Fenix LR35R Pro | Expert Review by Koen van der Jagt
The LR series from Fenix features the brand's most impressive torches. Each and every one of them is a spotlight with an enormous light output, intended for search and rescue operations, among other things. The series starts with the compact LR35R and ends with Fenix's largest torch, the impressive LR80R. The handy LR35R has received a significant update with the addition of Pro. The most striking feature is that the light output has not increased; the modifications are mainly focused on broader applicability and a more practical user interface. Especially because I have used the LR35R so often and with so much delight, I was very curious about the LR35R Pro. Has it really improved and what are the differences? This review answers those questions for you.
Contents
Unboxing:
When we remove the lid of the box, we see the LR35R Pro tightly packed between the foam in its accompanying holster. Underneath, we find the rest of the contents: lanyard, accompanying booklets, a spare O-ring, and a USB-A to USB-C cable. The batteries are included in the light. I have now become accustomed to and familiar with this type of packaging: compact, with no excess, yet including everything you need.
First impressions:
Developments are ongoing, even in the world of torches. Looking back over the past five years, you can see that lights have become more powerful and compact. Not so long ago, a light with the output of the LR35R Pro needed at least four batteries to function properly. The arrival of the now widely used 21700 battery has contributed to this trend of “compact yet powerful”. As far as that goes, I am sometimes curious about what we can expect in the future.
What immediately caught my eye when I took the torch out of the box was how unmistakably it resembled the “Fenix 35”. It instantly brought to mind the classic TK35, a model that has been popular for years. Fenix continues to release new versions of the TK35, yet they rarely make any major changes to its iconic design. The manufacturer has also retained the classic look for the Fenix LR35R Pro. So you won't find any creative excesses in the design; functionality is paramount.
At first glance, the Pro version appears to be a copy of its predecessor, but if you look closely, you will notice several differences. The Pro is slightly longer because the lamp head is a bit larger. The Pro also has deeper grooves in the lamp head, which are designed to dissipate heat effectively. There are now several protruding points on the bezel (the ring around the lens). This allows you to break a window in an emergency and even fend off attackers. Another difference can be found on the back: a larger eyelet replaces the two smaller eyelets through which you can thread the lanyard loop. One striking difference is the switch. The rotating ring around the switch is new, as are the five LEDs above it that indicate the battery capacity. Mirrored on the switch is the updated USB port with rubber cover. The biggest difference between the two variants can be seen when you look into the lens. The LR35R had six light sources, while the LR35R Pro has a total of no fewer than 15 LEDs. That's more than double! We will undoubtedly see this reflected in the light's performance. The sturdy clip is mounted on the widest part of the housing. This means that the clip is somewhat hidden behind the lamp head, making it a little more difficult to attach the light to your clothing or equipment. In my opinion, this could be solved by mounting the clip on the narrow side of the body. A less noticeable but very significant difference can be seen after opening the light, and that concerns the batteries. The Pro has two 6000 mAh batteries, which is a significant increase in capacity compared to the batteries in the standard version, which deliver a maximum of 4000 mAh each.
In terms of build quality and finish, I don't really have anything new to report. Fenix maintains the high standard it has set with the Pro version of the LR35R. As a result, I thoroughly enjoyed my first encounter with the light. It feels familiar and good!
Controls and comfort:
The switch from four batteries (as was once the case with Fenix's TK75 series) to two 21700 cells opens up the possibility of modifying the shape of the housing. This is reflected in the LR35R Pro, which has a flat body. A major advantage of this is that you can hold the light more securely and it is less likely to slip out of your hand. The minimal increase in size compared to the LR35R is negligible in terms of handling; the LR35R Pro also fits comfortably in your hand and even fits in your coat pocket or larger trouser pocket.
Charging works the same as with the LR35R, but due to the heavier batteries, it is advisable to use a powerful charger of up to 3A. You can easily follow the process because the indicators show how far you have progressed. The LEDs light up every time the device is switched on. These lights are all green in colour, unlike the LR35R, which was equipped with a green or red indicator. The first LED indicates a battery voltage of 0-20%, the second 20-40%, and so on. This gives you a clear overview of the remaining battery voltage. However, I do find it unfortunate that the lights go out again fairly soon after being switched on, so the remaining capacity remains a surprise during continuous use. When the voltage drops below the last 20%, the leftmost LED will flash, alerting you in good time that charging is now urgently required. The power bank function is new to the Pro and is a very welcome addition. Especially in this day and age, when we need to be prepared for unexpected power outages, it is good to know that you are equipped with both a powerful light and the ability to charge your mobile devices.
The interface of the Pro has been almost completely changed compared to the LR35R. This may have been in response to user feedback on the standard LR35R, but the main reason is to maintain control over the added white, red and UV options. Fenix has assigned a kind of “dual function” to the rotating ring around the switch; you can use it to switch the light on and off, but also to continuously adjust the output. The ring and switch also work perfectly together; you can use them interchangeably, which works very well in practice.
For convenience, I will start with the “standard” white light option. Fenix uses a trick with different types of LEDs and reflectors, which means that you have three completely different light beams (spot / flood / spot + flood) available from the same light. This allows you to adapt to a particular situation very quickly! It can be switched on using the rotary ring or the switch. When you turn the ring clockwise, you will automatically start at the lowest setting with a noticeable click and then continue turning to the desired brightness. A convenient option if you always want to start at the lowest white light setting. The ring switch only turns on the white light, but in the last mode used (spot / flood / spot+flood). You can switch between these modes by briefly pressing the switch when the light is switched on. You can also use the same button to switch on the light at the last light setting used. The condition for this is that you have also switched off the light using the switch and not the ring. You can also set the ring to the correct position (e.g. maximum) in standby mode so that you can start directly in turbo mode with a single press. This works really well!
Double-clicking will take you to the special light settings. The LR35R Pro will switch on to the last setting you used. With a single click, you can switch to the next setting. The options are: steady red, flashing red, and ultraviolet. What makes this light special is that the intensity can be continuously adjusted via the rotating ring in all these positions. As far as I know, I have never seen this on a torch before! Another remarkable feature is how powerful red and ultraviolet light are; I will demonstrate this later in the review, when the light truly gets to show what it is capable of in practice! The light can be locked in three different ways. The first (logical) way is via the rotary ring. This is a partial lock-out because you can still operate the push switch. The second option is to deactivate the switch by pressing and holding it in standby mode for six seconds until the light flashes rapidly. With this lock, switching on via the rotary ring still works, so it is not a complete lock-out. That's why I almost always choose the third option, twisting the lamp head a quarter turn. As far as I'm concerned, still the best and safest option.
A light with such a high light output also generates a lot of heat. If you shine the light on an object from too close up for too long, there is a real risk of it melting or even catching fire. The LR35R Pro has built-in protection against this: as soon as you get too close to an object in a high light mode, the light automatically dims to a safe output of 50 lumens until the distance is such that this risk is eliminated. I am pleased with this option because I have occasionally dealt with smouldering clothing.
In addition to being a powerful torch, the LR35R Pro is also a high-capacity power bank. It works as you would expect, you just need a suitable charging cable with two USB-C connectors (the cable supplied is a bit short). There is enough power to charge your smartphone several times, and what's special is that you can also use the light at the same time! It should be noted that you cannot utilise the full power and that some functions are also unavailable. But you still have a maximum of around 1000 lumens at your disposal, which is quite a lot.
I must admit that I am very pleased with this new interface. Although I normally prefer one or more switches on the back, because it gives you better control over the functions. You literally have the light under your thumb because you can use it to activate all functions directly. This also ensures that the light is immediately in the correct position in your hand. I am pleasantly surprised!
This is what I love:
The key features of the LR35R Pro are the expanded lighting options and significantly increased battery capacity. And all this while the size has remained practically unchanged! The interface also surprised me; the rotating ring adds enormous value, yet the overview has been retained. The “three-in-one” bundle is also a great addition compared to the LR35R, as you can now adjust the light to suit the situation.
This could be better:
Although the battery level indicator has been greatly improved, I find it unfortunate that the lights only indicate the status immediately after switching on. To see how much power you have left, you need to switch the light off and on again. With continuous display, it is easier to anticipate when the light needs to be recharged. Another thing: as far as I'm concerned, Fenix should have opted for a warmer light tone for the flood option. When it is very humid, this can actually be an advantage because warm colours are less reflected by water droplets.
Value for money?
This Fenix is in the higher price range and therefore costs more than the average torch. But if you compare it to its predecessor, you only have to pay a little extra for the “Pro update”. Considering the significant expansion of the number of options, I find this price quite reasonable. For this money, you are purchasing a super powerful “all-in-one” from a manufacturer that has proven itself to deliver reliable products.
My conclusion:
I never give scores in my reviews, but if I did, the LR35R Pro would get a very good one. In fact, he surpasses his (already excellent) predecessor in every respect, which I consider to be a remarkable achievement by Fenix. Although the total output has not increased, the option of choosing from three different light beams makes the light even more versatile. The updated interface is a hit; you can control everything with your thumb. The Pro also has considerable stamina, while hardly differing in size.
Thanks to red and UV, you can also use the Pro for specialist tasks. There are plenty of situations where the LR35R Pro is a valuable tool: Tracking, authenticity checks, but with the red flashing mode you can also carry out inconspicuous operations or warn each other in case of danger.
In practice: light image and beam shots:
When you hold a light like this in your hands, you can hardly wait for it to get dark! This must be a “light cannon”! What struck me about the light image during the day was the big difference between the spotlight and the floodlight. By conducting a test on a white wall from a distance of approximately one metre, you can get an idea of what to expect outdoors. At spot, we see a very clear distinction between the bright hotspot and the weak spill. In flood mode, you see a very large and even hotspot that gradually decreases in intensity at the edges. The third option is spot and flood; this is a combination of both profiles. The light colour is cool white, with the note that the eight SST 25 LEDs (flood) have a slightly warmer tone than the four SFT 25 LEDs of the spotlight.
Now, let's head outside. I was fortunate enough to be able to test the light extensively in a beautiful spot in the south of France where it was pitch dark. Thanks to the difference in height, you can clearly see the effective range of the beam.
I will only show you beamshots of the light intensities at the lowest, middle and highest settings (to keep things clear). In each position, compare the spot/flood and flood + spot modes in succession. Thanks to the continuously variable control, you have an infinite number of options in terms of output between these light settings.
We start at the lowest setting; you can't see much in the photos yet. Suitable for use at short distances, in smaller spaces or during a night-time walk. It's good that this floodlight also has these energy-efficient settings.
On to the middle position. Now the “searchlight” is awakening in the LR35R Pro! Note the difference between the focused beam of the spotlight and the wide beam of the floodlight, and how beautifully these beams blend when you combine both options.
At the highest setting, you can cover an enormous distance in a flash and see exactly what is happening in the valley. Flood truly captures everything at close range, and when you activate both bundles simultaneously, there is truly nothing that will escape your attention.
Some more pictures showing the light set up in an open field with a forest on the left. You can see what the LR35R Pro is capable of with its three completely different beams.
To show you how much light the LR35R Pro produces, I took some pictures from a greater distance, holding the torch in my hand. The light is capable of illuminating enormous areas both in width and depth.
On to the special lighting modes. To demonstrate that the LR35R Pro can emit a significant amount of red light, I shine the torch onto a white wall from a distance of several metres. This light really does emit a red light!
Red again, and then with the light in your hand. You can cover a surprisingly large area.
The ultraviolet option is also very powerful. You can even illuminate entire objects with it, such as this outdoor unit. I haven't come across that very often!
Finally, here is an interesting comparison between the LR35R and the LR35R Pro. You can see a brighter hotspot with the LR35R (note the trees in the centre of the photo). The Pro has a longer range (note the trees nearby and further away to the left of the centre of the photo) and also a wider beam (note the chalet). That is the effect of the combined beam, in which flood and spot merge beautifully.
