Chroma Ironforge
by Chroma
Brick-sized handheld with five red and NIR wavelengths. An earlier version measured 148 mW/cm² at 6 inches, but it treats one small area at a time.
Specs
| Type | Handheld |
|---|---|
| Wavelengths | 630, 670 nm red; 760, 810, 850 nm NIR |
| Irradiance (source) | 148 mW/cm² at 6 in (independent, earlier model) |
| Treatment area | Handheld, body 6.3 × 3.2 × 2.7 in |
| Session | 30-90 sec per area at 0-6 in (brand) |
| FDA status | Not cleared; sold as general wellness |
| Irradiance claim | 850+ mW/cm² average at the faceplate (brand claim, no method) |
| Irradiance note | Alex Fergus spectrometer, 9-point average 148, peak 158 mW/cm²; 2024 two-wavelength version |
| LED drive power | 200 W (100 W at 850 nm, 25 W each at 810, 760, 670, 630 nm) |
| Noise | About 71 dB (Fergus, 2024 version) |
| Weight | About 2 lb device, 8 lb with power supply and case |
| Warranty | 5 years, 100-day guarantee |
Specs from the manufacturer and the sources listed below. Last verified Oct 21, 2026.
Good
- Alex Fergus measured the 2024 version at 148 mW/cm² averaged over nine points at 6 inches, versus 90 for the BioMax 900 in his panel tests
- Five wavelengths with LED drive power listed per wavelength, more detail than most red light brands publish
- Fits in a carry-on case and runs on 90 to 260 V mains
- 5-year warranty and a 100-day return window
Not so good
- The independent reading is from the earlier 670/850 nm version; the current five-wavelength model has not been re-measured
- Treats one small patch at a time, so a full-body session means sweeping it around for 10 minutes or more
- Loud fans (about 71 dB) and enough heat to burn if held still; the 2024 version had no timer
- Not FDA cleared or listed for any use, and the sleep and recovery benefits on the product page rest on customer reviews and a 50-person owner survey
The Ironforge is a corded handheld about the size of a brick that puts panel-level red and near-infrared output into a small window. Chroma lists 630, 670, 760, 810 and 850 nm LEDs driven at 200 W in total, half of it at 850 nm. It suits targeted use on a joint or muscle more than whole-body or face routines.
Chroma’s headline is “850+ mW/cm²” at the faceplate. That is a contact figure with no method given, so it cannot be compared with panel numbers. Alex Fergus measured the 2024 version with a spectrometer at 148 mW/cm² averaged over nine points at 6 inches, with readings over 500 at 1 inch. The best panel here, the PlatinumLED BioMax 900, averaged 90 at 6 inches in his comparison. That older Ironforge used only 670 and 850 nm, and the current model has not been re-measured.
The catch is coverage. A panel lights your whole torso at once. The Ironforge lights a patch roughly the size of its face, so Chroma tells you to sweep it slowly at 0 to 6 inches for 30 to 90 seconds per area. Fergus noted loud fans, a risk of burns if you hold it still, and no timer on the version he tested.
There is no FDA clearance or listing. Chroma sells it as a general wellness product, and its “better sleep” claim rests on customer reviews. See red light therapy for sleep for what the trials show. Chroma says no eyewear is needed if you keep your eyes closed and never look into it.
For wrinkles or acne, an FDA-cleared mask like the Omnilux Contour Face costs under a third as much. For the back or legs, the BioMax 900 or MitoPRO 1500X covers more skin per minute for about the same price.
Sources
Alternatives
- Best maskOmnilux Contour Face$395
- Best panelPlatinumLED BioMax 900$1,299
- Best mask for acneShark CryoGlow LED Face Mask$350
- CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask Series 2$470