Loop Gear is pretty new to the flashlight game and they’re taking a different road than most. While other brands are busy pushing lumen counts, Loop is being playful. That doesn’t mean they aren’t serious about lights—they’re making some excellent products—it just means they’re doing it in a way that makes you take notice. With the SK03 we got a tritium mode with swappable filters. With the SK05 we got a sci-fi-inspired compact that packed great features an RGB strip that doubles as a battery gauge (plus a few party tricks). Now they’ve pushed the envelope again on what an EDC flashlight can be. Introducing the LOOPDOT.
What makes the LOOPDOT different is how it blends the usefulness of a flashlight with the fun of a fidget toy. I didn’t see that combo coming, but it works—and it’s well executed. Let’s hit the numbers, then I’ll dig into how it actually feels to use.
Specs at a Glance
Spotlight
Turbo: 400 → 150 lm (stepdown); runtime 30 s + 1.5 h
High: 150 lm; runtime 1.6 h
Low: 1 lm; runtime 60 h
Moonlight: 0.1 lm; runtime 80 h
Peak intensity: 2400 cd
Max beam distance: 100 m
Floodlight
Turbo: 270 → 100 lm (stepdown); runtime 30 s + 1.5 h
High: 100 lm; runtime 1.6 h
Low: 1 lm; runtime 60 h
Moonlight: 0.1 lm; runtime 80 h
Peak intensity: 90 cd
Max beam distance: 20 m
Other
Battery capacity: 600 mAh (internal)
Charging: USB-C, 2.5 W max (5 V / 500 mA)
Waterproof: IPX6
Impact resistance: 1 m
Dimensions: 60 × 27.5 × 18.4 mm
Design & Carry
I love the pill form factor—it’s compact, smooth, and just feels good in hand. Being aluminum, it’s durable but it will pick up character marks over time. Loop ships it with two ways to carry: a flexible sleeve with a lanyard and a clipped attachment. The lanyard is nicer than most freebies (leather with Loop branding), and the sleeve gives extra grip plus drop/wear protection. The clip shell makes it easy to latch onto clothing, bags, or straps when you want quick access. Both keep the LOOPDOT’s footprint small.
There’s also a magnet in the back. It’s handy for sticking the light to a steel surface while you work. It’s fairly strong—just not the strongest I’ve seen in this size class.
Interface & What It’s Like to Use
The front end is clever: a focused spot LED in the center with the flood array wrapped around it. That gives you reach when you need it and a wide wash when you don’t.
Up top you’ve got a power button and a rotating bezel/dial. The button is your confirm/enter; the dial is how you scroll. Press once and you’re in the menu with Spotlight ready to go. Press again to enter, then spin the dial to ramp brightness. Want Flood? Rotate the dial one click to the next item, press, and you’re in. There are a lot of clicks and turns to access all the modes, games, and visual flair (I’ve include a flowchart courtesy of SammysHP on Reddit), but once you get the rhythm it’s second nature.
The tactile click of the bezel is genuinely satisfying—it doubles as a fidget toy. By default the menu only scrolls one direction, but you can flip that in settings if you prefer.
The Pixel Screen is the Star
Below the emitter sits an RGB pixel display that does more than look pretty. It shows you where you are in the menu, gives battery/charge animations, and lets you interact with simple games. There’s a coin toss for quick decisions and rock-paper-scissors when a coin flip isn’t enough. Add an accelerometer and now you can “flip” the coin or shake through interactions. It’s a small thing, but it makes the light feel alive and fun.
Output & Runtimes (real-world feel)
Spot and Flood are both solid for the size. Spot gives a clean central punch out to about a football field (the 100 m spec tracks with what I’m seeing), and Flood is a smooth wall of light for close work. This isn’t a lumen monster and it doesn’t try to be—the Dot leans on balance and personality. Turbo is a short sprint (30 seconds) before stepping down, which is expected on something this compact. The low and moonlight levels are genuinely useful and the 80–100 hour figures make sense for late-night tasks without nuking your night vision.
Battery & Charging
Here’s my only real gripe: battery life is just okay. With so many toys packed in, you’re going to play with it—and you’ll be topping up fairly often. The good news is USB-C charging is quick at 3 W, and the animated charge screen is nerdy-good to watch.
What I Like / What I Don’t
Likes
Unique “spot-in-center, flood-around-it” setup that actually works
Clicky dial + haptics vibe that makes it a legit fidget piece
Pixel display isn’t just a gimmick; the accelerometer interactions are fun
Versatile carry: protective sleeve with lanyard and a clip option
Thoughtful low levels and moonlight for real EDC use
Could be better
Battery life is just okay given how much you’ll fiddle with it
Magnet is useful but not strong enough for all situations.
Menu depth means a short learning curve.
Bottom Line
Overall, the LOOPDOT is a neat gadget that also happens to be a capable little flashlight. It’s unique, it’s well made, and it’s fun—and that’s exactly why I like it. Loop isn’t afraid to do something non-traditional, and with the LOOPDOT they’ve broken the mold again. If you want an EDC light that makes you smile and still gets the job done, this is it.
Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk
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