outside the labs

3 Best Flashlight, Tested by Our Experts

Plus, flashlight FAQs, such as what a flashlight’s lumens mean and how to prolong its battery life

By Pang-Chieh Ho
Senior Home & Appliances Writer

Updated by Quentyn Kennemer

Updated September 11, 2025

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CR tech Juan Amezquita testing a flashlight — CR's José Amézquita tests a flashlight by shining it into a light meter and measuring its spread of light.

Growing up, my dad always made sure we had a flashlight at home. “You’ll need this in case an emergency happens,” he’d say. And with an extra level of caution, he would regularly check the flashlight to see if it was still working or if the batteries needed to be replaced.

But in the age of the smartphone flashlight, is a flashlight still necessary? The answer is yes, according to our tests. Handy as the flashlight on your phone might be, it’s only powerful enough for trivial needs. Plus, if you’re experiencing a power loss at home or a weather emergency, you’ll want to preserve the power on your phone.

In this article

Flashlights We Recommend
Other Flashlights We Tested
Frequently Asked Questions About Flashlights
How We Tested the Flashlights

A flashlight is an essential part of an emergency supply kit, according to a spokesperson from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And when you’re building that kit, it’s recommended to also include extra batteries for the flashlight in airtight plastic bags or easy-to-carry containers.

It can be daunting, however, to figure out which flashlight to buy and what features to prioritize. Technical jargon, such as lumens, might also make the process of purchasing a flashlight bewildering. But fear not: We’re here to cut through the confusion and help you make the best decision. Later in this article, we’ll address some common questions you might have about flashlights, including what lumens are and how many you need for a specific activity.

In a questionnaire for flashlight users, Consumer Reports asked 30 participants what features they found the most essential in a flashlight. Long battery life, high brightness, and durability were some of the attributes they ranked as the most important.

To find the best flashlights, we chose 10 of varying sizes from popular brands and conducted multiple tests with them. Some of our work included measuring their brightness level, noting their battery life, and seeing whether they would still work after being dropped from 1 meter onto linoleum over a concrete floor. We also included an iPhone 14 Pro in our tests to see how a smartphone flashlight would compare to the 10 flashlights we tested in terms of brightness.

And because ease of use is an important part of the consumer experience, Paul Ritchey, DrPH, an ergonomics expert on CR’s Consumer Experience and Usability Research team, examined how comfortable the flashlights were to hold and operate.

People use flashlights for different purposes, and our recommendations are made with that consideration in mind. For example, a consumer looking for a small pen flashlight isn’t going to need the same attributes as a person looking for a light bright enough to illuminate outdoor spaces. Here are the models we like.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Pang-Chieh Ho

Pang-Chieh Ho is a senior content creator at Consumer Reports who writes about the intersections of home products and health. She has been working in the media industry for almost 10 years. Books are her first love, but movies come a close second. You can send tips to her at pangchieh.ho@consumer.org.