Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 Bi-Colour & RGB Tube Light Kit - Review
The Harlowe Blade 5 and Blade 10 are innovative RGB and Bi-Colour LED tube lights designed to elevate the lighting experience for photographers, videographers, and content creators. Available individually or as a kit, these lights offer versatility and portability, making them a valuable addition to any creative toolkit.
Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 Bi-Color & RGB Tube Light Kit
The Blade 10 measures 14.2 inches, comparable to the length of a MacBook Pro, while the more compact Blade 5 is 6.5 inches, similar to an iPhone 15 Pro Max. This thoughtful sizing ensures seamless integration into various setups and easy transportation. Both models feature a sleek design with faux leather accents, maintaining Harlowe’s signature aesthetic. Let’s have a closer look!
Note: Blonde Robot (Australian Harlowe Distributor) sent the Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 Bi-Colour & RGB Tube Light Kit to review and return. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this light are my own.
Pros
Compact & Portable – The Blade 5 is about the size of an iPhone, and the Blade 10 is similar to a MacBook Pro, making them easy to carry and store.
Versatile Colour & Temperature Range – 1700K to 10,000K with full RGB spectrum for creative lighting options.
High-Quality Light Output – CRI and TLCI ratings of 96+ ensure accurate colour reproduction.
Magnetic Mounting – Strong built-in magnets allow for quick placement on metal surfaces.
Bluetooth App Control – Adjust settings remotely via the Hobolite app.
Good Build Quality – Stylish design with premium faux leather accents.
Included Accessories – Comes with diffusers and adjustable barn doors for better light control.
Easy to turn dials for power and temperature, and simple on/off switch
All accessories, the diffuser, the grid, gels and barn doors are all magnetic.
Cons
Limited Battery Life – Only about 1 hour of use at full brightness before needing a recharge.
No Physical Dials for Quick Adjustments – Requires on-device buttons or app control.
Higher Price Point – More expensive than some other tube lights with similar features.
No Wireless Charging – USB-C charging only, which may not be convenient for some users.
Magnet Strength Could Be Stronger – May not hold securely in all positions, especially with added modifiers.
Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 — Technical specifications
All of the technical specifications are from the Harlowe website/marketing material.
Output Power (Max): 5W [Blade 5] or 10W [Blade 10]
Colour Temperature Range: 1700K~10000K
CRI / TLCI: 96/96
Dimming: 0-100%
Luminous Flux: 400lm (@6500K) [Blade 5]/ 900lm (@6500K) [Blade 10]
RGB: 36000 Colours/ Colour Gamut: 0 – 360 Degrees/ Saturation: 0-100 / Intensity: 0-100
Magnetic Property: Yes
Input DC – DC 5V/9V, QC/PD compatibility
Battery: 3.8V 1400mAh, 5.32Wh [Blade 5] / 7.4V 1800mAh, 13.32Wh [Blade 10]
App Control: Yes (Bluetooth 65.6 feet)
Battery run time: 60 mins on 100% power [Blade 5]/ 1 hour 18mins on 100% power [Blade 10]
Dimensions: 6.46” x 1.38” x 0.71” [Blade 5] / 14.17” x 1.38” x 0.71” [Blade 10] (without accessories)
Net Weight: 0.36 lbs [Blade 5]/ 0.79lbs [Blade 10] (without accessories)
Shipping Dimensions: 16.14” x 5.79” x 2.87”
Shipping Weight: Creator Kit 3.92 lbs
Operating temperature: 14 to 104°F / -10 to 40°C
Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 — Versatility
Both the Blade 5 and Blade 10 provide a wide colour temperature range from 1700K to 10,000K, allowing users to replicate anything from warm candlelight to cool daylight. The RGB mode offers extensive creative possibilities with a spectrum of vibrant colours. The Blade 10 delivers a powerful output of 900 lumens, while the Blade 5 offers 400 lumens, both with high CRI and TLCI ratings of 96+, ensuring accurate colour rendering.
Comes with 8 Lighting modes, from flash, to flame, screen TV, Lighting, Fireworks and more.
Build quality
Small and sturdy, buttons and scrolls are firm and stable but easily turned. The accessories are all magnetic, making it a breeze to add and remove. It feels very sturdy and compact.
Out of the box
The Blade 5&10 Bi-Colour & RGB Tube Light Kit includes a Blade 5 Bi-Colour & RGB Tube Light, a Blade 10 Bi-Colour & RGB Tube Light, two Magnetic Barn Door Attachments, two Magnetic Diffusion Panel, a USB-C type charging Cable, a Charging Adapter, a V-mount Plate, a L-wrench Tool and a Carrying bag. Please note that the Blade also comes with just the 5 or just the 10 options as well as the full kit.
Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 — Multiple options
Includes a frosted dome diffuser for soft, diffused lighting & Magnetic, adjustable barn doors for precise light shaping and control. You can use it in the studio or on location. Fantastic for creative lighting options or even for light painting. Control the Blade RGB & Bi-Color remotely via a mobile app, adjusting brightness, colour temperature, and RGB settings wirelessly
Mounting
Integrated magnets allow for quick attachment to any magnetic surface, and a 1/4-20 threaded mounting hole ensures compatibility with tripods and stands. The kit includes frosted dome diffusers for soft, diffused lighting and magnetic, adjustable barn doors for precise light shaping and control.
Setup
It’s so simple to use. However, to turn it on you press the power button. You will be prompted to turn the scroll wheel to turn the unit on. Add the magnetic barn doors, and diffuser and you’re ready to shoot. It’s that simple.
RGB 36000 Colors
Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 — A terrific lighting addition to your kit
Equipped with built-in rechargeable batteries, the Blade 10 houses an 1800mAh battery, and the Blade 5 contains a 1400mAh battery, each providing up to one hour of continuous use at full power. Users can adjust settings directly on the devices or via the Hobolite mobile app through Bluetooth connectivity, offering convenient control over brightness, color temperature, and effects.
Sample images
Available from Harlowe.
Check out the unboxing video…
Overall, the Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 are excellent choices for content creators and photographers looking for stylish, portable, and high-quality lighting solutions, but battery life and price might be concerns for some users.
Our verdict
Harlowe Blade 5 & 10 Bi-Color & RGB Tube Light Kit
★★★★★5/5
The Harlowe Blade 5 and Blade 10 stand out as compact, powerful, and versatile lighting solutions. Their thoughtful design, impressive performance, and user-friendly features make them a valuable asset for creatives seeking to enhance their lighting setups.
