FlexSolar 60W review: cheap, portable, and best bought at £59.99

Is the FlexSolar 60W Solar Panel Foldable Portable Solar Charger worth buying? Yes, if you want a compact, low-cost portable panel for phones, power banks, tablets, or a small power station and you can accept that 60W is modest output rather than full-size off-grid power. At £59.99, with a 4.0/5 rating from 173 reviews and the current price sitting at the all-time low, it is priced aggressively for a foldable panel with USB-C, USB-A, and DC outputs.

First impressions

The main appeal is portability. FlexSolar says it folds down to laptop size, with a listed folded measurement of 12 x 9.8 x …, which points to a panel designed for travel rather than permanent installation. That matters for UK renters and flat-dwellers because it can be stored easily, taken to a balcony, garden, campsite, or used as an emergency backup without any fixed mounting or landlord permission.

What do you actually get for £59.99?

The headline feature set is unusually practical for the price. The panel offers QC3.0 USB-A output up to 18W, PD3.0 USB-C output up to 40W, and a maximum 60W DC output at 20V-28V. That means it can charge a phone directly, top up a power bank, or feed a small portable power station through the included 4-in-1 cable with XT60, Anderson, DC7909, and DC5521 adapters. For buyers who want one panel to handle multiple small devices, that flexibility is the real selling point.

The listed 24% conversion rate is strong for a portable folding panel, and the ETFE lamination plus IP67 waterproof rating suggest it is built for outdoor use rather than fair-weather only. IP67 is a meaningful spec here: it indicates strong dust protection and resistance to temporary water immersion, which is reassuring for camping, balcony storage, or unpredictable British weather.

How does it perform in practice?

The biggest thing to understand is that 60W is not a lot of solar power. It is enough for small electronics and light backup use, but it will not replace mains charging for larger batteries or high-demand appliances. FlexSolar also warns that output depends on sunlight and that all panels should be exposed to direct sun, which is a reminder that real-world performance will vary with weather, angle, and shading.

For direct device charging, the USB-C PD3.0 40W output is the most useful specification. It should be the best option for modern phones, tablets, and some smaller USB-C laptops or accessories, while the USB-A QC3.0 port is better for older devices and power banks. The DC output is the route to use for a small power station, but the 60W ceiling means charging will be slow on anything with a large battery.

Build quality and durability

The one-piece lamination and ETFE top layer are encouraging signs. These are the kinds of details that usually separate a genuinely usable portable panel from a flimsy emergency gadget. The IP67 rating also gives it an edge over cheaper foldables that only claim splash resistance. That said, the listing does not provide enough detail on frame materials, kickstand design, or long-term hinge durability, so buyers should still treat it as a portable accessory rather than a rugged industrial product.

Is it good value for money?

At £59.99, this is the strongest part of the review. It is only 9% off the £65.99 RRP, but the more important point is that £59.99 is the all-time lowest recorded price and the current average price is also £59.99. That makes now a good time to buy if you want this specific panel. The 4.0/5 rating from 173 reviews is decent rather than exceptional, but the combination of low price, 24% conversion claim, IP67 protection, and multiple outputs makes it more compelling than many bare-bones panels.

How does it compare to DOKIO, Renogy, and GRECELL?

Against the DOKIO 100W kit at £89.99 with a 4.4★ rating, the FlexSolar is cheaper by £30 but also lower power. DOKIO’s 100W output and included controller make it better for 12V battery charging, caravan, RV, or boat use where raw charging capacity matters more than portability.

Compared with the GRECELL 100W panel at £129.99 and 4.6★, FlexSolar again wins on price and convenience, but loses on output and likely charging speed. GRECELL is the better pick if you want a stronger panel for a power station.

Renogy’s EFLEX-CORE 200W at £199.99 and 4.5★ is in a different class entirely. It is far more suitable for serious backup or off-grid use, while FlexSolar is the budget option for lighter, more mobile charging needs.

Final take

The FlexSolar 60W is best understood as a portable convenience panel, not a household energy solution. If you need a foldable solar charger for phones, tablets, power banks, or a small power station, it offers a sensible feature set at a very good current price. If you need meaningful charging speed for larger batteries, you should step up to a 100W or 200W panel instead.