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.

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

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.

How to diffuse lightfor photography

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.

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. But producing 25,000 lumens is still more than most mainstream flashlight companies will ever entertain.

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!

Photographers use the principle of diffuse light to create pictures with vivid details because there are no sharp shadows to distract attention. On a sunny day, they use light diffusers to create soft shadows. Horticulturists are now discovering that diffused light creates a better growing environment in greenhouses. It allows for a greater horizontal spread of light and exposes the middle leaf layers to light. Drivers find that wet roads have a greater glare than dry roads, because the cracks and crevices on the road's surface fill up with water, creating a smooth surface. This results in specular reflection that creates the annoying glare. Fog lamps try to make use of the principle of diffused light to provide a safer beam.

Only a handful of flashlights can produce over 50,000 lumens, especially with just 4 batteries (inside the battery pack). The X75 is currently the highest-output flashlight, running on just 4 batteries and has a built-in fan. The fan is user-replaceable, and Acebeam includes a spare fan in their package, just in case. That’s really awesome, because most of the time, these fans are not user replaceable.

AA flashlights are not very popular when it comes to bright, high-power flashlights. These batteries simply lack the power to give it a good punch. Many AA type flashlights can use lithium batteries which will double or even triple the output.

We reviewed this (just like all the others) extensively, and can come to the conclusion.. this little pocket rocket is really insane. Make sure to also check out our Acebeam X80-GT2 review.

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!

The brightest LED flashlight in the world is the Imalent MS32. It’s a 200,000 lumen flashlight with cooling fans built-in to keep the temperature down. We also reviewed other high-lumen flashlights, including the  Acebeam X75, a 80,000-lumen flashlight, much lighter than its competitors. Check out all of our reviews.

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.

The Olight i5T Plus is available with 3 different LEDs, so you can choose between a cold white, neutral white, and warm white emitter.

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.

Diffusedlightphotography examples

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.

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.

If you order this flashlight from Imalenstore, make sure you add our exclusive coupon code at checkout for an extra 10% off. Coupon code: 1lumen

When a light beam strikes a smooth surface, most of it reflects back in the same concentration. This is specular reflection, which gives us direct, bright light. A mirror is a common example of a smooth surface that causes specular reflection. On rough surfaces, even microscopic irregularities create roughness. This does not break the law of reflection. Each ray reflects back at the same angle at which it struck the object but in a different direction. So diffuse light is scattered light. This scattering is what causes the diffusion and softness of the light beam.

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

We made a list with the ‘brightest tactical flashlights‘ for the most updated list. Nitecore makes some of the best flashlights, including the brightest tactical lights: Nitecore TM9K, TM10K, TM20K.

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.

Get a whopping 15% off your next order at Acebeam.com with the following discount coupon: 1lumen15. Simply add the coupon code at your checkout.

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.

Diffuse lightsource

We see an object because it emits light (for example, the sun, fire, a light bulb), or we see objects that reflect light.

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.

Imalent is known for being one of the few manufacturers that try to achieve the maximum output. The MS03 is no exception in that regard. Pushing out over 10,000 lumens from a single cell is insane!

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

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 MS03 is currently the smallest best flashlight with 13,000 lumens. You need to use high-drain batteries for it to reach that high output. If you use mediocre batteries, you won’t be able to reach the maximum brightness!

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.

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.

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.

How to diffuse lightfrom LED

We tested the Neutral White LED variant – which is often less powerful than the Cool White LED variant – we were able to achieve an output of over 80,000 lumens after a few seconds. If you are looking for a high power flashlight that can provide a consistently high output in a relatively small package, 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 much larger, and heavier Imalent MS32.

He loves testing flashlights and has published 300 flashlight reviews for 1Lumen. He enjoys improving the testing process for himself and the team to provide the best data possible.

To understand the nature of diffused light, humans must first answer the question, "What is light?" Physicists define light as electromagnetic radiation. Traditional theory holds that light moves as a wave. Its amplitude gives the brightness, and the differing wavelengths make the different colors. Modern quantum theory says that particles of energy called photons make up light. The number of photons gives the brightness, and the energy in the photons creates its color. Both theories are correct. Light acts as both particle and wave. Simply put, light is that which enables humans and other animals to see.

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

1lumen selects and reviews products personally. We may earn affiliate commissions through our links, which help support our testing.

How to diffuse lightat home

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Commissions: When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support our work.

Emisar is a fairly unknown brand outside the flashlight community but very popular among enthusiasts. It’s specifically built for enthusiasts and offers a wide variety of options. You can get it in four different colors, about twenty different LEDs, and many other options.

There are just so many untrustworthy websites and product listings that you better stay away from them. We test flashlights to know whether their advertised outputs are legit. So take notice!

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.

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.

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..

Here’s a quick overview to compare them. You can see that the advertised output doesn’t necessarily mean that the output stays the highest. The Acebeam X75’s output is higher at the 30-second measurement than any other light.

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!

The human eye cannot see all the rays on the light spectrum. Infrared rays, for example, are too long for the human eye to perceive, and ultraviolet rays are too short. So, direct (spectral) light seems stronger than diffuse light. However, the total light transmission is the same.

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!

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.

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.

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.

DIYlightdiffuser material

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.

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.

We have tested many Imalent flashlights and found that their claimed beam intensity numbers are generally speaking, always 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. This list is based on lumen output, not on beam distance. If you’re interested in beam distance, you should check out our list with the best performing long-rang flashlights.

Amit, Anjali. (2018, May 17). What Is Diffused Light?. sciencing.com. Retrieved from https://www.sciencing.com/diffused-light-5470956/

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.

The AA Eneloop reached 555 lumens and dropped to about 517 lm within 30 seconds. That’s amazing for this size of a flashlight and this type of LED.

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.

Light diffuses when it bounces off the many angles of a rough surface, or when it travels through a substance that changes its angles.

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.

Diffused light is a soft light with neither the intensity nor the glare of direct light. It is scattered and comes from all directions. Thus, it seems to wrap around objects. It is softer and does not cast harsh shadows.

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 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.

We see that still many people look for bright AAA flashlights. But the fact is, AAA flashlights aren’t very bright at all, at least compared to some of the bigger lights mentioned in this guide. But still, if you’re looking for the brightest small keychain light, check out this Olight i3T. Most flashlights in this category have outputs around 100 lumens, but this light is specced at 180 lumens, and we measured even over 190. That’s not extremely bright, but much better than the other competing flashlights in this category.

BTW before you get one, not that 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.

Lightdiffuser Sheet

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.

Lightdiffuser plastic

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.

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

If you are looking for a pocketable flashlight to blind 100 people at once, get the MS03. This thing is seriously ridiculous. Please check out our in-depth review of the Imalent MS03 for all the details. And yes, it does include a pocket clip, but it’s easy to remove.

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.

Note: there are some flashlights like the Nightwatch NS73v2, that can reach a bit higher. However, this is not a main brand and within months these flashlights are unavailable. Therefore I’ll only add them when they are available, and remove them when they are hard to come by.

Stop relying on Amazon reviews, top 10 websites on Google, magazine websites, hearsay, or even manufacturer’s specs.We test flashlights to separate the wheat from the chaff.Want to know how we do that? Read one of our 796 in-depth flashlight reviews!

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.

It’s the Nitecore EA81, which uses 8 AA batteries and produces 2150 lumens. Unfortunately, it’s an older model, but still, the most powerful flashlight running on AA batteries.Please note to use rechargeable NiMH batteries like Panasonic Eneloop and never alkaline batteries. Alkaline batteries are too weak for these types of high power LED flashlights.

The 14500 cell on Turbo starts at over 1400 lm and drops to about 1138 lm within 30 seconds. See our review of the Emisar D3AA for more details.

Imalent MS03 is super bright. The brightest flashlight since 2021 running off a single 21700 battery. Reaching almost 13,000 lumens!

The X80-GT has been replaced with the X80-GT2, but in terms of output, they are pretty close as per our testing! 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.

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.

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.

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.