Product Description Solio stores power from the sun or socket allowing you to recharge your mobile phone, iPod or other handheld devices. Now including seven tips and cables, the new Solio Hybrid Charger offers an even greater range of compatibility with your devices. A fully charged Solio will recharge your average phone at least once if not twice. Solio's intelligent internal circuitry and Interchangeable Tip System lets you charge devices at about the same rate as their dedicated wall chargers.
Amazon.com Product Description The Solio universal "hybrid" solar charger is powerful enough to charge all of your handheld electronic products at home or on the move. The Solio works by absorbing power from either four hours in the wall socket or 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight, and then storing the energy within its internal battery. Once the Solio's battery is full, you can use the unit to charge your cell phone, iPod, MP3 player, PDA, game player, GPS, fish finder, or digital camera, making it a powerful all-in-one battery charger. The universal charger is also environmentally friendly and cost-effective, as the sun- based energy is completely free and creates no harmful impacts. And the design couldn't be simpler, with a fan-blade outlay that achieves maximum solar area when in use. Just spread out the blades, expose them to direct sunlight either outdoors or affixed to a window, and get ready to take your power on the road.
The silver Solio charges your electronics at the same rate as a conventional charger, and stores enough juice to fully charge an average cell phone at least once or an iPod nano at least two times. In addition, the Solio can charge your electronics directly rather than relying on the built-in battery. An hour of sun, for instance, will deliver enough power for about an hour of iPod playing time, 10 minutes of cell phone talk time, or four hours of cell phone standby time. Finally, the energy in the Solio's built-in battery doesn't need to be redeemed immediately, as it stores the juice for more than a year.
To make the Solio easier to use, the device comes with a series of interchangeable tip system connectors, including connectors for Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung cell phones, along with a mini-USB tip and an interchangeable tip system cable. And travelers will love the included global wall charger, with adapters for the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Australia/New Zealand. The Solio, which measures 2.5 by 1.3 by 4.7 inches (W x H x D), is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box Solio battery charger, Nokia tip, Motorola tip, Samsung tip, mini-USB tip, interchangeable tip system cable, USB cable, 12-volt universal adapter, global travel charger with adapters, window suction cup, user's manual.
Fun, but anemicAugust 24, 2008 I've had varying success with my Solio. Took me awhile to get a hang of the device's fickleness, but I'm able to successfully (albeit partially) charge my iPhone (which needs charging at least every other day).
The trick is that it really takes me two full days of leaving the Solio out in the sun to get a full charge. Their site claims "Charging Solio's internal battery takes 8-10 hours of direct sunlight." I haven't found that to be the case. I really need TWO days to fully charge the device. Of course, if I didn't have a life, I could change the placement of the charger throughout the day to point directly at the sun as it moves through the sky, and this would probably get close to a full charge in a normal day.
When the Solio DOES fully charge, I only get about 1/2 to 3/4 charge to my iPhone, and not more. So two days of work for maybe a work's day of usage for the iPhone. Better than nothing, but not something I'd depend my life on...
In short, I'd describe the Solio as "fun, but anemic". The device actually works and charges devices, but I probably save more money and benefit the environment more by hanging my clothes out to dry (instead of using the dryer) then getting 1/2 charge for my iPhone every couple of days.
research solar power before bashingJuly 23, 2008 4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Look, I see a lot of people out here writing crap reviews because it doesnt charge fast or anything, etc. Those people need to research solar power. If just one of the cells aren't in the right sunlight, then the power production could be cut in half. And behind windows, the solar energy getting through is much less because some rays are reflected by the glass. And in the manual, it clearly states it take 12-24 hours of direct sunlight to fully charge the battery, meaning it must be aligned properly with the sun. Mine works fine, sometimes has a little problem charging, but these solar chargers are new products. Anyone who bought this should have seen Al Gore's Speech. Remember computer chips and how much they evolved year after year? Its the same with solar power, and because these are new, they will be quirky. So if you had a bad experience with it, say it, but don't complain about how all of these products suck because of one problem.
Little panels. Moving target.April 16, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Nothing ever charges as fast as we want it to. The Solio is no different. Point it at the sun and the little red LED on the back comes on to led you know that you're in a good position and that it is charging.
The caveat is that you're aiming at a moving target. If you're not pointing directly at the sun you're still charging, just not nearly as well.
The first night I had it I charged the Solio from a wall outlet then used it to top off my blackberry that night. It charged it with no issue and drained the Solio to about 40% (2 blinks - 20% per blink). Ever since I've been trying to position it in my parked car to fully charge, but have yet to fully charge it through pure solar use. That being said, I've been setting it on the dash of my car and leaving it there. It's charging. It would charge even faster if I always had it outside facing the sun without uv filtering glass in the way, but it IS working.
If I spent a lot of time outdoors, the Solio would be IDEAL. As it is, I find it would be more of use (for me personally) in an emergency kit.
It DOES work though. If you want faster charging, get something with more solar cell area.
Do Not BuyFebruary 28, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The charger worked well the first time that I used it, but now the power will not stay on to charge my cell phone. The website states that this is a known problem with some motorola phones, but it also occurs with my blackberry. Totally worthless to me.
Love it!!!February 18, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Unlike some of the reviews on here... I LOVE MY SOLIO!! I am really not sure why others would say that it is does not work, because I use my Solio to charge my phone and iPod ALL of the time and have never had a problem. And the one time I did have a question, their support team was super nice and even sent me a free tip for my new phone :)
One thing that is cool about Solio versus other solar chargers I have tried is that it stores power. It does take about 8 hours of good sun, but I just leave mine in the car or outside on nice days, and it saves the charge for when I need it. I am slowly trying to get into living a GREENER lifestyle and Solio was a great start. Now I want to go solar for everything!!
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