How can I use my cell phone's light as a reading light?How to fix plastic hinges, or prevent them from breaking?How to recover swollen battery?How can we improve the life of our mobile's battery?
How to insert bigstar in section title with same baseline?
Why aren't large, low-speed propellers widely used?
Someone called someone else with my phone number
What are valid bugs
Why does this Ultramarine have red armour?
What are the curfew hours for students in Hogwarts?
How to make sure change_tracking statistics stays updated
After upgrading Xcode 11.2 from Xcode 11.1, app crashes due to _UITextLayoutView
Famous statistical wins and horror stories for teaching purposes
Security risks of user generated HTML?
How to wire for AC mains voltage relay, when printer board is connected to AC-charging laptop computer?
Is there evidence for Col. Vindman being a "Never Trumper"?
What does it mean by commercial support available in Open source platform?
Is there a way to download the box art for games?
Why is the air inside airliners so dry (low humidity)?
Would rocket engine exhaust create pockets of gas in space which could hinder further space exploration?
Select sets from a list which are in ascending order
Players who play fast in longer time control games
Implement batch option --yes in bash script
I have just 4 hours a month to security check a cloud based application - How to use my time?
What happens if a country signs mutual defense treaties with several countries who later go to war with each other?
When is the best time to visit the Australian outback?
How to Keep Winged People Where They Belong?
Why the real and imaginary parts of a complex analytic function are not independent?
How can I use my cell phone's light as a reading light?
How to fix plastic hinges, or prevent them from breaking?How to recover swollen battery?How can we improve the life of our mobile's battery?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty
margin-bottom:0;
.everyonelovesstackoverflowposition:absolute;height:1px;width:1px;opacity:0;top:0;left:0;pointer-events:none;
Can my Android phone be anchored or positioned to function as a reading light? I like to sit on my couch and read, with the book on a side table. Pictures 1-2 herefrom, 3 herefrom.
It's obviously too unproductive and wearisome to hold the phone over the book in one hand for hours, as I read and flip pages with the other hand.
cell-phone
add a comment
|
Can my Android phone be anchored or positioned to function as a reading light? I like to sit on my couch and read, with the book on a side table. Pictures 1-2 herefrom, 3 herefrom.
It's obviously too unproductive and wearisome to hold the phone over the book in one hand for hours, as I read and flip pages with the other hand.
cell-phone
2
I don't know where he got it, but my father-in-law gave me a folding rechargeable LED lamp. I use it as my bedside light and it lasts for weeks/months between charges. It's ALSO a pretty good USB Charger (Has 2 usb ports for charging other devices, can recharge my phone once in a pinch). I really love this thing. It's quite bright with a surface the size of my phone full of leds. Folds down to the size of a (very) thick phone.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:07
add a comment
|
Can my Android phone be anchored or positioned to function as a reading light? I like to sit on my couch and read, with the book on a side table. Pictures 1-2 herefrom, 3 herefrom.
It's obviously too unproductive and wearisome to hold the phone over the book in one hand for hours, as I read and flip pages with the other hand.
cell-phone
Can my Android phone be anchored or positioned to function as a reading light? I like to sit on my couch and read, with the book on a side table. Pictures 1-2 herefrom, 3 herefrom.
It's obviously too unproductive and wearisome to hold the phone over the book in one hand for hours, as I read and flip pages with the other hand.
cell-phone
cell-phone
asked Jul 4 at 6:36
Greek - Area 51 ProposalGreek - Area 51 Proposal
3541 gold badge5 silver badges17 bronze badges
3541 gold badge5 silver badges17 bronze badges
2
I don't know where he got it, but my father-in-law gave me a folding rechargeable LED lamp. I use it as my bedside light and it lasts for weeks/months between charges. It's ALSO a pretty good USB Charger (Has 2 usb ports for charging other devices, can recharge my phone once in a pinch). I really love this thing. It's quite bright with a surface the size of my phone full of leds. Folds down to the size of a (very) thick phone.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:07
add a comment
|
2
I don't know where he got it, but my father-in-law gave me a folding rechargeable LED lamp. I use it as my bedside light and it lasts for weeks/months between charges. It's ALSO a pretty good USB Charger (Has 2 usb ports for charging other devices, can recharge my phone once in a pinch). I really love this thing. It's quite bright with a surface the size of my phone full of leds. Folds down to the size of a (very) thick phone.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:07
2
2
I don't know where he got it, but my father-in-law gave me a folding rechargeable LED lamp. I use it as my bedside light and it lasts for weeks/months between charges. It's ALSO a pretty good USB Charger (Has 2 usb ports for charging other devices, can recharge my phone once in a pinch). I really love this thing. It's quite bright with a surface the size of my phone full of leds. Folds down to the size of a (very) thick phone.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:07
I don't know where he got it, but my father-in-law gave me a folding rechargeable LED lamp. I use it as my bedside light and it lasts for weeks/months between charges. It's ALSO a pretty good USB Charger (Has 2 usb ports for charging other devices, can recharge my phone once in a pinch). I really love this thing. It's quite bright with a surface the size of my phone full of leds. Folds down to the size of a (very) thick phone.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:07
add a comment
|
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
Your question includes a solution too, and that is the wrong solution.
Using the phone's light as a reading light is definitely an unfortunate idea in the long run, because it will enforce faster discharge of the battery, followed by other charges. That is exactly what kills phone batteries.
It is a lot more recommended to buy some cheap appliance, designed to do exactly that task. These appliances can be head (your own :)) mounted, wall mounted, free standing on a table, even attachable with a (big) clip to the book. They might provide both battery-stored energy, as well as connection to the wall socket (possibly through an adapter).
Just throw a search on your preferred search engine, and choose from the large variety something that suits your needs best.
1
How much faster does a smartphone discharge when displaying a white screen at lowest brightness? I guess the effect is pretty small. You could even plug it in while using it as a lamp.
– Michael
Jul 5 at 10:06
1
I am not an expert in batteries, so I cannot answer. However, the more a battery is (dis)charged, the sooner it dies. It is a fact of life. I would not kill my phone's battery, considering that other cheaper, safer and more environmentally solutions exist.
– virolino
Jul 5 at 10:13
1
It also generates heat. Heat is THE battery killer. Feel your phone after the light has been on for a few minutes.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:00
@Michael quite a bit. Even at a lower brightness, the screen is generally using more power than anything else in the phone.
– hobbs
Jul 6 at 22:38
1
The effect is huge. The backlight is the largest consumer of power on a phone or tablet. That's why early Kindle devices had fantastically long runtime (for a tablet), their screen was designed to use under ambient, so it had no backlight.
– Harper
Jul 7 at 12:35
|
show 1 more comment
You can get a clip-on gooseneck mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position. I picked up one of these cheap one Black Friday and was very impressed with how well it holds my tablet. There are other models that have larger clamps, cup-holder mounts, etc.
That said, if you're talking about using the camera flash LED as a light then I'd definitely discourage that -- it'll kill your battery, and those things get mighty hot. If you're just talking about using your phone's screen then it's better, but I'd still just buy a small lamp.
add a comment
|
For the love of god, buy a lamp! A little table lamp or perhaps a standard lamp, depending on where you're reading. Or else if there's some special need for darkness, look into buying a torch, many are rechargable.
You can even get, quite inexpensively, the sort of lamp cave explorers use. Straps to your forehead. The better ones are rechargable, the cheaper ones aren't. Although you could get rechargable batteries and a charger to counter that, since this is something you're going to use a lot you don't want to shell out for endless batteries.
A phone is not designed to make a good lamp Using it's camera flash LED gets hot and eats battery massively. They're useful in emergencies cos you've always got your phone on you, but it's not an everyday sort of thing.
1
This doesn't seem to answer the question, which is about "how to use a phone" not "what else can I use instead".
– Rand al'Thor
Jul 5 at 8:19
9
@Randal'Thor It seems to completely answer the question, to the extent of basically being a duplicate of the accepted answer.
– David Richerby
Jul 5 at 11:22
6
@Randal'Thor The question is an X-Y problem. The OP wants to read a book in the dark and have (incorrectly) assumed their phone should be part of solving that problem.
– Carl Kevinson
Jul 5 at 14:10
1
We have a usb booklight - it either runs off a few watch batteries in a base on a clip, or you can plug it in with a USB extension cable and clip the base to it. We have one like this - bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/…
– Cinderhaze
Jul 5 at 14:20
1
Oh boy, there's nothing like using an $800 flashlight to help you go blind. +1
– Mazura
Jul 5 at 18:29
|
show 2 more comments
Pictures 1 and 3 already display a solution for this: the glass or cup can double as a standard for your phone. Presumably you don't need the light while you're drinking. Since those objects are round, balancing your phone might be a bit of a problem. Otherwise, you might be better off with basically any rectangular paperweight. Maybe other books which are still on your 'to read' list? (I tend to keep those on a bookcase shelf separate from the ones I already read, but this might be another way to set them apart.)
add a comment
|
You can purchase Head Mount for the phone, e.g. this one looks nice.
This way just attach the phone over your forehead, turn the light on, and you can read freely, anywhere, with both hands free.
Happy reading! :-)
The light would be moving as you move your head. That seems quite uncomfortable for reading.
– Quora Feans
Jul 6 at 16:59
add a comment
|
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "593"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"u003ecc by-sa 4.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2flifehacks.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f21042%2fhow-can-i-use-my-cell-phones-light-as-a-reading-light%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Your question includes a solution too, and that is the wrong solution.
Using the phone's light as a reading light is definitely an unfortunate idea in the long run, because it will enforce faster discharge of the battery, followed by other charges. That is exactly what kills phone batteries.
It is a lot more recommended to buy some cheap appliance, designed to do exactly that task. These appliances can be head (your own :)) mounted, wall mounted, free standing on a table, even attachable with a (big) clip to the book. They might provide both battery-stored energy, as well as connection to the wall socket (possibly through an adapter).
Just throw a search on your preferred search engine, and choose from the large variety something that suits your needs best.
1
How much faster does a smartphone discharge when displaying a white screen at lowest brightness? I guess the effect is pretty small. You could even plug it in while using it as a lamp.
– Michael
Jul 5 at 10:06
1
I am not an expert in batteries, so I cannot answer. However, the more a battery is (dis)charged, the sooner it dies. It is a fact of life. I would not kill my phone's battery, considering that other cheaper, safer and more environmentally solutions exist.
– virolino
Jul 5 at 10:13
1
It also generates heat. Heat is THE battery killer. Feel your phone after the light has been on for a few minutes.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:00
@Michael quite a bit. Even at a lower brightness, the screen is generally using more power than anything else in the phone.
– hobbs
Jul 6 at 22:38
1
The effect is huge. The backlight is the largest consumer of power on a phone or tablet. That's why early Kindle devices had fantastically long runtime (for a tablet), their screen was designed to use under ambient, so it had no backlight.
– Harper
Jul 7 at 12:35
|
show 1 more comment
Your question includes a solution too, and that is the wrong solution.
Using the phone's light as a reading light is definitely an unfortunate idea in the long run, because it will enforce faster discharge of the battery, followed by other charges. That is exactly what kills phone batteries.
It is a lot more recommended to buy some cheap appliance, designed to do exactly that task. These appliances can be head (your own :)) mounted, wall mounted, free standing on a table, even attachable with a (big) clip to the book. They might provide both battery-stored energy, as well as connection to the wall socket (possibly through an adapter).
Just throw a search on your preferred search engine, and choose from the large variety something that suits your needs best.
1
How much faster does a smartphone discharge when displaying a white screen at lowest brightness? I guess the effect is pretty small. You could even plug it in while using it as a lamp.
– Michael
Jul 5 at 10:06
1
I am not an expert in batteries, so I cannot answer. However, the more a battery is (dis)charged, the sooner it dies. It is a fact of life. I would not kill my phone's battery, considering that other cheaper, safer and more environmentally solutions exist.
– virolino
Jul 5 at 10:13
1
It also generates heat. Heat is THE battery killer. Feel your phone after the light has been on for a few minutes.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:00
@Michael quite a bit. Even at a lower brightness, the screen is generally using more power than anything else in the phone.
– hobbs
Jul 6 at 22:38
1
The effect is huge. The backlight is the largest consumer of power on a phone or tablet. That's why early Kindle devices had fantastically long runtime (for a tablet), their screen was designed to use under ambient, so it had no backlight.
– Harper
Jul 7 at 12:35
|
show 1 more comment
Your question includes a solution too, and that is the wrong solution.
Using the phone's light as a reading light is definitely an unfortunate idea in the long run, because it will enforce faster discharge of the battery, followed by other charges. That is exactly what kills phone batteries.
It is a lot more recommended to buy some cheap appliance, designed to do exactly that task. These appliances can be head (your own :)) mounted, wall mounted, free standing on a table, even attachable with a (big) clip to the book. They might provide both battery-stored energy, as well as connection to the wall socket (possibly through an adapter).
Just throw a search on your preferred search engine, and choose from the large variety something that suits your needs best.
Your question includes a solution too, and that is the wrong solution.
Using the phone's light as a reading light is definitely an unfortunate idea in the long run, because it will enforce faster discharge of the battery, followed by other charges. That is exactly what kills phone batteries.
It is a lot more recommended to buy some cheap appliance, designed to do exactly that task. These appliances can be head (your own :)) mounted, wall mounted, free standing on a table, even attachable with a (big) clip to the book. They might provide both battery-stored energy, as well as connection to the wall socket (possibly through an adapter).
Just throw a search on your preferred search engine, and choose from the large variety something that suits your needs best.
answered Jul 4 at 10:47
virolinovirolino
1,1461 silver badge14 bronze badges
1,1461 silver badge14 bronze badges
1
How much faster does a smartphone discharge when displaying a white screen at lowest brightness? I guess the effect is pretty small. You could even plug it in while using it as a lamp.
– Michael
Jul 5 at 10:06
1
I am not an expert in batteries, so I cannot answer. However, the more a battery is (dis)charged, the sooner it dies. It is a fact of life. I would not kill my phone's battery, considering that other cheaper, safer and more environmentally solutions exist.
– virolino
Jul 5 at 10:13
1
It also generates heat. Heat is THE battery killer. Feel your phone after the light has been on for a few minutes.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:00
@Michael quite a bit. Even at a lower brightness, the screen is generally using more power than anything else in the phone.
– hobbs
Jul 6 at 22:38
1
The effect is huge. The backlight is the largest consumer of power on a phone or tablet. That's why early Kindle devices had fantastically long runtime (for a tablet), their screen was designed to use under ambient, so it had no backlight.
– Harper
Jul 7 at 12:35
|
show 1 more comment
1
How much faster does a smartphone discharge when displaying a white screen at lowest brightness? I guess the effect is pretty small. You could even plug it in while using it as a lamp.
– Michael
Jul 5 at 10:06
1
I am not an expert in batteries, so I cannot answer. However, the more a battery is (dis)charged, the sooner it dies. It is a fact of life. I would not kill my phone's battery, considering that other cheaper, safer and more environmentally solutions exist.
– virolino
Jul 5 at 10:13
1
It also generates heat. Heat is THE battery killer. Feel your phone after the light has been on for a few minutes.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:00
@Michael quite a bit. Even at a lower brightness, the screen is generally using more power than anything else in the phone.
– hobbs
Jul 6 at 22:38
1
The effect is huge. The backlight is the largest consumer of power on a phone or tablet. That's why early Kindle devices had fantastically long runtime (for a tablet), their screen was designed to use under ambient, so it had no backlight.
– Harper
Jul 7 at 12:35
1
1
How much faster does a smartphone discharge when displaying a white screen at lowest brightness? I guess the effect is pretty small. You could even plug it in while using it as a lamp.
– Michael
Jul 5 at 10:06
How much faster does a smartphone discharge when displaying a white screen at lowest brightness? I guess the effect is pretty small. You could even plug it in while using it as a lamp.
– Michael
Jul 5 at 10:06
1
1
I am not an expert in batteries, so I cannot answer. However, the more a battery is (dis)charged, the sooner it dies. It is a fact of life. I would not kill my phone's battery, considering that other cheaper, safer and more environmentally solutions exist.
– virolino
Jul 5 at 10:13
I am not an expert in batteries, so I cannot answer. However, the more a battery is (dis)charged, the sooner it dies. It is a fact of life. I would not kill my phone's battery, considering that other cheaper, safer and more environmentally solutions exist.
– virolino
Jul 5 at 10:13
1
1
It also generates heat. Heat is THE battery killer. Feel your phone after the light has been on for a few minutes.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:00
It also generates heat. Heat is THE battery killer. Feel your phone after the light has been on for a few minutes.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:00
@Michael quite a bit. Even at a lower brightness, the screen is generally using more power than anything else in the phone.
– hobbs
Jul 6 at 22:38
@Michael quite a bit. Even at a lower brightness, the screen is generally using more power than anything else in the phone.
– hobbs
Jul 6 at 22:38
1
1
The effect is huge. The backlight is the largest consumer of power on a phone or tablet. That's why early Kindle devices had fantastically long runtime (for a tablet), their screen was designed to use under ambient, so it had no backlight.
– Harper
Jul 7 at 12:35
The effect is huge. The backlight is the largest consumer of power on a phone or tablet. That's why early Kindle devices had fantastically long runtime (for a tablet), their screen was designed to use under ambient, so it had no backlight.
– Harper
Jul 7 at 12:35
|
show 1 more comment
You can get a clip-on gooseneck mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position. I picked up one of these cheap one Black Friday and was very impressed with how well it holds my tablet. There are other models that have larger clamps, cup-holder mounts, etc.
That said, if you're talking about using the camera flash LED as a light then I'd definitely discourage that -- it'll kill your battery, and those things get mighty hot. If you're just talking about using your phone's screen then it's better, but I'd still just buy a small lamp.
add a comment
|
You can get a clip-on gooseneck mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position. I picked up one of these cheap one Black Friday and was very impressed with how well it holds my tablet. There are other models that have larger clamps, cup-holder mounts, etc.
That said, if you're talking about using the camera flash LED as a light then I'd definitely discourage that -- it'll kill your battery, and those things get mighty hot. If you're just talking about using your phone's screen then it's better, but I'd still just buy a small lamp.
add a comment
|
You can get a clip-on gooseneck mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position. I picked up one of these cheap one Black Friday and was very impressed with how well it holds my tablet. There are other models that have larger clamps, cup-holder mounts, etc.
That said, if you're talking about using the camera flash LED as a light then I'd definitely discourage that -- it'll kill your battery, and those things get mighty hot. If you're just talking about using your phone's screen then it's better, but I'd still just buy a small lamp.
You can get a clip-on gooseneck mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position. I picked up one of these cheap one Black Friday and was very impressed with how well it holds my tablet. There are other models that have larger clamps, cup-holder mounts, etc.
That said, if you're talking about using the camera flash LED as a light then I'd definitely discourage that -- it'll kill your battery, and those things get mighty hot. If you're just talking about using your phone's screen then it's better, but I'd still just buy a small lamp.
answered Jul 5 at 0:44
A CA C
1614 bronze badges
1614 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
For the love of god, buy a lamp! A little table lamp or perhaps a standard lamp, depending on where you're reading. Or else if there's some special need for darkness, look into buying a torch, many are rechargable.
You can even get, quite inexpensively, the sort of lamp cave explorers use. Straps to your forehead. The better ones are rechargable, the cheaper ones aren't. Although you could get rechargable batteries and a charger to counter that, since this is something you're going to use a lot you don't want to shell out for endless batteries.
A phone is not designed to make a good lamp Using it's camera flash LED gets hot and eats battery massively. They're useful in emergencies cos you've always got your phone on you, but it's not an everyday sort of thing.
1
This doesn't seem to answer the question, which is about "how to use a phone" not "what else can I use instead".
– Rand al'Thor
Jul 5 at 8:19
9
@Randal'Thor It seems to completely answer the question, to the extent of basically being a duplicate of the accepted answer.
– David Richerby
Jul 5 at 11:22
6
@Randal'Thor The question is an X-Y problem. The OP wants to read a book in the dark and have (incorrectly) assumed their phone should be part of solving that problem.
– Carl Kevinson
Jul 5 at 14:10
1
We have a usb booklight - it either runs off a few watch batteries in a base on a clip, or you can plug it in with a USB extension cable and clip the base to it. We have one like this - bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/…
– Cinderhaze
Jul 5 at 14:20
1
Oh boy, there's nothing like using an $800 flashlight to help you go blind. +1
– Mazura
Jul 5 at 18:29
|
show 2 more comments
For the love of god, buy a lamp! A little table lamp or perhaps a standard lamp, depending on where you're reading. Or else if there's some special need for darkness, look into buying a torch, many are rechargable.
You can even get, quite inexpensively, the sort of lamp cave explorers use. Straps to your forehead. The better ones are rechargable, the cheaper ones aren't. Although you could get rechargable batteries and a charger to counter that, since this is something you're going to use a lot you don't want to shell out for endless batteries.
A phone is not designed to make a good lamp Using it's camera flash LED gets hot and eats battery massively. They're useful in emergencies cos you've always got your phone on you, but it's not an everyday sort of thing.
1
This doesn't seem to answer the question, which is about "how to use a phone" not "what else can I use instead".
– Rand al'Thor
Jul 5 at 8:19
9
@Randal'Thor It seems to completely answer the question, to the extent of basically being a duplicate of the accepted answer.
– David Richerby
Jul 5 at 11:22
6
@Randal'Thor The question is an X-Y problem. The OP wants to read a book in the dark and have (incorrectly) assumed their phone should be part of solving that problem.
– Carl Kevinson
Jul 5 at 14:10
1
We have a usb booklight - it either runs off a few watch batteries in a base on a clip, or you can plug it in with a USB extension cable and clip the base to it. We have one like this - bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/…
– Cinderhaze
Jul 5 at 14:20
1
Oh boy, there's nothing like using an $800 flashlight to help you go blind. +1
– Mazura
Jul 5 at 18:29
|
show 2 more comments
For the love of god, buy a lamp! A little table lamp or perhaps a standard lamp, depending on where you're reading. Or else if there's some special need for darkness, look into buying a torch, many are rechargable.
You can even get, quite inexpensively, the sort of lamp cave explorers use. Straps to your forehead. The better ones are rechargable, the cheaper ones aren't. Although you could get rechargable batteries and a charger to counter that, since this is something you're going to use a lot you don't want to shell out for endless batteries.
A phone is not designed to make a good lamp Using it's camera flash LED gets hot and eats battery massively. They're useful in emergencies cos you've always got your phone on you, but it's not an everyday sort of thing.
For the love of god, buy a lamp! A little table lamp or perhaps a standard lamp, depending on where you're reading. Or else if there's some special need for darkness, look into buying a torch, many are rechargable.
You can even get, quite inexpensively, the sort of lamp cave explorers use. Straps to your forehead. The better ones are rechargable, the cheaper ones aren't. Although you could get rechargable batteries and a charger to counter that, since this is something you're going to use a lot you don't want to shell out for endless batteries.
A phone is not designed to make a good lamp Using it's camera flash LED gets hot and eats battery massively. They're useful in emergencies cos you've always got your phone on you, but it's not an everyday sort of thing.
edited Aug 29 at 4:49
answered Jul 5 at 6:29
GreenaumGreenaum
1612 bronze badges
1612 bronze badges
1
This doesn't seem to answer the question, which is about "how to use a phone" not "what else can I use instead".
– Rand al'Thor
Jul 5 at 8:19
9
@Randal'Thor It seems to completely answer the question, to the extent of basically being a duplicate of the accepted answer.
– David Richerby
Jul 5 at 11:22
6
@Randal'Thor The question is an X-Y problem. The OP wants to read a book in the dark and have (incorrectly) assumed their phone should be part of solving that problem.
– Carl Kevinson
Jul 5 at 14:10
1
We have a usb booklight - it either runs off a few watch batteries in a base on a clip, or you can plug it in with a USB extension cable and clip the base to it. We have one like this - bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/…
– Cinderhaze
Jul 5 at 14:20
1
Oh boy, there's nothing like using an $800 flashlight to help you go blind. +1
– Mazura
Jul 5 at 18:29
|
show 2 more comments
1
This doesn't seem to answer the question, which is about "how to use a phone" not "what else can I use instead".
– Rand al'Thor
Jul 5 at 8:19
9
@Randal'Thor It seems to completely answer the question, to the extent of basically being a duplicate of the accepted answer.
– David Richerby
Jul 5 at 11:22
6
@Randal'Thor The question is an X-Y problem. The OP wants to read a book in the dark and have (incorrectly) assumed their phone should be part of solving that problem.
– Carl Kevinson
Jul 5 at 14:10
1
We have a usb booklight - it either runs off a few watch batteries in a base on a clip, or you can plug it in with a USB extension cable and clip the base to it. We have one like this - bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/…
– Cinderhaze
Jul 5 at 14:20
1
Oh boy, there's nothing like using an $800 flashlight to help you go blind. +1
– Mazura
Jul 5 at 18:29
1
1
This doesn't seem to answer the question, which is about "how to use a phone" not "what else can I use instead".
– Rand al'Thor
Jul 5 at 8:19
This doesn't seem to answer the question, which is about "how to use a phone" not "what else can I use instead".
– Rand al'Thor
Jul 5 at 8:19
9
9
@Randal'Thor It seems to completely answer the question, to the extent of basically being a duplicate of the accepted answer.
– David Richerby
Jul 5 at 11:22
@Randal'Thor It seems to completely answer the question, to the extent of basically being a duplicate of the accepted answer.
– David Richerby
Jul 5 at 11:22
6
6
@Randal'Thor The question is an X-Y problem. The OP wants to read a book in the dark and have (incorrectly) assumed their phone should be part of solving that problem.
– Carl Kevinson
Jul 5 at 14:10
@Randal'Thor The question is an X-Y problem. The OP wants to read a book in the dark and have (incorrectly) assumed their phone should be part of solving that problem.
– Carl Kevinson
Jul 5 at 14:10
1
1
We have a usb booklight - it either runs off a few watch batteries in a base on a clip, or you can plug it in with a USB extension cable and clip the base to it. We have one like this - bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/…
– Cinderhaze
Jul 5 at 14:20
We have a usb booklight - it either runs off a few watch batteries in a base on a clip, or you can plug it in with a USB extension cable and clip the base to it. We have one like this - bhphotovideo.com/images/images2500x2500/…
– Cinderhaze
Jul 5 at 14:20
1
1
Oh boy, there's nothing like using an $800 flashlight to help you go blind. +1
– Mazura
Jul 5 at 18:29
Oh boy, there's nothing like using an $800 flashlight to help you go blind. +1
– Mazura
Jul 5 at 18:29
|
show 2 more comments
Pictures 1 and 3 already display a solution for this: the glass or cup can double as a standard for your phone. Presumably you don't need the light while you're drinking. Since those objects are round, balancing your phone might be a bit of a problem. Otherwise, you might be better off with basically any rectangular paperweight. Maybe other books which are still on your 'to read' list? (I tend to keep those on a bookcase shelf separate from the ones I already read, but this might be another way to set them apart.)
add a comment
|
Pictures 1 and 3 already display a solution for this: the glass or cup can double as a standard for your phone. Presumably you don't need the light while you're drinking. Since those objects are round, balancing your phone might be a bit of a problem. Otherwise, you might be better off with basically any rectangular paperweight. Maybe other books which are still on your 'to read' list? (I tend to keep those on a bookcase shelf separate from the ones I already read, but this might be another way to set them apart.)
add a comment
|
Pictures 1 and 3 already display a solution for this: the glass or cup can double as a standard for your phone. Presumably you don't need the light while you're drinking. Since those objects are round, balancing your phone might be a bit of a problem. Otherwise, you might be better off with basically any rectangular paperweight. Maybe other books which are still on your 'to read' list? (I tend to keep those on a bookcase shelf separate from the ones I already read, but this might be another way to set them apart.)
Pictures 1 and 3 already display a solution for this: the glass or cup can double as a standard for your phone. Presumably you don't need the light while you're drinking. Since those objects are round, balancing your phone might be a bit of a problem. Otherwise, you might be better off with basically any rectangular paperweight. Maybe other books which are still on your 'to read' list? (I tend to keep those on a bookcase shelf separate from the ones I already read, but this might be another way to set them apart.)
answered Jul 4 at 8:12
GlorfindelGlorfindel
7311 gold badge6 silver badges19 bronze badges
7311 gold badge6 silver badges19 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
You can purchase Head Mount for the phone, e.g. this one looks nice.
This way just attach the phone over your forehead, turn the light on, and you can read freely, anywhere, with both hands free.
Happy reading! :-)
The light would be moving as you move your head. That seems quite uncomfortable for reading.
– Quora Feans
Jul 6 at 16:59
add a comment
|
You can purchase Head Mount for the phone, e.g. this one looks nice.
This way just attach the phone over your forehead, turn the light on, and you can read freely, anywhere, with both hands free.
Happy reading! :-)
The light would be moving as you move your head. That seems quite uncomfortable for reading.
– Quora Feans
Jul 6 at 16:59
add a comment
|
You can purchase Head Mount for the phone, e.g. this one looks nice.
This way just attach the phone over your forehead, turn the light on, and you can read freely, anywhere, with both hands free.
Happy reading! :-)
You can purchase Head Mount for the phone, e.g. this one looks nice.
This way just attach the phone over your forehead, turn the light on, and you can read freely, anywhere, with both hands free.
Happy reading! :-)
answered Jul 4 at 10:18
Shadow The Princess WizardShadow The Princess Wizard
8472 gold badges7 silver badges31 bronze badges
8472 gold badges7 silver badges31 bronze badges
The light would be moving as you move your head. That seems quite uncomfortable for reading.
– Quora Feans
Jul 6 at 16:59
add a comment
|
The light would be moving as you move your head. That seems quite uncomfortable for reading.
– Quora Feans
Jul 6 at 16:59
The light would be moving as you move your head. That seems quite uncomfortable for reading.
– Quora Feans
Jul 6 at 16:59
The light would be moving as you move your head. That seems quite uncomfortable for reading.
– Quora Feans
Jul 6 at 16:59
add a comment
|
Thanks for contributing an answer to Lifehacks Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2flifehacks.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f21042%2fhow-can-i-use-my-cell-phones-light-as-a-reading-light%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
2
I don't know where he got it, but my father-in-law gave me a folding rechargeable LED lamp. I use it as my bedside light and it lasts for weeks/months between charges. It's ALSO a pretty good USB Charger (Has 2 usb ports for charging other devices, can recharge my phone once in a pinch). I really love this thing. It's quite bright with a surface the size of my phone full of leds. Folds down to the size of a (very) thick phone.
– Bill K
Jul 5 at 16:07