REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Lightweight
Slim
REASONS TO AVOID
Slow charging speeds
Only one USB port
ECEEN 10W Review
A sleek and portable panel that has a relatively small capacity, and is slow to charge
Credit: Amazon
Our Verdict
Aesthetically, the ECEEN 10W is unique in the fleet. It's incredibly slender, made from super durable materials, and feels like it is built to last. As it is only a 10W panel, it only has one USB port, which makes it ideal for simple charging tasks. That said, its 10W capacity takes a little time to charge up electronics, so be ready to set this panel out in the sun for hours if you want a fully charged battery. It's a high performer when it comes to weight, portability, and durability, and falls in the middle of the fleet in our charging tests.
Our Analysis and Test Results
An average-performer in terms of charging speed, with slightly disappointing results in our charge interruption recovery metric, the ECEEN shines when it comes to durability and size.
Performance Comparison
This small folder-like panel excels in portability, but its solar cells are actually fairly small, making it fall short in efficiency.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Charge Interruption Recovery
Though the ECEEN's dimensions are 12.5 inches by 12 inches when open, the panels themselves are relatively small — each side is only 4 inches wide and 12 inches long. This means that the surface area of the panel that has charging capabilities is very small, which also means that it struggled in the interruption recovery metric. The smaller the surface area of the panels, the less efficient a solar setup will be in marginal conditions. In our hands-on test, this panel only charged our phone 6% instead of the 10% increase we saw when it was exposed to full sun.
Full-sun conditions are ideal for the ECEEN.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Charging Speed
This metric provides a baseline for each panel and the simplest way for us to make side-by-side comparisons. The main goal with any of these products is to deliver a relatively fast and efficient charge to our small electronics when we are far from the grid. The ECEEN came in a little short in this metric, which translates to lower scores across the board in our other charging tests. Here, the ECEEN only managed to charge our phone 10% over the course of our 30 minute test period. This result is significantly lower than the majority of the other panels in this review.
A single USB port makes this panel straightforward and simple.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Multiple Device Charging Speed
The ECEEN 10W is all about simplicity. This means that it only has one USB port and can only charge one small electronic at a time, so we were unable to acquire any data for this metric.
Durability
We were excited about the overall design and materials used in the construction of the ECEEN 10W. This panel is built to last and to endure all kinds of conditions. Instead of mesh or canvas, which is what the pocket on most panels is made of, the ECEEN has a neoprene, water-tight pocket that keeps cords and other gadgets dry and removed from the elements. It also has reinforced webbing clip-in loops, which we hadn't seen on any panel prior to this. We much preferred this design to the sewn attachment points that most other panels have. Overall, we felt that this panel was designed with durability in mind.
Neoprene and a reinforced zipper add to the rugged design of the ECEEN.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Weight and Portability
In terms of fold-out panels (that is, instead of battery pack-style chargers), the ECEEN 10W is light and compact enough to warrant a trip into the backcountry without too much stress on its overall weight. It is not only light, but slim and portable, making it easy to slide into a backpack.
Super thin and light, we love the ECEEN for its portability.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Value
This panel is a little on the expensive side, considering its efficiency and effectiveness. That said, the ECEEN is incredibly durable and its design is unique.
Compact and unique, we recommend this panel for its design and portability.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Conclusion
This small panel excels as a portable and durable choice. That said, sacrifices were made to get this panel to be lightweight and small. The solar cells take up very little surface area, making it lack the efficiency of the larger-capacity panels in this review. We would consider taking this one into the backcountry since it is so light, but we wouldn't recommend trying to charge large, power-hungry electronics with it.
—
Jane Jackson
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