Why is it that tech gadgets always run out of battery at the most inconvenient times?
Whether it’s an essential GPS dying halfway through a hike, no juice when you’re trying to book a cab home or your phone powering off just as the headline act takes the stage, there’s never a good time to have 0 per cent battery in our tech-driven world.
But there is a way to keep your tech in green light territory, even when you’re miles away from mains power.
Enter the solar charger - a nifty device that generates electricity through the power of sunlight. The sun’s rays are turned into energy that can then be used to charge various gadgets including mobile phones, laptops and tablets. This must-have can be as compact as a typical portable charger yet remain reliable and long-lasting.
If you’re lucky, you might expect a day’s use of your phone without going near your charger. Yet with the cost of living crisis ongoing, it can be draining for your finances to charge essential tech and keep them at maximum battery. This is precisely why a solar charger is so essential; even a short stint of daylight can keep your gadgets powered for hours.
There are seemingly endless varieties on the market, and we’ve rounded up everything from the small and portable to the large and foldable. Some models can charge multiple devices at once - perfect for that family camping holiday - while others are large enough to power car and motorhome batteries. You’ll find that most solar chargers come with a battery pack as not all of them can be plugged directly into a device.
Best solar chargers at a glance
- Best for rugged outdoors: Riapow Solar Power Bank - £36.99, Amazon
- Best for efficiency: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger Foldable - £74.99, Amazon
- Best for small tech: Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel - £176.38, Amazon
- Best for weekend camping: BioLite SolarPanel - £120, Millets
- Best for budget buy: Pxwaxpy Solar Power Bank - £28.95, Amazon
- Best for charging in any weather: BigBlue 3 USB Ports 28W Solar Charger - £74.99, Amazon
- Best for charging in low light: ANKER 625 Portable Solar Panel - £249, Currys
If you’re planning an outdoor adventure where you’re more likely to stumble across an Emperor penguin than a mains plug, it’s worth investing in a solar charger to keep your gadgets in full working order.
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Riapow Solar Power Bank
Best for: rugged outdoors
- Capacity: 26800mAh
- Connectivity: USB Type C and USB
- Output ports: Three
- Charging: Plug socket and solar
- Additional features: LED lights on back
This solar power bank has an enormous capacity. At 26800mAh there’s enough power to charge the iPhone 13 seven times and the Galaxy S20 over five times. Not only can you juice your gadgets over and over, but phones can be powered up from zero to 50 per cent in just 30 minutes, whilst the rapid recharge means it’s ready to go again in eight hours. If you want to charge your headphones and tablet too, you’ll be pleased to know that three devices can be plugged in simultaneously.
The 60 bright LED lights on the back of the charger offer the perfect bright light for camping, and it comes with various modes including strong, strobe and SOS.
Designed specifically for the outdoors, it’s incredibly durable while being water and shockproof too.
Buy now £36.99, Amazon
BigBlue 28W Solar Charger Foldable
Best for: efficiency
- Capacity: 28W
- Connectivity: USB
- Output ports: Two
- Charging: Solar
- Additional features: Comes with USB-A to USB-C Cable and four hooks
One of the most capable solar panels on the market, BigBlue has a panel efficiency of up to 24 per cent and comes with a built-in ammeter and chip that will ensure a stable charge and show the number of amps present.
It’s best used on Android gadgets as it comes with an attached Type C cable. Fully opened, the charger measures 33 inches in width, but can be easily folded down to a mere 11 inches.
We were impressed with the stainless-steel eye holes on each corner that allows for easy attachment to a tent or backpack if you’re on the move and the Exclusive Smart IC Technology is intelligent enough to detect what device is connected in order to deliver the fastest possible charging speed.
Buy now £74.99, Amazon
Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel
Best for: small tech
- Capacity: 20W
- Connectivity: USB
- Output ports: One
- Charging: Solar
- Additional features: Comes with integrated charging cable
This foldable high-efficiency 20W solar panel is made for charging small to medium devices such as phones and tablets.
The built-in kickstand allows for the panel to be placed at multiple angles meaning it can be positioned towards the sun for optimal solar collection. It comes with a 8mm cable and a USB port so there’s no need for an additional power bank.
The foldable nature means it’s easy to pack in a rucksack and at just 1kg it’s impressively lightweight.
Buy now £176.38, Amazon
BioLite SolarPanel
Best for: weekend camping
- Capacity: 220mAh
- Connectivity: USB, Micro USB
- Output ports: one
- Charging: solar, rechargable batteries
At 6.6mm in depth, this ultra-slim solar panel is the perfect gadget to take on your next outdoor adventure. At peak sun, it provides a power output of five watts per hour meaning it can charge most small and medium-sized devices. The 360-degree kickstand is an impressive feature as it can help position the panel on unsteady terrain.
Coupled with the Optimal Sun System - an integrated sundial that captures energy efficiently - you’ll have 100 per cent battery in no time. It also comes with an integrated 2200mAh battery pack that provides a full mobile phone charge.
Buy now £120.00, Millets
Pxwaxpy Solar Power Bank
Best for: budget buy
- Capacity: 26800mAh
- Connectivity: Type C USB, Micro USB
- Output ports: Three
- Charging: Plug socket and solar
- Additional features: External battery pack
As the cheapest solar power charger on our list, this option offers real bang for your buck as it boasts many of the same features as the more expensive alternatives, but at a fraction of the price. The power bank has a 26800mAh large capacity that can charge mobile phones and tablets several times over.
Several charging ports include dual USB output, Type C and Micro USB. The device supports two gadgets at the same time and has 2.1A fast charging built-in. Its portable design makes it perfect for slipping into a pocket for on-the-go usage at outdoor events and festivals. The four LED indicators on the bottom show how much charge the power bank has left, so you’ll never be caught out again.
Buy now £28.95, Amazon
BigBlue 3 USB Ports 28W Solar Charger
Best for: charging in any weather
- Capacity: 28W
- Connectivity: USB
- Output ports: three
- Charging: solar
- Additional features: comes with Type C cable (65cm) and four hooks
This BigBlue solar charger is one of our top-rated thanks to its triple USB port that comes with SmartIC Technology to support optimal charging efficiency up to 5V/2.4A. The infamous British weather means we can’t always rely on a cloud-free day, so we love the Automatically Adjust Current and Auto-Restart functions that will easily reconnect charge after passing through a cloudy patch.
It has a 23 per cent energy conversion (one of the highest in our roundup) and the special polymer surface and cloth flap protect from rain and fog interference. Its compact size measures just 11 inches in width.
Buy now £74.99, Amazon
ANKER 625 Portable Solar Panel
Best for: charging in low light
- Capacity: 100W
- Connectivity: USB
- Output ports: Three
- Charging: Solar
- Additional features: Comes with XT60, USB-C and USB-A ports
Hit the road safe in the knowledge you have the means to charge your gadgets for however long you're away.
Anker's portable solar panel is foldable and weather-resistant, so no scrambling out of the tent at the first sound of raindrops to get it under cover. Leave it propped up on the integrated kickstand and facing the sun to get up to 100W of charge from daylight when used with Anker PowerHouse 521, 535 and 757 solar generators. Suncast technology shows you how to angle it to get the most sunlight.
Buy now £249.00, Currys
