Whether you’re spending the day on the field watching your team compete or exploring a city you’ve never been to before, the last thing you want is for your smartphone to run out of battery power. Without our phones we can’t make calls, send and receive texts, take pictures, or browse social media. Better find a charger ASAP!
That’s where the Anker PowerPort Solar comes in. This nifty portable charger taps into a free, never-ending source of energy all around us to simultaneously charge up to two phones, tablets, or other USB-powered devices. No, this power source isn’t magic; it’s the sun! For decades solar power has been harnessed to power everything from outdoor lighting to entire homes. Now devices like the PowerPort Solar repurpose that same technology in order to provide our beloved gadgets with a reliable source of energy while in the great outdoors.
The PowerPort Solar gathers energy from the sun through a series of three solar panels. These panels resemble ones that you’d find on the roof of a house or on the premises of a solar power plant, albeit on a much smaller scale. Like their larger counterparts, the panels on the PowerPort Solar are designed to withstand the elements. They are each protected by a face made from industrial-strength PET polymer, which according to Anker offers “weather-resistant outdoor durability.” The panels are sewn into a rugged polyester canvas that can be folded up for increased portability.
When it’s time to charge, simply unfold the PowerPort Solar, place it in direct sunlight or attach it to a backpack via a pair of stainless steel grommets on either end of the device, and watch as it brings your depleted devices back to life in practically no time at all. At peak performance the PowerPort Solar is capable of producing up to up to 21 watts of power production, which is more than enough to charge any portable device efficiently. Anker’s exclusive PowerIQ technology ensures that your device is charged as safely as it is quickly by adjusting the amperage to match its optimal charging protocol.
The PowerPort Solar comes bundled with a three-foot Micro-USB cable, an 18-month warranty, and Anker’s excellent customer service, further sweetening the deal on this great piece of travel gear. When it comes to quality and value, this phone charger simply can’t be beat. Anker also offers a two-panel, 15-watt PowerPort Solar Lite if you’re looking to save a few extra bucks, but for only 10 dollars more, you might as well just opt for the standard version.