Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp is a lamp I didn't know I needed

I recently realized that a product doesn’t necessarily have to be connectable to a smartphone to impress me, when I was testing the Xiaomi Oscillation Electric Toothbrush. The Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp, which I had the chance to try out shortly after, further convinced me that the perceived “smartness” characterized by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth support can easily be surpassed by a good idea and practical design. You can’t control this gadget for 599 CZK with an app from across the world, but it still has high ambitions to make your life a little more pleasant – just as it did in my case.

Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp tackles common lamp problems

I haven’t had a lamp on my desk for an awfully long time. I practically don’t write on paper during the day, so it seems unnecessary for it to constantly take up space on my desk. I only used it when I wanted to read. However, since you rarely see a classic book in my hands, it was easier for me to plug it into the socket behind the bed once in a while and temporarily place it on the nightstand, rather than having it permanently in the way. 

The Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp elegantly solves the problems of classic lamps. Thanks to its integrated battery with USB-C charging port, it eliminates the need for constant power from the electrical grid, so I can thoughtlessly grab it and move it a meter and a half away when I need it out of my line of sight. And since it comes not only with a classic stand but also with a surprisingly practical clip, I can have it both on my desk and by my bed.

The lamp is approximately as long as my palm with outstretched fingers (and I have rather small hands). The white construction is widest at the light source itself and gradually tapers towards the touch surface on the back. The bottom part of the device provides space not only for the aforementioned USB-C port and a small light indicator, but primarily for a rubberized recess, behind which a magnet. It is with its help that you place the lamp on the stand or clip, which is incredibly convenient for the user. You don’t have to screw anything, snap anything, or push anything in. 

The white stand consists of two components that are packaged separately. First, it is necessary to screw a rod topped with a metal ball into the circular ceramic base with plastic pads on the underside. As you probably already guess, this ball fits precisely into the recess on the lamp itself. Since the magnet inside it is strong enough, you are almost not limited in which direction and at what angle you turn the lamp. I consider the mechanism used to be incredibly clever, as it gives you a freedom that would be hard to find in ordinary lamps.

You’ll find the same metal ball on the clip, which you can attach to a shelf or bed, for example. The rubberized surface of the parts that grip the object ensures that furniture remains unscratched. The clip is quite strong, so it holds well, but for that reason, I wouldn’t place it on a monitor, for instance (I’d be concerned it might damage it with excessive pressure).

Where you place the stand and clip is, of course, up to you. The stand will probably end up on your desk, and indeed, I put it there myself, but I like the clip on the bed more than on any shelf. When reading, it allows me to direct the lamp so I can see the pages better.

Integrated battery and USB-C charging provide unprecedented flexibility

The greatest credit for the flexibility I detailed above naturally goes to the integrated battery. It has a capacity of 2,000 mAh, which, according to the manufacturer, provides up to 40 hours of operation in the lowest brightness mode (more on this in the next chapter). However, if you wanted to use the lamp for intensive lighting, it would only last for 3.5 hours. 

While it’s great that the Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp doesn’t require constant connection to the electrical grid, allowing you to simply pick it up and use it as a flashlight, it might infuriate you when it suddenly turns off while you’re working.

However, this drawback is largely compensated by the fact that the lamp charges via a USB-C port, so you can power it from a power bank, for example. When I recently used it at a party to see the mixing console in the dark, I really appreciated this feature.

The lamp also has “smart” features

Although it might seem from the preceding lines that the Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp is just an ordinary lamp with slightly more practical mounting options and an integrated battery, that’s not the case. The device also has a few features that allow it to be considered smart despite the absence of any connectivity with other smart products. 

The Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp has a touch surface on its back, which not only serves to turn on the lamp but also allows switching between four brightness and light temperature modes. By default, the lamp offers maximum brightness and a cool shade of 5,000 K, which is ideal when you need to find something in the dark or illuminate it very brightly. For reading or working, you’ll appreciate the mode with a warmer shade of 4,000 K more. The third mode already reduces brightness to 60% and provides an even warmer white of 3,200 K. The last mode, with 10% brightness and a temperature of 2,700 K, is purely for relaxation – it’s no coincidence that Xiaomi lists sleep as an example situation for it.

In connection with the touch surface, perhaps the only drawback that comes to mind is the absence of a physical switch, which prevents the lamp from being turned on directly in the desired mode, so you have to “click through” the entire menu. This time, I exceptionally don’t see a problem in terms of time efficiency, but rather it’s unpleasant when the cold 5,000K light with 100% brightness blinds you in the dark. Of course, you can prevent this by setting the lamp to sleep mode before turning it off, but who would want to do that all the time…

Verdict: It doesn’t have to be smart to be clever

The Xiaomi Flexible Rechargeable Lamp is truly one of those devices that managed to win me over, even though it doesn’t directly meet the definition of a smart home product. While you can’t connect the lamp to a mobile app or integrate it into some complex automation, it might still make your time spent working, reading, or studying more pleasant. Until I unboxed it and tried it for the first time, I had no idea how useful it would be. For six hundred crowns, it’s simply a successful piece of electronics that will find use in almost every household.

Would you use a similar lamp?