A man tried to charge his phone from the “solar” EcoFlow hat: what happened

According to John Velasco, the hat with solar panels not only charges the phone, but also protects from the heat, but there is a downside.

Technology columnist John Velasco tested the EcoFlow Power Hat by trying to charge his Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus smartphone. He talked about the test results in his column on the Tom's Guide portal.

The EcoFlow Power Hat manufacturer promises that the device can charge gadgets almost anywhere with the help of solar panels installed around the entire perimeter. Devices can be connected via USB-A and USB-C ports. The stated power of the sun hat — up to 12W.

John Velasco decided to test EcoFlow's claim that a solar hat can charge a phone with a 4000mAh battery to 100% in about 3-4 hours of charging. To do this, he decided to use a Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus with a 45W charger, as well as a Plugable USB-C Power Meter Tester to check exactly how much power the phone is drawing.

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To test the effectiveness of the hat, the author went to the beach. He noted that the EcoFLow Power Hat is extremely compact and easily fits into a backpack, folding “to the size of a slice of pizza.” In addition, he was surprised that the hat did not feel hot in the sun, despite its black color.

After testing, the man found that the EcoFlow Power Hat produced more than 5.5 watts of power. Although this is less than the maximum 12 watts, he said, this could be due to the cloudy weather. In 30 minutes, the smartphone was charged to 8%, while from the mains it charges to 72% in the same time.

The man noted that he later used the EcoFlow Power Hat again while working on the lawn around the house. That time, the device again fell short of its 12W rating, but the author noted its advantages, including access to power anywhere and protection from heat.

“My point is that a little more power is better than its absence. When you can't even get access to a charger, I think the EcoFlow Power Hat can come in handy in a pinch,” — concluded John Velasco.