REVIEW β Olight is a company known for its quality flashlights and other EDC gear. In 2021 I reviewed their Open Pro EDC penlight which I really liked and now they are back with a new version. The Olight OβPen Glow. Letβs check it out.
What is it?
The Olight OβPen Glow is an EDC pen with a built-in flashlight, laser pointer, and even a writing tip light.
Whatβs in the box?
- Olight OβPen Glow Rechargeable Penlight
- Charger base
- USB-C cable
- Magnetic clamp
- Replacement ink cartridge
- User manual
Hardware specifications
Beam Distance: 46 ft(14 m)
Max Performance: 120 lumens
Charge Type: USB Charging Cable(C-C)
Compatible Batteries: 3.7V 110mAh/407mWh Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery (Built-In)
Light Source: High Performance White LED (5700K); Pen Tip Light High Performance White LED (4000K)
Brightness levels: High 120~60 lumens β 14 + 21 minutes
Med: 60 lumens β 45 minutes
Low: 20 lumens β 110 minutes
Moon: 5 lumens β 5 hours
Pen tip: 0.2 lumens β 2.5 hours
Strobe, SOS, Beacon: No
Weight: 1.34oz/38g (Including Battery and Refill)
Length: 6.1in/155mm (Tip Retracted)
Body Diameter: 0.5 in (12.7 mm)
Design and features
At first glance, the Olight OβPen Glow doesnβt look significantly different than the previous Olight OβPen Pro from my previous review. It has an anodized aluminum body and is available in several colors including the OD green version that was sent to me.
The Olight OβPen Glow has a bolt-action mechanism, a strong pocket clip, and a click-top button.
This new version of the OβPen features a new charging method. Instead of unscrewing the top of the pen to plug in a USB cable, thereβs a small wireless charger included in the package.
This charger even doubles as a pen stand.
When you plug in the charger with the included USB-C to USB-C cable, the interior of the charger glows green.
But when you insert the pen into the charger, it will glow red while charging. How the heck does it charge the pen?
The tip of the pen has some magic powers. If you look closely, thereβs a copper-colored ring around the ink tip opening. Thatβs an electrical contact. But thatβs not the only cool feature of the pen tipβ¦
It can also light up!
This light allows you to write in the dark. Cool right! The only thing that I think would be even better is if the pen tip light were red instead of white. Then you could use the Olight OβPen Glow to write in the dark without wrecking your night vision. Maybe that will be a feature for the next version π
Like the previous version of the OβPen, this one has a brighter flashlight built into the pocket clip.
And thereβs a green laser built into the top of the pen.
Using all these features does require that you memorize the controls. Itβs not difficult though.
- Clicking the top button when the pen tip is not extended will toggle the pocket clip light into low mode
- Double-clicking the top button will switch to high mode
- Holding the top button will cycle through moonlight, low, medium, and high modes
- Clicking the top button when the pen tip is extended will toggle the pen tip light
- Pressing up on the bolt when the tip is not extended for 1 sec will turn on the green laser and pressing again will turn it off
What I like
- Built-in flashlight, pen tip light, and laser
- The new charger is cool
- Extra refill is included
What Iβd change
- Change the pen tip light to a red LED to protect night vision
Who should buy this?
People who like EDC gear and pens and who do not need a super high-powered flashlight will appreciate the Olight OβPen Glow.
Final thoughts
Olight has done it again with the OβPen Glow pen. This is a really nice EDC pen with features that are actually useful. This product makes me continue to enjoy and recommend Olightβs quality gear.
Price: $79.99 (Save up to 40% off during their sale that starts 5/16/23 8PM EST β 5/18/23 12PM EST)
Where to buy: Olightstore
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Olight.
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Thanks for the heads up. I placed one on order this morning. It will become my bedside pen for those in the middle of night thoughts. What is the ink like? Olight says that the refill is conductive.
It writes like a smooth ballpoint pen.
Nice review apart from the “wireless charging” bit. Wireless means there doesn’t have to be any physical contact. The Open Glow isn’t wireless. This has a plug (pen) and a socket (base).
Does it actually write? I’ve had 3 different O’Pen2, their ink refills are awful.
Had to find a Schmidt refill to actually use them.
Yes it writes just fine but I prefer gel pens to ballpoint pens, so there is that.