On today’s film sets, high-output COB LED lights have taken center stage, pushing aside traditional HMIs and claiming their place as the new industry standard. I like to call them the ‘Giants of the LED world.’ They are powerful, versatile, and built for modern production demands. And in 2025, three heavy-hitters are leading the charge- Nanlux Evoke 5000B, Godox KNOWLED MG6K, and Aputure STORM XT52. Each of these beasts pushes out over 5kW of light, and each brings something unique to the table.
The Nanlux Evoke 5000B delivers a powerful 22,210 lux at 5 meters (5600K, 45° reflector), features a wide 2700–6500K range, with ±80 green/magenta tint adjustment, and comes housed in a rugged IP66 storm-proof magnesium alloy body. Also, The Godox KNOWLED MG6K packs a serious punch with 41,000 lux at 5 meters (5600K, MGR30 reflector), an impressive 2800–10,000K color temperature range, ±100 tint control, and a sturdy IP54-rated build. It weighs in at around 28 kg with the yoke, heavy but powerful. In the same vein, The Aputure STORM XT52 is equipped with the advanced BLAIR chipset; it hits a stunning 41,900 lux at 5 meters (35° reflector), covers a full 2500-10,000K CCT range, and includes both HSIC and xy color tuning. All this is packed into a durable IP65-rated design.
So which one is the best? Honestly, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each light has its strengths depending on the requirement and attraction for your shoot, brightness, color flexibility, weather friendliness, build quality, or advanced controls. In detail, let’s take a look at the attributes of each fixture.
The Nanlux Evoke 5000B
The Nanlux Evoke 5000B is a 5,000 W bi‑color LED spotlight built for tough conditions. It adjusts from 2700 K to 6500 K and provides ±80 green/magenta tint control. At 1 m (3.3 ft), it delivers 555,250 lux with a reflector and 22,210 lux at 5 m. This matches a 9 kW HMI. It weighs about 43 kg without the yoke (46 kg with the yoke). The body is weatherproof with an IP rating of IP66 and built in magnesium alloy. It costs around $14,800 for the standard kit (approx. $15,500 with flight case). Finally, the Nebula B4 engine is energy‑efficient and boosts white output by 30 percent over typical LED engines.
The Godox KNOWLED MG6K
The Godox MG6K is a 4,300W bi‑color LED light that rivals many HMIs. It supports CCT from 2800 to 10000 K with ±100 green/magenta correction. Also, the brightness reaches about 42,600 lux at 5 m using the MGR30 reflector and can go higher with MGR15. The head weighs 24.5 kg (54 lb), or 28 kg with the yoke; the full kit is 41 kg, including the controller. Additionally, it has IP54 dust and splash protection. The cost is about $11,650, making it more affordable than the other two. It features 0.1 percent dimming and works with DMX, CRMX, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and the KNOWLED app.
The Aputure STORM XT52
The Aputure STORM XT52 uses the BLAIR light engine (Blue, Lime, Amber, Indigo, Red) for rich spectrum and color control. Its brightness is about 48,000 lux at 5 m with a 35° reflector or 29,000 lux using a 50° reflector. In the same fashion, the Color temperature adjusts between 2500 and 10,000 K, with a full ±100 green/magenta shift, plus xy and HSIC color modes for fine-tuning. Also, the lamp head weighs 27.8 kg (61 lb), while the control box is 13.4 kg (29.5 lb). It has solid IP65 protection for weather resistance. Price is expected to be around $13,700 for the flight‑case kit.
BELOW IS A COMPREHENSIVE COMPARISON OF THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE NANLUX EVOKE 5000B, GODOX KNOWLED MG6K, AND APUTURE STORM XT52
| FEATURE | NANLUX EVOKE 5000B | GODOX KNOWLED MG6K | APUTURE STORM XT52 |
| Power | This light uses a powerful 5,000W engine and gives very bright light, like a 9 kW HMI, without extra heat. Good for lighting big spaces. | It runs on 4,300W but gives brightness like a 6 kW HMI. It’s efficient and bright for its size. | It draws 5,200W and is the brightest of the three. Lightweight and easy to place. |
| Color & Accuracy | You can adjust from warm yellow to daylight white (2700–6500 K) and fine-tune green or magenta tones. Produces very accurate and pleasing color. | Offers a wide color range (2800–10,000 K) and fine tint shift control. Its color matches other lights easily. | Has the widest CCT range (2500–10,000 K), advanced tuning modes (HSIC+ and xy), and full green/magenta shift for perfect color matching. |
| Controls & Connectivity | You can control it onboard via its display and knobs or remotely via LumenRadio’s CRMX, DMX, Art‑Net, sACN, or a mobile app. | Offers control onboard or via DMX, CRMX, Art‑Net, sACN, Ethernet, Bluetooth app, or control box. | Connects via DMX, CRMX, Art‑Net, sACN, LumenRadio, or Sidus Link app. Easy remote control and user-friendly screen. |
| Dimming | Let’s you smoothly dim light from 0 to full brightness in tiny 0.1% steps. High-speed mode ensures no flicker even at 10,000 fps. | Brightness adjusts smoothly at 0.1% steps. Offers different dimming style curves and stays flicker-free. | Features a 10,000:1 dimming ratio with a smooth fade from 0 to 100%. No flicker above 20% output. |
| Weather Rating | Rated IP66, so it is fully dustproof and rainproof. Great for shooting outdoors in harsh weather. | Rated IP54, so it handles dust and light rain, useful outdoors in mild conditions. | Rated IP65 for good protection against dust and rain. Solid choice for outdoor or studio use. |
| Weight | The light unit weighs about 45 kg. Heavy but combines everything in one piece, simplifying setup. | The head weighs about 28 kg and the controller adds another 13 kg. Easier to move than traditional 6 kW HMIs. | The lamp head is around 28 kg; the controller is 13 kg. Designed so one person can carry and mount it. |
| Special Effects | Has 12 built‑in effects (like TV flicker, lightning, and welding), all adjustable. Good for creative lighting in scenes. | Offers 11 preset FX modes for creative looks, controlled by controls or app. | Supports strobe and fan effects via DMX. Great for dynamic visual setups. |
| Cooling/Fans | Comes with five fan settings: Smart, Full, Low, Pause, and Off. Smart mode adjusts for quiet operation (~44 dB). Keeps cool even in long shoots. | Uses efficient air cooling to reduce heat by ~75%. Keeps output steady during long runs. | Combines liquid and air cooling. Quiet at normal use (~45 dB); up to ~56 dB when fans run fast. Great for long filming. |
| Adaptability | You can fine-tune the green or magenta tint for a better match with other lights. Making mixing easy. | Works with Godox’s G-mount system that includes many modifiers like reflectors, Beam Light, Fresnel, soft boxes, etc. | Compatible with Aputure ProLock accessories: motorized Fresnels, lanterns, and soft boxes. The lamp can be placed up to 45 m away from the controller. |
| Flicker-Free Shooting | Switched to DC in high-speed mode to prevent flicker even at over 10,000 frames per second. Perfect for slow motion. | Always flicker-free thanks to advanced driver and smooth dimming curves, even in slow-motion shots. | Flicker-free across most brightness levels, with good performance even when dimming low. Ideal for cinematic control. |
| Color Matching | You can fine-tune the green or magenta tint for a better match with other lights. Making mixing easy. | Offers full ±100% tint control to help match any light source like HMI or other LED fixtures. | Provides advanced tint control with HSIC+ and xy modes. Claimed to cover 70% of Rec.2020 color space. Superb match flexibility. |
Above all, choosing between the Nanlux Evoke 5000B, Godox MG6K, and Aputure STORM XT52 means deciding what truly matters to your productions, if that’s weatherproof reliability, power efficiency, or ultimate brightness. Whichever light you lean toward, you’re working with game-changing tools built for serious filmmaking. So, which LED giant fits your next project? Do you value portability, advanced tint control, or rugged outdoor use most? Share your lighting priorities in the comments; we’d love to hear. Finally, if you’re ready for more pro lighting guides, sign up for our newsletter or check out our other posts for lighting masterclasses tailored to your needs.
