Behold, the Porsche of flashlights
Space-age design: The mPower Emergency Illuminator is set to hit stores in March, 2010.
(Credit: mPower)Flashlights are becoming more and more sophisticated, as well as rather expensive. Case in point: the upcoming mPower Emergency Illuminator, which made its press debut this week at an event in New York. Designed by the Porsche Design Studio to be "a stylish product with emergency utility, it will cost somewhere between $250 and $300 when it comes out in March of 2010.
Aside from the fetching design, the mPower Emergency Illuminator boasts some innovative battery technology. One battery "tube" stores two CR123 batteries, while the other has what's called an OnCommand Reserve Battery that the company says has a minimum 20-year shelf life and will deliver "power on command when and where you need it."
While the special reserve battery isn't rechargeable and will wear down if you use the flashlight a lot, it will never degrade just sitting around in its tube. In other words, you could never turn this torch on for years, and it would still work the moment you need it--according to mPower. Replacing the backup battery will cost you around $25, though that price may go up with inflation over the years.
It's also worth noting that the flashlight has a built-in USB port for charging cell phones and other gadgets. If there's juice available from the CR123 batteries, your device will draw power from them; if not, it will charge up via the backup battery.
Comments? Would you rather have this model or the battery-free LED quick charging flashlight from 5.11 Tactical?
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter. 
Judging from the absolute lack of meaningful information on the type of LED used, output, runtime, and waterproofing, it makes me feel like it's not really being sold as a flashlight for folks seeking function, but that it is being created to draw attention to the 20-year Li-ion cell.
For what it's worth, $300+ for a very good, functional flashlight is not unheard of. $300 for a gimmicky, blingy one is, well, yes, a bit unusual.
Personally, it looks like the Stardive section of the NCC-1701D from Star Trek, and I eagerly await the next model, which I predict will be the Saucer section.
1) If I buy this flashlight and never use it for ... let's say 19 years and then find out the battery doesn't work, will I get my money back?
2) Since this is new battery tech, I think I'd rather have a flashlight that lasts three or four years and then get one with these 20-year Li-ion cells ... since I'm sure the price will drop by then.
Okay ... I'd get this if I knew I was going to be stranded on a deserted island for a couple of decades. Or it might be good for an extended trip on Mars.
- by csshih November 14, 2009 1:59 PM PST
- Indeed. This seems to be all about the fancy name and nothing about performance, or in this case, even the look!
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(13 Comments)anyways, it appears to be a cree emitter under the optics.