Wuben G5 Review: A Compact EDC Flashlight With Real Versatility

Introduction

Finding a genuinely pocketable flashlight that still delivers useful output is harder than it sounds. The Wuben G5 aims squarely at the everyday carry crowd with a flat, lighter-inspired form factor, a maximum output of 400 lumens, and a price of $24.99. After spending time with it, we think it earns a spot among the best EDC flashlights available under 25 dollars, though a few quirks are worth knowing about before you buy.

Who This Flashlight Is For

The G5 is built for people who want a light they can carry every single day without noticing it is there. It measures just 1.46 x 2.44 inches with a thickness of 0.51 inches and weighs only 52 grams, so it genuinely disappears in a pocket. Its size and shape are strikingly similar to a Zippo lighter, just slightly bigger, which is exactly the vibe many EDC fans are after.

It also suits anyone who values versatility over raw power. With a 180-degree rotating head, an adjustable pocket clip, and a magnetic tail, this is a light that can clip to a shirt pocket, attach to a baseball cap as an improvised headlamp, or stick to a metal surface for hands-free use.

Main Strengths

The standout feature is the combination of the rotating pocket clip and the 180-degree rotating head. The clip tucks into the side of the body and flips around to the front or back, so the light can face forward in a shirt pocket, angle downward, or pivot straight out. That flexibility is something we have not seen on many other compact lights, and it makes the G5 feel genuinely well thought out for daily carry.

The sliding door near the USB-C port is another clever touch. Push it fully down and it locks out the flashlight; slide it to the middle position and the light unlocks; slide it all the way up and the USB-C charging port is exposed. Clear markings on the body show what each position does. It is an intuitive system, and we appreciate an easy lockout on any EDC light.

On the lighting side, the G5 offers a white light mode plus an RGB mode, controlled by a side switch and a mechanical rotating dial. Brightness steps through around eight levels from 2 lumens up to the 400-lumen maximum. RGB solid colors run at 10 lumens, flashing combinations like red and blue, red and green, and red and yellow run at 10 lumens for up to 25 hours, and there is an RGB beacon mode rated at 10 lumens with a 45-hour runtime. The build quality is solid too: an aluminum body with a nice finish, available in green and black, plus an IP68 rating that makes it fully dustproof and submersible in up to six feet of water.

Things to Consider Before Buying

A few compromises come with the compact size. The 450 mAh built-in lithium battery is small, and while we like that the light supports pass-through charging while plugged in, a sealed battery is never ideal for longevity. Independent testing also suggests the 400-lumen maximum is closer to around 346 lumens in practice, and the output steps down after about a minute to settle around 180 to 184 lumens. At the low end, the claimed 2 lumens measured closer to 3, with a 65-hour runtime.

Ergonomics have quirks as well. The rotating dial sits in an awkward spot depending on how you hold the light: in an underhand grip your thumb rests naturally on the side switch but cannot reach the dial, and reversing your grip fixes the dial but strands the switch. The head can also feel stiff to rotate at times. Finally, the magnetic tail holds the light’s own body weight on a metal surface, but the magnet is weak and can shake loose if the surface moves, and there is no SOS or strobe mode in white light.

Buying Advice

At $24.99, the G5 is easy to recommend if your priority is a compact, well-built everyday carry light with a clean, evenly spread beam and just enough throw, rated at 82 meters, for normal daily situations. The beam profile is exactly what most people want from an EDC light: smooth spread with hardly any hot spot, and even the stepped-down output around 180 lumens remains plenty for most tasks.

If you need sustained maximum output, replaceable batteries, a stepless dimming system, or emergency strobe modes, look elsewhere. But if you want a versatile little light with a rotating head, a genuinely clever clip, RGB accents, and easy lockout, the G5 delivers far more than its price suggests. It is one of the best flashlights you can get right now for under 25 dollars.

Conclusion

The Wuben G5 nails the fundamentals of everyday carry: a Zippo-like size, a pocket-friendly flat design, thoughtful features like the sliding lockout door, and a quality aluminum build with IP68 protection. Its weaknesses, from the built-in battery to the awkward dial placement, are annoyances rather than dealbreakers. For anyone shopping in the budget EDC space, this is a light worth shortlisting.