Fenix CL28R review
Fenix CL28R 2000 lm Rechargeable Lantern
By Tom Calder
Fenix rates the CL28R at 2,000 lm. Its lab figures are 9 hours on High (a figure that includes time stepped down for heat, so it is not 9 hours at full output), 10 hours at 1,000 lm and 360 hours at 10 lm. Two built-in 5,000 mAh cells (10,000 mAh in total) charge over USB-C in about four hours and can power a phone or tablet from the USB-A or USB-C port, one at a time. Brightness and colour temperature each have their own dial, and there is a red mode. The IP66 aluminium body, magnetic swivel handle and tripod socket make it easy to place. It is the brightest lantern on this page, but at 376 g with a sealed battery it is a heavier, less flexible light than the small models.
- Best for
- A very bright, rugged lantern and power bank for a whole room or a workshop.
- Skip it if
- You want a small bedside light or a lantern that takes spare cells
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 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
- Fenix quotes 10 hours at 1,000 lm, and 9 hours on High including time stepped down for heat
- USB-A and USB-C power-out from a 10,000 mAh built-in battery
- IP66 and 1.5 m impact resistance per Fenix, with a magnetic swivel handle and tripod socket
Worth knowing
- The batteries are built in and cannot be replaced, per Fenix's FAQ
- 376 g, much heavier than the small lanterns
- The shell gets hot at high output, and Fenix warns about scalding
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Our review
The CL28R is Fenix's big rechargeable lantern: up to 2,000 lumens from a sealed 10,000 mAh battery that doubles as a power bank. It is built for lighting a whole room, a garage or a campsite, and on Fenix's figures it runs for 360 hours at its lowest setting. Its size and weight make it a home light more than a pack light.
What it is
An aluminium-bodied lantern with separate dials for brightness and colour temperature, a red mode, a magnetic swivel handle and a tripod socket. Fenix rates it at 2,000 lumens maximum with a 58 m beam distance, and lists it as IP66 dust and water resistant and impact resistant to 1.5 m. It weighs 376 g with its battery and measures 100 by 97 by 41 mm.
Power comes from two built-in 5,000 mAh lithium-ion cells, 10,000 mAh in total, that Fenix says cannot be replaced. A USB-C charge takes about four hours, and the lantern can charge a phone or tablet from its USB-A or USB-C output, up to 5 V at 3 A, 9 V at 2 A or 12 V at 1.5 A.
In a power cut
This is where the dials earn their keep. Fenix's lab runtimes are 10 hours at 1,000 lumens and 360 hours at 10 lumens, with the red light at 9 lumens lasting 170 hours. A low setting left on a kitchen table is enough to move around by, and a single charge can cover many evenings of a long outage if you keep it there.
The 9-hour figure for the top setting needs reading carefully. Fenix notes that it includes time after the lantern steps down to protect itself from heat, so it is not nine hours at full output. Fenix's manual warns that the lantern builds up a lot of heat in use and to take care to avoid scalding, and to keep it out of the reach of children. For lighting without flame, see our guide to candles in a power cut.
The limits
The battery is sealed, so when the cells eventually wear out there is no swapping in fresh ones, and there is no AA backup or hand crank: if it goes flat with the power still off, you need a power bank or a car socket to bring it back. At 376 g it is several times the weight of the small lanterns, and 2,000 lumens is more light than most rooms need.
How it compares
On our lantern comparison, the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 is the nearest rival as a lantern-and-power-bank: 500 lumens, a 6,400 mAh battery, five hours on high and up to 200 on low, at a similar weight but with only an IPX4 splash rating. The Ledlenser ML6 Warm Light is the warmer-toned middle option at 750 lumens. At the other end, Ledlenser's 71 g ML4 can run on an AA cell when its own battery is flat, which suits a grab bag better. Torches and radios are on a separate page.
Our verdict
If you want one lantern that can light a whole downstairs, run for weeks at a low setting and charge a phone in between, the CL28R is the most capable on our list and well documented by Fenix. If you need something light to carry, or a light you can keep going with spare batteries, a smaller lantern is the better buy.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Fenix: CL28R product page; Fenix CL28R user manual (PDF).
Who shouldn't buy this
You want a small bedside light or a lantern that takes spare cells; 2,000 lm is more than most households need.
Key specs
| Type | Rechargeable lantern, USB power-out |
| Brightness | 2,000 lm |
| Power | 2x 5000 mAh built in; USB-C in, USB-A/C 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, 13:07 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, 13:07 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, 13:07 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 Fenix CL28R run?
Fenix quotes 10 hours at 1,000 lumens, 360 hours at 10 lumens and 170 hours on the 9-lumen red light. Its 9-hour figure for the 2,000-lumen setting includes time after the lantern steps down for heat.
Can the Fenix CL28R charge a phone?
Yes. It has USB-A and USB-C outputs fed from its 10,000 mAh battery, up to 5 V at 3 A, 9 V at 2 A or 12 V at 1.5 A. Charging a phone takes power you would otherwise use for light.
Is the Fenix CL28R waterproof?
Fenix rates it IP66, which means it is dust tight and protected against powerful water jets. That covers heavy rain, but it is not rated for submersion.
Can I replace the CL28R's batteries?
No. Fenix says the two built-in 5,000 mAh cells cannot be replaced by the user.
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