Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Tablets
  3. Cars
  4. Emerging Tech
  5. Mobile
  6. Legacy Archives

Sun-powered BoostSolar charger juices up your phone while riding shotgun

Add as a preferred source on Google
BoostSolar charging
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are numerous ways cars and phones interact with one another, whether it’s listening to Bluetooth audio and streaming our top 25 songs about cars and driving or explaining to Mom why you keep avoiding her phone calls. Needless to say, these features drain your phone’s battery, which is why keeping your phone charged is so essential, especially during longer road trips.

Older cars don’t have USB ports and even newer cars can’t always charge your phone even when they’re plugged in.

Recommended Videos

Eton’s BoostSolar is looking to help with that. The solar-powered battery pack can charge smartphones and tablets, helping make sure you never run out of juice while on the go.

boost-solar with smart-phone
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The device can be charged via the sun or through a USB cable. Eton says a full solar charge takes up to 16 hours, while seven hours will get you topped off using a Micro USB.

The BoostSolar sports high-efficiency solar panels that charge a 5000 mAh lithium-ion battery. According to Eton, this is enough to fully charge most smartphones two and a half times.

A 5V/2A USB port works with most tablets and mobile devices, while a helpful built-in LED indicator light displays how much battery charge is left in the device.

While it will work just fine in the safety of your car, the BoostSolar is also designed to get down and dirty. In addition to being splashproof, the device can be attached to a backpack, making it ideal for camping and hiking trips.

boost-solar with smartphone top
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“With people constantly on-the-go, relying on their mobile devices to stay connected, it’s critical to be able to charge your devices no matter where you are.” said Esmail Hozour, CEO of Etón Corporation in a company press release.

While there are many devices that will help charge your phone and tablet, the BoostSolar appears to be a sound alternative for shoppers looking for a more eco-conscious and independent alternative.

The device retails for $100 and is available from Eton online, Amazon.com and REI stores.

Amir Iliaifar
Former Associate Automotive Editor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
DuRoBo’s Krono e-reader and it’s page-turning sidekick Moodi are now available globally
DuRoBo launches its Smart Dial ePaper reader and a tiny page-turning remote worldwide
durobo-krono-moodi

Dutch ePaper company DuRoBo just made two of its products available to buy in the US and UK. The Krono, a 6.13-inch ePaper focus hub designed for distraction-free reading, thinking, and writing, is now on Amazon for $279.99.

Alongside it, DuRoBo has launched Moodi, a lightweight Bluetooth page-turning remote, for $30.99 on Amazon and the DuRoBo website. If you have been watching the e-ink device market grow, this duo is worth a close look.

Read more
Amazon quietly upgrades its Fire HD 10 tablet with a whopping 1GB of RAM
Amazon really said, "Here's 1GB. You're welcome."
Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet

Amazon has quietly refreshed one of its most popular tablets, but not in the way many expected. Instead of launching a brand-new Fire tablet after its longest product drought in years, the company has introduced a slightly upgraded version of the existing Fire HD 10 with an extra gigabyte of RAM.

The update is modest on paper, yet it arrives at an interesting time. Amazon hasn't introduced a new Fire tablet since the Fire HD 8 refresh in 2024, while products like the Fire 7 and Fire Max 11 have yet to receive successors. Rather than expanding its lineup, Amazon appears to be extending the life of an aging device with a minor hardware tweak.

Read more
You’ll soon be able to use WhatsApp on your iPad without touching your iPhone
Companion mode stays. Primary mode arrives. WhatsApp on iPad just became a lot more useful.
Computer, Electronics, Pc

If you’ve ever used WhatsApp on your iPad, you already know its limitations. You can’t set it up without a primary device, can’t share live location, and can't use the broadcast lists feature. 

That’s finally changing. WhatsApp’s latest update gives iPad users a long-due promotion. Rather than serving as an extension of your iPhone, it will soon become your main device. 

Read more