Goertek 25,000mAh Review

This battery pack/solar charger combo produced impressive charging speeds in our side-by-side tests when it was at least partially charged. To rely on this device as solely a solar-powered charger would result in frustration, but when the battery pack is charged, it delivers fast charge to small devices. It is a bit bulkier than we'd like, which made it hard to warrant bringing along on longer backcountry excursions. For us, this was one of our favorite battery pack/solar combo products. With its reasonable price tag and overall solid capabilities, the Goertek earned our Best Buy Award this season.

Performance Comparison

Charge Interruption Recovery

One of the benefits of a battery pack/solar charger combo product like the Goertek 25,000mAh is that it is a lot more reliable in variable conditions (compared to a fully solar product). That said, it is key for the battery pack to have some juice in it for it to continue to deliver a charge when it is intermittently shaded. If only relying on solar, the panel has such a small capacity that it will not be able to reliably charge a device in marginal conditions. When the Goertek was at least partially charged and left out, it was able to consistently deliver charge to our electronics through interruptions due to shading.

Charging Speed

The Goertek shows a wide range of results from our side-by-side testing. When the battery pack had some juice in it, and the panel was placed in direct sun, this powerful little device could propel our Pixel 3 from 13% battery to a whopping 32% (19% over a thirty-minute period). This is impressive — and if it was using only solar, we would be blown away by its power, but the Goertek is usually reliant on some juice remaining in the battery and the sun as a back-up option.

Just for fun, we tested how long it would take the Goertek to charge when fully reliant on solar. Turns out, it took over two hours for the battery pack to charge from 25% to 50%. This is slow and steady progress but is surprisingly efficient for such a large battery. Compared to other battery packs we've tested, this is actually a fairly impressive charging rate. Though not nearly as reliable as a traditional solar charger with a capacity of 10W or more, the Goertek is still fully functional. Plus, its large capacity battery means that you'll be able to get a fair number of charges out of the battery pack, even without relying on the sun.

Multiple Device Charging Speed

It's undeniable that the Goertek is a powerful battery. It has a 25,000mAh capacity, which allows it to deliver charge to small devices at the same rate as a household plug. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Goertek was able to charge a smaller battery pack and our cell phone simultaneously without much trouble. Our phone charged 12% over a thirty-minute test cycle; this is less than the battery performed when only charging a single device but much more impressive than a standard solar-only panel.

Durability

When this product arrived in the mail, it felt like someone had mailed us a brick. The Goertek is a burly little device, with a super-bright flashlight on the back and a large storage capacity. We had nothing but pleasant experiences with this panel, but after reading far too many negative reviews on Amazon, we learned that there is a significant number of people that were dissatisfied with the performance of this product. As with any electronic device, there's always a chance of receiving a faulty product.

Weight and Portability

The Goertek 25,000 is a reasonably substantial battery pack. Weighing 19 ounces and measuring seven inches long, three inches wide, and a little over an inch thick, this battery is short and stout.

It's relatively small and takes up little space in your backpack. However, there are lighter panels in our fleet, and you may want to look elsewhere if you'll be venturing into the backcountry or a situation where every ounce counts.

Value

For its large battery size and relatively high-functioning solar capabilities, the Goertek is a product of good value. In this round of reviews, we provide two options for our Best Buy Award. The Goertek is certainly a battery back first and foremost, and a solar panel second. But, compared to similar-capacity battery packs sold online, it holds its own in terms of price; adding in the solar option and the Goertek suddenly seems like an incredibly good deal. We definitely recommend using this panel on shorter backcountry trips or when traveling, since it works best if it is at least partially charged. With this setup, you can use solar as a way to top off the battery, without entirely relying on the sun to keep all your devices charged.

Conclusion

This panel does a good job considering its intended use. It is one of many battery packs with integrated solar cells that we have tested and is one of the most effective for its price. It is both affordable and efficient. But, it is worth noting that the Goertek battery pack should be partially or fully charged to deliver consistent power to your devices. We don't recommend being fully reliant on solar power alone. Its dimensions are small and it isn't overly heavy, though due to its weight, it's not the best option for backpacking. The pros outweigh the cons so-to-speak, especially when considering the price of this product. It charges quickly, it is compact, and can easily be thrown in a car or a backpack for a weekend outing.