5 Best Cheap Flashlights Under $50 (With Blinding Illumination) [2021 Update]
Last updated: 6/7/21
Reading time: 5 minutes
Technology may have advanced profoundly, but let’s face it: a flashlight is still pretty much a necessity even now.
However, with more and more technical advancements being employed to an otherwise simple light bearing device, this gadget is getting pricey.
We reckon the minimum budget for a decent flashlight these days around the ball park of $50.
Yes, you can find quite a few options for under $20 but the quality and performance may be questionable.
Therefore spending a few extra dollars wouldn’t be a bad idea considering the durability and added quality they carry.
Our search for the best flashlight under $50 yielded a surprising number of candidates that performed very well on flashlight criteria, and here’s our top four:
The 5 Best Flashlights Under $50 – 2024
1. GearLight High-Powered LED Flashlight
Rays produced by the GearLight are pretty intense. This is as the torch has over 1200 lumens at its disposal. And if you’re wondering, the bulb used is a medium sized LED.
The intense light is powered through its ultra wide beam.
Although powerful, the flash light is petite. Its middle-to-small in size.
Not only does its size make it convenient, but so does its battery usage. To use the flash light, you’ll need 4 AA batteries.
The beam can be adjustable. There’s 5 settings letting you focus the light however way you want. This is great as you can focus on something up to a 100 feet away.
The body is aluminum and full black. This gives it a chic look.
You can confidently carry it around as its aluminum build means its corrosion free.
Its size along with its anti-slip texture helps you in dark conditions.
According to GearLight’s tests, the flash light is indestructible. You can drop it up to 10 feet away and it’ll still last.
As Gear light is a giant in the flash light industry, they know what they’re doing. So you get a 1 year warranty with any of their purchases.
+Pros:
- Wide beam
- Great looking
- Easy to hold
- Powerful illumination
- Very sturdy
- Great size
-Cons:
- AA batteries not included
2. Streamlight 88031 ProTac 2L 350-Lumen EDC Professional Flashlight with CR123A Batteries, and Holster, Black, Clear Retail Packaging
The Streamlight is another one that we found delivers exceptionally on a budget when you pay attention to the specs.
This light comes equipped with C4 LED technology which boasts a simply staggering 50,000 hour lifespan.
It is also waterproof to a meter of water for up to half an hour courtesy of an IPX7 rated design. Power comes from two CR123A lithium batteries which are included in the package.
However you might encounter some problems at the beginning of owning one like with the 600 lumen output for instance which can reduce drastically after a month or so if the flashlight is used extensively.
There have also been some complaints about how Streamlight handles its warranty conditions.
That said, the little niggles you may encounter at first can be easily solved if you know what you’re doing.
+Pros:
- Dual battery
- Long lifespan
- Powerful light
- Waterproof feature
-Cons:
- Warranty is severely limited
- Battery capacity could be more
- Batteries could jiggle inside
- Light spill (flooding) is limited
3. Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight, Pocket-Sized Torch with Super Bright 900 Lumens CREE LED, IPX5 Water-Resistant, Zoomable, 5 Light Modes
The Anker Bolder LC90 is another neat piece of kit we managed to find that agreed with our budget.
Its super bright function is a 900-lumen Cree LED that can reach objects nearly a thousand feet away.
The adaptable modes are five ranging from high, medium, low, strobe and SOS. Zooming capability affords a wide and narrow beam.
The Anker is constructed out of aluminum which makes it very durable and is IP65-rated in water resistance as well as shock resistant.
The design is compact and pocket friendly and can be used in a heavy downpour. It is also neat enough that the LC90 also has a stand-on-end lamp for an emergency.
Additional features you get are a 18650 3350 mAh rechargeable battery, an 18 month warranty service, a wrist strap, and a micro USB cable.
The Anker promises to be very useful in the great outdoors but is certainly no half wit at taking care of indoor functions either.
+Pros:
- Durable construction
- Smart design
- Powerful range
- Versatile zooming
-Cons:
- Charging is somewhat slow
- Recharging requires unscrewing the back section
- Head part susceptible to moisture pollution
4. PeakPlus Tactical Flashlight
The body of the flashlight is aluminum so it’s comfortable to hold. It has abrasions on it to help with grip. The abrasions also maintain its durability by adding a layer of shock resistance.
The tail switch is soft touch so your fingers won’t get sore using the flashlight for prolonged periods of time.
Although it uses 3 AAA’s, the flashlight has a rechargeable battery. The light produced is the strongest when the rechargeable battery is in place.
In terms of how long it takes to fully charge, it’s 6-12 hours.
The LED bulb allows for intense beams. You can adjust the light produced with its 5 different modes, producing rays that launch up to 600 feet away.
The flash light is pretty heavy duty. It’s water resistant so you can use it in the most adverse conditions.
It’s also pretty compact, letting you take it in your back pack.
+Pros:
- Compact in size
- Rechargeable
- 5 different light features
- Water resistant
- Shock resistant
-Cons:
- The battery takes a long time to charge
- It needs 3 AAA batteries which can be an inconvenience
5. No products found.
No products found.
The NoCry utilizes 1000 lumens. Thus, the light produced is pretty bright.
There’s 3 different light features, letting you adjust its brightness. At the highest setting, the NoCry’s illumination can reach up to 900 feet.
Once you’ve settled on a setting, you can set it in place with its trigger lock.
It comes with a red filter. With it taken off, you can switch between red and white light.
You don’t need batteries to use it. Once the flash light has been fully charged, it can last up to 20 hours.
Not only is it compact, but it’s lightweight. The NoCry is less than a pound in weight. So carrying it with you is easy. It comes with an ergonomic handle as well, making it easy for anyone to use.
Of course, it’s pretty water resistant:
The flashlight comes with heavy waterproofing. If you’re wondering how thorough, it can be dipped up to 3 feet and be fine. If it accidentally falls into a pool, you don’t have to fret. The flash light bounces to the surface.
When charging, you’ll notice the port is very protected. This is to keep water at bay.
That’s not all:
It’s very durable. It’s shock resistant due to its polystyrene covering.
Although you won’t need it, there’s a 4 year warranty offered by NoCry.
+Pros:
- Ergonomic
- Rechargable
- Great battery life
- Quite water resistant
- Comes with 4 year warranty
- Red light with its free filter
-Cons:
- Not everyone is a fan of how polysterene feels
Tips for buying a budget flashlight
When scoping through all the possible options, it is important to consider the type of environment in which you may frequently have to use your flashlight.
The simplest categories to begin with are indoors and outdoors. You can still go for a budget as low as $20 for a good flashlight.
Also pay attention to details on the flashlights themselves. For instance, battery life and the type of battery being used.
We would all prefer the flashlight that can work harder for longer and also to have frequent access to battery replacement.
Other factors like lumen strength and adjustability will help you asses how capable a flashlight is with how much of beam it can produce along with variations.
And finally, build quality.
If you are on a budget, be sure to maximize the return on your purchase by selecting flashlight that is respectably and built with the best available materials.
Accidents can happen after all and it will be reassuring to know that your flashlight can deal with most of them.