These are the best rechargeable lamps if you don't like the big light

Score: 94/100

There’s a lot more to Pooky’s lighting than its head-turning designs. It’s the only brand on our list with lamps where the LED cells can be replaced, giving them many more years of life. It also means rechargeable wall lights are possible – as there’s no rewiring needed just to accommodate a new one.

While you have to set aside up to five hours for a full charge, the recharging process is simple – pop out the LED cell, plug it into a USB–C charger, wait for the indicator light to turn from blue to green, and then reinstall. Its outstanding running time even exceeded the 15 hours advertised too, lasting for close to 20 on test.

There’s a handy remote, but if you have several Pooky lights in your room, the one remote will control them all, earning mixed feedback from our testers who noted that to turn just one off you must use the manual on-lamp controls.

As for brightness, its lux levels were some of the best on test – at its highest setting, it emitted 534 lux when measured directly beneath the lamp, and it projected light relatively well too, so even at 30cm away we still recorded 80 lux, something only one other lamp bettered.

Price quoted is for fitting only – the shade shown is £32.

Score: 94/100

If you like the sound of the light above but don’t want a wall light, this is the Pooky for you. It scored slightly lower (we're talking about 0.3 points worse here) because the lampshade we tested absorbed more light, but you can mix and match these to suit your decor. Plus, it uses the same long-lasting and replaceable LED cell, so you should get the same light quality.

The stand, which also comes in several shades, didn’t wobble when knocked, but weighed about 1.26kg, making it heavier than some if you want to move it about. These look so timeless, however, we’d give ours a permanent home.

Price quoted is for the bronze lamp. The shade shown is £52.

Score: 93/100

The White Company always wins us over with its elegant designs and this black and white lamp is no exception. Despite its sleek stand, it was stable and lit up our lab for 11 hours, only needing three and a half to recharge – making it one of the best on test for its battery.

The bulb didn’t overheat, but its lux levels were lower than some (the highest measurement we got was 214), which means it will create a nice ambience but may not suit if you need brighter lights. Our testers praised the responsive controls though, and we think a couple would look just right in the living room for cosy winter evenings.

Score: 92/100

Mushroom lamps are increasingly popular for their cute, quirky design, and this one from M&S is affordable and reliable. It wasn’t the brightest we tried but had decent lux levels on high and medium, and it’s simple to switch between the three settings with a tap.

Testers liked its sturdy feel and the fact that it would be easy to clean, helping keep dust at bay. The battery life also impressed, lasting for nearly nine hours after a four-and-a-half hour charge. You can’t adjust the angle of the shade or light, but this one is suitable for outdoor use – ideal come summer.

Score: 89/100

This unique design proved a real all-rounder in the lab. There’s no lamp shade, so it disperses bright light well and it was easy to set up – you just screw on the bulb and it starts to shine.

The LED didn’t overheat, and the battery lasted for nearly ten hours before needing a recharge. There’s no clear indicator for when the battery is getting low, but it charged within a fairly quick three and a half hours. With three brightness levels, it should suit most preferences too.

Score: 89/100

Sometimes, getting up to switch on a lamp feels like a smidge too much effort, but with this smart lamp, you can control it easily via Alexa or straight from your phone. With the app, you'll also unlock a range of colours and settings (like a candle flicker) that you can't access without it.

It's a great pick if you have other Philips Hue bulbs in your home, as you can control all your lighting in one place. But even if you're new to the brand, our testers found it easy to set up and use, thanks to detailed instructions.

Its battery life was average at about six and a half hours, but it was the brightest we tested, emitting over 600 lux when measured immediately below the lamp.

Score: 89/100

Another mini mushroom, this would make a great desk lamp if you need a touch of extra light on grey days. There’s no need to worry about knocking it or overheating, and it had a good lux score – especially on high where it exceeded 470 (depending on how close to it you are). Even at 30cm away, it still emitted over 100 lux – the best we recorded from that distance.

There are three settings, but the button to switch between them was a little too responsive, making it easy to cycle through a couple even when you just want to increase the light by one. But that’s a small niggle for an otherwise chic pick.

Score: 83/100

Bringing mood lighting to your garden table, this is a thoughtfully designed lamp. It’s particularly bright on its highest setting (294 lux) and the bulb didn’t get too hot, charging in just over three hours.

It started to dim after five hours though, so while it should last you through an alfresco dinner party, it’s certainly not the best we’ve tried. It was a bit wobblier than some, too. Our testers liked the way the controls work though – you hold down the button to brighten or dim it, which means you can find a more personalised lighting level than those with fixed settings.

Score: 81/100

No one likes waiting around, and with this lamp you won’t have to – or at least for not as long. It charged in just over two and a half hours, making it the speediest we tested by far. In our tests, the battery lasted just over five hours (although Dunelm says it can last between six and eight) and had good brightness on high and on medium with one measurement coming in over 250 lux.

Weighing less than 500 grams, it’s easy to move around to wherever you need light most, but watch out for knocks as it wobbled a little. It didn’t get too hot though, and while the instructions are fairly basic, it’s straightforward to use.

Score: 83/100

If you need something compact, then this lamp is the one. It can be used outside and in, and has two light settings to choose from (either 50% or 100%). While not the brightest, its lux levels were good, especially on its highest setting, measuring 464 without fading too quickly.

Set-up and use was easy, but its battery started to drain quickly after about six hours. It was relatively quick to recharge though – it took three and a half hours. And given its charming antique finish, we’re more than happy to make the time.