Bosch has come out with 2 new LED worklights. Both seem to have the same lighting characteristics, with differences in the worklights’ sizes and physical features.
First up, the GLI12V-300N, a compact 12V Max LED worklight that bears resemblances to the Milwaukee M12 LED Stick Light.
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The Bosch GLI12V-300N delivers 300 lumens and 180 mins of runtime for every amp-hour of battery capacity. In other words, a 12V Max 4.0Ah battery pack will keep the flashlight running for 12 hours. Even a 2.5Ah battery pack will lighten up your work for 7.5 hrs, which might be enough to get you through a work day.
It has a 6-sized design. You can stand it up vertically, or on its difference faces (well, except for the face down) to provide light at different angles. It also has a hanging hook.
Price: $39 $29
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Amazon)
Next up, the Bosch GLI18V-300N, an 18V pivoting head LED worklight.
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It delivers 300 lumens of light, as with the 12V Max model, but 300 minutes of runtime for every amp-hour of battery charge. A compact 2.0Ah battery pack will power the light for around 10 hours.
Like the 12V Max worklight, this one also has a hanging hook.
There aren’t many details about the articulating head, but Bosch says it can hold up for storage and “carry-along convenience.” I’d definitely give Bosch bonus points if the worklight folds closed.
It looks like there’s a button on the side of the worklight for locking and adjusting the pivoting head.
Price: $49
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Just thinking aloud here, but can you imagine if you could take the LED head off the 18V worklight and pop in a 12V Max battery pack? That would be pretty neat.
Both worklights are said to deliver 300 lumens of light, with the 18V model offering longer runtime and a pivoting head. The 12V Max version still offers very decent runtime.
There are no brightness settings? While runtimes of 3 hours and 5 hours per amp-hour, respectively for the 12V Max and 18V worklights, it seems quite easy to get a whole day’s work out of a single carefully-selected battery pack.
Sometimes it’s good to have controllable brightness as a way to squeeze more runtime out of a worklight or flashlight, other times controllable brightness is an independent benefit. 300 lumens is a lot of light, and might be too bright or glaring when working in tight spaces or close to the light source.
These look to be nice new LED lighting options from Bosch, and they’re reasonably priced.
See Also: Bosch FL12 12V Max LED Worklight ($49-59 via Amazon)
I’m a big fan of Bosch’s FL12 LED worklight, which has an articulating head, strong magnetic base, carabiner clip, nail hook, and apparently it has a 1/4″ tripod screw that I either forgot or never paid attention to. It “only” delivers 200 330 lumens, which is bright enough for anything I’ve ever used my test sample for, and can last for up to 6 hrs with a 2.0Ah battery pack.
Correction: The FL12 delivers 330 lumens of light, not 200. Its articulating head has a 200° adjustment range.
I’d hate to see the FL12 replaced, and don’t think it needs to be updated.
red92s
The FL12 was already a very, very good compact worklight. It wasn’t in need of an update or expansion of options. The same can not be said about the rest of Bosch’s 12V lineup, which lags woefully behind it’s competitors in terms of evolving took options for the battery platform. Whatever development effort went into these probably could have been better directed to other gaps in the 12v/18v line.
John Blair
The Flexiclick 12v 5-n-1 just become available today, so they aren’t sleeping.
Gregg
Investigation reveals a month old video with the GLI-18v-300 folds up back to the handle
Hang Fire
I see a Japanese Language video on youtube from August 30, 2017 that shows it bends in half back to back with the handle. If it folded INTO the handle, and was usable like that, it might be acceptable. But it doesn’t. The LED’s face the handle and the overall thickness is about the same as the battery underneath. This is one big flashlight.
I’m well invested into the Bosch 18V system, but the GLI18V-300N is not on my to-buy list.
Chad
Well Dang !! looks like i need to get this and another battery !! haha I really enjoy the bosche 12v line of tools so far i have the drill and impact driver and the FL12 light.
Just did the drywall ceiling in my bathroom with the 12v drill and no issues at all and the batteries last all day
on the list is the 12v jig saw, the oscillating tool the reciprocating saw and that 12v to usb adapter
thanks toolguyd you got me hooked on the 12v bosche line !!
OnTheWeb
The FL12 would benefit with added 3 -level brightness control vs. the simple on/off that it has now.
Chrisk
Mine has two light settings, high and low. You have to hold the power button for a couple of seconds and it changes.
CountyCork
Wow old post but I just learned that there is in fact 2 settings high and low.
Chrisk
I ordered the 12v a couple of nights ago. I’m hoping to have it in the next couple of days. I’ve got the FL12amd it’s awesome.
The yeti
Hit a moose in my pickup over the weekend . Lucky to be alive . Flashlight is nearly all that i salvaged from the truck. I liked my Bosch cfl until it quit . I’ll order one of these I think
Dan
The FL12 needs a 3rd brightness setting (very low). It’s too bright. The high and low modes are also too close to each other. Great light, but I sold mine because of this.
Toolfreak
I have the FL12 and like it a lot, it’s rugged and works great for everything from DIY home and auto repair to shop and jobsite use.
I do like the idea of an additon to the 12V line with a bar/stick style LED light, but as mentioned, not at the expense of losing the FL12.
Given the design and the various in-use images on the Amazon listing, I am concerned that the 300N is indeed a replacement, with the metal stand/hook of the FL12 being replaced with the angled sides and plastic hook of the 300N.
Hopefully Bosch is going to keep the FL12 and market the 300N as a slightly less expensive LED option.
If not, I’d guess Bosch is going to be implementing the newer style of LEDs in their other products as well. It may be a supply issue or just something that was planned a long time ago.
Stuart
Update: The 12V Max worklight will be priced at $29, not $39.
Joe
Love Bosch 12v tools, not the most powerful, but I’d say the most dependable…they have tools no one else has…
lego
hi.
South korea Release.
http://cafe.naver.com/boschpt/7345
Jeremiah
Slightly off topic, does someone know if the new (to US) flexiclick has a torque dial. Can’t tell from pics. I had an i driver about 5 or 6 years ago(until my tools for stolen off a job) and love the bosch 12v stuff. I think I like it better than my current m12 stuff mostly because it’s lighter and smaller.
Stuart
Yes, there’s an adjustable clutch. It’s easier to see in these pics:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-12v-max-flexiclick-drilldriver-coming-soon-preorder-bonus/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Nick Marques
I love the FL12 so much I bought like 3x of them. I haven’t found a place I can’t put it.
Hang Fire
Thanks for the tip, Stuart. I picked up the FL12 this weekend, and it’s an instant favorite. Indeed, it has a tripod mount. Love the carabiner/stand, the magnet, the brightness and light pattern. My only issue with it is the list price- yow!
Mine was the display model on the closeout rack for full price, but it had a 2.0 battery in it, and I talked them into $10 off, so those 2 things made it a more palatable decision. There were a couple more in regular stock, but I am wondering if Lowe’s removing the display model is indicative of discontinuance. I will keep an eye out for more closeouts.
That GLI18V-300N is gargantuan, it reminds me of some of the awkward huge incandescent flashlights from the earliest days of cordless tool sets. I don’t think I’ve ever told myself “gee I wish I had some huge handle glommed onto an LED flashlight just to take up more room and get in the way.” If it were on closeout I’d probably still pass it up, even though I’m well invested in the Bosch 18V system.