The best thing I bought this year: a Zippo-sized rechargeable flashlight | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The best thing I bought this year: a Zippo-sized rechargeable flashlightComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVerge ShoppingCloseVerge ShoppingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Verge ShoppingThe best thing I bought this year: a Zippo-sized rechargeable flashlightA practical gift for someone who always wants to be prepared.A practical gift for someone who always wants to be prepared.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiDec 2, 2025, 4:00 PM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.The Wuben G5 is as easy to pocket as a Zippo and a much better light source. Photo: Andrew Liszewski / The VergeAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.I was never a Boy Scout, but I have always embraced their “be prepared” motto. When I leave the house it’s never without my everyday carry kit that, among other things, includes wireless earbuds, a small battery, extra glasses — and a flashlight. In fact, I’ve long been on the hunt for what I consider to be the perfect flashlight, and as a result I now have more of them than any one person could ever need. But the $25 Wuben G5 could be my last, thanks to a compact design that pairs clever functionality with lots of illumination that’s easy to adjust.I bought the G5 as a replacement for the Nitecore TINI 2 keychain flashlight I used to carry. Nitecore’s is surprisingly bright given how small it is, but the lock option that prevents the flashlight from turning on accidentally is far from foolproof. In reality, the TINI 2 would regularly turn on by itself while bouncing around inside my sling bag, draining its battery without me realizing it. You can’t effectively “be prepared” with a dead flashlight.The G5’s sliding switch protects its USB-C charging port and ensures the flashlight doesn’t turn on accidentally while bouncing around inside a bag or pocket. Photo: Andrew Liszewski / The VergeThe G5 also includes a locking mechanism, but in the form of a sliding switch on one side that doubles as a cover for the flashlight’s USB-C charging port. After a couple of months of carrying it around, the G5 hasn’t turned on by itself, and at this point I don’t expect it to. It’s not quite as small as my old Nitecore, but it’s just slightly taller than a Zippo lighter, and still very pocketable.A dial is used to adjust the brightness of the G5’s primary white light LED, or change the color of its secondary multicolor LED. Photo: Andrew Liszewski / The VergeWhat I like even more about the G5 is that it’s very good at just being a flashlight. Instead of stepping through brightness presets, the flashlight has a wheel for quickly dialing in exactly how much illumination you need, from just 2 lumens to up to 400. I find its lowest setting more than bright enough to locate something dropped in a dark car, or for searching for something that rolls under the sofa, and keeping it dim boosts the flashlight’s battery life to up to 65 hours.The G5 is not limited to just white light. It has a second LED whose color can be adjusted by turning the brightness dial which cycles through the spectrum. Using a combination of double taps and long presses on the power button, the G5 can also flash individual colors or multicolor patterns which could, in some situations, be a useful way to signal you’re having an emergency.Other functionality I’ve come to appreciate includes a clip whose position can be adjusted to the front, side, or back of the G5, and that its LEDs are located on a head that can rotate 180 degrees. The base of the flashlight even has a built-in magnet so you can mount the G5 and use it hands-free. In short, it feels like Wuben put a lot of thought into the G5’s design to maximize its functionality.I’m not going to pretend that everyone would be thrilled to find a flashlight in their stocking on Christmas morning, but I’m betting there’s one or two people on your shopping list who would appreciate a very useful addition to their own everyday carry kits.Wuben G5 Rechargeable EDC Flashlight$13$1513% off$13$25 at Amazon$13 at WalmartFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVerge FavoritesCloseVerge FavoritesPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Verge FavoritesVerge ShoppingCloseVerge ShoppingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Verge ShoppingMore in: Verge FavoritesWhy I love my Kenmore canister vacuumEmma Roth and Barbara KrasnoffSep 3The Verge’s favorite pet gear for 2025Verge StaffAug 27Why I love my Le Creuset sauté panJennifer Pattison Tuohy and Barbara KrasnoffAug 21Most PopularMost PopularNetflix kills casting from phonesThe Nintendo Switch 2 got its first-ever discount during Cyber MondayThese last-minute Cyber Monday deals will likely be gone tomorrowMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appApple’s smallest iPad just got its biggest price cut for Cyber MondayThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Wuben G5 rechargeable flashlight, a Zippo-sized device, emerges as a standout purchase for senior reporter Andrew Liszewski. He’d long been in pursuit of the ideal everyday carry flashlight, and the G5’s compact design and clever functionality, particularly its sliding switch protection, swiftly addressed his frustrations with previous models like the Nitecore TINI 2. The G5’s key improvements centered around preventing accidental activation – a persistent problem with Liszewski’s previous flashlight – while still offering substantial illumination.

Beyond simply functioning as a flashlight, the G5’s design demonstrates considerable thoughtfulness. The adjustable brightness dial, capable of scaling from 2 lumens to 400, allows users precise control. The inclusion of a secondary multicolored LED, activated via the same dial, adds a surprising level of utility, including the potential for signaling in emergencies. The flashlight’s configuration—featuring a clip with adjustable positioning and a rotating 180-degree head— enhances its versatility considerably. A built-in magnet on the base provides a convenient hands-free mounting option. Liszewski emphasizes the considerable focus Wuben placed on maximizing the G5’s functionality, making it an exceptional addition to his daily carry kit. He posits that while the device might not appeal to everyone, it represents a genuinely useful tool for individuals who prioritize preparedness and practical gadgets within their everyday lives. The device’s price of $13 represents a significant value proposition considering its sophisticated features and design.