Imalent BL70
Specifications & measurements:
| Brand & Model | Imalent BL70 |
|---|---|
| Flashlight category | EDC |
| Battery config. | Internal 18650 |
| Switch type | Rear and side |
| Dimensions: | |
| Length | 95mm |
| Head diameter | 28mm |
| Weight with battery | 149g |
| LED & Beam | |
| LED type | CREE XHP70.2 HI |
| High CRI | No |
| Focusable beam | No |
| Features | |
| Onboard charging | Yes |
| Power bank | No |
| Specifications and measurements | |
| Specified output | 6000 |
| Measured output (30sec) | 6557 |
| Max. measured output | 6557 |
| Specified beam distance | 347 |
| Measured beam distance (30sec) | 213 |
| Specified beam intensity | 30200 |
| Measured beam intensity (30sec) | 11333cd |
| Overall rating | 4 out of 5 |
| Review publication date | May 2025 |
Introduction:
Imalent has a reputation for building pioneering and unconventional lights. I recall owning a touchscreen light of theirs some 10 years back. Today I’m looking at the powerhouse LD70 which claims to offer not only a large screen (not a touchscreen this time) and 6000 lumens of output!
It looks rather cool too with a somewhat unique form factor and a red LED too. This should be an exciting one.
Package:
In the slick looking box you get these items:
- Imalent BL70
- Wrist strap
- USB-C charging cable
- Instructions
Flashlight in use, build quality, and warranty:
The BL70 feels and looks like a premium gadget. It has a leather (or mock leather) grip like you may have found on a lighter or hip flask in years past. It really does feel very high quality in every regard.
Imalent claims the BL70 is an EDC light. It is decently compact for its output and performance. Although the form factor makes for a rather chunky light when you compare it to a more traditional tube light.
Ultimately though, it is the form factor that I have the most issues with. While it is comfortable in the hand, it doesn’t roll too easily and will tail stand. It is chunky in your pocket. Unlike most 18650 and even some 21700 tube lights, I don’t feel as though I could pocket carry the BL70 in my jeans pocket. Meaning it would have to be a coat pocket or in a bag. I do feel if there had been a way to fit a pocket clip, I might find it more easy to use as an EDC light. but as it is, I’ve not felt comfortable using it every day. Meaning rather than being an EDC light, I’ve found it to be more occasional use.
On Imalent’s website in the Tech Spec section it does make mention of a holster under Accessories. However, there wasn’t one in the box and I can not find one on the website. So not sure if this is a typo or something just not available yet.
There are other things that cause some bother. The screen is along the length of the screen. Which means if you are right handed it reads the correct way up. But for any left handers, like myself. The screen is nearly always upside down. Relegating it largely to a novelty, rather than something of practical use.
The side switch is also very very easy to accidentally activate. Either by handling the light or in a pocket. There is an electronic lockout feature, but to be honest 4 clicks to unlock and then remembering another 4 clicks to lock it once you are done, gets old and tired very quickly.
There also seems to be some UI clutches, at least I hope they are and aren’t intended to work like this. In the unlocked state, if you double click the side button you get the Red mode, the screen also tells you this. However, if you have already clicked the side or end button and have the main LED illuminated, double clicking the side button will still activate the Red LED, but it will leave the main LED on too. Which is very odd. You will then end up frantically clicking all the buttons and end up with it flashing and strobing before you wrestle it under control. I presume the intent would be whenever the Red LED is active, the main LED is turned off, as it is utterly pointless to have both working at the same time.
I do like that you can activate the light with the side switch, which always gives you moonlight. This means you can be guaranteed to not burn your retinas by mistake in the middle of the night. It is however such a shame that this side switch function (and the Red LED) are completely disabled in the Locked mode.
While testing the BL70, it does produce some lovely regulated outputs. Which means, unlike many lights you get these days. It stays bright, even when the battery is low. However, according to the onscreen display, it consistently would shut down at 3.14v. I’m not sure if this is done to improve battery life and cycles, as it is a non removable battery.
The BL70 does also get rather toasty, I recorded 54 degree C surface temperatures on some of the runtime tests.
Warranty wise, the Imalatent website says this:
MALENT torch head has a 2-year warranty, and the torch battery has a 1-year warranty. The non-removable torch come with a 2-year warranty
The LED, lens, bezel, reflector, and beam
More details:
- LED Type: CREE XHP70.2 HI
- High CRI: No
- Focusable beam: No
Spectral measurements:
I used a Opple Lightmaster to measure the flashlight at 5 metres distance.
Mode: CCT: CRI Ra: duv
Turbo 5630 K 68.2 0.0050
Low 5404 K 67.1 0.0091
Red 5131 K - 0.2404
Dimensions and size comparison with its competition
Dimensions:
Dimensions Millimeters Inches
Length 95 mm 3.74 in
Head diameter 28 mm 1.10 in
Body diameter 35 mm 1.38 in
Dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter and the nearest tenth of an Inch.
Weight:
Weight Weight in grams Weight in oz
With battery 149 g 5.26 oz
Weight is rounded to the nearest gram and tenth of an Oz.
Flashlight size comparison with its competition:
Group 1: Imalent LD00 charging dock, Imalent BL70, Imalent LD35
Group 2: Zebralight SC600w IV Plus, Imalent BL70, Manker MC01
User Interface and Driver
Available modes:
- Red
- Moonlight
- Low
- Middle 1
- Middle 2
- High
- Turbo
Available blinky modes:
- Strobe
Side switch From OFF:
- Press and hold: Nothing
- Single click: Moonlight
- Double click: Red LED
- 3 fast clicks: Battery voltage readout
- 4 fast clicks: Lock
Tail switch From OFF:
- Press and hold: Nothing
- Single click: On (last mode memory)
- Turbo
- 3 fast clicks: Battery voltage readout
- 4 fast clicks: Lock
Side switch From ON:
- Press and hold: Nothing
- 1 click: Off (or Moonlight if another output is selected)
- Double click:Red light + current main output
- 3 fast clicks: Battery voltage readout
- 4 fast clicks: Nothing
Tail switch From ON:
- Press and hold: Nothing
- 1 click: Off
- Double click:Red light + current main output
- 3 fast clicks: Battery voltage readout
- 4 fast clicks: Nothing
Mode memory:
- Yes, last mode
Shortcuts:
- To Low: Yes
- To Turbo: Yes
- To Strobe: No
Strobe/blinkies
- Strobe
Lock-out mode:
- Yes
PWM
- No
Additional/summary info on the UI:
- The UI is fit for purpose, but it is a shame how the lockout works, on a light like this and auto-lock might have worked well. And I’d dearly love to be able to use Moonlight while locked, maybe even as a momentary mode.
Batteries and charging
Battery level indicator:
- OLED screen readout.
Batteries Details
Compatible batteries None
Incompatible batteries All
Low voltage protection/warning Yes
Onboard Charging:
Onboard charging USB-C
Power bank functionality Not claimed as such
USB-C to USB-C charging No
Max power of USB charger (port)
Max power measured
Final battery voltage (charged) 4.2V
Avg. onboard charge time 2h 2min
Performance
Lumen measurements
To test the performance I use a homemade integrated sphere for lumen testing using a dedicated light metre. I also use the CeillingBounce Android app for measuring throw (at 3m) and runtimes. Both are calibrated using a calibration light.
Mode Amps at start Specified output Turn on 30 sec. 10 min.
Red - 100 lm 154 lm 154 lm 154 lm
Moon - 10 lm 19 lm 19 lm 19 lm
Low - 200 lm 213 lm 213 lm 213 lm
Med 1 - 600 lm 715 lm 698 lm 693 lm
Med 2 - 1400 lm 1387 lm 1400 lm 1372 lm
High - 3000 lm 3970 lm 3840 lm 1376 lm
Turbo output - 6000 lm 6193 lm 6557 lm 1435 lm
*Turn-on and 30 second measurements are done manually, while the 10-minutes readings comes from the runtime graph. This is our standard approach, though some reviewers may choose a different approach.
Ambient temperature during testing:
- 20 °C
Parasitic drain:
- Yes, but unable to measure.
Battery Life: Runtime graphs
| Mode | Specified runtime | Runtime (ANSI FL1) | Time till shut off* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | |
| Red | 4h 10min | - | - | |
| Moon | 53h 00min | - | - | |
| Low | 8h 20min | - | - | |
| Med 1 | 2h 35min | 2h 41min | 2h 41min | |
| Med 2 | 1h 18min | 1h 22min | 1h 22min | |
| High | 1h 08min | 1h 14min | 1h 14min | |
| Turbo | 1h 05min | 1h 12min | 1h 12min |
*The last column reflects the total runtime until the light turns off. A “+” symbol indicates that the test was stopped at that point, but the light continued to run. This typically occurs with certain drivers, firmware, or battery types.|
Peak beam intensity and beam distance measurements
To test the performance I use a homemade integrated sphere for lumen testing using a dedicated light metre. I also use the CeillingBounce Android app for measuring throw (at 3m) and runtimes. Both are calibrated using a 1Lumen supplied calibration light.
Mode Specified intensity Specified beam distance Candela measured Meters Yards
Red - - 420 cd 41 m 45 yd
Moon - - 35 cd 12 m 13 yd
Low - - 407 cd 40 m 44 yd
Medium 1 - - 1310 cd 72 m 79 yd
Medium 2 - - 2518 cd 100 m 109 yd
High - - 7148 cd 169 m 184 yd
Turbo throw 30200 cd 347 m 11333 cd 213 m 233 yd
Ambient temperature during testing:
- 20 °C
Beamshots
Camera settings and distance:
Canon EOS 200D, Canon 18-55mm EFS IS used at 18mm, ¼ sec, F4.5, ISO 1600, WB 5200k
Beamshots at 100 metres distance.
Beamshots of the following flashlights compared:
- Imalent LD35
- Atrolux MF01 Mini
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Regulated outputs
- Exceeds rated lumens
- Very cool looking
- Powerful red light
- Build quality
CONS
- Form factor not great for pocket EDC
- no pocket clip
- Right handed biased
- No proper moonlight output
- UI niggles
- Ambitious beam distance claim
Final Verdict + review score
The BL70 is a very interesting compact light, with very high output and fantastic regulation. But has a somewhat weird form factor and no way to securely carry it in your pocket.
If design and style matter to you along with output and performance. The BL70 does have you covered. I do wish it was designed a little more focused to EDC carry however, the screen is cool, but the much smaller one on the Imalanet LD35 is able to show pretty much the same info as this large screen does. The smaller screen may well have left better options for a pocket clip.
And while the BL70 meets and exceeds its rated performance and I do really love the regulated output. The Low is way too bright for me. For an EDC or even bedside light it needs a much lower low in my opinion. 1 lumen or less would be ideal. And while the UI is ok, it isn’t superb and UI’s have been done much better on other lights.
Overall rating:
- Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Explanation on star ratings:
1: Avoid: a match would be a better choice
2: Poor: significant defect or issues; almost unusable
3: Average: some defects or issues; but still usable
4: Good: recommended (minor issues)
5: Great: highly recommended
