I’m not a smoker, but when I got the prototype for the world’s first smartphone case with a built in no-flame, no-fuel cigarette lighter to review, I appreciated the usefulness of such a thing immediately. The Lightercase is not currently in production yet since it’s still gathering funding on Indiegogo, but the makers are hoping to get it into production in time for the holidays. It’s a perfect stocking stuffer.
Since I can’t really make use of the cigarette lighter, to test it, I sent it out for a night on the town with a few folks from my office. This review is based both on my own observations as well as a few vicarious ones.
But first, let’s look at the specs:
- Heat-resistant, Childproof Lighter with protective latch
- Bright LED Flashlight
- Durable Polycarbonate Case
- Works safely via a heated metallic coil
- Ignites up to 500 cigarettes per one hour of charging time
- Built-in USB port provides easy recharge
- Comes in four color combinations: Black with black metal accents, Black with blue metal, White with white metal, and White with pink metal.
- Designed for iPhone 4, 4S, 5, and 5s.
How it works
The Lightercase does its two jobs very well. It lights cigarettes quickly and easily, and it has a bright LED flashlight that makes navigating things like door locks and stairways a lot easier in the dark.
I was a little worried about having a heated coil hanging out so close to my phone, but it really is very safe. The coil only heats after the protective switch is pulled back and held there for two seconds. After that, the coil produces a little less than five watts of heat, which is just enough to light one cigarette, but not enough to mess up your phone. It shuts off automatically after four seconds.
You might be wondering what happens if you slide your phone into your back pocket and the protective latch is accidentally activated. Will your pants catch on fire? This was a concern for me as well, but after repeatedly putting it in and out of my pocket to test it, I never caught the slider and opened it. My co-testers had it inside of a handbag with no problem either. You have to be very deliberate to get it to light, so an accident isn’t very likely.
The flashlight is a nice touch and makes the case useful for more than just lighting smokes.
There is a cool factor
My co-testers reported that after taking the case to happy hour, fellow smokers thought it was pretty slick. You don’t see many folks lighting a cigarette with an iPhone! People seemed to be impressed by this magical idea and asked where they could get one.
This is a neat gadget that people will like and find useful. I’d prefer they quit smoking of course, but if they insist, this is a nice thing to have.
I give the Lightercase a 5 out of 5 stars. It serves a simple purpose and does so reliably. What more could you ask for?