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Comparing Portable Solar Chargers

Showing 12 products | Change
 
Awards Editors' Choice Award  Best Buy Award Top Pick Award  
Price $70 List$249.95 at REI$65 List
$59.99 at Amazon
$105 List
$83.99 at Amazon
$80 List
$79.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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58
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Pros Small, efficient, does well on cloudy days, inexpensiveDurable, works well in most conditions, large capacity, 12V connection, can daisy chain together, has a built-in standGood charging speed, lots of places to clip carabiners, great value, lightweightFolds and unfolds quickly, portable size, fast DC charging, multiple USB charging portsDurable, well-designed, fast charging times, rugged design
Cons No kickstand legsExpensive, heavy, not very portableHard to reach pouch makes the panel lay crookedRelatively heavy, nothing to protect the charge controller and outputsExpensive, bulky, ridged design is harder to pack, weak magnetic closure
Bottom Line This speedy solar charger powers up to three devices at once and offers reliability at a reasonable priceThis massive panel has a large capacity and excellent efficiency, though it's far more expensive and much bulkier to cart aroundThis low-priced, incredibly efficient solar panel converts the sun into electricity effectivelyThis panel quickly unfolds to six panels for fast and efficient charging and packs away just as easilyA powerful, well-designed, durable panel, with average solar charging speeds
Rating Categories BigBlue SolarPowa 28 Goal Zero Nomad 50 X-Dragon 20W FlexSolar 40W SunJack 25W
Direct Solar Charging Speed (35%)
9.0
8.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
Indirect Solar Charging Speed (35%)
8.0
7.5
6.5
4.5
4.0
Portability (15%)
7.0
2.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
Functionality (15%)
9.0
9.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
Specs BigBlue SolarPowa 28 Goal Zero Nomad 50 X-Dragon 20W FlexSolar 40W SunJack 25W
Power Output (Watts) 28 W 50 W 20W 40 W 25 W
Energy Generated in 1 Hour Direct Sun 1849 mAh 1389 mAh 1043 mAh 902 mAh 624 mAh
Energy Generated in 1 Hour Indirect Sun 919 mAh 616 mAh 535 mAh 195 mAh 105 mAh
# of USB A Outlets 3 1 2 1 1
# of USB C Outlets 0 0 0 1 1
Max USB Output Current (Amps per Port) 2.4 amp 2.4 amp 3 amp 2 amp 2 amp
Weight (Measured) 20.9 oz 110.4 oz 21.7 oz 47.25 oz 29.4 oz
Size Folded 11 x 6 x 1.5 in 17 x 11.25 x 2.5 in 12.1 x 7.2 x 0.51 in 11 x 7.5 x 1 in 12.6 x 7.8 x 0.8 in
Size Opened 31 x 11.5 x 0.2 in 17 x 53 x 1.5 in 23.3 x 12.1 x 0.12 in 49 x 11 x 0.1 in 24.6 x 7.8 x 0.8 in
Battery Included No No No No No
Battery Capacity (mAh) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Tablet Charging Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Laptop Charging Yes Yes; with power bank No Yes No
Charge iPhone/Smartphone Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Panel Exterior Material Polyester Oxford fabric Hard plastic PTFE Plastic PET polymer fabric
Panel Type Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Monocrystalline
Battery Input (Volts / Amps) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
USB Output Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Able to Daisy Chain No Yes No No No
12-Volt Connection No Yes No Yes No
DC Output No Yes No Yes No