Ledlenser P18R Signature Rechargeable Torch review: when only the brightest of flashlights will do

With British summer time officially coming to an end, the clocks going back, and darkness descending much earlier, this is a perfect time to take a look at one of the brightest rechargeable LED flashlights a lot of money can buy.

It’s called the Ledlenser P18R Signature, and it’s a monster both in terms of size and flabbergasting brightness when its 7,000 lumen Boost mode is applied.

T3 has reviewed many best hand torches over the years but this one scoffs the biscuit, the cream and the cherry by dint of its sheer power, excellent one-handed focus control (from wide flood to narrow beam), innovative mode select ring and tough IP68 aluminium chassis.

Yes, the P18R Signature is way too large for almost any pocket and it’s not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but if you spend a lot of time outdoors in the wildness, are involved in the security industry or are an experienced open-water sailor, this torch might just be the lifesaver you’ve been waiting for.

Let’s get down to some serious dazzling and see just how powerful and practical this leviathan of the torch world really is.

Ledlenser P18R Signature review

Price and availability

Since the 2025 edition of the Ledlenser P18R Signature has only just been launched, your best bet in the UK is to pay a visit to the Ledlenser store where this torch shifts for a considerable £369.95.

However, you can still purchase its lower-spec 2020 predecessor (a perfectly respectable 4,500 lumens) at a few online stores, including Amazon (£225) and Right Light (£189.99).

Ledlenser appears to have closed its online store in the USA which could be related to increased tariffs. However, the earlier 4,500-lumen model is still available at Amazon, where it retails at $399.

Ledlenser P18R Signature at a glance

Dimensions: L 19.7cm; W (lens) 9cm; W (barrel) 4.5cm

Weight: 636g

LED Configuration: 3 x Power LEDs

Luminosity: Max 7,000 lumens; min 100 lumens

Lighting Range: Boost 630m; Min 45m

Low mode: 100 lumens

Mid mode: 1,000 lumens

Max mode: 3,500 lumens

Boost mode: 7,000 lumens (10 seconds)

Special modes: SOS, strobe, blink and position alert

Color Temperature: 6000K to 7500K

Battery Duration: Min brightness: 45hrs; max brightness; 2hrs

Rechargeable battery: CRI 70

Waterproofness: IP68

Design

When Ledlenser, one of the world’s most established flashlight companies, contacts you to see if you’d like to review a flashlight from its latest range, it’s almost impossible not to be attracted by the third brightest model in the German company’s ever-expanding inventory. And here it is, the 2025 iteration of Ledlenser’s P18R Signature series in all its hefty glory.

And by hefty, I mean just over half a kilo in weight (636g to be precise), 19.7cm in length, a diameter of 4.5cm at the barrel and a lens casing that measures a substantial 9cm across.

This is less a pocket torch than a bona fide industrial-strength handheld spotlight that’s capable of illuminating an area so massive you wonder how Ledlenser’s R&D department managed to pull it off without the torch overheating and melting the hand of the user.

I’m not sure how many iterations this particular model has been through, but what I do know is that its new design is a radical shift for the better and far more ergonomically dialled than the earlier model, which, incidentally, is still available at stores like Amazon and eBay.

For instance, where the outgoing P18R Signature uses a single button to tap through its variety of modes in sequence, the new model we’re looking at here features an easily accessible revolving sleeve clearly marked with the torch’s four main modes – off, Low, Mid, Max and Special.

This is a major improvement since you can now simply swivel the sleeve for instant access to whatever mode you need, instead of frantically stabbing at a button. It also means that when you’re out in the field during an emergency, you can quickly access a particular mode, whether low beam for campsite use, full beam for quickly seeing far ahead or the ultra-bright strobe for incapacitating an assailant or offender – without any faffing about.

I’m a big fan of torches that can switch from wide beam to spot beam. In most cases, this is done by grabbing the lens barrel with one’s other hand and pushing it forward for a spot beam and pulling back for a wide flood.

This model’s predecessor uses this method, too, and while it works perfectly well, it does require an extra hand to engage it, and this might not be possible if the other hand is already engaged.

With this new model, however, you can do it all one-handed by simply moving your thumb from the main button to the rocker arm below to adjust the torch’s focus from a narrow stage-like spotlight beam to an ultra-wide stadium-style flood, and every other focal length in between.

Fully cast out of 75% recycled aluminium replete with an IP68 waterproof rating (submersion in around 1.5m of water up to 30 minutes), the build quality throughout is top-notch, and you can really feel the weight when you hold it in the hand. Yes, this torch’s 4.5cm barrel has a much wider girth than you may be used to, but it’s still a good fit for most users. Nevertheless, those with smaller hands may find it a mite too wide – and heavy – for their liking.

The Ledlenser P18R Signature arrives in a robust carrying case and includes the torch, charger, USB-C cable, a wrist strap and instructions. Everything you need, in other words, to impress the pants off your mates when they head out into the woods with their piddly little flashlights.

Features

The Ledlenser P18R Signature is equipped with three super-sized, high-end Power LEDs capable of emitting spectacular levels of illumination without getting too hot when under load. And, as mentioned above, the focal length can be easily adjusted from spot to flood by moving a rocker lever with your thumb.

You’re offered three main static beams with this torch: Low power at 100 lumens for low-light use around a campsite or when rummaging through possessions; Mid power at 1,000 lumens (the equivalent of most high-end pocket torches); and Max power at a mesmerising 3,500 lumens for illuminating a wide area or focusing on a spot in the far distance.

But that’s not all, because, no matter what mode you’re in, if you double-tap the on/off button, it switches instantly to Boost mode, which quite literally lights up the world with a colossal 7,000 lumens of daylight-producing oomph.

However, take note that Boost mode only lasts for 10 seconds before returning to the previous mode. Most premium torches with a boost mode work this way in order to prevent the LEDs from overheating.

In my experience, 10 seconds of boost is more than enough time to give the user a practical heads-up on a subject way off in the distance.

According to the specs list, the Low power model has a reach of 45 metres, the Mid power 240m, the Max 440m and the boost an impressively lengthy 630 metres.

Like most hand torches these days, the P18R Signature also comes with a Special mode featuring a number of flashing options for emergency use. The flashing modes include SOS, Strobe, Blink and Position alert, and any one of these can be assigned as a default for instant recall.

SOS is self-evident (though the Morse Code sequence does run at a slower pace than other torches I’ve tested), Strobe is designed for incapacitating an assailant, Blink emits light pulses at regular intervals, and Position emits two short pulses of light – repeated three times – to alert others of your location.

I would personally recommend assigning the Strobe to the Special setting as your default because that’s the mode you will most likely require during any emergency security threats.

However, I should add that setting each flashing mode requires pressing the On button for a set length of time – 10 seconds for SOS, 13 seconds for Strobe, 16 seconds for Blink and 19 seconds for Position. Consequently, it might take a few tries to nail your preferred mode.

The P18R Signature is rechargeable and comes with a removable (i.e., replaceable) bank of three 18,650 batteries, totalling 3,000 mAh.

Granted, charging from empty is a rather long 5.5 hours, but once fully juiced, you should get up to 45 hours of use in Low power mode, an exceptional 5.5 hours in Mid mode and a very impressive 2 hours in Max mode. Meanwhile, a row of illuminated green dots just below the rocker switch lets you keep tabs on battery usage.

Charging can be carried out using two methods – via the included wall-mounted charger or by plugging the supplied cable into the hidden USB-C slot around the back. While the USB-C charging option is perfectly practical, I think it’s well worth mounting the wall charger if the flashlight is being used at home, a workplace and especially a boat.

That way, it’ll always be topped up and easily located in an emergency. To charge using this method, simply clip the torch into the charging mount with the lens facing upwards so both sets of connectors meet, and secure it in place using the sturdy rubber strap.

Performance

Image 1 of 2

This heavy hitter boasts oodles of illumination and is a first-class choice for anyone who requires a torch capable of lighting up a vast area or pinpointing a subject at 500 metres and beyond.

I tested all the brightness modes and think that Ledlenser’s bods have selected a perfect balance between each mode’s relative brightness. For instance, Low mode is ideal for walking with or illuminating the immediate area around a campsite without disturbing others.

However, it might be considered too bright for use in a shared tent. Mid mode strikes a perfect balance for most scenarios: it’s easily bright enough to see well up ahead – especially if the spot focus is selected – while being easier on the eyes and those of others. This mode offers an amazing 5.5 hours of runtime from a full charge.

However, when you select the highest Power mode (3,500 lumens), it’s like lighting up a mini stadium. In fact, I genuinely think you could play a tennis match in the dead of night with this mode and not miss the ball – it’s that bright!

And then there’s the monster in the closet – Boost mode. Although the luminosity of Boost (7,000 lumens) boasts twice the lumens of Max mode (3,500 lumens), at first it didn’t initially look like twice the brightness to my naked eye. I think this is because I’d already been dazzled by the immense brightness of Max mode.

However, after playing around with Boost in a number of lighting conditions, I can now definitely see that it is, indeed, very close to twice the brightness. And by bright, I mean sun bright. Honestly, this, albeit brief, mode lights up a vast area, and when you rock the zoom lever to spot, you can easily see a subject over 600 metres away. Amazing!

While it’s presumably not advised, I tested the Boost mode on repeat while in the highest Power mode and managed three subsequent double taps of the button before the lower part of the lens barrel started getting noticeably hotter. At that point, I chickened out in case I caused any damage (unlikely), but it’s good to know you can get away with a few sequential full-power Boost squirts rather than just one.

I wouldn’t say that this torch is as practical as a standard pocket torch for day-to-day use, but that’s hardly surprising given its weight, size and price. However, as a specialised model for the security industry, someone who spends a lot of time at sea or anyone who spends more time outdoors than in, it’s an outstanding, indeed invaluable, addition to one’s armoury.

Incidentally, if you’re after a small EDC (Everyday Carry) flashlight with the same kind of beam features (including adjustable focus), make a beeline towards the Ledlenser MT10. At just 12.8cm in height, this sterling 1,000 lumen model is the perfect pocket-sized option for day-to-day use.

Verdict

The 2025 Ledlenser P18R Signature pushes the boundaries with its staggering 7,000 lumens in Boost mode, impressive 630-metre reach, and innovative controls, making it a formidable companion for serious outdoor adventurers and professional use. While its weight and size may restrict all-day carrying, it absolutely excels when maximum performance is a priority. Just be prepared to look away when you lay down the credit card.