The best solar phone charger you can get in 2021 (updated August)

This solar charger uses high-efficiency SunPower monocrystalline photovoltaic cells that convert up to 21.5-23.5% of solar power into free energy. These numbers are pretty impressive for a consumer product, especially at this price point.

There’s a special PET polymer coating that protects the panel from the occasional rain or water spatter, and all the ports have rubber flaps to ensure the IPX4 rating. There are two main downsides to the BigBlue solar charger.

First, it doesn’t include a battery or a power bank of any sort. If it’s nighttime or there are heavy clouds, you’re not gonna get much electricity out of it. Second, the device comes with a single micro USB cable, so you need to use/buy your own USB-C or USB-to-Lightning cable.

Other than that, this solar phone charger actually works (unlike many other bogus products out there), and it works pretty well. It’s not too heavy and you can fold it and carry it in your backpack. The price is also pretty reasonable, considering the power.

It uses the same SunPower solar array (3 panels x 7W) with high efficiency, and thanks to the PowerIQ delivery system can pump up to 2.4A per USB port. The USB ports are just two (as opposed to the three in the BigBlue) but you can still charge two gadgets simultaneously.

The solar panels in this charger probably come from the same manufacturer as the ones in the BigBlue but if you choose Anker, you get an 18 months warranty and some peace of mind. Other than that, it’s the same charger, minus one panel. The same PET coating and water resistance apply here too. And sadly, there’s only one micro USB cable in the retail box as well.

Most of these hybrid power banks/solar chargers don’t really work but this one has four monocrystalline cells that unfold to offer 5W of power and 1A of input current to actually charge that huge battery.

The plus side is that you can pre-charge the battery and use it as a normal power bank, and only top it up using solar power when conditions are good. This solar charger features two 2.1A high-speed USB ports and can charge two devices simultaneously.

As an added bonus you get built-in LED lights so the charge can double as a torchlight after dark. The ports are covered by rubber flaps and the whole thing is water-resistant, shockproof, and dustproof.

Granted, the 10W of solar charging power is nowhere near the power of big 3 or 4-panel chargers but it’s considerably faster than the small power bank solar chargers.

This charger also includes a cleaver tool to maximize the power you can gather from our good old Sun. It’s a simple sun alignment tool that helps you position your solar charger at an optimal angle.

There’s also a rotating kickstand for extra comfort/utility, battery charge indicator, micro USB port for charging the battery manually, plus corner latches to Attach the charger to a backpack and capture some watts while on the move.

Back to the 10W variant. It’s a simple solar charger for small gadgets like phones, fitness trackers, power banks. Wait, power banks? Yeah, there’s no built-in battery, although the company offers a nice chart for pairing the solar charger with various GoalZero power banks.

The company itself is based in the US and operates a local support center which is also a big plus. It’s a serious company that offers everything from small solar chargers and power banks to mountable solar panels for solar arrays and household appliances.