5 Best Solar Phone Chargers Of 2024: Reviewed

The struggle to keep your phone charged while out-and-about is real – especially while on the road, during camping trips, backpacking, or even spending the day in the park. The good news is that some power banks on the market can charge your phone using solar power. 

Our solar experts reviewed hundreds of options to find the best solar phone charters of 2024:

Brand	Superlative	Price
Anker SOLIX PS30	Best overall	Regular price: $79.99
BigBlue 28W Portable Solar Charger	Runner-up	Regular price: $79.99
BLAVOR Solar Power Bank	Best affordable	Regular price: $39.99
Hiluckey Solar Charger	Best portable	Regular price: $56.99
QiSa Solar Charger	Best battery capacity	Regular price: $399.99 Sale price: $47.05

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1. Best Overall: Anker SOLIX PS30 Portable Solar Panel

From a combination of an affordable price, great reviews, and great brand reputation – we chose the Anker SOLIX PS30 as our top pick for solar phone chargers. This foldable solar panel’s 30-watt (W) power output provides reliable fast charging anywhere, even for multiple devices at once! 

This portable solar charger has a foldable design, is lightweight, and can be easily stored away – perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers. The kit also comes with two carabiners so you can attach the panel to different surfaces, like on top of a backpack. To top it all off, the SOLIX panel has an 18-month warranty for your peace of mind. 

2. Runner-up: BigBlue 28W Portable Solar Charger

BigBlue’s 28W Portable Solar Charger is a powerful and lightweight panel, perfect to charge your devices during a camping or backpacking trip. This panel comes with 3 USB-A ports, and an adapter cable for USB-C devices, making it a little more intricate than our top choice.

BigBlue’s 28W foldable solar panel turns sunlight into electricity just about anywhere. This solar panel charging kit has 3 USB-A ports that allow you to charge multiple devices at once directly. This panel is compatible with almost any smartphone device, but it cannot charge laptops or the iPad Pro.

Like the Anker panel, the BigBlue has a thin, foldable design that can fit into any backpack or hiking bag. The BigBlue panel also has a high solar efficiency rating of 24%, which is handy for off-grid needs on sunny days.

3. Best affordable charger: BLAVOR Solar Power Bank Portable Charger

The BLAVOR Solar Charger Power Bank is wildly affordable, being $20 to $30 cheaper than similar models, while still having good customer reviews.

Unlike a foldable solar panel, this charger is just a battery pack with a singular solar panel on its face – making it more compact than other solar phone chargers. It’s just about the same size as the average smartphone!

The 20 W battery pack has USB-C input and output technology, compatible with almost all smart devices. You can also lay your iPhone on the battery pack and charge your device wirelessly.

Its compact design allows you to take it with you virtually anywhere. It's waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof, so you can trust it to withstand any conditions. As a bonus, it comes equipped with a flashlight for camping trips outdoors. 

4. Best portable charger: Hiluckey Solar Charger

We chose the Hiluckey solar charger as our favorite portable option. Not only is it small enough to fit in a pocket, its foldable design allows for more solar exposure. On top of that, it weighs just over one pound, so it’s not too bulky for your bag or pocket.

The Hiluckey solar panel charger is a small foldable solar panel charger that is equipped with four panels that reach 6 W each in direct sunlight that are attached to a battery pack. It has one USB-C charging port and dual USB-A ports to charge three devices simultaneously.

This solar charger has 25,000 milliamp-hours (mAh) of battery capacity that is stored in a battery pack. With this much power, you can recharge the average cell phone 6 to 8 times, which can be great for traveling. The 15W output calls for a fast charging time of 30 minutes to get the average iPhone to 50%.

5. Best features: QiSa Solar Charger 

The QiSa Solar charger is our pick for best features. With USB-C and USB-A compatibility, a foldable design, wireless charging, built-in flashlight, and the ability to charge three devices at once – this model definitely packs a punch. 

The QiSa Solar Charger is a portable power station that comes with 38,800mAh of battery capacity, perfect for extended trips without grid access. The solar power bank has a wireless charging function, two 5-volt USB outputs, and one USB Type-C input.

The power bank's collapsible design contains four solar panels that can be folded and stowed away in any backpack or vacation bag. The device is also waterproof to withstand any harsh outdoor conditions you may encounter.

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How much do solar phone chargers cost?

Solar phone chargers are relatively affordable, with most on the market ranging from $20 to upwards of $100.

The price can vary depending on your power station’s brand, size, and additional features. The pocket-sized models with fewer charger ports tend to be cheaper, while more powerful chargers with higher wattage and more bells and whistles typically jack up the price. 

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What features should you look for in a solar phone charger?

• Type of charger: You can choose between a direct solar charger, which connects the solar panels directly to your phone’s battery, or a battery bank solar charger, which stores solar energy to hook up to your phone later through a charging cable.

• Power output: Higher wattage allows you to charge more devices. A solar charger with a power output between 10 and 20 watts is a good rule of thumb, but it depends on your energy needs.

• Size: Since you’re generally using a solar charger on the go, you’ll need something that’s portable and not too heavy. Most solar chargers are lightweight and easily fit in your backpack or pocket.

• Compatibility: Make sure you look for a charger that is compatible with your devices and has the correct USB ports. Also, having a charger with multiple charging ports is always a plus, so you have multiple power sources in a dire situation. 

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How well do solar phone chargers work?

Solar phone chargers are an excellent addition to have for your next camping or backpacking trip. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the effectiveness of a solar phone charger is weather-dependent. Solar panels are designed to function in cloudy or overcast conditions, but just at a lower rate than on a clear, sunny day. 

Also, since solar phone chargers are small, they generally contain fewer solar cells than your standard home solar panel. So, don’t expect to power anything big with your portable solar charger! 

It’s also worth noting that solar phone chargers can take longer to charge your phone than when you plug it into your outlets at home. While it might take 30 to 40 minutes to get from 0% to 100% at home, a solar phone charger might take an hour or longer. But, the longer charging time pays off when you don’t have access to other sources of electricity

These are all things to consider when buying a solar phone charger. All in all, they’re handy. Whether you’re out camping, experiencing a power outage, or just simply trying to use the sun to your advantage!