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CNET
2 days ago
- CNET
Best Portable Solar Panels of 2025
Summer is here, and if you have been planning to spend more time outdoors, a portable solar panel can be a great investment. These can keep your power stations charged wherever the sun shines, but not all solar panels are made equal. Some Reddit users have even been considering adding portable solar panels to their emergency backpacks, so that they don't lose power in the event of a disaster. CNET's current favorite is the Jackery SolarSaga 200, thanks to its lightweight and sizable solar-charging capacity. If this one doesn't fit your needs or budget, there are plenty of other options. Portable solar panels (and the portable power stations they're sometimes paired with as solar power generators) mirror trends in rooftop solar panels and solar batteries. One trend is that your options are rapidly expanding. Whether you're looking for a solar panel to charge a battery while you're camping off-grid or to charge your phone or power some tools, there's likely an option for you. And if you know someone who loves camping (or just being prepared), portable solar panels (and a compatible power station) may make a great gift. We've got CNET's picks for the best solar panels below and a few others that could still be a good fit for you. We'll also lay out how we made our picks so that you can make the best decision for you. Can solar panels save you money? Interested in understanding the impact solar can have on your home? Enter some basic information below, and we'll instantly provide a free estimate of your energy savings. No lenders found matching this criteria It looks like we couldn't find any lenders that matched the provided criteria. Please try again at a later time. Close Best portable solar panels of 2025 Steve Conaway/CNET Jackery SolarSaga 200 Best overall portable solar panel Jackery SolarSaga 200 (the largest of their SolarSaga series) is my top choice for portable solar panels because it's highly efficient and large enough for plenty of uses. It's also one of the lightest and least expensive for its size. Pair it with the Jackery Explorer 2000 power station, and you get CNET's favorite solar generator. With a capacity of 200 watts, it's large enough to handle most of your solar-charging needs. Four of these panels can fill Jackery's 1,000-watt-hour power station in 1.8 hours. Like all the panels featured on this list, this one folds up. The folded panel is one-quarter the size of its fully deployed dimensions. The SolarSaga 200 sets the high mark for efficiency among portable solar panels at 24.3%. It also has one of the highest watts-per-pound measures. (A 200-watt solar panel that weighs 30 pounds isn't as useful as one that weighs only 17.6 pounds, like the SolarSaga 200.) The SolarSaga 200 is a bit more expensive than the other solar panels on the list, including some of the similarly sized ones. It comes with a 3-year warranty that covers manufacturer defects if you buy it from specific retailers. When paired with Jackery power stations, your purchase of a SolarSaga 200 has plenty of room to grow. Jackery's power stations have some of the highest maximum solar inputs of any power station today. If solar charging quickly is important, you'll be able to build up to it. $379 at Amazon Steve Conaway/CNET Bluetti PV350 Best portable solar panel for fast charging If you need fast solar charging on the go, there's one panel that stands out above the rest. Bluetti's PV350 portable solar panel has a massive solar capacity of 350 watts, so it can collect more sunlight and send more electricity to your devices. It's 75% larger than my best overall pick, the Jackery SolarSaga 200. Besides being big, the PV350 also has an excellent efficiency rating of 23.4%. While heavier than any other panel we considered (30.69 pounds), on a pound-per-watt basis, it's actually one of the lighter options. As you might expect, the PV350 will set you back more than other panels. For what you're getting, it's a fair price. For every dollar you spend, you're buying 0.41-watt of charging capacity. That tops our value pick above, but the Oupes seemed more within reach and a better fit for more uses. $599 at Amazon Steve Conaway/James Martin/CNET Oupes 100W Portable Solar Panel Best lightweight portable solar panel It makes sense that a solar panel with a greater charging capacity is likely to weigh more. In general, that holds true. Some solar panels do a better job of capturing more sunlight without adding a ton of extra weight. The best we found at packing charging power into a small package is Oupes with its 100-watt portable solar panel at 8 pounds. This Oupes has 12.5 watts of solar charging capacity for every pound it weighs. It's lighter than some panels that are only 50 watts. The Oupes 100-watt portable solar panel has a respectable, although not top-of-the-line, 20% efficiency rating. It's also cheaper than most other panels of similar sizes. (It's part of my pick for the best value solar generator, the Oupes 600-watt solar generator kit.) $180 at Amazon Duracell 100W Portable Solar Panel (Update: Currently unavailable) Best performer under CNET labs testing Many portable solar panels include bells and whistles to set themselves apart, but there is no substitute for raw power output. The Duracell did just that and excelled under CNET's Testing Lab conditions compared with the competition. The Duracell provided 20% more output than its box specs said it would. For comparison, that's in a market where 10% to 20% less power than what's listed on the box is the norm. For the price, a high-performing product like this is too good to pass up. $150 at Amazon Geneverse Geneverse SolarPower ONE (Update: Currently unavailable) Best affordable portable solar panel The SolarPower ONE from Geneverse is a quality solar panel within reach for many people. With a capacity of 100 watts, the SolarPower ONE comes in at about $3 per watt. That's one of the better marks for panels of this size, though larger panels will typically cost less per watt, albeit more overall. While this model is a bit more expensive than picks we've had in this spot previously, we've seen some of our favorite small, budget panels drop off the market. SolarPower ONE has an efficiency rating of 23%, which is toward the top of the range of the panels we tested, although some larger panels have higher rates. This model also packs a lot of power into a relatively light package. At just 9.1 pounds, it's one of the lightest 100-watt models we've tested. That means it'll be easier to take advantage of the portable nature of this panel and take it with you. $299 at Amazon Other portable solar panels we tested Biolite Solar Panel 100: The Solar Panel 100 is the first larger offering from Biolite, which produced smaller 5- and 10-watt solar panels for a little while. Its 100-watt offering is pretty much in line with the other options here, but without discounts, it's a little more expensive to start than others. Bluetti PV200: This 200-watt model from Bluetti could have been the choice for the best all-around portable solar panel, instead of the Jackery SolarSaga 200. It's light for its size and cheaper per watt than the Jackery. It has an efficiency rating of 23.4%. Anker 625: This 100-watt panel has an efficiency rating of 23% and weighs 11 pounds. It's a little heavier and more expensive per watt than some others on this list, especially of the same size. EcoFlow 110-Watt Solar Panel: The EcoFlow 110-watt panel matches our lightweight pick at 12.5 watts per pound. It's a little more expensive for its size than others, but has a good efficiency rating and great, compatible power stations. Goal Zero Nomad 50: This bite-sized solar panel has the smallest capacity of any on this list. It's a good panel, but you can get just a bit more capacity for less money in a few other places. Renogy Voyager: The 100-watt solar panel from Renogy is a really good price for its size. It's also a lot heavier compared to panels that are its size and larger. How to choose the best portable solar panel Finding the best portable solar panel for you really comes down to choosing the one that fits your needs and budget. Here are some things you might consider when looking for the best panels. Price Price generally trends with size: The larger the panel, the more expensive. If you're struggling to compare prices across different sizes, quickly calculate the cost per watt of the panels you're considering by dividing the price by the panel's wattage rating. For example, you can get the 200-watt Jackery SolarSaga 200 for $699, or $3.50 per watt. Or, you can get the 350-watt Bluetti PV350 for $677 (when discounted), or $1.93 per watt. Size The panels we tested for this list ranged from 50 watts to 350 watts. A larger panel will charge compatible devices faster, but will also take up more space, likely weigh more and cost more (though not always). You can calculate a standardized measurement for weight similar to the cost per watt above. Instead of the price, divide the weight by the wattage rating. For example, the Jackery SolarSaga 200 weighs 17.6 pounds, which means it weighs .088 pounds per watt. Bluetti's PV350 weighs .087 pounds per watt. Compatibility If you have your eye on a portable power station from a specific brand, you'll want to make sure your chosen panel is compatible. (Most companies that offer both also offer them as a package.) You might also want to check to see if you can daisy-chain multiple solar panels together before deciding, especially if you think your solar charging needs are going to increase in the future. Use What you plan to use your portable solar panel for is probably the most important consideration. Are you going to charge a portable power station with a capacity of 250 watt-hours or 2 kilowatt-hours? Do you want to carry it with you over considerable distances or just from the car to your campsite? Read more: Just looking for an emergency backup? Check out solar batteries and solar generators. How we test portable solar panels Because of difficulties in getting accurate data in the lab, our ranking of portable solar panels relies more on research and comparison of each panel's specs than an actual testing protocol. Where specs were not publicly available, we reached out to companies to get them. Then we compared them, finding ways to make comparisons across different sizes of solar panels. The watt-per-pound and watt-per-dollar measures were two ways we did that. CNET editors also had hands-on experience with these solar panels, so we could notice anything out of the ordinary or poorly made. Portable solar panel FAQs What is a watt when it comes to solar panel size? If you've only come across the measurement watts in one place, it was probably lightbulbs. With lightbulbs, it measures how much energy the bulb uses to light up. A 60-watt lightbulb uses 60 watts to turn on. Since solar panels don't consume but produce energy, the measure here is how much they can produce. A 100-watt solar panel, when it's operating at full capacity, can produce 100 watts of electricity at a time. If you're charging a 300-watt-hour battery with a 100-watt solar panel, you might expect it to take 3 hours to fully charge it, because 100 watts of electricity generation times 3 hours equals 300 watt hours. It's a bit more complicated because charging the last portion of a battery (such as a portable battery power station) often takes much longer than the first part. Why isn't my solar panel charging as much as it's supposed to? You bought a 100-watt solar panel and plugged it into your power station, which tells you how much power is flowing in. Instead of 100 watts, your power station says 80 or 50 or something else. Is your panel broken? While I can't rule out that your panel is broken, solar charging increases and decreases for a lot of reasons that shouldn't have you sending your panel back to the manufacturer. Since solar panels convert sunlight to electricity, how much sun gets to your panel has a direct effect on its production. Besides the obvious factors like clouds or shade, the angle of the sun or the angle of the panel to the sun could have an effect. You could try tipping your panel to face the sun more directly. Solar panels don't work as efficiently when they're hot. If it's a scorcher, you might see a decrease in electricity generation. If you're using your panels in dusty spots, like a campsite, washing away any dust that settles on them could increase their production, too.


The Verge
2 days ago
- The Verge
Jackery's capable, solar-powered generator is nearly half off
A summer camping trip is the perfect excuse to stop staring at screens, but it doesn't mean you need to go completely off the grid. Jackery's Explorer 1000 Power Station V2 lets you charge your gadgets and have more fun while you're camping. For instance, you can plug in a projector, speakers, or a space heater. In other words, it's great for entertainment and for maintaining a certain quality of life you may not be willing to give up while camping. This charging station, which also includes a SolarSaga 200W Portable Solar Panel, costs $698.99 ($601 off), its lowest price ever at Amazon. The Explorer 1000 v2 will typically output 1,500 watts, which is enough juice to run a mini fridge, coffee maker, and other small appliances, or recharge a smartphone dozens of times. It can handle 3,000 watt power surges if a gadget draws a lot more energy briefly. The Explorer 1000 has three AC Outlets, two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a DC power port, and can power or charge multiple gadgets at the same time. A small screen shows its battery percentage and how much power is being drawn. You can also view that information on your smartphone using the Jackery app. The Explorer 1000 recharges in under two hours when plugged into an outlet, but you can reduce that time to one hour by enabling its Emergency Charging setting using the Jackery app. Fast charging will sacrifice battery health, which is something to consider. Jackery says the Explorer 1000 can retain up to 70% of its original capacity after 4,000 charges. The SolarSaga Portable Solar Panel that's included can refill the generator's battery in about seven and a half hours with direct sunlight, and you can cut that time in half by connecting a second one. The panel is waterproof, and can be folded up to protect the panels from damage. The panel uses a sensor in the upper-right corner to automatically adjust its positioning to ensure the sun is hitting it at the optimal angle. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly.


CNET
5 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Save a Massive $2,675 on This Jackery Solar Generator Kit and Never Lose Power Again
Whether you are tired of dealing with power outages or just want a reliable generator for your outdoor trips now that the weather is warming up, investing in a good solar generator can make your life a lot easier. These options are quiet and don't require regular maintenance, unlike their gas counterparts. The only catch? They tend to come with steep price tags, especially if you are looking at high-capacity models. Thankfully, not today. Right now, Amazon is offering the Jackery solar generator 4000 kit for 50% off, which brings the price down to $2,500 from its regular $5,000. But that's not it -- using the code 25PRIMEJA7 at checkout gets you an additional 7% discount, dropping the price even lower. This deal gets you the Explorer 2000 Plus power station, an expandable battery pack and two 200W SolarSaga panels -- all of which can support both home backup and outdoor needs. You just need to act fast, since this promotion is part of a limited-time offer that might end at any moment. This kit offers a 4,085Wh capacity and 3,000W output, which can power most heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners as well as RV setups whenever needed. The generator runs at just 30 decibels, which means you won't be distracted or irritated by loud noise even when it's placed inside. The system is also expandable, as you can connect up to five additional battery packs or even link two power stations together. This brings the total capacity up to 24kWh and output to 6,000W -- enough to power an entire home. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The Explorer 2000 Plus can be charged from 0 to 80% battery level in just 1.3 hours with an AC wall outlet, or in 1.6 hours with six solar panels. Even better, you may be eligible to claim a 30% federal tax credit with the Residential Clean Energy Credit program, which can bring the price down even further. Why this deal matters Solar generators offer both backup power and peace of mind, but these devices can be expensive. This limited-time offer slashes more than 50% off a powerful, expandable kit for a limited time. It's a rare deal, but it likely won't last long, so act fast.


Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Jackery launches its most powerful and compact portable power station yet
Jackery, a leading provider of portable power solutions, has launched its latest flagship model: the Explorer 3000 v2 - the brand's first 3kWh power station available in the UK. Weighing just 27 kg, it is one of the lightest models currently available in its category, offering high power output and intelligent features in a notably compact design. With a capacity of 3,072 Wh and an output of 3,600 W, the Explorer 3000 v2 is well-suited for a range of scenarios - from outdoor leisure and construction sites to emergency backup at home. Compared to its predecessor, the Explorer 3000 v2 offers approximately 20% more output, charges faster, and is around 35% more compact, all while maintaining portability. (Image: Jackery) Capacity, power, and efficiency The Explorer 3000 v2 can power high-consumption devices such as electric grills, air conditioners, power tools and household appliances. With eight output ports - including three AC outlets, two USB-C, two USB-A ports, and a 12V car socket - users can charge or operate multiple devices simultaneously. Inside, a LiFePO₄ battery offers up to 4,000 charging cycles, supporting long-term use over many years in typical consumer conditions. Jackery's Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology, inspired by battery integration methods used in the automotive industry, enhances the unit's durability with a robust honeycomb structure built into the base. This design helps improve shock resistance and thermal stability, making it a reliable choice for more demanding environments. ChargeShield 2.0, Jackery's multi-layered safety system, includes up to 40 protection mechanisms, including continuous monitoring for overheating, overcharging, and overcurrent, supported by AI-controlled charging algorithms to maintain battery health. The unit can be fully charged from the wall in around 1.8 hours, or even faster (approx. 1 hour 40 minutes) in hybrid mode with an additional SolarSaga solar panel. (Image: Jackery) Smart control and dynamic electricity savings Thanks to bidirectional charging, users can take advantage of dynamic or time-of-use tariffs, scheduling charging during off-peak hours via the Jackery app. The app allows real-time monitoring of charge level, input/output performance, and estimated solar-related CO₂ reductions, based on usage data. Several intelligent modes are available, including a battery-saving mode (which can help extend usable battery life), a low-noise mode (as quiet as 27 dB, under typical operation), and a self-consumption mode for using solar power within the home. The model also features an integrated UPS function with a switchover time of just 20 milliseconds, which helps maintain the power supply to connected devices like CPAP machines or internet routers during an outage. Even when used infrequently, the Explorer 3000 v2 retains energy well. Under normal storage conditions, it can retain up to 95% of its charge after 12 months, thanks to its LiFePO₄ chemistry and low self-discharge technology. Early bird offer Until June 30, 2025, the Explorer 3000 v2 is available at an introductory price of £1,899 (regular RRP: £2,299) via Jackery's official UK store. The solar generator bundle, which includes the Explorer 3000 v2 and a SolarSaga 200W panel, costs £2,199 (RRP: £2,599). As an added bonus, customers receive a free gift set worth £154.90, which includes a car charging cable and a protective carry bag, while stocks last. For further information and ordering details, visit


Scotsman
16-06-2025
- Scotsman
Save £700 on the Jackery Explorer 2000 with free solar panel bundle
Jackery's Explorer 2000 V2 can run for weeks when paired up to a solar panel - as long as the sun shines | Amazon This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. We've found a fantastic deal on one of Jackery's best off-grid power stations - and the 200w solar panel is effectively free Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It's a brilliant time of year for getting out into the great outdoors and enjoying some summer weather. And more of us are choosing to go camping, whether that's in a tent, a camper van, or even just lying out under the stars. And if you like to take your tech with you on your trips, a portable power station is an essential tool. They come in all shapes and sizes, but for serious off-grid living, you'll want something beefy - like the Jackery Explorer 2000 V2, for example. The Explorer 2000 v2 is cheapest when bought in a bundle with the solar panel - but we don't know for how long | Jackery It's powerful enough to boil a kettle, its battery will last for days, and it's got enough outlets to power everything in your tent or van without breaking a sweat. These portable power stations are at their best when hooked up to a solar panel, and that's usually an expensive accessory. But we've found a deal on Amazon that will get you an Explorer 2000 V2 along with a SolarSaga 200w panel for £1,299. That's actually cheaper than buying the unit on its own. Normally, the Jackery Explorer 2000 V2 costs £1,399, so this is a £100 saving - and the solar panel is effectively free. The bundle normally costs £1,999.