The light comes packaged in a simple small box and is housed in a protective sleeve. With it comes your manual and a 3ft USB A - usb C charging cable (which is nice). Note the Charging cable is a charge only cable designed for smaller devices i.e. it does not support data transfer and will either slowly or not charge a device like a tablet or phone. Keep this in mind if you're travelling and want to limit cables.
The design is very simple but the build quality seems good - light weight but not flimsy. The goose neck, which is covered in a soft tough rubber, can be adjusted to virtually any orientation you need. The base functions as a standard spring load clamp with an approximately 1.5 inch wide opening; which has allowed me to comfortably clamp the light onto my headboard minimizing adjustments for bedtime reading. Additionally the wide base gives you the option to have it freestanding on your table/desk.
The light operates with a tactile button that is the top housing of the light. You don't have to search for the button just grab the bulb portion and click. 3 clicks adjusts your brightness while the colour/tone stays the same; now when they say "amber" it really is AMBER! The colour is very close to an orange flame, so note that it's not subtle. It effectively has no blue light but does lean a slight bit much into yellow tones. Your 4th click is OFF.
Your battery life will vary based on your brightness settings but it should last you several hours before needing a charge. I have yet to test it fully until it dies out but I have had about 5 hours on medium brightness before I turned it on. As the battery depletes it will dim so you have a rough idea of when it needs a charge before dying completely.
Some things to consider:
- Base stand is about 1/2 inch thick, so this does add slightly more bulk. You'd want to be careful with paperbacks ensuring it'd clamped onto enough pages so it does not bend your book. A smaller model with a smaller battery (thus smaller base) would be a nice alternative too but as it is it's still very portable.
- The clamps textured rubber grips are not the greatest. I'm a bit leery of potential damage/tear pages or it leaving a texture imprint. A softer foam might have been a better choice.
- Now the one major con to me is how the device charges. It does not work at all with a USB C - C cable it HAS to be a USB A - C. Meaning if you're travelling or trying to keep minimal cables plugged in you'll need to add some considerations for this.
Overall it's a nice little light especially if you pick it up on sale! When ordering make sure you order from "Amber Light Store" storefront. They provide top tier customer service and are great to deal with if you have any issues!
*There is an 2023 updated version of this light which has some nice additional features. You get 3 colour modes, two ambers variations and a solid red. The light operates in the same fashion but now has separate button on the top to adjust it. same 3 clicks to adjust and 4th to turn off but you can adjust the individual brightness level of each colour as well. Simply click and hold the button to dim and repeat to brighten. The light comes with a velvet textured like bag - I'm not crazy about it but it's there, maybe something a bit softer (like a microfiber/reading glasses bag) would be better suited. For charging the light unfortunately operates the same way i.e. not USB C-C cable but this time around it does have 4 indicator lights for your battery level. Considering it's only about 2$ more (at time of posting), I'd say the additional features are worth it.*
(I will update this review after a few months to indicate if I've had any quality concerns)
| Manufacturer | Brown Box Today |
|---|---|
| Part Number | AL001 |
| Product Dimensions | 3.81 x 7.62 x 9 cm; 70 g |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Item model number | AL001 |
| Colour | Black |
| Style | Blue Blocking Reading Light |
| Finish | Painted |
| Material | Plastic |
| Pattern | Solid |
| Shape | Capsule |
| Power Source | DC |
| Voltage | 5 Volts |
| Wattage | 1 watts |
| Installation Method | Clamp-mounted |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number of Pieces | 1 |
| Type of Bulb | LED |
| Brightness | 80 Lumen |
| Mounting Type | Padded Clamp |
| Switch Style | Push Button |
| Special Features | Rechargeable, Blue Blocking, Amber LEDs, Lightweight and Portable, Strong clip |
| Usage | Reading, Travel |
| Included Components | Yes |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Lithium Ion |
| Warranty Description | None. |
| Item Weight | 70 g |
