Any links to online stores should be assumed to be affiliates. The company or PR agency provides all or most review samples. They have no control over my content, and I provide my honest opinion.
Yesterday I posted my review of the excellent Jackery Solar Generator 1000. As a tight-fisted northerner, I like to know I have good value for money from the things I buy, and I have applied this philosophy to most of the reviews I do.
During the review, I couldn’t help but notice a lot of 100W solar panels on Amazon from random Chinese brands using the same colour scheme as Jackery but £100 cheaper.
I had a feeling that these may actually be the same product as the 100W Jackery Solar Panel, and my curiosity got the best of me, and I bought the Oystade 100W portable solar panel (and later, the Mobisolar 100W Foldable Solar Panel).
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OYSTADE 100W Portable Solar Panel, Foldable Solar Charger 2... |
£129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Features
- This solar panel is specially designed for higher conversion efficiency and portability,a perfect companion for most portable solar generators and power stations on the market. Constructed of high-efficiency solar cells, convert up to 21.5-23.5% of solar power into free energy.
- Equipped with dual USB ports (24W QC 3.0 + 45W PD USB-C) and a separate DC 18V port with connectors (DC 5521, 5525, 8MM, aviation plug, MC4 ), this solar-powered panel charges smartphones, tablets, laptops, lamps, power banks, MacBook Pro, iPad and more, 4 times faster-charging speed than usual. Less time waiting and more time playing.
- The build-in smart IC chip intelligently identifies your devices and maximizes their charging speed while protecting your devices from overcharging and overloading.
- This solar panel is foldable design with a handle, convenient to carry wherever you go. Two adjustable kickstands could be slightly adjusted to get sunshine better, which can get up to 25% more sunlight than flat laying.
- The solar panel is fully laminated, made by advanced laminated technology and long-lasting ETFE material, made for long-term use over 10 years. Besides, it is water-resistant to endure all weather conditions, ideally suited for outdoor life or even unexpected power outages.
Anderson Port Adaptor
It is quite possible that there has been some user error here, and I am just an idiot.
However, the DC 18V cable included with the panel is fixed in place, and it is terminated with an Anderson port. There are additional cables in the pocket, but none of these attaches to the Anderson port, so it was not possible for me to convert it to an 8mm port which would have allowed me to use two solar panels with the Solar Generator 1000
Performance vs Jackery 100W Portable Solar Panel
I tested this in a couple of environments, at home and then on a canal boat. In my home situation, I found that placing the panel in my garage room exposed it to the most sun. The problem is that the cable is very short, which made it impossible for me to run the cable down to the floor. I had to sit it on my wall. Not ideal.
The peak output I saw was a little over 60W. in comparison, when I placed the jackery panel directly over this in the same spot, that produced a little over 80W. That is a 33.33% in energy production from the Jackery even though they are rated the same.
On the boat, throughout the day from 12 pm onwards, I never saw the output exceed 60W (I only checked intermittently). It was still able to provide a good charge for the power station, just not as good as the Jackery.
Again not ideal, but the Oystade does cost a lot less, so it can be forgiven.
Price and Alternative Options
The Oystade 100W portable solar panel is approximately £170 on Amazon.
It costs the same as the Mobisolar 100W Foldable Solar Panel, and that is the panel I personally prefer.
There are cheaper panels on Amazon, but these all seem to have metal frames and look far less portable.
Then there is the Jackery 100W solar panel at £280. Technically this is poor value for money, costing 75% more but only producing 33.33% more electricity. However, if you are the off-grid type, then the ability to generate as much electricity as possible using a panel as small as possible is quite likely worth the premium.
Overall
The Oystade 100W portable solar panel is OK, but in my opinion, there are better options (Mobisolar).
I am still perplexed about the port situation. I am not sure if it is a user error or something missing from the package, but I was unable to use the 8mm DC ports as there didn’t seem to be any way to convert the Anderson port.
The cable was also considerably shorter than the Jackery cable, which makes placement a bit more awkward, forcing your to keep the panel close to the power station.
Then, of course, is the fact that the panel generated 25% less electricity than the Jackery panel. The Jackery costs 75% more, so you can still easily argue that this is good value in terms of solar performance.
Overall, while I think this is an OK solar panel, if you are buying a random brand, I prefer the Mobisolar, which I will be reviewing shortly.
Oystade 100W portable solar panel review rating
Summary
The Oystade 100W portable solar panel is OK, but in my opinion, there are better options (Mobisolar).
Overall
65%-
Overall - 65%65%
Pros
- Good value for money in terms of solar performance
Cons
- 25% lower output than Jackery
- No way to adapt the port
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
