This $11 keychain flashlight is the most versatile accessory I've tested (and it's cheap)

I know that everyone has a flashlight built into their phone these days, and everyone has a phone withing arm’s reach pretty much 24/7/365, but I don’t find that waving a smartphone about is always convenient. Also, I don’t know about you, if I need to hold a flashlight with my teeth, I’d rather it be a small keychain flashlight and not a smartphone. 

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And for a few years now I’ve been a massive fan of the Nitecore Tube keychain flashlight. Then earlier this year I noticed that there was a 2.0 update that built on its predecessor.

So, I bought a few. And after a few months of testing, I’m happy to say that the Nitecore Tube 2.0 has become my keychain flashlight of choice. 

There are a few things I look for in a keychain flashlight.

• I prefer a plastic or polymer flashlight to a metal one because they get seriously abraded.
• The battery needs to last a decent time between recharges, both in terms of runtime and standby time.
• It needs a simple on/off button. I don’t want to fiddle with complex controls.
• Talking of the on/off button, I don’t want the flashlight turning on randomly in my pocket. I’ve had a few occasions where my pocket is glowing like ET’s finger, or I suddenly start to feel something getting uncomfortably hot! 

As with the earlier version, the latest Tube 2.0 has two fixed brightness levels — 1 lumen and 55 lumens — along with an infinitely variable brightness setting that allows for an output anywhere between the lowest and highest output. It can throw a beam of light out to 25 meters at a 100-degree angle.

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Battery is also excellent, with a 58-hour runtime at the lowest setting and 75 minutes at the highest. The Tube 2.0 has an incredibly low current draw when in standby, allowing it to go a year between recharges. And when you do need to recharge, it only takes 90 minutes. The only complaint that I have with the Tube 2.0 is that you need a microUSB cable for charging. 

The Tube 2.0 is made of tough polycarbonate that can withstand drops. It is also IP65 rated for dust and waterproofing. At the end, there’s a stainless-steel keyring that can withstand 77 pounds of pull force.

And this is in a tiny package measuring 2.22 inches and weighing only 0.33 ounces. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Nitecore Tube 2.0 costs around $11 and comes in a range of colors, including black, clear, yellow, and orange. This is the best, most versatile, most robust, and most value-for-money keychain flashlight you can currently buy.