Review: Secūr SP-5000 Solar Media Player

Most mobile devices have admirable battery life capable of making it through a day—or at least most of it. There is some sort of Murphy’s Law of mobile device battery life, however, that dictates our mobile device will run out of juice just when you need it most, and when you’re away from a power source for extended periods of time it’s nice to have a way to recharge on the go. [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]That’s where a gadget like the Sec­ūr SP-5000 Solar Media Player comes in[/inlinetweet].

Power

Have you ever had a mobile device run out of power? Of course you have. There are a wide variety of mobile chargers available to resolve that problem. The issue with most of them, however, is that you have to make sure they’re charged as well. There’s nothing quite as disappointing as finding that your portable charger is also dead.

The nice thing about the Sec­ūr SP-5000 Solar Media Player is that the top of it is a solar panel. As long as you can find a source of light you can recharge the SP-5000, and therefore recharge your devices as well. It can also be charged (faster) from a computer or other power source using a microUSB cable, but having a solar charger can really help when you need it most.

Sound

If you’re having a picnic, going camping, hanging out at the beach or just about any other outdoor activity, it’s nice to have some tunes. The SP-5000 is also a portable speaker system. It plugs in to the headphone jack on your mobile device—which can be safely tucked inside the case simultaneously charging while you listen to your music.

I’ve tried much better portable speakers. I have portable Bluetooth and Apple AIrPlay speakers that are more powerful, and have better sound quality. The speakers on the SP-5000 are adequate, though, for a multi-purpose device so you don’t have to carry a bunch of different gadgets.

Protection

One of the best things about the SP-5000 is the protection it provides for your mobile device—especially if you’re out and about enjoying outdoor activities. The SP-5000 is a hardshell case that zips to safely store your smartphone inside. It has a padded interior to absorb shocks, and the case is both dustproof and rainproof to protect your device from the elements.

The SP-5000 also has a carabiner clip so it can be easily attached to a backpack or hung inside a tent. No matter where your travels take you this gadget should be able to protect your smartphone from the elements.

Verdict

The SP-5000 isn’t the best or fastest portable charger. It isn’t the best portable speaker system. At $50 it’s at the top end of what I consider even remotely acceptable for this gadget based on how its constructed and how well it works. That said, it’s as cheap or cheaper than buying a separate portable charger and separate portable speaker, and it has the added benefits of solar charging, and a dust resistant, water resistant, hard-sided case to protect your smartphone. All in all, it’s a pretty handy gadget for $50.