5 Best Solar Power Banks: I'm Unimpressed!
I bought 5 of the best solar power banks and put them to the test! The results were…underwhelming.
🔋 SOLAR POWER BANKS TESTED IN THIS VIDEO
• Blavor – https://amzn.to/3FKOD9D
• 4Patriots – https://amzn.to/3QuVQ2h
• Anker – http://bit.ly/ankerSPB
• QiSa – https://amzn.to/3snlPke
• Survival Frog – https://amzn.to/3FP8OmM
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Solar Charging Test
1:07 Battery Capacity Test
3:09 The Flaw
4:03 Charging Ports & Other Features
4:35 The Winner
5:21 I’m Unimpressed.
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I tested how much solar energy all these solar power banks collected after being left outside for 2 days. Then I charged them up and tested how much battery capacity they *actually* have and compared it to their listed capacity. I also talk about a flaw present in the current crop of solar power banks.
Note: Listed capacities came from the solar power banks themselves. In the case that the power banks only reported their capacity in milliamp hours (mAh), I calculated their watt hours by multiplying their milliamps hours by a voltage of 3.7V (the nominal voltage for the Li-ion batteries used in most power banks) and then dividing by 1,000.
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Some of the links in this description and in the comments below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one, at no extra cost to you I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This is literally how I imagined my husband to be when I was 11 years old. The cute nerd to teach me math ❤he’s so handsome
Very good info no fillers
You do good reviews 👍🏾. A lot of detailed information. Thanks!
Thank you, can you tell me what tool are you using to test for Wh
It may be worth noting that these solar power banks will still charge your device from its solar panel directly when the battery itself is fully depleted. Albeit slowly, but will still charge at whatever it’s rated at generally 2 watts in sunlight. You don’t have to actually sit and wait for the solar power bank to charge up before you can use it .
I also remember reading that these actually charge more efficiently not in direct sunlight but in more diffused bright light. Maybe as in on a slightly overcast day. I think there’s a balance to where the battery is staying cool enough to charge at peak efficiency enough to compensate for the lower lux intensity in those conditions. In addition to low charge rate of the onboard solar panel, in direct sun, the battery heats up and is practically not able to take much charge at all anyway
Cool vid 😎✌️
Thanks for your research results. I’ve bought too many of these disappointing devices and get shot down on their abilities. Maybe I’ll check the development process in a few years.
About 12 years ago I was spending 3-4 months at a time way off grid for some work. Due to some federal rules we were very limited on what we could bring in, so no car batteries if you could even haul one up that far. I made it three summers mostly on a combination of two of the original power bank that these reviewed packs were copying (it was some buy one give one to the developing world company) and a big brown dog gadgets solar cell. I’d charge my iPad and big lime fuel (originally limeade) off the brown dog during morning work and at mid-day I’d put on the early Panasonic 18650 lithiums for my lantern and flashlights. The lime fuel would power my 120 mm fan overnight and I’d read or watch some tv on the iPad. My phone by some miracle had signal and after the first summer would tether so I could pull new books and content for the iPad. I’d swap out the self contained banks to recharge the iPhone because it took them about two days to realistically get me the half charge it would take to pull content. I’d throw a clear vinyl sheet over it to keep it rain safe and set it out on a bench and it worked beautifully.
This scheme blew the minds of the older employees and even the rangers that would come through. They’d make fun of me for not being able to disconnect, but also would routinely ask me to pirate movies and tv for them to watch. The whole package weighed about 11 lbs in the pelican i took it up in and stored stuff in. It was a lot of my spare weight when we would pack in, but I slept in a lighter tent and used an air pad instead of the back saver pad everyone swore by so I was within a couple pounds of everyone else’s load. As time went on I actually managed to shave weight elsewhere and brought an extra lime fuel to capitalize on extra sunny days and a second 120mm pc fan to dry socks and otherwise make my tent more comfortable. Eventually I swapped the second flashlight for a string of LED clear Christmas lights to light up my tent. The final year I brought a MacBook Air and a 5v to 12v boost converter because I was working on a grant along with a third lime fuel. I had to cut a bit of weight on my toiletries and luxuries but I made it the whole summer never running out of power for stuff I wanted to do. My bigger worry was trying to figure out a better bed setup so I was more comfortable mornings.
I eventually moved on to a different job and could no longer live that life, so I repurposed a lot of the gear. I took a day hike in the year after I came off trail and half of the people doing my old job had LiFePo batteries and as much tech or more than I did. Because they didn’t have to be as conservative they even had a cooler and would keep more perishable foods longer than we had access to. Eventually the study ended and they repurposed the campsite for public use. I’ve been back once since and there’s a cabin there now for staff with all sorts of amenities we were forbidden, lol.
I’m looking to take a dream vacation and take one of these to play video games on my phone. It’s a pretty big deal to me but I’ll be able to have unforgettable experiences with these.
Maybe your shit tool is fucked
Sounds about right with all the "sustanability" trend. You buy it with good intentions, and then use it as a regular powerbank plugging it to the wall.
👍
I use my 10000mah
Tko Solar powerbank as a backup battery…testing solar charge capability right now..don’t expect much 😅
I used it to top up my Anker Powerbank..it worked excellent in that regard.
AC Charging up your Powerbank is still the way to go into the woods.
This video needs more likes. Short to the point and fair comparison
This guy definitely doesn’t understand what these are used for.
Because the full when you open them
Been looking at one of these for hiking and unfortunately every solar power bank seems very poorly made. Had yet to find one that is worth it.
Sounds like solar power banks suck.
I’m not surprised.
Can I charge these with outlets
Great video, clear and concise
Solar charging is only meant for emergency use only. (Stuck in the desert with your phone on empty.) Better than nothing. My Goodaaa is rated at 43,000mAh and for the price, this is a steal.
Amazing review! Thanks
I liked my solar bank. Every month I could charge my gear twice, it was better then not having it , until the connectors rusted from being left in the rain. It lasted about a year and a half , so ~32 charges for ~ $50 bucks. THE flashlight was very handy . I don’t remember the brand but it was an off brand from amazon. And the solar pannel folded out to 4 pieces. It was definitely not waterproof even though it said it was. I have been living off grid for a few years now and I haven’t found a pocket power bank thats been decently long lived, I think I’m on my 9th one currently.
Avoid Chinese knockoffs
Thanks. this was actually a very good and useful review. Saved me some money as well.
Why the annoying music? Could not finish
Good video, was looking at the specs of these power banks, and my scepticism had proved correct..
Products tested, in no particular order (affiliate links):
Blavor – https://amzn.to/3FKOD9D
4Patriots – https://amzn.to/3QuVQ2h
Anker – https://anker.pxf.io/AW5P97
QiSa – https://amzn.to/3snlPke
Survival Frog – https://amzn.to/3FP8OmM
I forgot to mention this in the video, but even the ‘winner’ gets the most lukewarm recommendation possible from me. It’s just hard to trust the long-term quality of cheap power bank brands – let alone one whose actual capacity is so far off from its listed capacity. So buyer beware.
A better alternative is probably just buying a dedicated solar charger and using that to charge a regular power bank. That way you can keep the battery out of direct sunlight. Not to mention, solar chargers tend to have bigger solar panels and thus output more power.
Can’t get the anker one anymore 😂
I have to admit that Two days ago
I was like.
Power or solar chargers are for homeless or wild life adventures.
Worthless for me!
But after storms left our house with no power for two days so far I think
They can safe lives.
Now. if we don’t have a phone
It Feels like we are not in it.
Great info when desperate and looking
For a portable phone charger!.
👍
Even 2 square meter (2×1 meter) solar panel only produce about 80-120 watts of energy (same as typical gan charger), even 100 watt gan charger still needs 2 hours to fill 10.000 mah power bank (if the power bank really charge at 100 watt speed, there’s no power bank with 100 watt input charge right now), so ? "solar power bank" are just a gimmick unless you let your power bank in direct sunlight for a month to fill up.
Wireless charging on a power bank is the goofiest thing I’ve ever heard, especially on one that is outdoor focused. They’re probably consuming as much power as they’re producing just checking for a phone to charge
Great video. Straight to the point. No fat. Got exactly what I was looking for when I clicked on the video. Subbed!
So the conclusion is make a customised power bank. Buy 4-5 solar panels and a normal power bank and build it at home.
Good Review. You covered the important information that matters.
You just saved me $50 box, thx
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO
thanks
for the blavor one, the company recommended that you charge via the outlet than the solar panel as it is barely any use and it would take 3 to 4 varying sunny days to fully charge wit h it
Awesome video. Thx
Phone never test to charge but mi pad 5 charge slow use less old solar power pank one light two charge port need rail.y charge your phone and mi
Pad 5
Dude has so much soy running through his body
How long does it take for them to charge in the sun then?😁
amazing video man, exactly what i was looking for. defiantly wont be buying one of these. another good test would be to see if you could charge them with solar through a window for awhile while you aren’t using it in between outings!
Anker Solar is nologer listed on official site. Nor there are any mobile solar power banks on anker site.
Wow! Straight to the point. I always see these listed first on amazon when looking at affordable, beginner solar options, and I can’t believe at $20-60 that they won’t even charge a phone all the way. This really sated my curiosity!! I saved $20 thank you!
THANK YOU for this purely objective review! I had been considering one of these for emergency use. NOT good enough!
I cant believe all the apologist, solar, fanboys making excuses for such dismal peformance in the comments!! Would you put up with this kind of ridiculous performance shortfall in any other device? I think not.
The "alternative energy" virtue signallers will contort themselves in three different directions trying to make the solar lie true. What a crock!
Just admit that solar is an immature technology that "may" have some future promise. But as of today, this stuff sucks out loud. And to rely on this garbage in an emergency situation is just plain stupid!
What if you covered the QiSa’s 4th solar panel, the one directly connected to the battery pack, would that reduce the battery temperature/battery life of this unit? while it’s solar charging.
Well I won’t be buying any. Thanks to your video