Black Diamond Orbiter 450 review
Black Diamond Orbiter 450 Rechargeable Lantern
By Tom Calder
Black Diamond lists 450 lumens, a 2000 mAh lithium-ion battery with USB-C charging in and a USB-A port for charging small electronics out, and an IPX4 rating. It weighs 272 g. The maker gives 2 hours on high and 120 hours on low, so it is best run dimmed for a long cut, with the top setting kept for short jobs. Charging a phone will cut into the light time.
- Best for
- A well-made rechargeable lantern that can top up a phone during a long outage.
- Skip it if
- You need hours of bright light on high or a lantern that takes spare 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
- USB-A power-out for small devices, USB-C charge-in
- Up to 120 hours on low, per Black Diamond
- Compact at 272 g with an IPX4 rating
Worth knowing
- Only about 2 hours on the highest setting, per Black Diamond
- No option to run on disposable cells
- Smaller battery than some power-bank lanterns
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Our review
The Black Diamond Orbiter 450 is a 272 g rechargeable lantern with 450 lumens, an IPX4 rating and a USB-A port that can top up a phone. Black Diamond's burn times are 2 hours at the top setting and 120 hours at the bottom, from a 2,000 mAh battery, so it is a lantern to run dimmed for a long power cut and turn up briefly when you need to see.
What it is
Black Diamond's European page lists 450 lumens maximum, a 2,000 mAh lithium-ion battery charged over USB-C, a USB-A output for small devices, IPX4 water resistance and a weight of 272 g, with a three-year warranty. Beam distances are 14 m on high, 11 m on medium and 4 m on low. The US page adds the burn times: two hours at the top setting, 120 hours at the lowest. Black Diamond does not publish the medium burn time, the lumens at each level or the charge time, and the packaging is about 10 by 10 by 15 cm.
The design is a frosted globe on a base with a collapsible hook, and the brightness is dimmable between the levels. IPX4 means rain and splashes are fine; it is not for immersion.
How it behaves in a power cut
Two hours on high is short, and that is the number to plan around. On a low or middle setting the Orbiter runs through several evenings, and the low setting alone is rated for five days. If you use the USB-A port to charge a phone, expect to lose most of the lantern's reserve: a 2,000 mAh cell is about half of a modern phone battery, and it is also the light. Our power cut preparation guide suggests keeping a separate power bank for phones so the lantern stays a lantern.
There is no way to run it on disposable cells, so keep it charged. Lithium cells self-discharge slowly, but a lantern left for a year will not be full. A note in the calendar to top it up when the clocks change is enough, and the hook on the base lets it hang from a cupboard handle or a tent loop so the light falls where you want it rather than straight up from a table.
How it compares
On the lanterns page the Fenix CL28R is the step up: 2,000 lumens, two 5,000 mAh cells and USB-C output, for a lantern that is also a real power bank. The Ledlenser ML6 gives 750 lumens with a warm tint, and the Ledlenser ML4 is smaller but can fall back to an AA cell. The Nitecore LR40 has twice the battery but only 100 lumens and no water rating. BioLite's Alpenglow 500 has a 6,400 mAh cell. The Orbiter sits in the middle: lighter and better sealed than the Nitecore, with less battery than the Fenix or BioLite.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a compact, rain-proof lantern from a brand with a three-year warranty and will use it dimmed. Skip it if you want hours of bright light on the top setting or a lantern that doubles as a phone bank; the Fenix CL28R does both, and a lantern that takes AA cells suits a kit that may sit unused for a year.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Black Diamond Europe: Orbiter 450 lantern; Black Diamond: Orbiter 450 lantern (burn times); Electrical Classroom: IP ratings under IEC 60529 explained.
Who shouldn't buy this
You need hours of bright light on high or a lantern that takes spare cells.
Key specs
| Type | Rechargeable lantern, USB power-out |
| Brightness | 450 lm |
| Power | 2000 mAh Li-ion; USB-C 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 Black Diamond Orbiter 450 last?
Two hours at the top setting and 120 hours at the lowest, according to Black Diamond's product page. It does not publish a figure for the medium setting.
Can the Orbiter 450 charge a phone?
Yes, through its USB-A port, but the 2,000 mAh battery is small, so a phone charge uses most of the lantern's reserve.
Is it waterproof?
It is rated IPX4, which covers rain and splashes from any direction. It is not rated for immersion.
Does it take ordinary batteries?
No. The lithium-ion battery is built in and charges over USB-C. If you want a lantern with a disposable-cell backup, look at the Ledlenser ML4.
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