You need to write something down, but the room is too dark to see the page. Maybe you’re checking equipment under a desk, filling out paperwork in poor lighting, or pointing out details during a presentation. A regular pen handles the writing, but you’ll need another tool for everything else.
Price: $79.99
Where to Buy: Amazon
Olight O’Pen 3 combines a ballpoint pen, white and red LEDs, a dedicated writing light, and a green laser pointer in one rechargeable aluminum body. It gives you several everyday functions in a tool that clips to your pocket, making it useful for people who move between writing, inspections, and presentations.
A ballpoint pen with built-in lighting
A bolt-action mechanism extends and retracts the writing tip, while a recessed grip features a meteor-shower-inspired pattern. You can use it for notes, signatures, and paperwork, then retract the tip when you’re finished.
Measuring 6.10 inches long and 0.5 inches in diameter, it weighs 1.18 ounces. That’s heavier than a disposable ballpoint, but you’re also carrying a rechargeable battery and several lighting components. A spring-loaded clip attaches to a shirt pocket or notebook, keeping the pen accessible throughout the day.
An aluminum alloy body houses the writing mechanism and electronics. If you carry a pen daily and regularly need a small light, combining them reduces the number of separate items in your pocket. For occasional writing, a standard ballpoint is easier to carry.
White and red lighting for everyday tasks
A white LED built into the pocket clip provides four brightness settings. Olight rates maximum output at 120 lumens with a beam distance of 14 meters, giving you light for checking equipment, looking behind furniture, or finding something in a dark cabinet.
High mode delivers 120 lumens for 14 minutes before dropping to 60 lumens for another 25 minutes. Medium runs at 60 lumens for 60 minutes, while low provides 20 lumens for 2 hours and 20 minutes. Moonlight mode drops to 2 lumens and extends the rated runtime to 26 hours.
A separate red LED offers 5-lumen and 10-lumen settings, with rated runtimes of 2 hours and 10 minutes and 1 hour and 20 minutes. Red lighting helps preserve your adjustment to darkness, while an SOS mode provides a signaling function.
These settings cover short inspections and close-range lighting. Anyone who needs sustained high brightness or a longer beam distance will get more use from a dedicated flashlight.
A dedicated light for writing in the dark
A small white LED near the ballpoint tip illuminates the area where you’re writing. You can take notes during a presentation, fill out forms in a dim room, or record information when overhead lighting isn’t available.
Olight rates the pen-tip light at 0.4 lumens with a maximum runtime of 26 hours. Its low output concentrates illumination around the writing surface, giving you a way to see the page without switching on the brighter clip light.
For people who frequently write in low light, this is one of the most useful additions. If most of your writing happens at a well-lit desk, the regular flashlight will likely see more use.
A green laser pointer for presentations
A built-in green laser pointer lets you highlight details on projection screens or direct attention to specific areas during presentations. Teachers, trainers, and office workers can use it alongside the writing function instead of carrying a separate pointer.
The Class 3R version offers two laser settings: a low Class 1 mode with a maximum output of 0.39 mW and a high Class 3R mode that reaches 5 mW. The Class 1 version only has the lower-power mode. Keep the beam away from people’s eyes.
If presentations are part of your workday, having a pointer integrated into a writing pen removes another accessory from your bag. Otherwise, the writing and lighting functions provide the stronger reasons to carry it.
USB-C charging and replaceable ink
A built-in 130 mAh lithium-polymer battery powers the lighting functions. Olight places the USB-C charging port inside the body, keeping the connection concealed when the pen is assembled.
Charging takes approximately one hour, and the package includes a USB-C cable and a pen refill. You can recharge the lights and replace the ink when needed, extending the usefulness of the writing function.
Battery life varies considerably between lighting modes. The highest setting steps down after 14 minutes, while the lowest white-light setting offers a rated 26 hours. If you regularly need illumination for extended periods, the smaller battery makes this a secondary light rather than your main flashlight.
For everyday writing and occasional lighting, USB-C charging keeps maintenance straightforward. You can power it using a compatible charger you already own.
Who should buy it?
Combining a writing pen, flashlight, red light, and laser pointer gives you several tools in one pocket-sized body. The dedicated writing light is a useful addition for anyone who takes notes in poorly lit environments, while the clip light handles short inspections and everyday tasks.
At $79.99, the O’Pen 3 is aimed at people who regularly need more than a writing tool. Its appeal is convenience: a ballpoint pen, close-range lighting, and a laser pointer in one body. A conventional pen remains the simpler option for occasional notes, while anyone who needs sustained illumination should consider a dedicated flashlight.
Price: $79.99
Where to Buy: Amazon
If you only need something for signatures or occasional notes, a conventional pen is the simpler choice. Anyone who spends long periods working in the dark should carry a dedicated flashlight instead. For people who regularly switch between writing, inspections, and presentations, this combination earns its place in a daily carry setup.
