Skip to main content

Harness the energy of the sun for your phone or tablet with NRG’s Sunbook

nrg sunbook screen shot 2016 01 08 at 8 37 13 am
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When it comes to making environmentally conscious decisions, there are a few things you can do. From shorter showers to unplugging your electronics, the possibilities for going green seem to expand on a daily basis. And now, if you’re looking to even further divest from fossil fuels, you might want to consider two new consumer solar power products from American energy company NRG, which debuted the Sunbook 7 and Sunbook 14 kits at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Both kits combine the power of smart solar panels and removable batteries, which work together to provide users with a new, energy-efficient and green way to charge phones and tablets on the move.

Both Sunbooks ensure that their users stay fully charged and connected in an environmentally responsible way. While placing solar panels on your roof may not be the easiest thing to do, you can still integrate renewable energy into your daily life with one of these charging kits.

Almost absurdly easy to use, these individual solar kits collect energy from the sun, and then store its power in the removable battery. When you’re ready to charge your phone of your tablet, simply slide out the battery and pat yourself on the back for using clean, renewable energy.

The Sunbook 7, designed for your phone, features a solar panel and a removable 3,870mAh battery that can provide one full charge to your phone with clean power. With its easily readable LED indicator, you’ll know exactly how much solar energy you’re harvesting, and will also be able to determine your ideal panel-to-sun placement to make the most of everyone’s favorite star. The solar panel will charge the Gopack 15, an ultra thin and super small “snap-in” battery that only takes two to four hours in bright sunlight to get the whole kit ready to go.

Then there’s the Sunbook 14, which provides “free power for your tablets.” Simply plug your device into the smart kickstand and get ready to charge anywhere, anytime without having to hunt for an outlet. This version of the Sunbook comes with the Gopack 40, a 12,000mAh battery, that receives a full charge of energy from the 14-watt solar panel in under five hours when exposed to the sun. And just like the Sunbook 7, you’ll stay up to date on conditions and charging metrics with the LED indicator.

So if you’re looking to make 2016 the year you go green, start with the Sunbook line from NRG.

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
iOS 16.5 is bringing two exciting new features to your iPhone
apple launches ios 16 5 new pride wallpapers more wallpaper update

After about a month in the beta testing stage, Apple is finally rolling out iOS 16.5 to the public. This is a surprisingly nice update, as it includes a few new features and some bug fixes.

One of the headliner features of the iOS 16.5 update is the addition of new Pride Celebration wallpapers. This wallpaper can be used for the lock and home screens, and it is meant to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. This wallpaper is being released ahead of the Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band, which will be available starting on May 24.

Read more
iOS 17 might add a huge Android feature to your iPhone
App Store displayed on an iPhone 14 Pro against a pink background

As Apple’s Wideworld Developers Conferencce gets closer, the rumors have continued coming in at rapid succession. Over the weekend, in his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that iOS 17 will support app sideloading to comply with European regulations. This would allow iPhone users to download apps and games that are hosted on digital storefronts that are not Apple’s official App Store — something Android phones have been able to do for years.

With the ability to sideload apps, customers don’t necessarily need to use Apple’s App Store to download and purchase apps or make in-app purchases. This change would also mean developers can bypass Apple’s 15% to 30% fees from all purchases.

Read more
The one thing the iPhone 14, Galaxy S23, and Pixel 7 all get wrong
Apple iPhone SE (2020) being plugged in to charge.

At Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year, new smartphones broke cover as one would expect. I won't bore you with all the details; Digital Trends' Joe Maring and Jacob Roach wrote an excellent roundup of all the best MWC 2023 announcements already.

One key quality-of-life-improving feature we picked up on as a theme was charging speed. Apple, Samsung, and Google, the mainstream phone brands by coverage (even if not all by sales), stick to a fast-charging average speed of just over an hour — even with the latest iPhone 14, Galaxy S23, and Pixel 7. By comparison, a phone from Xiaomi, Oppo, or OnePlus can get you moving in 30 minutes or even less. It's time to demand more from our phones.
Fast charging exists — just not for you

Read more