Customer Reviews

LRI REX Photon Rechargeable 4-LED Micro-Light Keychain

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

You might think this microlight is a bit overpriced, but considering that it is rechargeable, it is well worth the expense.

Consider this: The Photon Freedom, also from LRI, costs $13.20 plus shipping. For $10 more, you get a microlight that has 3 more LEDs, and that can charge up to 500 times from almost any common household battery: AA, AAA, C, D, etc. So rather than spending money buying the annoying button cells such as the 2032's and 2016's, you can simply hook up this little Photon Rex and have it charged in about 3 hours.

**According to the package, charging the REX using a D-cell battery costs 6 cents per charge!**

Pros:

-Has 4 LEDs instead of 1, thus it is MUCH brighter than traditional keychain lights/microlights. It outperforms my other Photon light as well as my Streamlight NANO and my INOVA microlight.

-It comes equpped with FREEDOM technology. For those not familiar with this, it means that you can press down on the on/off button and hold it down, and it will gradually brighten up or dim itself to your desired level of brightness. It will blink when the maximum brightness is achieved. If you keep holding the button down past the blink, you will the progress to the equipped SOS, slow beacon, and strobe modes.

-It has two magnetic poles on the back, to which you easily attach the charger. Instructions are very simple to follow, and the charger works with almost any common household battery.

-It has a strong keychain clip that will secure your light without fear of losing it.

-It can be recharged 500 times.

-The button glows in the dark, making it easy to find.


CONs:

-The button is a bit hard to press down on, but you can easily get used to it.

-Since it has 4 LEDs, it is a bit bigger than the other Photon lights and other traditional microlights. This is not really a problem to me, but if you're interested in a tiny light, you might want to consider a different microlight. The Photon Freedom is a good option.

-You will need a battery that has magnetic positive and negative poles to hook up the charger. If the poles are not magnetic, you will have to find another battery.


Overall this is a wonderful little light. Despite its minor flaws I still gave it 5 stars because of its functionality, rechargeability, easy of use, and brightness (it's VERY bright for its size, it easily blows away those cheap multiple LEDs flashlights, and it sure blows away most other microlights!)

I am a technician. I have many flashlights. I buy every headlight that I think may have an advantage. The LRI ReX Photon Rechargeable is the best. It meets all my requirements. It fits nicely in my pocket, because it is flat and smooth and small. It provides a wide beam, which I need because I work generally close, but often at difficult angles. It has a compact headband, easy to quickly put on without worrying which way is up. It has a simple button that turns it right on, without hunting for the switch or going to different flashing modes by accident. It recharges, so I save the hundred or so dollars a year that some other headlights' batteries cost, because I use the light a lot every day.

The headband and USB-charger come in a separate accessory kit that costs as much as the flashlight. That begins to seem pretty expensive. But I like it so much I bought a second light and a second accessory kit, so I always have a charged light. Also, I can mount the two lights on a single headband, which I thought I would want, but I haven't needed to do it.

The flashlight comes set in "display mode": it turns off in fifteen seconds. Hold the button for a half-minute to get it permanently out of the annoying display mode.

This is an amazing little light. Sometime around the turn of the century I modified a Photon keychain light for my watch band. I upgraded it when they changed to the brighter Freedom model. I wouldn't be without the Photon on my watch band, but it isn't perfect. It is enough of a nuisance to change the batteries that I let it get a little dim. And I sometimes need more light.

A ReX is now on my keychain. I still go to my wrist if I need a quick light, but the ReX is a full blown flashlight in my pocket that is always at full charge. It puts out an amazing amount of light for its size. I have several flashlights around my house with 8 LEDs that take 3 AAA cells. The little ReX is not only tiny by comparison but it is brighter. It also has a more pleasant warm light. The beam is a wide flood with decent throw. I like the large switch button. And did I mention how bright it is?

Recharging is easy. You put two rare earth magnets on the poles of a battery and a little adapter snaps magnetically onto two small contacts on the ReX. It puts out tiny blinks until it is charged. I use a rechargeable NiMH battery, but you can use any standard battery that isn't over 3v.

I seldom use the modes on my Freedom and haven't had occasion to do anything but check them out on the ReX. It might be useful to use a lower intensity if you needed a long burn time. And the strobe might be handy if you had to get someone's attention - just hope they aren't epileptic.

About the only time I don't have my keys in my pocket is when I am on my boat. So I put another ReX on the boat keys with a quick disconnect. I just wish it was small enough to put on my watch band.

Get one - you won't be disappointed.

A very deceiving item, when first seen. It's a bright, very bright mini light. The smart chip inside can go from high illumination to low. Or, in reverse. Auto Shuts after twenty seconds and like I said it's bright.
The only negative, and its a small one. The recharging configuration.
A magnetic harness, that needs any AAA battery as a power source to recharge the internal battery. Note, DO NOT LOOSE this harness....
Enjoy!

I was not disappointed by this light. Its a great product. The only problem is its battery life, which can be lengthened a few extra hours if you keep the light on a lower level. The variable brightness, rechargeability and charging conveneince really sells the light. 4.8 stars.

So bright yet so small I carry in pants pocket.

Once you learn how to charge from another battery is quite simple but recently got the USB charger port thing which charges much faster and when done instead of just no lights it has very bright flash - so doesn't over charge but also dramatically tells you "I'm done"

I got 2nd in case need while other needs recharging. Seems full bright until near end of charge when gets dim before it goes out.

The optional USB kit thing is hard to snap into and out of, very tight fit but works. That may not be available on Amazon yet went direct.

But love the micro light which I first got maybe year+ ago (older version) free when I bought something else from someone..forget what. Loved it ever since.

I bought a couple of these lights about a year ago. I keep one on my car keys and one on the boat key with the included quick disconnect.

The lights are amazingly bright. The variable output is handy when you don't want a lot of light. Just hold the switch down until it ramps up to the intensity you want. After it fully ramps it goes to strobe. A simple click without holding it gives full bright.

The charging system works well from any 1.2 - 1.5v battery. I usually use rechargeable NiMH batteries, but it works well with any type. When the dim strobe stops blinking it is fully charged. You can charge it twice with an alkaline AA and about 20 times with a D cell. Don't try recharging with a higher voltage battery for a quicker charge. Someone over on the Candlepower forums tried it with a rechargeable Lion battery and damaged the light.

The light color is fairly warm and the pattern is floody with a little bit of throw. You probably get around 20 minutes of full bright with a fully charged battery. That has always been plenty for me. I've had several Photon products over the years and they have always worked well and been reliable.

The light is amazingly bright and useful. I love the control of brightness. It took some time to come to terms with the recharging harness. I had to trim off some excess plastic so it could make contact and it still is very positional. It takes a few minutes of manipulation to get it to work and then it has to be very carefully placed and totally undisturbed until it finishes. When they work out that bug it will be by far the best little light available.

when it worked it was great. after a couple months it just stopped working. too expensive for a throw away. could have purchased several throw away lights for same money and to my experience they would have lasted way longer.

Bright, lightweight and holds charge for months with moderate usage. It is easily recharged, just follow the instructions precisely. I own two and both are working very well. Don't fully discharge the battery and charge with no more than 3 volts. Runtime is about 30-45 minutes at maximum brightness. I really like this micro-light.

UPDATE (17 March 2011):
Still working very well but the button needs to be pressed a little more firmly to be activated. The plastic case in one opened very slightly but I sealed it back with "crazy glue". Both lights (old version) still retain charge and brightness as when they were first acquired. I bought the usb / solar charger and this made the charging process more convenient. These rex photons have both been on keyrings and dropped numerous times since they were bought.