Well, I finally caved and got the newer edition of the LC40. I’ve been wanting one for a while, but I have the old LC40, which is still in fine condition. This review is a comparison of the two. To begin with, a picture of the new one:
It comes in the classic box, micro cable included.
Compared to the old version with a sharpie for scale:
The first things I noticed are:
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The new one is a bit bigger. Whereas the old model was very skinny and compact, there’s a little more girth and length to the new one. It’s not a bad thing necessarily, but the space-conscious packer should be aware of the difference.
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There is no wrist strap on the new one - not even a place to put one. I don’t use the wrist strap much, honestly, but again an item to be aware of when deciding between the two.
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Brightness: The new one seems brighter than the old one to the unaided eye. This may be because the old one is AAA battery powered while the new one has a built in battery. So as the AAA disposable batteries wind down, the light gets dimmer. That does not appear to happen with the new LC40, with it’s built-in Anker battery tech.
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Chargeability: The New one is rechargeable by micro-usb, and the old one takes AAA batteries. This I have solar panels and batteries, and when I’m camping for long periods of time I rely on the sun for power. While you could get a rechargeable pack for the old LC40, I like the built in version.
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Modes: The new LC40 has more modes than the old one, including adjustable dimness and an SOS mode as well as a strobe.
Overall, both versions of this light are bright, durable, and packable. I would recommend them each for different situations.
For a primary light that gets a lot of use when camping, packing, or otherwise on-the-go: Get the newer LC40. With it’s easily rechargeable battery, better long-term brightness, and SOS mode, this is the torch for the light traveller with solar panels and/or battery packs.
For a light you leave in strategic places for occasional on-the-spot use (to stash in a car, the shed, etc): get the older bolder LC40 (this link is to the two-pack, which is the same price as a single new LC40). With it’s smaller profile and need for disposable batteries, this is a better choice for stashing in strategic places for occasional use.
Thank you for the comparison. I own the other 2 bigger flashlights and want to get an LC40 to add to my collection. I think I like the newer version better too, especially since it has a rechargeable battery. Your review definitely help me on deciding which to get. I like more of the rugged look of the newer model. Thanks for sharing 
