Best solar chargers and how to shop for them
Experts share tips for buying solar chargers whether you’re packing them in an emergency kit or taking them with you on a camping trip.
Capacity: 28W
Compatibility: 3 USB-A ports
BigBlue’s solar charger is very similar to Anker’s model. You can fold it when it’s not in use, and it features four buckles designed to help you attach the solar charger to a backpack or tent, for example. When the solar cells lose contact with direct sunlight, the brand says it temporarily stops charging and restarts automatically when it detects sunlight again. The solar panels have a 21.5 percent to 23.5 percent efficiency, according to the brand.
Capacity: 20W
Compatibility: 1 USB-A port
Goal Zero’s solar charger is foldable and comes with an adjustable kickstand that clicks into place at multiple angles, allowing you to change it depending on the direction of the sun. The solar panel features an integrated 8-millimeter charging cable.
Capacity: 20W
Compatibility: 2 USB-A ports
Gordon included this X-DRAGON solar charger in his roundup of solar-powered gadgets. He said “it’s significantly more affordable than many of its similarly-powered competitors.” The solar cells have a 22 percent to 25 percent efficiency, according to the brand. You can fold the solar charger flat when it’s not in use, or fold it so it has a kickstand that props it up and angles it toward the sun.
Because people have different intended uses for their solar chargers, shopping for these products is not one-size-fits-all. You need to think about what’s best for your needs and the devices you own, as well as your price range. We noticed that solar chargers generally increase in price based on their wattage and the number of solar panels they feature — for example, prices in Goal Zero’s Nomad line increase with each step up in wattage: 5W, 10W, 20W, 50W and 100W. Here’s what experts recommend you consider before buying.
Every device is designed with a different size battery — Watt-hours (Wh) is one way to measure charging capacity and will give you the best estimate of how much or how many times the charger can charge your device.
Generally, devices that are physically larger in size with higher energy demands have larger batteries, and thus require higher watt chargers to expedite charging, Mazumder said. Experts told us to compare a solar charger's wattage to your device’s charger when shopping.
“If it says ‘works best with a charger that’s rated at 27W and higher,’ then go look for the 27W-and-higher charger,” said Brad Saunders, chairman of the nonprofit USB-IF, in our guide to portable chargers. However, Mazumder said low-wattage solar chargers may still power larger devices, just at a slower rate than higher-wattage solar chargers.
As a rule of thumb, Gordon explained, “a typical phone can charge at 5W, but most modern phones contain fast charging capabilities up to 18W. And if you’re charging two devices at once, you’ll need enough wattage for both.” Gordon also suggested checking a solar panel’s efficiency rating when shopping — however, efficiency ratings are not always listed. He said the higher the percentage, the more solar energy you can convert into charging power, and noted that anything above 20-percent efficiency is ideal.
Before you purchase a solar charger, Mazumder said to make sure its ports are compatible with your electronics. Many solar chargers are built with USB-A ports, while some may come with an additional USB-C port.
Mazumder said people often buy new models of electronic devices and do so at a faster rate compared to buying solar chargers and other charging accessories. Thus, the type of port on your new phone might not match the port on your two-year-old solar charger, causing you to have to purchase adapters to continue to use it in the future.
According to Mazumder, the number and size of solar cells on solar chargers impact how much power they can generate.
When there are more solar cells on a charger — or larger cells — they can generate more power. But more and larger solar cells may mean that the physical size of the solar charger increases — you may need to decide if you want to prioritize size or power while shopping. If you’re packing the solar charger in an emergency kit or plan to take it with you on a camping or hiking trip, consider how large the bag is that you’re packing it in.
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