The Sky Portal Mini is really one of the best and only battery powered SAD lamps, but it’s also a little bit more than that, let’s take a look!
The Overview
A premium, travel-friendly SAD lamp that doubles as a warm evening light. It’s flicker-free, USB-C rechargeable, and even powers your phone — but at roughly $250, it’s best suited for those who value portability and quality over price.
Pros
Cons
Use code OYB10 for 10% off!
The Sky Portal Mini
First off, in the box you get: The lamp, a diffuser, tripod, soft carry pouch, and a USB-C charging cable + transformer.
I tested the Mini to have a 200 minute run time on full brightness which is great, and it can be used even while charging if needed.
This is definitly meant to be a travel friendly device so pretty mcuh everything fits into the carrying pouch, except the tripod.
The Sky Portal is powered by an 8000mAh battery which means when you’re not using it for it’s light, it doubles as heafty travel charger! It’s also CE and RoHS tested which is nice to see.
It’s pretty small too so it won’t take up much space in a travel bag like most other SAD lamps.
I was also surprised by the included tripod, mostly because I didn’t even know it came with one 😆
But also because it’s actually a perfect little tripod for this thing. It’s small, sturdy, and even height adjustable.
This makes is allows you to place it in just the right way on your desk or wherever you may need it.
The inluded diffuser is nice to, it cuts down on light output a little bit of course, but for anyone with sensitive eyes it’s a very welcome addition.
Now most of the images I’ve taken show a very uniform light and that’s because of camera exposure. Here is what the light spread really looks like when you add the diffuser:
Not perfect, but that’s okay, it more than halves the perceived glare, which is more than effective.
Controls and Light Settings
The light itself features a dual channel output with a couple of interesting spectrums that work really well for their intended purposes.
This means you can use the cool white light in the morning for energy and focus:
And the amber mode at night to set a relaxing atmosphere in a hotel room, where there may otherwise be no truly circadian friendly lighting…
The controls for the Mini can be found on the back and are pretty simple to use.
Press and hold the power button to turn it off and on, setting will select between the power (brightness) and ratio, while the arrows allow you to change those. The ratio is simply how much of the white or amber channel you want.
Aside from that, a single press of the mode button will change you between esternal device charging or light mode.
Testing the Sky Portal Mini
Alright onto the lab tests!
Spectral Properties
First thing is first, what does this light look like and how effective is it?
Here is the spectral graph of the bright white setting on max:
This comes out to around 5550K which is a great color temperature for a SAD lamp, not too cold and not too warm.
At 1 foot it’s putting out around 3.460 lux, and 6,135 circadian light, which is quite good! This will definitely do the trick.
What’s most interesting is the lack of “blue light” at around 450nm, often considered the blue light hazard zone. Though the inclusion of higher frequency violet light at around 420nm and turquoise light at 480nm still gives the Mini a large dose of circadian friendly light.
Now the amber light mode looks orange but there’s actually quite a bit of red light in there:
A little green too which should help with color rendering, this usally helps the environment feel a bit less “stale”.
And if you’re curious here’s what the full range looks like as you change it on the device from full amber to full white:
How about that diffuser though? It does cut down on the light outout quite a bit! For amber light use in the evening using the diffuser is a no brainer, but if you want the maximum effect out of the Mini you’ll want to carefuly consider it.
Adding the diffuser equates to a 35% decrease in lux and circadian light output, so yes less effective, obviously.
But again, for anyone with sensitivities to bright light, the diffuser is a very welcome inclusion and it’s nice that you have the choice.
Flicker Testing
Using our lab grade flicker meter, we’re able to detect any and all flicker:
Since Chroma seems to care about these things, this is totally flicker free!
Conclusion
Overall, this portable SAD lamp feels like a genuinely premium product built for people who travel often or want a flexible light they can use anywhere. Between the all-white mode for daytime energy and the amber mode for winding down at night, it covers both ends of the circadian spectrum surprisingly well.
The included tripod is sturdy and adjustable, the diffuser makes it easier on the eyes, and the flicker-free performance shows real attention to quality.
It’s not cheap — even with a 10% coupon bringing it down to around $248, it’s still a significant investment compared to most desktop lamps. But you’re paying for thoughtful design: USB-C charging, a massive 8000 mAh battery that can double as a power bank, and the versatility to serve as both a SAD lamp and a warm evening light source.
For frequent travelers or anyone who values convenience and quality over cost, this feels like a smart, well-executed option that’s hard to beat.
Chroma Sky Portal Mini
Pros
Cons
Use code OYB10 for 10% off!
