The RAVPower 24W foldable solar panel provides fast and convenient solar charging when you are on the go.
The lightweight and foldable design make it perfect for camping, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor adventures.
The solar panel provides integrated USB charging, so you don’t need to connect it to a power bank or solar generator to charge your devices.
Read on for our full review.
To compare it to other compact solar phone chargers, read our in-depth portable solar phone charger buying guide.
Quick Summary
Applications |
|---|
Charging devices (smartphones, cameras, drones, and other USB-chargeable devices) |
Camping |
Hiking |
Specs | |
|---|---|
Solar panel: | 24 watts |
Power output: | three 2.4A USB ports |
Weight: | 26.4oz |
Best Features
1. 24W Fast Solar Charging
The manufacturer claims that the solar panel uses special solar cells that improve charging efficiency by 21.5% - 23.5%.
This results in faster charging times. Indirect sunlight, the 24W solar panel can charge your phone in under two hours.
Performance is also fairly good in reduced sunlight, such as when there’s partial shade, or it’s cloudy.
The only thing to be careful about is where you place the solar panel. Do not place it on any surface that is likely to get very hot such as concrete, sand, a rock, or the hood of your car.
This will overheat the solar panel and reduce its output, resulting in slower charging.
The solar panel comes with metal hooks so you can hang it from a tree or on your backpack.
You can also place behind a window such as in a car or a house, but your phone will charge slightly slower.
2. Three USB Ports with iSmart Technology
You don’t need to connect the solar panel to a battery pack or solar generator to make use of the power it generates.
Power is delivered in real-time to three USB ports.
The ports have iSmart Technology that allows them to automatically detect the device connected and deliver just the right amount of current. This protects your devices from damage.
Note: The solar panel sends power directly to your device. There isn’t any onboard battery to store the energy for later use. But you can easily charge an external battery pack for use at night.
3. Ultra-Light and Foldable
Weighing just 26.4 ounces, this is one of the lightest portable solar chargers you’ll find. This makes it easy to carry along when camping, hiking, or hunting.
You can even attach it to your backpack using the metal hooks and let it charge as you walk along (it’s weatherproof, so don’t worry about light showers).
When you are not using it to charge your phone, you can fold it up into a much smaller size and pack it in your bag.
Limitations
A major limitation of the RAVPower solar charger is the lack of any kind of power storage. It can only charge your devices in direct sunlight.
If you want to store power for later use, you have to buy an external power bank.
Another issue mentioned by customers is that it sometimes stops charging your phone if there isn’t enough sunshine, such as on a cloudy day.
Unplugging and plugging it back in solves the problem. But it can really mess up your plans if you had left your phone to charge only to find it half full after several hours.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a way to keep your phone and other devices charged when outdoors, the RAVPower foldable solar panel is a great solution.
It charges the devices amazingly fast, and unlike most portable solar chargers, it is durable and well made.
