Aputure Amaran 60x S.
Bicolor 65W COB with a full-size Bowens mount under $200. The most popular entry-level COB for content creators stepping up from on-camera lighting.
The Verdict.
Gavler Meta-Score
“The amaran 60x S is the light I hand every creator stepping up from ring lights and on-camera panels: a full-size Bowens mount under $200 means professional softboxes, domes, and grids work from day one, and the 65W bicolor output covers both warm and cool sets without gels. The honest trade-off is that going bicolor costs real output versus the daylight-only 60d S — so if you shoot mostly at one color temperature and want maximum punch, the 60d S is brighter for the money. For flexible, modifier-ready lighting on a budget, this is the rational first light.”
The Gavler Verdict
Where to Buy.
Prices checked regularly
90-day price history
Price History
Steady at $169 for the entire 90-day tracking window — no increases, no discounts, across 66 tracked days.
Tracked daily across retailers. Vote Want itabove and we’ll alert you the moment the price drops.
Some links are affiliate links — Gavler may earn a commission. This never affects rankings or scores. Learn more.
Precision Engineering
65W Bicolor COB, 2700–6500K
Roughly 33,000 lux at 1m with the reflector — enough to key a talking-head or small product set — tunable across warm and cool sets without gels.
Full-Size Bowens Mount Under $200
Accepts the full ecosystem of softboxes, domes, and grids from day one — the cheapest reputable path to shaped, modifier-driven light.
CRI & TLCI 97
Reference-grade color accuracy holds skin tones and product colors true, well above the CRI most budget panels deliver.
Technical Specifications
The Scoreboard
Community scores (90) run well above the expert read (85): owners love the value, color accuracy (CRI/TLCI 97), and Bowens-mount versatility at a sub-$200 price, while reviewers note the modest output typical of a 65W COB — and specifically that the bicolor 60x S gives up brightness to its daylight-only 60d S sibling — plus an active fan and a basic pin-style stand mount.
Cast Your Vote
Do you think Aputure Amaran 60x S deserves the #10 spot in Best Photography Lighting?
Global Critique
“While you do get bi-color capabilities with the 60x S, you do lose out on some power.”
“Since the amaran 60x/60d has a full-size Bowens Mount, the fixtures are compatible with a large selection of modifiers on the market, including the Aputure Light Dome SE, Light Dome Mini II, and Aputure Lantern.”
“The COB 60 has a fan on the back that kicks on when the light is turned on. It's not loud, and I found it usable in quiet environments.”
“The amaran COB 60 series are good lights at a great price.”
More from Best Photography Lighting.
See how other top picks compare in this category.
