Best Flashlights Under $50 – [2020] Top Picks Reviewed

| Last Updated: January 14, 2022

Whoever said that the higher the price tag, the better the quality was wrong! There are many good quality items you can get for a price that doesn't break the bank.

One of them is a flashlight! You can get a decent flashlight without spending too much. Now, we're not saying that all top-notch flashlights are budget-friendly, we just mean you can get a pretty good one for just under $50!

Still, they can be hard to find and choose. Thus, we have reviewed and compiled a complete guide which includes recommendations, pros and cons, etc. So, keep on reading!

Comparison of the Best Flashlights Under $50

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • It has two output levels, i.e., high and low.
  • Includes high energy 123A batteries with a 10-year shelf life.
  • The excellent run-time in conjunction with the flawless design makes it the best overall.
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  • Operates on 1 AAA alkaline battery.
  • Made of type II Mil-Spec anodized aircraft aluminum.
  • The sturdy design plus the ease of use it provides makes this the runner-up.
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  • Flashlight, hand warmer, and power bank all-in-one.
  • 10,000 mAh battery provides up to 10 hours of continuous heat.
  • The variety of features in addition to the superb performance makes it the best for the money.
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  • Runs on 1 AA battery.
  • Beam distance of 160 meters.
  • The durable built and lightweight construction makes it the best tactical flashlight under $50.
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  • It weighs up to 6.21 ounces.
  • Has three modes; high, low, and SOS.
  • Best rechargeable flashlight under $50 that promises excellent run-time and bright output.
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  • It operates on a single AA battery.
  • It has three modes which are high, low, and strobe.
  • Its excellent design and performance make it the best EDC Flashlight under $50.
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  • Powered by 3 AAA batteries.
  • It has five adjustable modes which are high, low, medium, strobe, SOS.
  • Has a great beam distance and excellent design, making it the best LED flashlight under $50.
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Can You Find a Quality Flashlight That's Less Than $50?

We've been fed the concept that all affordable products are missing out on something that a high-end version would provide you with. However, that's far from the truth. In fact, most of the time, this mentality makes you pay more for something you could have easily gotten for a lot less money.

As far as flashlights are concerned, there are certain key factors mentioned later in the post that you should look for. A lot of affordable units provide the same features, so why spend more? It's just a matter of knowing what you need the flashlight for and reading more to find a product that meets your needs. You'll surely find a great one within $50.

Features of Our Favorite Flashlights

As mentioned earlier, there are certain key factors which describe the worth of a good flashlight. These are what you should read more about and consider, prior to buying a unit. They vary according to your need for the product and may even differ from brand to brand.

Design and Weight

This purely depends on your usage of the product. If you plan on buying one for around the house, then size and weight don't matter as much. However, if you intend on keeping one in your backpack or for outdoor activities, then you're better off buying a lighter one in a smaller size.

Price

These flashlights aren't just good enough for the price. They are, in fact, good units despite what they cost! You don't need to pay $100 or more for a flashlight when you can simply get a good one for half the price.

Brightness Modes

Good flashlights offer at least two different brightness modes, just to give you variety. These would have different numbers of lumens and will come in handy in a variety of ways. This isn't a necessity, just a good feature to have.

Brand

If you're under the impression that you're going to have to purchase from an unknown, shady brand just because you're on a budget, you're wrong! All our recommended products are only from reputable brands.

Heat Emission

At the highest setting, your flashlight might get a little hot. This isn't anything too out of the ordinary, but it can affect the long-time functioning of your bulb. It might wear it out sooner. It's best to opt for one that doesn't get too hot, so you don't burn out the bulb or your hand!

Review of the Best Flashlights Under $50

Here are our top seven recommendations for flashlights under $50! All of these products have been categorized and are some of the best on the market. Hopefully, you'll be able to find your best fit according to your needs!

Best Overall:
SureFire G2X Pro

Pros

  • Great size
  • Comes with batteries
  • Has two levels of output
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Rugged and durable construction ensures durability

Cons

  • Has a yellowish tint
  • Battery life goes out pretty fast
  • Not bright enough on a lower setting

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers were thoroughly impressed by the functionality of the product. This flashlight impressed them enough to buy multiples of it. Furthermore, they appreciated its size and overall lightweight construction, which makes it a comfortable unit to carry.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The durable construction, in conjunction with the impactful performance and comfortable design of the unit, make it a great purchase. It stands out to us for having it all; the working capacity, perfect size, and impressive build. The brand itself is reputable and known to create excellent flashlights for all price ranges.

Who Will Use This Most

The unit is the perfect size to fit in your backpack so you can use it outdoors or keep it in the house. It is multi-functional due to the different levels of brightness available. The comfortable grip it provides, plus the sturdy construction make it great for camping, etc.

Bottom Line

This product deserves the spot as our best overall. It truly masters every feature of a good flashlight and leaves little room for complaints. It surely will prove to be a great investment and you will get loads of use out of it.

Runner-up:
Streamlight MicroStream Flashlight

Pros

  • Bright light
  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Shock-proof and drop-tested construction
  • Unbreakable and scratch-resistant lens construction

Cons

  • Hard to grip at times
  • Doesn't have many modes of brightness
  • Push button is a little hard to half-press for momentary operation

What Recent Buyers Report 

Recent buyers were thoroughly impressed with the performance and durability of this product. A major concern for people when purchasing low-end flashlights is whether they'll be able to hold-up in the long run. This unit proves that a flashlight doesn't have to be crazy-expensive to be durable.

Why it Stands Out to Us

There aren't many products on the market with such an exceptional performance and great quality design. You would expect such things only from a much higher-end product. This product stands out to us for its sturdy and heavy-duty design, which is easy to operate.

Who Will Use This Most

This flashlight could be great for outdoor use as it produces a highly focused bright beam of light which would be of great help for camping at night or trekking. It doesn't have different modes of brightness thus its indoor use is restricted but would differ according to needs.

Bottom Line

All in all, it's a great product. This unit is a worthy investment that has earned its place in our runner-up position. You couldn't go wrong with this product. The construction, design, and impact it has make it comparable to any expensive flashlight.

Best for the Money:
Celestron Elements ThermoTorch, 3-in-1

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Pros

  • 3 modes of brightness
  • Very bright beam of light
  • Sturdy and durable design
  • Provides most features in the price range
  • Auto-charge feature means that it just needs to be plugged into a USB port to begin charging

Cons

  • Slightly heavy
  • Can be tricky to use
  • Doesn't have the best grip

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers were thoroughly impressed by the working of this device. They commended the sturdy and durable composition, plus the different modes of brightness it gives. For this price range, it carries many features that make it the best for the money.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It stood out to us for being a great package. With this product, you can see your money is well-spent. The number of features, plus its durable and sturdy composition make it a steal. This product has been created with superior quality materials and has an excellent design which only adds to its value.

Who Will Use This Most

This is perfect for outdoor use. It'll surely become a staple in your hunting or camping paraphernalia. Furthermore, given the fact that it is a 3-in-1 product, it saves some room, which can come in useful for including other things.

Bottom Line

It's hard to beat this unit. It provides far superior performance than some of its higher-end counterparts. You'll be pleasantly impressed with how well it holds up in the long term. It's an essential and worthy investment.

Best Tactical Flashlight under $50:
Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA Tactical light

Pros

  • Includes a battery
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Waterproof and shock-resistant
  • Great quality build and construction
  • Impact-resistant tempered glass lens

Cons

  • Size is too small
  • Run time isn't the best
  • Can be a little hard to operate

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers were impressed with the working of this product. This proved to one of the best outdoor flashlights to own. The brand itself has great customer service and is known to manufacture the best quality products.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It stood out to us for being an incredibly strong and lightweight product. If a product is constructed of great quality material, they usually tend to be too heavy and uncomfortable to use. However, this is ergonomically-designed, yet is heavy-duty.

Who Will Use This Most

This would be great for hunting or camping nights. The shock-resistant and waterproof construction make it highly dependable, a major quality you want in your items when going on an adventure. You wouldn't want your flashlight to be affected by water or impact when outside. Thus, this is a great option.

Bottom Line

All in all, it's a great product to invest in if you plan on taking a camping or trekking trip. It truly is trustworthy and its excellent quality construction is well founded through its performance and durability. It is essential to have this in your backpack when planning an adventure.

Best Rechargeable Flashlight Under $50: 
Thorifre Solar Flashlight

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Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Durable and well-built
  • Bright and focused beam
  • Comes with three different modes for variety
  • Great customer service with a money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Size isn't handy to be carried in a pocket
  • Doesn't indicate if the product is charging or not
  • The light isn't bright white; in fact, it has a slight blue-ish tint

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers were greatly impressed by how easy to recharge and sustainable this flashlight is. The number one problem people encountered was having trouble knowing if their flashlight was charging and keeping it running. However, this is your best bet if you are looking for an easy-to-recharge flashlight.

Why it Stands Out to Us

We loved its sturdy construction and sustainable and easy-to-recharge design. This isn't common for every flashlight, which is what makes a great purchase. If you've always struggled with your flashlight running out of juice, this will be your best friend. Furthermore, the brand is reputable and trustworthy, with great service.

Who Will Use This Most

It could work for at-home use or outdoor use. It has a durable construction and is very easy to recharge, which makes it great for using outside. It is a highly dependable and worthy investment. It'll be great for adventures and outdoor activities, given it can be solar charged.

Bottom Line

If you're looking for an easy-to-charge flashlight on the go, this one is your best bet! This product is great for many purposes, whether outdoors or indoors. The versatile nature, plus durable construction are what makes it such a user favorite.

Best EDC Flashlight under $50:
J5 Tactical V1-PRO Flashlight

No products found.

Pros

  • Lightweight and compact
  • Great to have as a backup flashlight
  • Comes with a money-back guarantee
  • Comes with multiple modes for variety
  • Works for emergency situations such as in the snow or rain

Cons

  • Doesn't have batteries included
  • The external texture makes it a little hard to grip at times
  • The construction isn't as heavy-duty as some of its counterparts

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers were impressed by how well this product holds up in the long run. It truly is impressive how well-constructed and durable it is. The design and variety of modes pleasantly surprised users. They deemed it one of the best flashlights they've ever used.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It stands out to us for having great quality construction. It is a great flashlight for the price. The size and build are phenomenal. Plus, the durability and brightness of this flashlight make it a user favorite.

Who Will Use This Most

It is lightweight and compact, plus highly sturdy and durable. Thus, it can be used for external activities as well as for at-home purposes. The snow and water-resistant nature make it a great option to take on adventures.

Bottom Line

This product will be a great investment, given the variety and sturdy construction it offers. The pros largely outweigh the cons and it truly is one of the best flashlights you'll ever invest in.

Best LED Flashlight under $50:
GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000

No products found.

Pros

  • Lightweight and compact
  • Covers a great beam distance
  • Water-resistant and drop-tested
  • Sturdy construction and durable
  • Great warranty and customer service

Cons

  • Scratches on the lens cannot be removed
  • Doesn't come with rechargeable batteries
  • The LED light isn't as bright as some of its counterpart tactical flashlights

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers were thrilled with this product. They deemed it as one of the best they had ever used. It is well-built and comes with the greatest number of modes of any other flashlight on our list.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It stood out to us for having a sturdy construction and a long-lasting nature. It truly is highly durable. Furthermore, the brand is trustworthy and provides great customer service. You can easily get your money back or get a replacement if you encounter any problem with the product.

Who Will Use This Most

This would work great for at-home use. You can buy multiples and store them. The water-resistant and drop-tested construction make it highly durable and long-lasting.

Bottom Line

All in all, it's a great product. It surely is a worthy investment as it's one of the best budget-friendly LED flashlights in this price range on the market. The brand is trustworthy as well since it provides great money-back warranty and service.

Perks of Getting a New Flashlight

If you're still unsure about buying a new affordable flashlight, perhaps these perks will help you decide if it's worth your investment.

Durability and Construction

Expensive or cheap, a flashlight isn't a redundant purchase. Once you buy a good one, it doesn't need to be replaced for a long time. Most flashlights nowadays are constructed from scratch-resistant anodized aluminum which is sturdy and of great quality. The waterproof and impact-proof nature further solidify their construction and make them worth investing in.

Waterproof

Most flashlights now are water-resistant no matter how much they cost. However, truth be told, more affordable units won't hold up well if immersed in water, but they should be able to work for you in the rain. 

Batteries

The best thing about affordable flashlights is that they run on AA or AAA batteries, which are easily available and affordable. Meanwhile, more expensive flashlights have rechargeable batteries, which are costly to be replaced. 

Ease of Use

Let's not forget how handy and useful flashlights are. How many times have you wanted one around when the electricity went out or you had to go looking for your dog in the dark? They come in many sizes, shapes, and forms. So, you can keep a bigger one outside and buy a smaller one to fit into your pocket.

Conclusion

It would suffice to say that if you look for it, you can find practically anything in your budget. Not only are these highly affordable but they are also of great quality. We would never recommend anything less than the absolute best.

If you make sure you know your needs in a flashlight and understand the factors that go into buying them, you will be good to go. Hopefully, this post was able to give you some great suggestions and insight on how to buy a flashlight.