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.
