3000 Lumens or 1800 Lumens? Looking for the Best LED Flashlight

When it comes to LED flashlights you may often hear that the more powerful the flashlight, the better the flashlight is. To be honest, it's not really the case. In fact, there are many times when using a really powerful flashlight isn't always practical. Although, we admit, it's a lot of fun. Today I want to look at two different flashlights: the Klarus G10 and the Klarus G20. These flashlights are very similar in features but differ in size, battery power, and output. By comparing these two flashlights, you may better understand why a more powerful flashlight is not always the way to go. However, you could also discover that the more powerful flashlight is exactly the way to go depending on what you need the flashlight for.

Best LED Flashlights

As I mentioned before, the G10 and the G20 are very similar and have a lot of the same features. They are both excellent LED flashlights especially for outdoor use, general use, or even professional use. I will first start by talking about the differences in each of these flashlights and then we'll dive into the features that they share. Both flashlights are very packed with features so let's take a look at them.

Klarus G20 3000 Lumen LED Flashlight

We'll start with the more powerful flashlight which is the Klarus G20. This flashlight features a CREE XHP70 N4 LED and it delivers up to 3000 lumens. It creates an incredible flood with a wonderfully wide and diffused beam so that you can see it the area all around you. The maximum beam distance is 150 meters so you really won't be able to see very far into the distance with this flashlight. The G20 is fairly small in length, less than 5 inches. However, it's a little bulkier in width with a diameter of a little less than an inch and a half. So, while this flashlight is a little bulkier, it’s still portable. It does come with a holster so that you can easily carry it with you.

The G20 uses a 26650 lithium ion battery that has a 5000 mAh capacity. This is a very powerful battery and it does make the G20 quite a bit heavier. Thanks for this battery, you get that ultra-bright 3000 lumens and some pretty decent run times as well. So with the G20 you get such a bright beam and it really allows you to see everywhere around you. If you're looking for an extremely bright flashlight to use outdoors then the G20 is definitely it.

Klarus G10 1800 Lumen LED Flashlight

The G10 is a more compact flashlight and significantly easier to carry. It features a CREE XHP35 HD E4 LED and delivers up to 1800 lumens with a maximum beam distance of 250 meters. So the G10 has a longer beam throw than the G20 flashlight. The beam on the G10 is still fairly wide and diffused, but not quite so floody as the G20. With the G10 you'll get more of a hotspot, so if that's important to you it's something to keep in mind.

The G10 is also less than 5 inches in length and a little shorter than the Klarus G20. The diameter of the G10 is an inch, making it extremely portable. You can easily clip the G10 LED flashlight onto your pocket using the included pocket clip, or you can carry the G10 using its included holster.

The G10 runs on a single 18650 battery, two CR123A batteries, or two Klarus 16340 batteries; so, you have more options when it comes to which batteries you prefer to use in this flashlight. 18650 batteries are less expensive than 26650 batteries and are often easier to find. When it comes to an outdoor flashlight, it's always a good idea to have an LED flashlight that can use different battery types. So with the G10, though it may not be as powerful as a G20, it's significantly more portable and even more practical at times. Being able to choose which battery type you would like to use can really come in handy in a pinch.

What these LED Flashlights have in Common

I really just skimmed some of the features of both of these flashlights talking about the differences. Now, I'd like to talk about the features that they both share. First of all, they both feature the same user interface with a tail switch and a side switch. Both of these switches function independently from one another and both of them have a One-Touch Turbo. The tail switch gives you a One-Touch Low while the side switch gives you a built-in memory function. This is a great user interface to have especially for any outdoor LED flashlight. Also, both switches are able to be easily locked out so that you can ensure they don't turn on accidentally.

Both flashlights are also USB rechargeable and feature an Intelligent Charging System. This system will monitor the charging and protect against overcharging. The micro USB port is protected with a silicone cover so you don’t need to worry about grime or dirt getting into it while using the flashlight outside. Also, both the G10 and G20 flashlights feature a battery capacity indicator that doubles as a charging indicator. While charging, you’ll see the indicator light up on the side switch. Green means it’s finished charging while red means it’s still charging. You may see a flashing yellow indicator and this means that something is interfering with the USB connection, whether it’s a faulty charge cable, a bit of dirt that got into the micro USB port, or something else.

When you first turn on either flashlight, you'll see the indicator glow a certain color to let you know the status of the battery. Green means the battery is 70 to 100% charged, yellow means the battery is 30 to 70% charged, red means the battery is 10 to 30% charged, and flashing red means that the battery is under 10% charged and it's time to either charge the flashlight or replace the batteries.

I could continue on with a few more features that these flashlights share, but I'll go ahead and stop for now. As you can see, these are really great LED flashlights to have.

Concluding Remarks

While the 3000 lumens of the G20 is impressive, if you're wanting a more compact flashlight that you can carry with you, the G10 might make a better choice. Not to mention that the G10 also has a longer beam throw. If you're wanting a complete flood, then the G20 is 100% for you. Whichever flashlight you prefer, you're getting a great flashlight. They both have a ton of features that make them practical and fun to use. So check out the Klarus G20 and the Klarus G10 today.