Our Long Distance Friendship Lamps Gift Guide
Our Top Choice
FriendLamps
The most popular option in 2021, currently with a 40% off promotion!
Popular Alternative
Filimin Mid-Century Lamps
An amazing option from Filimin, the pioneers of long distance touch tech.
Eco-Friendly
Tactus Lamps
An eco-friendly & affordable option that’s beautifully handmade in Ukraine.
Long distance friendship lamps are an amazing way to literally light up loved one’s lives.
Also known as touch lamps, these devices are a great solution for anyone separated by a large distance, including couples, best friends & families.
Being apart from someone you love can be torture. You want to feel as connected as possible, but the distance has other ideas.
What if you could ‘flip the bird’ to the distance with the touch of a lamp.
Would you do it?
Because we did and would again!
How do friendship lamps work?
Friendship lamps are two or more lamps that can synchronize to each other through an internet connection. Once they are able to communicate together, tapping one of the lamps will light up the other!
This is an amazing yet subtle way to let your partner know that you’re thinking about them.
NOTE FROM LOLO & NATE: We were disappointed to find misinformation on other sites.
Many lamps mentioned don’t have the capability of connecting to each other and fail to mention this when writing about them.
In order to help you, we’ve found the best friendship lamps available today and put together a guide to make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for.
QUICK NAVIGATION
The Best Long Distance Lamps In 2021
Friendship Lamps by FriendLamps
These touch lamps from FriendLamps are a beautiful way to stay connected. The minimal yet stylish design incorporates a wood-like base, which will suit almost any room in your house or apartment.
Using Friendship Lamps
Simply touching the top of your lamp will make a connected lamp (or group of lamps) light up, before slowly dimming over 30 minutes. If another connected lamp is touched it will restart the process.
Take a minute and imagine a loved one seeing their lamp light up in the color you chose, knowing that you were thinking about them in that very moment. How do you think they’d react?
Feeling loved with a smile from ear to ear? We think so too 🙂
Talking about colors, using LED lights means you can choose from 17 different options (including white)! This gives you the perfect opportunity to associate colors to have specific meanings, for example:
- “Good morning”
- “Good night”
- “Are you free?”
- “Ready to video chat!”
- “I Freaking Love you!”
- Poke… “Just wanted you to know I’m thinking about you”
Usage tip: As you can see from the diagram, some of the colors are very similar. We’d suggest testing each option first and potentially picking five or six for the clearer color ranges.
Lamp Setup Process
While these lamps are great for long distance couples, they were originally created for long distance friends and families. When it comes to families, the setup process needed to be as easy as possible, especially for less tech-savvy senior family members.
So rather than needing multiple applications to connect the lamps, FriendLamps created a super simple setup process with minimal steps to get going.
To make it even easier, they created visual guides, including the video below:
Cool Features We Like
1. FriendLamps.com recently moved to Shopify
You may be thinking “so what?!”, but here us out! 🙂
Shopify’s SHOP app makes it super easy to track your order. Using the app directly will show more detail but we preferred to allow notifications for simple updates.
Whether you have delivery anxiety or not, we think it’s perfect for peace of mind.
2. Universal charging
The majority of friendship lamps come hardwired with a specific region power plug (North America, Europe etc), which can be frustrating for international long distance relationships.
FriendLamps opted for USB charging, making them universal.
They’ve also decided not to provide an adaptor plug, but we think this is a good thing.
- You definitely have adaptors lying around from old smartphones.
- It cuts down on plastic waste, which all companies should be thinking about.
- Package contents weighs less, meaning cheaper overall pricing.
It’s also worth noting that these long distance friendship lamps come with a 12 month warranty and the team are super responsive when it comes to customer support.
Visit their official site at FriendLamps.com to find out more.
FYI: The team are currently running a promotion offering 40% off! Head on over to FriendLamps.com before it closes.
Last checked 19th September 2021.
Mid-Century Design Friendship Lamps by Filimin
Filimin are the pioneers when it comes to long distance friendship and touch lamps.
They have continued to update and refine the technology in their products so you can be safe in the knowledge that they will work and they will last!
Their latest design named ‘mid-century’ adds a fashionable touch using high quality wood and aluminum. When the LED lamp lights up, it creates a unique pattern due to how the wood is spaced apart.
Just like FriendLamps, there’s a 12 month warranty, the setup process is very easy to follow and you can choose the lamps to cycle through a wide range of colors or choose a specific color.
One place they differ is Filimin gives you a few more personalization options when it comes to fade and sleep times.
Lamp illumination timer has a default setting to fade off in 1.5 hours but can be set to fade off in 1/2 hour, 1.5 hours, 8 hours or 24 hours.
John & Venessa, the founders of Filimin
To note: These lamps come with North American power plugs. Users outside of NA will need to purchase an adaptor.
If the unique mid-century design has caught your eye, be sure to check out the verified customer reviews (with photos) on UncommonGoods.com.
Classic Design Friendship Lamps by Filimin
These are the original long distance friendship lamps by Filimin that started it all.
They have continued to update and refine the technology in their products so you can be safe in the knowledge that they will work and they will last.
Just like their other models you have a huge array of colors to choose from, an easy setup process and the all important 12 month warranty.
To note: a 2.4GHz connection is needed, which is the most common wifi connection.
What’s crazy is that these friendship lamps have over 1000 verified reviews on UncommonGoods.com! Have a look through a few of them and you’ll see just how much couples, friends and families that are separated by distance love them and how they’re helping to make the distance feel that much smaller.
Modern Design Friendship Lamps by Filimin
Yep, this is a third friendship lamp design from the amazing team at Filimin.
Everything we’ve come to love about their friendship lamps have now been bundled together in a new minimalist design.
The simplistic look of these lamps helps them not only to stand out but to also suit the layout of anywhere you install them.
All Filimin lamps are assembled by hand with a high quality materials, which helps to ensure they’ll last a long time.
Even if you do have issues, which is very rare based on their reviews, their 12 month warranty will give you peace of mind.
If you like this sleek and modern design, they’re exclusively available on Amazon.
Long Distance Lamp & Frame by Filimin
John & Venessa have outdone themselves yet again with the launch of their Long Distance Lamp & Photo Frame combination.
Just imagine your loved one’s frame lighting up, filling their heart with love, while also seeing a beautiful photo of you together.
I’m not crying… you’re crying!
We think it’s a great option for those who love photos or don’t have a lot of space. You have the option of standing it vertically or horizontally and you can even hang it on the wall!
The frames use the same technology and settings as other filimin lamps, including North American plugs and a 12 month warranty.
Pro tip: All of Filimin’s lamps connect to one another so you can pair multiple designs based on your tastes! Don’t want to purhcase two frames? No problem! Pair it with the Mid-Century, Classic or Modern Friendship Lamp options.
For more details on Filimin’s long distance frame or information on how each model connects, visit UncommonGoods.com.
A Special Shoutout To Filimin
One area where Filimin, as a company, stands out is the work they do within their local community.
Not only do they make great products, they are also great people.
“We wanted Filimin to add beauty to the world not just as a product but in how it is created. With this in mind, we teamed up with Wichita Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) to assemble Filimins.”
John & Venessa, the founders of Filimin
Participants in WIN are women survivors of physical and/or emotional abuse. Filimin is doing an amazing job, helping these women to take control and get back on their feet.
Watch the video below to see how this initiative is changing the lives of many women!
LoveLight Friendship Lamps
We absolutely love the unique design of the LoveLight long distance friendship lamps.
Rather than using a traditional lamp they opted for a completely custom approach, incorporating a high quality and minimalistic wooden frame with multiple LEDs.
The result? Touching the LoveLight will illuminate the LEDs (in all synchronized LoveLights) in the shape of a heart. See it in action.
We have mentioned earlier that needing smartphone apps for setup purposes can be complicated, but the team at LoveLight have created a simple, user-friendly interface that guides you through the process.
They’ve also hand-curated some amazing color pallets, giving a ton of options to choose from (their pallets change seasonally and are updated regularly).
Usage tip: If your lamp isn’t connected or you’re not home, you can use the app to send ‘touches’. This also means you could purchase one LoveLight to be more affordable.
Lovelight’s come with a USB plug and a North American adaptor, but there are other adaptors available for Australia, Europe and the UK. For more details visit their listing on Etsy.
Long Distance Touch Lamps by Tactus
Tactus are another group that have created stunning long distance friendship lamps. Like the others, two or more of them can connect to each other, making it perfect for LDR couples, and even families.
But, there are a few key areas where they differ from others:
- Eco-friendly: Tactus uses sustainable plywood to make the housing of their friendship lamps.
- Customizable: A laser cutter is used to make the housing. While the hearts look amazing, this means you can pick any design you like!
- Remote control: These lamps use a remote to adjust colors, brightness and light modes like flash, strobe fade and smooth options.
To note: As the company is based in the Ukraine, these long distance lamps use a European power plug, so you will need an adapter if you or your partner is in North America, Australia, Japan etc.
Something else Tactus offers is gift wrapping! To find out more, see their listing on Etsy.
Telepathy Touch Lamps by Zoci Voci
Telepathy by Zoci Voci is one of the newest friendship lamps to become available. Their custom designs are similar to Tactus’ eco-friendly plywood models but instead use laminated prints over an acrylic lamp cover.
To note: These lamps are made in and ship from India (where Zoci Voci is based) and estimate delivery times to be between 14 to 18 days for North America.
If you have limited time or a special occasion approaching, FriendLamps may be the best option (with distribution centers in North America, Europe and Australia).
But don’t let this deter you if time isn’t an issue! Zoci Voci has produced some of the cheapest long distance friendship lamps available, and also offer free shipping via Etsy.
Brookstone Friendship Lamps
One thing that sets the Brookstone Friendship Lamps apart is the ability to control the brightness and mode.
Whether you’re sensitive to light and want to keep the brightness down or you live in a super well-lit place and need the light as bright as possible to see it, you can do that with these lamps. Lighting modes include:
- Steady
- Rotation
- Fade
- Flash
- Strobe
While other’s can connect an infinite amount of lamps, there is a limit of up to 10 for Brookstone’s friendship lamps. It’s not a deal breaker and still makes them a good option for groups of friends and large families.
Once you connect the lamps using the FriendSync App, you only need to touch your lamp to light up the others it is connected to. You also have the ability to set custom timers through the app, so you can choose how long your friend’s lamp stays on.
It’s important to note that for some reason these lamps only work in the United States and Canada. Unfortunately there isn’t much more of an explanation for this.
NBG Home Synchronized Lamps
With a faux wooden base and acrylic housing, NBG’s Home Synchronized Lamps have a similar look and feel to those from FriendLamps.
They have also partnered with Filimin to use their pairing technology, which means they share many of the same usage features. But instead of using these features only via the lamp or setting them up online, they have a dedicated NBG Friendship Connect app.
One benefit we’ve come to find as standard with long distance lamps is a 12 month warranty. Unfortunately, NBG only offer a 90 day warranty at this time.
Update: Customers have experienced connectivity issues and limited customer service in recent months. Be sure to check out their reviews on Walmart.com to make sure it’s the right option for your needs.
DIY Long Distance Lamps
If you like to build gifts rather than buy, then you’re in luck! Patrick Blesi, a developer/engineer, has not only created his own friendship lamps, he has also posted in-depth instructions online.
It is worth noting that because of Patrick’s professional background he’s well equiped with the right skills to be fiddling with these gadgets.
In terms of costs, for parts and tools, plus the time needed to put them together, you may be better off purchasing rather than building.
Not to mention it is a fairly technical process.
Patrick and other makers are fairly active in the comments section. So if you do want to give it a go, you’ve got some support behind you.
Our Favorite Long Distance Friendship Lamps
While we have no doubt that each option is going to help you build a stronger connection with loved ones from afar, there is one standout option for long distance couples, friends and families.
The friendship lamps from FriendLamps.
They were once the new kid on the block compared to other other products available. Since that time they’ve created a fantastic product that is being used by thousands of people all over the world.
So why do we recommend them so highly?
They’re universal: It doesn’t matter where in the world you are. There are no restrictions when it comes to power adapters because they use USB.
Simple setup: Their visual step by step guides literally hold you by the hand throughout the process. Also having no standalone smartphone apps makes it even easier for less tech savvy users.
Customer service: The team at FriendLamps are readily available whether you have questions about the product, your order or need help setting it up. They also have a thorough help desk and FAQ section.
Affordability: As of 19th September 2021 FriendLamps is running a 40% off promotion, making them the most affordable option available.
If you’re a bargain hunter like us, you’ll want to get in before the discount ends.
What To Think About Before Buying Long Distance Lamps
It’s important that you take everything into consideration when it comes to buying friendship lamps.
Here we highlight a few key points to think about, so you can choose the best lamp for you and your partner.
Power adapters
Long distance relationships can span continents. If this is the case then you want to make sure you’re getting the right power adapters.
The friendship lamp might not have a power socket that matches one or either location. So you may need to purchase an adaptor.
Wifi connection
The lamps above will require a good internet connection.
Compatibility is also important. There are two general wifi bands, 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz and not all lamps connect to both bands. It’s important to check what band you and your partner are using to make sure they’ll work!
Usage
If you’re in two difficult time zones you might not be able to get a lot of use out of them.
There are also other circumstances to consider as well such as accommodation and job role. If your partner is in the army then a touch lamp might not be very suitable for them.
Budget
As with any purchase, you have to make sure you can afford it. These lamps contain plenty of technology with some high-quality materials.
They are also handmade and therefore aren’t going to be the cheapest lamps that you can buy. They are still very affordable but you need to work out whether or not they are going to be right for you.
Style
Trying to pick friendship lamps that will look great in two different locations and rooms can be tough!
Pay attention to your partner’s style and room on video chat. This will help you choose one that will best fit their situation.
Now it’s Your Turn!
Which of these friendship lamps do you like best? Thankfully there are some great options to stay connected.
If you have any questions or worries about which is the right long distance lamp for you, join our LDR Support Group where we and our supportive and inclusive community can help!
“We just want to tell you how amazing this all is & we can't thank you enough!”
Becca (USA) & James (AUS), Challenge Participants
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