-in 26800mAh huge capacity enables charging your smart phones about5-8 times.This powerbank can not only be charged, but also has the solar charging function, giving you double insurance without worrying about the equipment running out of power.
- ☀🔋『Protection System』-- By automatically adopting identification technology, Multiple protected circuits protect your devices from over-charging, over-voltage, over-current and short circuit.
- ☀🔋『2 Port Output』--solar phone charger with 5V / 2.1A and 5V / 1A output, two devices charging at the same time save your half time. 4 blue LED indicators show the power left as 25%-50%-75%-100%.
- ☀🔋『24-MONTH WARRANTY』--Our power bank have 24 month warranty, If you have any problem, please feel free to contract us , We will solve within 24 hours.
Anker Solar Charger, 24W 3-Port USB Portable Solar Charger with Monocrystalline Panel for Camping, PowerPort...
- High-Efficiency Solar Conversion: Built using monocrystalline panels for high solar efficiency of between 21.5-23.5%, meaning PowerSolar produces more electricity than other solar panels.
- Fast Charging: Give your phone, tablet, or other mobile devices up to a 12W charge in optimal sunlight conditions with this portable solar charger.
- Charge 3 Devices Simultaneously: With 3 USB-A ports, you can charge handheld devices including phones, tablets, and earbuds—all at the same time.
- Stable Solar Charging: Automatically resumes charging if the solar panel moves from a shaded area to a sunlit area for a smoother charging experience. You can also use the built-in stand to angle PowerSolar towards the sunlight.
- What You Get: PowerSolar 3-Port 24W, welcome guide, our 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Best Solar Chargers for Iphone / Cell Phone / Usb Devices
iBose 10.0mAh Power Bank Portable Smartphone & iPhone Solar Charger – Complete Power Kit for Smartphone Users
This solar charger is intended to be an inclusive power kit for the heavy device user on the go. Primarily designed for campers or hikers, this one is actually better suited for general solar charging of mobile devices in general, due to its compact nature.
This is the more expensive of these mobile chargers, but this is due to the extensive features it offers, including a power bank/reservoir which is removable for when the panels aren’t needed.
Features
- Wattage: Not Listed; 10mAh
- Charging Ports: 2 USB, 1 Micro USB.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet.
- Waterproof: Very.
- Portability: Five segments fold up for easy storage. Power bank folds into charger, or is detachable for use as just a bank.
- Additional Features: Built-in LED flash light with automated SOS functionality; detachable power bank.
Performance
This is solar charger is almost identical in design and materials to the one I’ve used for a couple years. These charge nearly as quickly as a low-end wall charger, which is pretty quick for modern devices. It can be a bit slower when charging several devices at once, but not insufferable so.
The LED flash light, which shouldn’t use that much power, does seem to drain this faster than one would expect, but again, not so much so as to be that big of an issue. The power bank being a “built-in” feature is a huge advantage to this type of charger, and it’s actually kind of baffling this isn’t more common with these.
The material feels a tad cheap on these, but it’s actually pretty durable though the panels are a fragile when hot.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
This style of mobile charger is very inclusive, requiring nothing more aside from additional cables to connect phones and tablets to it. The power bank is long-lasting, and the phone form factor is comfortable.
It’s not cheap, but it’s not prohibitively expensive, meaning the on-the-go heavy device user may find this quite a handy kit.
iBose: Check the current price
RAVPower 10 mAh Outdoor Battery Pack Solar Charger – Very Portable Solar Charger with Bank
This is a more compact approach to the solar phone charger. Unlike the iBose, this one is a single unit with a standard, rugged design. Its compactness means some sacrifice in performance, which will be addressed below.
Features
- Wattage: Not Listed; 10mAh
- Charging Ports: 2 USB, 1 Micro USB.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet.
- Waterproof: Very.
- Portability: Small, smartphone-form-factor shape fits anywhere a phone will.
- Additional Features: Built-in LED flash light with automated SOS functionality; built-in power pack; outlet compatible for bank charging.
Performance
This device can provide up to 11 hours of runtime at the lowest possible power consumption, around six with average use. This is about on par with a standard cell phone battery, in other words, pretty solid.
It’s not as fast to charge, due to the smaller surface area. Surprisingly, it’s not as slow as it could be, thanks to the dense mono-SI panel design. It’s a rugged charger, very hard to actually damage.
The LED flashlight isn’t as bright as some, but it’s very power-conservative, and is bright enough to get the job done.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
This is a compact design. If you don’t mind it being a little slower, and needing fairly strong sunlight, this is a reliable charger. Its outlet compatibility does mean that maintaining power by supplementing with solar exposure is a sound strategy, if you plan ahead.
RAVPower 10 mAh Outdoor Battery Pack: Check the current price
JETSUN 16.75mAh Solar Charger with Power Bank – Higher-Amperage Compact Solar Charger
This compact solar charger by Jetsun looks like something out of a turn of the century science fiction epic with its sleek, black and green design. Designed to be rugged, this one was built with hikers or other on-the-go people in mind.
Features
- Wattage: Not Listed; 16.75mAh
- Charging Ports: 2 USB.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet.
- Waterproof: Very.
- Portability: Small, smartphone-form-factor shape fits anywhere a phone will.
- Additional Features: 2 built-in LED flash lights with automated SOS functionality; built-in power pack; outlet compatible for bank charging. Hook mount to hang from back packs, belts or bags.
Performance
Similar to the RAVPower unit, this is device makes some sacrifices in speed due to surface area, though this one honestly seems to be one of the faster compact chargers out there. This one is more “sporty”, very much designed to withstand outdoor use.
It can, as usual, be a little slow if charging two devices simultaneously, and the dual flashlights drain it somewhat quickly.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
If you’re going to spend a lot of time outdoors, or in rougher climates like industrial environments or workshops, this may be an ideal bank/charger. However, if you’re not outdoorsy or in rough environments, you may be better suited by the RAVPower or the next entry in this list.
JETSUN: Check the current price
Nekteck 10mAh Rugged Dual USB Portable Charger with Power Bank – Most Durable Solar Charger
This is one more or less demonstrates a compromise between all of the strengths and weaknesses of the other phone chargers on this list. It sacrifices a bit of speed for surface area, it’s rugged, which makes it heavy, but it’s also more focused on general users than prioritizing hikers or campers. It’s also the most affordable.
Features
- Wattage: Not Listed; 10mAh
- Charging Ports: 2 USB.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet.
- Waterproof: Very.
- Portability: Small, smartphone-form-factor shape fits anywhere a phone will.
- Additional Features: Rugged design; shock-proof water-proof and rain resistant.
Performance
As said, this one sacrifices some speed due to the reduced surface area, but the very dense cells do account for a lot of that. This one is designed to hold up to drops without shattering, and to withstand nasty weather and temperatures.
It does all of these quite well, though it lacks a flashlight or outlet compatibility, meaning some power-sustaining tricks we’ll talk about later won’t work on this device.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
This is probably a good choice for those who just need a budget solar-powered battery backup that doesn’t get a lot of serious demand placed upon it. If you want to do some strategy to maintain power with a starting point off outlets, this one will not work.
Nekteck: Check the current price
Best Solar Chargers for Laptops
Suaoki 18/12V Solar Charger – Ideal for heavy power needs such as laptops!
This charger is a beast, compared to other portable device chargers out there. Providing a DC output, this device can actually charge traditional laptops, and could, in theory, even power a low-demand PC on a really sunny day.
Features
- Wattage: 100w; 18/12V
- Charging Ports: 1 USB; 10 Laptop Plugs.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet; any electrical device or battery capable of 18V/5A DC.
- Waterproof: No, but rain resistant.
- Portability: Panels fold like a portfolio bag (clamshell). Transformer/connectors have a handle. Not very portable.
- Additional modulator and power capacity can charge/power a laptop or other moderate-demand devices that work off a wall socket.
Performance
This device has very dense cells with a lot of gain, and an additional module that can modulate the voltage while providing hookups for wall socket electronics. In theory, it could power a low-end PC on a sunny day, though this is going entirely by statistics. This hasn’t been tried.
It will power a standard laptop, which none of the other models we’ve looked at could even attempt to do. It’s not very portable due mostly to the size of the panels, and the heavy transformer/modulator unit. You’re not going to use this in a brightly sunlit coffee shop, without getting some looks. But it’d be great for field work or camping.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
This isn’t very portable, so if you need to charge your laptop on the go, this is not going to be that helpful. If you plan on using your laptop out of reach of outlets, or while camping or doing some sort of field work, however, you might find this to be a very convenient option. It’s not cheap, though!
Suaoki Solar Panel Charger: Check the current price
Suaoki USB 3.0 282 Solar Charger – Ideal Solar Charger for Hybrid Tablet-Laptops
This foldable charger is similar to a lot of hiking/camping chargers, with a foldable, rugged design. It provides a high wattage compared to a lot of these, which means that a select range of hybrid tablet-laptops, which have a higher power demand, can be charged from these.
Features
- Wattage: 28w
- Charging Ports: 3 USB 3.0.
- Device Compatibility: Any mobile device or tablet; Tablet/Laptop hybrid devices.
- Waterproof: Very.
- Portability: 5-segmented design folds into small, portable shape.
- Additional Features: Swivel mount for angling and propping; carabiners for easy fastening; sun pointer on stand makes it easy to track the sun.
Performance
This device provides a little bit more power than a lot of similar designs, which makes it one of the few that can charge the more powerful laptop-tablet hybrids such as Samsung laptop tablets, Microsoft Surface and other such new designs.
This device cannot and will not charge standard laptops, which are impossible to hook up to it in a reasonable way, and which require more power than it can provide.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
The ability to charge modern hybrid tablet/laptop computers makes this and another model we’ll discuss in a moment stand out among competing models. These require a bit more juice than a lot of chargers can provide. If you’re using one of these on the go, you’ll need a device with this kind of wattage, and USB 3.0 to really charge practically. But, don’t expect to charge your traditional laptop off of this. It’s not happening.
Suaoki Portable Solar Charger: Check the current price
Best Solar Chargers for Car Battery and Rv (Trailers)
TCXW 30W Flexible Polycrystalline Solar Panel – Mountable RV/Car/Boat/Cabin/Tent Solar Power Source
This solar charger is a flexible polycrystalline panel which can mount unobtrusively on the tops of RVs or cars, on exterior lighting, boars, cabins, outbuildings or really anywhere. This is one of the more general-purpose solar panels on our list.
Its hookups are standard positive/negative alligator clips.
Features
- Wattage: 30w; 18/12V
- Charging Ports: Alligator clips.
- Device Compatibility: Generic.
- Waterproof: Yes.
- Portability: Mounts aerodynamically on vehicles.
- Additional Features: Blocking diode prevents reverse discharge in the dark.
Performance
This isn’t really going to help you in a pinch, if you find yourself needing to charge your battery on-demand during an emergency. However, mounting one or more of these on your vehicle can provide a passive, consistent charge to your battery.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
TCXW: Check the current price
Allpowers 18V 5W Portable Solar Car Battery Charger
This compact, portable battery charger was designed with rapid battery charging in mind. It comes complete with suction cups, alligator clip connectors, and a car battery adapter. Unlike some chargers, this one is designed to deliver rapid charge, to get a car started in an emergency.
Features
- Wattage: 5W; 18V
- Charging Ports: Alligator clips, cigarette lighter.
- Device Compatibility: Car/RV Battery.
- Waterproof: Yes.
- Portability: Compact and easily stowed.
- Additional Features: Suction cups for easy mounting to windshield.
Performance
A lot of solar chargers are too slow to charge a dead car or RV battery in a reasonable amount of time. However, the p-SI design of this charger is designed with that as its primary focus, and by all reports, it does mostly succeed.
It also works well as something to passively mount to the windshield or dashboard while the vehicle is parked, to provide additional juice as a peace of mind.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
It’s never a good idea to depend solely on these sorts of devices for an emergency, but this one does work on a sunny day, to get a dead battery alive enough to turn the engine over, which is more than can be said for a lot of similar charging panels out there.
If you live in an area that tends to get a decent amount of sun, this may be a good addition to your emergency preparedness kit.
If you want an alternative source of power for your exterior illumination, or an additional way to keep your battery charged, this might come in handy. It could prevent problems brought on by the likes of leaving your lights on, or allow you to shut your vehicle off and still listen to the radio or use the climate control. Of course, you’re only going to get this kind of power on a particularly sunny day.
Allpowers: Check the current price
Sunway 12V Solar Car Battery Trickle Charger/Maintainer – Good Solar Charger for Emergencies
Similar to the previous entry, this one actually is intended for relatively speedy battery charging. A bit more rigid, with yet denser cells, this one may actually be a bit faster, despite using trickle practices for providing power.
It includes mounting suction cups, alligator clips and a cigarette lighter adapter.
Features
- Wattage: Not Listed; 12V
- Charging Ports: Alligator clips, cigarette lighter.
- Device Compatibility: Car/RV/Motorcycle/ATV Battery.
- Waterproof: Yes.
- Portability: Compact and easily stowed.
- Additional Features: Suction cups for easy mounting to windshield.
Performance
You’re not going to fully charge your battery in a short order of time with a 12V trickle charger, but you will get enough juice to turn an engine over, relatively quickly. This makes it a good emergency tool if you’re in an area where depending on the sun isn’t folly.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Conclusion
Like we said, if you’re in an area where you can safely depend on there usually being a decent amount of sun (slightly overcast will still work), this might be viable as an emergency “jump start” for your vehicle.
It’s worth noting that most of these are designed with “supplemental power” in mind, rather than emergency use, but any kind of battery charger for vehicles is going to be employed more as an emergency measure.
Sunway: Check the current price
Tips & Life Hacks
● Fire Anywhere: On a camping trip, keep a rechargeable 9V battery, a USB charger for it, and a USB solar charger. A fully-charged 9V battery, with steel wool over its terminals, can produce fire in short order. Be careful.
● Supplemental Power: With a solar charger that has a power bank and outlet charging capabilities, you can keep a steady supply of power without the long charge times. Simply charge it from the outlet before leaving home, and periodically exposing it to sunlight or very strong artificial light throughout the day.
● Emergency Night Charging: If you have a kerosene lantern or very bright LED lantern, these can produce enough useful light in the spectrum most solar panels will use. While it will take a lot more patience due to being weaker than real solar light, you could get power to your car battery, or enough juice to your phone for an emergency call, should you need to when there’s little or no sunlight.
FAQ
Q: Solar charger or power bank?
A: Some solar chargers include a power bank, but if they do not, in the case of the USB chargers, you should definitely obtain one. It’s not a bad idea for vehicles either, though such devices aren’t as commonplace.
Q: Solar charger vs battery pack?
A: This is actually the same question – you actually want both if possible.
Q: Can a solar charger work indoors?
A: Yes, though artificial light is a much thinner part of the spectrum, meaning it will take longer to charge devices, and the high-wattage chargers probably can’t get enough power this way.
Q: Can a solar charger damage/drain/overcharge a battery?
A: In some cases, yes. Most modern smart devices prevent overcharge/battery damage, but laptop batteries and some cheaper car batteries you will want to be careful with. If a charger doesn’t possess a blocking diode (most do), they can discharge at night.
Q: Can I take a solar charger on a plane?
A: Yes, though you won’t get much useful light on one. The FAA won’t prevent it though.
Q: What is a trickle solar charger?
A: Trickle solar chargers simply allow the natural flow of electrons from the panel, through what would normally be a one-way circuit. This is also known as “passive charging”, and is in fact the type of solar charge most likely to reverse and discharge batteries at night if you’re not careful.
Conclusion
Solar power has long been viewed as a green, renewable energy source, and this view isn’t wrong. However, due to the amount of surface needed to produce immense levels of power, portable solar charging will, for the time being, always be a slower, limited option for keeping your devices or vehicles properly charged.
While they’ve gotten better at charging even on somewhat overcast days, the dependability of solar energy is and always will be at the whim of mother nature as well. This is good technology to have, but always have a way of storing the power you don’t use right away. Literally, save power for a rainy day.
Comments