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

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 £74.

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: 90/100

This slim floor lamp is great for creating ambient lighting in areas of your living space that aren’t near a plug socket. On its brightest setting, the battery lasted around 12 hours and 45 minutes, offering plenty of use off the back of one 3.5-hour charge.

The lamp is dimmable and has three settings, although the highest wasn’t overly powerful, so it’s best used for adding ambience, rather than for lighting a whole space – that’s all we’d really expect from this cosy lamp, though.

Score: 90/100

We love how incredibly chic this cordless lamp is and its performance in the lab lived up to its good looks. It’s super easy to set up (we didn’t even need the manual) and there’s just a single button to switch it on and off and change the settings.

The battery lasted for 15 hours and took just 3.5 hours to recharge – the button handily glows white when charging is complete. You can switch between three brightness settings, which created a lovely ambience, but note that the lamp shade was easily knocked off when moving the lamp from place to place. At under £30, though, this is a great value buy.

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

This mini mushroom 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: 87/100

Affordable and chic, with a sophisticated brass finish and cream shade, this table lamp is sure to earn you compliments. In testing, the three light settings gave off a reasonable glow without being too bright. It lasted nine hours on full brightness, too, compared with the estimated five to six hours mentioned in the manual. It did need 45 minutes more than stated to fully charge, though.

We’d have preferred a slightly warmer glow than the cool tone it gave off but, overall, this is a good-quality table lamp that will add to your decor without breaking the bank.

Score: 85/100

Fit for a fine dining table, this brass number is a real mood-setter. There’s just one light setting that’s not super bright (we measured a max of 208 lux) but it shone in the lab for upwards of 12 hours before requiring a recharge.

Its overall design is simple, with an easily accessible switch but there’s no low-battery indicator; the light just starts to fade. Testers found it well designed for carrying around too – so you can always move it from your living room to your dining table and back if you’re hosting and want to illuminate your tablescape.

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: 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.

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: 78/100

With a wide base and sturdy build, this table lamp is a reliable buy that will look great on your sideboard. The ribbed ceramic base added texture, while the bulb and battery are replaceable, making this a timeless addition to your home.

The battery lasted for an average of 16 hours, making it ideal for busy living spaces that need lots of light. However, it takes more than five hours to charge and there’s no battery indicator, so there’s a chance you could be caught out. That’s a small niggle for this stylish dimmable table lamp, though.