The charger is hybrid because it can use the sun, a computer's USB plug, or the wall plug to recharge the internal battery.
Solio has multiple connectors - to enable you to charge most devices.
Outdoor Operation
The most appealing reason to buy a portable solar charger is for using it outdoors. But how resilient is the charger and how will it fair out there?
As you would expect from a solar charger, the Solio Universal Charger is somewhat waterproof. This means that it can take a light drizzle, but the instructions warn against immersion in water.
Some users had bad experience in heavy rain, which renders the device useless. This is expected from any electrical device, and the level of waterproofing provided by the S19 is adequate for most uses.
The temperature range for using the Solio S19 is -4F to 131F (-20C to 55C) which is sufficient for almost any outdoor activities.
Charging Efficiency
Different chargers are built differently. The solar cells technology could be different and therefore more effective, the internal battery
can be different and better.
But what will the charger do for you in terms of charging your devices? How good and efficient is it?
The Solio Universal Charger can connect to many handheld devices such as phones, PDAs, MP3 players, GPS devices and some cameras.
It is important to ensure before buying that the charger you get has the right plugs for your gadgets, because the charger doesn't support a wall-plug connector. (That means - you can't plug your normal chargers into it).
The charger takes a long time to charge fully in direct sun. It takes even longer behind glass (like on the car's dashboard) because most windscreens manufactured today have some UV filter in them.
If you only need to charge your phone a little bit for an important call, 30 minutes of good sun will be enough - however for anything more than that you'll need longer sun-time for the Solio.
The S19 Universal Charger works well for most people under most conditions, even when it is overcast. You can usually use it to charge your iPod or other MP3 players at the beach while you're listening, and a light drizzle will not automatically ruin it.
Some hikers even went to the trouble of taking it with them mountain climbing and reported that the charger works better in higher altitudes.
Compactness
Most people do not use the solar chargers at home but rather when they are on the go. How compact is the device and will it be easy to carry around when you're travelling?
The Solio Universal Charger is easily collapsible to a size of 4.7 x 2.5 x 1.3 inches and 5.6 ounces.
This is 12 x 6.3 x 3.3 cm and 156g, and these dimesnsions make it very compact and easy to carry around.
Connectors Number
The solar charger needs to be able to connect to your devices in order for it to charge them. How many different connectors does the charger have?
Solio Universal Charger comes packaged with several connectors out of the box with no additional cost.
The connectors sold with the charger include the female-USB, Motorola Razor, LG Chocolate, Nokia, Samsung and Blackberry.
Other connectors are available for separate purchase. These include iPhone 3G, Palm Treo, HTC, Sony Ericsson, PSP etc.
Low Cost
Solar chargers will definitely save you money in the long run: main power you don't need to use for charging your phone or mp3 player. But every thing has its cost. How much will the solar charger cost you?
The Solio Universal Charger does not come cheap, and you will usually need to buy extra connectors for it, because it doesn't have so many sold with it out of the box.
While prices vary from shop to shop, the S19 is usually at least twice as expensive as the competition.
Short Initial Charge Time
The solar chargers contain a rechargeable battery. Like all rechargeables, this battery needs to be fully charged before first use if you want it to operate optimally.
How long will that initial charge take?
Connecting the Solio Universal Charger overnight to the wall plug will charge the battery fully.
Using the solar panels for the initial charge will take some time - depending on the amount of sun the panels receive. Most users reported that a full day in the sun is usually enough, while a few had not been able to fully charge the battery in a whole week.
Life Expectancy
When you buy a solar charger, you want it to provide you with free energy for a long time. This is especially true if you are buying it as a sustainable, green power source.
How long can you expect the charger to accompany you for?
Cheap portable solar chargers are always a bit fragile, but Solio did a good job on this one.
While it is not completely waterproof, it does offer some water resistance, and will not become completely useless after a light rain.
Unlike other models, the internal rechargeable battery is not limited in the number of full usage cycles, and with proper care the charger can stay with you for quite a long time.
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Feel factor: 3
This is crap!
(score 1/5)
Bought one but didn't need it right away. When I did use it it was DOA. This crap company strung me along asking stupid questions then I realized they were not going to repair or replace it. Tough luck. Sorry I bought it now that I see the other reviews are stressing its poor performance. What a waste of money. They will soon go out of business as they deserve to.
Posted on: 2010-09-16
By Mr Book
As promised
(score 4/5)
I received the item -- well packaged -- quickly. The seller communicated quickly and efficiently. The only issue I had was in the incompatibility of the Solio models (since this item did not contain any cables, but I had cables from a previously owned -- now broken -- Solio, and thought I'd be fine). The seller was nothing but professional and nice.
Posted on: 2010-09-12
By Mr. Arkadin
Just not practical
(score 2/5)
I really wanted to love this product, it seemed like the perfect solution for extending battery life of my favorite electronics. Here is what I don't like:
-This IS NOT the unit that uses iGo adapters, if you must get a solio, get that one, not this one. The adapters that come with this are very custom.
-It takes forever to charge. I know solar power isn't super speedy/efficient, but days to a full charge seems excessive.
-It feels like junk. It is plastic, with a cheap feel to it.
-It isn't small.
-No wall charger (USB only)
What I like:
-It's a solar charger.
-It has a battery
All in all, I just can't recommend it. I won't return it, but I'm going to keep the box and mine might make it onto ebay.
Posted on: 2010-08-08
By Jeremy Kinney
forget it!
(score 1/5)
Worse than useless. We were relying on this during a recent trip, but it simply doesn't work. It seemed to be charged after a full day in the sun, but then would not give any charge to my iphone or my wife's motorola mobile. Next time: plain old batteries.
Posted on: 2010-07-27
By Francis J. Mcmahon
Helpful index: 100%
It doesn't work
(score 1/5)
It's a nicely designed item, but it doesn't work and the manufacturer's customer service is mediocre. I fully charged the Solio and then took it on a trip, hoping to use it to recharge my iPhone when I couldn't plug it into a wall. When I plugged the Solio into the phone, it would start transferring its charge to the phone, but when the phone then went to sleep (after a minute or two), the Solio would stop transferring the charge. Desperate at one point to charge my phone, I kept it awake while the Solio was plugged in, and got some charge. But this was a real bother -- and because I was using battery power while simultaneously trying to charge the battery, it was pretty ineffective, too.
I emailed the company when I returned home -- and got a response, and one from a person, I think, too. But an exchange of several emails wasn't helpful. They asked if I'd charged the Solio. (I had.) They asked if I was using the right tip. (I was.) That sort of thing. Once customer service had run out of routine (and obvious) suggestions, they stopped responding to my emails.
The Solio isn't a portable charger if it can't successfully transfer a charge to your phone or other device, and it can't.
Posted on: 2010-06-11
By W. Bradley M. Kemp
Helpful index: 100%