Xiaomi Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver - not so much "wow" as "meh" stick

[eti]

My friend bought the Xiaomi "WowStick" 1F+ mini electric screwdriver, clearly marketed that it lights BEFORE turning, but it doesn't...  - thoughts? I've also seen someone on Amazon complain of the same. Can anyone recommend a similar, better model that works as advertised?

[thm_w]

What that means is it has 3 LEDs in a ring, so you don't need to rotate the driver body to light up an area you are working on, as would be the case with a single LED.

[PlainName]

Mine stays lit after turning, so the trick is to just tap a button to get the light on and then place before turning.

It's not an impressive screwdriver, though - the gears feel a bit loose although they've been robust so far. Got a fair collection of these things, and whilst the LEDs are useful I never turn them on beforehand (as above) or even feel the desire to, and my favourite ones don't have LEDs at all.

[eti]

Not quite sure why they felt the urge to add the "Wow" part - ITS. A. SCREWDRIVER.

Consumer mindsets... 

[eti]

Watching "reviews" now, mostly from drone hobbyists and bedroom part time iPhone repairers, most of whom seem happy to portray themselves as "engineers" (they don't explicitly say so, but you get the gist from the opinions).

How easily people are bought and sold on things, how easily they buy into fads and hype - it makes me wonder about their integrity. If something isn't your field and you lack experience in it, why are you publishing videos which imply you're qualified to pass judgement on what is, let's face it, a TOY?

Who cares if it looks nice - when was the last time you sat and gazed lovingly at your wire strippers or soldering iron, picking up a microfibre cloth to give it a polish? One picks up the tool, uses it and subconsciously tosses it aside. If it's not scratched, worn and dented in a year or so, you're not a real engineer.

They'll polish it once a week and make sure it's standing on display in their "workshop", complete with 50,000 spare bits which have never been used - this is a new product category, fashion products for "makers" 😂🤦😂

[Berni]

Yeah these mini electric screwdrivers are a bit lacking in general.

Contrary to what people thing they don't actually do the work of screwing for you. The torque they produce is way too small to actually tighten a screw. The point of it is that you use your hand to tighten/loosen the screw, then use the electric feature to turn the machine screw all the way out. They have a clutch inside that lets you put lots of manual torque on it without backdriving the motor or breaking the gearbox. So its mostly about saving you twirling the screwdriver between your finger where the screw goes easy.

They feel too slow for me. I can twirl a screwdriver just as fast, so its mostly about saving your hands some fatigue if you have lots of screws to take out/put in. If you actually want to get the screws out and in faster than by hand you need to use a proper screw gun or cordless drill.

[eti]

It’s comical to me - I saw a photo of the thing, how tall it is and how crappy the stand is, watched 10 secs of the “review”, heard the name “Xiaomi” and didn’t need to know any more - it’s automatically trash (my RedMi note 7 is trash, and they’ve botched a whole range of Android updates - no second chances - life’s too short for futzing)

One gets a feel for junk, even by sight, after a few decades. Bin it and move on. Real tools aren’t reviewed by amateurs.

[PlainName]

when was the last time you sat and gazed lovingly at your wire strippers or soldering iron

Not specifically those, but often I will pick up a tool to use and think, "Damn, this is well-designed piece of kit". Of course, beauty in the eye of the beholder, so don't expect your choices to suit everyone (except that you do, as witnessed here).

Unless you've used the Wowstick, or similar (I just checked and mine appears to be a clone), you'd be foolish to unambiguously trash it from the basis of no knowledge.

[eti]

when was the last time you sat and gazed lovingly at your wire strippers or soldering iron

Not specifically those, but often I will pick up a tool to use and think, "Damn, this is well-designed piece of kit". Of course, beauty in the eye of the beholder, so don't expect your choices to suit everyone (except that you do, as witnessed here).

Unless you've used the Wowstick, or similar (I just checked and mine appears to be a clone), you'd be foolish to unambiguously trash it from the basis of no knowledge.

You have a good point, however, the fact that it can't even live up to having the advertised feature of turning on the LED to illuminate the workpiece *before* the driver starts to rotate, hardly inspires confidence. My friend bought it on the back of this information, as he has eyesight issues, and needs to ensure the driver tip is engaged with the head *before* the tip rotates, to ensure it doesn't strip the head off the screw. They failed to get SUCH a basic feature right - and if they messed that up (and there's no "firmware upgrade" available) then why should one use it, OR recommend it?

[eti]

Mine stays lit after turning, so the trick is to just tap a button to get the light on and then place before turning.

It's not an impressive screwdriver, though - the gears feel a bit loose although they've been robust so far. Got a fair collection of these things, and whilst the LEDs are useful I never turn them on beforehand (as above) or even feel the desire to, and my favourite ones don't have LEDs at all.

I'll advise him to try that, thank you

[PlainName]

having the advertised feature of turning on the LED to illuminate the workpiece *before* the driver starts to rotate

Got a link to that? None of the adverts I just checked - official Xiaomi site, Amazon, even Aliexpress - suggest it does that.

I'll advise him to try that, thank you

Mine is a close but different clone, so it's possible the LEDs on the real Wowstick don't stay on.

LED worklights are pretty poor on most things. I have a really expensive Bosch jigsaw where the LED is behind the blade, so the line you're following is in constant shadow and can't be seen. Solution is to tape over the LED so there is just ambient light. Many drills are the same, with the LED under the chuck. I think they are a box-ticking fad, but some are actually useful.

[eti]

having the advertised feature of turning on the LED to illuminate the workpiece *before* the driver starts to rotate

Got a link to that? None of the adverts I just checked - official Xiaomi site, Amazon, even Aliexpress - suggest it does that.

I'll advise him to try that, thank you

Mine is a close but different clone, so it's possible the LEDs on the real Wowstick don't stay on.

LED worklights are pretty poor on most things. I have a really expensive Bosch jigsaw where the LED is behind the blade, so the line you're following is in constant shadow and can't be seen. Solution is to tape over the LED so there is just ambient light. Many drills are the same, with the LED under the chuck. I think they are a box-ticking fad, but some are actually useful.

Look at the packaging photo in my OP, please.

[thm_w]

Got a link to that? None of the adverts I just checked - official Xiaomi site, Amazon, even Aliexpress - suggest it does that.

I already pointed out that OP misinterpreted the ad wording, which is completely fine, but yeah.. I won't say any more.

[eti]

Got a link to that? None of the adverts I just checked - official Xiaomi site, Amazon, even Aliexpress - suggest it does that.

I already pointed out that OP misinterpreted the ad wording, which is completely fine, but yeah.. I won't say any more.

Yes. It's "misinterpreted" because the packaging is poorly written, ambiguous.

[thm_w]

Yes. It's "misinterpreted" because the packaging is poorly written, ambiguous.

Admittedly I am very good at understanding poorly translated phrases, so as I said, completely understandable.

Here is the current advertising they use:

[eti]

Yes. It's "misinterpreted" because the packaging is poorly written, ambiguous.

Admittedly I am very good at understanding poorly translated phrases, so as I said, completely understandable.

Here is the current advertising they use:

Understood, but whether or not the current advertising omits what the previous version said, doesn't negate the fact that the other material contains the ambiguous wording, and says it, and it was bought on this premise. As is usual with Chinese junk, ambiguity is the norm, through "Chinglish", and it suits them favourably, as they get a sale on the back of poorly-worded ads/material.

[thm_w]

Understood, but whether or not the current advertising omits what the previous version said, doesn't negate the fact that the other material contains the ambiguous wording, and says it, and it was bought on this premise. As is usual with Chinese junk, ambiguity is the norm, through "Chinglish", and it suits them favourably, as they get a sale on the back of poorly-worded ads/material.

and exactly as expected... your view is negative and cynical, will you consider changing your tune?

[eti]

Understood, but whether or not the current advertising omits what the previous version said, doesn't negate the fact that the other material contains the ambiguous wording, and says it, and it was bought on this premise. As is usual with Chinese junk, ambiguity is the norm, through "Chinglish", and it suits them favourably, as they get a sale on the back of poorly-worded ads/material.

and exactly as expected... your view is negative and cynical, will you consider changing your tune?

The world is on a continual, gradual downward slide. Honour is a thing of the past, as seems to be one's word - it used to be one's bond, and "anything goes, so long as me make a profit" is the new norm. I maybe cynical, and I do realise that, but I also see that the world IS NOT what it once was, and people let things slip more, and make proportionally less effort to do what is right and just and fair.

[PlainName]

the other material contains the ambiguous wording

I interpreted it to mean 360 degree illumination (so no need to turn the driver to illuminate whatever you're looking at). But I guess I am used to poorly translated manuals and stuff. Whatever, I really don't think they deliberately worded it like that to confuse your friend, if for no other reason that it would require a much better understanding of English nuance than they obviously posses.

and it was bought on this premise

Due diligence (and a little critical thinking). I've had this kind of situation when there is some feature and the advertising isn't clear (either from bad translation or just skipping over detail). Before buying I would look for explicit confirmation of my understanding, failing which I would have to accept I'm taking a punt.

In this case, I can't see how the feature would work without being very very annoying. So annoying, in fact, that if I thought it really did light before turning I wouldn't buy it just on that basis.

[eti]

I see your points and you have sound logic.

However, if one is to buy an illuminated screwdriver based on the premise that the work area needs to be illuminated, it thus makes sense that the area is illuminated before the tip is rotated. One does not grab a normal screwdriver and immediately start spinning the shaft between one's fingers, BEFORE engaging the tip with the screw head, does one? No. One ensures the tip is engaged, and in this instance the scenario is identical apart from that the work is down a dark recess or other dark place.

I see your logic and mine, I think we see this from different angles 🙂

Thank you for your contribution and not getting annoyed.