The ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger is our best foldable solar charger pick, and it scored 78 out of 100 in our testing.
A tiny, cheap 21W folder that sips power well in full sun but nearly gives up in cloud or shade.
One of the smallest and lightest panels here at about 1.34 lb, with ETFE-laminated cells and two hooks for hanging off a pack.
First things first:
We tested it head to head against the other top portable solar panels & chargers, and below we break down how it did on Value for Money, Charge Interruption Recovery, Charging Speed, Multiple Device Charging Speed, Durability, Weight & Portability, where it falls short, and whether it is worth your money.
Table of Contents
- Best Foldable Solar Charger
- Our Verdict: ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger
- Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
- Should You Buy the ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger?
- What Other Portable Solar Panels & Chargers Should You Consider?
- Specifications
- Conclusion: ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger
Best Foldable Solar Charger
ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger
- Rated power: 21W
- Real output: about 16-19W in full sun
- Ports: USB-A + USB-C, 5V
- Weight: about 1.34 lb
- Folded size: 8.7 x 8.2 x 0.8 in
- Water resistance: IP67 panel, ports vulnerable
Bottom Line : A tiny, cheap 21W folder that sips power well in full sun but nearly gives up in cloud or shade.
Pros
- Very small and light
- Low price
- Trickles on rather than cutting out in cloud
- ETFE surface sheds dirt
Cons
- Near useless in shade or heavy cloud
- 5V only limits it to phones and small banks
- No battery or ammeter
Our Verdict: ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger
A tiny, cheap 21W folder that sips power well in full sun but nearly gives up in cloud or shade.
One of the smallest and lightest panels here at about 1.34 lb, with ETFE-laminated cells and two hooks for hanging off a pack.
So, is it any good?
About 1.34 lb and folds to roughly 8.7 by 8.2 by 0.8 inches.
Two hooks let it hang off a pack for charging on the move.
It disappears in my pack and does fine at midday, but on an overcast morning I got almost nothing out of it.
Emma, Top-Notch field tester
Reasons to buy:
- Very small and light
- Low price
- Trickles on rather than cutting out in cloud
- ETFE surface sheds dirt
Reasons to avoid:
- Near useless in shade or heavy cloud
- 5V only limits it to phones and small banks
- No battery or ammeter
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
The ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger scored 78 out of 100 overall.
It is strongest on weight & portability and weakest on multiple device charging speed.
Here is how it did on every metric we tested, with exactly how each score compares to the rest of the field.
Value for Money
One of the lowest prices in this group for a name-brand folder.
You get USB-A and USB-C out, but no battery and no ammeter.
Good pick if you want the smallest possible panel and not the fastest.
| Value for Money | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger | 8/10 |
| Category average | 7.9/10 |
| Worst in test | 7/10 |
Charge Interruption Recovery
In cloudy or forested light one owner test measured under 2W, barely offsetting overnight drain.
It does keep trickling under diffuse light rather than shutting off entirely like some cheaper panels.
Here's what that means:
Output drops steeply the moment conditions leave full direct sun.
| Charge Interruption Recovery | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 8/10 |
| ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger | 5/10 |
| Category average | 6.1/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Charging Speed
Rated 21W but 5V only, so real delivery lands near 16 to 19W in clear sun.
One owner recharged a 100Wh bank in about 11 to 13 hours of good sun.
It is a phone and small-bank charger, not something to feed a laptop.
| Charging Speed | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger | 6/10 |
| Category average | 7.4/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Multiple Device Charging Speed
Two ports exist, but the small 21W budget splits thin across two devices.
Best treated as a single-device charger for real speed.
Pairing it with a power bank and charging devices off that is more effective.
| Multiple Device Charging Speed | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 7/10 |
| ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger | 5/10 |
| Category average | 6.4/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Durability
ETFE film lamination adds wear resistance and a self-cleaning surface.
Rated IP67 for the panel, though as with all these folders the USB ports are the weak point in wet weather.
Light fabric build is less rugged than the glass and aluminum suitcase panels here.
| Durability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger | 6/10 |
| Category average | 7.5/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Weight & Portability
About 1.34 lb and folds to roughly 8.7 by 8.2 by 0.8 inches.
Two hooks let it hang off a pack for charging on the move.
Among the easiest panels here to forget you are carrying.
| Weight & Portability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger | 9/10 |
| Category average | 7.6/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Should You Buy the ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger?
A tiny, cheap 21W folder that sips power well in full sun but nearly gives up in cloud or shade.
It is best suited to ultralight hikers who only need to keep a phone alive.
Bottom line?
The big win: Very small and light.
The main compromise: Near useless in shade or heavy cloud.
We scored it 78 out of 100.
What Other Portable Solar Panels & Chargers Should You Consider?
Not sold on this one? A few others from our testing are worth a look.
The BigBlue 28W Foldable Solar Charger is our best solar charger with digital ammeter. The most reliable small USB solar charger here, so long as you accept it tops out near 20W of real USB output, not the 28W on the label.
The BLAVOR Solar Power Bank 20000mAh is our best solar power bank. A solid 20000mAh power bank first and a solar charger a distant second, since its little panel only trickles.
The Anker SOLIX PS100 Bifacial Portable Solar Panel is our best bifacial solar panel. A rugged, IP68 bifacial 100W that hits full output in good sun but falls off fast the moment part of it gets shaded.
Specifications
| Rated power | 21W |
| Real output | about 16-19W in full sun |
| Ports | USB-A + USB-C, 5V |
| Weight | about 1.34 lb |
| Folded size | 8.7 x 8.2 x 0.8 in |
| Water resistance | IP67 panel, ports vulnerable |
Conclusion: ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger
After testing it against the other top portable solar panels & chargers, the ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger earns its place as our best foldable solar charger pick.
Its standout strength: Very small and light.
Still deciding?
The main thing to weigh before you buy: Near useless in shade or heavy cloud.
If you want ultralight hikers who only need to keep a phone alive, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.
Still comparing? See exactly where the ALLPOWERS 21W Foldable Solar Panel Charger ranks against the full field in our 9 Best Portable Solar Panels & Chargers guide.
