Brightech Solar String Lights Review: Are They Worth It? – Tested by – Bob Vila

Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila

Outdoor lighting is one of the best enhancements for any home exterior, whether for patios and decks or walkways and home entrances. Lighting extends the functionality of outdoor living spaces into the night and passively boosts home security. One of the quickest, easiest, and least expensive types of outdoor illumination is solar string lights. Solar string lights incorporate a small solar panel to charge a built-in battery during the day, which powers the lights after dark. They are an excellent choice for temporary or permanent installation wherever access to plug-in power is limited.

Over the past decade, Brightechhas emerged as one of the leading brands for solar string lights. It continues to build a loyal customer base by offering affordable designer lighting for all areas of the home. The company features a wide range of interior and exterior lighting solutions such as floor lamps, table lamps, and string lights, including the Brightech Ambience Pro solar string lights that I recently tested. These heavy-duty solar LED string lights, with their classic Edison-style bulbs, looked great and performed even better. Keep reading for performance details and to find out why I consider them to be some of the best solar string lights for indoor or outdoor installations.

Rating: 8.9/10

Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila

Get the Brightech Ambience Pro solar string lights at:

Brightech Ambience Pro solar string lights are commercial-grade LED lights constructed with heavy-duty hardware for extended durability. Twelve Edison-style 1-watt S14 LED bulbs, spaced at 20-inch intervals spanning 20 feet of the 27-foot cable, add a classic aesthetic as they emit warm white (2700K) light. The weatherproof, shatterproof bulbs are suitable for indoor or outdoor use, with heat resistance to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

The 6-foot tail of the cable connects to the solar panel, allowing for flexible placement in the sunniest location. On clear sunny days, the panel charges the built-in battery within 6 hours. A sliding on/off switch on the back of the solar panel controls the integrated photocell. In the on position, the lights automatically turn on when the sun goes down. In the off position, the lights remain off. The battery powers the lights for up to 6 hours on a full charge.

I tested the Brightech Ambience Pro solar lights alongside several other string lights, and I chose them as the top overall pick for a few reasons. I preferred the heavy-duty construction and classic appearance of the 1-watt bulbs over other types because they gave a more mature aesthetic to the space. Although the runtime was not as long as some of the other options, the 6 hours of lighting was more than enough for outdoor entertaining, starting at sundown and running from about 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

I also appreciated the installation flexibility. Each bulb fixture had its own integrated hanging loop to suspend from a cup hook, nail, or zip tie. Also, the adjustable-angle solar panel mounting bracket was compatible with the included ground stake or squeeze clamp, and it has the option to be fastened directly to a post or wall with screws.

The only real downside I discovered was the relatively short length, which wasnt quite enough for my particular installation needs. With its 20 feet of illumination, this set of string lights only lit about half of my space. Of course, I could easily buy a second string, but those with larger areas may want to consider this 48-foot-long version with 15 bulbs.

This was a really nice-looking light set with plenty of installation flexibility, providing bright light for the advertised 6-hour runtime and equipped with heavy-duty hardware for a long working life. At 27 feet long and with just 12 bulbs, one string may not be enough for a complete patio installation, but its a great starting point and the price is right for adding on more as needed.

Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila

Setting up these solar string lights could hardly have been easier. I spent a few minutes measuring, marking, and installing finish nails in the locations where each light would hang. Then, starting with the LED fixture farthest from the solar panel, I hung each bulb by its hang loop. Lastly, I installed the solar panel on its ground stake. The whole process took about 15 minutes.

Its important to note that this string light is significantly heavier than a string of Christmas lights. The cable alone is heavier, and the bulbs are much larger. So although hanging them was not difficult, I had to ensure that the anchor points were secure. I used nails in wood trim; hooks with adhesive backing would be another good option. For an overhead installation, it might be best to install a guy wire from which to hang the lights, instead of relying on the tensile strength of the string lights to hold themselves up.

The Brightech Ambience solar string lights were a step or two above most of the others in terms of quality. Fairy lights and cheaper string lights are single-use products. When one or several LEDs stop working, the string of lights gets tossed in the trash and folks go out and buy a new one. But this set is built with wear-resistant components and replaceable LED bulbs for a long operational life indoors or out.

The heavy cable construction was much more substantial than the braided wire used in the competition. Also, the threaded-base S14 LEDs were a nice touch, making them easier to replace compared to similar options, like these LED string lights that incorporate bulbs with delicate two-pin bases. I also liked the robust solar panel, especially the sliding on/off switch instead of a pushbutton. The sliding switch indicated at a glance whether the unit was on or off, which isnt the case with a push button.

Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila

The Brightech Ambience Pro solar light set looks great and is durably made of quality materials. It is easy to use and consistently works as advertisedand maybe better. The 27-foot string features 20 illuminated feet, with 12 single-watt bulbs. But at prices ranging from about $42 to $70 (depending on the retailer), is it worth the money?

I compared the prices of similar string lights sold at Ace Hardware, Lowes, The Home Depot, Target, and Walmart. Without going too deep into the rabbit hole, I discovered two important bits of information. First, most of them offer at least a partial selection of Brightech lighting; and second, the quality-to-price ratio of this set is at least as good as anything else out there. In the $40 to $50 range, I would consider it a fair value, maybe a bargain. At $70, though, I would continue shopping.

Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila

Lighting is one of the best ways to boost functionality and security in an outdoor space, and solar string lights make it fast, easy, and inexpensive. For great looks with low-maintenance installation, it pays to go with a high-quality, durable light set that charges fast and lights the space well into the night. Brightech Ambience Pro LED solar string lights are a great solution.

I really enjoyed testing this light set. The Edison-style bulbs added a nice classic aesthetic; the battery charged fully with only about a half day of clear, direct sunlight; and the LEDs illuminated the space for a full 6 hours per charge. Although it was only a weeklong test, I feel reasonably confident in the durability of the set, in part because of the heavy-duty wiring and threaded bulb sockets, and also because of small details like the generously sized solar panel with a sliding switch rather than a button. Its not the cheapest set around, but it comes at a fair price and operates on a tier above the competition.

Get the Brightech Ambience Pro solar string lights at:

Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with an extensive background in the nursery and landscaping industry. For more than 20 years he mowed, edged, planted, pruned, cultivated, irrigated, and renovated beautiful landscapes. Now he tests and writes reviews about the latest outdoor power equipment, hand tools, lawn-care products, and other outdoor-living goods.

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Brightech Solar String Lights Review: Are They Worth It? - Tested by - Bob Vila