More than just a flashlight: While the new Loop Gear LoopDot can produce light, its main focus is on design and fun. Its name comes from the eye-catching dot matrix display made up of 52 RGB LEDs.
A menu-based interface lets you access features like a timer, a dice and various lighting effects. The LoopDot also includes a vibration function and a scroll wheel for intuitive navigation.
You can find the German version of this review on my website: SammysHP Blog › Loop Gear LoopDot
The flashlight was provided by the manufacturer for this review. Thank you very much!
Overview
The LoopDot comes in premium packaging with multiple separate layers for the accessories.
- Case with magnet
- Lanyard (felt)
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- USB-C charging cable
- Manual (English)
A case with a clip was included in a separate box and is part of the optional accessories:
- Case with clip and magnet
- Bicycle mount
My sample is a pre-production model with minor differences from the final product. The manual was also not up to date yet.
The LoopDot is small! With dimensions of 60 × 27 × 14 mm (18 mm thick at the bezel) and a weight of just 40 g, it’s easy to wear on a lanyard around your neck, for example. Its compact form is made possible by moving the magnet and clip into separate protective cases.
The flashlight has a high-quality, premium design. The case is made of aluminum and is available in gray, orange, purple and green. A titanium version is also offered at a significantly higher price.
The black display is made of hardened glass with a curved edge that blends seamlessly into the housing. A subtle “LOOPDOT” logo at the bottom edge is the only marking on the front.
There’s a bit more text on the back, but it doesn’t spoil the overall design. It is colorless and only stands out as a reflective surface against the matte anodized finish, preserving the device’s premium character.
At the bottom, there’s a USB-C port used for charging the flashlight. There’s no cover to protect it from dirt or water, but since it’s rated IP67 (“protection against temporary submersion”), there may be an internal sealing.
When you plug in the cable, the flashlight vibrates briefly and the display shows a charging animation. A short press of the button lets you switch between three animations (arrows, water droplets and a battery icon). Double-clicking the button turns on the white floodlight at a fixed brightness.
The built-in 600 mAh battery is charged at 500 mA. After about an hour – just before switching from the constant current phase to the constant voltage phase – the charging indicator changes to “full”. Strangely, the charging process doesn’t really stop and continues to draw a small current.
It’s quite possible that the charging behavior will be different in the retail version. The list of changes mentions there will be an “improvement to the charging indicator”.
The flashlight itself doesn’t have a magnet, clip or any attachment for a lanyard. Instead, at the time of this review, three plastic cases are available:
- Case with magnet and holes for a lanyard
- Case with clip, magnet and holes
- Bicycle mount
Only the basic case with a magnet is included in the package. The other cases are optional accessories. The cases I received for testing differ somewhat from the final retail versions, so I won’t go into further detail.
User interface
The first control method is obvious: a button at the top of the flashlight. It sits almost flush with the case, making it hard to feel, but its position means you don’t have to search for it.
The real highlight, however, is hidden in the bezel around the white LEDs: it’s actually rotatable and functions as a scroll wheel. This allows for an unusual yet intuitive way to operate the flashlight. Fine detents provide satisfying tactile and audible feedback.
Most of the functions are accessed through a menu-based system using the RGB display. A short press of the button turns the flashlight on (not the light!), briefly showing the current battery level. After that, you’re in the main menu. The scroll wheel is used to navigate through menu items. A short press confirms a selection, while a double-click takes you back to the previous menu level. Holding down the button turns the flashlight off again.
For better overview, I’ve compiled all the menu entries in the following diagram. Please note that there may be differences in the final retail version.
The first two menu entries control the white throw and floodlight channels. A short press of the button turns on the selected channel, which always starts at a low brightness to prevent it from blinding the user. You can then adjust the brightness smoothly using the scroll wheel. The additional button functions are listed in the table below:
| State | Action | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Off | 1 click | Open menu |
| Off | 2 clicks | Turn on (previously used brightness) |
| Off | 3 clicks | Turn on (Strobe) |
| Off | Hold | Turn on (Moon) |
| Menu | 1 click | Turn on (Low) |
| Menu | 2 clicks | Turn on (previously used brightness) |
| Menu | 3 clicks | Turn on (Strobe) |
| Menu | Hold | Turn off |
| On | 1 click | Turn off, back to menu |
| On | 2 clicks | Turbo |
| On | 3 clicks | Strobe |
| On | 4 clicks | Switch between throw and flood channels |
| On | Hold | Turn off |
In the retail version, switching between channels should be possible by shaking the flashlight. There may be other changes as well.
A vibration function provides additional feedback when turning the scroll wheel and during certain functions. The intensity can be adjusted in the configuration menu.
Some functions use the built-in accelerometer and orientation sensor for control. For example, shaking the flashlight can roll a dice, flip a coin or play rock-paper-scissors.
What’s missing is a programmable scrolling text feature. That would let you use the LoopDot as an electronic name tag or to display short messages.
In fact, the LoopDot focuses less on its function as a flashlight and more on visual effects, interactive games and its role as a fidget toy. As a result, using the white light might be a bit complicated at first. One thing it’s missing is a lockout function to prevent accidental activation in your pocket.
The LoopDot is simply a lot of fun – not only because of all the games and effects but also thanks to its satisfying feel. It fits nicely in your hand and the scroll wheel practically invites you to play with it.
Illumination
The highlight of the LoopDot is its large dot matrix display featuring 52 RGB LEDs. The slightly rounded squares sit behind black-tinted glass, providing high contrast and impressive color vibrancy.
At the center of the scroll wheel are the two LEDs for the white light: a single LED in the middle for the throw channel, surrounded by a ring-shaped LED for the floodlight. The light is shaped by an unusual TIR optic with a frosted, ribbed surface, protected by glass with a blue anti-reflective coating.
The cool white spotlight is fairly tightly focused, with the beam softly fading into a small spill. In contrast, the floodlight is truly floody and only suitable for close-range use. However, don’t underestimate its brightness. The floodlight has a noticeably warmer, slightly yellowish tint.
I really like that the brightness can be adjusted almost continuously using the scroll wheel. At the lowest setting, the light is barely noticeable – perfect for eyes adapted to the dark.
I skipped the usual outdoor beam shots of the tree-lined path since that scene doesn’t really suit a flashlight of this type – especially because the floodlight would barely be visible there.
Driver and runtime
Regarding brightness and runtime, there is conflicting information between the manual I got and the details on the Kickstarter page. The table below shows the values from Kickstarter:
Mode | Brightness¹ | Runtime¹ | Intensity¹ (Throw²)
—|—|—|—|—
Throw » Turbo | 400 / 150 lm | 30 s + 1:30 h | 2400 cd (100 m)
Throw » High | 150 lm | 1:36 h |
Throw » Low | 11 lm | 80 h |
Throw » Moon | 0.1 lm | 100 h |
Flood » Turbo | 270 / 100 lm | 30 s + 1:30 h | 90 cd (20 m)
Flood » High | 100 lm | 1:36 h |
Flood » Low | 11 lm | 80 h |
Flood » Moon | 0.1 lm | 100 h |
¹ According to manufacturer ² ANSI FL1
In Turbo mode, the brightness is reduced after 30 seconds to the highest ramping level and then held constant for the remaining part of the runtime. Since the runtime at the highest ramping level is practically the same, I’ve omitted it from the charts.
The brightness of the white light is controlled completely without PWM. When the battery runs low, the flashlight shuts off and briefly displays a red battery icon. Unfortunately, there’s no low-battery warning beforehand.
Conclusion
The Loop Gear LoopDot is a lot of fun – not only because of the little games and colorful light effects but also thanks to its satisfying feel. It fits comfortably in your hand and the scroll wheel practically invites you to play with it. A standout feature is the large dot matrix display with 52 RGB LEDs. Innovative functions like vibration feedback and an accelerometer complete the experience.
While using it, I came up with lots of ideas for additional features. It would be great to have a programming interface that lets you expand the functionality by customizing the firmware. The hardware has a lot of potential that hasn’t been fully used yet.
Got curious? You can still get the Loop Gear LoopDot on Kickstarter.
