Sandberg Solar Charger 40W QC3.0+PD+DC – Hardware Review
We mainly know Sandberg for its wide variety of gaming peripherals or office hardware, but the company also has an ‘Active’ assortment, which focuses on outside hardware. The Active range of products has an impressive selection of heavy-duty powerbanks, as well as solar-powered chargers. We will be taking a closer look at the latter, namely the Solar Charger 40W QC3.0+PD+DC. As this name doesn’t really roll off the tongue, we’ll be referring to the device as the Solar Charger during our review. In the twilight of the 2022 Summer, we ventured outside to see what the Solar Charger could handle.
Design
You’re getting a fairly modest design when it comes to the Solar Charger. The device consists of several dark solar panels, and other than that, there are no real notable design choices. Outside of the actual panels, you’ll have an attached pouch in which the output ‘box’ can be found. This is once again presented in a very modest way.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, there isn’t that much to say about the actual functions of the device. You simply unfold the device and you’re good to go. You have the ports fairly easily accessible, but the protective pouch can be in the way at times. Other than that, it’s mainly the issue of having enough room to unfold the device.
The device comes with four snap hooks and these make it possible to attach the solar panels to your backpack, or to hang up the solar panels at the spot of your choosing. We very much appreciate the inclusion of these snap hooks, as they make the Solar Charger a lot more versatile. That being said, the overall device still feels a bit clumsy to attach to a backpack or to find a suitable space to hang it up. The device works best if you can lay it out on a flat surface that is directly in the sun. The Solar Charger weighs 1.4 kg which isn’t that bad. Of course, during longer hikes, this may become a bit heavier, but if you’re going to a camping spot by car, the weight is not really an issue.
Specs
- Solar panel output: 40W
- Solar cell: Monocrystalline, High efficiency 22% transfer rate
- Connectors: 1 x USB-A QC 3.0 female, 1 x USB-C, 1 X DC 5521
- Dimensions (unfolded): 124 x 28.2 x 0.3 cm
- Dimensions (folded): 20,7 x 28.2 x 4.4 cm
- Weight: 1.4 kg
Overview
Truth be told, there isn’t that much to say about the capabilities of the Solar Charger. You have a DC output, as well as a USB and a USB-C output port. When you unfold the Solar Charger and make sure it gets a reasonable amount of sunlight, then you’re good to go. You connect the device of your choice, and it starts charging. The more sunlight the panels are getting, the more power they will produce. We noticed the device still allowed us to charge devices on slightly more rainy days, but the output was extremely low. This ensured the device that is hooked up to the Solar Charger did not deplete its battery, however, it would also not actively charge.
The biggest point of criticism we may have when it comes to the Solar Charger is the fact that it misses its own battery. If it had its own battery, you would be able to charge it during the day and this would then allow you to charge a device of your choice in the evening. We understand that this would make the Solar Charger heavier, or it would even come with the risk that when the battery is busted you’d have to throw the Solar Charger away in its entirety. This would not be the case, however, if the additional powerbank would be an add-on that you could click onto the output port(s). Of course, you can connect your own powerbank, but then you’re working with additional cables again, rather than having a solid element attached to the output port.
Conclusion
All in all, Sandberg’s Solar Charger does what it’s supposed to do, but it feels a bit clumsy to work with. We do love products that are good for the environment, and having the option to have power everywhere you go (during the day) is absolutely great, but this device misses an actual battery or powerbank that is attached to it. We feel like if you could leave this item at your camping spot, or even at a resting spot in the sun, it would have been absolutely amazing to be able to charge one of your devices during the night as well. Nonetheless, overall the product is decent, it’s sturdy, and it’s easy to work with.
Sandberg Solar Charger 40W QC3.0+PD+DC - Hardware Review,
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