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Conventional lighting methods aren’t always best, especially when it comes to lighting up outdoor spaces. We now have options that are environmentally friendly, bright, and fairly inexpensive.
Should you choose to take the solar-powered route, you’ll be working with spotlights that are not only user-friendly but also easy to install and more energy-efficient. Unfortunately though, before you find one that’s best suited for your driveway or camping needs, you have to do the work.
You see, ever since companies realized consumers are now looking for installations that offer value for money, they started flooding the market. And at the moment, our market supply is off the charts. Sieving out the chaff is no mean feat, especially if you have no clue as to what to look for.
That’s why we’ve created this list of reviews—to help you find the best solar spotlight for your needs.
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Best Overall | JSOT Outdoor Solar Spot Lights |
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Best Value | Magictec Solar Spotlight |
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Premium Choice | JESLED Solar Landscape Spotlights |
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Linkind StarRay 16 LEDs Solar Landscape Spotlights |
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InnoGear Solar Outdoor Lights |
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Brightness: | 700 Lumen |
Weight: | 4 pounds |
Even though we don’t know how exactly you’re planning to use your spotlight, we’re 100% certain the JSOT Solar Spot Lights will deliver. Firstly, its running time is relatively longer. To make that possible, the company designed it with a 180-degree adjustable solar panel to absorb sufficient energy from the sun. This ensures it provides sufficient lighting at a 360-degree angle. Its charging speed is also faster because it uses a 2200mAh battery—one of the best on the market.
This model has two lighting modes. Depending on your preference, you can work with the High Light Mode or the Low Light Mode. But bear in mind the higher the mode the shorter the running time. Its 10-hour running time will quickly become 6 if you increase the intensity of the brightness.
Another incredible feature is the 2-in-1 function option. It can be applied as wall lighting or as garden lights. And the installation process is hassle-free, as it doesn’t require a skilled professional or a manual.
There is no need of worrying about it being damaged by the harsh weather elements, seeing as it has a build made of high-impact ABS material with an IP65 waterproof rating.
If you open your package and find that you’ve gotten a faulty model, you’re allowed to return it to the store. JSOT usually offers a 30-day no-reason refund on all their products, including this spotlight.
We like everything this product had to offer, but we feel like it would have been perfect if they offered more than just one light color option.
Brightness: | 650 lumens |
Weight: | 76 pounds |
The Magictec is the best solar light for the money according to our tests. It’s very easy to use, install, and assemble. These things sound like the bare minimum of what every product should be offering, but you’ll be surprised. And they are listed as factors that make this light one of the most versatile and energy-efficient models for the outdoors.
The unit has two brightness modes, but varying lighting times. Needless to say, that time varies because at high brightness its solar-powered lithium-ion battery works overtime. Good thing is, with the 180-degree adjustment option, you’ll be able to illuminate a wider outdoor space.
The inbuilt sensors automatically switch on and off the lights, whenever the sun comes up or goes down. They are protected from the harsh weather elements by its solid build, that’s not only durable and rugged, but also heat- and waterproof.
In the package, you’ll find wall brackets and screws for wall-mounting, and stakes for ground installation. Be careful with them though. We’ve heard some users complain about how easily the stakes break.
Brightness: | 650 lumens |
Weight: | 3 pounds |
The JESLED Solar Landscape Spotlight is a great premium choice that delivers 650 lumens of light and a longer working time than many other options.
The solar panels are very sensitive, making it easier for the lights to charge even on a cloudy day. As expected of a premium quality model, the brightness modes are two-fold. Once the inbuilt sensor senses darkness, it switches on to Low Light Mode. If you wish to increase the brightness, you’ll see a button specifically added to the design for that purpose. Sadly, there’s a tradeoff—you’ll have a 6-hour battery life instead of the usual 12 hours.
One of the first things that we took note of was its unique, modern design. The solar panel and lighting angles are both 90 degrees, and the body is made of ABS plastic.
In addition to durability, it also guarantees frost, heat, and water resistance. The stakes are meant for users looking to stick their lights into the ground, and the mounts are for those hoping to use them as security lights. It even has screws to ensure the light is securely attached to the wall.
The customer service is great, but the 2-year warranty is rather disappointing—we don’t understand why they don’t offer an unlimited warranty the same way other brands are.
Brightness: | 650 lumens |
Weight: | 24 pounds |
The Linkind StarRay spotlight has been designed with 16 LED high-brightness beads that generate a light output that’s 50% brighter than your typical spotlight. The solar panel can be adjusted 90 degrees vertically, or 180 degrees horizontally, depending on the position of the sun. It has a 20% photoelectric conversion rate, meaning it charges faster than the previous iteration.
Because it’s a top-quality spotlight, you know you’ll be getting two installation options. Its wall bracket and the ground stake are designed to make it easier for users to fix it on any wall, or insert it into the ground.
The brightness modes are two-fold. For the High Mode, you’ll have a 6-hour running time. If you wish to use it for a longer period, say 12 hours, all you have to do is switch on the Low Mode. The sensor will automatically switch it off at sunrise and switch it back on at night.
It’s made of anti-UV ABS material, and precipitation is not an issue for an IP67 waterproof build, but make sure the temperature of your surroundings doesn’t go below -20 degrees or higher than 50 degrees.
We were kind of reluctant to buy it when we learned that it doesn’t come with a warranty. So if that’s a dealbreaker for you, consider other options.
Brightness: | 600 lumens |
Weight: | 7 pounds |
The InnoGear Solar spotlight has a solar energy conversion rate of 30%, making it one of the faster-charging spotlights in the market. They added high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon to the high-impact ABS plastic material to make its housing almost indestructible. It’s very reliable as it offers more than 10 hours of lighting when switched to the low mode. The high mode only works for 6 hours before everything shuts down.
The spotlight is also weather-resistant, be it frost, strong winds, heat, or rainwater. It automatically switches on and off depending on the time of day, and the installation is tool-free. What you may not like is the lighting color. It’s marketed as a warm white color, but it’s got a bluish tinge in practice.
Brightness: | 100 lumens |
Weight: | 3 ounces |
The Vont LED Outdoor Solar Light is still a relatively new model in the market. That should tell you something, considering we have models that have been around the block for a while now, and still aren’t a part of this list. This new model will illuminate your whole outdoor space using 16 LEDs that can be adjusted in two modes—High and Low Modes. With a 120-degree lighting angle, they’ll light up your garden for 6 hours at high intensity, or 12 hours at a low one.
The housing is IPX7 waterproof and made of high-impact ABS material.
Installation is super easy, as it doesn’t require any sort of skill or tools. And if you notice some of the parts are not working properly, you can request a replacement. Vont LED Outdoor Solar Lights have an unlimited warranty that covers defective material, theft, or loss.
The only problem here is with the low-light setting. When compared to other models, it came up short. But we were willing to overlook that when we realized that it also offers 2 placement options—ground installation and a wall mount.
Brightness: | 700 lumens |
Weight: | 43 pounds |
Most solar spotlights on the market have 4 LED bulbs. Brands usually feel like installing more than 4 is an overkill and a problem for the battery life. But, Biling disagrees, and that’s why they introduced a solar outdoor spotlight made with 12 LED bulbs. It even has a built-in sensor that switches it off during the day to give it time to charge, and switches it back on when the sun sets.
Just like the JSOT, it offers the 2-in-1 function option. You can use it to light up your garden by installing it into the ground, or as a security light once mounted on the walls.
This 90-degree adjustable solar light has an ABS material build as well. And the IP67 waterproofing technology applied to it is the reason why we’re confident it can withstand the different weather elements.
If you’d like to switch from low-mode to high-mode, just click the power button. But don’t forget its running time is contingent on the power usage. Going high means that you’ll never get to the 15th hour.
Their customer service is fair, but they take a long time to respond.
Solar spotlight models normally come in unique variations because they are designed to serve different consumer needs. There’s nothing like one size fits all in this industry. Some models will light up impressively large outdoor spaces, while others are only capable of lighting up a small portion.
We always say the best solar spotlights are the ones designed to serve more than one lighting purpose. For example, instead of just offering security, they could also be used as decorations. This buyer’s guide will help you separate chaff from what’s the real deal.
The design factor is a vital aspect of any product. It doesn’t just apply to spotlights. We don’t see any reason as to why anybody would think it’s okay to invest in a model that lacks the essential features required to satisfy their needs.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll realize all of the solar spotlights listed above have adjustable solar panels. “Adjustable” is the operative word, because it’s meant to let users know that that particular model has a feature that contributes to its overall optimum performance.
When it comes to matters of framing, plastic seems to be the best material for the job. But not just any plastic. It has to be Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, commonly referred to as ABS plastic. Some brands prefer using aluminum, and that’s okay as well. It’s great at building product housing that’s lightweight, rugged, and durable.
If you go for the wrong material, you’ll face a lot of issues down the road. Remember, solar spotlights are usually installed outside. They have to endure the heat, frost, rainwater, strong winds, and any other element that you could think of.
A large outdoor space—be it a garden, deck, or patio—requires the best illumination abilities. And that’s something that’s determined by the amount of light being emitted, as well as the number of LEDs. Assuming the space is broader than usual, you should go with the highest number of LEDs. If it’s considerably smaller, pick a spotlight with fewer LEDs.
By the way, this doesn’t mean that more LEDs guarantee high luminosity. We’ve seen single LEDs that are powerful enough to produce light that’s brighter than that produced by some 10 LEDs combined.
You can never know if or when you’ll feel the need to change the lighting direction or the settings. It could be after a week, a month, or even a year. It doesn’t really matter, as long as you have a solar spotlight that’s adjustable, and it’s shown in two ways:
Again, this depends on the user’s preference or need. Some users prefer multicolored lights, while others only want cold white, or warm. If you don’t know what suits you best, pick the dual-color option. That way, you can just substitute the luxurious-cozy feel provided by the warm-white color, with a cold one.
There are some solar lights with batteries that don’t last for more than an hour. And that’s a huge problem for consumers who want to see their driveways lit up all night long. A high-capacity battery is any battery that has 1000mAh or more. Don’t settle for anything less.
Outdoor lighting is not just meant to provide security. It can also contribute to the overall value of a property by making it look aesthetically pleasing. Investors know this, and that’s why they’re always ready to invest in the best options.
Our best option is the JSOT Outdoor Solar SpotLight. It had all the features we were hoping to find in a spotlight, and then some. The Magictec Solar Spotlight will offer you great value for money, while the JESLED Solar Landscape Spotlight will give you premium quality, albeit at a higher price.
You may also be interested in: 10 Best Camping Lanterns — Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: n_defender, Shutterstock
Robert’s obsession with all things optical started early in life, when his optician father would bring home prototypes for Robert to play with. Nowadays, Robert is dedicated to helping others find the right optics for their needs. His hobbies include astronomy, astrophysics, and model building. Originally from Newark, NJ, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the nighttime skies are filled with glittering stars.
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