REVIEW -Who doesn’t need a tiny flashlight from time to time? With the advent of high-output LEDs and powerful rechargeable battery technology, however, the landscape for this niche has exploded. Today’s review item is one of the smallest yet most versatile lights I’ve reviewed – the Wurkkos HD03. It packs a flood and spotlight into a pocketable form factor with an integrated clip. Let’s shed some light on this innovative product. (You see what I did there? Free Dad jokes with every review!)
︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $25.99
Where to buy: Amazon
What is it?
Miniature light with a clip for attaching to clothing or other things.
What’s in the box?
- Light itself
- USB-C<=>USB-C charging cable
- (2) piece lanyard
- Instructions
Tech specs
【Ultra-Bright Portable & 8 Adjustable Modes】 Powerful 680 lumens clip flashlight! Features Moon/Low/Med/High/Turbo/Strobe/SOS/Beacon modes for versatile use. Enjoy stable, reliable illumination during camping, hiking, repairs, or emergency use.
【Triple-Light-Source Design】 Spotlight (180m beam) detects distant hazards. Wide floodlight reduces blind spots for close tasks. RGB mode creates party/romantic ambiance. One rechargeable mini flashlight, endless possibilities.
【Lightweight & Pocket-Sized】 Only 49g (with battery)! Ultra-compact clip light fits pockets/palms perfectly.The pocket flashlight, your essential on-the-go companion for adventures, commutes, or emergencies.
【Fast Type -C Rechargeable and Power Indicator 】 The rechargeable flashlight built-in 600mAh Li-ion battery, convenient charge with a Type-C design, 1h20min to fully charged. Besides, power indicator in 3 colors for battery level at a glance.
【Multiple Carry Options】Design with magnetic attraction, clip-on and lanyard loop capabilities. The clip flashlight can be effortlessly clipped, hung, or attached. Enjoy hands-free convenience in a small powerful flashlight.
【Durable & IPX6 Waterproof】 Rugged construction resists drops/scratches. IPX6-rated waterproof flashlight withstands heavy rain—ideal for outdoor adventures and wet conditions.
【Intuitive Controls & Safety Lock】 The edc flashlight with Dual-switch Memory Shift, left side switch toggles spotlight/floodlight instantly. Hold/double-press for RGB colors. Prevents accidental activation with button lock mode
Design and features
Not a standard cylindrical flashlight, the HD03 is a rectangular solid, 2.25” x .875” x .75”, with a round lens on one of the larger faces. I was sent the Dark Blue model, but it is also available in Orange and Olive Green colorways.
The lens slightly expands out beyond the dimensions given. On either side of the round lens, there is a button. One of them slides up and down to switch between Floodlight and Spotlight modes. The other is a multifunction button that is so jam-packed with features, it needs a flowchart to explain.
On the top of the lens is a USB-C jack for charging, covered by a black rubber gasket.
The basics for me are lock/unlock (triple-press toggles it), and press & hold when it’s on to cycle through the brightness levels. In my experience, these levels are as follows: nightlight, regular flashlight, bright flashlight, aircraft landing light.
Setup
None, other than charging. The lanyard never specifies how it should be attached (This is all too common with lights. I’m sure there is a logical way to attach some of the lanyards I get to the hardware I’ve been sent, but sometimes, it just defies my imagination!) I looped the smaller piece with the O-ring around the slot on the top of the clip, and clipped that into the gated O-ring of the larger lanyard. It seemed to work ok.
Performance
The light responds quickly to the clicks you make. It is a large swath of light from such a small device. I used it for several evenings at game nights, when the light grey text on the cyan background of the game instructions were illegible. (Do any game developers test their documentation in bar lighting? And why do all the greens/blues/greys look the same?). The square base of the body allows it to be set upright and it will light up the space in front of you or over the board. Be aware that the person on the other side of the board is going to feel they are being given the third degree. (Depending on the game and your skill level, this may be a desired effect!)
The base doesn’t cling to ferrous surfaces readily (it won’t stick to my car hood or filing cabinet and focus the light down), but the knob on the rear of the clip has a pretty strong attraction and, in some cases, it will send that light into the desired space. It will hold itself up and throw the light out perpendicular to the surface without problems, but not above a router in a rack, for instance. It’s also easy to attach the clip to a pocket, bag strap, waistband, or hat visor for lighting up areas. But that light is always going to be straight out from the attachment surface.
Final thoughts
Who doesn’t need a tiny flashlight from time to time? Long before Apple’s iPhones added a flash to their camera, folks were using backlit PDAs to read menus in dimly lit restaurants. I used to carry an AA penlight in my bum bag because I spent a lot of my career under desks and behind wiring racks in data centers.
I like this form factor. I have several cylindrical flashlights with good clips that kinda fill the same role as this, but the rectangular shape lends itself to standing up next to what you’re trying to work on. The magnetic backing is interesting and might work in some situations, but the clip gives more versatility. At this price point, it’s easy to grab one and have it in your bag. At 1.7 ounces (49 grams), you’re not going to notice it.
You may have seen a News blurb on this item a few days ago. It covers a lot of the features well. After testing it, I can find no fault with the News release.
What I like about the Wurkkos HD03 flashlight
- Tiny, solid, bright
- Easy to change between full and spotlight
- Clip is nicely integrated.
- Locking feature is easy to use
What I’d change
Price: $25.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Wurkkos. Wurkkos did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
