To help you choose the best solar charger for your needs, I tested 13 different models from nine manufacturers in both full sun and heavy clouds to see which came out on top.
Which solar charger should I Choose?
To ensure we can stand reliably by our choices, we tested out multiple solar chargers ourselves: the EcoFlow Bifacial Foldable Solar Panel, Goal Zero Nomad 5 Solar Charger, and BioLite SolarPanel 10+ Solar Charger. We gauged each not just on its power (which obviously differed based on the model), but their versatility, durability, and portability.
By comparison, the BioLite SolarPanel 100 is 30% smaller yet can generate 66% more power. But if you want a solar charger that can both throw shade into your car and potentially jumpstart it, this is the one. For the better part of a year, we've been using the Pale Blue Earth Approach Portable Solar Panel ($80).
The Jackery SolarSaga 100 once again is our favorite high-wattage solar charger. This lightweight panel is more affordable than most 100-watt solar panels and also performs as well as the best of them. It's user-friendly and effective in full and partial sunlight.
The best solar charger for an iPhone is our top pick: the Blavor Solar Powerbank. It can hold enough power to charge your iPhone up to three times in just one charge. Are there alternative solar chargers worth considering? We offered a variety of solar chargers based on budget, power capacity, and much more.
Great portable solar chargers prioritize size, weight, and packability over all else. These smaller models are designed to charge electronic devices with lower energy needs, like cell phones and smartwatches. But if you're trying to charge something that takes a lot of power, they won't work as well.
Specifically for this buyer's guide, we conducted online research and identified over a dozen portable solar chargers ranging in price from $30 to $649. After careful consideration, we narrowed down the candidates to a handful that we tested in real-world conditions.