Last Updated on December, 2024
Fenix has always been one of the go-to brands for me, and reviewing their flashlights is a delight — I had the same feeling when I was requested to do the PD25R review.
The flashlight looked appealing, and its performance stats were impressive, too; that explains the attraction to it.
But which of these stats are true, and which are exaggerated? That was my responsibility to answer.
So, I personally ordered a unit for myself and tested it on my own.
This is the BEST place where you can know EVERYTHING about the Fenix PD25R before buying it.
Let’s get started!
Brightness
Beam Distance
Runtime
Table of Contents
Specs of Fenix PD25R
| Flashlight Type | Tactical & EDC light |
| Dimensions | Length: 3.62” (92mm) Diameter: 0.94” (24mm) 2.75 oz. (78g) including battery |
| Light source | Luminus SST20 LED |
| Max output: Turbo mode | 800 lumens |
| Max beam intensity | 15530cd |
| High mode | 350 lumens — 1h 30 minutes |
| Medium mode | 150 lumens — 2h 50 minutes |
| Low mode | 30 lumens — 16 hours |
| Eco mode | 5 lumens — 70 hours |
| Max throw | 250m (820ft) |
| Max runtime | 70 hours |
| No. of modes | 6 |
| Rechargability type | USB-C |
| Average charging time | Approximately 2 hours |
| Waterproof rating | IP68 (2m submersible) |
| Impact resistance | 1m |
What’s in the Box: Fenix PD25R
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- Fenix PD25R x 1
- Rechargeable 16340 battery x 1
- USB-C charging cable x 1
- Two-way clip x 1
- Lanyard x 1
- Holster x 1
- Body clip x 1
- Spare O-ring x1
Features of the Fenix PDR25R
Build Quality and Design
The Fenix PD25R flashlight is truly the epitome of durability, quality, and design.
Crafted from the finest aircraft-grade aluminum, this flashlight is built to last, no matter the conditions it is subjected to.
The type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish ensures that the flashlight can withstand the toughest of environments and still perform at its best.
The ergonomic cylindrical design of this flashlight is AMAZING. It has been designed to fit perfectly in your palm, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods.
This design ensures that you can use the flashlight for longer periods without experiencing any discomfort or hand fatigue.
Here are its dimensions at a glance,
- Length: 3.62” (92mm)
- Diameter: 0.94” (24mm)
- 2.75 oz. (78g) including battery
Moving on, the black body and bronze-colored buttons give the flashlight a sleek and modern look that is sure to turn heads. It’s not just a flashlight but also a fashion statement.
The toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating ensures that the light emitted from the flashlight is bright and clear, illuminating your surroundings with ease. With the Fenix PD25R, you can see clearly and confidently navigate your surroundings.
The lens is also highly durable, and its anti-reflective coating ensures you can see everything clearly in front of you without any glare.
The Fenix PD25R also has a two-way side clip made from durable stainless steel. This clip is designed to be attached to your pocket, bag, or belt, making it easy to carry.
The clip is highly durable and designed to withstand daily wear and tear. This feature ensures that your flashlight is always within reach when needed, making it an invaluable tool for a range of activities.
The conclusion? The design quality is 10/10.
User Interface
When it comes to the user interface, the Fenix PD25R is a masterclass in simplicity and functionality.
The flashlight features a dual-button setting that comprises a side button and a tail switch.
With just a few clicks, you can adjust the brightness of the light to suit your needs.
Let me tell you how it works exactly.
The PD25R comes with 6 different modes: eco, low, medium, high, turbo, and strobe. I will elaborate on how each mode operates as we go.
When the flashlight is off, you can press and hold the tail switch for momentary access to the turbo mode, which can be incredibly useful in emergencies. Single-clicking the tail switch turns the flashlight on, and single-clicking the rear (tail) switch turns the flashlight off.
When the flashlight is turned on, the side switch is equally as functional. It offers access to the turbo mode with just a simple press and hold of the button.
Single-clicking the side switch changes modes, making it easy to switch between the different modes of the flashlight without having to cycle through them all.
Does it have a mode memory? Yes!
The PD25R also comes equipped with mode memory, which ensures that the flashlight remembers the last mode you used, making it easy to pick up where you left off.
Another great feature of the Fenix PD25R is the battery indicator LED in the middle of the switch. This LED activates for 3 seconds when you turn the light on, providing information about the battery level.
Here’s what the light indicates.
If the battery percentage is 100-85%, the green light will stay on without flashing. The green light will flash if the battery percentage is between 85-50%.
The battery percentage is 50-25% if the red light is not flashing. If the red light flashes, the battery percentage is between 25% and 1%.
This feature ensures that you always know when it’s time to recharge the battery, so you’re never caught without a reliable source of light.
While the Fenix PD25R has no electronic lockout, the tail switch can be considered a lockout mode. After all, it’s better than having nothing.
Lumen Output
One of the most critical factors to consider when purchasing a flashlight is its lumen output, and the Fenix PD25R does not disappoint in this regard.
The flashlight features six modes, including eco, low, medium, high, turbo, and strobe, each with a different lumen output.
The eco mode emits a modest 5 lumens, which is perfect for when you need just enough light to see your way in the dark without causing too much glare.
I’ll tell you how I felt about the brightness in the “My experience with the Fenix PD25R” section.
Moving on, the low mode offers a slightly brighter output of 30 lumens, which is still relatively dim but helpful in navigating through dark areas or reading maps — personally, I think this is the everyday mode you should use.
The medium mode, on the other hand, emits a more substantial output of 150 lumens. I love the bright light; it’s suitable for everyday use, such as walking your dog or taking a late-night stroll.
Next, there is the high mode with 350 lumens.
The turbo mode is the go-to option if you need a lot of light to illuminate your path.
This mode offers a good 800 lumens, which is incredibly bright and can easily light up even the darkest of spaces.
This is still an impressive output for a flashlight of this size, and it’s a testament to Fenix’s commitment to delivering quality products that meet the needs of its customers.
Up next are the battery, runtime, and charging aspects.
Battery, Runtime, And Charging
The Fenix PD25R comes with an ARB-L16-700P rechargeable Li-ion battery.
When it comes to runtime, you can enjoy up to 70 hours of runtime in the eco mode, making it a great option for extended trips or situations where you need long-lasting illumination.
The low mode can last for 16 hours, while the medium mode can run for 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Next is the high mode with 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Finally, the turbo mode on this battery type provides an impressive 800 lumens.
Although it says the mode runs for 44 minutes, the lumen output gradually drops, as the internal temperature increases.
To be precise, under 10 minutes of that 44 minutes, the output comes close to 400 lumens. The retention of the almost 400 lumens output is longer than the runtime in 800 lumens, of course.
Charging the Fenix PD25R is also a breeze thanks to its USB Type-C charging port. Simply plug it into a power source, and you can quickly and easily recharge your flashlight, ensuring it’s always ready when needed.
It only takes approximately 2 hours to charge this little beast of a flashlight fully. You might already know how flashlights of other top brands take at least 4 hours. So, trust me, this is a flex by Fenix.
Plus, the battery indicator LED in the middle of the switch makes checking your battery’s charge level easy, as we discussed.
So, it’s safe to say that Fenix PD25R’s battery performance is impressive.
Beam Distance
The beam distance is essential when selecting a flashlight, and the Fenix PD25R does not disappoint.
With a peak beam distance in the turbo mode of 250m (820ft), this flashlight can illuminate a significant distance ahead of the user.
Below that is the high mode where you can expect a beam throw of 164m (538ft).
After that, the medium mode of the Fenix PD25R emits a light beam that throws up tp 107m (351ft).
Low mode of this compact flashlight has a beam throw of 48m (157ft).
Even at the lowest mode, eco mode, the PD25R has an impressive beam of 19m.
But remember that Fenix doesn’t specify a beam distance for the strobe; you may already know that this is the industry-standard.
After all, the beam distance performance is one crucial purpose of getting a branded flashlight anyway.
Durability and Resistance Against Water and Impact
As we discussed, the Fenix PD25R’s body is made from durable aircraft-grade aluminum.
This material provides excellent durability, making the flashlight resistant to scratches and dents. The aluminum body also helps dissipate heat, preventing the flashlight from overheating.
You know how bad and annoying that can get.
Additionally, the flashlight comes with a premium type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish that further enhances its durability.
This finish provides a tough, scratch-resistant layer that protects the flashlight from wear and tear, ensuring its long-term durability.
What about its water resistance?
Fenix PD25R has an IP68 waterproof rating, which means it can withstand submersion in water up to 2 meters deep for 30 minutes without any damage. This level of waterproofing makes it suitable for use in heavy rain and everything in between.
Including accidentally dropping it in the water.
The digit 6 in the rating indicates that the flashlight is dustproof too.
Moreover, the Fenix PD25R also has a 1-meter impact resistance, which means it can withstand a drop from a height up to 1 meter without any damage. It doesn’t matter how ‘careful’ you think you are; it’s always better to have that extra layer of protection.
Another aspect that contributes to the flashlight’s durability is its lens material. The Fenix PD25R features a toughened ultra-clear glass lens with an anti-reflective coating. This lens is highly resistant to scratches and impacts, making it less likely to break or crack during use.
At a glance, the flashlight can withstand a lot, and that ‘a lot’ doesn’t happen too often.
What Do Customers Say About Fenix PD25R?
So, what do customers say about the Fenix PD25R? Let’s have a look.
Mark owns the PD25R along with another little beast from Fenix; he knows his priorities.
It’s always a delight to see people upgrading with new technology, and Robert’s experience with the PD25R is a solid example of that.
Who doesn’t like a pocket light? Hatzung praises its price along with the compact size.
My Experience With the Fenix PD25R
Now, let ME tell you about my experience with this little beast.
So, the package is pretty branded and full; you get everything you need. After all, this is Fenix; they always prioritize quality.
The flashlight looks AND feels amazing; the dimensions are perfect and very ergonomic. I tried it with my gloves on and with wet hands, and the grip is more than satisfactory.
I love the one-way side clip, as it easily attaches to surfaces. But the only problem was that I didn’t get to decide bezel-up or bezel-down when carrying since two-way clips only enable that.
But overall, the design is fantastic.
The user interface is fascinating and straightforward. You have a separate switch to switch between modes and a tail switch for that tactical advantage.
I clearly felt how my thumb could cover the entire side AND the tail switch — that makes it so much easier to operate the flashlight.
Surprisingly, the turbo mode ran for about 50 minutes, but as expected, the lumen output was gradually dropping as the flashlight got warmer.
But it’s a clear high-CRI light across all modes, which throws to long distances illuminating the entire area.
The eco mode might emit only 5 lumens, but even that has an ‘okay’ brightness.
I can assure you that the runtimes and the brightness modes of the Fenix PDR25R will meet and exceed your expectations.
Although many reviewers claim that it took them close to 2 hours, it took me only 1 hour and 45 minutes. So, take my word on that.
Durability aspects are pretty impressive, too, because I technically left my flashlight in the mid-mode in the bathtub. But thanks to the IP68 waterproof rating, nothing happened. But I need to be honest with you; I didn’t check the impact resistance since this is my only unit.
Let’s take their word for that.
The only downside that I thought of was the knurling pattern. It’s good enough, but I felt like it could have been a different design.
But overall, the Fenix PDR25R is a recommendable flashlight without hesitation.
Price, Warranty, And Return Policy: Fenix PDR25R
ALL of these features with the superior brand value of Fenix, you’ll be surprised to hear that you can buy it for $59.95.
For that price, you ALSO receive a limited lifetime guarantee from Fenix. This basically means that you get free repairs, and you only have to pay for the replacement parts, IF there are any. So, that’s more value.
As long as you have a valid fenixlighting.com order number, the return must be initiated within 15 days after receipt of purchase, 30 days during holidays.
Needless to say, the items should be in the original condition with all the package items.
So, where should you buy the Fenix PDR25R from?
Where to Buy the Fenix PDR25R
It’s ALWAYS their official website. Look at how Fenix wants a fenixlighting.com order number — this screams out that they WILL prioritize orders from their website. Amazon sellers just aren’t worth the risk.
Pros and Cons: Fenix PDR25R
Pros
Cons
Other Fenix brand’s flashlight reviews:
Over to You
Fenix has never let its customers down, even with their not-the-best flashlights. So, you can imagine how impressive a well-performing Fenix flashlight is. It doesn’t need elaboration since you’ve read how amazing it really is — in terms of the lumen output, the throw, and even the sheer design.
Just be sure to buy it from the official website, as I mentioned, and you should be more than fine.
See you in another review!
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