Lodge Solar Speaker 4 (Series 2) ZDNET's key takeaways The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is available now for $399.
It's a Bluetooth speaker that charges via four solar panels, is weatherproof with an IP66 rating, and sounds stunning.
It's bulky, weighing in at 7.5 pounds. View now at Best Buy
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I've tested a variety of portable Bluetooth speaker brands over the past two decades. Most of the time, I connected these speakers to my smartphone and streamed music for backyard gatherings, beach outings, drive-in movies, and other events with family and friends.
The most common issue I had with these speakers was finding out the hard way that they're dead -- all because I forgot to charge them in advance.
Also: The best Bluetooth speakers of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
For the past few weeks, I've been testing an amazing new speaker that solves this problem and also takes the entire audio experience to the next level. The Lodge Solar Speaker 4 Series 2 is covered in solar panels and has a massive 10,000 mAh battery, removing the need to physically charge it.
In full sunlight, according to Lodge, you will experience infinite non-stop playtime; however, testing these during the winter hasn't allowed me to verify that claim. With indoor use -- or no solar charging -- the speaker is designed to provide 22 hours of playtime, which is still likely to last far longer than your event.
The speaker comes installed with four solar panels for a total of 180 square inches of solar capturing surface. The Lodge speaker also charges via USB-C on the lower back panel.
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