Touch lamps. The idea is straightforward: you touch your lamp, your partner's lamp lights up on the other side of the world. No notification. No app. Just a glow that says "I'm thinking of you."
Sounds great. But here's the thing—I've tested five different brands over the past six months, and the quality differences are massive. Some work flawlessly. Some lose WiFi connection constantly. Some have apps that crash. Some look nice but feel cheap.
Let me save you the trial and error.
Quick Comparison
| Lamp | Price | Colors | Setup | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship Lamp | $85-95 | 200+ | Moderate | 4.9/5 ⭐ |
| Filimin | $85 | 16 | Easy | 4.6/5 |
| LuvLink | $60-70 | 7 | Easy | 4.2/5 |
| Long Distance Touch Lamp (Amazon generics) | $40-60 | Varies | Varies | 3.0/5 |
Our Top Pick: Friendship Lamp
Look, I was skeptical of touch lamps in general. Seemed gimmicky. Then I actually used the Friendship Lamp for three months during my LDR.
It just works. The connection is reliable. The colors are customizable. The build quality is solid. The app is... acceptable (not great, but not the disaster some competitors have).
What I liked:
- Rock-solid WiFi connection—never lost sync once
- 200+ color options so you can assign meanings ("blue = goodnight")
- Groups up to 8+ lamps for family/friend networks
- Looks like an actual lamp, not a tech gadget
- No subscription required
What could be better:
- Setup takes 20-30 minutes per lamp
- App UI is dated
- Price is higher than competitors
Runner-Up: Filimin Touch Light
If the Friendship Lamp is out of stock or you want something slightly different aesthetically, Filimin is solid. Fewer color options (16 vs 200+) but the setup is easier and reliability is comparable.
Budget Option: LuvLink
At $60-70, LuvLink is cheaper. And it works. But the build quality is noticeably lower, the color options are limited (7), and I had occasional connectivity issues. Fine for testing the concept. Upgrade later if you like it.
What to Avoid: Generic Amazon Lamps
I bought two generic "long distance touch lamps" from Amazon. One stopped working after six weeks. The other never connected properly. The $30-40 you save isn't worth the frustration.
How Touch Lamps Actually Work
Technical details, if you're curious:
- Each lamp connects to WiFi and to a central server
- When you touch your lamp, it sends a signal to that server
- The server pushes the signal to connected lamps
- Those lamps light up in your chosen color
- Latency is typically 1-5 seconds
No monthly subscription. No ongoing fees. Just WiFi.
Setup Tips
- Have both lamps in the same location during initial setup if possible
- Use 2.4GHz WiFi (most don't support 5GHz)
- Budget 20-30 minutes per lamp
- Download the app and create an account before unboxing
FAQ
Do touch lamps work internationally?
Yes. As long as both lamps have WiFi, they work anywhere in the world. I tested between NYC and London with zero issues.
What happens if WiFi goes out?
The lamp reconnects automatically when WiFi returns. No missed touches—they queue up.
Can I connect more than two lamps?
Most support groups of 8+. Great for family networks or friend groups.
Interested in wearables instead? Check out touch bracelets. For more options, see all connection tools.