<p>Solar air heaters (SAHs) are progressively realized as efficient systems for harnessing solar energy for thermal implications, motivated by the growing demands for sustainable energy solutions. The current review emphasizes on improvements in SAH technology, principally the combination of ribbed surfaces, including V-shaped and other geometrical designs, to improve thermal performance. This review has specifically synthesized results from different investigations assessing the influence of ribbed configurations on heat transfer rates, thermo-hydraulic performance, and overall efficacy of SAHs. It specifically signposts the mechanisms by which these ribbed surfaces optimize heat exchange between the air and the absorber plate (AP), thus improving airflow mixing, and inducing turbulence. The findings demonstrate that the integration of V-shaped ribs in SAHs would meaningfully improve heat transfer rates and thermal efficiency in comparison with smooth plate designs. Staggered rib arrangements overtake inline configurations by enhancing heat transfer properties and prompting greater turbulence. It has been elucidated that the optimum configuration can achieve up to 1.82 times the thermo-hydraulic performance of smooth plates. Also, the parametric analyses ascertain that an adjustment in attack angle, pitch, and rib height can efficiently optimize performance. Statistically, using V-shaped ribs has introduced a maximum Nusselt number (Nu) of 4.52, signifying strong heat transfer enhancement, with a 3.13 times increase in friction factor. Also, staggered V-shaped ribs obtain a moderate Nu of 2.35, highlighting a practical growth in temperature efficiency of 2.35. Multi-V-shaped ribs also exhibit a high Nu of 4.28 and a temperature efficiency of 4.24, though with a friction factor rise of 4.28 times, posing pressure loss challenges. However, the twisted V-shaped ribs obtain a Nu of 3.43 and a friction factor rise of 2.57 times, resulting in a temperature efficiency of 2.69. Accordingly, this indicates that the V-shaped ribs can meaningfully improve thermal performance while managing pressure drops, being predominantly active for high thermal applications. Though laboratory findings are encouraging, this review also addresses the challenges of employing ribbed SAHs in practical settings, such as the request for uniform testing protocols, complicated manufacturing processes, and material durability, besides proposing directions for future research. Indeed, by affording a detailed overview of the current research landscape, this review seeks to contribute to the global transition toward renewable energy solutions and aid the current development of more sustainable and effective SAH technologies.</p>