Top pick
This lightweight charger is powerful for its size and lets you charge up to four devices at once. It’s bulkier than some models and lacks a built-in kickstand, but it includes some handy accessories.
The Allpowers SP012 Solar Panel 100W is what we’d pack for a week in the woods or a month in Malawi. It has an impressively large surface area for catching every last ray of sunlight when unfolded, and a high output rating to match. Plus, it’s lighter than most models we tested, has a wide variety of output ports, and includes an abundance of useful accessories.
It’s as powerful (or more so) than some models weighing and/or costing much more. The Allpowers SP012 is made up of 15 solar panels and measures 3 by 3 feet when unfolded, so it can soak up as much sunlight as possible. At the same time, it weighs just 4.9 pounds (about as much as a standard bag of flour), so it’s highly portable.
With a rated maximum output of 100 watts, this model has the potential to charge most phones, tablets, or even a laptop at top speed. While it’s unlikely you’ll get that much power most of the time—in general, solar panels rarely reach their full rated output, even on a sunny day—it performed relatively well in our power tests, bringing our 10,000 mAh power bank from empty to fully charged in six hours.
It’s compatible with most devices. It has four output ports (one DC, one USB-C, and two USB-A), so as long as you bring the right charging cables, you can charge your phone, Bluetooth speaker, lantern, or other common devices. Plus, a second DC port allows you to attach another solar charger to capture even more power. (As of this writing, the online listings for this charger don’t reflect that it has a USB-C port, but a representative for the company confirmed that this is an error.)
It’s well designed. Throughout our testing, the Allpowers SP012 seemed durable and sturdily built, withstanding hours of outdoor use. It has a strip of Velcro to keep it in a neat bundle when you’re not using it, and a small pocket is handy for storing a few charging cables.
It’s protected against the elements. It also has a IP65 weatherization rating, meaning it’s able to resist damage from dust and other solid particles, as well as splashing or spraying liquids.
It’s made by a reputable brand. Allpowers backs this model with an 18-month warranty, giving you plenty of time to use it and ensure you don’t have a dud. Wwe’ve generally found the company’s customer support to be helpful and responsive, too.
It comes with lots of accessories. Included with this model are four small carabiners (to hang the charger at an angle or keep it from blowing away), five DC adapters (to charge a wider variety of devices), a DC-to-DC cable (to charge a device with a DC port, or to daisy-chain multiple chargers together), car jumper cables (to jump-start a car battery), and a Micro-USB charging cable (to charge a pair of wireless earbuds or another small device).
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Allpowers SP012 is bulkier than some options we tested. When folded, it’s about 4 inches thick, but it’s still small enough to tuck into a backpack or glovebox.
It lacks a built-in kickstand. We found this convenient with some other contenders to more easily tilt their panels toward the sun. However, the Allpowers charger has small loops around the edges that make it easy to hang at the optimal angle (say, from a tent or clothesline), or you can simply prop it up against a car, boulder, or other stationary object.
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Top pick
This lightweight charger is powerful for its size and lets you charge up to four devices at once. It’s bulkier than some models and lacks a built-in kickstand, but it includes some handy accessories.
The Allpowers SP012 Solar Panel 100W is what we’d pack for a week in the woods or a month in Malawi. It has an impressively large surface area for catching every last ray of sunlight when unfolded, and a high output rating to match. Plus, it’s lighter than most models we tested, has a wide variety of output ports, and includes an abundance of useful accessories.
It’s as powerful (or more so) than some models weighing and/or costing much more. The Allpowers SP012 is made up of 15 solar panels and measures 3 by 3 feet when unfolded, so it can soak up as much sunlight as possible. At the same time, it weighs just 4.9 pounds (about as much as a standard bag of flour), so it’s highly portable.
With a rated maximum output of 100 watts, this model has the potential to charge most phones, tablets, or even a laptop at top speed. While it’s unlikely you’ll get that much power most of the time—in general, solar panels rarely reach their full rated output, even on a sunny day—it performed relatively well in our power tests, bringing our 10,000 mAh power bank from empty to fully charged in six hours.
It’s compatible with most devices. It has four output ports (one DC, one USB-C, and two USB-A), so as long as you bring the right charging cables, you can charge your phone, Bluetooth speaker, lantern, or other common devices. Plus, a second DC port allows you to attach another solar charger to capture even more power. (As of this writing, the online listings for this charger don’t reflect that it has a USB-C port, but a representative for the company confirmed that this is an error.)
It’s well designed. Throughout our testing, the Allpowers SP012 seemed durable and sturdily built, withstanding hours of outdoor use. It has a strip of Velcro to keep it in a neat bundle when you’re not using it, and a small pocket is handy for storing a few charging cables.
It’s protected against the elements. It also has a IP65 weatherization rating, meaning it’s able to resist damage from dust and other solid particles, as well as splashing or spraying liquids.
It’s made by a reputable brand. Allpowers backs this model with an 18-month warranty, giving you plenty of time to use it and ensure you don’t have a dud. Wwe’ve generally found the company’s customer support to be helpful and responsive, too.
It comes with lots of accessories. Included with this model are four small carabiners (to hang the charger at an angle or keep it from blowing away), five DC adapters (to charge a wider variety of devices), a DC-to-DC cable (to charge a device with a DC port, or to daisy-chain multiple chargers together), car jumper cables (to jump-start a car battery), and a Micro-USB charging cable (to charge a pair of wireless earbuds or another small device).
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Allpowers SP012 is bulkier than some options we tested. When folded, it’s about 4 inches thick, but it’s still small enough to tuck into a backpack or glovebox.
It lacks a built-in kickstand. We found this convenient with some other contenders to more easily tilt their panels toward the sun. However, the Allpowers charger has small loops around the edges that make it easy to hang at the optimal angle (say, from a tent or clothesline), or you can simply prop it up against a car, boulder, or other stationary object.
The 2 Best Portable Solar Battery Chargers of 2025
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