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.

I have previously reviewed the excellent Jackery Solar Generator 1000 and the less excellent Oystade 100W foldable solar panel.

As I stated in the Oystade review, I am 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.

While reviewing the Jackery, I couldn’t help but notice several solar panels with a similar design to the Jackery SolarSaga 100W. They are clearly ripping off the branding, but I wondered if they were just as good.

The Jackery SolarSaga 100W costs about £280, while these random brands cost between £170 and £190 for the 100W models.

Features

  • Perfect for RV camping, charging consumer electronics, off-grid road trips, outdoor adventures, power production in remote areas and unexpected power outages. The panel have ETFE coating, which can withstand high levels of thermal stress and is much stronger and more durable compared to other materials PET/TPT used in similar panels
  • Constructed of high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells which convert up to 22-23% of solar power into energy free to use. This panel will convert more energy compared with similarly rated polycrystalline panels.
  • Support Fast charging and is able to charge simultaneously up to 3 USB powered devices, including laptop, tablet, smart phone, drone, tablet, camera and other electronic devices. Have: 1 x USB-C PD3.0 ,1 x USB QC3.0 Port, 1x USB-A Port , direct DC port 5521
  • The panel includes connectors for the following Portable Power Stations: Jackery, Energyzer Arc, EF Ecoflow, Golabs, PowerOak, Powkey, BEAUDENS, Enginstar, ALLPOWERS etc. Direct DC port 5521 for charging power stations and 12V car battery. 1 x DC cable 5521 and 1 x Adapter 5521 to MC4 are included.
  • The panel weighs only 3.6kg, making it easy to deploy, pack and transport.

Better compatibility than Oystade but short cables

In my Oystade review, I highlighted that I had issues with the cables included. There didn’t appear to be any way to convert the Anderson plug to 8mm DC. This meant that the Oystade could only be used as a single panel, rather than using the Y splitter that the Jackery comes with, allowing two panels.

The Mobisolar has a superior design. The DC output does not have a fixed cable it comes with a variety of port adaptors. Therefore, with this panel, I could either use it with the 8mm DC port or Anderson. Using the 8mm port, I could use two panels together.

Just like the Oystade, one issue I had with this is the relatively short cables. The Jakery has a very long one which gives you a lot more flexibility with setting up your solar panel.

Part of my Jackery testing was done on a canal boat. Ideally, I needed the panel located on the roof with the Jackery located at the bow of the boat where I was sitting. I didn’t want the Jackery sat on the roof with the potential of a £1000 portable power station getting knocked into a canal. The Jackery SolarSaga has a cable long enough to accommodate this, but these third-party panels do not.

One saving grace is that with this cable being detachable, I assume I could just buy a longer cable online.

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. Just like the Oystade, the short cable meant I needed to place the Jackery on my wall rather than where I was sat.

The peak output I saw was basically the same as the Oystade, hitting just over 60W.

In comparison, when I placed the Jackey 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 and performed identically to the Oystade, just not as good as the Jackery.

With me being able to use this panel with the 8mm port, I was able to pair it up with one of my SolarSaga panels. In this scenario, I was able to generate a peak of 115W of power. In comparison, two SolarSaga panels used together achieved just under 150W.

Like most other solar panels, it also has USB ports. You have a USB-A port which can do 10W and a USB-C port which can do QC3.0 Port with up to 60W of power delivery. The Oystade could only do 24W QC 3.0 + 45W PD USB-C.

Price and Alternative Options

The Mobisolar 100W Foldable Solar Panel is available for £170, and due to the detachable cable design and port compatibility, I much prefer it to the Oystade.

The Oystade 100W portable solar panel is approximately £170 on Amazon.

There are plenty of other options too.

If I were to buy one again, I’d probably go for the Firefly Energy 120W. This is listed at £196, but Amazon has a £40 off voucher making it both cheaper and with a higher output than the two panels I have bought. It also supports USB-C power delivery of 60W. I suspect this will have similar efficiency to the panels I reviewed, but with it being rated at 20% higher, I would hope it provides a similar output to the Jackery SolarSaga 100W. The downside to this panel is that it looks massive.

Then there is the Jackery SolarSaga 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 Mobisolar 100W portable solar panel is a good alternative to the Jackery SolarSaga 100W solar panel, providing excellent value for money.

It doesn’t generate as much power as the Jackery SolarSaga 100W, but I think the price difference justifies this.

Mobisolar 100W Foldable Solar Panel Portable Review Rating

Summary

The Mobisolar 100W portable solar panel is a good alternative to the Jackery SolarSaga 100W solar panel, providing excellent value for money.

Overall
80%
80%
  • Overall - 80%
    80%

Pros

  • Wide range of compatibility
  • 8mm port allows you to use two panels with Jackery Y splitter
  • Cost efficient vs Jackery

Cons

  • Lower power output vs Jackery

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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