Ledlenser ML4 review
Ledlenser ML4 Rechargeable Mini Lantern (502053)
By Tom Calder
The ML4 is Ledlenser's ultra-compact lantern: 71 g, IP66, with four levels from 5 lm up to a short 300 lm boost. Ledlenser's runtimes are 2.5 hours at 150 lm, 8 hours at 50 lm and 45 hours at 5 lm. It charges through a magnetic USB cable in about two and a half hours, and Ledlenser's Dual Power design lets AA batteries back up the rechargeable 750 mAh cell, which is the useful part in a long cut. There is no USB power-out, so it will not top up a phone. Think of it as a task light for a bedside or a table rather than a room light.
- Best for
- A tiny bedside or tent lantern with an AA fallback, for short cuts and one small room.
- Skip it if
- You want a lantern that lights a whole room for hours or tops 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.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
- AA batteries can back up the rechargeable cell, per Ledlenser, so spare AAs extend a long cut
- Ledlenser quotes 8 hours at 50 lm and 45 hours at 5 lm
- 71 g and IP66, with a carabiner hook and a red light for keeping night vision
Worth knowing
- 150 lm lasts about 2.5 hours, and the 300 lm boost has no published runtime
- Charges through a proprietary magnetic connector (USB-A cable supplied), not a standard USB-C port
- No USB power-out, so no phone top-ups
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Our review
The Ledlenser ML4 is a 71g lantern the size of a fat marker pen, with a 300-lumen top setting, a red light and a rechargeable 14500 cell that can be swapped for an ordinary AA. That dual power is what makes it useful in a long outage: when the cell runs flat, a shop battery keeps it going.
What it is
Ledlenser UK lists the ML4 at 97mm long and 71g with its battery, with nine LEDs behind a Micro Prism diffuser that spreads glare-free light. It is rated IP66 against water jets, drop tested from two metres and rated for -20°C to +40°C. A carabiner hook clips it to a tent loop, a curtain pole or a light fitting, a transport lock stops it switching on in a bag, and glow-in-the-dark elements help you find it at night. There is a warm-white version as well as the standard cool white.
Power and runtimes
The supplied 750mAh, 3.7V 14500 lithium-ion cell charges in about 150 minutes through Ledlenser's magnetic contact cable, so the cable must stay with the lantern. A standard AA alkaline fits in its place with no modification. Ledlenser UK gives up to 45 hours at 5 lumens. Its figures for the brighter settings are less consistent: the UK page lists 300 lumens for 2.5 hours and 150 for 8, while older data and a 2020 Australian Geographic test give 150 lumens for 2.5 hours and 50 for 8. Plan on the lower figures.
Where it fits in a power cut
This is a task light, not a room light. Hung above a table it is enough to eat, read or play cards; on a bedside it is a night light that will not dazzle. The low setting lasts several evenings on one charge, and a pack of AAs extends it as far as you have batteries. It has no USB output, so it cannot top up a phone. an LED lantern is far safer than candles; our candles in a power cut guide explains why.
How it compares
On the camping lanterns page, Ledlenser's own ML6 Warm Light is much brighter at 750 lumens and doubles as a power bank, but it is larger and has no AA fallback. The Lepro 1500-lumen lantern lights a whole room from three D cells you can store. The Duronic wind-up lantern needs no batteries at all but is far dimmer. A Petzl Tikka head torch is the better companion when you need light where you are looking.
Warranty
Ledlenser UK gives a standard two years, extended by five more on online registration, for seven in total. Register it when you buy it, and keep the magnetic cable with the lantern; it is not a standard USB-C lead.
Our verdict
A tough, tiny lantern that earns its place in a bedside drawer, a grab bag or a tent, mainly because AA batteries can take over when the cell is flat. Skip it if you want one lantern to light a living room for an evening or charge a phone; a larger lantern does those jobs better.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Ledlenser UK: ML4 rechargeable mini lantern; Australian Geographic: Ledlenser ML4 tested (2020).
Who shouldn't buy this
You want a lantern that lights a whole room for hours or tops up a phone; the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 or Fenix CL28R fit better.
Key specs
| Type | Mini rechargeable lantern, AA backup |
| Brightness | 300 lm |
| Power | 750 mAh 14500 Li-ion; magnetic USB charge; AA backup |
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
Can the Ledlenser ML4 use normal AA batteries?
Yes. Ledlenser says a standard AA alkaline can be used in place of the rechargeable 14500 cell with no modification, which is useful when you cannot recharge.
How long does the ML4 last on one charge?
Up to 45 hours on the 5-lumen low setting, Ledlenser says. Brighter settings last a few hours, and the maker's published figures for them vary, so expect less at high power.
How do you charge the Ledlenser ML4?
Through the magnetic contact charging cable supplied, in about 150 minutes. It does not have a standard USB-C port, so keep the cable with the lantern.
Is the ML4 waterproof?
It is rated IP66, which means protection against powerful water jets, so rain is no problem. It is not rated for submersion.
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