How to choose a portable lamp: what to consider

A portable lamp trades the cable for a battery, and that changes what is worth checking. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

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Battery and run time

Run time depends on brightness: a lamp that lasts many hours on its lowest setting may last far fewer at full brightness. Ask for the run time at the level you would really use.
Battery size is given in mAh or Wh. Compare like with like, and treat the maker's run time as the better guide.

Charging

Check how it charges: a cable (often USB-C), a dock or a mat, and how long a full charge takes.
Some lamps can be used while charging and some cannot. If you want to leave it on a table all evening, this matters.
A standard USB-C connection means you may be able to use a charger you already own; check the power it needs.

Battery life and replacement

Rechargeable batteries lose capacity over the years, so a lamp that lasts all evening when new may not in a few years. Check whether the battery can be replaced, by you or by the maker, and whether replacements are sold.

Safe use

Use the charger and cable the maker specifies, keep the lamp away from heat, and follow the charging instructions on leaving it unattended.
A battery that is damaged, swollen or very hot should be taken out of use.

Light

Brightness is given in lumens. Warm white (around 2700 K) is the usual choice at a table; cooler light suits work.
Check how it dims: set steps, a dial or a touch dimmer.

Outdoors and water

Look for an IP rating. A lamp that is splash-resistant is not necessarily meant to be left out in the rain or put in water.

Weight and stability

A handle helps if you will carry it. A light, narrow lamp can tip in a breeze or on an uneven surface.

When it is time to dispose of it

Batteries and electronic products should not go in household waste. Take them to a recycling point.

Questions worth asking the maker

How many hours at the brightness I will use? How long to charge? Can I use it while it charges? Is the battery replaceable, and is a replacement sold? What is the IP rating? What is the warranty on the battery?

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

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