Black & Decker LED Craft Light with Storage Cup, Natural Daylight, Flexible Head

A small light that punches above its weight

I’m a fan of tools that do more than one job without taking up much space, and the Black & Decker craft light fits that bill. It’s a compact task lamp with a flexible head, stepless dimming, a phone stand, and a built-in storage cup. After a few weeks using it across my workbench and writing desk, it’s become the little utility light I reach for when I need bright, clean illumination and a bit of organization.

Design and build

The footprint is small enough to live on a crowded desk, yet the base is stable and doesn’t skate around when I reposition the head. The flexible neck is the highlight: it bends smoothly and, more importantly, holds its position without sagging. I can arc it low over a sketchbook, swing it to the side for soldering, or lift it for a broader wash across the table. It’s not a long-reach arm lamp, but within its range it’s precise and predictable.

The materials are what I’d expect in this category—mostly plastic—but they’re fitted well, with no creaks or sharp edges. The finish resists fingerprints, and the touch area is clearly defined, so I don’t have to hunt for the control in low light.

The base integrates two clever extras:
- A storage cup that’s deep enough for the usual bench suspects—pens, small screwdrivers, craft knives, tweezers.
- A phone stand slot that holds a phone vertically or horizontally. It’s ideal for reference photos, pattern instructions, or a quick video call while you work.

The phone notch is best with standard-sized phones; large tablets are outside its scope. With a heavier, case-clad phone in landscape, balance remained fine on my desk, and the slot angle kept the screen readable without glare from the lamp.

Light quality

This is where the lamp earns its keep. The LEDs are full-spectrum with a natural daylight feel—neutral, not overly cool, with no color cast. For color-critical tasks like paint matching, thread selection, or checking ink tones, I was confident in what I was seeing. The beam is even, and the diffuser does a good job of softening hotspots while keeping edges crisp enough for detail work.

The lamp is flicker-free. That matters on two fronts: eyestrain is lower during long sessions, and if you’re shooting quick phone videos or progress photos, you won’t get banding or pulsing. I tested it with slow-motion capture and still didn’t see flicker artifacts.

Brightness feels well judged for close work. At full power, it floods a letter-size work area with clear, comfortable light. Dialed down, it becomes a gentle reading light. If you’re lighting a large benchtop or trying to fill a whole room, you’ll want something bigger, but for task lighting, it’s more than adequate.

Controls and dimming

The touch interface is straightforward: tap for on/off, press-and-hold for stepless dimming. The ramp is smooth and doesn’t jump in odd steps, so it’s easy to find a level that suits reflective surfaces, glossy paper, or matte fabric. The response feels snappy without accidental triggers when I brush past the base.

I appreciate that the brightness transitions are linear and predictable. That makes it simple to fine-tune for photography or reduce glare when I’m working with clear acrylic or glass.

Organization and workflow extras

The storage cup turned out to be more useful than I expected. Keeping a few essentials within reach means I don’t lose them under paper piles, and the lamp-base location is logical—I can grab a pencil or tweezers using muscle memory without looking away from the work.

The phone stand is equally practical. I used it vertically for instructions and horizontally to watch a short “how-to” while assembling a model. The lamp’s head articulates enough that I can aim the light without washing out the phone screen. If you rely on your phone for references or remote collaboration, having it parked upright at eye level is a quality-of-life upgrade.

A USB port on the base adds convenience for topping up small devices. I used it to nudge my phone charge while working, which kept my cable clutter tidy. It won’t replace a fast charger, but it’s nice to have one cable and one outlet serving light and device at the same time.

Energy use and longevity

LEDs are efficient by nature, and this unit claims substantially lower energy use than an equivalent incandescent. In practical terms, it runs cool, even at higher brightness. The rated lifespan is up to 50,000 hours—effectively years of daily use. A cool-running, efficient lamp is not just cheaper to operate; it’s also more comfortable to work under for long sessions.

Day-to-day use

• Craft and hobby: For sewing and needlework, I could direct the beam right onto the stitch area without casting my own shadow, which is the test that many lamps fail. For miniature painting, the neutral light made consistent color evaluation easy, and the dimming control kept metallic paints from flaring.
• Electronics and repair: The focused beam and flicker-free output were excellent for soldering and inspecting joints, and the flexible head let me dodge reflections off magnifiers.
• Desk and study: It’s a tidy reading lamp, and the integrated cup kept a pen and stylus where I needed them. Having my phone in the stand made video calls and reference checks painless.

The lamp’s compact size is an advantage in all these contexts. It doesn’t dominate the space and is easy to slide aside or rotate out of the way between tasks.

Where it could be better

• Reach and height: This is a compact lamp by design. If you need to span a wide desk or illuminate large canvases, a longer arm or a taller, articulated lamp will serve you better.
• Base options: The freestanding base is stable, but there’s no clamp or wall mount. For crowded benches where every square inch counts, a clamp-on version would be nice.
• Phone slot depth: The stand is optimized for phones, not small tablets. If you use a thick, rugged case, check fit before you commit to using it as a permanent dock.

These aren’t deal-breakers, just boundaries of what the lamp is intended to be: a focused, compact task light with thoughtful extras.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker craft light brings together the right fundamentals—clean, flicker-free daylight illumination and a reliable flexible neck—with small quality-of-life features that genuinely help. The stepless dimming is smooth, the light quality is flattering to both eyes and camera, and the base pulls double duty as a mini organizer and phone dock. It occupies very little space, sips power, and feels dependable in daily use.

Recommendation: I recommend this lamp to crafters, makers, students, and anyone who needs a compact, adjustable task light with accurate, comfortable illumination. It’s especially compelling if you value a tidy workspace—the storage cup, phone stand, and onboard USB charging are practical touches that reduce clutter. If you need a long-reach or clamp-mounted solution to cover a big work surface, look at larger task lamps; otherwise, this one hits a smart balance of performance, footprint, and price.