5 Best Solar-Powered Phone Chargers, According to Testing

When testing solar phone chargers, our analysts have drained over 400 hours of battery to determine how long it takes to successfully recharge various devices. Our pros have reviewed at least two dozen solar phone chargers in the past few years. In our most recent tests, we evaluated each solar phone charger’s performance, durability, ease of use and more. To assess performance, we positioned each unit outside when the sun was at its highest point and recorded how much it charged a drained iPhone XR battery within 30 minutes. In previous tests, we’ve also taken each solar phone charger to our standard lightroom and timed how long it took to fully charge each unit. Power banks that come equipped with solar panels are placed outside in direct sunlight to assess how much battery accumulates in four hours. Our experts also evaluated how much power each solar panel produced by plugging it into a PortaPow power monitor.

We additionally considered key specs such as battery capacity (maH), maximum watts, weight, size and features such as built-in flashlights, number and type of ports as well as the solar phone chargers’ general appearance and design. Beyond looking at the IP ratings, which denote the protection against water, dust, dirt and more, we put each charger's durability to the test by using our in-house rain tester and drop tester. Most recently, we tested durability by dropping each solar phone charger from a three-foot height and assessing any damage.

✔️ Power: Make sure you get a charger that is powerful enough to charge the device you want in an adequate amount of time. That means you should look for a charger with at least seven watts to charge a smartphone and closer to 15 watts or higher for charging multiple devices or more power-intense ones like an iPad. Skimping on wattage also may mean a slower charge rate, so if you can afford to go a bit higher, go for it!

✔️ Portability: If you don't mind added bulk, a folded solar panel can likely result in a larger surface area and more power than a single panel charger, though you'll likely have to trade some power output for lightweight portability. Another plus for larger chargers is that they usually charge devices more quickly, though wattage is a better indicator of charging speed.

✔️ Connections: Make sure the solar charger is capable of charging the device you own and that it has enough ports to charge multiple devices if that is desired. Smaller electronic devices, like those you can usually charge with a USB, roughly need a 5V output rating. Larger electronics may require 12V-24V.

✔️ Backup battery: If you don't know if you'll have exposure to the sun (i.e. at night or when it's cloudy), make sure your solar charger is able to store your charge by juicing up a rechargeable battery that in turn charges your mobile device later when you need it.

For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and feedback on the best outdoor gear you can buy for your next camping or hiking trip. Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski, who oversees product testing and covers everything from travel and outdoor gear to fitness, consumer electronics, home and more, recently tested solar phone chargers in her own backyard to find the best ones on the market. Not only does she bring years of product review experience to GH, but she’s an avid hiker who loves spending time outside.

Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist and head engineer, has a B.S.E. in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics with a mathematics minor from the University of Pennsylvania and has been at GH for 14 years. She leads efforts for the constant evolution of GH’s technical and testing protocols, responding both to market drivers and growth opportunities. Rachel is the lead expert and key brand ambassador for GH across a number of categories — including electronics, smart home, automotive, toys, parenting, fitness, tech, startups and more.