Disclaimer: Wurkkos sent me the lights free of charge. This had no influence on the review.
All measurements were done with hobby equipment, inaccuracies and deviations are therefore possible.
Introduction
I know, I’m late with this review. I had the “dwarf” in my hand beforehand, so I knew roughly what to expect. However, I couldn’t resist the comparison to my other clip lights and an extensive test including measurements!
Specifications according to Wurkkos
The lamp is available in many different colors, there should be something for every taste!
https://www.wurkkos.com/products/wurkkos-hd03-clip-light
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9YKXMMT
Package Contents and Impressions
The HD03 comes, like most Wurkkos lights, in a small white box with an illustration and data of the lamp on it.
Inside, the lamp rests in a plastic tray, neatly protected by an additional bag. As with many modern packages, there is a tab that allows you to easily pull the inner part out of the outer packaging. Under the tray, there are a USB-C-to-C cable and the lanyard, along with a multilingual manual.
The first impression when freeing the lamp from the package will likely be for most: “oh, it’s so small and cute.” The shape is very pleasing, a bit more playful than most clip lights. I has a reason even Wurkkos teased the comparison with the well-known Minions.
The first impression of quality is good, I couldn’t find any flaws. The clip, as a defining design feature, feels robust, the switches are indeed quite small but easy to operate - and the lamp is small as well! The slider clicks into place cleanly, and the push-button has no play and a good pressure point.
The anodization is flawless, the colors could not be more different. Black is matte, grippy, slightly rough, with a gray bezel. Red is relatively smooth, shiny, and with a golden bezel.
Since I had the lamp in hand in an early version (first batch) before the review, I was amazed at how much the exterior has changed. Where initially there was white laser marking, the Wurkkos logo on the front and the side markings are now beautifully embossed, as is the HD03 lettering on the clip. Only the CE RoHS marking is still lasered. This contributes to the high-quality first impression.
The LEDs, a cool white one in the center, surrounded by a ring of warmer and RGB LEDs, sit behind a plastic lens that is not covered by glass. The outer part is covered by nubs, the middle part by asymmetric slopes. For operating the clip, this is quite pleasant, as it results in more grip.
The USB port for charging the integrated battery is located at the top of the lamp head. The rubber cover fits perfectly and will almost certainly not come loose on its own, the cutout around the USB-C port is a bit tight for thicker cables, but most fit without problems. A charging and battery level indicator is integrated into the push-button:
Green: 50-100% / fully charged
Orange: 20-50%
Red: 1-20% and while charging
Size
Olight OClip Pro, Wurkkos HD03, Loopgear Loopdot, Wurkkos HD03, Sofirn ST10
My scale attributes a slim 48g to the HD03, I measured its size at 60x29.5x25.5mm.
Carrying and Attachment Options
Lanyard: A lanyard is included. However, this is not a typical wrist strap, but a multi-part construction that feels quite high-quality. You can use the lanyard in different ways, either just the short version with the small ring or both parts combined.
Clip: Well, it’s a clip light, so the clip is an integral part of the lamp. Large, robust, rubberized. Even though you have to press on the lens to operate it, I prefer this orientation compared to the Oclip Pro.
Magnet: A magnet is also integrated into the clip of the lamp. It is strong enough to hold the lamp, but on vertical surfaces, it tends to rotate if you attach it head-up. The magnet is in the thicker, lower part of the clip, but the center of mass of the lamp is more in the upper part. If you take that into account, you can save yourself some small moments of shock.
(Jacket) pocket: Sure, the lamp is easily wearable in a jacket or handbag, especially because you can clip it somewhere neatly. In a trouser pocket, however, you notice, as with virtually all other clip lights, that it is neither deep-carry nor particularly flat. This didn’t really bother me, since the lamp is so small and light, you can always find a little spot where it can be carried neatly and comfortably.
UI (Operation)
The UI is surprisingly extensive for such a small lamp. I consciously don’t write “complex” because it is kept as simple as possible. Nevertheless, it combines many functions in a small space and thus brings one or two little things you have to remember.
The slider switches between Spot and Flood, the UI for both is the same.
With the lamp off:
1x click: Turn on always in Low
Hold: Moonlight
2x click: RGB
3x click: Lockout
4x click: Lockout
With the lamp on in Flood/Spot:
1x click: Turn off
Hold: Change brightness (Low - Med - High - Turbo - Low - …)
2x click: Turbo
3x click: Strobe
4x click: Strobe
Note: If you activate Turbo with a double-click, a single click switches back to the previously used level, only another click turns it off. Whether you activate Turbo in the switching sequence or by double-click, the lamp does not remember it. If you activated Turbo via normal mode selection, the lamp starts in Low next time.
With the lamp on in RGB:
1x click: Turn off
Hold: Change color in the infinitely adjustable color mode
2x click: Next RGB mode
A short overview of the various RGB possibilities, the order from left to right matches the switching sequence of the lamp:
I have one point of criticism, however: If you start the lamp in Moon, then switch between Flood and Spot, the lamp automatically goes to the last used brightness level, so not just to Low! This can be blinding if you don’t expect it! The lamp behaves similarly when Turbo is used -when switching between Flood and Spot, it changes back to the previously used level.
Beam Profile and Measurements
But how does it shine? The floodlight is uniform and free of artifacts. Interestingly, the spotlight is slightly oval and the spot is not sharply defined like, for example, on the Olight Oclip Pro, but tapers nicely into a useful, even spill.
All lamps on Turbo, camera settings were fixed.
Interesting: The spot is angled downwards when the lamp is standing. Unfortunately, I am not able to take a pic thats showing that.
| Specs by Wurkkos / my measurements | Moon | Low | Mid | High (30S) | Turbo (30S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spot | 1/1,8 | 20/21 | 110/113 | 320/340(325) | 680/720(650) |
| Flood | 1/1,2 | 15/24 | 75/101 | 150/204(200) | 320/430(320) |
The lamp does not get really hot even during persistent Turbo operation, only slightly warm. For anything more the battery would be a limiting factor anyways!
There is only one range specification of 3500cd, I measured 3480cd in Spot Turbo, so this specification is hit as well!
CCT ranges from 5050K in Low to 5250K in Turbo (Flood)
CCT ranges from 5600K in Low to 5800K in Turbo (Spot)
CRI for Spot is at 70, for Flood, the Light Master III spits out an impressive 100!
DUV ranges from flood -0.002 to spot 0.004.
The flicker measurement looks similar in Spot and Flood, attached is the measurement for Spot in Low and Turbo.
PWM is only recognizable with the camera in Moon, and only very faintly visible in Low. To the naked eye, however, it is never perceptible.
The charging process couldn’t be more boring (=unobtrusive). The stated capacity of the battery also seems realistic afterward.
Summary
The HD03 is a bestseller for a reason. Low price, large range of functions, great gadget factor. Good output, well regulated. The buttons are a bit small, but then again, the lamp is too. Aside from that, the lamp hardly allows itself any blunders in operation. Of course, if you look hard enough, you always find something—e.g., the somewhat weak magnet, RGB being more “just” mood lighting (though it’s enough as a rear light for a bike), small criticisms of the UI, but it’s not much. Normally, I leave the price out of my review, but in this case, it doesn’t quite work—because it consoles you over every potential weakness.
Whether walking the dog, as mood lighting, or as a small everyday companion, I liked the HD03 well and it can compete more than well with other, significantly more expensive clip lights.
If you don’t need ultra-bright red light in the jungle of clip lights but are looking for a bright, regulated, and chic little lamp that can cover quite a lot of areas, you should grab it.
Even as a small gift, the lamp does well with its diverse but simple operation and many practical applications. And thanks to its cute exterior and many colors, this applies regardless of all age and gender clichés.
