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Why solar-powered portable batteries are not as reliable as you think (and the best alternative)

Last summer, I put a range of solar-powered power banks to the test - only to find they were all disappointing and potentially unsafe. Here's what I recommend using instead.

I've tested nearly two dozen solar-powered power banks, ranging from devices purchased online to ones bought from camping and outdoor supply stores. Using such a device means placing a power bank, a box filled with lithium-ion batteries, in direct sunlight. The bottom line is that I can't recommend a single solar-powered power bank.

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