Portable power and solar generators

Flexible, Foldable or Bendable Solar Panels: Three Different Products, and Which One You Are Looking For

Published · By the SolarPanelX editors · Updated · See individual checks and dates below

Summary

A foldable panel has sections that fold for transport; it stands up at a campsite and plugs into a power station, and it does not bend. A flexible or bendable panel is a thin sheet meant to be fixed to a curved or weight-limited surface, a van roof, a boat deck, a shed; it bends once, when mounted, and stays there. The two are not interchangeable: EcoFlow's 220 W foldable weighs 7.0 kg and folds to 615 by 590 mm; BougeRV's Arch Pro 100 W flexible is 2.5 mm thick, 2.1 kg, and bends to 270 degrees; BougeRV's Yuma CIGS 100 W bends to 360 degrees and sticks down with adhesive. "High-efficiency foldable" describes 25% cells on both EcoFlow's foldable and BougeRV's crystalline flexible; the CIGS sheet is 17%.

The three, with numbers

Foldable (portable)Flexible, crystallineFlexible, CIGS thin-film
ExampleEcoFlow NextGen 220W Bifacial; Jackery SolarSaga 100WRenogy 100W Lightweight Flexible; BougeRV Arch Pro 100WBougeRV Yuma 100W
Weight7.0 kg (220 W); 3.6 kg (100 W); 3.1 to 3.6 kg per 100 W across five models2.4 kg; 2.1 kgabout the same as the Arch Pro
Bends?no; hingedyes, once: 240° (Renogy), 270° (Arch Pro)yes, 360°; tightest bend diameter 9.4 in
Thicknessfolded 32 to 45 mm20.5 mm (Renogy, from listed dimensions); 2.5 mm (Arch Pro)thin-film sheet
Mountingbuilt-in stand, 30 to 60° on the EcoFlowpre-drilled holes, adhesive or hook-and-loop (Renogy); not specified (Arch Pro)adhesive backing, no drilling
Cells25% TOPCon (EcoFlow)PERC (Renogy); 25% N-type TOPCon (Arch Pro)17% CIGS; at 17% versus 25%, equal watts require about 47% more cell area
Connectorsolar connectors with XT60i cable (EcoFlow)MC4-type leadsMC4-type leads
Price seen$399 (EcoFlow 220 W); $199 (Jackery 100 W)$139.99; $149.99see our Yuma guide

Which one you mean

Where the words get crossed

Retail listings use "flexible" for anything not framed in glass and "foldable" for anything that packs down, so a search for either turns up both. Two checks sort them: a hinge means foldable; a bend radius or bend angle means flexible. A panel listed with both is usually a foldable with a fabric case, and the fabric is what folds.

What they share

Wattage and the words flexible or foldable do not determine voltage. BougeRV lists 37.8 V open-circuit for the Arch Pro 100W, already above a 28 V input. Check cold-weather Voc, operating voltage, Imp, Isc and connector polarity for the exact model; one panel is not automatically compatible.

How Heavy Is a Folding Solar Panel per 100 Watts?

What Happens to Voltage and Current When Two 430 W Panels Are Wired in Series or in Parallel?

Shopping for one? Browse portable power stations →

Sources

  1. EcoFlow US — NextGen 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel
  2. Renogy US — 100W Lightweight Flexible Solar Panel (Black Division)
  3. BougeRV — Arch Pro 100W N-Type TOPCon Flexible Solar Panel
  4. BougeRV — Yuma 100W CIGS Thin-film Flexible Solar Panel with Tape
  5. Jackery — SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel (as read for our folding-panel guide)

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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