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Best Performance
Highest sunny output + top overall score
Average Finish: 3.5
Purchased for: $80
Made In: China
Top overall (average finish 3.5). Highest sunny output in testing. Would not start charging below ~5V battery voltage. Float behavior ran a bit high (cut-in 14.1V, cut-out 14.4V). Rubberized coating: perfect scratch score. Minor dent on impact. Best efficiency called out: ~0.12 W/sq-in and ~15.35 W/lb.
Won the overall scorecard (avg finish 3.5) and produced the most power in hot sunny conditions (~21.52W). Note: won’t start charging below ~5V.
Best Value
Strong across tests at a mid price
Average Finish: 3.7
Purchased for: $50
Made In: China
25W-claimed. Strong overcast average and solid sunny output. Float control worked (cut-in 13.3V, cut-out 14.1V). Rubberized coating: perfect scratch score (no damage from picks). Finished 2nd overall (average finish 3.7) and was the reviewer’s personal pick around $50.
Reviewer’s personal pick around $50. Finished 2nd overall (avg finish 3.7) with solid float control (13.3V in / 14.1V out) and perfect scratch score.
Runner-up
Best overcast average output
Purchased for: $59
Made In: China
20W-claimed semi-flex panel. Best overcast average output. Float control: cut-in 13.8V, cut-out 14.5V. Scratch resistance was poor (damage at pick #3). Reverse-polarity test produced a significant spark and very hot wires (did not pass as cleanly as most). Impact left a dent but still functioned.
Highest overcast average (~10.58W). Tradeoffs: poor scratch resistance (pick #3) and reverse-polarity test caused very hot wires.
Prices shown are the on-video prices mentioned during testing; Amazon short links were provided in the video description but are intentionally omitted here.
Measured near midday with a solar panel tester under overcast skies, with panels lying flat. A couple values were described approximately in the transcript and are noted.
Same overcast test, but propped at a 28° angle. Some panels improved slightly; others did not.
The video explicitly states the average overcast output across the flat and 28° tests for the top performers.
Measured with no clouds after panels sat in direct sun for hours; several panels lost output due to heat while FlexSolar led at ~21.52W.
Cut-in voltages were explicitly stated for these models. Several other panels failed float control or did not cut off during the overcharge check.
Cut-out voltages were explicitly stated. PulseTech cut-out was not observed during the test window (kept charging).
Most models began charging below 1V, but these had higher minimum start voltages called out explicitly in the test narration.
Scores reflect the pick number that first produced visible damage; rubberized panels that showed no damage received a perfect 10 as stated in the video.
Weights come from the narration. SUNER POWER had conflicting values in the transcript; 4.59 lb was converted to grams for consistency.
The video reports all but two passed. NX and PulseTech created significant/hot reverse-polarity events (wires heated quickly).
Efficiency values were explicitly stated for these panels as watts per square inch.
Values were explicitly stated in the video as watts produced per pound of panel weight.