LEP flashlight list: The best Laser flashlights

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LEP flashlights
Marco’s LEP flashlight collection, all of them are tested!

Here’s an extremely details video on 22 of my LEP flahlights:

candela graph Maxtoch W PRO

LEP flashlight measurements

Small LEP flashlights compared

And just in case you are interested in very bright lights, check out this detailed list of the world’s current brightest flashlights. And yes, they were all reviewed by our dedicated and competent team.

See all the white laser flashlights I own and have reviewed.

Cheapest LEP flashlight

Cheapest LEP lights

It wasn’t so long ago that all LEP flashlights were priced well over $200. Fortunately, the price has come down, and many flashlights have been available below $200.

Here is a small list of LEPs that are recommended (we reviewed them) and still affordable. Keep in mind these are nothing compared to the farthest-reaching LEPs when it comes to pure throw capabilities. But they are nice to ‘ test the waters’ and start your LEP journey.

Lumintop Thor 1

Lumintop Thor 1 in hand

With a length of only 3.8 inches (96.6mm), the Thor 1 is currently the shortest LEP flashlight on the planet. With the following discount codes, you can have one below $150.

Nealsgadgets discount code: 1lumenLEP

Amutorch BT35

Amutorch BT35 holding in hand

This is one of the cheapest and coolest Tactical LEP flashlights so far

Nealsgadgets discount code: 1LumenLEP

Neals 26650 LEP

LEP flashlight in hand

The unbranded 26650 LEP sold by Neal is one of the best throwers for the money. With the coupon available for less than $125, and throws almost 2 kilometers (I measured 1992 meters)

Discount code: 1lumenLEP

Smallest and shortest LEP flashlight

Lumintop Ant Man

The smallest LEP on the planet

Lumintop Ant Man holding
reylight pineapple mini runtime eneloop
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:590 meters (I measured 523 meters/ 67,400 cd)
Battery type:14500 lithium-ion
Charging:No built-in charging
Extra:Read the full review because it has some issues with low battery voltage

Lumintop has the smallest LEP flashlights on the market, this, and the Thor 1. The Thor 1 is the shortest of the bunch with a length of only 3.8 inches (96.6mm), while the Ant Man is only longer by a few millimeters (3.96″/ 100.6mm). I only post it here, because it is the most lightweight LEP on the market, but not without issues.

Mine, and also others have trouble with a high parasitic drain in this light. If you don’t mind that, go for it. Just pointing out this is the smallest LEP available.

For all the juicy details, check out our review of the Lumintop Ant Man.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Smallest LEP on the planet
  2. Pocketable
  3. Works on 14500 batteries

Interested? Buy from one of the following stores. Use our exclusive discount coupon for Nealsgadgets to get an extra 25% off: 1LumenLEP

Lumintop Thor 1

Very short but bulky flashlight

Lumintop Thor 1 in hand
Lumintop Thor 1 lumen graph
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:1,200 meters (I measured 1193 meters / 356,000cd)
Battery type:18350 lithium-ion
Charging:No built-in charging
Extra:also available in normal black anodization

Lumintop has some of the smallest LEP flashlights on the market. The Thor 1 is the shortest of the bunch with a length of only 3.8 inches (96.6mm) and a reach of almost 1200 meters. That’s the farthest-reaching flashlight under 4inches long, period.

With a simple UI, everybody is able to use it, but you shouldn’t let children play with it, because of the extremely high beam intensity.

For more details, check out our in-depth review of the Lumintop Thor 1.

Use discount code: 1lumenthor at Nealsgadgets

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Small LEP, but using a more powerful battery than the Ant Man (18350 vs 14500)
  2. If you like a fancy looking flashlight, especially in titanium

Interested? Buy from one of the following stores. Use our exclusive discount coupon for Nealsgadgets to get an extra 25% off: 1LumenLEP

Small LEP flashlight with 1 battery (18650/21700)

Weltool W3 PRO

Great tactical style LEP flashlight

Weltool W3 PRO in normal position
runtime graph
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:1,205 meters (We measured 1206 meters / 363,000cd)
Battery type:21700 lithium-ion (included)
Charging:No built-in charging, but battery has USB-C charging port
Extra:

Weltool upgraded the Weltool W3 LEP flashlight, called the “The featherless Arrow”. The gen2 W3 claims a distance of up to 1,205 meters and a beam intensity of 363,375cd. This is double the intensity of the gen1 which was rated at ‘only’ 180,000cd. The new W3 PRO maintains two output modes; High and Low. High has a max runtime of up to 1 hour and 58 minutes and Low up to 5 hours and 55 minutes. On top of the LEP upgrade, they decided to use 21700 cells instead. Many manufacturers are moving away from 18650 and more into the 21700 field. This means more capacity, longer runtimes, and more power.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Very strong flashlight with lots of knurling (for extra grip)
  2. Comes with 21700 battery, that has a USB-C port built-in
  3. 21700 battery has more capacity than a 18650 and at least 3 times of a 18350 battery

Interested? Buy from one of the following stores. Use our exclusive discount coupon for Nealsgadgets to get an extra 25% off: 1LumenLEP

Fenix HT30R

Farthest reaching small LEP

Fenix HT30R in hand
Fenix HT30R runtime high
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:1,200 meters (We measured 1612 meters / 650,000cd)
Battery type:21700 lithium-ion (included)
Charging:Built-in charging, with USB-C
Extra:

Fenix really knows how to make a great light. The HT30R has such a nice build quality, you can tell it was made to be an actual tool – not just a run-of-the-mill flashlight

And yes, it did reach 1,600 meters on its highest setting. That is really incredible for this size of light. Really! Fenix includes a nice amount of accessories including a pocket clip, lanyard, and a holster. So you can carry it the way you like.

We were able to measure a beam distance of up to 1,612meters with ours. If you want to learn more, read our in-depth review of the Fenix HT30R.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Great quality
  2. Beam throws farther than specified (1612 meters instead of specced 1200 meters)
  3. Fenix has many offices around the world for better customers service, including Amazon
  4. Come with built-in charging, so you don’t need to buy a separate charger

Get 10% off every purchase at Fenix Lighting US, by using our exclusive 1lumen discount code: 1lumen10

7 Farthest reaching LEP flashlights

These are available to consumers.

Ordered based on actual distance, not by the manufacturer’s claimed distance. (Removed all LEP flashlights that are not in production anymore).

None of these flashlights run off disposable batteries!

#7

Maxtoch Xsword L3K

Dual-cell battery LEP

maxtoch l3k in hand
Maxtoch L3K runtime
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:3,000 meters (We measured 2763meters / 1,908,000cd)
Battery type:2*21700 lithium-ion batteries (included)
Charging:No built-in charging
Extra:

The Maxtoch Xsword L3K is the successor of the #1 LEP, the L2K, but it’s not throwing as far. Mine can reach up to 1.7 miles/ 2700 meters, which is still a whole lot. But the beam on the L3K looks better with less tint shift. You can drop the output by half but still hit 1.34 miles.

Want more details? Read our Maxtoch Xsword L3K review. If you get one, use our special discount code: 1L60M3 at Maxtochstore.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Dual battery setup for great sustained output/beam

If you get one, use our special discount code: 1L60M3 at Maxtochstore.

#6

Weltool W4

560 lumens, 2,670 meters, and 1.7Mcd beam intensity.

Weltool W4 holding in normal position
Weltool W4 runtime graph
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:2,670 meters (We measured 2956 meters / 1.83 miles / 2,184,000cd)
Battery type:21700 lithium-ion battery (included)
Charging:No built-in charging (battery has USB-C port)
Extra:

The Weltool W4 is currently the second-best specced LEP flashlight. It can reach up to 2.6 kilometers, which is about 1.61 miles. We reviewed the Weltool W4, and it performs better than the manufacturer claims.

The knurling, the quality, the output, the intensity are all top-notch. It’s performing better than all other LEP flashlights for 80% of the runtime. Yes, the Jetbeam M1X has a higher max intensity at the start, but the Weltool W4 takes the lead after the output drop.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Build quality is way above the Maxtoch competitors, although some throw farther
  2. Throws really far, even with just a single battery

Unfortunately, the W4 has been discontinued. We will update this list in the following weeks.

#5

Maxtoch Xsword LA60

Focusable LEP , zoomy LEP

Maxtoch flashlight in hand normal way
Maxtoch runtime lumens
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:2,500 meters (We measured 3015 meters / 1.87 miles / 2,272,000cd)
Battery type:2*21700 lithium-ion batteries (included)
Charging:No built-in charging (battery has USB-C port)
Extra:

Here’s the first focusable LEP flashlight for consumers. After reviewing the L2K and L3K, I wasn’t sure if the LA60 was able to reach 2,500 meters, and I was wrong. My LA60 throws over 3 kilometers (1.87 miles) zoomed in.

Although this is still a fantastic light with great capabilities, you have to remember that when you zoom out, the beam becomes less usable. This is normal for focusable flashlights.

Want more details and pictures? Read our Maxtoch Xsword LA60 review.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. One of the few zoomable flashlights.
  2. Farthest reachable zoomy LEP flashlight

If you get one, use our special discount code: 1L60M3 at Maxtochstore.

#4

Astrolux WP3 / Mateminco FW1

Great thrower

Astrolux WP3 holding
Astrolux WP3 lumen runtime
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:2,900 meters (We measured 3106 meters / 1.93 miles / 2,412,000cd)
Battery type:21700/26650 lithium-ion battery
Charging:Built-in charging with USB-C
Extra:

On paper this might beat the Maxtoch L2K, but in reality, the L2K performs better and has a much longer runtime because of the 2*21700 configuration. The WP3 comes with a 21700 4500mAh battery shipped, but it has a relatively short runtime. Especially compared to its competitors.

The WP3 is an amazing thrower, especially considering its price. It’s available below $200 with our discount code, and therefore worth considering. Keep in mind that Low and High mode have both visible PWM, at least on my copy. Check out our full review of the Astrolux WP3 here.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. One of the few LEP flashlights accepting 26650 batteries
  2. Great quality, beam distance, at a great price

Buy at Nealsgadgets with 25% off, using our exclusive discount coupon: 1LumenLEP

#3

Maxtoch Xsword L2K

maxtoch xsword l2k in normal position in hand
L2K runtime chart
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:2,700 meters (We measured 3167 meters / 1.97 miles / 2,508,000cd)
Battery type:2*21700 lithium-ion batteries (included)
Charging:No built-in charging, you need a special 21700 charger
Extra:

The Maxtoch Xsword L2K can reach up to 3.167 kilometers, which is about 1.97 miles. I was shocked by the sheer distance this thing could reach, and moreover by the intensity over time. It only dropped slightly at the beginning and maintained its brightness for a very long time, much higher than any of its competitors. This is currently the king of LEP flashlights (that people can purchase). Want more details? Read our Maxtoch Xsword L2K review.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Probably the first LEP flashlight we reviewed that got this whole LEP craze started!!
  2. Great sustainable reach, throughout the runtime

If you get one, use our special discount code: 1L60M3 at Maxtochstore.

#2

Weltool W4 Pro

Weltool W4 PRO in hand
Weltool W4 PRO runtime chart
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:3,394meters (We measured 3351 meters / 2.08 miles / 2,808,000cd)
Battery type:21700 lithium-ion battery (included)
Charging:No built-in charging, you need a special 21700 charger
Extra:

Weltool upgraded the Weltool W4 to the W4 PRO, which is still called “The dragon in the cloud”. The W4 PRO claims a distance of up to 3712 yards and a beam intensity of 2.8 Mcd. This is 1 million candelas higher intensity than the W4, which was rated at ‘only’ 1.78 Mcd.

There are still two output modes; High and Low, but they also included a hidden strobe mode. High has a max runtime of just over 1 hour and Low up to 4.5 hours. The only drawback is the missing mode memory, so each time you turn the light on, it will be in the next mode. Weltool said that future batches may fix this, and always start in Low mode.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Farthest reaching LEP with a single battery!
  2. Great sustainable reach, and beats most dual-battery LEP flashlights

Use our unique discount coupon at Nealsgadgets: 1LumenLEP

#1

Maxtoch Owleyes W PRO v2

The farthest-reaching LEP flashlight a consumer can get!

maxtoch owleyes w pro v2 in use 4
maxtoch owleyes w pro v2 runtime comparison
Specification:Specified:
Max. beam distance:4,000 meters (We measured it exactly)
Battery type:3*21700 lithium-ion battery pack
Charging:USB-C built in charging
Extra:Dual head LEP

The Maxtoch Owleyes W PRO v2 is currently the #1 LEP flashlight in the world. It claimed to reach 4 kilometers (2.49 miles) and that is easily achievable. This is the same distance as the $2500 Acebeam W50 (which is not available to consumers).

Having 2 heads looks and feels a little odd, but in terms of performance, this things is really incredible. All you need is a USB-C charging cable, because it comes with a battery pack, containing 3 high quality 21700 batteries. The beam intensity is staggering, and doesn’t drop much throughout the runtime. This is unlike most LED flashlights that drop in output a lot. This is currently the king of LEP flashlights (that people can purchase below $700). Want more details? Read our Maxtoch Owleyes W PRO 2 review.

This is why we would recommend this flashlight:

  1. Farthest reaching LEP a consumer can get!
  2. Great output (1028 lumens) and great reach (almost 4000 meters).
  3. Dual head design

Use our 1lumen discount code: WP50V21L at Maxtoch store for $50 off discount.

Questions about LEP flashlights

Check below for some common questions about LEP flashlights

What is an LEP flashlight?

Unlike LED flashlights, an LEP flashlight uses a laser as its light source. LEP stands for Laser Excited Phosphor and these types of flashlights are extremely bright in the center of the beam, and without any real spill. When you compare the beam with a regular flashlight, you’ll notice that the hotspot is extremely tight. But even at a longer distance, the hotspot stays really small, unlike the average LED flashlight. At 1 meter (3 feet) from a wall, the hotspot is only about 5cm/2 inches wide. They are great for seeing things at long-range. Especially great for hunting.

How does an LEP flashlight work?

To give you an example of how an LEP flashlight works, we can look at the following details of the Acebeam W30.

And below the W30 picture, you can see the explanation from Fenix as well. A picture is worth a thousand words.

But since 2021 there has been another type of LEP system. It has the laser behind the phosphor layer and then the laser beam goes through the transparent/translucent phosphor layer and gets focused with a silicon dome and a convex lens. See the picture below the Fenix.

Fenix TK30

Astrolux and Jetbeam LEP module (starting from 2021)

When do you use an LEP flashlight?

Since they produce such a thin beam that can reach a few kilometers, LEP flashlights can only be used for special tasks. Especially useful for things like hunting. You don’t need an LEP flashlight for close up work. If you need a flashlight for medium distance (up to 200 meters I would suggest a throwy LED flashlight. Have a look at the best long-range LED flashlights here.

What is the farthest reaching LEP flashlight?

Currently, my Maxtoch Xsword L2K is the farthest-reaching LEP flashlight. It outperforms all other LEP flashlights by a large distance.

Any other great websites talking about white laser flashlights?

Since LEP flashlights are becoming more affordable, they are also becoming more and more popular. This website is not really suitable to keep everything in a nice overview, which is why I decided to dedicate a website, especially to LEP flashlights. Please visit lepflashlight.com