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MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights Review

These packable, convenient string lights are excellent for car camping or a summer cookout
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mpowerd luci solar string lights lantern review
Credit: MPowerd
Price:  $50 List
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Manufacturer:   MPowerd
By Ben Applebaum-Bauch ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 2, 2022
64
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 22
  • Brightness - 45% 6.0
  • Battery Life - 20% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 6.0
  • Features - 10% 8.0
  • Weight - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights are a great addition to a front country camping setup. They are for anyone looking for a portable, practical way to light their car camping or backyard get-togethers. They light up a porch or an eating area well and have multiple charging options, including solar power, as the name implies. We like that the length is adjustable depending on where you want to hang them. The versatility of these lights is just one of the things that stands out. Though we had a few minor issues with this lantern, we still think that it is worthy of our recommendation for the best string lights.
REASONS TO BUY
Solar powered
Packs up easily
Bright
REASONS TO AVOID
Light array difficult to arrange
Carrying case awkward to store
Editor's Note: This article was updated on December 2, 2022, with additional information about battery life.

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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Solar powered, packs up easily, brightVery long battery life, tough and durable, provides a nice soft diffused lightAffordable, several light tone settings, 360-degree kickstand, clever sundialCompact and lightweight, charges other devices, versatile for individual useLightweight, small, gives off heat, same canisters as other backpacking accessories
Cons Light array difficult to arrange, carrying case awkward to storeGlow-in-the-dark doesn't work very well, hook on the bottom is not very sturdy, hard to reattach bottom after replacing batteriesNot submersible, no USB outputDifficult to hang, need an outlet or battery pack to chargeFuel required, cannot use in the rain, expensive
Bottom Line These packable, convenient string lights are excellent for car camping or a summer cookoutA durable lantern with exceptional battery life for extended use that you can rely on when the lights go outA lightweight, compact, and versatile lantern that is easy on your bank accountThis pocket-sized, flashlight-lantern combo is a great option for personal use while car campingFor those in the market for a highly transportable fuel canister model, this is the one
Rating Categories MPOWERD Luci Solar... Ultimate Survival T... BioLite SunLight Goal Zero Lighthous... Primus Micron
Brightness (45%)
6.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
7.0
Battery Life (20%)
7.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
2.0
Ease of Use (15%)
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
6.0
Features (10%)
8.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
Weight (10%)
6.0
3.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
Specs MPOWERD Luci Solar... Ultimate Survival T... BioLite SunLight Goal Zero Lighthous... Primus Micron
Weight (with Batteries) 11.4 oz 29.3 oz 3.4 oz 3.1 oz 4.0 oz
Rechargeable? Yes No Yes Yes No
Manufacturer Listed Runtimes Low: 20 hrs Low: 30 days
High: 12 hrs
Low: 50 hrs
High: 3 hrs + 4 hrs reserve mode
Low: 170 hrs
High: 7 hrs
12-24 hrs
(One 4 oz fuel canister)
Measured Runtime (Highest Setting) 5.0 hrs 9.0 hrs 4.5 hrs 3.75 1.5 hrs w/ 4 oz canister
Lumens 100 1000 100 Lantern: 150
Flashlight: 120
235
Size (inches) 2 x 5 x 5 (Collapsed) 7.2 x 3.75 3.35 x 3.39 x .91 4 x 1.75 x 1.2 2.4 x 2.6 x 4.2
Number of Batteries 1 3 1 1 N/A
Battery Type Rechargeable D Rechargable Li-Ion Rechargeable N/A
Waterproof Rating IPX4 IPX4 IPX4 IPX6 Not specified

Our Analysis and Test Results

Product Update Note — September 2022


MPOWERD updated the Luci Solar String Lights since our test period. The model we tested had an exposed USB charger at the end of the string, but the upgraded model moved to a built-in USB port and external charging cable (which is included in the purchase). You can note the differences in the photos above. The model with the exposed USB is on the left, and the latest model is pictured on the right with a small hook on the end, so you can wrap the string around a limb or post and connect it back to itself. We're linking to the updated lights in our review.

Performance Comparison


mpowerd luci solar string lights lantern review - this solar-powered set of string lights is compact and powerful.
This solar-powered set of string lights is compact and powerful.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Brightness


These lights really surround a space with a nice, even glow. The string puts out 100 lumens, which on its face, is not terribly impressive (it's easy to find personal headlamps or flashlights that are multiple times brighter). However, having a little light in a lot of places, as opposed to one highly concentrated beam, has the effect of illuminating a large radius well.


We also appreciate the light quality. Though they are advertised as warm white LEDs, relative to other models, this one gives off a glow on the yellow end of the spectrum, which feels like more natural light.

mpowerd luci solar string lights lantern review - these lights by themselves can provide some decent illumination to a...
These lights by themselves can provide some decent illumination to a deck.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

There are 10 light 'pods' total, each with 2 LEDs, one on each side of the pod, so no matter how you hang them, light shines in all directions. There is also an auxiliary light on the front of the carrying case. Its small size makes it a fine 'oops' option if you have to go back to check a picnic table in the dark to see if you left your keys there.

Battery Life


The MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights are mainly designed for parties and ornamental purposes, not to be an emergency utility. So if you're looking for a lantern that you can stow away in a closet for power outages, you'll likely want to look at the other models with longer measured runtimes.


MPOWERD claims that these string lights will last up to 20 hours on their lowest setting, and we found that it lasts about five hours on their highest. This runtime is generally enough for a night's worth of camping or an evening deck party. We awarded the Luci Solar String Lights bonus points for its solar-charging capability. If you take this model camping, it will recharge itself during the day, leaving you worry-free while your friends fumble with power banks and disposable batteries.

We have some concerns about the long term durability of the contacts...
We have some concerns about the long term durability of the contacts on the exposed USB cord.
The USB charge out port has a secure rubber cover to keep dust out.
The USB charge out port has a secure rubber cover to keep dust out.

Ease of Use


As with most lanterns, this model is fairly easy to use. There is just a single power button that can be pressed four successive times to cycle through the settings (auxiliary case light, low, medium, and high). There is also a separate battery charge indicator button that illuminates four tiny lights to show the approximate charge of the battery. The carrying case is super convenient for storage, and we were pleasantly surprised time and again that the lights actually wound around and fit inside of it with very little fuss.


The slightly more challenging piece is 'installation'. It depends somewhat on the structure that the lights are attached to, but finding the right place to secure the base is an important consideration. It comes with a loop of cord that can be hung from a hook or a branch. The case itself is big and flat, so it can sit on top of a railing, as well. It's not a huge deal, but there were a couple of times that we unwound the string to discover that we didn't have an awesome place to set the case down.

mpowerd luci solar string lights lantern review - the string comes with a series of small black hooks that make it...
The string comes with a series of small black hooks that make it possible to secure the lights around wider objects.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

One of the slightly more annoying issues that we encountered was when we tried to wrap the lights around a thicker 'three-dimensional object.' We just wanted to use the lights on a porch, but many of the actual LED nodes ended up on the wrong side just by virtue of the distance between them.

Features


This model has a modest number of features that are executed well. For starters, it is solar-powered, which, for a light that is designed to be hung up and remain outdoors, is ideal. It fully charges by solar with a full day's worth of summer sun (MPOWERD claims about 16 hours). If you get to camp late, you can also charge these lights along the way. They come with a USB as well, which fully charges the light in just over six hours.


In addition to multiple charging methods, the carrying case also has a USB charge-out port which can give a boost to the battery of a small device. It's definitely slow going — we found that it takes about two and a half hours to increase the battery charge of a smartphone by 50% — but it's better than nothing in a pinch. These lights carry an IPX4 water-resistance rating — which means that they can repel water splashing from all directions — and they work well in the rain.

mpowerd luci solar string lights lantern review - the solar panel and the hanging loop are a couple of the features...
The solar panel and the hanging loop are a couple of the features that make this light great.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Weight


These string lights weigh in at a little over 11 ounces. The majority of that, of course, is the carrying case that the actual lights are attached to. It is not possible to detach the lights from the base, but the reality is that for this particular style of light, the weight is much less important.


If you were inclined to pack them up and take them into the backcountry, they do travel very easily, and since they double as a device charger as well, the extra ounces might not be too bad.

mpowerd luci solar string lights lantern review - these string lights pack up into a case that is slightly wider than...
These string lights pack up into a case that is slightly wider than a coffee mug.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Should You Buy the MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights?


The MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights may not be the most practical model for backpacking, but they are great for car camping or backyard fun. If you want to add some festive flavor to your campsite or you're looking for some off-grid yard decoration, these string lights are the way to go.

What Other Lanterns Should You Consider?


The primary factor to consider when shopping for a lantern is what its main purpose will be. If you're looking for a model to store in a closet in case of a power outage, we highly recommend the Ultimate Survival Technologies 30-Day Duro. A great car camping option that runs off an internal battery or AAs is the Black Diamond Apollo. If you like the idea of a solar-powered light for backpacking, check out the BioLite SunLight.

mpowerd luci solar string lights lantern review - the mpowerd luci solar string lights are bright, solar-powered, and...
The MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights are bright, solar-powered, and practical.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Ben Applebaum-Bauch
 

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