Best Solar Lights For Garden – 2018 Reviews + Buying Guide
There is nothing worse than coming back home to a poorly lit entrance or a driveway. Especially, after a long day at work, when you want to feel safe and welcome. On the other hand, no one wants to pay a huge electricity bill for a lamp that wastes kilowatts of energy lighting nothing. This is exactly where solar powered spot lights with motion sensors come in handy. These models combine a user-friendly (light activation on movement) and energy-efficient (eco-friendly solar charging) approaches, which makes them perfect fits for a wide array of patios, driveways, gardens, and even terraces. If you are concerned about bleak winter days — not need to worry. Most present day models with USB charging mode as well.
In other words, USB solar lights offer one of the best outdoor lighting solutions in the market these days. However, the available options are plenty, which is why finding the perfect model might be a bit frustrating. So, we have a compiled a quick list of the top, leading manufacturers that can make any house feel like home. Apart from the outdoor Solar spot lights described below, make sure to pay attention to our quick shopping guide. If you have any questions left after reading top-model reviews, our shopping tips should answer all of them.
Innogear 360° Usb Solar Lights
Pros
- Easy 360-degree rotation
- Solar and USB charging
- Outdoor Landscape Lighting
- Tool free installation
Cons
- Has only two lighting modes
- Stick into the ground option lacks stability
- Highly sensitive motions triggers are not always energy efficient
What we think
All in all, this Innogear model has its pluses and minuses. On the bright side, USB charging will come in handy on a rainy day — literally. On the other hand, motion detectors with bright solar spot lights that can be triggered with 16 feet are often a waste of energy so you might have to use your USB charger more often than you think.
Review
In this lamp, power efficient qualities are combined with a highly affordable price. Apart from a standard USB charging option, Innogear model is also powered by the sun, which makes it one of the leading lamp models for the outdoors. Waterproof and heatproof, the piece has a supreme, 360-degree rotating function. Another aspect that makes this model stand out from the competition is the highly sensitive motion detector that can be triggered within 16 feet from the lamp. The model also leaves some room for flexibility; Innogear is available in two easily interchangeable light modes: strong light and dim light. The best feature about the dim light mode is that it can automatically change to bright light when the motion sensor is triggered. Finally, Innogear does not need any special skills or even tools to install — you can simply stick it into the ground. And, of course, those who prefer something even more stable, a screw-on option is also available. All in all, Innogear is one of the best solar lamps in the market so far.
LBell 360° Usb Solar Spotlight
Pros
- Easy control and operation
- Quick and simple installation
- Full rotation angle
Cons
- No remote control function
- No motion sensor
What we think
On the whole, this is a solid choice for those who love their tech the old-fashioned way. LBell model is the kind of lamp you manually switch on at night and manually switch off in the morning. While the approach has its perks, the energy efficiency of the piece is doubtful.
Review
LBell is a good choice for those who do not mind manual controls. True, the controls are pretty simple — you have a switch on the rear panel that turns the lamp on and off. Still, the approach seems to be a bit outdated these days. On the other hand, the model has a lot of other perks, such as full 360-degree rotation, 2 charging options (battery charging from USB and solar panel charging), high durability and water resistance. All of these qualities make LBell a pretty good lamp when it comes to choosing a garden light. Still, the energy efficiency of the piece is poorly designed. On the one hand, it offers an eco-friendly option of solar charging; on the other one, the light stays on all through the night, which is a waste of energy. In other words, you might have to recharge the batteries quite often. Bottom line, the LBell’s usb solar lights system has plenty of room for improvement. Hopefully, upcoming models will solve this little issue.
Kumeda 24 Solar Led 360° Usb Solar Spotlight
Pros
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Powerful LED technology
- Full rotation angle
- Two light modes
Cons
- Stick to the ground installation lacks stability
- Motion detection sensor might be too sensitive
What we think
This is a great example of an outdoor lamp with LED solar spot lights. Even though the model is technically suitable for the indoor usage (thanks to powerful LED technology), the piece truly shines as a solar motion sensor light for outdoor driveway.
Review
Perhaps, one of the most impressive features of the model is an adjustable, rotating head that can catch sunlight at different angles. That surely does boost the piece energy efficiency. When it comes to the other features, Kumeda is simple, but solid outdoor lamp. Just like the first models in this list, the piece has a strong and a dim lighting mode; the latter one can switch to stronger light once the motion sensor is triggered; and, the model has two charging options — sunlight and a USB cable for a rainy day. Motion sensors react within 16 feet and 120 degrees, which is a perfect distance for driveway lighting. Next, the lamp is made of durable plastic that can withstand heat and cold. One more thing that makes Kumeda lamp stand out is a 12-month guarantee. Chances are, you will not use the refund, but it’s nice to know you can. Finally, this lamp is quick and easy to install — you can either stick it into the ground or screw it on.
Creative Design 24 Led Solar and Usb Rechargeable Outdoor Spotlight
Pros
- Dual rotating head
- Two charging options
- Two lighting modes
- Simple installation
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Small motion detection zone
What we think
This is a solid lamp for lighting up your terrace or a balcony, but definitely not the best choice when it comes to lighting up your driveway. The biggest inconsistency about this piece is that super bright solar spot lights are used when simple dim light would suffice.
Review
On the one hand, Creative Designs strives to provide a piece that would be suitable both for lighting the driveway and the walk-through areas. In practice, though, both tasks are poorly done. With this model, your driveway will be dimly lit, while your terrace will shine too bright. On the whole, this is nothing to fuss about, but the piece surely has some room for improvement. On the upside, Creative Designs does strive to offer a model that would act double-duty, which is why this lamp deserves a shot. More than that, the lamp has other impressive perks — like highly adjustable solar panel, sensitive motion detectors, and additional USB charging. Note, though, that the lamp uses outdated Li-ion battery, and can only work for about 8-10 hours after full charging (standby not included). So, the piece is more suitable for southern regions, where the sunlight is plenty. The piece has two lighting modes: dim light triggered within 16 feet of the motion source and bright light, triggered within 5 feet of the motion source.
Hallomall 360° Outdoor Usb Solar Motion Lights
Pros
- Three adjustable light modes
- Two charging options
- Energy efficiency
- Full rotation
Cons
- Outdated batteries
- Higher than average cost
What we think
On the whole, this is a very solid model worth considering. Despite poor lithium batteries, the model manages to ensure high energy efficiency. Plus, the lamp is easy to install and to recharge. However, given the number of the unique features the model offers, the price could have been lower.
Review
One of the few solar powered spot lights that have three lighting modes instead of two, Hallomall cannot but catch the eye. Apart from this one feature, the model comes with standard settings: motion detectors, automatic light brightness adjustment, USB charging option, dual rotating head, sun power accumulation, etc. All in all, this is a very solid piece worth checking out. Even though Hallomall uses lithium batteries, the battery life is surprisingly long. Once again, the lamp is easy to install (stick into the ground or screw it on), so anyone will be able to take care of the installation swiftly and without extra effort. And, of course, the chance of having three light modes (strong or dim when the motion sensor is not triggered and always strong when a sensor is triggered) is quite appealing. On the other hand, you might want to ask yourself if the extra lighting mode feature is worth a 30% above the average market value cost. If you believe so, Hallomall might be the right model for you!
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Usb Solar Lights
No doubt, choosing an outdoor lamp is not one of those decisions that will have a drastic impact on your life. On the other hand, our whole lives consist of little details, and choosing high-quality products that make our daily routines just a bit more convenient will definitely play its part. If you do not want to come back home to a poorly lit driveway or a garden, you might want to spare a couple more minutes figuring out the kind of outdoor lamp you need. And here are some of the most important aspects you should weigh over.
Areas you plan to highlight
Obviously, you will not choose the same solid light for the patio and for the driveway — simply because these two have slightly different functions. Depending on the area you are highlighting, you might want to consider the following features before jumping to any conclusions.
Light delay: plenty of solar lights with motion detection have a short (up to 5 seconds) light delay before switching to a bright light mode. This little feature can work miracles when highlighting terraces and patios — in other words, sparing your eyes when you enter the lit area.
Motion sensors: another thing to focus on is the motion detectors sensitivity. Wider-range sensors (up to 16 feet) are perfect for highlighting the driveway. Short-range sensors (up to 5 feet) are designed for highlighting ‘human’ walk-through areas, such as terraces, balconies, and garden paths.
Your energy efficiency expectations
Obviously, solar light lamps are already energy-efficient — or, at least, they are supposed to be. The actual energy efficiency will differ from one manufacturer to another one. Ideally, you should check the battery life before making your decision. For example, most Li-ion batteries can function for 8-12 hours after fully charged. Is it going to be enough? Well, the answer mostly depends on the next point in out shopping guide.
The climate zone you live in
All in all, an 8-12-hour battery is more than enough for southern areas with plenty of sunlight during the day. The lamp will fully charge during the day and recharge during the night, which is quite ok. However, if you live in cloudy areas with regular precipitation, you might want to look for a more powerful battery when it comes to outdoor lighting. Sure, you might argue that this is exactly where USB charging comes in, but let’s stay realistic. If you have to manually charge the lamp on a regular basis, most days it will simply remain uncharged, and your driveway — unlit.
Other features to think over
Most of the modern solar lamps on the market come in a sturdy plastic body. Still, before making the purchase, you’d better double-check this factor — after all, you have to stay confident that the piece you buy is water and weatherproof. And, of course, there is always the matter of price. Some models will feature more perks than the others and, consequently, will be available at a higher price. In practice, though, it makes little difference if the lamp has two or three lighting modes — you will not use more than two, anyway.
Conclusion
To wrap up, most solar lamps these days come in pretty much the same functionality; however, minor details will be a bit different, and taking your time to consider them can make a difference between a successful purchase and a not so successful one. All in all, we have listed up some of the most important aspects to focus on; namely, the areas you need lit and the climate you live in. The rest is quite circumstantial. And, of course, do not forget that more is not always better — after all, you will most likely use the standard functionality, which is why it makes all the sense the world to pay a standard price. As long as you remember that, choosing an energy efficient solar lamp to highlight your garden and/or a driveway should be a walk in the park! Now you’re ready to make a purchase.