Power Plus Shark review
Power Plus Shark 1W LED Wind-Up Torch
By Tom Calder
A long-running basic wind-up torch: POWERplus says a minute of winding gives 20 minutes from the 1W LED or 60 minutes from the smaller 5mm LEDs, and the listing rates the 1W LED at 20 lumens; and the built-in battery can also be topped up from a USB cable between power cuts. The phone-charging output is billed as an emergency charger, with a female USB tip to take your own phone cable. Fine as the backup that can't be caught flat; a battery torch is brighter as the main light.
- Best for
- A cheap, simple wind-up torch for the car or a grab bag.
- Skip it if
- You need real phone charging in a long power cut
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- A minute of winding gives 20 minutes on the 1W LED or 60 minutes on the 5mm LEDs (POWERplus's figures)
- Also charges from a USB cable, so it can be kept topped up between power cuts
- An emergency phone-charging output, with a female USB tip to take your own cable
Worth knowing
- 20 lumens on the listing: fine for finding your way, too dim to light a room
- POWERplus says waterproof to 10 metres but publishes no IP rating
- The phone output is sold as an emergency charger only, and its bundled lead is an old Nokia-style cable with micro-USB and female USB tips
Out of stock when we checked: our alternatives
Closest in size first, then by our score. None of them was showing out of stock when we last checked.
Best for One dependable rechargeable torch that keeps working through a long power cut.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A buy-once torch for the kitchen drawer or grab bag that will still work in a decade.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A bright rechargeable room light for power cuts that can also top up a phone.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
The POWERplus Shark is a long-running, basic wind-up torch: crank it for a minute and it gives light for up to an hour, and its built-in battery can also be kept topped up from a USB cable. It suits a car, a boat or a back-up drawer, where a torch that can't be caught flat matters more than a bright one.
What it is
A hand-crank torch from the POWERplus range sold in the UK by Tango Group. It has three modes, from one 1 W LED and two smaller 5 mm LEDs for a lower, longer-lasting light. A dynamo charges a built-in rechargeable battery, which Tango Group says can also be charged from a 5 V USB charger or port, or from the AC charger in the box.
Tango Group says it is waterproof to a depth of 10 metres. It also has an output for giving a phone an emergency top-up, with seven phone connectors including a micro-USB tip and a female USB adaptor, so you can use your own phone cable.
What it does well
Tango Group's figures are that a minute's winding buys 20 minutes on the 1 W LED or an hour on the 5 mm LEDs. From a full charge, Tango Group gives 8 hours on the 1 W LED and 60 hours on the 5 mm LEDs, with about 8 hours to charge from the AC charger. The low setting is all most people need for getting around a dark house, checking a fuse box or walking a dog.
The USB charge-in is the practical bonus. Keep it charged from a phone plug or a laptop, and it starts a power cut full, with the crank in reserve for when that charge runs out. The 10 m waterproofing claim makes it a sensible choice for a car boot, a caravan or a boat, where torches get wet.
The limits
POWERplus publishes no lumen figure, and a 1 W LED is a torch for finding your way, not for lighting a room; you will crank often on the bright setting. The waterproof depth comes with no IP rating, so there is no independent test standard behind it.
The phone output is for emergencies only. Winding a dynamo by hand puts a small amount of energy into a phone for a lot of effort, and many of the bundled connectors suit older phones. A charged power bank does that job far better; see our guide to preparing for a power cut.
How it compares
On our torches and radios comparison, the igadgitz Xtra is the closest alternative: rated at up to 8 lumens, waterproof to 5 m and with a solar panel as well as a crank, but no phone output. The Duronic Hurricane adds a lantern mode. For a main light, choose a rechargeable lantern from our lantern page, and keep the Shark as the torch that always works.
Our verdict
The government's Be Ready checklist asks for a torch and spare batteries, and the Shark is the version that needs no spares. It is a cheap, durable back-up. Buy it for the car, the boat or the cupboard under the stairs, keep it topped up by USB, and treat the crank and the phone output as insurance rather than everyday features.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Tango Group: POWERplus Shark; GOV.UK Be Ready: emergency checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you need real phone charging in a long power cut — a power bank does that far better, so buy this as a torch that can't be caught flat.
Key specs
| Type | Wind-up 1W LED torch with an emergency phone-charging output |
| Brightness | 20 lm |
| Power | Hand crank dynamo + USB charging cable; built-in NiMH battery |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
Questions
How long does the POWERplus Shark run per wind?
Tango Group, which sells POWERplus in the UK, says one minute of winding gives 20 minutes of light from the 1 W LED or 60 minutes from the smaller 5 mm LEDs.
Can the Shark charge a phone?
It has an emergency phone-charging output with adaptor tips, including a female USB socket for your own cable. Hand-cranking gives only a small top-up, so keep a power bank for real phone charging.
Is the POWERplus Shark waterproof?
Tango Group says it is waterproof to a depth of 10 metres. No IP rating is published, so treat that as the maker's own claim.
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