Yes, they are real—and they are showing up in more cities than you might expect. These pieces of street furniture are usually called solar smart benches or solar charging benches. They look like normal benches at first glance, but built into the seat, backrest, or a nearby canopy is a photovoltaic panel. That panel collects sunlight, stores the energy in a battery, and lets you plug in a phone or other small device through USB ports. Some newer models even include wireless charging pads, so you can just place your phone on a marked spot and let it charge while you rest.
I have seen this kind of bench in places like Boston, New York, London, Amsterdam, and Dubai, often in parks, transit stops, university campuses, and busy pedestrian areas. One well-known example is the Soofa Bench, which started around Cambridge and Boston. Another is the Strawberry Energy smart bench, which has appeared in several European cities. These benches do more than charge phones, too. Many of them monitor air quality, temperature, or foot traffic, and some offer Wi-Fi or LED lighting at night. The charging feature is the part people notice most, though, because it solves a very common problem: a low battery while you are outside.
How practical are they? It depends. On a sunny day, the battery should have enough stored energy to charge a phone at a normal or slightly slower speed. On cloudy days or after heavy overnight use, the output can be weaker. Some benches have multiple USB ports, but not every port is always working, so it helps to carry your own cable and try another port if one is dead. A few cities have removed or stopped maintaining certain smart benches because of wear, vandalism, or connectivity issues, but the concept is still expanding. Newer designs are more weatherproof and easier to repair.
So if you find one while you are out walking, yes, you can sit down, plug in, and give your phone a boost. They are not meant to replace a wall charger at home, but for a quick top-up in the middle of the day, they are a genuinely useful piece of modern urban design. Before you rely on one, just look for the USB port cover or wireless charging symbol, check whether the bench has power, and give it a minute to start charging.