The Phlanp USB lights are described as being "noticeably brighter than your average candle" (Image source: bdos on MySKU)
For $1, the lucky buyer is getting 5 small Phlanp USB-A-powered lights that are reasonably bright at ~60 lux. Delivery is free for both EU member states and the US, as of this writing.
Every once in a while, Aliexpress has deals that are too good to ignore. This might just be the case with the Phlanp USB lights (US link | Europe link) that just got reviewed by an MySKU forum member.
A single light tips the scales at around 6 g. 2 options are available, a 3000K and a 6500K one.
Five lights are included (Image source: bdos on MySKU)
Power consumption seems reasonable at ca 0.07 A (Image source: bdos on MySKU)
Build quality is described as not all that impressive (Image source: bdos on MySKU)
The more lights, the brigher it is (Image source: bdos on MySKU)
There are two things to be wary about here. One, Aliexpress purchase delivery times can often be unpredictable, with the range of 10 to 30 days considered normal. Two, while this seems to be a great value product, the reviewer themselves note that the fairly inexpensive components and materials employed to make it that are unlikely to last very long.
On the other hand, the lights actually are bright enough to be usable which, considering the price, is quite a feat. The forum user that goes by the name "bdos" also notes that he/she fully expected at least one of the 5 lights to be dead on arrival and was rather surprised when he/she realized that's not the case. The measurement results (please see image below) proved to be better than anticipated, too.
A brightness measurement taken at a 25 cm distance with the Opple Light Master 3 (Image source: bdos on MySKU)
Sergey Tarasov - Senior Tech Writer - 2475 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2010
Originally from Russia, I'm currently based in Romania. I've been translating and writing content for Notebookcheck since late 2010 (I was 16 at the time). I don't come from a well-off family so it wasn't until Nvidia rolled out its Ion platform for Intel's Atom chips, combining serviceable performance with affordable prices, that I started looking for my first ever laptop. Since those days, I have owned (and tinkered with) systems from all major PC makers giving me plenty of knowledge and first-hand experience. Laptops are my passion; they are the best thing man has ever invented for doing work on the go, I believe. I don't have a university degree, for better or worse. Favourite pastimes - reading, jogging, cycling. Favourite tune: Ouvi Dizer by Melim. I hate tea, coffee, tats and cars.
