Forum: lifehacks.stackexchange.com
Tags: <cell-phone>
Title: How can I use my cell phone's light as a reading light?
Question: Can my Android phone be anchored or positioned to function as a reading light? I like to sit on my couch and read, with the book on a side table. Pictures 1-2  herefrom , 3  herefrom .     It's obviously too unproductive and wearisome to hold the phone over the book in one hand for hours, as I read and flip pages with the other hand.

Answers:
sents: text: Your question includes a solution too, and that is the wrong solution.
text: Using the phone's light as a reading light is definitely an unfortunate idea in the long run, because it will enforce faster discharge of the battery, followed by other charges.
text: That is exactly what kills phone batteries.
text: It is a lot more recommended to buy some cheap appliance, designed to do exactly that task.
text: These appliances can be head (your own :)) mounted, wall mounted, free standing on a table, even attachable with a (big) clip to the book.
text: They might provide both battery-stored energy, as well as connection to the wall socket (possibly through an adapter).
text: Just throw a search on your preferred search engine, and choose from the large variety something that suits your needs best.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/26845/virolino
score: 25
sents: text: You can get a clip-on gooseneck mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position.
text: I picked up one of these cheap one Black Friday and was very impressed with how well it holds my tablet.
text: There are other models that have larger clamps, cup-holder mounts, etc.
text: That said, if you're talking about using the camera flash LED as a light
text: then I'd definitely discourage that -- it'll kill your battery, and those things get mighty hot.
text: If you're just talking about using your phone's screen then it's better, but I'd still just buy a small lamp.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/26243/A C
score: 6
sents: text: For the love of god, buy a lamp!
text: A little table lamp or perhaps a standard lamp, depending on where you're reading.
text: Or else if there's some special need for darkness, look into buying a torch, many are rechargable.
text: You can even get, quite inexpensively, the sort of lamp cave explorers use.
text: Straps to your forehead.
text: The better ones are rechargable, the cheaper ones aren't.
text: Although you could get rechargable batteries and a charger to counter that, since this is something you're going to use a lot you don't want to shell out for endless batteries.
text: A phone is not designed to make a good lamp Using it's camera flash LED gets hot and eats battery massively.
text: They're useful in emergencies
text: cos
text: you've always got your phone on you, but it's not an everyday sort of thing.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/27953/Greenaum
score: 6
sents: text: Pictures 1 and 3 already display a solution for this: the glass or cup can double as a standard for your phone.
text: Presumably you don't need the light while you're drinking.
text: Since those objects are round, balancing your phone might be a bit of a problem.
text: Otherwise, you might be better off with basically any rectangular paperweight.
text: Maybe other books which are still on your 'to read' list?
text: (I tend to keep those on a bookcase shelf separate from the ones I already read, but this might be another way to set them apart.)
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/5345/Glorfindel
score: 1
sents: text: You can purchase Head Mount for the phone, e.g. this one looks nice .
text: This way just attach the phone over your forehead, turn the light on, and you can read freely, anywhere, with both hands free.
text: Happy reading! :-)
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/1399/Shadow Wizard is Ear For You
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
If you want to use your cell phone as a reading light, you could consider buying a goose-neck cell phone mount or try supporting it using other objects, books or a paperweight. Alternatively, you could purchase a head mount for your cell phone.
The options are to save the phone battery and get a proper reading light, get a clip-on gooseneck for the phone, use a cup as a stand or use a Head Mount for the phone.
If you want to use your cell phone as a reading light, you could consider buying a goose-neck cell phone mount or try supporting it using other objects, books or a paperweight. Alternatively, you could purchase a head mount for your cell phone.
A phone is not designed to make a good lamp using the camera flash LED as it gets hot and eats battery. It is more advisable to buy a cheap appliance just for this purpose. But if you must use the phone you can get a clip-on gooseneck mount or a head mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position.
Clip-on gooseneck mounts are available for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position.  
You could get a support for your phone so that you can angle the light as you wish.