Review Geek - How Long Do Solar Panels Last?

August 3, 2022

It seems like solar panels are everywhere these days, and chances are you’ve had some company come knocking at your door wanting to sell a set for your roof. But solar panels are expensive, and it can take six to twelve years to offset enough electricity to pay themselves back.

So if it takes that long just to break even, let alone start to “save money” off them, you almost have to ask: how long do solar panels last? That’s a great question, and we’ll figure it out together in the top story.

Other Highlights:

• This curved monitor looks amazing.
• Beyerdynamic slashed prices on some truly great headphones.
• Logitech is working on an interesting answer to the Steam Deck. A Cloud Deck, maybe?
• …and more!

-Josh

Those considering adding solar panels and renewable energy to their homes probably have many questions. Some of those may include the costs of going solar, if solar panels can pay for themselves, or, more importantly, how long they last. Read More »

When microseconds are the difference between game-winning plays and heart-wrenching throws, it pays to have hardware that can keep up. MSI’s MPG ARTYMIS 273CQR monitor stands at the ready, boasting a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and a curved 27-inch 2K display. Read More »

One of China’s largest auto manufacturers, BYD (Build Your Dreams), recently announced plans to continue its rapid global expansion of electric vehicle deliveries. BYD Auto is considered by many to be one of Tesla’s biggest rivals, and the company isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Read More »

We usually get a Pixel security update on the first Monday of each month. But it appears that the August update, which addresses 40 CVEs, is delayed. It has not arrived on Pixel devices and isn’t available on Google’s firmware image page. Read More »

In an odd move, Motorola canceled a planned launch of its new smartphone models hours before the scheduled event. Motorola and Lenovo mobile chief Chen Jin posted the cancellation announcement on the Chinese social media site Weibo. Read More »

It’s not often that anyone will tell you, “spend extra on a pencil.” Most of the time, you probably just buy whatever is cheapest—if you even buy pencils at all. But the Palomino Blackwing 602 is something different, even special. It’s the pencil Chuck Jones (famous for Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, among others) preferred. That’s probably because you can get a clear dark crisp line without needing to press down hard. That’s great whether you’re drawing or writing. If you want the best pencil, this is the only option.

Here’s something unexpected; Logitech and Tencent plan to launch a portable cloud gaming console before 2023. The duo says its console will “support multiple cloud gaming services,” including Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now. Read More »

These days most people share funny memes and GIFs with friends and family, but how often does someone say “JIF” or “me-me” out loud when referring to one? If that’s you, you’re saying it wrong. Read More »

Beyerdynamic is back with a huge B-stock sales event. The company is offering outrageously low prices for some of its best headphones and gaming headsets, including the celebrated DT 1990 PRO open-back studio headphones. This sale runs through August 9th, so take advantage of it while you still can! Read More »

In 2020, Tesla upgraded its Destination Chargers with Gen 3 Wi-Fi-equipped wall connectors and told property owners that it would enable paid charging in the future. Now, several reports have confirmed that paid charging at Destination Chargers is rolling out in the Tesla app for businesses and hosts. Read More »

A new self-repair program from Samsung will give customers everything they need to repair Galaxy devices. In a partnership with iFixit, the phonemaker will sell official parts and help distribute repair guides for its popular products, starting with the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. Read More »

45 years ago, Radio Shack released the TRS-80 Micro Computer System, a 1977 personal computer that launched an era of low-cost PCs along with computers from Apple and Commodore. Here’s what was special about it. Read More »

Camping is often seen as an opportunity to leave your tech at home, but that’s not always the best idea. There’s a lot of tech out there that can improve your enjoyment of the great outdoors, not to mention keep you safe. Read More »