Light Up Your Workspace with Milwaukee’s Latest M12 Rover Work Light
These days, you can get a solid LED light on pretty much whatever tool brand you work with, but some definitely stand out from the pack. Such is the case with the Milwaukee M12 Packout Compatible Rover Work Light. We’ve seen this system employed on a couple of other trade-focused lights, and I’m going to explore the features and benefits the Milwaukee 2350 offers your next job.
Milwaukee M12 Rover Work Light Performance
- Light Output: 300 / 600 / 1,200 lumens
- Runtime: 4 / 8 / 16 hours (with 4.0Ah battery)
Light Output
The Milwaukee 2350 features three output modes—300 lumens, 600 lumens, and a max 1,200 lumens. This allows you to prioritize peak illumination or longer runtime based on your needs.
Switching between modes is very easy. Once you power on the light, simply press the mode button next to the power button to cycle through the modes. I’m glad Milwaukee opted for solid rubber buttons instead of blister buttons that tend to wear out over time. It’s a small detail, but I appreciate the design team’s forethought.
Light Quality
The overall light quality is good as we expect, but there are a couple of details I’d like to highlight. First, the LED light is clean and clear near the center of the beam, but there are a few vertical artifacts near the outer edges of the beam. The beveled edges of the lens most likely cause this, but regardless, it doesn’t get in the way of your ability to accurately see what you’re working on.
Second, Milwaukee doesn’t specify an exact color temperature for this light, but like previous Milwaukee lights, the 2350 features their Trueview High-Definition LEDs. This results in a slightly warmer light, somewhat akin to natural sunlight. I tend to prefer this type of light because it’s not as harsh as the bluish-white LEDs you might see streaming in through your rear window at night on your local interstate.
Runtime
Runtime is one of those tricky subjects to nail down across the board because it mainly boils down to battery selection, especially with a work light. But here’s what Milwaukee has to say about the 2350:
| Mode | Runtime w/4.0Ah Battery | Light Output |
|---|---|---|
| High | 4 hours | 1200 Lumens |
| Medium | 8 hours | 600 Lumens |
| Low | 16 hours | 300 Lumens |
As you can see, this light gives you plenty of runtime, but I discovered something interesting while I was getting familiar with this light. Due to the design of the extended capacity battery packs, the panel cannot completely fold upright…or so I thought.
Upon further investigation, I noticed that the panel is mounted on a double-jointed hinge that folds forward and then allows the panel to turn upright. Just goes to show that you can’t always judge a light by its hinges (or however that saying goes).
Milwaukee M12 Rover Work Light Design Notes
- Model: Milwaukee 2350
- Power Source: Milwaukee M12 battery
- Weight: 1.6 lbs (bare tool), 2.1 lbs (with CP2.5Ah battery)
Size and Weight
The Milwaukee 2350 weighs 1.6 pounds as a bare tool and 2.1 pounds with a CP2.5Ah battery. The overall profile of this light is very similar to the Milwaukee M12 Packout Bluetooth Speaker (2955). It stands 8.25 inches tall with an M12 XC4.0Ah battery, which is very compact for a work light.
Mounting Options
As with most work lights, Milwaukee gives you a few different ways to use and mount the M12 2350. Most notable is the Packout compatible base. This uses the same design as the M12 Bluetooth speaker and Packout Tumbler. The simple twist-to-lock base easily attaches to the lid of your Packout boxes or wall mount, making for a secure, stable platform for your light.
Other options include a folding metal hook in the base, a strong magnet for mounting on ferrous surfaces, and even a keyhole molded above the magnet. You can also mount the removable base plate to a wall for more permanent applications.
Milwaukee didn’t include a threaded tripod mount on this light, hinting at its purpose being more to follow you where you go rather than lighting a broad area for an extended period.
Additional Features
- Compatible with all M12 batteries
- USB-C charging port for small devices
- Light panel rotates 360°
Milwaukee M12 Rover Work Light Price
The Milwaukee M12 Rover light retails for $99 as a bare tool and comes with a 5-year limited warranty. At the time of writing, there aren’t any kit options available. That’s not a big surprise, considering most task lights are sold as bare tools.
The Bottom Line
After some hands-on time with the Milwaukee M12 Rover work light, it’s easy to understand why this is an attractive option for Pros. Even serious DIYers on the M12 system will like it. The light quality is excellent, and the three output modes give you a good balance of illumination and runtime based on your needs. On top of that, the mounting options and compact form factor make this an incredibly versatile solution.
The real star of the show here is the Packout compatible base. It might sound insignificant, but the twist-to-lock interfacing with the Packout lids provides a stable platform for the light while you’re working or on the go. Plus, storing it on the lid means it won’t take up space inside that could be used for other tools and supplies. For just $99, it’s hard to pass up.
