The most common worries about rechargeable lamps are brightness, battery life and durability. Tavellio's Tess and Tessa answer all three: 20 light settings up to a bright cool 6000K white, a battery that runs up to 120 hours per charge (around 10 hours at full brightness), and a metal, IP54 build with self-developed battery technology made to last. They mount without wiring and recharge via USB-C.
Rechargeable Lamps: Your Questions Answered Before You Buy
Bright enough? Battery any good? Will it last? The honest answers to the doubts that stop people buying a rechargeable lamp.
A cordless lamp can sound almost too convenient, so a little scepticism is fair. Here are the questions we hear most, answered straight, using our own Tess and Tessa as the example.
"Is it actually bright enough?"
Yes, if it's adjustable. Tess and Tessa offer 20 light settings up to a cool 6000K white that's bright enough for reading or working, and a warm 2700K glow for atmosphere. The honest trade-off: the brighter you run it, the faster the battery drains, which is exactly why an adjustable lamp beats one fixed output.
"How long does the battery really last?"
On a 5200 mAh battery, roughly 10 hours at full brightness and up to 120 hours on the lowest setting. At a normal, cosy level that's many evenings between charges. When it's empty you top it up with the included USB-C cable, the same one as your phone.
"Won't it stop working after a year?"
That's the real worry with cheap cordless lights. Ours are built the other way: a metal body, an IP54 rating against damp and splashes, and our own self-developed battery technology, made to last. It's the same "built to last" thinking behind everything we make.
"Isn't charging a hassle?"
No. Because the lamp is magnetic, you lift it off its plate, plug in USB-C, and click it back, no tools, no rewiring. A timer and motion sensor also mean it isn't burning battery when nobody's there.
"Why not just buy a plug-in lamp?"
If there's a socket exactly where you want light, a corded lamp is perfectly fine, and we make those too. But for a staircase, hallway, closet or bathroom with no outlet, a cordless lamp goes where wiring can't, with no electrician and no holes drilled for cable.
"Is it worth the price?"
At €65 for Tess and €69 for Tessa, there's no installation cost, no electrician and no rewiring, and you get the sensor, remote, 20 light settings and long battery in one lamp. For most spots that's less than a fixed fitting once the fitting is paid for.
Want to compare features properly first? See our buying guide, the complete guide to rechargeable lamps, or meet the lamps in Tess & Tessa.
Browse all cordless wall lamps.
Frequently asked questions
Are rechargeable lamps bright enough?
Yes, if the lamp is adjustable. Tess and Tessa go up to a cool 6000K white that's bright enough for reading or working, and down to a warm 2700K glow. The brighter the setting, the faster the battery drains.
How long do the batteries last?
On a 5200 mAh battery, around 10 hours at full brightness and up to 120 hours dimmed, so many evenings between charges at a normal level. You recharge with the included USB-C cable.
Do rechargeable lamps break or wear out quickly?
Cheap ones can. Tess and Tessa use a metal body, an IP54 rating and our own self-developed battery technology, built to last for years rather than a single season.
Is a rechargeable lamp worth it versus a plug-in one?
Where there's no socket, yes. You avoid an electrician, wiring and drilling, and still get a sensor, remote, 20 light settings and a long battery in one lamp from €65.
