Whether you enjoy outdoor adventures like camping or you just like to be prepared for emergencies, a solar generator will make a great addition to your arsenal. Over the years, we’ve tested several models and right now, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is our overall favorite solar generator. Its light weight means it’s easier to move than competitors with similar battery sizes. It also stores more charge in a shorter amount of time. If the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro isn’t what you’re looking for, we’ve got plenty of other options for any budget.
The EcoFlow Delta Mini has a larger battery and charges twice as fast as its competitors when drawing power from a wall outlet. Its 882-watt-hour battery is large and powerful enough to power small appliances for quite a while, although the exact length of time depends on the appliance. Add up to 300 watts of solar charging capacity for relatively quick charging on the go (EcoFlow says a full charge can happen in three to six hours with 320 watts of solar panels).
CNET’s test found that you can fully charge the Delta Mini in a brief 97 minutes and that it has a usable capacity in line with industry averages. In the midsize category, it had the highest mark in that test: 86%. The 110-watt solar panels are some of the lightest available for their size. They have a very respectable 21-23% efficiency rating.
The Delta Mini has a whopping five AC wall-style outlets, two USB-A ports, a USB-A fast charging port, a USB-C outlet and a 12.6-volt car power outlet. At 23.6 pounds, it’s not too difficult to move around, while still offering a lot of storage. The port covers are really snug-fitting, which is great if you’re using it out where dirt and debris could get in, although I found them a little difficult to open.
The Delta Mini solar generator might not be long for this world. You can still buy the package at EcoFlow’s website, but from some retailers, you may have to buy the station and solar panels separately.
Jackery’s Solar Generator 240 is the most affordable high-quality solar generator we tested. For a base price of around $500, you can get 240 watts of battery capacity and 60 watts of solar charging capacity in Jackery’s SolarSaga 60 solar panel. (Jackery also sells the Solar Generator 240 with its SolarSaga 100 panel for slightly more.) Both parts of this solar generator are nice and small and under 10 pounds. In our testing, the power station used an incredible 98% of its listed battery capacity. The solar panel has an impressive 23% efficiency.
Jackery’s Solar Generator 240 lost out to the Bluetti EB3A in the small category because it lacks a few neat features the Bluetti has. It doesn’t have wireless charging or the convenience of a USB-C port, and it only has one 200-watt AC outlet and two USB-A ports. It’s still a solid option for someone looking to get a solar generator on a smaller scale and at a much lower price. It’s currently sold out on Amazon right now, but the 240 with the SolarSaga 100 is available for $520 at Jackery.
Factors to consider when choosing a solar generator
For a relatively new product, there are a lot of solar generators on the market. Instead of getting overwhelmed by options, focus on a few key specifications of the products and compare from there.
Capacity
Perhaps the most obvious consideration is the capacity of both the portable power station and the solar panels. The power station’s capacity measures how much energy you can store, while the solar panels’ capacity measures how much solar energy you can funnel into the battery at one time. Another measure of capacity you’ll want to note is how many solar panels you can plug into the portable power station at once. Some power stations are limited to one panel at a time, while others allow you to plug in multiple panels or daisy-chain them together. The greater the capacity, the more devices you can run for longer, but the weight and cost of the whole setup will increase as well.
Cost
Like with most other purchases, you’ll likely consider the cost. It can get a bit tricky to compare costs across solar generators because they come in different sizes and configurations. Some comparisons can be fairly easy: You can compare costs for different-sized power stations or solar panels (all else being equal) by calculating how many dollars per watt you’re spending. In other instances, it might come down to personal preference: How much more are you willing to pay for a power station that charges two hours faster than a competitor? How much would you pay to be able to attach two, four or six solar panels instead of one?
Output
Not only can portable power stations store different amounts of energy, but they can also push out different amounts of energy. If you want to use your solar generator to run a specific device, make sure its output can meet the energy requirements of that device. For example, if you need to run a device that draws 120 watts of electricity, but your power station can only provide 100, you’ll need a bigger power station.
Also, be on the lookout for surge output. Devices that have motors often require extra electricity to start up. If you’ll need to backup a fridge or run a power tool, for example, make sure that your power station can meet the surge requirements, too.
Weight
Solar generators don’t have to be portable, but many are designed to be. A solar generator is only as portable as your ability to move it. If you’re going to be schlepping it around a worksite every day, or just moving it every once in a while while you’re camping, weight may be more or less important to you.
How we test solar generators
Testing for solar generators in the CNET lab takes place in two stages: One for the portable power station portion and one for the solar panels. Here’s how we test each.
Power station battery capacity
For the battery capacity test, we start with a fully charged battery. Then we plug lights into the fully charged battery and turn them on. We measure the amount of energy the lights are drawing and time how long they take to drain the battery.
Here’s why that’s important: The stated capacity of a battery isn’t always the same as the battery’s usable capacity. If a solar generator has a stated capacity of 100 watt-hours and you plug in a lightbulb that draws 20 watts, you can expect it to run for five hours (20 watts times 5 hours equals 100 watt-hours). If the battery runs out in four hours, its actual capacity is 80 watt-hours or 80% of its stated capacity. The usable capacity is the amount of energy storage you actually get.
Power station charge time
There is a surprising diversity of charge times across solar generators. We measure the time it takes to charge from empty to 50%, from 50% to 80% and then from 80% to full. Many manufacturers will tout the speed that you can charge their solar generators to 80%. That’s because 80% is a significant portion of the battery, and the last bit of the battery takes longer to charge.
Portable solar panels
At CNET we rely on hands-on tests and empirical data as much as possible, but the solar panel portion of a solar generator is more difficult to pull off in a lab setting. Instead, for the solar panel portion, we had to rely on the specifications each company published about its solar panels.
Read more: Just looking for an emergency backup? Check out portable solar panels and solar batteries.
Other solar generators we tested
Bluetti AC200P (currently unavailable): The AC200P was in a dead heat for the best large (and best overall) solar generator. It tops CNET’s portable power station best list. It has an impressive battery usage — using 95% of its 2,000-watt-hour capacity — and a respectable charging time. It also has the most detailed display, which might be more than the average user needs. It holds a ton of energy and can provide a slightly higher surge output than my pick, the Jackery 2000 Pro. Ultimately, I chose the Jackery for its faster solar charge time and lighter weight.
Anker 757 Solar Generator: The Anker 757 was considered for a top spot on our best list and would be a good choice. It charges speedily from the wall, filling its 1,229-watt-hour capacity in a brief 88 minutes and can accommodate 300 watts of solar charging. Its usable battery capacity was right in line with industry averages and its solar panels (the same that come with the Anker 555) are efficient, too.
Rockpals 300W Power Station and 100W Solar Panel (currently unavailable): This solar generator performed just fine in our tests. It was the fastest charging of the rest in its smaller size category (though much slower than our favorite, Bluetti’s EB3A). Rockpals is very reasonably priced and, depending on discounts, could rival our value pick. Its look is a little different from others too, with more pronounced grills, if that’s a factor in your decision-making.
BioLite BaseCharge Solar Generator 1500: The BioLite BaseCharge 1500 solar generator combines Biolite’s BaseCharge 1500 power station and Solar Panel 100. The 1,521-watt-hour power station uses a bit more than average of its battery capacity, includes an informative and easy-to-read display and was one of only three that we tested to feature wireless charging. In our wall charge test, it took over twice as long to charge as the Bluetti AC200P and six times as long as the Jackery 2000 Pro. That said, the solar panel is one of the lightest of its size. You get a very respectable 10.53 watts for every pound of solar panel. You can buy a solar generator with one, two or four panels.
Bluetti EB55+ with PV120 Solar Panel: This solar generator was my solid second choice in the midsize category. It had the second-fastest charging time (though it was still twice as long as the EcoFlow Delta Mini) and a usable battery capacity slightly below average (81% of its 537 watt-hours), according to our tests. Paired with a 120-watt solar panel with an efficiency rating of up to 23.4%, it’s a good option.
Jackery Solar Generator1000 Pro: Jackery already has two entries on our best list, and the Solar Generator 1000 Pro is another solid offering. With good charge times and efficient solar panels (24.3%), there’s a lot to like. With four SolarSaga 200 panels, it can charge as fast from the sun as from a wall: 1.8 hours. Read CNET’s Brian Cooley’s firsthand account.
Geneverse HomePower Pro Solar Generator: This sleek offering from Geneverse (until recently, Generark), is one of the faster chargers CNET tested, needing just 120 minutes to fill its 1,200-watt-hour capacity. It can also take up to 800 watts of solar charging, which means it’ll charge from the sun quicker than many on this list as well. Geneverse solar panels have efficiency ratings north of 23%. The HomePower Pro is a solid offering. The Jackery 2000 beat it out in the large category because of its larger battery and solar charging capacity but could be a better fit depending on your needs.
BioLite BaseCharge Solar Generator 600: BioLite’s smaller model has some really nice features, including a thorough and easy-to-read display, and it was one of only three that we tested to have wireless charging. Hands-on, it was lighter and noticeably easier to move around than some other models. The 662-watt-hour power station charged slower than its similarly sized competitors (426 minutes from the wall), but it was more competitive than the larger BaseCharge 1500 in that respect.
Anker 555 Solar Generator: This solar generator from Anker had one of the most impressive usable battery capacity numbers of everything we tested, at 94% of its 1,024-watt-hour capacity, but a slower charge time of 361 minutes. For its size, it’s chock full of ports, including three for USB-C. The package includes two 100-watt solar panels (with efficiency ratings of up to 23%), which also matches its maximum solar input.
Yeti 200X + Nomad 50 Solar Generator: This small option from Goal Zero has had lower-than-average usable battery capacity (65% of its 187 watt-hours) and was one of the slower chargers (though not as slow as the Jackery 240). The power station is remarkably light, though the Nomad 50 solar panel (50 watts) is a bit heavier (and pricier) per watt than others on the list.