When gifting a light… I want the USB charging since muggles like simple.
When using the light myself… I LIKE USB charging for my typical EDC and occasional use lights around the house.
But for larger lights (mostly throwers) or multi-battery lights I’ll use the charger to keep things in check.
My two most used lights the last six months have been the SC31 Pro (wife’s go-to), and my IF25a. Both are parked at the USB charging station for our phones and ipads. Both are grabbed almost nightly for whatever: walking dog, going out back to check on X-mas light (lately), etc.
Take them on the road, charge them on the drive. Gather a few up once every few month, put them on the USB charging station.
All of my USB lights charge between 4.15-4.2V and that is enough for what I use them for. I’d take my Sofirns or Convoys out in rain without hesitation. But I always make sure to completely press the rubber seal into them every time I take them out of the charger.
My D25s headlamps ARE the best USB charging lights I’ve owned for almost three tears now. Without USB charging they’d not get used by the 10 or so people I’ve gifted them to. And I love the USB port’s position under the cap- I to this day don’t see why everyone doesn’t feel it to be the super light it is— but hey… keep the price down I guess.
To each their own, but for me… I’ll take USB charging on about any single cell light (AND Anduril!!!)
Built-in charger is very handy for first time flashlight owners, so important that it could be a deal breaker.
Even for enthusiasts , an EDC light with built-in charger is useful, because that means I can travel everywhere with it without having to carry a charger around.
Charging Li-ion battery really is a very mature technology, I have no reason to think that the built-in USB chargers are of inferior quality when compared to say power banks.
As for waterproofing, I just remind myself that all the waterproof smart phones out there also has a usb/lightning port, all that is needed is a rubber gasket around the port to keep it sealed. Armytek’s USB chargable flashlights are rated at IPx8 10 meters underwater.
I would always choose a non chargeable light over a USB chargeable one. For me it’s no trouble taking the battery out, gives you a change to check the battery and inside of the light right away.
I like to travel light, so when I do, the light I can plug into the same cable/adapter that I’m already bringing to recharge my electronic devices will be the light I take, not the one that needs its own charger to accompany it.
Not a question of right/wrong or either/or, but selecting the appropriate option for the duty at hand.
I’m still evaluating it but I think it’s good for topping up a battery after every use. Without USB charging I tend to recharge the battery less and I deal with flat batteries more often. For soda can lights it’s definitely less work to plug in a USB cable than charge the batteries in an external charger. For camping it can be a handy feature, although not actually necessary if you have spare batteries or a USB powered charger.
I like my D4 best for EDC but it is not USB rechargeable. Last trip I took it along with a rechargeable OTR U18 which is. this way I killed 3 birds with one stone, spare light, spare cell and charger.
There are advantages and disadvantages of usb charging flashlight, and not usb charging the cells. It's nice to have the option, and it's nice to have the simplicity of the host that comes with not having the option. I can't make up my mind, so like other variables, usb charging or lack thereof is not important to me when selecting a new light. Some of my new lights have it, some don't.
That’s it. Many years ago the Eagle Eye X2R was my only option for an inexpensive gift to someone in need of a hassle-free allrounder. It’s still in use, indoor and outdoor. I gave it away with a protected Keeppower battery.
There are also arguments for non-standard connectors like Olight/Armytek magnetic charging systems. Mostly arguments for those having just one flashlight or a range of flashlights from one manufacturer that ain’t shelf queens but see constant usage and recharging (headlamps for runners see lots of usage in the dark season).
It’s a great feature that’s gotten better with USB-C ports showing up. Not appropriate for every light or every situation, but that’s why we all need a least a drawer full of them.
Whether you charge internally or externally it’s a good idea to check the voltage the charger brings up your batteries to. 4.2V or a little less is fine.
If you live in extreme conditions or just take long walks in the rain then consider something without built-in charging.
Ooh, nice point MoreLumens. Those ports under threaded covers are fantastic.
I have one of those cheap Boruit headlamps and the concealed port seems like a high end feature for such an inexpensive light. O-ring sealed and you’d never know it was there until you unscrew it.
I recently received a Sofirn IF25A and was pleased to see the cover is much more robust than they were when usb charging first hit the scene.
My primary carry is the FW1A. Small and streamlined is important so I would not want an additional flap or additional size added to it. It has the ability to check voltage and without that feature I would not want to have to open it to recharge the battery unnecessarily. Secondary carry is the Wizard Pro and there’s no good reason to pull the battery out to recharge it however I almost always use the USB tester to check what it’s doing. And always use a USB tester and multimeter to check any new lights charging system multiple times over until I’m satisfied I know what it’s doing at various stages in a charging cycle. I don’t use any lights that use multiple batteries and probably won’t for various reasons. For most lights I think type C or magnetic charging is a good thing but I have others that don’t have it for good reason.100 meter water proof. For the most part I charge in the evening and I’m within eyesight of the procedure. Not voting.
For myself, I don’t need USB charging. I’ve ruined the connector with frequent use, and then I have to use separate charging anyway.
But for gifting a light, especially one that will not be used frequently, I’d say it’s almost a “must have”. And, while the protected ports with o-rings and screwed-down threads are nice for water-proofness, they’re too difficult for newbs to use, and they don’t need waterproof lights anyway. Keep the port simple, easy, and accessible. If it’s harder to use than a smart phone, then it won’t be used.
I like onboard charging very much. Of course like everything it must be done right.
If you are against onboard charging, may I ask if you advocate that cellphones should have to have their batteries removed to charge them?
(YES, I prefer that I be able to remove the battery from my phone for other reasons, BUT that does not mean that I do not like being able to charge the battery IN the phone)..
I have some asks if there is going to be a USB port. Strongly prefer USB-C, and if it is USB-C it should support C-C charging. Having this adds enough utility to justify the space and engineering challenges IMO. Frustrating how few C lights have C-C charging though.
I came across a bit harsh and staunchly against lights with USB charging. I guess my biggest non-preference against them is that I already have a small olight magnetic charger that I foul weather camp & backpack with. It doesn’t weigh any more in my load out than a quality USB cable and packs down just as easily. I have used it almost daily for 3.5 years as a desk-top charger at home. So it has been 100% reliable… while my more $$$ Nitecore charger sits idle most of the time.
So for me personally, USB charging built into the light doesn’t really add overall value. I still think I would like to give it a try some day, but at this point there really is no immediate need.
I second @WalkInTheLight’s post about USB ports for lights to gift - I don’t want one on my lights personally, but it’s a must for lithium lights gifted to non-collectors, normal people don’t want to deal with yet another charger.
Yes I am very much in favor of cell phones that have easily removed batteries. I’ve been using an LGV10 since 2015 and I just swap in & out batteries all the time. I get new batteries for it every 14~18 months. I also have an iPhone 5C that I re-purpose as a field GPS using the GAIA app. I replace its internal battery every 24 months.
I am definitely in the minority on this though… shrug
For a flashlight with a USB charging port, if around the house I remove the battery and charge it. If on the road or otherwise away from a good charger I use the USB port for charging. I never really thought about the safety side of it until this thread, though I probably won’t change what I do since I haven’t had a problem yet. Are there any studies about the efficacy of onboard charging? Meltdowns, fires, other mishaps because of USB charging? If there are documented problems, is it brand specific? Anymore, I won’t buy a flashlight unless it is USBC for a charging port, and frankly would like to get rid of anything I have with standard USB. It isn’t a very good design in my opinion.
I somehow find it useful on 10180 keychains although it increases size. 10180 chargers are pretty rare so internal charging seems to be the only option. Charging port is in the treaded part of the head so it does not compromise water resistance. On the downside the port is mini-usb rather than type C, probably due to size constraints.
I also have a regular 18650 light and feel absolutely no need for a built-in charger.