Maglite (also spelled Mag-Lite, stylized as MAGLITE or MAG-LITE) is a brand of flashlight manufactured in the United States by Mag Instrument, Inc. located in Ontario, California, and founded by Anthony Maglica. It was introduced in 1979.Nick Freeth. Made in America: from Levis to Barbie to Google MBI Publishing Company, 2005 , pp.180-181 Constructed principally of anodized 6061 aluminum, they have a variable-focus beam. Maglites are produced in several colors such as black, silver, blue, red, green, purple, gold, and different finishes. Originally Maglite flashlights used krypton or xenon incandescent bulbs. Current models have LEDs, although the older models are still widely available.
Accessories include belt holsters, mounting brackets, colored and glass lenses, attachable fiber optics extensions to bend light output into a cramped space, higher-powered incandescent bulbs, and LED conversion modules. The Maglite was an improvement over the Kel-Lite, after which the Maglite was patterned.William Lidwell, Gerry Manacsa Deconstructing Product Design: Exploring the Form, Function, Usability, Sustainability, and Commercial Success of 100 Amazing Products Rockport Publishers, 2009 , pp.116-117
Timeline
A list of the sizes of Mag Instrument flashlights, and the years they were released:
1979: D and C battery models are put on the market; targeted to the public safety and industrial sectors (the 5C, 6C, 7C and 7D models are out of production) 1982: MagCharger: a larger more expensive model popular with public safety and emergency-services personnel. This light is much brighter than typical Maglites, and uses an incandescent Halogen bulb and a rechargeable NiCad or NiMH battery pack. 1984: Two AA cell batteries (Mini Maglite) Maglite's first personal size flashlight 1987: Two AAA cell batteries (Mini Maglite) A smaller version of the original Mini Maglite 1988: One AAA cell battery (Maglite Solitaire) Mag Instrument's key chain flashlight. 2006: Maglite LED Flashlight and Upgrade Module: 3-watt Luxeon III LED from Lumileds. 2006: Mini Maglite LED 2AA. 2008: MagCharger: Upgraded Nickel/Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack increases charge time and second generation Halogen bulb increases light output. 2009: Next Generation Mag-LED Technology: Featuring a new Luxeon Rebel LED and extended battery life. 2010: Maglite XL100: offers a motion-controlled user interface using a built-in accelerometer 2010: Maglite XL50: This is a simpler version of the XL100, featuring three modes that can be activated with consecutive presses of the tailcap switch. The XL50 will have a lower retail price than the XL100. 2011: A variety of LED and rechargeable flashlights introduced. These include the ML100 and the rechargeable/C Cell LED ML125 2011: Maglite XL200: This is similar to the XL100 but offers higher lumen output. 2012: Mini Maglite AA Pro 215 Lumens and Mini Maglite AA Pro+ 245 Lumens. 2012: Maglite 2D pro 274 Lumens with a Cree XP-G rather than a Cree XP-E, increasing brightness while decreasing beam distance efficiency. 2012: Maglite Mag-Tac flashlight plain bezel, 310 Lumens, low mode at around 100 Lumens. First Maglite flashlight to use CR123A batteries. Tactical style designed with military input. 2012: Maglite Mag-Tac crowned bezel, 320 lumens. This model has no low mode for light output. 2012: The V4 was released with a newly developed electronic switch enabling a Multi Mode operation and a slightly more powerful bulb producing an output of 245 Lumens. 2012: In August, Maglite announced several new models including an LED version of the Solitaire, a Mini Maglite LED 2 AAA and a new version of the 2D LED termed the 2D LED Pro promising a beam in excess of 200 Lumens. 2013: Maglite released an LED version of the MagCharger. Features a 680 lumen output and spot-to-flood beam with a quarter turn of the head. Claimed 4 hours of battery life on a full charge at full power. Other specs are as the Incandescent Version.
Models +Past Maglite ModelsModelIncandescentLEDNotesMarquisMaglite Marquis 1-CELL AAAThe Marquis was the original name for the Solitaire.Mini MagliteMini Maglite LED 3-CELL AAMini Maglite PRO+ LED 2-CELL AAAround 2012, the PRO+ had an output of 245 lumens, while the regular PRO had 226 lumens. However, the PRO+ has high and low modes, while the regular PRO just has a single mode. The current Mini PRO in 2025 has 332 lumens.Maglite XLMaglite LED XL100Maglite LED XL200Maglite DMaglite PRO LED 2-CELL DMaglite 7-CELL DMade from 1979 to 1982, they sold poorly due to their size and minimal increase in light output over the 6D. Today, they are rare and sought after by collectors.Maglite CMaglite 2-CELL CMaglite ML100 LED 2-CELL CMaglite 3-CELL CMaglite ML100 LED 3-CELL CThe ML100 LED 3-CELL C has the same lumen output as the ML100 LED 2-CELL C at 137 lumens, however, the run time is increased from 13 hours to 34 hours on high.Maglite ML125 LED 3-CELL CThe ML125 uses either 3 C cell batteries, or a NiMH battery.Maglite 4-CELL CMaglite 5-CELL CMaglite 6-CELL CMaglite 7-CELL CMuch like the 7D, the 7C is one of the rarest Maglite flashlights.RechargeableMagCharger - NiMH/HalogenMaglite still sells the bi-pin halogen replacement lamp. +Current Maglite Models Model Incandescent LEDNotes Solitaire Maglite Solitaire 1-CELL AAA Maglite LED Solitaire 1-CELL AAAIncandescent version in production since 1988. Mini Maglite Mini Maglite 2-CELL AAA Mini Maglite LED 2-CELL AAA Mini Maglite 2-CELL AA Mini Maglite LED 2-CELL AAIncandescent version in production since 1984. Mini Maglite PRO LED 2-CELL AAThe PRO version of the Mini Maglite has more lumens and throw over the regular version. Maglite XL Maglite LED XL50 Maglite D Maglite 2-CELL D Maglite ML300L LED 2-CELL DMaglite ML300LX LED 2-CELL D Maglite 3-CELL D Maglite ML300L LED 3-CELL DThe 3D incandescent is the original Maglite. It is also the only Maglite still being sold with a KPR lamp. The rest of the incandescent models use the bi-pin xenon.Maglite ML300LX LED 3-CELL D Maglite 4-CELL D Maglite ML300L LED 4-CELL D Maglite 5-CELL D Maglite currently does not make an LED version of the 5D. Maglite 6-CELL D Maglite ML300L LED 6-CELL DThe ML300L 6D has a lower lumen output than the 3D and 4D LED models, but it has the highest run time at 71 hours on high.Maglite CMaglite ML25IT 2-CELL CMaglite ML25IT LED 2-CELLAll of the ML25IT models come with a twist-on head, rather than the traditional side switch.Maglite ML50L LED 2-CELL CMaglite ML50LX LED 2-CELL C Maglite ML25IT 3-CELL C Maglite ML25IT LED 3-CELL Maglite ML50L LED 3-CELL CMaglite ML50LX LED 3-CELL CRechargeableMaglite ML150LRDelivers up to 1,082 lumens.Maglite ML150LRXMatte black version of the ML150LR. Maglite ML150LRSSmaller and lower output version of the ML150LR. Still delivers up to 819 lumens.Maglite ML150LRSXMatte black version of the ML150LRS.Maglite MAG-TAC PlainDelivers up to 671 lumens, but will only last 1 hour on high. On low mode, it will last up to 18 hours.Maglite MAG-TAC Crowned Maglite MAG-TAC Maglite MAG-TAC LED 2-CELL CR123 PlainMaglite MAG-TAC LED 2-CELL CR123 CrownedSame as the "Plain" version, but replaces the low mode with strobe, and has a crowned bezel.Maglite MAG-TAC 2 LED 2-CELL CR123 PlainThe MAG-TAC 2 has more lumens and throw over the regular MAG-TAC, and the body is designed for maximum grip for striking or holding with a firearm. Costs $40 more than original MAG-TAC.Maglite MAG-TAC LED 2-CELL CR123 CrownedSame as the "Plain" version, but replaces the low mode with strobe, and has a crowned bezel. Costs $40 more than original MAG-TAC. +Current Spectrum ModelsModelsLight ColorLumensSolitaireWarm White32Blue14Green30Mini AAAWarm White68Blue31Green78Mini AAWarm White57Blue27Green45XL50Warm White140Blue61Green143Red114
Law enforcement use Maglite flashlights have been known to be used as a ready substitute for a baton. In 2004, the Los Angeles Police Commission moved to use smaller flashlights, with Alan Skobin, the commission vice-president, stating that "This policy makes clear flashlights are for illumination and discourages their use as an impact tool. And it ensures officer safety as well as protects the public."
Police and security personnel often use full-size Maglite flashlights due to their durability, brightness, and weight, which can also make them suitable for use as improvised defensive tools.
On March 30, 2007, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that they would be switching to a smaller, lighter LED flashlight that cannot be used as a baton, in response to a highly publicized incident where an officer was accused of using excessive force against a suspect by using a Maglite.
Gallery
References
External links
Complete disassembly of a 2D Maglite flashlight with a xenon bulb.