Simple Flashlight from Simple Mobile Tool is a torch app with a handful of adjustable controls: brightness, a customizable color and a stroboscope. It also adds a predefined SOS mode and an extra bright display, and its code is released under the GPL-3.0-only licence.
Who the open-source torch fits
The app targets anyone who needs light quickly on a phone running Android 6.0 or newer. The package is 9.5 MB, so it fits on small storage. The content rating is Everyone.
The source code is public on GitHub, which matters to users who prefer to read what an app does before installing it. The store description also says the app works without internet access.
Brightness, colour, strobe and SOS in practice
The core is an LED light controller with brightness control. The screen can also act as a light, and its colour can be changed, which the description presents as a way to see nearby surroundings without glare.
The stroboscope has an adjustable frequency, from fast blinking to occasional flashes. A predefined SOS mode is included for signalling.
There is a 1x1 home screen widget with customizable colour and transparency. If you start the light from the app rather than the widget, the device is kept from falling asleep. The torch can optionally turn on at launch, but this is not required.
Ads and in-app purchases in a free app
Simple Flashlight costs nothing to use, though it carries ads and offers in-app purchases.
The current version is 5.10.1, updated on October 27, 2023. The first release dates back to July 9, 2016.
Simple Flashlight pros and cons
Pros
- Brightness control for the LED light
- Adjustable strobe frequency and a built-in SOS mode
- Open source under GPL-3.0-only with a public GitHub repository
- Small 9.5 MB package that runs on Android 6.0 and newer
- 1x1 widget with customizable colour and transparency
Cons
- Contains ads
- Includes in-app purchases
- The last update was on October 27, 2023
Is Simple Flashlight safe?
We keep the unmodified APK for Simple Flashlight, so you can compare the file against its SHA-256 checksum: b4cd07c40a3d5711461670a2f460a1447acf3836c0e90471b7ba5c8b4c2f9bb3. The package ID is com.simplemobiletools.flashlight, and the source code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0-only, so anyone can read how the torch and strobe are handled. Keep in mind that the app contains ads and offers in-app purchases.
How to install Simple Flashlight
- Download the APK with the button on this page and wait for it to finish.
- Compare the file with the SHA-256 checksum shown here if you want to confirm it arrived intact.
- Open the file on your phone and allow installs from this source when Android asks.
- Finish the install, then open Simple Flashlight from your app drawer.
