Last Updated on October, 2024
Nobody talks enough about how useful penlights are.
In fact, many professionals, including doctors, mechanics, and even law enforcement personnel, use pen flashlights.
Superior convenience of use with bright light is the two biggest reasons for this choice.
Regardless of the reason, if you’re looking for the best penlights, you’re in the right place.
This list presents you with eleven of the absolute best penlights on the market right now. They were tested, analyzed, and compared with each other based on performance — thus, ranked.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
11 of the Best Pen Flashlights in 2023
1. Olight OPen Pro (Editor’s Choice)
The Olight OPen Pro is a textbook pen flashlight as it’s both a flashlight and a pen. But that’s not all; OPen Pro is a 3-in-1 design that has a green laser light integrated into it.
Three for the price of one.
The design quality makes it look professional. You can get it in four colors excluding its limited edition Brass Bark version.
As the picture shows, the ergonomic design makes the OPen Pro stand out.
After all, it’s made from high-quality materials. That makes the pen comfortable to hold and use. The grip is pretty amazing, and you won’t experience any wrist strain whatsoever.
The OPen Pro is 6.02 inches long with a diameter of 0.5 inches while weighing only 1.23oz. These are picture-perfect numbers for a penlight as the OPen Pro fits in your fist perfectly.
As a pen flashlight, it performs amazingly well, emitting 120 lumens of white light at a 14m beam distance.
This is the highest mode out of its five lighting modes accessible by the push button tail switch.
The tail switch design lets you effortlessly turn it on, off, and switch across four operational modes: high, med, low, and moonlight. These operating settings give you full control of the brightness levels of the penlight.
Since the light is in the removable pocket clip, it only gets more convenience.
This rechargeable penlight takes 1 hour to charge and the battery is powerful to last for 8 hours in moonlight mode.
With its resilient design qualities comes the IPX7 waterproof rating with 2m impact resistance. That’s how Olight elongates the lifespan of this portable device.
Let’s not forget the 30 days money-back guarantee, 2-year warranty, and Olight’s free shopping policy you receive.
The bottom line is that the Olight OPen is the best-performance rechargeable flashlight. The ideal balance between features and superior comfort in handling is the reason why the Olight OPen Pro takes the first place.
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2. Acebeam Pokelit 2 (#2nd Best Choice)
Acebeam is another very popular flashlight brand. Their all-new Pokelit 2 is suitable for medical professionals and everyday use too.
For starters, it lacks a green laser or a pen; this is just a flashlight. But it’s the brightest pen flashlight on this list. The 600lm super bright output at 101m throws justifies it.
The flashlight weighs 3oz with the custom Acebeam 1600mAh battery, with a length of 5.7 inches.
But by all means, this rechargeable flashlight is pen-shaped and does what it’s advertised for.
The above-90 CRI bright light is suitable for dentists, electricians, and engineers as it reveals colors better.
The Pokelit 2 features 3 battery-based lighting modes.
If it’s the rechargeable 1600mAh Acebeam Li-ion battery, the high mode features 600lm and 20lm in the low mode.
300lm in high mode and 0.5lm in low mode when you use two Ni-MH batteries.
When powered by two Alkaline batteries, the high mode emits 300lm in high mode and 0.5lm in low mode. The difference is that low mode runs for 13.5 days with Ni-MH batteries and 12 days with alkaline.
The tail switch makes it very easy to switch between these lighting levels.
The cherry on top is the side metal clip.
The longest battery life is 13.5 days in the low mode, and its value increases as this is a USB-C rechargeable penlight. Fixing your USB cord to the USB port will be easier.
Finally, this compact LED flashlight is IP68 waterproof and rated with 1m impact resistance.
Conclusion? An amazing pen flashlight that deserves first place, if not for the Olight Open Pro.
Want to learn more about this flashlight? Checkout this Acebeam Pokelit 2 Review.
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Cons
3. Wuben E19 (#3rd Best Choice)
Wuben’s E19 is company-recommended for medical professionals. But it can still be your everyday carry pen light.
The E19 has a distinctive elongated pen shape with the Wuben knurling pattern. It is 5.5 inches long and weighs only 1.67oz with a battery. There’s that lightweight compactness.
The flashlight also features a high CRI light that reveals colors better. You get 200lm in the highest brightness mode for a 55m beam throw.
The maximum battery runtime is 80 hours, achieved by two AAA alkaline batteries.
Most importantly, the flashlight operates with five modes switchable by the tail switch.
So, the E19 is designed to cater to several uses conveniently.
You won’t have to worry about its durability since the E19 has a durable aluminum body. It further increases with the IP68 waterproof rating and the 1.5m impact resistance.
But this is also just a flashlight that lacks a pen and a laser light.
All things considered, this is the third-best pen light.
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4. Coast G20
COAST G20 resembles the typical pen flashlight but you’ll find it very interesting.
This flashlight is 5.7″ in length and 0.63″ in diameter while weighing only 2.4oz.
So, as seen in the picture, there’s that handling convenience delivered by the G20.
The design makes it look a bit sporty, unlike the Wuben E19, which has a professional look.
But how effective is it as a light?
Although it lacks a pen and a laser, the flashlight features 54 lumens single-mode light beam with a beam throw of 21m for about 11 hours.
This performance is achieved by two AAA batteries, and that’s impressive.
What’s most interesting is the beam type; COAST classifies it as an inspection beam that reveals a lot of details.
Holding and carrying the G20 will be easy thanks to the knurling all over the body and the clip. That makes the G20 an ideal backup light as well.
The flashlight is IP54 stormproof with 1m impact resistance, and that increases durability by design. In conclusion, it’s one of the best one-mode pen lights on the market.
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5. Streamlight 66702
Streamlight is a brand known for bright and clear lights. Their 66702 Stylus Pro belongs to the category.
The flashlight has a unique look, and the clip’s placement makes it easier to carry. But that’s not all; you can use the magnetic base of the light to fix it anywhere.
Similar to the OPen Pro, the 66702 Stylus Pro has its light on the side, but not on the tip. So, the light is more scattered in the 66702.
But you’ll find it easier to handle since it’s 6.64″ in length and the diameter is only 0.25″. That certifies an ergonomic design for a pen flashlight. The 2.56oz weight increases ease of use.
The flashlight features three modes: high, low, and flash.
High and low, that emit 160lm (for 23m beam throw) and 40lm, respectively. The longest runtime is 8.5 hours in the low mode.
But there’s a strobe or flash mode for your safety and as a defensive tool. Its runtime is 7 hours. Naturally, these features are seen in EDC (Everyday Carry) flashlights increasing its value.
This light comes with a 1m impact resistance and IPX4 waterproof rating.
The lithium-ion cell pack is USB rechargeable up to 300 times, and it takes only 4.5 hours to charge the device.
So, this Streamlight penlight deserves to claim this position in the list.
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6. NEBO Pen Light
When you see the NEBO penlight, you can sense the perfect balance between that sporty and professional look.
The design is very ergonomic, with the ideal placement of the side clip. After all, it’s only 6.4″ in length, weighing 2.2oz. That makes NEBO a very lightweight compact flashlight.
The light is located at the end, and that’s how typical flashlights work. This, however, limits the light’s dispersion.
As a solution, NEBO has made the light beam zoomable up to 4 magnifying levels. Zoomability means that you can either focus or flood the light adjusting the light’s dispersion.
But it won’t be as flooded as a side light.
You get three light modes with a defensive strobe mode. The highest mode provides you with 360 lumens for 125m for 1 hour.
Like the previous flashlight, these numbers are usually seen in EDC or tactical flashlights, as you may have already noticed.
The dual-button technology is amazing. With that, you can soft touch the tail switch to cycle between modes and hard touch to switch it off.
With a high-quality aluminum alloy body and an IP67 waterproof rating, the NEBO flashlight is designed to last.
That’s why all these features have made it a reliable penlight.
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Cons
7. Infray Small LED Flashlight
The Infray LED light is designed as an EDC, tactical, and pen light.
Compactness is secured as it’s only 5.7″ long and weighs only 1.76oz. You don’t have to worry about the durability of the light as it’s made from high-quality aluminum alloy.
With three light modes, the maximum output is 300lm. You get the light’s full control with a fully adjustable light beam, from wide to narrow.
The longest duration it’ll go for is 14 hours, thanks to the two alkaline AAA batteries. These are not included in the package.
There’s a near-similarity between the Infray light and our best suggestion, OPen Pro; the pocket clip is removable. But the light is not on the side.
The flashlight features IPX5 waterproof rating increasing its durability.
Nonetheless, the Infray LED flashlight is another amazing pen flashlight.
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Cons
8. ThruNite Archer 2A V3
The eighth best penlight is the Thrunite Archer 2A V3, which brings pretty innovative features to the table.
In addition, there’s an amazing diamond non-slip knurling pattern suitable for a penlight.
Archer’s ergonomics are on point at a length of 6.1 inches and a width of 0.87 inches cylindrical diameter.
You can switch between five operational modes in the Archer. Because of the dual-button system, it’s easier to switch between the modes.
93m of beam throw for 500lm light output for 200 seconds is impressive for a pen flashlight. Its longer runtime is 15 days in the 0.2lm firefly mode.
That light powered up by AA batteries (not included) is situated at the end of the flashlight.
If you didn’t notice, the Archer 2A V3 is the second brightest pen flashlight on the list.
Thanks to the lanyard in the package, you’ll be able to use the Archer as an EDC light.
The Thrunite Archer 2A V3 is designed for versatile applications, and you can most certainly use it as a pen flashlight.
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9. Fenix LD22
Fenix’s LD22 is one reliable pen light with unique design and performance features.
The flashlight is 6.1 inches long with a body diameter of 1 inch. Ergonomics are on point with sleek design feathers and amazing body knurling. But the weight is a little bit higher; 3.31oz.
Nonetheless, this LED penlight features six light outputs including strobe and SOS modes. You can access them by a tactical tail switch and the main side switch.
Thanks to the intelligent memory circuit, you can access the last-used mode instantly. This feature makes the LD22 quite unique.
Out of the modes, you get 215lm as the maximum output for 113m of beam throw. Combine that with the 130h maximum runtime; you have an efficient pen flashlight.
The new CREE XP LEDs powered by two AA batteries also increase the light’s quality.
With durable design features, Fenix LD22’s features will help you in multiple types of occasions.
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Cons
10. Brite Strike EPLI Flashlight
Brite Strike EPLI is another high-performance flashlight that just might work for you.
The flashlight has a typical pen flashlight shape with a clip on one end. On the other end is the light, not on the side of the clip. This lowers the wideness or the flood of the light.
The length is 5.12 inches, and it weighs 2.4oz. By now, you know these numbers are perfect for a pen flashlight.
Brite Strike recommends the light for versatile applications as it’s made from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy while being waterproof.
The EPLI features three light modes: high, low, and strobe. With a maximum output of 200lm, the flashlight has a battery life of over 6 hours thanks to the two AAA alkaline batteries it runs on.
With the tail switch switching between the modes, the Brite Strike EPLI also qualifies to be a tactical light as well.
In conclusion, the Brite Strike EPLI is a lesser-known yet well-performing portable penlight.
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11. HATORI LED Mini Flashlight
Have you decided yet? If not, here’s our last suggestion, the HATORI LED mini flashlight.
Now, is this categorized as a penlight? No — but it sure works as one perfectly.
This is a very versatile flashlight; you can use it for camping, climbing, excursion, and even for medical and mechanical work.
After all, with a AAA battery, you get 150lm with three light modes. The maximum battery lifespan is 2 hours.
For the tenth place, all the way from Olight’s OPen Pro supremacy, it’s pretty amazing.
After all, at a length of just 4.8 inches and 0.59 inches in diameter, the HATORI LED Mini weighs only 1.04oz.
Being smaller than a pen and having an amazing ergonomic design, the flashlight is a clear candidate.
You also get a clip attached to the light, which makes it easier to carry.
But on top of all of that, the body is made from durable aluminum alloy ensuring durability.
So, even for the last of the list, the HATORI LED mini flashlight works excellently.
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Factors to Check for the Best Pen Flashlights
Dimensions and Weight
You need to check the length and the corresponding weight. Compare that with the design features, which will help you land a reliable and compact penlight. When you do, check whether the weight mentioned is with or without batteries.
Build Quality
It’s always risk-free to buy flashlights from recognized brands that ensure the build material and design are top-class. That’s why you’ll get the best ergonomics and appearance in their products.
Does it Have a Bright Light Beam?
What’s the point if your new penlight isn’t bright enough? Any modern penlight should feature multiple lighting modes switchable by a button. But what’s the maximum lumen output? Ideally, the maximum range should be between 70-80lm, but more is always better.
Does it Have Rechargeable Batteries? Battery Life?
The power source could be built-in rechargeable batteries for an LED penlight. Rechargeable flashlights are very cost-effective in the long run. It doesn’t matter even if they can be replaced. But don’t forget to check the maximum runtime; ideally, it should be at least 3-4 hours.
Extra Overall Benefits
You can detach the light from the flashlight in some flashlights. In some, the clip is two-way. Special overall benefits like these are very valuable.
In addition, most reliable brands provide you with 30-day money-back guarantees and at least 6-12 months of warranty. Choosing these options is always the right choice.
Types of Pen Flashlights
There are so many types of pen flashlights on the market right now. To help you understand what suits you the best, here are some of the top types of pen flashlights,
- Lights strictly for medical purposes
- Lights that come with better adjustable clips
- Lights for mechanical work
- Lights for law enforcement work
- Lights that are known for lightweight compactness
- Lights recognized for battery lifespan
- Lights that lets you actually write
- Lights that feature laser lights
- Lights known for their highly ergonomic design
- Lights recognized for being scratch resistant
Differences Between a Pen and Tactical Flashlight
- A penlight is always shaped like a pen, and not all tactical flashlights are pen-shaped
- A penlight doesn’t have as much lumen output as a tactical light
- It takes a very short time to charge a pen light compared to a tactical light
- The light beam is very streamlined in a penlight compared to a flashlight
- Pen lights are very much lightweight than tactical lights
- Tactical lights sometimes have complex UI, but any penlight has a simple operation
Benefits of a Pen Flashlight
- They fit comfortably in your pants pocket
- Brings more style than an average keychain light or EDC flashlight
- Some pen lights have green lasers
- More concentrated beam compared to typical flashlights
- The direct medical use to check pupil dilation
- Modern best pen lights have multiple light modes
- Discreetness
- And much more!
In Conclusion
Even if you own a tactical or EDC light, investing in a pen light is still wise because a penlight can replace an EDC light, but not the other way around, almost all the time.
But the problem most people face is trimming all the existing options to a handful; that’s what we have done for you. From our ranked list, the Olight OPen Pro is at the top for a reason: a superior performance with risk-free quality.
So, pick what brings the most value to your investment, and that’ll light your life up better.
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