INTRODUCTION

   Whenever I leave my home and/or office for long periods of time I always like to pack at least one high-capacity powerbank with my things just in case I find myself far from a wall socket and I need to recharge my smartphone and/or tablet. Fortunately, powerbanks have "evolved" over the years and so consumers can currently get their hands on very high-capacity models that combine reasonably sized enclosures with many features such as numerous USB outputs (both regular and USB-C ones), fast/quick charge technologies, rugged/durability certifications (waterproof/dustproof), LED torches and even solar panels. In recent years Sandberg has released quite a few interesting powerbanks many of which have found their way to our lab and today with us we have yet another one the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000.

   Sandberg stands for quality and user-friendliness. If it is important for you that accessories are high quality and easy to figure out how to use, then choose Sandberg. Our ideology "IT is for everybody" is part of everything we do. Since its inception in 1985, private consumers, institutions and companies have benefited from this simple philosophy. Distributors and dealers appreciate the availability, range, simple procedures and the exceptionally low failure rate. Every year over half a million Sandberg products find their way to users in more than 30 countries. Choosing Sandberg means choosing a safe and conscientious product that meets all applicable regulatory requirements. A product manufactured by subcontractors who are committed to following Sandberg's Code of Conduct to ensure decent working conditions and reduce the environmental impact of the production and waste disposal.

   As revealed by its name the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000 by Sandberg has 24000mAh (88.8Wh) worth of rechargeable lithium-ion cells (unfortunately we don't know the brand used – could be by LG just like their Survivor model) placed inside an IP67 certified rugged enclosure (dustproof, shockproof and waterproof up to 1m) made out of rubber and plastic. This enclosure/housing also features a 2W/400mA solar panel at the top, micro USB input (5V/2A) and USB type C input/output (5V/3A) on one side, 2 USB outputs (5V/2A - 5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A quick charge 3.0 compatible) and powerful LED touch at the front and a 4 LED battery indicator on its base. Sandberg also bundles a carabiner/snap hook with the powerbank allowing you to quickly secure it either with your backpack or your belt. Last but certainly not least Sandberg offers a 90 day BullGuard Internet Security subscription and covers the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000 with a 5 year limited warranty.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

A partial product picture is located at the front of the box right over the main product features and the country of origin for the solar panel.

The product features are also listed on the left side of the box.

Moving at the rear we find a few words about the product in 12 languages right over the bundle contents and the product specifications.

As usual the front opens up like a book to reveal the powerbank on one side and its main features as pictures on the other.

Inside the box you will find the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000, micro USB cable, USB-C cable, carabiner, BullGuard Internet Security paper and the user manual.

THE OUTDOOR SOLAR POWERBANK 24000

The 553g heavy Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000 is an all-black model that measures 180mm in length, 89mm in width and 30mm in height.

To have a better idea on how large the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000 by Sandberg is we placed it right next to the XB203 Infinity 27000mAh, Limitless 10000mAh and AL420 9000mAh models by Xtorm, the Survivor Powerbank 20100 again by Sandberg, the Ultra Compact Powerbank 10000mAh by CHJGD and the PL3 10400mAh and PL2 6000mAh models by Luxa2.

The 2W/400mA solar panel also seems quite durable (we don't have any details about it however).

Sandberg has used thick rubber to place the powerbank in which should provide adequate protection in most situations.

You can use the bundled carabiner with this foldable metal hook located at the rear of the powerbank.

The micro USB input port and the USB-C input/output ports are both located on the left side of the enclosure behind a piece of rubber.

At the front of the powerbank we find the LED torch and the two "regular" USB output ports (the Quick Charge 3.0 port is painted orange).

Taking a look at the base of the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000 we see the product specifications and the 4 LED charging indicator right over the on/charging status button.

CONCLUSION

   To test the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000 by Sandberg we used every smartphone, tablet, portable speaker and audio player we have in the lab (also a couple of USB capacity measurement tools) and after over 40 days and dozens of recharges the maximum we managed to pull from it was just over 16500mAh (between 16000mAh and 17000mAh) a number which is actually very good for an 24000mAh advertised model. Measuring the effective/real capacity of this model was not all we did however since we also wanted to thoroughly test the solar panel and see just how long it would take for a full charge. Unfortunately, although we do have sunny days here even during the winter it's far from what we get during the summer so it took a total of 8 days under direct sunlight for a full charge. That being said if the sun is out this can be a very useful feature and should provide enough battery juice per day for a single charge of any current smartphone (that of course depends largely on the intensity of the sun where you're at).

   Just like with most products by Sandberg the Outdoor Solar Powerbank 24000 model is not available in the USA but can be currently found for 120.12Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price tag which is quite heftier than expected. This of course is due to massive competition in that segment of the market which basically means that you can find similar products for less. Still Sandberg does make it up (at least partially) with their 5-year warranty and excellent support and that combined with all its features and massive battery capacity are enough for us to give it our Golden Award.

PROS

- IP67 Rugged Housing (Dustproof/Waterproof)
- High Capacity (24000mAh)
- 3 Output Ports (2xUSB / 1xUSB Type C)
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Compatible
- Built In LED Torch
- 4 LED Battery Charge Indicator
- Foldable Hook With Carabiner
- 5 Year Warranty

CONS

- Overall Size (For Some)
- Price (Compared To The Competition)