Pros: Compact, bright, convenient and versatile. Universal USB C charging, straightforward controls, handy flood-to-spot focusable beam. Rechargeable battery can be switched for a regular AA lithium/alkaline batteries (making it easy to carry a spare or two for emergencies), convenient LED indicator shows remaining charge on power-up and charge-level when charging. 7-Year Warranty (on registration).
Cons: As with previous versions of the P5R we’ve tested, we found the lowest of the three available standard brightness levels to be too bright for some applications. No strobe/SOS option or other flashing modes.
RRP: c. €90
Value: Good
Rating: Recommended
The latest incarnation of LED Lenser’s popular P5R series offers simplicity, versatility and convenience in a sleek, pocketable design that looks and feels premium. While it lacks the number of light modes and super-high lumen ratings offered by some rivals (just low 25lm, medium 100lm and high 350lm of brightness, with a turbo option to boost brightness to a max of 750lm for short bursts), when combined with the handy focusable flood-to-spot beam the available light levels cover most potential use-cases, and that simplicity can be a strength if all you need is a straightforward, no-nonsense light-source you can depend on.
View the NEW P5R on the LED Lenser website.
LED Lenser P5R (2025) Full Review
I’ve said it before on this site… but it’s worth reiterating here… one of the handiest bits of kit you can carry as a wildlife enthusiast, or anyone who spends a lot of time in the outdoors, is a decent torch. The ideal torch is supremely pocketable, bright, versatile and, for maximum convenience, easily rechargeable.
The new P5R from LED Lenser ticks all of those boxes, and makes for a highly compelling package if you’re looking for a take-anywhere light source that gets the job done.
Design and Build Quality
As you’d expect from a brand like LED Lenser, the P5R looks and feels like a premium product. This time though, the anodised aluminium body is machined from 75% recycled aluminium, reducing environmental impact while retaining the quality, precision and robust reliability of previous models.
The P5 is designed to slip easily in a pocket or bag, so its instantly available whenever you need it, and at just 99g it barely adds any weight. It’s comfortable in the hand, the single side-mounted switch is conveniently located and intuitive and the twist-focus head makes it very quick and easy to focus the beam from flood to spot in an instant.
An innovative twisting collar hides and protects the USB C charging port from water and dust, and the IP68 rating means that the P5R is impervious to water and dust, regardless of what the Irish weather decides to send its way.
Overall the design of the P5R is sleek, functional and professional, and it feels like it’s built to stand up to the rigours of whatever the outdoors can throw at it.
Using the torch in the field
The true test of any piece of equipment is not how it performs in lab-like conditions and testing, but how it delivers when used in the field across a variety of conditions and use-cases. Since receiving the P5R from LED Lenser for review, I’ve used it in a wide range of situations both at home on the West Cork coast, and on a birding trip to Shetland, and it proved a more than capable light source in most situations. It’s compact size, and the ability to easily and quickly recharge using a standard USB C connection, were invaluable when travelling — providing high-performance illumination without adding significant bulk.
Another handy travel feature is the travel-lock function: simply push and hold the switch for a few seconds (until the LED indicators flash) and the light enters lock mode to prevent it accidentally activating in your pocket or bag. Repeating the procedure unlocks the light ready for use: simple, practical and effective. Those 4 tiny green LED indicators above the switch also give you a handy indication of the charge level, both whilst charging via the USB C port, but also for a few sections after you switch the torch on, so you’ll know when your P5R needs topping up.
One thing I did find myself wishing for occasionally was a lower-intensity light — many pocket-sized LED lights have a moonlight or even a starlight mode, delivering just a few lumens of light to help you find your way, read a map or field guide or generally provide a low level of background light without disrupting your night vision, or that of those around you, and without potentially disturbing nearby wildlife. The 25lm low setting on the P5R was too bright in those situations, and I found myself shuttering/shielding the light with my hand to reduce light levels.
Light modes on the new P5R
- Low Power 25 lumens, 50 meters for 20 hrs
- Mid Power 100 lumens, 100 meters for 4 hrs
- Standard Power 350 lumens, 180 meters for 1 hr
- Boost Mode 750 lumens for 280 meters, a short burst of maximum power for when you need it most
The 450lm high setting is quite a bit lower than some rivals (the Sofirn SC31 Pro reviewed here offers a light range that spans from 1lm all the way up to 2,000 lm, for example), but the clean beam and flood to spot focussing mechanism on the P5R goes a long way to making up for the shortfall, with the spot offering impressive light-intensity at distance. With the beam set to spot, the 750lm boost mode offers a decent throw of 280m.
The run-times on the P5R also lag a little behind comparable 18650 alternatives — thanks to its smaller 14500 Li-ion battery — but that decision makes for a very compact light with the option to switch to a disposable AA battery in an emergency situation. In practice while the P5R did need recharging more regularly than other torches I’ve used, recharging via the USB C port was so quick and easy that it was never an issue.
Conclusion
Overall I’d recommend the LED Lenser P5R to anyone looking for a lightweight, pocketable and easy to use torch/flashlight. It’s a great choice for everything from finding that elusive tool in the back of a dark shed, to walking the dog, to more adventurous nocturnal expeditions in search of wildlife. While other torches pack in more features, they are inevitably more complicated and can be trickier to use. If all you need is a portable, bright, reliable and versatile light in a the new P5R from LED Lenser is a solid option.
Specifications (from LED Lenser)
- Weight: 99g
- Length defocused: 121mm
- Length focused: 125mm
- Tube diameter: 22mm
- Battery Type: 14500 Li-ion or AA Alkaline
- Battery voltage: 3.7v
- Battery capacity: 920 mAh
- Time to full charge: 180 minutes
- Drop test: 2 meters
- IP Class: IP68
- Working temp range: -20c to +40c
- No. of LEDs: 1
- LED colour: Cool White
- Colour temp: 6000k to 7500k
- Colour rendering index: 70
What’s in the box?
- P5R Torch
- 1 x 14500 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- Adjustable Wrist Strap
Warranty
Standard warranty period of 2 years, which can be extended by a further 5 years with online registration. An industry leading warranty that covers defects in manufacturing, up to 7 years.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thanks LED Lenser for submitting the new P5R for review on Ireland’s Wildlife.
NB. Ireland’s Wildlife has no specific affiliation to any optics or gear manufacturer and all reviews on the site are completely independent and objective. See our disclosure statement for more details. If you’re an optics or gear manufacturer and would like to submit your wildlife related product for review on the site please drop us a line using the contact form and we can take things from there.
