BoostSolar: $99 Solar Power Battery Backup System

Eton BoostSolar is a solar charger with a 5,000 mAh battery

      The Etón BoostSolar is a solar-powered smartphone and tablet (and pretty much any other electronic devices) charging solution that helps deliver power anywhere that has ample amounts of sunshine. This product also includes a battery capable of delivering two charges to the typical smartphone. Consumers looking in the market for mobile power solutions and emergency preparation products may recognize the Etón name as the manufacturer of several Red Cross branded emergency and outdoor  products.
        The Etón BoostSolar is a solar charger and battery pack that consumers can charge up with the sun or by a USB port. The 5,000 mAh battery has the capacity to charge a smartphone twice and can push enough power to charge power-demanding tablets, which tend to be strict about any power requirements.

        This product is able to charge the included 5,000 mAh battery in approximately 16 hours of sunlight or in about 5 hours over the USB port. Each battery includes a LED indicator light to show the battery life left. It also ensures that the solar panels will survive any outdoor activities due to its IPX-4 rating for water, which defines itself to be able to survive splashes and a little rain. The corners feature openings so consumers are able to clip the solar charger to a backpack while walking, for on-the-go charging. 

Switch between batteries to keep the power flowing

8 Solar-Powered Mobile Chargers!

Whether you're waiting at a bus stop or on a bus, you look down at your phone and it's flickering that familiar light indicating low battery. What to do next? Well, one option can be to buy yourself a "Snow Lizard SLXtreme Case," though the price may be a bit steep.

This case is a rugged, waterproof, solar-charging case for the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5. It was originally a Kickstarter project that had received more than twice its funding goal.

Price : $129.99


Fancy yourself an altoid when your breath stinks or just out of habit? Maybe you'd also be interested in this charger for a change.

Featuring the Altoids Solar USB Charger, this nifty DIY charger is available as a set from Brown Dog Gadgets. This runs on AA batteries and it will also power up any of your USB gadgets.

Price : $34.99


Not all solar panels come in large sizes like a rooftop; it may also come in small packages such as the latest developed "Gomadic Sunvolt."

This charger is a thin yet amply sized solar panel that, even on a cloudy day, can quickly charge multiple electronic devices as if charged by a wall outlet. The SunVolt also comes with a custom-designed carrying case that looks similar to a compact laptop case.

Price : $99.95
(SunVolt MAX is $129.95)


If you're working at the office and you forgot your charger at home and your coworkers don't seem to have one in handy for you, this may come in handy: "XD Design Solar Window Charger"

This XD Design Solar Window Charger is sleek and easily mounts to your window with reusable silicon paper. It can also charge any USB device.

Price : Approximately $65


If you just moved in a new place and you're thinking of possibly getting some artwork or decor to decorate your home and make it feel like your "home sweet home" to relax to after a stressing day at work, then maybe this will perk your interest.

This bonsai-inspired sculpture is pricey but if you're willing to spend some extra bucks on decorating your home, it's not too out of the question. Vivien Muller's Electree will charge your USB device before your guests can stop talking about it.

Price : $450


There also is another handy charger made for those iPhone lovers: WakaWaka Power Compact Solar Charger!

After a day in the sun, the WakaWaka compact charger can fully charge your phone. There also is a perk -- for every charger you purchase, WakaWaka gives one of those in need (and it manufactures parts in Haiti, which is still reeling from natural disasters).

Price : $79


Are you looking for that one extra piece to make your living room look spectacular? With the Solio CLASSIC2, it can also come in handy for designing your room to give it a retro look.

If the award-winning design of Solio CLASSIC2 doesn't reel you in, maybe some specs will: When fully charged, the CLASSIC2 can recharge the average phone up to 2 times (approximately 15 hours of music).

Price : $100

Real sunflowers use the sun to thrive so why not use some digital photosynthesis for your smartphone?

Featuring the XD Design Solar Sunflower, it can charge both USB and mini USB devices.

African huts glow with solar power

KIPTUSURI, Kenya - Sara Ruto's yearn for electricity began with a purchase of her first cellphone for receiving money transfers, contacting relatives, or even calling nearby markets for the prices of chicken. However, powering her phone was no simple matter, due to the fact that there is no electricity to begin with in farming villages residing in Kenya. Therefore, Ruto walked 2 miles to hitch a 3 hour ride on a motorcycle taxi bound to Mogotia, the nearest town with electricity  to charge her phone for 30 cents. It doesn't end there; with such high demand of locals needing to charge their phones, Ruto has no choice but to leave her phone there for 3 days before returning home. However, Ruto's distressful routine ends in February when the family saves up their money as well as selling their cattle for a solar panel made from China costing them $80 but well worth the investment. The solar panel provides enough electricity to charge their phones and also running 4 overhead lights with switches. Ever since Ruto had hooked up her solar panel, her children of six drastically improved their school grades from having light in their home as well as avoiding burns from kerosene lamps.

Sara Ruto holds a small solar-powered LED light, part of a system that also charges cell phones, at her home in Kiptusuri, Kenya. Ruto, who used to travel miles to charge her mobile phone at the nearest town with electricity, purchased a solar panel for about $80 to charge her phone and power several lights.

Ed Ou / New York Times News Service

Thanks to this solar panel, Sara Ruto no longer takes a three-hour taxi ride to a town with electricity to recharge her cellphone.(Ed Ou/The New York Times)

Apple eyes another patent for solar-powered iPhone

Apple yet again faces to amaze me; the company files a patent application, regarding to solar panel technology towards their smaller end devices such as iPhones and iPods. With solar cells embedded over the "integrated touch sensor" (another word for the display screen for people who aren't tech savvy), the phone can act as a "solar charger" powering your phone, but at the same time, waiting for incoming calls outdoors. Though this idea may seem too good to be true, fellow Apple fans, don't have your hopes up too high for patent applications don't necessarily mean "Apple" will launch this device anytime soon. Especially with solar technology being a bit pricey in the current market towards production funds, the official launch of this project may take quite some time.

(Credit: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)

Bracelet mobile phone powered by the sun!

Two designers, Seungkyun Woo and Junyi Heo, inspired by the process of photosynthesis, incorporates a bracelet designed to make and receive calls and text messages powered by the sun. To explain it more in-depth,  the solar cells, located on the front panel, juices the device. The cradle dock also hosts cells on the back as a backup panel to power your bracelet. There will never be a time that you will go crazy about losing your phone once realizing your phone had been with you all this time. Best wishes to them!