MCGOR Under Cabinet Lighting, 14.7" Rechargeable Motion Sensor Light Indoor, 2 Pack Magnetic Dimmable Closet Lights, Wireless Under Counter Lights for Kitchen, Stairs,Hallway

Why I added these light bars to my rotation

I’ve tested plenty of rechargeable light bars over the last year, and most fall into two camps: clever sensors with mediocre light, or bright output with fussy mounting and constant charging. The MCGOR under‑cabinet lights land squarely in the middle, and that’s a good thing. They’re long enough to be useful under standard kitchen cabinets, bright enough for prep work at higher settings, and easy to pop off for a quick USB‑C top‑up. After a few weeks using them in a galley kitchen and a reach‑in closet, here’s how they performed.

Design, build, and what’s in the box

Each bar is 14.7 inches long with a slim profile and a frosted diffuser over a row of 63 LEDs. The diffuser matters; it softens the output so you don’t get harsh dots on shiny countertops or cabinet faces. The housing feels solidly assembled without creaks or hot spots, and the integrated magnets are strong enough to grab onto a steel range hood or shelf bracket without extra hardware.

If you’re mounting to wood or tile, the included adhesive metal plates bridge the gap: stick the plates to the surface, then the magnets on the bar snap to the plates. That makes charging painless—you just pull the bar down, plug it in via USB‑C, and snap it back up. The adhesive has held up on painted MDF and lacquered plywood in my tests. Clean the surface with alcohol first and avoid textured paint for best results.

A small side switch toggles Off, Auto (motion sensing), and On. A separate button controls brightness across five steps. It’s a sensible layout, though the tiny mode switch can be a little fiddly if you’re changing modes in the dark.

Installation: genuinely tool‑free

Installation under my cabinets took minutes. I marked the plate positions, wiped the surface, stuck the plates, and let the adhesive cure for a few minutes before attaching the bars. Under a steel basement utility shelf, I skipped the plates entirely—the magnets are plenty strong on bare metal. Because the bars are low profile, doors and drawers cleared them without issue.

A small tip: place the sensor end toward the traffic path you want to detect. The field of view is wide, but orienting it toward your approach minimizes missed triggers, especially around corners.

Motion sensing and controls

In Auto mode, the sensor detects motion within roughly 10 feet across about 120 degrees and turns the light on only in low‑light conditions. That last bit is key: the sensor is smart enough to ignore motion in a bright room, which avoids pointless triggers in daylight. The lights turn off after around 20 seconds without motion. In a kitchen, that means you may occasionally need to wave a hand to keep them alive during slower tasks; in a closet, the timeout feels just right.

Sensitivity has been reliable for me, even with oblique motion. It will pick up pets; one late‑night cat patrol set off the kitchen bar, which I didn’t mind. If you do, angle the sensor away from the floor or lower the brightness to keep the glow subtle.

Brightness is adjustable in five steps via a single button. The steps are evenly spaced, and the bars remember the last brightness per mode in my use. At the top setting, one bar covers about half of a standard 25–30 inch counter with functional task light; two bars easily span a prep run. At the lowest setting, it becomes a perfect night pathway light that won’t wake anyone up.

The Always‑On mode is handy for sustained tasks, power outages, or camping. Just know that any battery‑powered light used continuously is on a clock, and these are no exception.

Light quality

The output is a clean, even white. The frosted cover does a good job diffusing the 63 LEDs, so you don’t see hotspots on shiny stone or glass. While there’s no tunable color temperature here, the white balance lands in a practical zone: cool enough to feel crisp over a cutting board, not so blue that it feels clinical. Color rendering is perfectly serviceable for everyday tasks; if you’re evaluating finishes or colors, you’ll still want your main lighting on.

Battery life and charging

Each bar houses a 2,500 mAh battery and charges via USB‑C. There’s no wall adapter included, which is fine—any standard USB charger works.

Battery life varies dramatically based on mode and brightness, as it should. In my kitchen, using Auto mode at mid brightness for evening cooking and nighttime passes, I got just under three weeks on a charge. In a lightly used closet, the same bar stretched well past a month. In Always‑On mode at full brightness, expect on the order of a workday of light before you need to charge. That makes Always‑On great for temporary tasks, but not a replacement for a plug‑in display light you want lit all day.

Charging from near empty to full took a couple of hours on a 10 W USB charger in my tests. Because the bars are magnetic, charging logistics are painless: pull down, plug in, snap back.

Everyday use

• Under‑cabinet task light: Two bars at medium‑high brightness turned a shadowy stretch of counter into a useful prep area. Motion sensing felt natural—lights were on when I arrived, off when I walked away.
• Closet lighting: One bar on Auto near the door instantly solved the “can’t see black shirts on black hangers” problem. The low‑light lockout means the bar doesn’t waste battery if the room lights are already on.
• Night pathway: One bar at the lowest setting along a hallway baseboard provided enough illumination for late‑night trips without jarring brightness.
• Utility shelf/garage: Snapped to a steel shelf, the bar became an impromptu work light. The even diffusion helps when you’re looking for small parts.

Limitations and quirks

• Not a wired‑light replacement: If you want a permanently lit display cabinet or full‑length kitchen illumination at high brightness, a plug‑in or hardwired system still wins. Always‑On mode here is best used in bursts.
• Tiny mode switch: The three‑position switch is small, and it’s easy to overshoot the mode you want if you’re toggling by feel. Set it once and leave it.
• Adhesive plate commitment: The adhesive is strong. That’s good for holding power, but plan your location; removing a plate may lift delicate finishes.
• Brightness ceiling: These are bright for their class, but they won’t wash a whole kitchen in light. For long runs, plan on using both bars or adding a third.

Who these are for

• Renters or anyone avoiding wiring: Truly no‑tools installation, with easy removal for charging.
• Task‑oriented users: Great for counters, closets, pantries, bookshelves, or RVs where you want light only when you’re there.
• Households that value convenience: Motion sensing that ignores daylight is more useful than it sounds; it saves battery and mental overhead.

Tips for getting the most out of them

• Clean and dry the mounting surface before applying the plates; press firmly for 30 seconds, then wait a few minutes before attaching the bar.
• Aim the sensor toward your entry path; angle it slightly away from pet traffic if you don’t want nocturnal triggers.
• Set brightness no higher than you need; battery life increases noticeably at medium settings.
• Use Always‑On sparingly. For displays or continuous lighting, consider a plug‑in strip.

The bottom line

The MCGOR under‑cabinet lights hit the practical sweet spot: strong magnets and adhesive plates for easy installation, a motion sensor that behaves intelligently, five useful brightness levels, and USB‑C charging with a battery that lasts weeks in Auto mode. They’re not meant to be a permanent, always‑on fixture—and if that’s your need, you’ll be charging often—but as motion‑activated task and convenience lighting, they’re competent and low‑friction.

Recommendation: I recommend these for anyone who wants reliable, motion‑activated lighting without running wires. They shine in kitchens, closets, and hallways where you want light on demand and the flexibility to move or recharge them easily. If your goal is a continuously lit display or full‑room brightness, look at a plug‑in or hardwired alternative; otherwise, these are a smart, hassle‑free upgrade.