Solar charger for cell phones: 5 Best Solar Phone Chargers of 2023, Tested by Experts

BigBlue 3 Review | Tested by GearLab

This speedy solar charger handles multiple devices and offers reliability at a reasonable price

Credit: Big Blue

$73 at Amazon

Price:  $100 List

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Manufacturer:  
BigBlue

By James Lucas and Matt Spencer  ⋅  Nov 4, 2022

86

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#1 of 10

• Direct Solar Charging Speed – 35%
  8.0

• Indirect Solar Charging Speed – 35%
  10.0

• Portability – 15%
  5.5

• Multiple Device Charging – 15%
  9.5

RELATED: Best Portable Solar Charger of 2023

Our Verdict

When buying a solar panel charging efficiency and dependability become crucial factors and the BigBlue 28W stood out as one of our top contenders. This 28-watt model converted approximately 24% of the solar power into energy, proving to be one of the most effective models in the review. It also scored well in dependability due to its auto-restart function, which allows the panel to continue to deliver a charge in partially cloudy conditions. Additionally, this solar panel comes at an affordable price. Simply put, we love this panel for its effective charging, its durable and straightforward design, and the fact that it is reliable even when the sun is not!

REASONS TO BUY

Inexpensive

Efficient

User-friendly

Great charging speed

Excels in partly cloudy conditions

REASONS TO AVOID

Bulky

Lacks portability

And the storage pouch is only semi-secure

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product BigBlue 3	X-Dragon 20W	SunJack 25W	Ryno-Tuff 21W	OEUUDD 25000mAh
Awards
Price	$100 List $72. 96 at Amazon	$65 List	$120 List $79.95 at Amazon	$63 List $59.99 at Amazon	$42 List
Overall Score
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Pros	Inexpensive, efficient, user-friendly, great charging speed, excels in partly cloudy conditions	Good charging speed, lots of places to clip carabiners, highly affordable	Durable, well-designed, fast charging times, rugged design	Impressive charging speeds, can charge multiple devices simultaneously, affordable	Large battery capacity, LED back panel
Cons	Bulky, lacks portability, and the storage pouch is only semi-secure	Hard to reach pouch makes the panel lay crooked, just a solar panel with no battery pack,	Expensive, bulky, ridged design is harder to pack, weak magnetic closure	Poor interruption recovery	The small solar panel makes charging hard
Bottom Line	This speedy solar charger handles multiple devices and offers reliability at a reasonable price	This low-priced, incredibly efficient solar panel converts the sun into charges while saving on costs	A powerful, well-designed, durable panel, with fast charging speeds Decent solar charger that charges well	A powerful, fast charging machine, capable of charging multiple devices, complete with a reasonable price tag	Where this device lacks in its ability as a solar charger, it makes up for as an affordable battery pack
Rating Categories	BigBlue 3	X-Dragon 20W	SunJack 25W	Ryno-Tuff 21W	OEUUDD 25000mAh
Direct Solar Charging Speed (35%)
Indirect Solar Charging Speed (35%)
Portability (15%)
Multiple Device Charging (15%)
Specs	BigBlue 3	X-Dragon 20W	SunJack 25W	Ryno-Tuff 21W	OEUUDD 25000mAh
Panel Size (watts) Power Output?	28W	20W	25W	21W	<5W
Weight (measured)	21. 8oz	21.1oz	29.4oz	17.5oz	18.6oz
# of USB outlets	3	2	2	2	3
Max USB Output Current (amps per port)	2.4 amp	3 amp	2 amp	2.1 amp	2 amp
Size folded	11.1″ x 6.3″ x 1.3″	12.1″ x 7.2″ x .51″	12.6″ x 7.8″ x 0.8″	5.9″ x 11.8″ x 0.8″	N/A
Size opened	33.1″ x 11.1″ x 0.2″	23.3″ x 12.1″ x .12″	24.6″ x 7.8″ x 0.8″	18″ x 11.8″ x 0.1″	7″ x 3.75″ x 1.25″
Battery?	No	No	No	No	Yes
Charge capacity (mAh)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	25,000mAh
Charge tablet?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Charge laptop?	No	No	No	No	No
Charge iPhone/Smartphone	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Panel outside material	PET Polymer Fabric	PTFE	PET Polymer Fabric	PET Polymer Fabric	PET Polymer Fabric
Panel type	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline
Battery input (Volts / Amps)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5V/2A
Direct USB Plug?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Daisy Chain?	No	No	No	No	No
12-Volt connection	No	No	No	No	No
DC Output	No	No	No	No	No

Show full specification detailsHide full specification details

Our Analysis and Test Results

We were impressed by this panel’s design, as well as the results we saw in our testing. BigBlue has created an inexpensive, highly efficient product that charged our electronic devices with ease. Though it is a bit large and bulky, the extra size didn’t matter because this panel got the job done. For car camping or a backcountry base camp where weight is not a huge concern, the 28W from BigBlue is an excellent choice. The positive features outweigh the negatives, as this panel will charge your devices quickly and effectively. It comes with a nifty auto-restart feature that comes in handy when the sun is intermittent, which occurred more often than we liked. During testing, we had multiple devices that required a charge; this panel acted as a base camp charging station for our satellite phone, high-quality external battery, and two phones, keeping them charged for two weeks.

The updated BigBlue has three USB ports.

Credit: Jane Jackson

It performed consistently well in a range of conditions, catching the most sun when it was out and still performing well when clouds filled the sky. The BigBlue is just a solar panel though and does not have the ability to store electricity so charging devices required some level of sunlight, which the device captured well. When it lost the sun, the ammeter value went down and when there was no sun, we replugged the device and reopened the solar panels to reset the power control. This worked well to get the panel back to speed. Even if you are not a gadget-obsessed adventurer, this panel is an excellent option if you want a quick charge for a single device (and again, it’s hard to beat the price).

Both the BigBlue 28 and the RAVPower 24 have four segments, but the RAVPower has less capacity by 4 watts.

Credit: Jane Jackson

Performance Comparison

Direct Solar Charging

The BigBlue performed exceptionally well with its direct solar charging, outdoing the other solar panels in our test due to the four strong solar panels linked together. The panels captured and retained up to 24% of the solar power, making it an extremely effective model.

At 28 watts, the BigBlue falls in the middle of the road when it comes to wattage. We’ve added larger panels over the years, as the technology has improved, and companies can get powerful panels into smaller packages. The four panels each delivered a strong 7 watts for a combined total of 28 watts. This is all just to say that the BigBlue did well in terms of its power output especially considering its size.

The updated BigBlue is as consistent as its predecessors.

Credit: Jane Jackson

It’s right in the middle of charging speed scores, with some larger capacity panels slightly surpassing it. In 30 minutes, the panel charged our Pixel 3 nine percent. This is impressive, though not the highest increase we saw from any panel. That said, its consistency across the board keeps it at the top of the list.

Indirect Solar Charging

One of the coolest features that the BigBlue has is the ability to recover from an interruption. Whether you are charging on a partly cloudy day or the sun angle changes to cast a shadow over the panel while charging, the BigBlue has an auto-restart function that makes reconnecting to your device a smooth affair. Though the charge was slow with interruptions, this design avoids the constant vibrating that occurs when a phone is disconnected and reconnected from its power source. The built-in ammeter measures the current real-time value and easily displays that information.

One thing worth noting is that all of the solar panels have to be in the sun because of the device’s parallel wiring. If one panel is in the shade, the charging dissipates significantly.

Portability

Efficiency and ease of use are a trade-off for portability and weight. The larger the panel, the faster it will charge your devices, and the more difficult it might be to fit into your backpack; the BigBlue is no exception. As one of the large panels in the review weighing 21.8oz and coming out 33.1″ x 11.1″ x 0.2″ when unfolded, it should be no surprise that this product is also one of the bulkier options out there. If you’re after a larger, heavier panel, it makes sense to go with the BigBlue since it will deliver the most charge to your devices in the least amount of time.

The BigBlue folds well, compressing down to 11.1″ x 6.3″ x 1.3, about the size of a thick magazine. This made the device a bit more portable and easier to slide into a backpack. The built-in ammeter adds some bulk to the profile of the BigBlue and our testers wished it’d had a slightly slimmer profile. The panel also comes with rings and carabiners so you can hang it in the sun or off a backpack while hiking.

The BigBlue is an impressive panel with a reasonable price tag.

Credit: Jane Jackson

Multiple Device Charging Speed

Though the BigBlue panel is equipped with three USB ports and offers all the charging capacity that one could need while outside. One thing to note is that the panel lacks DC charging so it plugging in your laptop or larger device won’t work. The panel charged nearly the same as when it was directly in the sun as it did in the shade meaning that the devices received juice fast and for a long time. Though the charging rates diminish with multiple devices plugged in from 1419 mAh in the first port to 1120 mAh in the second port, this panel provided the most charge to multiple devices. The ability to provide such a strong secondary charge makes the BigBlue a force in the solar panel game.

Should You Buy the Big Blue 28W?

The other incredible aspect of this panel is the cost, as it’s one of the lower-costing panels of its size. It delivers almost 30W of power and comes at an excellent price. Many panels we’ve reviewed are more expensive and have a lower capacity; you do the math! The BigBlue is one of our favorites; it humbly charged our gadgets quickly, with no extra frills or features. The simplicity makes it less expensive to produce, and in turn, keeps its price tag relatively low.

Partial cloudy conditions are perfect for testing the BigBlue’s ability to recover after being shaded.

Credit: Jane Jackson

What Other Solar Panels Should You Consider?

We love the BigBlue. It provides a consistent charge to our electronics in numerous situations, no matter if it’s a partly cloudy day or if there’s a tree branch interrupting the continuous delivery of sunlight. Time and time again, it kept chugging along, effectively charging our devices. Though the panel has three USB ports, it performed at its best when a single port was in use. It wins our top choice, as it’s efficient and fast-charging. Its incredible qualities trump weight and portability, as it is one of the larger panels we reviewed, and the price is just right.

The Big Blue takes the cake in terms of the solar panels we reviewed. The X-Dragon 20W would be another less expensive option though it doesn’t charge quite as well in indirect light and doesn’t do as well with multiple devices.

—
James Lucas and Matt Spencer

 

X-Dragon 20W Review | Tested by GearLab

This low-priced, incredibly efficient solar panel converts the sun into charges while saving on costs

Credit: Amazon

View at X-Dragon

Price:  $65 List

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Manufacturer:  
X-Dragon

By James Lucas and Matt Spencer  ⋅  Nov 4, 2022

77

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#2 of 10

• Direct Solar Charging Speed – 35%
  8. 0

• Indirect Solar Charging Speed – 35%
  8.5

• Portability – 15%
  5.5

• Multiple Device Charging – 15%
  7.5

RELATED: Best Portable Solar Charger of 2023

Our Verdict

This 20W solar panel provided solid charging at a fast speed and at a reasonable price. The high conversion rate made the panel efficiently charge on pretty sunny days and when there were dark cloudy skies. The X-Dragon also produces up to 3 amps per port, providing an excellent amount of charge for any USB device. Roughly the size of a notebook, this solar panel unfolds its three panels to capture an impressive amount of sunlight. Anyone looking for a backpacking solar panel, a place to charge while at basecamp, or just some extra energy in the sun should check out this affordable, strong solar panel.

REASONS TO BUY

Good charging speed

Lots of places to clip carabiners

Highly affordable

REASONS TO AVOID

Hard to reach pouch makes the panel lay crooked

Just a solar panel with no battery pack

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product X-Dragon 20W	Ryno-Tuff 21W	OEUUDD 25000mAh	Dizaul 5000mAh Portable	Blavor Qi 10,000 mAh
Awards
Price	$65 List	$63 List $59.99 at Amazon	$42 List	$24 List	$45 List $28.99 at Amazon
Overall Score
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Pros	Good charging speed, lots of places to clip carabiners, highly affordable	Impressive charging speeds, can charge multiple devices simultaneously, affordable	Large battery capacity, LED back panel	Small, can fit in your pocket, Has a LED light	Lightweight, durable, lots of charging options
Cons	Hard to reach pouch makes the panel lay crooked, just a solar panel with no battery pack,	Poor interruption recovery	The small solar panel makes charging hard	The small solar panel doesn’t charge	A bit bulky, slow charging speeds considering battery capacity
Bottom Line	This low-priced, incredibly efficient solar panel converts the sun into charges while saving on costs	A powerful, fast charging machine, capable of charging multiple devices, complete with a reasonable price tag	Where this device lacks in its ability as a solar charger, it makes up for as an affordable battery pack	More charger than a solar panel, this pocket-sized device will provide some charge for your electronics at a decent price	A relatively lightweight battery pack with multiple charging options, this small model has a USB-C and wireless charging port
Rating Categories	X-Dragon 20W	Ryno-Tuff 21W	OEUUDD 25000mAh	Dizaul 5000mAh Port. ..	Blavor Qi 10,000 mAh
Direct Solar Charging Speed (35%)
Indirect Solar Charging Speed (35%)
Portability (15%)
Multiple Device Charging (15%)
Specs	X-Dragon 20W	Ryno-Tuff 21W	OEUUDD 25000mAh	Dizaul 5000mAh Port…	Blavor Qi 10,000 mAh
Panel Size (watts) Power Output?	20W	21W	<5W	<5W	<5W
Weight (measured)	21.1oz	17.5oz	18.6oz	4.8oz	9.3oz
# of USB outlets	2	2	3	2	2
Max USB Output Current (amps per port)	3 amp	2. 1 amp	2 amp	1 amp	2 amp
Size folded	12.1″ x 7.2″ x .51″	5.9″ x 11.8″ x 0.8″	N/A	N/A	N/A
Size opened	23.3″ x 12.1″ x .12″	18″ x 11.8″ x 0.1″	7″ x 3.75″ x 1.25″	5.59″ x 2.76″ x 0.55″	6″ x 3″ x 0.5″
Battery?	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Charge capacity (mAh)	N/A	N/A	25,000mAh	5,000mAh	10,000mAh
Charge tablet?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Charge laptop?	No	No	No	No	No
Charge iPhone/Smartphone	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Panel outside material	PTFE	PET Polymer Fabric	PET Polymer Fabric	Plastic case	PET Polymer Fabric
Panel type	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline	Mono-crystalline
Battery input (Volts / Amps)	N/A	N/A	5V/2A	5V/1A	5V/2. 1A
Direct USB Plug?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Daisy Chain?	No	No	No	No	No
12-Volt connection	No	No	No	No	No
DC Output	No	No	No	No	No

Show full specification detailsHide full specification details

Our Analysis and Test Results

As one of the best solar panel’s on the market, the X-Dragon stood strong against the other panels we reviewed in its ability to convert sunlight into charges with its three mono-crystalline panels. The X-Dragon has a high-efficiency conversion rate, up to 25%, which means it catches more sunlight than other models. The X-Dragon automatically adjusts the current and voltage. This allows the device to deliver three amps per port, which was the most of the reviewed models, under direct sunlight. After testing dozens of models, our testers tried the X-Dragon, examined the great price, and deemed this model to be the Best Buy.

Credit: Chris McNamara

Direct Solar Charging Speed

When it comes to performance, the main metric of how well a solar panel does boils down to how well it can capture sunlight. The X-Dragon did an incredible job in terms of its function as a solar panel, performing well against the other panels in this review. The three mono-crystalline panels have a sunlight solid conversion rate, turning up to 25% of sunlight into energy. It received 1876 mAh while in direct sunlight making it a solid choice for collecting sun. The panel charges at slightly different rates. If you open up two panels, you get fourteen watts but opening the third panel jumps it to 20 watts. Keeping the X-Dragon open and under direct sunlight will produce up to three amps per port, making its solar charging abilities impressive.

The panel also comes with a number of loops as well as carabiners. This makes it easier to dangle off a backpack, tree, or outside of a tent and allows for the panel to be angled more directly in the sun.

Credit: Chris McNamara

Indirect Charging Speed

One of the most important parts of a solar panel is the ability to collect sunlight even when the sun isn’t blazing overhead because chances are you’ll need power regardless of the weather. The X-Dragon excelled here, outperforming the other solar panels in this review. With full cloud coverage, the X-Dragon’s battery received a 624 mAh charge, performing well compared with the rest of the panels in the review.

Many solar chargers have the capability to charge multiple devices at once, but not all do.

Credit: Chris McNamara

Where this panel shined was when the sun just barely poked out of the clouds. The battery received a 1220 mAh charge when the sun was only partially covered. Catching so much sun while under the cover of clouds made it one of the best devices in terms of collecting indirect sunlight, which is crucial for any time you’re outside. It’s impossible to guarantee perfectly sunny skies so having a panel that does well in indirect sunlight means the difference between a charged and dead battery. It may not always be sunny but the Z-Dragon always gets the sun.

Portability

Portability makes a big difference when considering a solar panel. No one wants to carry around a monstrous brick-heavy solar panel in the outdoors. The X-Dragon performed reasonably well in this department. Folded down the X-Dragon becomes about the size of a notebook or roughly 12.1″ x 7.2″ x .51″. Its 21.1 oz makes it fairly lightweight as well making it easy to through in a backpack. Unfolded, the three solar panels extend to 23.3″ x 12.1″ x .12″. With the numerous loops for carabiners and four included biners, it becomes easy to hang the panels on the outside of a backpack, draped from a tree, or simply laid down on the ground to catch the optimal amount of light. Velcro closures at the top of the panel make it easy to fold up and store. The Velcro opens easily allowing the three panels to capture the sun immediately and when closed it helps protect the solar panels from scratches and damage.

Credit: Chris McNamara

The mesh zipper pocket on the back holds everything you need to charge, it protects the charger’s output ports, and can easily store an additional battery pack. Also, the pocket can be a great place to store a cell phone to keep it from getting too hot while the solar panel charges it. Our testers found that the pocket kept the solar panel from laying flat, which could be problematic for capturing the best sunlight.

In terms of portability, this solar panel did moderately well compared to the other devices.

Multiple Device Charging

Often when one device runs out of juice, the others follow closely. Being able to charge multiple devices simultaneously becomes crucial with any solar panel. With two USB ports, the X-Dragon puts out at least 2.1 amps through each of the ports. The two ports charged well though charging rates diminished with multiple devices plugged in from 1071 mAh in the first port to 781 mAh in the second port. Opening the X-Dragon under direct sunlight will produce three amps per port, making its solar charging abilities impressive. Unfortunately, the X-Dragon lacks the output to charge larger devices like a laptop and doesn’t have a 12-V connection but it can provide power to a tablet or cell phone via the three amp USB ports.

Credit: Chris McNamara

The X-Dragon performed slightly above average when it came to charging multiple devices.

Should You Buy The X-Dragon 20W SunPower?

Nothing beats the actual value of a product. How well a solar panel does in terms of its price is the definitive metric for most users and the X-Dragon fared well in this department. The X-Dragon excels in terms of cost-effectiveness. The inexpensive solar charger offers a great charge-to-dollar ratio. The panel does well to capture a ton of sunlight and turn that into in-the-field charges for multiple USB devices. The X-Dragon’s price beats a lot of other solar panels that offer the same amount of power. For providing so much power at such a minimal cost, this model earns the Best Buy.

The X-Dragon has three small and powerful solar panels and folds into a small size.

Credit: Chris McNamara

What Other Solar Chargers Should You Consider?

The X-Dragon stood out amongst its peers for the ability of the three mono-crystalline panels to convert sunlight into charges at a solid rate. By producing enough electricity to deliver up to three amps to the two different ports, the X-Dragon beats out the other panels in terms of its ability to offer strong charges. The unit could be slightly more portable and could weigh a little less. Ideally, the mesh pocket would be better placed so the whole panel lays flatter but these are all small issues considering the panel’s hard-to-beat value, and excellent ability to catch the sun, good definitively earning its place as one of the Best Buys.

We consider the X-Dragon to be one of the best chargers in this review but if you want to check out other options, try the SunJack 25W which performs close to the X-Dragon but at a slightly higher price.

—
James Lucas and Matt Spencer

 

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