The Ring Solar Pathlights provided incredibly bright light, and the system as a whole was quite durable. However, a Ring Bridge and a smartphone app are required to connect it to Alexa. We weren't able to get the app working properly during testing, which is why we didn't include it on our list of the best outdoor solar lights. If you have the time and patience to devote to setup—and you already own other Ring accessories—this could still be a great fit for your home. The solar cells are connected directly to the battery," says Singleton. "The solar cell is essentially charging the battery during the daytime. After sundown, the solar cell stops producing power and the photoresistor turns on the LED light. The controller board is the 'brain' of the solar light and takes in power from both the solar cell and the battery, along with input from the photoresistor to indicate when to turn on the LED." While solar lights are not recommended for long term indoor use, there are some solar-powered indoor lights available that can provide energy efficient lighting for specific applications. The most unique feature of these spotlights is that there are three different modes—however, it’s worth noting that it was difficult to figure out how to change the settings at first. In the dim light sensor mode, the lighting stays dimmed when there’s no motion and switches to high when motion is detected. The constant-on mode keeps the light on medium, whether or not there is motion nearby. On the high light sensor mode, the light says off without motion and switches to high with motion. Even on the dimmest setting, the light was bright enough to read by—and it stayed lit for an entire 8 hours when fully charged.

You also have the option to charge the lights with a USB charger, if you want to top them up during the darker months. Testers also found that lights with larger solar panels can sometimes have a less aesthetically pleasing look, so make sure you feel good about the size and location of the panel before purchasing.This article was written by Brittany VanDerBill, a freelance lifestyle and travel writer whose work has been published with several Dotdash Meredith brands. To find the best solar lights, she researched a variety of options like style, installation, lighting type, and more. She also consulted Sarah Jameson of Green Building Elements.

Brightening up your outdoor living area can drastically improve the way your garden or patio looks, and it might even inspire you to spend more time outside when the weather is warm. One great way to illuminate your outdoor space is with solar lights. Proper maintenance and cleaning of solar lights is important to ensure they continue to function properly and provide effective lighting for your outdoor space. Here are some tips on how to clean and maintain solar lights:

Why You Should Get It: For soft, pleasing light and shatterproof bulbs, these string lights are the way to go. For simple lights that sit flush with the ground, consider this set of four solar lights. Their warm lighting is perfect for lighting walkways with basic illumination at night, and the lights virtually disappear during the day thanks to their minimalist design. We chose the AloftSun Solar Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights as the overall best outdoor solar lights for their durability, water resistance, and motion-sensing capabilities. If you're looking for a set of string lights, testers loved the Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights, because they held up to water and freezing temperatures. And, while the bulbs are made of plastic, testers said they were clear and didn't look inexpensive. The lights have two modes. The first is a non-motion-sensing, lower brightness (about half power) that switches to a brighter light for 10 seconds when motion is detected. Once motion stops, the light dims itself. The second mode keeps the light off when there's no motion then switches to a bright light for 25 seconds when motion is detected. We didn't notice a big difference between dim light and bright light modes, however. In general, solar lights are designed to provide ambient lighting or decorative lighting, rather than bright, focused illumination. This is because the amount of energy that can be stored in the battery is limited, and the solar panel may not be able to absorb enough sunlight to fully recharge the battery every day. As a result, solar lights typically provided a softer, less intense light than traditional lights – although this is no longer the norm.