The Olight iMini 2 is a tiny rechargeable light that lives on your keys and turns on the moment you pull it off its cap. I paid $30 for it. Like all our Olight torches, it came with us on a trip up north to Bouddi National Park.
What’s in the box
A small black aluminium light, 5.5 cm long, that sits in a cap on a carabiner. Pull the light out of the cap and it switches on; push it back and it’s off. The end of the light is a USB-A plug for charging, and there’s a built-in battery. It also comes with a small square plate. Besides black, it comes in Green, Orange, Dream Blue, Midnight Blue and Roadster.
What we like
- Turns on as you pull it off
- No cable: USB plug built in
- Tiny: 23 g with the carabiner
- Six colours
What we don’t
- 50 lumens, one brightness
- USB-A, not USB-C
- Only splash-proof (IPX6)
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Olight |
| Colour options | BlackGreenOrangeDream BlueMidnight BlueRoadster |
| Weight | 23 gwith the carabiner |
| Length | 5.5 cm |
| Brightness | 50 lumensOne mode |
| Battery | Built-inUSB-A charging |
| Run time | Up to 60 min |
| Water rating | IPX6 |
Pull to light
This is what makes it different. There’s no button to find and no head to twist: you pull the light off its cap and it’s already on. Push it back into the cap and it switches off. The light is 50 lumens with one brightness, enough to find something in a bag, unlock the car or check the tent, but not a camp light.
Charging and size
You never need a cable: the end of the light is a USB-A plug, so it goes straight into a USB port, a power bank or a car charger. A full charge gives up to about 60 minutes of light. The catch is that it’s USB-A, not the newer USB-C, which some newer laptops and chargers no longer have. With its carabiner it weighs 23 g on our scale, so it disappears on a key ring. It’s splash-proof (IPX6), not waterproof, and while it’s out of the cap, the cap stays on your keys, so keep track of it.
Olight keychain lights comparedKeychain lights compared
We also use the Olight i3E EOS, a keychain torch that runs on a AAA battery and twists on. It’s brighter at 90 lumens, waterproof and cheaper, but you need AAA batteries. The iMini 2 never needs batteries and turns on fastest; the i3E is the tougher, brighter one. The i1R 2 Pro is the only one of the three with two modes, a 5 lumen Low that lasts about 12 hours, and it charges over USB-C.
This review Olight iMini 2 |  Olight i1R 2 Pro |  Olight i3E EOS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modes | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Battery | Built-in, USB-A | Built-in, USB-C | 1 × AAA |
| Switch | Pull off the cap | Twist | Twist |
| Water rating | IPX6 | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| Max brightness | 50 lm | 180 lm | 90 lm |
| Weight on our scale | 23 g | 21 g | 19 g |
| Price paid | $30 | $40 | $19 |
| Our score | 8.9 | 9.2 | 9.1 |
Conclusion: Olight iMini 2Conclusion
The Olight iMini 2 is the quickest light on our keys: pull it off its cap and it’s on, and it charges straight from a USB port with no cable. At 23 g with its carabiner you won’t notice it. It’s only 50 lumens, the plug is USB-A and it’s splash-proof rather than waterproof. I paid $30, and as a light you always have with you, it’s a handy one.
A 23 g keychain light that turns on when you pull it off its cap and charges from a USB plug on its end.
Only 50 lumens, USB-A and splash-proof.
- Everyday carry
- Campers
- Travellers
Yes. I paid $30 for a light that’s on in a second and never needs batteries; just don’t expect it to light up a whole campsite.
