Light up your reading sessions with this portable, rechargeable book light

Published Jan 27, 2025 11:24 am ET


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I use tablets and Kindles on a regular basis, but I’m also happy kicking back with an old-fashioned printed book in an easy chair, in bed or even during a long plane ride. However, reading at night can be inconvenient if a bright lamp isn’t close by, and it can be a downright nuisance if you’re using a lamp next to someone who’s trying to sleep. And finding a strong, long-lasting yet discreet reading light is doubly challenging when you’re in cramped quarters on a flight.

Fortunately, I’ve found a lightweight reading light that can be used anywhere and gives you comfortable illumination for hours on end: the Gritin 19 LED Rechargeable Book Light. Whether I’m enjoying a book at home or on the move, this light is an excellent, unobtrusive reading companion.

Gritin 19 LED Rechargeable Book Light, $15.99

photo of the Gritin 19 LED Rechargeable Book Light
Amazon

With 19 LED lights, the Gritin Rechargeable Book Light is powerful enough to light up your reading no matter where you are. But what really stands out about it is how customizable it is. With three major color modes — amber, white and mixed light — it’s easy to find a light that’s easy on your eyes, and you can adjust brightness from between 10% and 100% by just holding down a button.

The LED lights are also flicker-free, which will be a relief to anyone who’s ever had to make do with luminescent lights. The lights are arranged in a horizontal hood to provide generous book-width coverage, and the 360-degree bendable neck can be twisted at any angle for best illumination. The clamp attached to the neck has non-slip pads and can be secured to the edge of a table, a shelf or even your book itself.

In use, I’m impressed by the Gritin Rechargeable Book Light’s durability and coverage. It’s survived several bumpy trips in my carry-on luggage, and I can use it on large hardcover books with no issues or eyestrain. And rather than bathing just one portion of the page in bright light, it supplies consistent illumination over the entire page. The cherry on top is the 1200mAh battery, which you can charge in just two hours with the included USB-C cord (indicators on the light will display your current battery level).

Depending on the color and intensity you set, the light will last between 8 and 80 hours on one charge — more than enough for some nighttime reading, a weekend trip or a long jet flight. Musicians will love the light too, as you can attach it to your music stand so you can read your music while you’re playing. And with the ability to adjust light intensity and color, you’ll never bother the person next to you while you’re using it.

Amazon users sum up the Gritin 19 LED Rechargeable Book Light as “an absolute gem for book lovers and anyone in need of a reliable and functional light source.” When it comes to portable lights, you won’t find a reading light that’s stronger and more reliable than this one — especially for the price!

Ho Lin

Ho Lin

Author

Ho Lin is a content writer at McClatchy. He has over two decades of experience in content strategy, creation, and development, ranging from subjects such as anime and manga to military benefits, job search advice and AI evaluation. Ho is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a M.A. in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Ho also writes both fiction and non-fiction; his books include China Girl and Bond Movies: A Retrospective.

Kayleigh Drake

Kayleigh Drake

Editor McClatchy Commerce

Kayleigh Drake is a Commerce Content Editor at McClatchy. She’s based in Birmingham, Alabama, and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kayleigh has written and edited content for numerous publications, with a particular focus on the food, kitchen, home and lifestyle verticals. When she’s not fulfilling her editorial duties, she loves record shopping, playing guitar, baking and buying entirely too many plants.