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For our latest video review, we went hands-on with the Solpro Helios Smart, a solar-powered battery pack that can recharge using three built-in solar panels.

It sports a 5,000mAh battery that can charge an iPhone 6 from dead to full twice over, and when the battery is exhausted, it can be charged through an included micro-USB cable or by opening its solar panels and sticking it in the bright sun.


We liked the size of the Solpro Helios. It's about the size of an iPhone but slightly thicker, which means it's small enough to stick in a pocket or a backpack when on the go. It can charge an iPhone or an iPad with dedicated ports, and there are some built-in LED indicators that let you know the battery level and whether its solar panels are working.

In our testing, it took about six hours for the Solpro Helios to recharge in the sun after it was drained, but the amount of power you're getting is going to vary a lot based on location and the brightness of the sun.

It's not the fastest charger, nor the cheapest, but the Solpro Helios definitely works and it can be handy when you're in an area where traditional power is unavailable.

Solpro's Helios Smart Solar Battery Pack is available from the Solpro website or Amazon.com for $119. It comes in white, orange, and black.

Article Link: Video Review: The Solpro Helios Smart Battery Pack Charges Your iPhone Using the Sun
 
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I do my best not to leave electronics/batteries in direct sunlight. It may be an irrational fear but I fear that the battery would explode or get damaged somehow.
 
I have the similar ZeroLemon Solarjuice, which sports a 10,000 mah battery. And I got it for about half the price of the Solpro. I got an arm band for the Solarjuice. So when I'm on trips, I can have my iPhone plugged into it and I don't have to worry about running out of power.
 
What´s the expected lifespan of a product like this?

If´s it´s good for 10 years then it´s great value.
But if it´s like most battery products = sh.. after 2 years then not so great value..
 
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