Are Solar Powerbanks Worth it? A question that many people dipping their toes into the vast sea of portable power supply ask! Well, according to Markets and Markets; Power bank market is estimated to have a worth of $25.16 billion by 2022.

This means that there is a serious demand for power banks right now and there will be an even higher demand for them in the future mainly due to the increasing number of travelers, campers and hikers around the world.

Therefore, having a solar power bank is definitely worth it if you want to stay connected with the digital world even when you don’t have any other source of energy.

So with that said, let’s move to the ultimate guide of solar power banks where we will tell you different useful things about them and also our top picks of 2019.

Solar Powerbanks and Regular Powerbanks – What Do the Ratings Mean?

If you are confused about different ratings that are mentioned on the power banks in mAh, then the basic notion behind them is to provide you with an idea of how much capacity the battery of a particular power bank has.

However, if you want to know what it is in detail and other different basics related to power banks, you should definitely refer to this video (see video below) and get a grasp of everything.

Watching this video will help you understand all the features and technical things we are going to talk about later in this guide. So this way, you will be able to make a well-informed decision when selecting the solar charger for yourself.

Our Top 7 Picks of Solar Powerbanks:

Do you need a solar charger that not only has a very high capacity, but also comes with a solid weatherproofing? Well, then you have found just the one! This 30,000 mAh solar power bank is not only waterproof, but it is also dust and shockproof making it an ideal companion for people going on camping or hiking. Moreover, the charger comes with a complimentary compass making it easy for hikers to find the right directions.

Also, the best part of this power bank is that it is rechargeable by both the sunlight and the electricity so you can charge it at night as well. Furthermore, the power bank contains a flashlight that also has an SOS mode making it pretty useful if anything goes south. Some of its pros and cons are:

Pros:

Waterproof, shockproof and dustproof

The colossal battery capacity of 30,000mAh

Contains an LED light with multiple functions

Features power indicating lights

Rechargeable by both solar power and electricity

Equipped with Dual USB port

A complimentary compass is included

Cons:

Could have been slimmer

No USB-C port

When it comes to slim design and a metallic body that provides a premium feel, this Battery Solar Charger Power Bank is just what you need. It is made with a perfect blend of metal and ABS and comes in a wide range of colors making it a perfect little gadget to have for people who like to keep things neat and clean. Furthermore, its battery capacity is also 30,000mAh like the last one, but it has the benefits of having a slim design.

The solar charger is equipped with two USB ports and can charge both Android and Apple devices along with other digital devices. Moreover, the power bank comes with a focused beam flashlight that makes it perfect for people who want to read a book while charging a device. Have a look at some of its pros and cons:

Pros:

Slim design with a premium feel

Made with durable metal and ABS material

Universal compatibility

Comes in a variety of colors

Equipped with two USB ports

Contains a focused beam flashlight

Cons:

No USB-C port

Not weatherproof

Very small yet so powerful! This cute little solar charger is going to be a perfect companion for your hiking or camping trips if you just want to charge your smartphone and other small electric gadgets. Its 15,000mAh power can charge your smartphone a few times before it goes out of power. Moreover, its beautiful color combinations give it a very aesthetically pleasing look.

Another benefit of using this small solar charger is that you will get a flashlight with a focused beam to help you focus on your track or reading material in the dark. Furthermore, it also features a clip at the top so you can hook it to your pants or your backpack and conveniently carry it around while making sure it gets enough sunlight to charge. Some of its pros and cons are:

Pros:

Made with Aluminum and ABS

Contains 15,000mAh capacity in a small size

Visually appealing color combinations

Comes with a focused beam flashlight

Fast charging with up to 22% panel conversion efficiency

Built-in overheat protection

Equipped with a clip for hanging

Cons:

No USB-c port

Power capacity is lower

Do you love to camp and go for outings at night? Well then this solar charger with dual LEDs and 20,000mAh capacity will be very useful for you! The charger has a modern design with a combo of two colors giving it a very pleasing look. Furthermore, it comes equipped with a clip that you can hook to your backpack or your pants to just hang it while you walk.

The solar panel of the power bank is made of polycrystalline silicon material that provides it with a decent energy conversion rate. One of the best parts of getting this solar charger is that you will get a free compass embedded in it making it easier for hikers or campers to get directions. Some pros and cons of this charger are:

Pros:

Big dual LED lights

Encompasses a compass

Contains a clip

Big capacity of 20,000mAh

Battery charging indicators

Dual USB ports

Beautiful design

Cons:

No USB-C port

Not everyone needs Dual LED

Another fantastic solar charger that is equipped with dual LED flashlight and has a capacity of 15,000mAh which is more than enough for people who only need it for their smartphones. The solar charger comes with tons of features including the highly durable ABS case making it shockproof, waterproof and dustproof. Moreover, this solar phone charger has a built-in lighter making it pretty useful for smokers or campers who just want to make some fire at a cold night.

All in all, this solar battery pack is the best solar power bank for camping and hiking with its durable body, dual LED flashlight, decent battery capacity and ability to light a fire. And the best part is that it is fireproof which means you will not be putting yourself in danger by using its lighter. Some of its pros and cons are:

Pros:

15,000mAh battery capacity

LED battery indicator

Highly durable and fireproof

Dual LED modes

Equipped with a lighter

Contains two USB ports

Cons:

Lower battery capacity

No USB-C Port

What if you can get your hands on a sun-powered powerbank that has a USB LED lamp that you can connect to any other device as well? Sounds great, right? Well this one has that lamp, and the best part is that the lamp has a flexible gooseneck which means it can easily reach places where the built-in LED light of typical solar powerbanks cannot.

Moreover, the solar charger has the max capacity of 15000mAh making it ideal for charging smartphones a couple of times before it runs out. Also, what makes it the best solar power bank 2019 is its ability to charge all types of smartphones ranging from Samsung, HTC, Sony, to iPhone, Google’s Pixel and more. Some of the pros and cons of this solar phone charger are:

Pros:

External flexible neck USB LED lamp

15,000mAh battery capacity

Universal compatibility

Equipped with a clip for hanging

Contains 2 USB ports

Encompasses charging indicator lights

Cons:

Lower capacity

LED light is separate

The best solar powerbank for hiking or camping is the one that is small and also weights less. This is where this solar charger comes in handy due to its very small size, light weight and high capacity of 18650mAh. What makes it one of the best sun powered powerbanks is that it is equipped with everything that the bigger solar battery packs have including the flashlight, two USB ports, and battery charging indicating lights.

What’s even more incredible about this solar charger is that it can be turned into a bigger flashlight with over 20 LEDs in it by just replacing the LED light cover with the solar panel. This makes it perfect for camping nights where you need a large amount of light to cover your entire camp. Some of the pros and cons are:

Pros:

Very small size

The big battery capacity of 18650mAh

Can be turned into a big LED light

Battery power indicating lights

Two USB ports

Universal compatibility

Cons:

No USB-C port

No clip or hook

Now that you know our top seven picks of solar chargers, we thought why don’t we go an extra mile and provide you with a bonus item. So that’s why, we have picked this foldable solar panel just for you. One of the best parts of having this foldable solar panel is that it has a size of an iPad making it a perfect fit in your backpack. Though it is not a power bank which means it will not store energy in it, it will transform the energy to be sent to the connected device right on the spot.

Also, the panel has a high-efficiency conversion rate of up to 21.5% to 23.5% allowing your devices to charge rapidly. Furthermore, the best thing about this solar panel is that it is weather-resistant and that makes it perfect for outdoor uses. Some of the pros and cons of this one are:

Pros:

Universal compatibility

Made of waterproof nylon

High efficiency of conversion

Size of just an iPad

Easily foldable and has two holes for hanging it

Completely weather resistant

Contains a USB port

Cons:

Cannot store power

Comes in just one color

How to Charge a Power Bank Faster if Charging Without Sun Light?

Although there is no easy way to charge the power banks faster because they come equipped with a circuit that controls how much power should be supplied to the batteries, you can however, bypass that circuit.

So if you want to learn the whole process of bypassing the circuit refer to this video (see video below). Furthermore, you can try charging the battery with a charger of high amp hour than its default one and that may also charge it faster.

Are Solar PowerBanks With Drop Resistance Really Durable?

Well, it depends on the power bank and the height you are throwing it from. If you are throwing the power bank from a two-story building, then it will obviously not survive. However, if you drop it from one or two feet, it might survive the drop.

Therefore, it is imperative that you do not just drop the device from a height that is not survivable for it. If you want to get an idea of how drop-resistant the power banks mentioned above are, refer to this drop test video

(see video below).

Tips for Using Solar PowerBanks:

Make sure to place the power bank in the room temperatures only because extremely high or low temperatures can damage its cells.

Don’t use a power bank when you have another source like an outlet available. This is because you should keep your power bank’s charging only when you need it the most.

Make sure to use the original charger for your power bank because a different charger than the original one can deteriorate its performance in the long run.

Don’t connect your device to power bank when it is being charged. This is because the process of charging is already putting it into the heating phase and making it charge a device may result in overheating.

Make sure to only charge your phone from power bank to up to 85%. Because according to Lapguard; your phone starts to discharge when it has full charging which means you will be wasting the power of your solar charger by charging your phone to 100%.

Final Words:

So that wraps up our guide to solar powerbanks, and we hope that you have learned something valuable with this comprehensive write-up on solar chargers. Moreover, we strongly suggest that you do your complete due diligence and learn about the solar charger you select from our list so that you can get a total bang for your buck.

