VGAzer Magnetic Levitating Light Bulb Lamp

The bulb on this lamp floats above its base with nothing touching it, spins in midair, and lights up anyway. Magnets hold it up, and power reaches the LED through the air by induction, the same idea behind a wireless phone charger, so there are no wires or batteries in the bulb at all.

A touch button on the base turns it on and off. The LED draws 3 watts and is rated for about 50,000 hours, which VGAzer works out to 12 hours a day for 11 years. The base runs on 12 volts DC, and the floating bulb gives off light in all directions, so it works as a soft glow on a desk or nightstand.

It suits the electrical engineer who can explain exactly how it works and still enjoys watching it, plus anyone who likes a gadget that earns a double take. It’s also a fun way to show a kid that power doesn’t always need a cord.

The catch: at 3 watts it’s a mood light, not a reading lamp, and the only control is on or off. The bulb floats, but the base still needs to be plugged in, so it has to live near an outlet.