Solar chargers for cell phones & tablets: Current recommendations
Many people who talk extensively about VPNs in Austria surfing know the problem of running out of battery power. This is because the VPN draws a lot of power when used intensively. A solar charger for cell phones and tablets is one option when you're on the move. Here you will find a selection of the best devices.
So why not use a source of energy that is available to everyone almost every day in spring and summer free of charge?
This is exactly what a solar charger does: it charges connected USB devices using the power of the sun's rays.
This makes it possible to conveniently charge your cell phone wherever you want. All you have to do: Unfold the solar charger and connect it to the smartphone via cable.
The smartphone is then charged - from an environmentally friendly and infinitely available energy source.
In the following guide we present our Top 5 solar charger recommendations. We also show you what you should bear in mind when buying/using a solar charger.
Content
What is the difference between a solar charger and a solar power bank?
There are two different device categories online.
One category are the Solar chargers. These are foldable solar panels that are connected to the cell phone via a USB port. They have a large solar surface area and can therefore generate a lot of electricity.
Solar Power Banks are conventional power banks with few solar panels on the surface. They usually produce too little energy and need to be charged at home beforehand.
In this article, we mainly focus on foldable solar chargers.
The best solar chargers for cell phones in detail
1. SUAOKI 28W Charger
The manufacturer SUAOKI offers 2 models of its solar chargers.
The weaker one has an output power of 25W, the stronger one offers 28W.
Thanks to its large surface area and high efficiency, the SUAOKI 28W enables an output power of up to 3.1A per port. A special "Sun Pointer" helps to align the solar charger ideally to the sun to get the most out of it.
Up to 3(!) devices can be charged at the same time. The battery of smartphones is charged quickly in very good to good sunlight, large power banks can take a whole day to fill up. Of course, it takes even longer when it is cloudy.
Nevertheless, the SUAOKI 28W is one of the most powerful solar chargers on the market.
2. anchor PowerPort - 2 x 21W charger
The Anker company has been present on the smartphone and gadget market for many years and is also very popular among customers.
Especially powerbanks from Anker are characterized by high performance data.
So is the Anker PowerPort solar charger: it comes with 2 21W ports and is compatible with all modern smartphones and tablets.
Thanks to the solar efficiency of up to 23.5 percent, the Anker PowerPort can charge 2 devices at the same time.
The eyelets on the corners of the solar charger ensure that the Anker PowerPort can be attached anywhere - this is practical, for example, when you go hiking and want to attach the solar charger to your rucksack.
The manufacturer also promises increased durability - so we recommend the Anker PowerPort especially to those who like to be out and about in nature.
3. RAVPower 16W Charger
The RAVPower 16W solar charger offers uncompromising performance - thanks to a high conversion efficiency of 23.5 percent.
The price is comparatively low for a solar charger.
There are 2 USB ports on the side of the charger that can be used simultaneously.
The material of the RAVPower 16W is more resistant to moisture than comparable material from competitor products. This makes this solar charger ideal for hiking tours or other outdoor activities.
Holes on the sides also ensure that this solar charger can be attached anywhere - to a rucksack, for example.
What we particularly like about the RAVPower 16W is that the device measures just 24 x 15.5 cm when folded - that's smaller than a conventional A4 magazine.
4. CHOETECH solar charger Foldable cell phone solar charger
The CHOETECH solar charger has only 1 USB port for charging smartphones or tablets.
However, the gadget is a real price-performance bargain and looks comparatively chic.
The solar panel is coated with nylon and is therefore waterproof. A special feature is the 2 hooks on the top of the charger. As with other solar chargers, they enable easy transportation.
The output power of the CHOETECH solar charger is 2.1A.
5. Hiluckey solar charger with power bank - Cell phone solar charger
The solar charger from Hiluckey is a power bank hermaphrodite.
In addition to the classic solar charging function, it also has an integrated power bank. In plain language, this means that the device also has an internal battery.
Although this makes the device considerably heavier, the power bank function offers a decisive advantage: you can leave the device charging in the sun and then charge the smartphone later - when you are no longer in the sun - from the integrated battery.
Per port (there are 2 USB ports), the Hiluckey solar charger with powerbank offers an output power of about 2A.
Solar charger: Our guide
A solar charger uses the power of the sun to charge smartphones, tablets and other USB gadgets.
Special solar cells (or "photovoltaic modules") are installed for this purpose.
They convert the incident sunlight and the resulting thermal energy into electrical energy. This in turn is transferred to the receiver device via a USB cable.
However, solar cells are known for producing comparatively little electricity compared to their surface area. For this reason, a larger area is needed to produce enough electricity, even for smaller electrical consumers.
So when buying a solar panel, you should look at the area and the maximum power output.
Taking a look at the customer reviews in the online store is also not a bad idea.
This allows you to see immediately whether the manufacturer has cheated when providing the information - or whether smartphones can really be charged with the product in question without any problems.
A combination of a large solar charger and a power bank is ideal. The devices can also be purchased separately and then used together - if both have a USB port.
Thus, you do not have to wait for the comparatively slow solar charger and can permanently charge the powerbank.
For example, the power bank can be stowed in the backpack and the solar charger is carried on the back.
