A solar-powered charger is a good way to keep your phone, GPS, or other devices charged on the go, especially while riding your motorcycle on a sunny day. But with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to tell which is the best solar-powered phone charger for riding.
In this review, we’ll recommend five of the best solar-powered chargers and explain their key features as well as what customers have to say about the products. Keep reading to learn how to find the right charger for your needs and budget.
In this article:
- 5 Best Solar-Powered Phone Chargers
- #1 Best Overall: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger
- #2 Best Budget Charger: BEARTWO 24000mAh Solar Power Bank
- #3 Best Premium Solar Charger: X-Dragon 40W Solar Charger
- #4 BLAVOR 18W Solar Charger
- #5 Hiluckey 25000mAh Solar Charger
- Choosing The Right Solar Charger For Your Phone
- How To Find The Best Solar-Powered Phone Charger
- Frequently Asked Questions
5 Best Solar-Powered Phone Chargers
#1 Best Overall: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger
Cost: About $70 to $75
Built-In Battery Bank: No
Power: 28 watts
Ports: Three USB ports
Weight: 1.3 pounds
The compact and foldable BigBlue 28W Solar Charger is one of the best solar-powered phone chargers that can also charge larger devices. This mid-priced charger boasts 21.5 to 23.5 percent conversion efficiency and is compatible with most compact Android devices and Apple devices. It can even be used to charge DSLR cameras.
This charger does not include its own rechargeable battery bank, so it can only charge items while being exposed to the sun. The four large solar panels can generate around 28 watts of power, and there are three USB ports for simultaneous charging.
The BigBlue is weatherproof and has built-in overcharge, short-circuit, and voltage protection.
What Customers Are Saying
The BigBlue 28W Solar Charger has an average Amazon customer review score of 4.5 out of 5 based on over 2,300 reviews. About 89 percent of reviewers rate the product 4 stars or higher. Satisfied customers like that the BigBlue 24W is easy to carry, durable, and weatherproof. Many mention that it is effective even in cloudy weather and provides a high power output.
While the product advertises 28 watts of power output, some reviewers claim the actual output is closer to 20 watts. There is no auto-restart feature, which means if the device turns off when the sunlight gets too dim, it will not automatically restart when the sun reappears. This may be an annoyance for riders on long drives.
Key Features
- Weatherproof polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer surface
- Recognizes different devices and optimizes charging speed accordingly
- 21.5 percent to 23.5 percent power conversion efficiency
- Includes four carabiners for clipping or hanging
- Can be folded to desired length
- 24-month warranty
#2 Best Budget Charger: BEARTWO 24000mAh Solar Power Bank
Cost: About $25 to $30
Built-In Battery Bank: Yes
Power: 10 watts
Ports: Two USB ports
Weight: 14.24 ounces
This waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof solar charger includes a built-in, four-function flashlight, making it great for throwing into your top box or bag for emergency use. This small and portable charger holds up to 24,000 milliamp-hours (mAh) of power and can be charged with alternating current (AC) or solar power. For reference, 24,000mAh will be able to fully recharge most cell phone batteries about eight times, though the exact number depends on your specific device.
Along with solar charging, the Beartwo can be fully charged in 10 hours when plugged into an outlet through a micro USB cable. It takes about 80 hours to fully charge in the sun.
What Customers Are Saying
The Beartwo 24000mAh Solar Power Bank has an average Amazon review score of 4.5 out of 5 based on over 1,000 reviews. About 88 percent of reviewers rate the product 4 stars or higher.
Positive reviews mention that the device is rugged and charges devices quickly. Many appreciate the high capacity of the energy bank, as well as how easy it is to store. Negative reviewers complain about how long it takes to charge in the sun.
Key Features
- 24,000mAh power bank
- Built-in LED flashlight
- 24-month warranty
- Includes one micro USB charging cable and one carabiner
- Water-resistant silicone cover
#3 Best Premium Solar Charger: X-Dragon 40W Solar Charger
Cost: About $120 to $130
Built-In Battery Bank: No
Power: 40 watts
Ports: Two USB ports and one 18-volt DC port
Weight: 3.1 pounds
The X-Dragon 40W Solar Charger is waterproof, dustproof, and boasts a 22 to 25 percent energy conversion efficiency. This foldable and easy-to-carry solar charger is compatible with smartphones, tablets, laptops, external battery packs, and most USB devices. It can even be used to give your motorcycle battery a charge in a pinch.
We recommend the X-Dragon if you are looking for a high-powered charger for multiple devices. It features a built-in controller that detects your devices and delivers the appropriate power output, which means over-temperature, overload, over-current, and over-charge protection.
If you only need a backup battery for your phone, it may not be worth paying over $100 for this charger. However, if you’re looking for a high-powered solar charger suitable for multiple devices on a long trip, consider the X-Dragon.
What Customers Are Saying
The X-Dragon 40W Solar Charger has an average Amazon customer review score of 4.4 out of 5 based on over 640 reviews. About 87 percent of reviewers rate the product 4 stars or higher. Positive customer reviews say the X-Dragon provides a fast charging rate, has a sleek design, and is easy to carry.
There are mixed reviews regarding the X-Dragon’s ability to charge a laptop, however. Additionally, many customers complain about the high price point. One customer was delivered a faulty device and had difficulty getting it replaced through the warranty.
Key Features
- Two 5-volt USB ports and one 18-volt DC port
- PET solar panels and weather-resistant Oxford fabric
- Built with class A temperature-resistant anticorrosive fabric
- Includes three carabiners, one DC5525-to-clamp cable, one DC5521-to-DC5525 cable, one USB cable, and five connectors for computers/generators
- 18-month warranty
#4 BLAVOR 18W Solar Charger
Cost: About $60 to $80
Built-In Battery Bank: Yes
Power: 18 watts
Ports: Three USB ports
Weight: 1.5 pounds
The Blavor 18W Solar Charger is a compact power bank that offers a 21.5 to 23.5 percent energy conversion rate. It is waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and can be charged in a wall socket or via its four foldable solar panels.
This convenient charger holds 20,000mAH of power and can be really handy in a pinch. This amount of energy can fully charge the typical cell phone battery around seven times. However, the solar charging panels are designed to supplement the battery (which is mainly intended as a backup battery). Nonetheless, this is a durable, high-capacity charger that is lightweight and handy. It also includes a built-in three-watt flashlight and compass.
What Customers Are Saying
Based on over 400 Amazon customer reviews, the Blavor 18W solar charger has an average score of 4.6 out of 5. A full 91 percent of reviewers rate the product 4 stars or higher. Satisfied customers note that the Blavor provides reliable charging and has a high capacity. It offers multiple charges and the flashlight feature can be very useful.
Dissatisfied customers complain about the long charging time in the sunlight. It can take up to five full days of sun exposure to fully charge and 12 hours to charge when plugged in. However, given the large capacity of the battery, this is a standard charging time for this price point.
Key Features
- Four foldable solar panels
- 18-watt charging bank
- Built-in 3-watt light and compass
- Holds 20,000mAh
- Includes USB-C cable
- 12-month warranty
#5 Hiluckey 25000mAh Solar Charger
Cost: About $50 to $60
Built-In Battery Bank: Yes
Power: 20 watts
Ports: Two USB ports
Weight: 1.3 pounds
The final product on our list of the best solar-powered phone chargers is the Hiluckey 25000mAH Solar Charger, a high-capacity power source that provides a lot of bang for your buck. It includes two USB charging ports and is dust, shock, and waterproof. It’s an excellent moderately-priced charger with a relatively short charging time (12 hours plugged in or 36 hours in the sun).
Thirty-six hours may sound long, but considering the high 25,000mAh capacity, this is very quick, especially for a solar charger. It can provide around eight-and-a-half full charges for most cell phone batteries. If you are on a multi-day ride, leaving the Hiluckey basking in the sun each day should provide enough power to completely charge a cell phone each evening.
What Customers Are Saying
The average Amazon customer review score for the Hiluckey is 4.5 out of 5.0 based on over 4,300 customer reviews. About 87 percent of reviewers rate the product 4.0 stars or higher. Happy customers mention the relatively fast charging time, durability, and convenience. The Hiluckey is also easy to carry and deploy.
Negative reviews state that the device can suck power if it is not charged enough. One reviewer said that the power bank would not charge in the sun, though this was not the case for most others. Another common complaint is that the battery indicator lights don’t provide a good estimate of the amount of charge that remains.
Key Features
- Built-in 25,000mAh lithium polymer battery
- Four foldable solar panels
- Built-in flashlight
- Compatible with most phones
- Easy-to-hang hook
- Includes micro USB cable
Choosing The Right Solar Charger For Your Phone
Before buying a solar-powered phone charger, make sure to figure out what would best suit your needs. There is little sense in shelling out $100 if all you require is a little extra juice to power a single cell phone on a ride.
With any charger, make sure that it is compatible with your phone. Most chargers have USB ports that will work with almost any cell phone, but it always pays to check. At a minimum, you will need a charger with a power output of at least 10 watts to power a single phone. If you want to power multiple devices, or something bigger like an iPad, look for a solar charger that offers higher wattage.
Another thing to consider is whether you’d prefer a direct charger or a battery bank charger. A direct charger sends power straight to your phone while exposed to the sun. Battery bank chargers store energy that can be used to power your phone at any time.
If your solar charger does not include a built-in battery bank, you can always purchase one separately.
How To Find The Best Solar-Powered Phone Charger
To determine which is the best solar-powered phone charger, we considered the following categories:
- Power output
- Durability
- Efficiency
- Customer reviews
Power Output
Power output determines what devices a solar charger can power, as well as how fast it can charge these devices. A solar charger with low power output will charge a phone slowly or not at all. On our list of the best solar-powered phone chargers, we only included devices that had at least a 10-watt power output, but many of our recommendations provide even more power than that.
Durability
Solar chargers are designed for outdoor use, and often for situations where you are away from urban spaces. That’s why it’s important for a solar charger to be able to withstand the elements. It’s important for any device to have some amount of water, heat, and dust resistance, especially if it will be exposed while you’re on the road.
Efficiency
Efficiency is the amount of solar energy that a solar charger is able to convert into power. The more efficient the solar charger, the more quickly it will charge your phone or a battery. Many solar devices have an efficiency of around 10 percent, though the best products have a conversion efficiency above 20 percent.
Customer Reviews
Any product can claim to be great and may look good on paper, but the real test is how it functions in the field. Customer reviews are among the most important considerations when determining the best solar-powered phone charger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solar phone chargers really work?
Solar phone chargers really work. Provided you have access to enough direct sunlight, even a mid-priced ($60 to $90) solar charger can fully charge a cell phone.
What is the best solar phone charger to buy?
Based on our research, one of the best solar-powered phone chargers is the BigBlue 28W Solar Charger. The BigBlue has a high power output and is compatible with most phones. It is weatherproof and able to charge three devices simultaneously.
How do I choose a solar battery charger?
When choosing a solar battery charger, first consider your needs. Do you need a high-output model or just something to charge your phone in an emergency? Generally, look for a solar charger that offers at least 15 watts of power.
What size solar panel do I need to charge a 12V battery?
Charging a 12-volt battery requires a fairly large amount of power and therefore a good-sized solar panel. Look for a solar charger that offers at least 100 watts of power output to charge a 12-volt battery. Solar panels with this output typically have a surface area of at least eight square feet.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
