PRODUCT REVIEW: SOLARKING solar charger

Digicolor developed the SolarKing as an alternative energy solution for people on the go. Its main draw is an internal battery unit powered by solar panels and suitable for use with a wide range of handphones, PDAs, cameras, personal music players, and so on. If you’re constantly on the road, or outdoors, or just plain eco-conscious, there’s much to recommend it by – though even the most sedentary cubicle denizen may find the King useful, thanks to its versatility.

The SolarKing’s exterior packaging is attractive, featuring an understated black and white motif. The box is magnetically sealed, making subsequent storage and transport hassle-free. When opened, the main unit presents itself, nested in a velvety cushion and secured by a scarlet ribbon. It’s all tastefully done, and the general effect is one of polish.

This polish sadly doesn’t extend to the accessories, which come packed in a simple plastic bag. The user manual is similarly skimpy, giving an at-best perfunctory introduction to the solar charger’s features and functions. It also suffers from slight translation issues, though these were relatively minor. Hopefully future iterations of the product will address these shortcomings.

The good news is that the SolarKing does what it was designed to do, and does it well. The unit performed under a variety of conditions, usually exceeding its specifications. For example, Digicolor estimates that ten to twelve hours of direct sunlight are required to fully charge the internal battery; when tested at home, the King was ready to go after only eight hours of exposure outside on a sunny day. Indoors charging took longer, requiring about fifteen hours of sunbathing over two days for the battery to reach full charge.

Left: All the hand phone adaptors are included in the kit, including a charger for digital camera batteries, a car charger and a normal conventional charger. Right: The SolarKing soaking in some sun by the office's small balcony. It took only half a day's worth of charging to fully charge this gadget.

Cloud cover poses a problem, as no noticeable change in battery reserve was observed on overcast days. This is naturally a concern when dealing with Malaysia’s unpredictable weather, but Digicolor has thoughtfully included both a conventional AC power adapter and a car adapter to supplement the charger’s solar capabilities. Charging time via these sources was markedly faster, requiring only three and four hours respectively to reach full capacity. These also serve to give the SolarKing a certain universality lacking in most other solar chargers currently on the market.

Using the SolarKing is simple, with two buttons giving access to all its functions. A voltage selector doubles as an on/off switch, and allows the user to switch between different types of output depending on the peripheral being charged. The second button works as a charge indicator; pressing it lights up a display on the body of the charger to show whether it’s at empty, half, or full capacity. Solar charging involves simply opening the unit to expose its solar panels and turning it to face the sun.

The unit was tested with a number of devices, primarily handphones, though an iPod Nano 1st Generation 1gb and a Pentax Optio S digital camera were checked as well. There were no major compatibility issues, and all devices charged to full charge without problems. Charging time between devices varied due to differing battery capacities, but averaged around two to four hours from empty to full. Minor quirks were seen with some Sony Ericsson phones; the SE K320i, for example, displayed an error message instead of the usual full charge confirmation after reaching capacity. In addition, the pre-packaged adapters feature woefully short cables, making device usage during charging problematic without resorting to third-party solutions.

The SolarKing isn’t for everyone, especially considering its RM225 (USD 60++) price tag. What you get for your hard-earned ringgit is a portable, easily chargeable power source that isn’t dependent on conventional AC outlets. As such, the product is most suitable for active or traveling lifestyles, where constant battery drain is a concern. The charger will also appeal to those with environmentally-friendly mindsets, and there’s an undeniable thrill in knowing that your favorite gadgets are powered by solar energy. If you find yourself in the niches targeted above, there’s a lot of reasons to try the SolarKing – and with its full one-year warranty, there’s no reason to worry.

So if you are keen to try out this product (and include your friends in it too as the charger can be used with all major handphone brands), or would like to find out more, drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . The retail price for SolarKing is at RM225.00 and if you purchase it off EcoKnights, a percentage of the sales will go towards funding EcoKnights' kids' environmental awareness programmes during the Eco Film Festival on November 1st and 2nd 2008.

Below are the specifications for the product:

Technical Specifications

Size – 166.5mm x 89mm x 17mm
Weight – 190g
Solar panels: 7V output, 250mA (2 Panels)
Battery: Lithium-ion; 1800mAH; 3.6V; 400 recharge life cycle
Battery charge time: 10-12hrs in sun; 5hrs by AC/car adapter
Peripherals: Lithium-ion charger
AC power charger
Adapters for handphones and USB devices
Car adapter
User manual included

Reviewed and written by Aliff Yusri.