Best Reading Lights for seeing the pages
1. BEST NECK-MOUNTED
Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light
PROS
- Two lights
- Hands-free design
- Available in eight colors
CONS
- Reviewers note that it may turn on by itself when in a bag
This neck-mounted light provides two beams for a doubly bright reading experience if you need it. And since it sits around your neck like a necklace, you can adjust the arms independently according to your fit and lighting preferences. Say you’re reading in bed and don’t want to bother anyone sleeping next to you; the stalks bend up to 90 degrees to keep the light focused on the page and away from their eyes. The three color temperature modes—a cool white, a warm yellow, and a warm white—and blue light filter further boost the adjustability.
Unlike other rechargeable reading lights, this one uses USB Type-C, making it a modern choice. Glucosent claims it provides up to 80 hours of light on a single charge, too. One con: There isn’t a lock to prevent the light from powering on. So if you pack it away in a bag and something hits the power button, turning it on, you could pull it out to find the battery is dead.
2. MOST FLEXIBLE
Vekkia Amber Rechargeable 7 LED Eye-Care Book Light
PROS
- Blocks blue light
- Gooseneck rotates 360 degrees
- Its non-slip grip prevents it from falling
- Packable
CONS
- Large (though it packs down)
Tsong recommends Vekkia’s Rechargeable book light as a flexible option. Its gooseneck can rotate 360 degrees, and it’s pliable yet durable enough that you can fold it over if you want to stuff the light into a backpack while traveling.
Although this is on the bigger side, Tsong notes that it’s powerful enough to light up an entire page instead of only a portion of it. This Vekkia is available in three colors (black, blue, and white) and has three brightness levels (30, 50, and 100 percent) that can provide up to 70 hours of light.
3. BEST COMPACT
Glocusent USB-Rechargeable Book Light
PROS
- Easily adjustable
- Small
- “Amber” mode filters out blue light
CONS
- May take a long time to charge, according to customer reviews
This clip-on reading light is a sturdy mix of ample adjustability and small size. It has five brightness settings and three light temperature settings—a warm amber mode, a cooler breeze mode, and a bright precise mode—that you can toggle between. And, since it’s so tiny, weighing less than an egg, you can pack it for traveling. In fact, Tsong recommends and owns two of these.
This Glucosent is rechargeable via a standard USB-A port (another bonus for travel: no disposable batteries) and provides between 9 and 80 hours of light, depending on the setting. However, several online customers say the light has sometimes taken a long time to charge.
It has impressive adjustability given its solid design, too; both the main arm and the light housing at the end of that arm tilt up and down. Plus, the housing rotates so you can direct the light if it’s off-center of what you’re reading.
4. MOST BRIGHTNESS LEVELS
Vavofo Amber Rechargeable Reading Light
PROS
- Easy to tell how much charge is left
- Lightweight
- Nine brightness levels
CONS
- Some reviewers find even the lowest setting to be too bright
This rechargeable reading light offers nine brightness levels and nine color temperatures, lending it the versatility to match the preferences of various readers. One of its most prominent features is its power indicator light located near its charging port—a quick glance can tell you whether or not you have to worry about it dying mid-read. This LED is an especially good choice if you’re trying to steer clear of blue light, as it blocks it with its amber light.
Whether you clip this reading light onto your Kindle, paperback, or hardcover book, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its strong grip. Some reviews say its lowest setting is too bright, however, so be mindful of others when you’re reading with this device.
5. BEST FOR KIDS
Dewenwils USB-Rechargeable Book Reading Light
PROS
- Easy to use
- No additional cables needed for charging
- Blocks blue light
CONS
- Shorter claimed run time
Dewenwils made this light easy to turn on by pressing its lone power button. And it even folds down to serve as a bookmark when not in use. Another feature that makes it great for kids: The body of the light detaches from the clip to reveal the USB-A port, which they can plug directly into an adapter in an outlet. That means there are no additional charging wires necessary. Some users say its runtime is less than the claimed 8 hours claimed, however.
This light has three brightness levels (30, 60, and 100 percent), keeping words illuminated and eyes relaxed. You also won’t have to worry about your children receiving additional blue light, as it claims to block out 99.95 percent of it, which can be especially beneficial when reading those bedtime stories.
