Best Solar Powered Gadgets of 2021

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The sun is a limitless source of energy and humans have been trying to develop the best solar powered gadgets to harness that. So far we've been met with limited success. Solar powered gadgets need to have enough panels to provide enough juice to keep them going. Solar panel placement is tricky, as is the expected time they'll be exposed to light.

So far a few gadgets have emerged that work well with light. These gadgets have enough space to place panels, plus an expectation to be in the sun often. Not surprisingly, many of these devices are designed to be outside, but some of them also find their way into your office space and even your basement.

Best Charger: X-DRAGON Portable Solar Chargers

It makes sense that our first offering would be an actual solar panel. The X-Dragon solar panel charger uses the sun to charge your devices. The panels provide up to 14 Watts of power and X-Dragon's Solar-IQ technology adjusts the current and voltage output to maximize your charge. They're slim, portable, and very durable. They're designed to strap to your backpack, keeping your devices charged during the day so your devices last into the night.

The solar panel itself doesn't have a built-in battery, nor any kind of repository to retain power collected during the day. The only way to charge is by using it during the day. We'd like to see a battery so you can wear your backpack during the day and still have juice to spare at night. All the same, a little planning will help keep you topped off and ready to go.

Best Speaker: ABFOCE Solar Bluetooth Speaker

Bluetooth speakers are a great way to take your party outdoors, which makes the addition of a solar panel only natural. The Abfoce Solar Bluetooth speaker does just that and it comes with a lot of extra conveniences too. The speaker will give you around 60 hours of playtime on a full charge, and the solar panels only add to that run time. Additionally, the speaker has a built-in 5,000 mAh battery for charging your devices and a flashlight in case you get caught in the dark.

The speaker isn't very loud though, or at least it's not the loudest Bluetooth speaker on the market. But it's plenty loud for a small gathering of friends. The speaker comes with a carabiner, a charging cable (for when you want to charge faster than the sun will provide), and an aux cable for plugging in your device if you don't want to use Bluetooth. Overall, this is a great addition to your outdoor party pack.

Best Solar Panel: Ring Solar Panel

Ring has a number of products designed to work outside, but most of them rely on a battery for power. The result is a recurring need to recharge batteries every few days or weeks. So, Ring designed a solar panel to work alongside your Ring products to keep them charged even under heavy use. The Ring solar panel is an attractive way to charge up your Ring devices.

Unfortunately, the solar panel is designed for Ring products only - other outdoor doorbells or cameras need not apply. It's not particularly surprising, but it is something to consider if you have an outdoor camera from another manufacturer. But if you are a Ring customer, this is a great option for keeping your outdoor security devices charged up and ready to go all the time.

What to Look for in Solar Powered Gadgets

Battery capacity - If your solar device has a battery, it's important to note how big that battery is. Larger batteries will last longer at night when not charging, but they will also take longer to top off. Battery capacity is usually measured in mAh, and larger numbers are usually better.

Solar cell placement - consider your use case. Does the placement of the solar cells make sense? If you're looking at a solar powered camera, does the area you want to monitor get direct sunlight? If you're looking at a bluetooth speaker, do you have a window where you can recharge the device?

Durability - How are the solar cells constructed? Are they glass? Are they composed of polycarbonate? Keeping in mind your use case, how long will the cells themselves hold up?