Brightest Flashlight of 2024

Olight i3T

We see that still many people look for bright AAA flashlights. But the fact is, AAA flashlights aren’t very bright compared to their bigger counterparts. But still, if you’re looking for a bright small keychain light, look at the Olight i3T. Most of the flashlights in this category have similar outputs, but this light is specced at 180 lumens. However, we’ve measured over 190 lumens. That’s much higher than other flashlights in this category, which usually don’t surpass 120 lumens.

That still makes it one of the brightest AAA flashlights available. BTW we don’t recommend using the included Alkaline battery, but rather get some rechargeable NiMH batteries, like the Panasonic Eneloop AAA. This will save you money in the long run and work much better than Alkaline batteries

Mateminco CSF05

Mateminco has taken a risk with the SFS80 LED and I think it’s paid off. Whilst this LED isn’t as high CRI as a Nichia, it certainly looks nicer than some CREE LEDs, whilst providing good output and plenty of throw for its size, and great output on AA.

The clip is loose but this is easy to remedy by squeezing it with some pliers.

The AA Eneloop hit 435 lumens then dropped to about 300 lm after a couple of minutes. It held this for a bit over half an hour before dropping suddenly. AA on Medium starts at 183 lm and holds it steady for almost an hour and a half.

The 14500 cell on High starts at over 700 lm and drops to about 450 lm in a couple of minutes. It then lasts about an hour, dropping down to 300 lm by the end. Medium with the 14500 starts at 266 lm and drops to around 175 lm over 2 and a bit hours. The light gets a bit warm with the 14500, but not too hot.

The only downside of this light is the UI.. Please read all the details in our Astrolux A03 review (which is the same as the Mateminco CSF05)

Olight i5T Plus

Dual AA cell flashlight with over 500 lumens

If you’re looking for one of the brightest 2AA flashlights, this is it.

The Olight i5R Plus is available with 3 different LEDs. You can choose between a cold white, neutral white, and warm white emitter.

If you’re unfamiliar with these types of LEDs, I’d recommend getting the NW or CW. The WW is a bit too warm for most people.

During our test, we measured High mode to reach 529 lumens at turn-on (which is a bit lower than specifications), and 525 after 30 seconds for the neutral white LED version.

No flashlight really holds the highest output for very long. And the i5T Plus drops to roughly 300 lumens and continues running for 2 hours. Low mode, on the other hand, runs at roughly 17 lumens for 43 hours straight! That would be 1 week’s worth of camping light at night.

Check out our full review of the Olight i5T Plus.

Sofirn SP36 Pro (Anduril 2)

One of the best budget flashlights available for around $50.

This is an extremely bright light that offers the most bang for the buck. It is the brightest budget flashlight with a multi-battery configuration made today, the Sofirn SP36PRO. Check out our full review of the Sofirn SP36Pro here. 

It is the successor of the very popular BLF Q8, which has been a very popular light amongst flashaholics and has been a hit amongst flashlight enthusiasts worldwide.

Using 4x Luminus SST40 LEDs to produce a mind-blowing 5000+ lumens, this flashlight is a monster to be reckoned with and a must-have for all flashlights users. The SP36PRO is an all-purpose light and can be used for anything, from lighting up the road in front of you to be used while camping to even being a great night light for some.

Good high-drain 18650 cells like the NCR18650GA, Samsung 30Q, LG HG2, Sony VTC6, Samsung 25R, and many others must be used for maximum performance. All of the cells are in parallel, so they need to be kept at the same charge level to prevent problems, and they need to be kept in the same group as well.
So, buy 4×18650s at once, and keep them only for 4×18650 lights. Do not separate them.

Its driver is running the Anduril2 firmware, with the standard UI being ramping and direct turbo accessible with a double click. Press and hold for ramping up, and same for ramping down. It’s also very advanced and configurable. It can ramp all the way down to a sub lumen output, to a mind-boggling 5,000+ lumens on maximum. You can also access standard modes if you don’t like ramping and strobes. But remember that this firmware is pretty sophisticated and may not fit everyone’s needs. Definitely check out our review we linked above.

Acebeam X80-GT

32,500 lumens

The Acebeam X80-GT is the predecessor of the X80-GT2 and claims an output of a maximum of 32,500 lumens. If you have big pockets in your coat, you could probably carry the X80-GT….lol

The X80-GT has been replaced with the X80-GT2, but in terms of output, they are pretty close! So if you want to save a few bucks, get the X80-GT if you can get a good deal on it. Small like a soda can, but powerful like a boring 747, this little monster is a real pocket monster. Oh, and if you forgot a lighter during your trip, use this little monster to set paper on fire, it’s that powerful.

We reviewed this (just like all the others) extensively, please check out the full review here: https://1lumen.com/review/acebeam-x80-gt/

Imalent MS08

34,000 lumens

Although it has a shared #6 on the list, the MS08 is actually less powerful than the Acebeam X80-GT2. This is the reason why you shouldn’t trust other websites. They don’t test them, and just put garbage out. 

Imalent has many flashlights on this list, and for good reason. They try to build the brightest handheld flashlights for consumers. With the MS08, they thought they would increase their lineup with yet another crazy-bright flashlight.

During testing, we learned that its specs are a bit exaggerated, and it didn’t even reach 30,000 lumens, let alone 34,000 lumens. In order to reach that output, you need something bigger and more powerful.

If you want to read more about our testing results, check out our in-depth review of the Imalent MS08.

Acebeam X80-GT2

34,000 lumens

The Acebeam X80-GT2 is rated at 34,000 Lumens. It even fits in your (large) pockets. This is the smallest powerhouse on this list!

Since we reviewed the Acebeam X80-GT with 32,500 lumens, we couldn’t lose out and reviewed the X80-GT2 as well. This has the size of a soda can and can fit in your pocket. But don’t even think this isn’t one of the most powerful flashlights on planet earth. Just like the X80-GT, the newer X80-GT2 also includes a tripod screw hole, for either the included carry handle or to attach to a tripod. That way, you have both hands free to help with work, etc. A great feature for a wide variety of applications.

Acebeam X50

40,000 lumens

Acebeam added a powerful little bugger that puts out more lumens than many flashlights that are double its size.

The Acebeam X50 is one of the latest and most powerful flashlights by Acebeam. It’s likely a successor of the X80-GT, which is about the same size but with ‘only’ 32,500 lumens. Although not as powerful as the X70, but at half the size and 3/4 of its power, pretty amazing. 

Besides the XHP70.2 LEDs, it’s also available with high CRI LEDs especially made for photographers and videographers. They will render colors accurately, which helps textures, and color details stand out. If you point the beam onto a white wall, it doesn’t have the prettiest beam pattern, but you won’t notice this at a larger distance, especially not outdoors.

We reviewed the Acebeam X50, and it’s the real deal. Very, very powerful for its size.

Manker MK38

41,500 lumens

Manker’s brightest flashlight built to date.

Manker lets you choose between white, grey, and black anodized aluminum. In addition to the flashlight’s color, they also provide several LED options and an optional built-in battery. So, in that regard, Manker gives a lot of bang for the buck.

Unlike the Acebeam X80-GT2, the MK38 has 2 fans built into the handle, that can be removed with a special screw. It helps to reduce the temperature of the head of the flashlight because it heats up very very quickly.

Imalent MR90

50,000 lumens

Tame the darkness with the MR90! If you want a combination of a wide and narrow beam, this is it.

Don’t be surprised to see so many Imalent flashlights in the top performers. Their main focus is building the brightest and coolest flashlights on planet earth.

The MR90 combines 2 flashlights in 1, with 2 different kinds of LEDs. There are 8 high-power LEDs in shallow reflectors to give you an extremely wide beam (see our review), and 1 separate LED inside a deep and bigger reflector to throw a beam 1150+ yards.

In our review, we confirm that the MR90 doesn’t throw as far as they claim, but 1150 yards is still a distance many flashlight users would be jealous of.

That by itself is pretty cool, but the coolest is likely the extremely high sustained output! Imalent built 2 fans inside the body, to keep the light as cool as possible, and maintains an output of over 8,000 lumens for over 40 minutes. That’s what I call amazing!

Hungry for all the details? Check out our Imalent MR90 review.

Imalent SR16: 55,000 lumens

Tame the darkness with the SR16! A great thrower and lumenmonster in 1.

Imalent has a prominent place on this list because its goal is to build the brightest and strongest flashlights on the planet.

The SR16 is a little different from the others because it uses 16 LEDs and uses a carry handle with the switch built in. Finally! We measured the SR16 at just over 53,000 lumens during our test, which is a little lower than the specified 55,000 lumens. But these are not ANSI FL1 standards because that would mean they should use the lumen output after 30 seconds. And we measured it at 43,000 lumens. Which is still incredible but not the rated 55,000 lumens.

Note that most of the flashlights on this list don’t follow the ANSI FL1 standards for their highest output, and just mention the maximum available output instead.

Hungry for all the details? Check out our Imalent SR16 review.

Haikelite HK08: 60,000 lumens

A great thrower and lumenmonster in 1.

It’s a bit of a surprise to see Haikelite mentioned on this page.

Until recently, most of Haikelite’s offerings were pretty powerful, but they never made it to this list. They included the HK90 and HT90, which are very interesting flashlights.

The Haikelite HK08 is specced at 60,000 lumens and 1340 meters of throw, and we measured 59,727 lumens after 30 seconds, and a total throw of 1092 meters. Even though the beam distance was a bit shorter, these numbers are still nothing but astonishing.

What also sets the Haikelite apart is the LEDs used. Instead of the popular CREE XHP series, they used 8* SFH43 LEDs, each with 16 dies. These are not mainstream LEDs, and most people never heard of them. It’s also nice to see they only use 4* 21700 batteries, and we recommend ordering these batteries together with the light. The HK08 has a handle with a built-in e-switch, and supports USB-C charging and power bank discharging. It has 4 main modes and 3 blinky modes.

The flashlight has a carrying strap, two charging cables (why?), a spare o-ring, and a manual. The Haikelite HK08 is probably the best value for your money regarding high-power flashlights overall. It’s a true lumen-monster, but with some drawbacks, such as the required use of button-top cells and its UI. The HK08 is suitable for enthusiasts who want to experience a lot of lumens and throw but not break the bank.

Interesting in more details? Check out our Haikelite HK08 review.

Imalent MS12 Mini C: 65,000 lumens

The MS12 Mini is the successor of the much larger MS12, but at about 1/2 of its size. I kid you not; this one is even brighter at 65,000 lumens and may even fit in your cargo or jack pocket.

The Imalent MS12 Mini has been replaced by the MS12 Mini C, which includes an upgraded charging system, and carry handle. It uses built-in cooling fans to lower the heat while in Turbo. Turbo lasts about 1 minute before it reduces output to 10,000 lumens, which is still an amazing amount of power! 

We have tested several Imalent flashlights and found that their claimed beam intensity numbers are exaggerated. For instance, they claim over 268,000 candelas, but our measurement shows only 138,000 cd, which is about half of their claim. However, despite this, the flashlight still provides an incredibly bright light.

Turbo, however, heats up like crazy, so you really need to use the carry handle in Turbo mode. In all other modes, the temperatures are kept in check.

Check out our in-depth review of the Imalent MS12 Mini C.

Acebeam X75: 80,000 lumens

The Acebeam X75 has 18 XHP70.2 LEDs for pure flood with an 80 000-lumen output—a super bright flashlight with the highest sustainable output!

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Amazon.co.uk

Only a handful of flashlights can produce over 50,000 lumens, especially with only 4 batteries (inside the battery pack). The X75 is currently the highest-output flashlight, running on just 4 batteries and with a built-in fan. The fan is user-replaceable, and Acebeam includes a spare fan in their package, just in case.

Although we tested the Neutral White variant – which is usually less powerful than the Cool White variant – we were able to achieve an output of over 80,000 lumens after a few seconds. If you are looking for a flashlight that can provide a consistently high output, then this is the one you should go for. It is one of the best high-sustained performers available today, with an output of over 20,000 lumens for 20 minutes. No other flashlight can match this, except for the Imalent MS32.

If you want to read the full test, visit our Acebeam X75 review.

Imalent MS18

The Imalent MS18 is the #2 strongest flashlight in the world, with a blinding 100000 lumen output.

Buy at Imalentstore.com

This is the 3rd world’s brightest flashlight, with a blinding 100000 lumens. Brighter than other handheld flashlights available anywhere on the planet. With this incredibly high output, you can light up an entire baseball field. We reviewed the Imalent MS18 extensively. Check out our Imalent MS18 review to learn more about this beast, and make sure to double-check our runtime graphs comparison with other bright LED flashlights. And because of how this flashlight is built, with the cooling fans built in, don’t expect this to be a waterproof flashlight.

Even though many eBay sellers claim their flashlights are reaching 100,000 lumens, they are lying. The Imalent MS18 was the first flashlight officially claiming 100K lumens from a major flashlight manufacturer. If you want to have the most powerful handheld flashlight globally, there is only 1, this one.

If you don’t believe me, check out the review and the comparison shots. Nobody else on the internet reviewed as many powerful flashlights as we do.

Imalent SR32 = the 2nd Brightest flashlight in the world

Buy at Imalentstore

Just like all the other flashlights on the list, we don’t go by specifications. And during our test, we measured just over 100,000 lumens, which is on par with the Imalent MS18.

In fact, the maximum output was just a few hundred lumens higher than the MS18, and the rest of its performance is much better. The SR32 can sustain a higher output for much longer, and the overall beam distance is much, much better than the MS18.

I actually have 2 copies now of this light. The second copy is performing much better. Please know that these are extremely high-output flashlights.

Some people have actually burned some LEDs on the SR32.

Imalent MS32 = 2024 crazy

We tested the Imalent MS32, and I almost can’t believe the performance results. During our testing we saw that the highest 3 modes can keep up with all the other brightest flashlights on this list..

So far, Imalent has been lonely at the top of this list for quite some time, and now it becomes even harder for any other brand to top it. The new MS32 is twice as bright as the MS18 on paper, and I measured almost 180,000 lumens at turn-on. This is even more because my testing setup (homemade integrating sphere) isn’t large enough for this output.

The charging process was also quite speedy because Imalent provides a 100W USB-C charger that can recharge the battery pack in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. To ensure accuracy, I timed the charging process six or seven times, and each time it took between 1 hour 43 minutes to 1 hour 53 minutes.

Besides having the highest output of all flashlights, it can also sustain the highest output of all. It can do about 36000+ lumens for 30+ minutes in Turbo mode and roughly 18,000 lumens in High 1 mode (without the use of the fans) for almost 1 hour and 30 minutes. That’s insane because it’s about the same sustained output as the Imalent SR32 in Turbo, but twice as long and without the noise of the cooling fans. And compared to the Acebeam X75 turbo mode, it’s slightly lower (but likely impossible to notice in person) but runs 4 times longer.

If you are looking for the brightest flashlight, this is it! It dwarfs its competition.

It’s a true lumen monster!