BioLite AlpenGlow 250 review
BioLite AlpenGlow 250 Rechargeable Lantern
By Tom Calder
BioLite says the AlpenGlow 250 gives 250 lumens on high and 5 hours at that level, up to 200 hours on low, with warm and cool white, a candle-flicker mode and a lock mode. Its 3200 mAh battery can charge devices through a USB-A port. At 210 g it is small. BioLite also positions it as a safer alternative to candles in an outage.
- Best for
- A compact, warm-light lantern for a bedside or table that doubles as a small power bank.
- Skip it if
- You want a lantern that lights a large room for many hours or that takes disposable cells
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Warm white with CRI 90 LEDs, pleasant for evenings
- USB-A output (5V, 2.4A) for phone top-ups
- Lock mode stops it switching on in a bag
Worth knowing
- Only 5 hours on high per charge, per BioLite
- Charges over micro USB rather than USB-C
- 250 lumens covers a table or small room
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Our review
The BioLite AlpenGlow 250 is a small rechargeable lantern built around warm, high-colour-rendering LEDs, a candle-flicker mode and a 3200mAh battery that doubles as a modest power bank. It is a bedside or table light for a power cut rather than a room-filler, and the kind of light you will not mind living with for an evening.
What it is
BioLite gives 250 lumens on the highest setting and 2.5 lumens on the lowest, with warm and cool white, a shake-to-change candle flicker and colour modes, and a lock to stop it switching on in a bag. The LEDs are rated at a colour rendering index of 90, which is why skin, food and print look natural under it, unlike the blue cast of cheaper lanterns. The battery is a built-in 3200mAh lithium-ion cell, stated as 11.8Wh, and the lantern weighs 210g at about 95mm tall and 75mm across. Water resistance is IPX4, for rain and splashes.
Runtimes and charging
BioLite's figures are about five hours on high, up to 200 hours on the lowest setting, and a one-hour reserve when the battery is nearly flat. The dimmer settings in between are where it lives in a power cut: a soft warm glow that lasts several evenings. Charging is through a micro-USB socket at 5V and 2A, taking about two and a half hours; micro-USB is a step behind the USB-C on most newer kit, so keep the lead with the lantern. The USB-A socket gives out 5V at 2.4A, enough to put a useful charge into a phone, though every charge you draw shortens the light.
Where it fits in a power cut
This is the lantern for a bedside, a dinner table or a child's room, where glare is unwelcome and a warm light calms everyone down. BioLite itself pitches it as a safer stand-in for candles, and our candles in a power cut guide explains why that matters. With the light off, the battery is a small power bank for a phone or a USB-C radio. It is not the lantern to light a whole living room for a long evening; for that, look at the larger picks below. Charge it when a storm warning is issued and switch it on once to check it before the lights go out.
How it compares
On the camping lanterns page the AlpenGlow 500 is the same design with double the output and a larger battery for a family room. The Ledlenser ML4 is smaller still and can run on an ordinary AA when its cell is flat, which the AlpenGlow cannot. The Lepro rechargeable lanterns give far more light for less money but a harsher one. The Fenix CL28R is the choice for a bright, tough room light that is also a proper power bank.
Our verdict
Buy it for a bedside or table light you will enjoy using in a cut, with warm, natural light and a long low-setting runtime. Skip it if you need to light a large room for hours or want a lantern that takes disposable cells; and note the micro-USB socket, which means one more type of lead to keep in the kit.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: GearX: BioLite AlpenGlow 250 lantern specification; Go Outdoors: BioLite AlpenGlow lantern; London Fire Brigade: candle safety at home.
Who shouldn't buy this
You want a lantern that lights a large room for many hours or that takes disposable cells.
Key specs
| Type | Rechargeable lantern, USB power-out |
| Brightness | 250 lm |
| Power | 3200 mAh Li-ion; micro USB in, USB-A out |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for One dependable rechargeable torch that keeps working through a long power cut.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A buy-once torch for the kitchen drawer or grab bag that will still work in a decade.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A bright rechargeable room light for power cuts that can also top up a phone.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
How long does the BioLite AlpenGlow 250 last on a charge?
About five hours on the 250-lumen high setting and up to 200 hours on the 2.5-lumen low, according to BioLite, with a one-hour reserve. Middle settings last several evenings.
Can the AlpenGlow 250 charge a phone?
Yes. Its USB-A socket gives 5V at 2.4A from the 3200mAh battery, enough for a useful top-up. Any charging shortens the time the lantern will run.
How does the AlpenGlow 250 charge?
Through a micro-USB socket at 5V and 2A, taking about two and a half hours. It does not use USB-C, so keep its lead with the lantern.
Is the AlpenGlow 250 waterproof?
It is rated IPX4, so it shrugs off rain and splashes. It is not rated for immersion.
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