2 days ago
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- The ToughTested ROC 16 is on sale now for $85.
- It's a rugged, 16,000 mAh power bank with three ports, wireless charging, and a solar panel that could come in handy in an emergency.
- The solar panel has natural limitations.
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During peak sunlight, the Earth can receive as much as 100 watts per square foot at the top of the atmosphere. However, factors like clouds and rain (which I have plenty of experience with living in the UK), and the angle of the sun over the horizon reduce this amount.
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And it's all free, just waiting to be harvested. So, it makes sense that we'd eventually start using it to power our homes and gadgets. Over the past couple of decades, I've watched solar panel technology improve in efficiency to the point where even relatively small panels can deliver a meaningful amount of energy.
Small enough, in fact, that you can now add a solar panel to a power bank, and it's not just a gimmick.
This is exactly what ToughTested has done with its range of power banks. Here, I'm looking at a pack from the ROC series, consisting of high-end power banks with built-in solar panels.
Before we dive in, let me make one thing crystal clear: this isn't the first solar-powered power bank I've tested -- but it is the best. By far. Most of the ones I've tried in the past have been downright terrible, some even came with fake solar panels (yes, really) or solar panels that would actually drain the battery when out of the light. The others were mediocre, with the solar panel serving as little more than a gimmick to lure in buyers.
But this one is different.
Let's start by being realistic. If, on average, about 15-22 watts of energy falls on every square foot of Earth (which works out to 0.104-0.153 watts per square inch), the amount of energy a panel that can fit onto a power bank can collect is proportionally smaller. A panel like this isn't going to collect buckets of energy, it's more like thimblefuls.
Lots of ports, hidden behind a rubber plug.
That said, solar energy is free and available every day, so even small amounts can be useful in the right circumstances.
The ROC power banks come in 16,000 mAh and 24,000 mAh capacities. Here, I'll focus on the smaller ROC16 model. This power bank is built tough, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It can handle rain, fog, splashes, and even high-pressure jets, but it's not designed for full immersion.
Just don't expect this to be a discreet, pocket-sized device. It's big and heavy, measuring 7.75 x 5.5 x 2.6 inches and weighing 1.1 pounds. It features two USB-A ports (one standard and one QC 3.0 compatible) and one 18W max USB-C port, and a microUSB port that's reserved for charging.
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I'm not a fan of microUSB for charging, but I get why it exists because the microUSB is still popular in a lot of developing countries. Luckily, you can use the USB-C or microUSB. With a high-speed PD charger, you can take the power bank from flat to full in about three hours.
If you prefer the convenience of wireless charging, the ROC16 includes a 15-watt maximum wireless charging pad on the top. While this is a nice feature, it's not particularly fast and is far less efficient than using a cable -- you could lose up to 50% of the power bank's capacity to efficiency losses, especially since there aren't any magnets for aligning the handset to the pad.
Still, if you're not short on power to keep the bank charged, it's a handy option, effectively giving you a virtual fourth port.
Yes, there's a built-in LED flashlight, with obligatory (and in my opinion, annoying) strobe and SOS modes.
The 16,000 mAh capacity is enough to charge a smartphone several times. For example, my iPhone 17 Pro Max gets between two and three full charges, while an iPhone 17 Air would get about four.
There's also a built-in high-output, multi-mode LED flashlight, which is perfect for finding your way around camp or during a power outage, although I'm not a fan of the SOS and strobe modes on these sort of flashlights.
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Now, let's come back to that solar panel. According to the specs, the 280mA panel can harvest 1A of power every 3.57 hours. In theory, it could fully charge the power bank in 57 hours of sunlight. Is this a practical way to charge the power bank for daily use? No. But it does provide a way to collect power in an emergency, which can be used to top up a phone or other device.
Think of the solar panel as an emergency accessory. A few hours of daylight could give your phone enough juice to get you out of a jam. Just don't waste that power on wireless charging.
For the size and weight, the ROC16 is quite an ergonomic power bank.
One important note: power banks don't like being baked in the sun. Overheating can damage the battery and slow down recharging. It's far better to attach the power bank to the back of a backpack, where it gets plenty of airflow, than to leave it roasting on a car dashboard. I've seen reports of solar panels peeling off, which is likely due to excessive heat exposure (the manual does warn against this).
ZDNET's buying advice
The ToughTested ROC16 is a great power bank that delivers on its promises in terms of capacity and power output. The wireless charging feature is a nice touch, but keep in mind that it's an inefficient way to use power if you're running low. The solar panel is a useful addition -- not because it can fully charge the power bank, but because ToughTested has been realistic about its capabilities.
It's not cheap at $70, and if you don't need the IP67 rating or the solar panel, there are cheaper options available. However, if you're looking for a portable way to harvest a little solar power for your off-grid or emergency kit, this is a solid choice.
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