The best solar torches, compared.
Top pick: igadgitz Xtra U4456 – Highest score in this set, 83: 4.6 from 1,175 reviews, solar and a hand crank, and an included NiMH cell, at about £17.99. Best value: E-SHIDAI USB and solar – About £7.91, the lowest price in this set, with 4.4 from 2,925 reviews and a score of 79. The AAA clash and charge-failure reviews stay in the assessment. Updated 22.10.2026.
A solar torch is a handheld LED torch with a rechargeable cell that a listing says can be topped up from a small solar panel, from USB, from a hand crank, or from more than one of those. UK shoppers also use the same words for a garden stake with a flickering flame LED. That stake is a different product. You judge a handheld by the charge method you will actually use, whether an IP code is printed, and whether the specification lines contradict each other. The largest lumen number is not a quality test, because listings print very different figures and ANSI/PLATO FL 1 is voluntary. A torch-sized panel is a trickle charge, weak in a British winter, through glass, or in a glovebox. A crank or a USB lead is the top-up you can rely on after the torch has sat unused. In BS EN 60529, IPX5 and IPX6 are water jets, not immersion. How to read a charge line and a water line is set out in the [solar torch buying guide](/hub/garden-decor/solar-torch/sub/solar-torch-buying-guide).
A solar torch is a handheld LED torch with a rechargeable cell that a listing says can be topped up from a small solar panel, from USB, from a hand crank, or from more than one of those.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What do you need the light for?
The igadgitz Xtra U4456 is listed at £17.99 and 181 g, with 4.6 from 1,175 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the first 50 reviews in the file are all from the United Kingdom. Those reviews describe an orange aluminium body that sits on a windowsill or a dashboard, with a crank that has resistance and folds away, used for power cuts, the fuse box, the car, and late-night bins. The listing prints 8 lumens from three LEDs, and reviewers treat that as enough to see a step, which is a long way from a searchlight. One minute of cranking is claimed to give 60 to 110 minutes of light, while the runtime field says 1 hour and the battery-life field says 4 hours, so a single duration is not available. The cell is an included 80 mAh 3 V NiMH, which is small beside the 1200 mAh lithium rows. The title says 5 m waterproof and uses the word eco, with no IP code, and a battery is still inside. One UK review reports a switch failure after about three years of near-daily indoor use. It is the top pick here for a crank emergency torch with a long UK review history, and the wrong buy if you need to light a garden.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A windowsill or glovebox torch for a power cut, when you will crank it and you only need to see a step.
Less suitable: Dog walks, work lighting, or anyone who needs USB output or a bright beam.
Specifications
Common questions
How bright is the igadgitz torch?
The listing says up to 8 lumens from three LEDs, with low, high, and emergency settings. UK reviews call the beam enough for emergencies and not a searchlight.
How long do you crank it?
The bullets say one minute of cranking provides 60 to 110 minutes of light, and one hour of direct sunlight provides 90 to 140 minutes. The runtime field says 1 hour. The battery-life field says 4 hours.
Is the battery included?
Yes. The listing says one product-specific NiMH battery is required and included. It does not say whether you can replace that cell yourself.
The PCXWTLN is listed at £14.98 as a 269 g solar and USB torch with IPX6 on the title, a claimed 150 lumens, and a 1200 mAh cell, and it shows 4.5 from 15 amazon.co.uk reviews. Only one of the eight reviews in the file is from the United Kingdom, and that reviewer says it is lighter than earlier rechargeable torches. The bullets put the front light at 3 to 4 hours and the side COB at 5 to 6 hours, while the runtime field says 6 hours, and a full solar charge is claimed in 5 to 6 hours. One field says lithium polymer and another says Li-ion, and the batteries-included line says no beside a built-in cell. IPX6 is a jet rating in BS EN 60529, which is not a reason to submerge the torch, and the listing has no test report. Reviews from outside the UK call the solar panel tiny and the handle narrow for large hands, so those points stay out of the UK score. It is the clearest rain claim in this set if you accept a thin review count and you charge it from USB as well as from the panel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A car boot or a wet path, if you want a printed IPX6 line and you will USB-charge it.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a large United Kingdom review sample, or a torch to submerge.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the PCXWTLN torch be used in the rain?
The title and bullets claim IPX6. The listing has no test report. IPX6 is a jet rating, not a licence to submerge the torch.
Does it have a handle?
The bullets describe a wide handle for carrying and hanging. One review says the handle is too narrow for large hands.
How long does a charge last?
The bullets say the front light runs 3 to 4 hours and the side light 5 to 6 hours. The runtime field says 6 hours. A full solar charge is claimed in 5 to 6 hours.
The Synkris is listed at £9.99 and 120 g, with 4.5 from only five amazon.co.uk reviews, and the single United Kingdom review in the file calls the wind-up charge workable and the beam modest from three LEDs. The bullets say one minute of cranking gives eight minutes of light, which is a short burst rather than an evening of use. A specification row says the torch is not water resistant, while a bullet calls it waterproof, and there is no IP code. The set-name field says 2-Pack and the pack count is 2, but the title and the item count describe one flashlight. Capacity and lumens are not stated, and that UK reviewer could not tell how much a mentioned USB output would put into a phone. With one review text, a defect rate is not knowable. It is a pocket crank to consider only if you want that eight-minute claim and you can see how many units arrive.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A glovebox crank if you only need a few minutes of light and you check how many units are in the parcel.
Less suitable: Rain, a long walk, or anyone who needs a stated lumen figure.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the Synkris torch be used in the rain?
The specification field says not water resistant. A bullet calls it waterproof. There is no IP code on the listing.
How long does one minute of cranking last?
The listing says one minute of cranking generates 8 minutes of light. Lumens are not stated.
Is it a two-pack?
The set name says 2-Pack and the pack count is 2. The title and the number of items say one flashlight.
Across 2,925 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.4 stars, the E-SHIDAI is listed at £7.91 as a 141 g handheld with a claimed 1000 lumens, a 1200 mAh lithium-ion cell, and USB in and out. United Kingdom reviews in the sample praise a bright spotlight plus a side light after a USB charge, with daylight used as a top-up. The same listing prints IPX5 and tells you not to put the torch in water, and one UK review says it did not seem water resistant in use. The specification table also asks for one AAA cell and says batteries are not included, while the title and the included-components line describe a built-in battery and a USB cable. UK complaints that do appear include a torch that will not charge and buttons that pop out of a plasticky body. The 1000-lumen line and the 800-metre range are seller claims, with no FL 1 mark in the file. It is the best value in this set on price and review volume if you charge it from a 5 V USB source and you do not treat the water line as immersion.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-price USB work light for a shed or a short walk, if you accept the specification clash and charge it at 5 V.
Less suitable: Heavy rain, immersion, or anyone who needs the battery line to match the title.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the E-SHIDAI torch waterproof?
The listing says IPX5 and water resistant, and the same bullets say not to put it in water. One United Kingdom review says it did not seem water resistant in use.
Does the price include a battery?
Included components list a battery and a USB cable. Another field says batteries are not included and that one AAA cell is required. The title describes a built-in 1200 mAh cell.
Can it charge a phone?
The bullets claim a USB output. The cell is stated as 1200 mAh. The listing does not say how much charge that gives a phone.
Rank 5
The Vellichor Mega Power is listed at £11.99 and 260 g, with a claimed 800 lumens from eight LEDs and a side COB, and it shows 4.1 from 552 amazon.co.uk reviews. The first 50 reviews in the file are from the United Kingdom, and several say it was bright enough for a tent, a garden, or a power cut after a USB charge, with solar used beside a window. The same UK texts say the mega name overstates the beam for a shed or a short dog walk, and that brightness can fall after a few minutes. Charging ports that break, or a torch that stops taking a charge after about a month, come up more than once, and one review says the cell faded after about four months. There is no IP code behind the waterproof word, no stated capacity, and reviews say there is no charge-level light, with the switch under a red cover that is easy to lose. Those reviews also say the connector is not USB-C, and one calls it type B. It is a mid-price USB work light if you can return a dead port, and a poor choice for a blackout kit you will not replace.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional camping or a garden check, if you keep the receipt and you charge it from USB.
Less suitable: A power-cut kit you will not replace, or rain when you need a printed IP code.
Specifications
Common questions
Will the Vellichor torch work in a power cut?
The listing markets it for emergencies, with solar or USB charging and a flash mode. It does not state a runtime. UK reviews include a camping trip and torches that stopped charging.
Is there a charge indicator?
The specification table does not list one. UK reviews say there is no charge-level light, and that the switch sits under a red cover.
What USB plug does it use?
The specification table does not name the connector. UK reviews say it is not USB-C, and one review says type B.
Five amazon.co.uk listings were read on 21 October 2026. There was no lab test of lumens, beam distance, ingress, crank output, or cell capacity. Each score is the sum of four marks: stars times 8, a sample band, listing clarity from a start of 20, and a UK review signal. A 4.5 from five reviews does not sit level with a 4.5 from a large sample, because the sample band is separate. The highest score is the top pick once. Best value uses the shelf price in GBP as well as that score, once, and not on the same product. The weights below are those four marks and already sum to 100. Lines such as 1000 lumens, 800 metres, 5 m waterproof, and eco stay seller lines.
Amazon stars
40%Stars times 8, rounded to the nearest whole number. A 4.6 becomes 37. A 4.5 becomes 36. A 4.4 becomes 35. A 4.1 becomes 33. This block is not the star line multiplied by 20.
Review sample
28%28 at 2,000 reviews or more, 24 from 1,000 to 1,999, 18 from 100 to 999, 8 from 10 to 99, 4 from 2 to 9, and 0 if there are none. Five reviews stay in the lowest band above zero.
Listing clarity
20%Starts at 20. Points come off when the battery table contradicts the title, when water lines contradict each other or waterproof has no IP code, when the pack count disagrees with the item count, and when runtime, material, capacity, or lumens are missing or clash.
UK review signal
12%4 for one United Kingdom review body, 12 for two or more. Then a cut when a charge failure or a broken port repeats, or when a single switch failure is reported. Review text from Spain, Germany, or Italy is not used as UK opinion.
Judge the charge method you will actually use before you compare a lumen title. A crank or USB is a top-up after the torch has sat unused. A torch-sized panel is a trickle charge. Read the water line as an IP code, and treat a battery table that contradicts the title as a fault, not as a hidden specification. Best value here is the lowest shelf price with a large review count, judged apart from the highest score. A green word on the title is not a basis for an eco claim.
A solar torch, in British English, is a handheld LED torch with a rechargeable cell. The listing says that cell can be topped up from a small solar panel, from USB, from a hand crank, or from more than one of those. UK shoppers also use the same words for a garden stake with a flickering flame LED. That stake does not throw a beam you can aim, and it is not what the handheld listings in this category are. A wick and a fuel cup are a different product again.
A flickering garden stake and a wick cup are different products. This table is handheld torches with a cell. A stake will not aim a beam, and these torches are not path lights.
These listings print 8, 150, 800 and 1000 lumens with no shared ANSI/PLATO FL 1 mark. Do not rank the 8-lumen page as dimmer than the 1000-lumen page on that number alone. The figure is a seller line.
A battery table that asks for one AAA, or says batteries are not included, against a built-in cell is a clash. So is waterproof in a bullet beside not water resistant in the table. Read both lines before you buy.
After the torch has sat unused, a crank or USB is the reliable top-up. The igadgitz Xtra U4456 and the Synkris both claim a crank. The igadgitz seller says one minute of cranking gives 60 to 110 minutes of light, without naming the mode. The Synkris says one minute gives eight minutes. The E-SHIDAI, Vellichor and PCXWTLN are solar plus USB, with no crank. A torch-sized panel is a trickle charge in a British winter, through glass, or in a glovebox. Water is a code. The PCXWTLN prints IPX6.
The igadgitz states an included 80 mAh 3 V NiMH cell. The PCXWTLN and the E-SHIDAI state 1200 mAh lithium, and the E-SHIDAI table also asks for one AAA and says batteries are not included. The Vellichor and the Synkris say lithium and do not state a capacity. The Vellichor page also lists a battery while marking batteries as not included. UK reviews on the Vellichor include broken charging ports and fading cells. The E-SHIDAI sample includes a torch that will not charge.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a torch without fresh AA cells, and you will leave a crank model on a windowsill. The igadgitz Xtra U4456 is about £17.99, with 4.6 from 1,175 amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing prints 8 lumens. UK reviews call that enough to see a step, not a searchlight. Runtime lines disagree, and the 5 m waterproof line has no IP code.
You will USB-charge a brighter lithium torch and you can accept a specification clash. The E-SHIDAI is about £7.91, with 4.4 from 2,925 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK reviews mention a spotlight and a side light. The table also asks for one AAA cell, IPX5 sits next to a do-not-immerse line, and some UK texts say it will not charge.
You want a printed IP code and you will charge from USB as well as from the panel. The PCXWTLN is about £14.98, with IPX6 on the title, a claimed 150 lumens, and 4.5 from 15 reviews. Only one United Kingdom review is in the file. IPX6 is a jet rating, not a reason to submerge the torch, and there is no test report.
The top pick is the igadgitz Xtra U4456 at about £17.99. The score is 83: 4.6 from 1,175 amazon.co.uk reviews, solar and a hand crank, and an included 80 mAh NiMH cell. UK reviews describe power cuts, the car, and seeing a step. The listing prints 8 lumens, the runtime lines disagree, and the 5 m waterproof line has no IP code. It is the wrong buy if you need to light a garden. The best value is the E-SHIDAI USB and solar torch at about £7.91, the lowest price in this set, with 4.4 from 2,925 reviews and a score of 79. UK reviews mention a spotlight and a side light after a USB charge. The AAA line, the do-not-immerse note beside IPX5, and reviews of a torch that will not charge stay in the assessment. Neither badge is a lab test, and neither is a claim about every solar torch on amazon.co.uk.
igadgitz Xtra U4456
Highest score in this set, 83: 4.6 from 1,175 reviews, solar and a hand crank, and an included NiMH cell, at about £17.99.
E-SHIDAI USB and solar
About £7.91, the lowest price in this set, with 4.4 from 2,925 reviews and a score of 79. The AAA clash and charge-failure reviews stay in the assessment.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources for the IP code, product marks, battery waste and green claims. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts were taken from the listings on 21 October 2026. No lumen, ingress or crank test was run for this page.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the listings. This is not a laboratory test.
