The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp can be of good service not only at the campsite, but also at a garden party.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Atmosphere and Light in the Night

 


Check out my video tutorial about the lamp, if you liked it, subscribe to my channel!

 


 

SHORT

What is this?A portable, battery-powered 2-in-1 smart camping light with a built-in 12-meter colorful string light that can be controlled from your phone

What do you know?Variable color and brightness lighting, 7 different modes, flashing to the rhythm of music, IP67 water resistance, 3-6,5 hours of operating time, application control and timing

What does it cost?Available for around 13.000 forints with a coupon code

Who is it good for?For campers, garden party organizers, romantic evenings, or anyone looking for portable, atmospheric lighting for a tent or apartment

 

Introduction, or what is this article about?

To be honest, I wouldn't have bought this lamp for myself, I'm not a big camper. I was asked to do this test, and since Nextool was once a Xiaomi affiliate, I couldn't say no.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 1

But it wasn't just the manufacturer that made me say no. I couldn't turn down the opportunity either because it's a fundamentally cheap lamp with interesting capabilities. It's smart, and you can control it from your phone. It has white light, a friendly orange light, but it can also light up in color and create lighting effects.

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Well, from this article you will also be able to get acquainted with the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp, let's dive right into it!


 

Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp – the specification

Let's start this chapter by saying that there are two versions of the lamp, which are no different from each other in appearance, but there is some difference in knowledge, not a little.

The GC12 is the simpler version, while the GC12S is the more serious version. In the former, you can't adjust the colors, there's no smartphone control, and what's less interesting to us, there's no XiaoAi voice command support either. The latter has all of these, and that's what makes the lamp really interesting, among other things.

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Luckily, I got the S version, so I get all the good things. But what are these good things?

  1. Battery operated

The Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp is battery-powered, the capacity of the pack inside is 2600 mAh. This capacity allows for approximately 6-6 and a half hours of battery operation. It is charged via USB C port.

 

  1. 2-in-1 design

The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp cleverly combines a traditional hanging camping lamp and a cozy string of lights. The 12-meter long, warm white string of lights creates a cozy atmosphere for campers, but also serves well at a garden party.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 4

  1. Can be controlled via smart home app

The Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Light can be controlled via the Mijia or Xiaomi Home app. You can adjust the colors, brightness, effects, so it can flash in various ways to the beat of the music.

 

  1. Multiple lighting modes

The lamp offers 7 modes; You can use the camping light and the string light at the same time (100 lumens) or use one or the other separately (camping light: 4000K, 200 lumens)

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 5

  1. Waterproof design, long operating time

The Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Light has an IP67 water resistance. The battery allows for up to 6,5 hours of string lighting and 3 hours of camping light + string lighting at the same time. Importantly, the light can be turned on while charging!

 

As you can see, the lamp is really versatile. It looks like a simple structure from the outside, but considering its capabilities, I would definitely not say that it is a simple piece. It can be used in camping, in a tent, for a garden party, but we can also decorate our apartment or room with it.


 

Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp – App Control

For me, the control via the Xiaomi Home app is a huge advantage, because I use this app to control quite a few smart devices at home, lights, microwaves, rice cookers, and a whole lot of other things. So the app itself didn't need to be introduced to me.

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It is important to note that, as with all similar applications, the app that controls the lamp is essentially an app within an app. This means that each device has its own control program, which must be installed under the large common application, in this case Xiaomi Home.

This practically means that Xiaomi Home is a framework that serves to connect different smart home devices and is also suitable for setting different scenes. For example, a motion sensor installed under the central app can turn on a lamp that is also installed under the app.

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The installation itself is not too complicated.

You have to hold down the power button on the lamp until the lamp starts flashing. Then you can easily add it by clicking on the plus sign in the upper right corner, but there is also a QR code that you can scan with the Xiaomi Home app.

The first thing to know is that the lamp requires a Bluetooth connection. In a simpler case, you can simply connect your phone to the lamp via Bluetooth. In a more complex case, typically for a home system, you can also use a Bluetooth Mesh gateway.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 8

The main interface of the application is not complicated. Although it does not speak Hungarian, the English interface is easy to use, even without knowledge of the language.

Essentially, we get everything on one page, no need to scroll through. At the top, we can select the operating mode, meaning we can turn the string of lights and the camping lamp on and off separately, and thirdly, the sound detection.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 9

At the top right, we find a timer. The manufacturer may have felt this function was important, so they put it right at the beginning of the settings. This can be really important, since while camping we can set a timer for when it should turn off, without having to get out of the sleeping bag to turn off the lights.

The section below is for color and brightness settings, and here you can also choose between rhythmic flashing. The flashing can be turned off or you can choose from three different light effects. The color selector naturally applies to the string of lights, the camping lamp can only shine with warm white light.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 10

In the bottom section, we find the pre-programmed color modes of the string lights, which range from moonlight to party flashing. I note that there are not too many variations, we have six different lighting modes available.

In addition to the main settings, we also find a settings menu. As with all Xiaomi Home devices, here you need to click on the three dots in the upper right corner.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 11

In this menu, we can give the lamp a unique name, add it to a lamp group (i.e. we can control the lamps in the group at the same time), share the control option with other users, set up automations (this is the setting of the scenes mentioned above), and last but not least, we can update the lamp's firmware from here.

Overall, we have no complaints about the application. It is extremely simple, easy to understand, and easy to use even for beginners!


 

Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp – the experiences

The first experience was taking it out of the box. I was expecting a smaller lamp. I don't understand why, since it also has a 12-meter string of lights. It's not a giant, anyway, it weighs 325 grams, the diameter is 117 millimeters, and the height is 54 millimeters. So it's easy to use, easy to place.

We Tried It: Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp – Mood and Light in the Night 12

The lamp is made of ABS, which seems like a strong, durable plastic. The assembly is exemplary, and the thing is basically confidence-inspiring. The power button is in the middle of the back, and above it, under a rubber cap, is the USB C port.

The ring can be folded out of the back to hang it, but this ring is also a reel to rewind the unwound string of lights. Because the string of lights is placed like this, it is wound up inside the lamp.

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This also gave the camping lamp, which is located at the bottom of the lamp, the middle, the opportunity to not only light up by itself. The coiled string of lights can be illuminated through a transparent plastic surface, of course, even in color.

The concept is really good, I like how the two lamp functions are integrated!

I tried it, uncoiled and rewound the 12 meter cable several times. It is basically a flexible, tangle-free conductor, which the LEDs are also designed to not get caught in anything. They don't get caught while winding either.

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However, it is worth paying attention while winding, because on one occasion a loop was formed on the cable while winding.

What is the lamp like?

Well, in short, it's really good! In the long run, it's really good. It's cozy, the light is pleasant, but not too bright. You should definitely expect that it won't be enough in the living room at home, but in a tent, the brightness of the camping lamp is absolutely sufficient.

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The string lights are really just the icing on the cake. There are rooms decorated with these lights in the manufacturer's pictures. I think this is a bit much, I don't like these decorative lights, but we are not the same, maybe you will like it. Let's say on a cozy evening instead of candles, this will do. Bathtub, strawberries, champagne and warm light string lights. I might try this out!


 

Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp – Conclusion

What is undeniable is that the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp is absolutely worth the price for its quality, design, and know-how. It does everything the manufacturer promises, and it does everything well.

It's a lamp, so its primary function is to provide light. The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp can be used as both a camping lamp and a mood light. Whether it's reading your favorite book in a tent, a romantic evening with your loved one, or a great garden party, the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp will be the perfect choice for any occasion.

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Because of the battery, it doesn't need a power outlet. It can be charged using a power bank, and as I wrote above, it can be operated while charging, so using a power bank can really extend the operating time.

Thanks to the phone and app control, you don't have to turn the light on and off, you can hang it on a tall tree, and you'll be able to control it without having to stand on a ladder every time.

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Overall, the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp is really a great product!

If you liked it, then a BGe91f3c You can order it for 12 forints with coupon code by clicking on the link below:

 

Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp

 

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Frequently Asked Questions and Answers – Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp

1. Question: What kind of battery does the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Light have?

Response: The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp has a 2600 mAh battery, which allows for 6-6,5 hours of operation and can be charged via a USB-C port.

2. Question: What is the brightness of the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp?

Response: The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp camping light provides 200 lumens of brightness (4000K), while when used together with the string of lights it provides 100 lumens.

3. Question: How to control the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Light from your phone?

Response: The Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp can be controlled via the Mijia or Xiaomi Home app via Bluetooth, where you can adjust colors, brightness, effects, and timers.

4. Question: Is the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Light waterproof?

Response: Yes, the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp has an IP67 waterproof rating, so it can be safely used in outdoor environments.

5. Question: What colors can the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Light String display?

Response: The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp GC12S version can light up in multiple colors, from white to warm orange to colorful effects, even to the rhythm of music.

6. Question: Can the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Light be used while charging?

Response: Yes, the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp can be operated while charging, so its operating time can be extended even with a power bank.

7. Question: How long is the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Light String?

Response: The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp's built-in string of lights is 12 meters long, which can be easily unwound and rewound into the lamp body.

8. Question: What lighting modes does the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp offer?

Response: The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Light offers a total of 7 lighting modes, including using the camping light and string lights separately or together, as well as various mood lighting effects.

9. Question: What is the size and weight of the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp?

Response: The Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp is 117 mm in diameter, 54 mm in height and weighs 325 grams, making it easy to transport and place.

10. Question: What versions of the Nextool 2 in 1 Camping Lamp are there?

Response: There are two versions of the Nextool 2-in-1 Camping Lamp: the simpler GC12 and the more advanced GC12S, the latter of which also supports color adjustment, smartphone control, and XiaoAi voice commands.

Positives
  • Innovative 2-in-1 design (camping lamp and string light in one)
  • 12-meter long, color-changing string lights
  • Up to 6,5 hours of battery life with 2600 mAh battery
  • IP67 waterproof design
  • Phone control with Xiaomi Home/Mijia app
  • Flashing to music function with various effects
  • Can be used while charging
  • Lightweight, 325 gram design
  • Multiple lighting modes (7 modes)
  • Affordable price, around 13.000 HUF
Negatives
  • Not very bright (maximum 200 lumens)
  • Loops can sometimes form when winding the string of lights.
  • Lack of Hungarian language interface in the application
  • Short 3-hour operating time when both lamp parts are lit simultaneously
  • Limitedly suitable for indoor use due to brightness
  • Some color modes require a phone app to switch between them