The 7 Best Solar Power Banks of 2023

With an impressive 38,800 mAh battery, this compact power bank has four built-in solar panels or can be charged from a micro USB cable. It’s an excellent value, looks attractive, and has more battery storage than many competitors, making it our top all-around choice. With the combination of wireless and USB output ports, you can charge up to three devices at once. 

The solar charger also features a flashlight with multiple settings (low, high, and flashing), producing up to 280 lumens of light. A Velcro strap holds the panels together when closed, and there’s a notch where you can attach a keyring or carabiner, allowing you to clip it to a backpack to charge as you explore. It can withstand moderate impacts, some water exposure (but not submersion), and has a dust cover to protect the input and output ports. 

This charger also tops our list because of its compact size, making it easy to take traveling or tuck into your car’s glove box in case of an emergency. It’s ideal for off-grid camping trips where you won’t have access to power, but it’s also handy to keep at home in case your power goes down. The amount of time it takes to charge the battery on solar alone varies, and the battery is large, so think of the built-in panels as more of a way to top-up the battery rather than a fast way to charge it.

Price at time of publish: $90

The compact size of most single-panel power banks limits the solar charging capability of the panel, but the Goal Zero Nomad 5 is both portable and powerful. The Nomad 5 offers a 5-watt, rugged solar panel that’s lightweight (12.7 ounces) and water-resistant (though not waterproof).

The simple design includes a kickstand on the back to angle it into the sun, or carabiners can connect to the top and attach to a backpack for charging on the go. The Nomad 5 kit comes with Goal Zero’s Flip, a small battery pack (3,350 mAh) with a USB port so you can charge devices after the sun goes down. When the sun is out, the Nomad’s panel can charge the Flip in just three hours—making it one of the fastest single-panel chargers.

Price at time of publish: $60

Fold-out solar chargers increase the number of solar panels available to charge a device, but their collapsible design means they’re also portable. While some fold-out panels can only be used to charge devices directly when the sun is out, the FEELLE Solar Power Bank includes a staggering 25,000 mAh high-capacity battery capable of charging an iPhone upwards of nine times.

Combined, the four foldable solar panels produce 5 watts, while dual USB ports allow for two devices to charge at once. The moderately priced FEELLE also contains an LED light (with an SOS mode), is water-resistant, and weighs just 1.18 pounds.

For a versatile power bank that can be used during day-to-day activities or on outdoor adventures, the BLAVOR is an excellent option. Four of the five collapsible solar panels are detachable, so you don’t have to tote them around when they’re not needed.

The 20,000 mAh battery bank features Qi wireless technology to charge compatible devices, plus two USB ports, a small compass, and a built-in flashlight for wilderness jaunts. One drawback of the BLAVOR, however, is that the solar panel connectors are not waterproof.

Price at time of publish: $55

Most laptops consume between 40 and 70 watts when charging, compared with just 2 to 6 watts used by cell phones. This means you’ll need a larger power bank plus a stronger (and more costly) solar panel to continuously replenish it—so typical power banks won’t cut it.

The Rockpals 250-watt power station includes a 60-watt expanding solar panel case (with four panels) and a multi-purpose power station with a 64,800 mAh lithium battery for charging several devices. The Rockpals station and panel is a convenient, portable unit that can turn any area into an off-grid office.

Price at time of publish: $220

Although most portable solar charge banks are useful in the great outdoors, multi-purpose devices are even better and can save space when camping and hiking. The Raddy SW5 Emergency Radio is a durable device that’s a must-have piece of survival gear. The 5,000 mAh battery can be recharged with the small solar panel, by the USB port, or with the hand crank.

Equipped with a waterproof rating of IPX5, the durable device includes an AM/FM/NOAA radio, compass, flashlight (with SOS setting), and floodlight. The Raddy portable radio charger can replenish cell phones up to two times before needing to be recharged.

Price at time of publish: $32