Goal Zero LIGHTHOUSE MINI LANTERN Review

Some evenings a lantern belongs on the table; other times there isn't a table. The Goal Zero LIGHTHOUSE MINI LANTERN offers legs, a hook, and magnets, giving you several ways to put a small light near the job.

Mounting Options Can Be More Useful Than More Brightness

I'd compare the legs for a stable surface, the hook for an appropriate hanging point, and magnets for a suitable metal surface. Each option has a place, but I'd check the intended attachment before relying on it. A magnetic mount only helps when there is compatible material in the right spot.

• Weight: Eight ounces.
• Battery: Supplied Goal Zero 18650 cell.
• Control: Dimmable, directional lantern light.
• Extra function: USB device charging.

Battery Swapping Is a Distinctive Feature

The published description says the internal battery can be exchanged for a compatible spare Goal Zero 18650. That could be useful when a charged spare is available, but not all cells with a similar shape are automatically suitable. Use the specified replacement rather than assuming any 18650 will fit and operate correctly.

The built-in USB charging cable provides another route. External solar charging is also described, using a separate compatible panel; the panel isn't built into the lantern.

Read the Long Runtime Claim Carefully

Goal Zero advertises up to five hundred hours on low. That is a low-setting claim, not five hundred hours of the brightest possible room light. Direction and brightness both affect how the reserve is used.

If a phone is also being charged, that draw shares the same battery. I'd decide which job takes priority rather than spend the lighting reserve without noticing.

This review is based on manufacturer information. I'd compare the Mini for flexible close-area use and battery-swapping convenience. Someone who wants one simple lantern without extra charging functions might prefer fewer features to manage.