The Best Portable Solar Chargers of 2023
Adam has been writing about mobile technology since 2011. He is the former host of the Android Authority podcast, and his work has appeared in numerous publications.
Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire.
The best solar chargers use the sun’s abundant power to keep your devices and batteries topped off. Solar chargers aren’t just for nature enthusiasts. Anyone who spends time away from an electrical outlet will find them helpful.
We recommend the X-DRAGON SunPower Solar Panel Charger for its 40W power output and high-efficiency cells. This charger doesn’t include a power bank to store all that juice, but if you are away from power and need to charge your phone or even your laptop, this is a great option. Opening the eight solar panels will give you plenty of power as long as there’s daylight.
Best Overall
X-DRAGON 40W Portable Foldable Solar Panel Charger
Our best overall charger can produce up to 40W of juice from its eight efficient panels. It opens wide to collect a lot of sunlight with eight high-efficiency panels, but it folds down small enough to fit into your backpack. There’s no water-resistance rating here, so be careful not to get caught in the rain, and no battery is included. But if you have large items that need a charge, the X-DRAGON SunPower Solar Panel Charger is a great choice.
You can plug in your phone and tablet, but you can also scale that up to your laptop with the five included different-sized barrel chargers and connection for your car battery. This is a great item to keep in your emergency car kit or your backpack for camping. The 18-month warranty will give you peace of mind too.
Number of Ports: 2 | Power Output: 2.8A max USB, 18V DC | Types of Ports: USB-A, DC | Number of Cells: 8 | Efficiency: 22 to 25% | Battery Capacity: N/A
Most Portable
BigBlue 28W Solar Charger
The Big Blue Solar Charger is a highly-portable solar charging solution that folds to a tiny 11.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches when closed. It’s long but narrow and thin, easily fitting into most backpacks. Included carabiners allow you to open and strap it to your bag outdoors.
There is no built-in battery, but the three USB-A ports allow you to charge any phone or tablet quickly. The panels are waterproof, which our reviewer tested by submerging the cells in a bathtub.
Our reviewer also noted that the advertised 28W output is misleading. There are four 7W panels which add up to 28 Watts. Unfortunately, the panels could output only around 17W maximum during our testing.
There’s a pouch for holding cables or devices while charging, which is a nice bonus. Given its water resistance, we’d recommend this for hikers and campers, even in inclement weather. Of course, cloudy days will mean less charging, but at least you know your panels can stand up to it.
Number of Ports: 3 | Power Output: 5V / 4.8A | Types of Ports: USB-A | Number of Cells: 4 | Efficiency: Not listed | Battery Capacity: N/A
What to Look for in a Portable Solar Charger
Water Resistance
Solar power works best outside, so looking for water resistance in case you unexpectedly get caught in the rain or snow is a good idea.
Built-in Battery
Solar panels generate power, and that power has to go somewhere. If you have a solar panel and nothing plugged in, the panels will not generate energy, which is fine, but a battery would allow you to generate power and store it until you need it.
Power Output
Keep in mind the kinds of devices you’ll be using. Most solar panels can do the job if all you need to charge is a phone or tablet. If you need to power something larger, such as a laptop or car, you’ll need a powerful setup to get the job done.
That depends mostly on the cells’ efficiency and the amount of sunlight you’re getting. Solar panels are getting more and more efficient these days, which means they’re capable of generating a lot of power. On a bright, sunny day, it’s not unreasonable to think you can generate enough power for a phone and tablet or even bigger items.
If it’s big enough, a solar panel can deliver a charge to your car’s battery to allow it to start. A jump start technically means you’re drawing from a power source to start your car right away. The solar option is more of a car battery charger, meaning you’ll need to wait some time for your car’s battery to charge before you can turn the key. But yes, it is possible.
Solar panels should never be left in a window or in a car to charge. The glass from the window can FOCUS with light on the panels and cause them to overheat. Solar panels are meant to be outside and under the sun, or put away.
ways to charge your iPhone if you can’t or don’t want to use the typical wall charger
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- There are a lot of ways to keep your iPhone charged, even if you don’t have access to your AC adapter and a wall outlet.
- You should consider keeping a portable battery and a USB cable in your travel bag so you can always top off your iPhone, even if you’re nowhere near a wall outlet.
- Other charging methods include a car charger, hand-crank charger, solar charging, and a wireless adapter.
Every iPhone comes with an AC adapter and charging cable right in the box, and that might be the only way you’ve ever used to keep your phone topped off. But that’s pretty limiting — there are a lot of ways to keep your iPhone charged, and many are more convenient than plugging it into the wall adapter that Apple gave you.
We’ve rounded up seven ways to charge your iPhone for those times when you don’t have access to the AC adapter or a wall outlet. A few of these are so handy that they might replace the AC adapter as your preferred way of keeping your iPhone charged.
Use a car charger
If you are a commuter, you probably spend a lot of time in the car. If so, your very first iPhone accessory should be a car charger, which lets you draw power from the car’s power port (more commonly known as, but probably rarely used as, the cigarette lighter). You can get a car charger for less than 15 (this Anker model, for example, has a pair of USB ports for charging two devices at once).
Best smartphone chargers
We test and recommend the best smartphone chargers. Check out our favorite for the car:
Charge your iPhone wirelessly
If you have an iPhone 8 or later, and you’re not charging your phone wirelessly, you’re missing out on one of the most satisfying features of modern smartphones. These phones can charge just by being set on a compatible wireless charging pad, which you can keep on your desk, bed stand, or elsewhere.
Apple embraced the Qi wireless standard, so any pad that is Qi-certified will work with your iPhone. There are all sorts of charging pads available, from pads that lie flat on a tabletop to stands that let your phone sit upright.
If you have an older iPhone, you’re technically not shut out of the wireless charging party — there are a number of wireless charging cases available. Slip your iPhone into a wireless charging case from Weluv, for example, and you can charge it anytime just by placing it on a charging pad.
Best wireless phone chargers
We test and reccomend the best wireless phone chargers. Check out our picks:
- Best fast-charging wireless charger: Anker PowerWave. See at Anker
- Best wireless charging stand: Belkin Boost Up. See at Amazon and Staples
Use a USB cable with your laptop
We’d be remiss not to mention a dependable low-tech solution as well: just plug your phone into any computer’s USB port. It pays to keep a Lightning cable in your bag or briefcase so you can get a charge from any nearby laptop or desktop computer.
Best charging cables
We test and recommend the best charging cables. Check out our picks:
- Best overall: Anker PowerLine II. See at Amazon and Walmart
- Best long charging cable: Native Union Night Cable. See at Amazon
- Best universal charging cable: Anker PowerLine II 3-in-1 Cable. See at Amazon and Anker
- Best durable charging cable: Fuse Chicken Titan Lightning Cable. See at BH Photo
Carry a portable battery
If you find yourself away from your usual charging options for long periods of time — for example, if you’re on vacation and don’t have access to a wall outlet to plug in — you should join the ranks of veteran road warriors everywhere and carry a battery with you.
There are a vast variety of batteries available for charging smartphones (and other mobile devices), from small, low-capacity models (like Bonai’s shaped roughly like a AA battery) good for perhaps a single top-off to a big, beefy battery that can potentially charge a phone 2-3 times (like Anker’s PowerCore 10000, which delivers 10,000 mAh of power). All you need is the battery and a Lightning cable to charge your phone anywhere, anytime.
Or, even more convenient: get a case for your phone that has an integrated battery. A typical 7000mAh case can more than double the battery life of your iPhone during the day.
Get a backpack with an integrated battery
Why carry a separate battery when you can carry a bag that has one built in? Backpacks with integrated batteries are a handy way to always have a battery at your disposal, especially if you need all the storage that comes from a bag like that. Check out the TYLT Traveler Power Bag, which has an 10,400 mAh battery, or Voltaic’s 4000 mAh bag that also includes solar cells for optionally charging in the sun.
Use a hand-crank portable charger
If there’s one thing that’s true about chargers, it’s that they always seems to disappear just when you need them. You might not have access to electrical outlets, your portable battery might be dead, and you might not be able to get to your car. For times like these, consider carrying the ultimate failsafe: a hand-crank portable charger.
Like a modern version of churning butter, you add energy to your iPhone by spinning a small hand crank for several minutes. It’s slow work and a little tiring, but no other solution is guaranteed to be able to give you a few minutes of charge when your phone is dying.
You can get a simple single-purpose hand crank like the Eton BoostTurbine or a more elaborate hand crank generator like this model from FosPower that includes a portable radio and flashlight.
Best hand-crank chargers
- Best single purpose hand-crank: Eton BoostTurbine. See at Walmart
- Best multiuse hand-crank: FosPower. See at Amazon
Use a solar charger
Like a hand-crank, a solar charger is a bit unusual — but what other solution lets you charge your phone with clean, effortless energy from the sun?
Solar chargers aren’t super popular because they aren’t highly efficient. It can take all day under the sun to get a few hours’ charge for your iPhone. But if you find yourself outdoors in a sunny locale (on vacation, perhaps) then a solar charger might be an easy and reliable way to keep your phone charged.
Just spread out the cells — like with this one from Hiluckey — and let the sun do its job, topping off your phone or charging the battery that’s integrated into the solar cells.
Apple solar charger
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Solar Power Banks
The Xtorm Solar Charger 10,000 is a rugged outdoor solar charger, built to last. It gives you the freedom and energy to go anywhere you want, making it perfect for all your adventures.Powered by the sunThe Solar Charger itself can be recharged in two ways, either via USB-C, or by taking it outside and let the built-in solar panel do its work. Powerful high capacity batteryThe solar charger is equipped with a 10,000mAh lithium-polymer battery, powerful enough to charge a smartphone at least 2x. The charger also features a 20W USB-C output that fast charges your smartphone, so you’re always ready to go.Made for adventureThe Solar Charger is splash-proof, drop-resistant, and has a powerful integrated LED flashlight, making it the perfect solar charger for all your outdoor adventures. With the large internal battery and powerful solar panel you will always have some extra energy at hand, wherever and whenever needed!Solar recharge timeA wide variety of factors have an impact on how fast the sun is able to recharge your Solar Charger, like the season, location, time of day, and of course cloudiness.To give you a clear picture how much free power you can expect from the built-in solar panel, we provide 2 different scenarios below to illustrate the difference in charging speed. How long it takes to fully recharge your Solar Charger:1. On a mostly sunny day in spring or summer, it takes around 10 days2. On a mostly sunny day in fall or winter, it takes around 20 days As you can see, we haven’t given an example of how long it takes to recharge on mostly cloudy days. This is because, unfortunately, solar charging is really not effective enough in these conditions.At Xtorm we use the high efficiency SunPower solar cells to provide as much power as possible from a small surface area. Are the charging times listed above not as fast as you would like? Don’t worry, at Xtorm we have solar chargers and panels in all sizes. Check out our other products to see which suits you best!In short 10,000mAh battery 20W USB-C PD output 2x USB output Built-in 1,2W SunPower® solar panel Splash-proof (IPX4) Powerful integrated LED flashlight
The Xtorm Solar SuperCharger 10,000 is a rugged outdoor solar Charger with a double solar panel for maximum energy capture. It gives you the freedom and energy to go anywhere you want, making it perfect for all your adventures.Powered by the sunThe Solar SuperCharger itself can be recharged in two ways, either via USB-C, or by taking it outside and let the built-in set of solar panels do its work. Powerful high capacity batteryThe solar SuperCharger is equipped with a 10,000mAh lithium-polymer battery, powerful enough to charge a smartphone at least 2x. The SuperCharger also features a 20W USB-C output that fast charges your smartphone, so you’re always ready to go.Made for adventureThe Solar SuperCharger is splash-proof, making it the perfect solar SuperCharger for all your outdoor adventures. With the large internal battery and powerful solar panel you will always have some extra energy at hand, wherever and whenever needed!Solar recharge timeA wide variety of factors have an impact on how fast the sun is able to recharge your Solar Charger, like the season, location, time of day, and of course cloudiness.To give you a clear picture how much free power you can expect from the built-in solar panel, we provide 2 different scenarios below to illustrate the difference in charging speed. How long it takes to fully recharge your Solar Charger:1. On a mostly sunny day in spring or summer, it takes around 5 days2. On a mostly sunny day in fall or winter, it takes around 10 days As you can see, we haven’t given an example of how long it takes to recharge on mostly cloudy days. This is because, unfortunately, solar charging is really not effective enough in these conditions.At Xtorm we use the high efficiency SunPower solar cells to provide as much power as possible from a small surface area. Are the charging times listed above not as fast as you would like? Don’t worry, at Xtorm we have solar chargers and panels in all sizes. Check out our other products to see which suits you best!In short 10,000mAh battery 20W USB-C PD output 2x USB output Built-in 4,5W SunPower® solar panel Splash-proof (IPX4)
The Xtorm Solar Charger 5000 is a rugged outdoor solar charger, built to last. It gives you the freedom and energy to go anywhere you want, making it perfect for all your adventures.Powerful featuresThe solar charger is equipped with a 5000mAh lithium-polymer battery, powerful enough to charge a smartphone at least once. The Solar Charger itself can be recharged in two ways, either via USB-C or by simply taking it outside and let the built-in solar panel do its work. Made for adventureThe Solar Charger is splash-proof, drop-resistant, and has a powerful integrated LED flashlight, making it the perfect solar charger for all your outdoor adventures. With the large internal battery and powerful solar panel you will always have some extra energy at hand, wherever and whenever needed!Solar recharge timeA wide variety of factors have an impact on how fast the sun is able to recharge your Solar Charger, like the season, location, time of day, and of course cloudiness.To give you a clear picture how much free power you can expect from the built-in solar panel, we provide 2 different scenarios below to illustrate the difference in charging speed. How long it takes to fully recharge your Solar Charger:1. On a mostly sunny day in spring or summer fall, it takes around 6 days2. On a mostly sunny day in fall or winter, it takes around 12 days As you can see, we haven’t given an example of how long it takes to recharge on mostly cloudy days. This is because, unfortunately, solar charging is really not effective enough in these conditions.At Xtorm we use the high efficiency SunPower solar cells to provide as much power as possible from a small surface area. Are the charging times listed above not as fast as you would like? Don’t worry, at Xtorm we have solar chargers and panels in all sizes. Check out our other products to see which suits you best!
The Xtorm 20W Fuel Series Solar Charger 10.000 is a solar charger that gives you the freedom and energy to go anywhere you want, making it perfect for all your adventures.Next Gen Power is hereThis Power Bank has all the latest tech and new features that bring you Next Gen charging speeds. It has 2 USB outputs, and one extra powerful 20W USB-C that’s designed to charge your smartphone faster than ever. Fast. How fast?This Fuel Series Power Bank can charge a brand new iPhone 14 and iPhone 12/13 up to 59% in just half an hour. Compared to using an old charging brick, this is up to 3x faster!Developed with passionAt Xtorm we believe you should get joy and energy from using our products, which is why we put extra care and attention into the design and user friendliness of our power banks. Giving #EnergyThe solar charger is equipped with a 10,000mAh lithium-polymer battery, powerful enough to charge a smartphone at least 2x. The charger also features a 20W USB-C output that fast charges your smartphone, so you’re always ready to go.Powered by the sunThe Solar Charger itself can be recharged in two ways, either via USB-C, or by taking it outside and let the built-in solar panel do its work. Made for adventureThe Solar Charger is splash-proof, drop-resistant, and has a powerful integrated LED flashlight, making it the perfect solar charger for all your outdoor adventures. With the large internal battery and powerful solar panel you will always have some extra energy at hand, wherever and whenever needed!Solar recharge timeA wide variety of factors have an impact on how fast the sun is able to recharge your Solar Charger, like the season, location, time of day, and of course cloudiness.To give you a clear picture how much free power you can expect from the built-in solar panel, we provide 2 different scenarios below to illustrate the difference in charging speed. How long it takes to fully recharge your Solar Charger:1. On a mostly sunny day in spring or summer, it takes around 10 days2. On a mostly sunny day in fall or winter, it takes around 20 days As you can see, we haven’t given an example of how long it takes to recharge on mostly cloudy days. This is because, unfortunately, solar charging is really not effective enough in these conditions.At Xtorm we use the high efficiency SunPower solar cells to provide as much power as possible from a small surface area. Are the charging times listed above not as fast as you would like? Don’t worry, at Xtorm we have solar chargers and panels in all sizes. Check out our other products to see which suits you best!In short 10,000mAh battery 20W USB-C PD output 2x USB output Built-in SunPower® solar panel Splash-proof (IPX4) Powerful integrated LED flashlight
6000mAh internal battery Charges 2 devices at the same time 3.5 Watts SunPower® Panel The Lava Charger is a powerful universal mobile charger with built-in Sunpower® solar panel and a rubberized, matte finish. With its robust housing and a powerful 3.5watt high-efficiency Sunpower® panel, this solar charger is excellent for outdoor usage. The internal battery can hold up to 6.000mAh of power, It can be recharged in only 10-12 hours of sunlight to recharge completely. Simply unfold the solar charger in the sun, and charging starts immediately. Of course, you can charge the internal battery by USB or Mains as well. A blue LCD display shows the charging progress, while the unit is being charged. Once fully loaded, the Lava Charger has enough power to recharge the smartphone a multitude of times. With its multiple charging options, the Lava Charger is perfectly suited for every device. It has two regular USB ports at the front, a micro-USB charging cable on one side and a standard USB cable to charge the device on the other. With all of these connectivity options, it’s possible to even charge up to 3 devices simultaneously! In addition, this charger has high-performance output of 2.1A, which allows extra-fast charging! You are able to charge mobile devices and even tablets. The Lava charger is ideal for outdoor activities, like traveling, hiking and tours. Due to the powerful solar panels and the large internal battery, you always have enough power for your mobile devices. Features of the Xtorm Lava Solar Charger First-rate Solar PanelsXtorm incorporates the latest SunPower® technology, these are the best solar panels available on the consumer market. Solar efficiencyAll Xtorm Solar Chargers are provided with SunPower® solar panels boasting the industry’s highest solar efficiency ensuring least possible loss of energy during the charging process. Auto Power ManagementThe Xtorm Lava Solar Charger is provided with the APM-chip. This means that this Solar Charger automatically balances the correct charging speed and efficiently divides the power between the attached devices. Fast ChargingThe Lava Solar Charger has a high input and high outputs. These features make it possible to charge the connected device as fast as possible and recharge the Solar Charger itself on high speed via USB. Xtorm safety check A-class batteriesXtorm uses only the best battery cells that meet all safety requirements and can provide the fast charging you need Overload protectionXtorm mobile chargers protect the Xtorm’s internal battery and the battery of the attached mobile device from overcharging. Temperature controlAll Xtorm chargers are provided with a temperature control chip that prevents overheating. Auto Power ManagementThe Xtorm APM-chip automatically balances the power over the attached devices to prevent overcharging or overheating. About this Xtorm Solar Charger Xtorm solar chargers are the best solar chargers on the consumer market. With short charging and discharging times and high-quality materials. The best solar chargers on the market! Generate your own power! With this Xtorm solar charger, you can easily generate your own power. The stored power can be used to charge mobile devices, via USB. This is an extremely useful gadget for bike rides, hiking, adventurous holidays, etc.! Apart from its usefulness, being able to generate your own power gives you an ultimate sense of freedom and independence. Efficient SunPower® solar power! All Xtorm solar chargers are provided with extremely efficient solar panels. With an efficiency of 22%, these panels can generate a lot of power with a small surface area. These SunPower® panels are the best solar panels available on the consumer market. Lightweight and robust design! The Xtorm solar charger is extremely robust, yet lightweight. The mobile charger is easy to attach to a backpack, bicycle or tent, using a carabiner, for example. From sunshine to USB power! Like magic. The Xtorm converts solar energy into power, electricity which you can then use to keep all your mobile devices charged!
This 21 Watts SolarBooster enables you to easily use solar energy to charge your devices, anywhere you go.High yieldThis SolarBooster uses high yield SunPower® cells to charges your devices extra fast. Thanks to these very efficient cells there is minimal loss of energy during the charging process, and they even function on a cloudy day! The LCD display shows the current Ampere output of the solar pane. Easy chargingMobile devices can be connected directly to the solar panel via USB. It’s even possible to use the SolarBooster 21 Watts to charge two devices, such as a smartphone and an Xtorm power bank, at the same time. Because the SolarBooster has an output of 2,1A it’s able to charge devices extra quickly. Practical designThanks to the practical design and the carabiner that’s included, the SolarBooster 21 Watts panel can be easily fixed on a backpack, tent or bicycle. When the solar panel is not is use it’s easy to fold up and take with you. The material that’s used is strong, flexible and waterproof. Features of the Xtorm 21 Watts Solar Booster First-rate Solar PanelsXtorm incorporates the latest SunPower® technology, these are the best solar panels available on the consumer market. Solar efficiencyThis Xtorm Solar Booster is provided with SunPower® solar panels boasting the industry’s highest solar efficiency ensuring the least possible loss of energy during the charging process. Auto Power ManagementThe Xtorm 21 Watts Solar Charger is provided with the APM-chip. This means that this Solar Booster automatically balances the correct charging speed and efficiently divides the power between the attached devices. Xtorm safety check Overload protectionXtorm mobile chargers protect the battery of the attached mobile device from overcharging. Temperature controlAll Xtorm Solar Boosters are provided with a temperature control chip that prevents overheating. Auto Power ManagementThe Xtorm APM-chip automatically balances the power over the attached devices to prevent overcharging or overheating.
2000mAh internal battery Charges 1 device 0.4 Watts SunPower® Panel The Platinum Mini 2 is a small, handy solar charger in format. It is an ideal solution to your charge any smartphone or other mobile device whilst on the go. The device has an internal 2000mAh Li-Ion battery. Apart from being charging by USB or Mains, this item can also be charged by use of the Sun, via the built-in solar panel. Simply place the Platinum Mini 2 in direct sunlight, and the charging cycle starts instantly. The internal battery will automatically store the energy and give it back whenever you need it. Even in the dark. This handy and compact Platinum Mini 2 is ideal to take anywhere. It weighs only 62 grams, making it super-lightweight. Suitable for charging, your phone, GPS, MP3 player, PDA, etc. The Platinum Mini 2 has a LED battery status indicator, so you always know how much extra power is stored in the device. The Platinum Mini 2 is perfectly suited to be individualized by a (company) logo.
Powerful Solar Power banks by Xtorm
Discover the powerful Solar Power banks in the extensive range of Xtorm products. With these Power banks, you’ll always have power whenever and wherever you need it. These rugged Power banks operate on solar energy and provide you with extra power when you’re traveling or on vacation. The Power banks have a powerful battery capacity ranging from 5,000 mAh to 10,000 mAh, enough to charge your smartphone, earbuds, or camera. Browse through the collection and choose your ideal Solar Power bank for all your outdoor adventures.
Energy from solar power
Xtorm Solar Power banks are specifically designed to generate energy from sunlight. Simply take the Solar Power bank outdoors and the solar panel will do the work for you. This way, you can fully enjoy your adventure and have enough power in all circumstances. In addition, we use high-quality SunPower® solar panels that capture as much energy as possible with the smallest possible surface area. With the built-in set of solar panels and a large battery, the Power banks can be charged by pure solar power as well as via USB-C. over, the Power banks are splash-proof and drop-resistant, making them perfect for any adventure.
Solar Power banks as a sustainable solution
When you don’t have a power outlet nearby, the Xtorm Solar Power bank is ideal. When the Power bank is empty, you can easily charge it with solar power. The battery charges itself by converting solar cells into energy. Additionally, the products are designed to last long so that you don’t have to buy a replacement product quickly. This makes the Power banks sustainable and user-friendly. Furthermore, the solar-powered Power banks contain a built-in LED lamp, making them also useful as a flashlight.
Xtorm Outdoor Collection
Do you travel often? Then check out our outdoor collection with more handy products so that you never run out of energy when you’re on the go. Here you can find a wide range of Powerstations, travel adapters, and cables. The products in the outdoor collection are extremely suitable for use in various conditions. This way, you’ll always have enough power when you’re traveling or on vacation.
Best Apple Watch Portable Chargers
There are many types of portable chargers no the market and overall, portable chargers are really one the most useful charging electronics that you can use. As you’re able to take them anywhere that you want and charge many types of devices while you’re on the move. Most of the time you might think that a power bank is used for charging smartphones and that’s true, but that’s not the only use that they have. There are portable chargers that also features USB-C Power Delivery that can charge USB-C laptops and there are also AC outlet power banks that can power appliances.
In this case, though, we’re going to be scaling down to power banks that can charge Apple Watches. If the device is portable then it’s almost always going to have a way to charge with a portable charger, and that’s where Apple Watch Magnetic power banks come into play. We’re going to be going over power banks that you can use to charge your Apple Watch while you’re on the move.
Belkin 6,700mAh Belkin Apple Watch Portable Charger
The first Apple Watch portable charger that we’re recommending comes from a brand that is quite trusted with Apple themselves and that would, Belkin. This Belkin Apple Watch portable charger does hold quite a lot of quality and that’s apparent with the power capacity first. As this charger has a 6,700mAh power capacity and it’s with this power that you can charge an Apple Watch to its full power about 15 times. That said, a 6,700mAh capacity is more than enough for just an Apple Watch and so charging a smartphone to its full power is also possible.
There are also two ways to charge from this power bank, there’s the Magnetic charger that’s used to charge your Apple Watch and it has a 5V/1.0A charging rate, which can charge your Apple Watch at its max charging speed. The other charging method is the USB-A port that can be used with any charging cable to charge a smartphone or even a tablet. That said, the USB-A port on this power bank has a 5V/1.0A charging speed and that’s quite slow for most smartphones and tablets.
The build quality of this Belkin portable charger is perhaps the best part of it and that’s because the charger has an Aluminum to it.
Specs of the Belkin 6,700mAh Apple Watch Power Bank:
USB Port 1: 5V/1.0A
USB Port 2: 5V/1.0A
- Input: 5V/2.4A Via Micro-USB Input
- LED Power Indicators: 4 LED Dotted Power Capacity Indicators
- Size: 4.7 x 1.6 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 7 Ounces
This UGreen portable Apple Watch charger has a very low capacity, and that’s because it has a 2,200mAh power capacity. So the charger can provide about five full charges for the Apple Watch and that’s still a lot and just goes to show that mini power banks can have very little power capacity but it’s still a lot for charging an Apple Watch. However, when it comes to charging smartphones, this power bank, it doesn’t really have enough capacity to charge most smartphones to full power.
There are two ways to charge from this power bank. There’s a Magnetic charger for the Apple Watch and there’s also the USB-A port that can charge your smartphone. Both of the charging methods on this power bank have the same charging rate of 5V/1.0A.
Specs of the UGreen Portable Wireless Charger for Apple Watch:
Initial Capacity: 2,200mAh
Output Capacity: 1,600mAh
Standard USB-A Port: 5V/1.0A
Apple Wireless Charging Adapter: 5V/1.0A
Micro-USB: 5V/2.0A
This Oittm portable charger is more of the type of Apple Watch power bank that you could find useful for not only charging your Apple Watch but also for charging a smartphone with it, too. The power capacity is one part that makes the charger worth charging smartphones, as it has a 5,000mAh power capacity. There are also two ways to charge from this power bank.
It has the Magnetic charger and a USB-A port. The USB-C port on this power bank has a 5V/2.1A charging speed and that’s 1 Amp faster than what most Apple Watch power banks have that use a USB-A port. So you’re able to charge a smartphone to full power with this power bank and do it at a faster-charging speed.
The build quality of this power bank is quite good and that’s because it has an Aluminum build to it and we found that it felt a lot like the Belkin power bank that we first mentioned.
Specs of the Oittm 5,000mAh Magnetic Portable Charger for Apple Watch:
Apple Watch Magnetic Charger: 5V/1.0A
Standard Port: 5V/2.1A
- Input: 5V/1.8A
- LED Power Indicator: Four LED Power Capacity Indicators
- Size: 4.9 x 1.6 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 5.7 Ounces
Most power banks on the market don’t come apart, but this ROMOSS Apple Watch charger can actually come apart and for a good reason. The charger does not have a magnetic charger that’s built into it and you have to supply your own a Magnetic Apple Watch charging cable. That said, when you take the outer shell of the power bank off, you can then wrap your magnetic charging cable around the power bank, plug it into the inner USB-A port and put the cover back onto the power bank.
Despite its intricate design, this ROMOSS power bank actually manages to use another USB-A port that’s on the other end of this power bank and you can use it to charge another type of device.
The power capacity of this power bank is 3,250mAh and so it’s quite a lot for an Apple Watch and still a good amount for charging a smartphone if you wanted to use the power bank for that. Another thing is that the form factor of this charger is very small and it’s quite a bit smaller than most other mini power banks on the market.
Specs of the ROMOSS Apple Watch 3,250mAh Portable Charger:
Apple Watch Magnetic Charger: 5V/1.0A
Standard Port: 5V/1.0A
- Input: 5V/2.0A
- LED Power Indicator: Single LED Power Indicator
- Size: 4.7 x 1.3 x 1.3 inches
- Weight: 3.8 Ounces
If you own an Apple Watch then you most definitely own an iPhone, and that’s the main reason that this MIPOW 6,000mAh power bank is one of the best options to get if you have an Apple Watch and an iPhone. First, the power capacity is 6,000mAh and that’s enough power capacity to provide many full charges for an Apple Watch and it’s enough to charge an iPhone to full power and still have enough power capacity left over for charging an Apple Watch.
There are two ways to charge from this MIPOW power bank. Ther’s the Magnetic charger that has a 5V/1.0A charging speed and that can charge your Apple Watch at its max charging speed. The other charging option is to use the built-in Lightning charging cable that has a 5V/2.4A charging speed. The use of a Lightning built-in cable makes this power bank really only usable for Apple owners and we find that to be a great thing as it has two very reliable built-in charging elements.
At the back of the power bank is where you’ll find a stand and you can use that you hold the power bank up vertically and have easier access to your Apple Watch while it charges.
Specs of the MIPOW Apple Watch 6,000mAh Portable Charger:
Apple Watch Magnetic Charger: 5V/1.0A
Built-in Cable: 5V/2.4A
- Input: 5V/2.0A
- LED Power Indicator: Four LED Power Capacity Indicators
- Size: 4.4 x 1.6 x 0.8 inches
- Weight: 5.5 Ounces
Most of the time when it comes to power banks, you can recharge them using a charging cable and a wall charger, well, you can do that with this CHOETECH power bank but that’s not the only option that comes with this power bank. Instead, you’re able to recharge this power bank using the charging dock that it comes with, and that’s something that not many power banks feature.
There are also two ways to charge from this CHOETECH portable charger. It has a Magnetic charger and there’s also a USB-A port with a 5V/2.1A charging speed. So the charging speed from the USB-A port is faster than what other Apple Watch portable chargers feature.
Specs of the CHOETECH 5,000mAh Portable Apple Watch Magnetic Charger:
Apple Watch Magnetic Charger: 5V/1.0A
Standard Port: 5V/2.1A
- Input: 5V/2.0A
- LED Power Indicator: Four LED Power Capacity Indicators
- Size: 4.9 x 1.6 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 9 Ounces
A very simple Apple Watch portable charger, it’s this IQIYI 2,100mAh power bank. The charger really only has enough power capacity to charge an Apple Watch a few times to its full power. It does have two charging ways, which would be its magnetic charger and also its USB-A port, but charging a smartphone with this power bank isn’t the best idea as it doesn’t really have enough power capacity to charge a smartphone to full power.
That said, the form factor of this charger is very small with its length of only 4.3 inches and it has a thickness of 0.6 inches.
Specs of the IQIYI 2,100mAh [MFi Certified] Apple Watch Charger:
Apple Watch Magnetic Charger: 5V/1.0A
Standard Port: 5V/1.0A
- Input: 5V/1.0A
- LED Power Indicator: Four LED Power Capacity Indicators
- Size: 4.3 x 2.6 x 0.6 inches
- Weight: 2.8 Ounces
All of the power banks within this guide either have one or two charging methods, this UGREEN portable charger takes it to another level and that’s because this 10,000mAh power bank has a total of three charging methods. It does have quite a higher power capacity than many other power banks that we’ve mentioned so you’re able to provide more full charges for an Apple Watch and it makes it more feasible to charge a smartphone with this power bank.
The three charging way with this power bank is the magnetic charger, a USB-A port with a 5V/1.0A charging rate and a built-in Lightning charging cable that can be used to charge an iPhone. So this power bank does really have everything if you’re an Apple Watch and iPhone user, and with the higher power capacity it’s not just an Apple Watch power bank, it’s also a great smartphone power bank, too.
Specs of the UGreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Apple Watch Portable Charger:
Apple Watch Magnetic Charger: 5V/1.0A
Built-in Lightning Cable: 5V/1.0A
Standard Port: 5V/2.4A
- Input: 5V/2.1A
- LED Power Indicator: Four LED Power Capacity Indicators
- Size: 5.7 x 1.5 x 1 inches
- Weight: 10.4 Ounces
The Best Solar Phone Charger For Smartphones Tablets?
After the incredible success of the Voltaic Fuse 4 Watt solar charger on my previous 14-month-long bicycle tour in Europe and Africa, I decided to upgrade to the larger and more powerful 6 Watt solar charger on my travels this year. While the two products are similar in size, the new Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt solar panel produces 50% more electricity by way of its larger surface area and is the perfect size for charging smartphones, GoPro video cameras, tablet computers and other small USB-powered devices.
With the universal attachment system that comes standard on all of the Voltaic Fuse products, the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt solar charger connects in seconds to backpacks, bicycles or wherever solar power is needed. Available in three different colors and priced at only 129 USD, the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt is the perfect device for charging any USB device – including all Apple, Android and Blackberry smartphones.
You can see my 6 Watt charger in use in the image above (it’s resting on top of my bicycle’s saddle) and in the various photos throughout this review.
How Does It Work?
The Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt solar charger works in two distinct ways:
The first and easiest way to use the product is by connecting the small battery that comes with the Fuse to any standard power outlet. Once the battery is fully charged, simply connect the included battery to any USB-powered device that you wish to recharge.
The other (and more obvious) way to use the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt charger is to leave the product out in the sun for several hours. The more sunlight that hits the panel, the faster the internal battery will charge. Once the battery has generated a charge, simply attach your smartphone, video camera, or any other USB-powered device. It’s simply that easy!
The company that produces the Fuse 6 Watt panel (Voltaic Systems) says that 3 hours of direct sunlight will charge a smartphone, 6 hours in the sun will charge a small tablet, and 11 hours of sunlight will fully charge a larger tablet computer.
My experience with the product tells me that these estimates are pretty darn accurate, but it should be noted that “direct sunlight” is necessary for this type of optimal charge. Cloud-cover of any kind, or placing the solar panel at an improper angle, will increase the amount of time needed for the included internal battery to fully recharge.
On a personal note, I’m able to charge my Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone approximately 2.5 times from the fully-charged Voltaic V39 battery. However, the size of your smartphone battery and/or other electronic device will determine how many charges you can generate from the included battery.
To learn more about how the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt functions, please see my previous review on the smaller Voltaic Fuse 4 Watt or my video review of the larger Voltaic Fuse 10 Watt (both of which operate in exactly the same way). The only real difference between these three products is the size of the panel(s) on the front of each charger and the type of battery included with each device.
My Experience With The Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt Solar Charger
I’ve been using the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt Solar Charger on a daily basis for the last 6 months. I’ve been bicycle touring across more than a dozen different countries in Europe and Asia over this time period and the 6 Watt Fuse has been responsible for keeping my smartphone charged for much of this time.
There is, however, a major difference between my bicycle tour this year and the one I conducted in 2012/21013 with the smaller 4 Watt charger. This year (2014) I upgraded from a small iPod Touch to a much larger Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone. As a result of this upgrade, the amount of power needed to keep my smartphone charged (which I use for work, entertainment and navigation while I’m traveling) has increased significantly. My new smartphone has a much bigger battery than my old iPod Touch and I’m using the device more often as well (while at the same time demanding that it perform more complicated tasks). This has resulted in me draining my smartphone’s battery at an unprecedented pace.
It didn’t take me long to discovered that even my larger 6 watt solar panel wasn’t going to be enough to keep my smartphone charged for weeks at a time. If I wanted to keep my smartphone charged for long durations, I was either going to need to drastically reduce the amount of time I spent on my smartphone each day (thereby saving the phone’s battery), or I was going to have to figure out a way to charge my batteries at a more Rapid pace.
What I ended up doing was upgrading to the larger V39 battery (which is an optional upgrade with the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt charger) and ordered a second V39 as a backup as well. With these two large batteries in my possession, I constantly had one of the batteries charging on the solar panel, while the other battery was working to charge my phone. When the battery running my phone ran out of juice, I’d simply switch the batteries with one another, replacing the battery in the solar panel with the one that was now drained. Because the battery coming from the solar panel had been charging for a day or more at this point, it was usually near full and ready to expel its built-up electricity into my waiting smartphone. This process of swapping the batteries back and forth allowed me to keep my smartphone powered for a week or more (even with moderate daily use).
It should be noted, however, that even with two batteries, I’m a pretty heavy smartphone user… and if you’re anything like me, you should know that using a solar charger like the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt is not the same as having your smartphone constantly plugged into a power outlet. If you want to go for long periods of time using the solar charger as your only electricity-generating device, then you need to be conservative with your electronic use. Even with two of the larger V39 batteries in my possession, I’d eventually run out of electricity and need to find a power outlet in which to charge my various electronics.
Would I Recommend The Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt?
Solar power is pretty darn incredible… and small solar chargers like the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt are quickly becoming standard pieces of equipment for hikers, bikers, and modern travelers of various kinds.
If you have a smartphone, GoPro video camera, tablet computer or other small electronic device you want to keep powered either at home or out on the road, there are few products out there that could serve you better than the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt.
Currently priced at only 129 USD, the 6 Watt Fuse is the perfect size for hiking and/or cycling. The charger fits perfectly onto the back of a backpack or on the front or rear rack of any type of bike. The 6 watt panel is large enough to produce a significant amount of electricity, but small enough that it doesn’t weigh you down or take up a lot of room. Plus, you can use the included USB battery to keep your electronics charged at all times – whether you’re traveling close to home or on the other side of the planet. The battery alone is worth the price of purchase in my opinion!
While the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt solar charger isn’t large enough to power DSLR camera batteries or laptop computers, it is the perfect device for charging smartphones, tablets and other small USB-powered electronics.
I imagine I’ll be using the Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt solar charger on my bicycle tours for the next several years… and I recommend you look into using one for your travels as well.