ClariS E5 Plus Review: A Slim Everyday Flashlight That Punches Well Above Its Price

Introduction

Some lights earn attention through brute output or exotic materials. The ClariS E5 Plus earns it through value. Initially launched at around $40, it now sits near the $20 mark, and at that price it may be one of the highest-value flashlights you can find on the market. There really is not much bad about it, which is rare enough to be worth a closer look.

Who This Product Is For

The E5 Plus is built for everyday carry first and foremost. It is only about 8 mm thick, so it essentially disappears in a pocket, with a slight bulge only where the side emitter sits. If you want a light that is always with you, doubles as a hands-free work light, and adds a safety-focused red mode, this profile fits that use almost perfectly.

Design and Carry

Two design details stand out immediately. First, the magnetic tail is very strong and becomes genuinely useful when you need to work hands-free, letting you stick the light to metal surfaces and aim the beam where you need it.

Second, the pocket clip is very well designed. It slips into the pocket cleanly, and there is enough gap between the clip and the body that the light can also be attached to the brim of a hat. Because the LED is positioned at the top of the body rather than the bottom, this works flawlessly without needing a reversible clip. That is a smart, practical touch that many larger brands miss.

Side Emitter and Controls

The front emitter tops out at 150 lumens with two modes, but the side light is the primary focus of this flashlight, with a maximum output of 650 lumens in a neutral white coloration. It is not confirmed to be high CRI, but the tint is clearly more neutral than the typical cool white, landing somewhere around an estimated 4500 Kelvin.

Controls are handled by two buttons: the top button operates the front emitter, and the second button controls the side. Both use a hold-press to turn on and a press to cycle modes, which means quick presses in your pocket will not accidentally light it up. There is no need for a separate lockout mode because a short press simply does nothing.

The Red Light Mode

Double-press from off and the light activates a red mode, with a second press switching it to a flashing red pattern. This is where the clip orientation really pays off: clipped to the back of your collar while riding a bike, it becomes a light anyone can see, and clipped to the back of a belt it works the same way for running.

A red light also has a quieter benefit. It preserves your night vision and gives you quick access to something that works in pitch blackness without blasting your eyes with full output.

Things to Consider Before Buying

At $20 there is little to complain about, but a few improvements would make this light near perfect. If the emitters are not high CRI, that would be the first upgrade worth paying more for; a high-CRI option in the side panel would make this an ideal emitter package.

The second is the waterproof rating. The E5 Plus is only rated IPX4, which means rain is fine but submersion is not. Drop it in a puddle and you should expect trouble. A rating closer to IP66 would cover most real-world accidents, from a drop in a puddle to a few minutes in a bucket of water, without needing full dive-light durability.

Buying Advice

For around $20, the ClariS E5 Plus is a surprisingly good flashlight that most people can get behind. Buy it if you want a slim, pocketable light with a strong magnetic tail, a bright 650-lumen side emitter, and a genuinely useful red mode for visibility and night vision. Skip or hesitate only if you need something that survives submersion, since the IPX4 rating is its clearest limit.

Conclusion

The ClariS E5 Plus is the kind of product that is easy to underestimate until you use it. Slim enough to forget, bright enough to matter, and clever in the places that count, it delivers an unusual amount of utility for its price. Just keep it out of deep water, and it is hard not to recommend.