Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Trash
  3. Evergreens

The best solar chargers for your smartphone or tablet

The best solar chargers for your phone, tablet, and other battery-powered gear

Add as a preferred source on Google

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your device is on the verge of shutting down because you’ve run out of battery, and it’s the moment you badly need it? Make use of the sun’s power to keep your gadgets operating, even if you’re traveling in the middle of the desert. Thanks to these fantastic options, you no longer have to worry about forgetting to recharge your power banks.

Powoxi Portable Solar Charger Kit

Best Overall

The Powoxi Portable Solar Charger Kit is a complete set of solar equipment that anyone will need while on the go. It comes with a 60-Watt solar panel with a stand, three varied cables, 11 different plugs, and a convenient carry bag. You can easily adjust the angle of the solar panel stand, so it can absorb more sunlight. Best of all, the solar panels have an incredible speed of energy conversion, resulting in fast charging of your gadget.

Why we love it:

    • Waterproof for all your outdoor needs
  • Absorbs more sunlight for more convenient and faster charging
  • Compact kit and highly portable, so you can charge on the go

ECEEN Foldable Solar Charger

Best Value

ECEEN’s model is one of the more affordable solar chargers on the market. The ECEEN system is incredibly compact and lightweight, making it easy to store in your backpack when you go hiking, camping, or simply go on a picnic. It also allows you to keep your phone, iPad Mini, and other mobile gadgets with its zipped pouch. Additionally, it has hooks that allow you to attach it to your backpack or hang it up on trees and tents.

Why we love it:

  • Keeps your gadgets secure, thanks to its waterproof and zippered pouch
  • Minimizes charging time by optimizing the needed current
  • Comes in a zippered pack to keep the solar panels safe from damage

BigBlue 28W Solar Charger

Best Smart Charging

Ultraportable solar chargers are common, but few are as powerful as the BigBlue 28W model. This unit may be smaller compared to others in the market, but it still delivers quite a punch when it comes to power. Moreover, this solar panel can recognize and charge devices quickly and reliably even under adverse conditions. The three USB ports also allow you to charge many gadgets at the same time.

Why we love it:

  • Portable design can fit inside most bags
  • Includes many safety features to protect your devices from damages
  • A lightweight device that is easy to carry around with you

Voltaic Systems Arc 20W Solar Charger Kit

Best Kit

Unlike some clunkier, hard-shell builds on the market, the Voltaic Systems Arc 20 Watt Solar Charger is easy to take with you thanks to its folding solar panels. This 20W kit also includes Voltaic’s V88 Universal Laptop Battery, designed with a DC Output, meaning you can charge most laptops and other devices. The external battery also regulates the power going through your devices, so that it doesn’t fry up your gadgets.

Why we love it:

  • Has innovative pass-through charging, so you can charge your devices and the external battery at the same time
  • Durable and water-resistant panels that can withstand outdoor applications
  • Made of high-quality materials that won’t break with use

Nekteck 28W Solar Charger

Most Efficient

The Nekteck’s solar charge produces up to 28 watts of power, more than enough to quickly charge any portable gadget. Its Smart IC technology intelligently detects the connected device and delivers just the proper amount of power to charge it swiftly without the risk of overcharging. In addition, it has five eyelets and comes with two metal hooks that allow you to easily attach the solar charger to your travel bags.

Why we love it:

  • Well-made and durable, with high-quality materials that won’t break over time
  • Straightforward to set up and use
  • Designed to charge your devices quickly

Whilst solar panels get their power from the sun, some of them can also be charged with batteries, for an added boost. However, the majority of the items on our list do not come with batteries. You can either buy a separate battery to use with the solar panels or charge your devices directly while absorbing and converting solar energy.

About the Author

Rusty Davis has been a tech lover for as long as he can remember. From the early days of gaming consoles to the introduction of the smartphone, portable computers, and more, he’s always wanted to get his hands on the latest and greatest. He has years upon years of experience reviewing and testing everything from phone cases to smartwatches, the latest phones and tablets to gaming computers, and even desks. If it’s a piece of tech or tech-adjacent, he’s interested in how it works and who it works best for. He’s now here sharing all of his knowledge with you to help you make the best decision for yourself.

Why You Should Trust Us

The Digital Trends team prides itself in offering expert product recommendations in ways that everyone can understand. Our team of experts is constantly using and reviewing the latest and greatest consumer tech, smart home gadgets, televisions, and so much more to offer insights to help guide your purchasing decision. We have vigorously tested thousands of different products across these categories, and we’ve distilled our lists to bring you the best of the best. If we feel a product does not live up to our expectations, it doesn’t make the list. We are humans though, and realize that not every recommended product will be perfect for everyone, so we do our best to call out important features that may impact your choices. Below our top picks we’ve included additional product information to ensure that you are making the right choice for your unique needs. The products in this guide have been carefully curated by our team of experts and enthusiasts who understand the value and quality needed for the best options.

Rusty Davis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rusty Davis has been a tech lover for as long as he can remember. From the early days of gaming consoles to the introduction…
The Digital Trends App Bundle is yours to try for a whole week, free
Digital Trends App Bundle

Recently, we've entered an exciting collaboration with Maple Media, creating a bundle of 17 apps worth having on your phone. From relaxed fun to serious productivity boosts, these apps cover all your bases and provide a fun boost to your phone. Normally, the bundle is $9.99 per month (far lower than the cost of using the apps individually), but for your first 7 days you can get access to the bundle for free. View the full Digital Trends App Bundle for a complete list of the apps, or read on for a summarized take.

Start your free trial

Read more
The Galaxy S26 Ultra might not see much of a battery upgrade after all
It looks like it will stay the same as the last five years.
The back of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

What's happened? This week, China's Quality Certification Center released information about a battery (EB-BS04898ABY) with a maximum capacity of 4,855mAh. That's the same capacity as was previously seen in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and fans have taken this certification to mean the Galaxy S26 Ultra will not see a capacity increase after all.

The Samsung Galaxy Ultra models have had the same battery capacity for the last five years.

Read more
The Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is official, and it’ll be here sooner than you think
Galaxy Tab S10 Lite

What's happened? Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite, a budget-friendly alternative to the Galaxy Tab S10. The device has been rumored for months, but this is the first time Samsung has officially acknowledged its existence.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Lite will have a 10.9-inch display and a peak brightness of 600 nits — a bit on the lower side, versus the iPad Pro's maximum brightness of 1,600 nits.

Read more