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Lighting

The Profoto B20: Is Bigger Really Better?

Alberto Lima
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Last updated on 10/06/2025
10/08/2025
8 Mins read
A Profoto studio light is placed on a table with blurred magazines in the background.
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When Profoto sent over the new B20 strobe for review, I was instantly concerned by the box that showed up at my doorstep. It was a massive and heavy cardboard box that was hiding a safely packed backpack with the light, a trigger, and the necessary charging brick. Upon unpacking, what instantly stood out was the weight. The B20 is a beefier successor to the B10 and B10X, and while there’s a lot more strobe to go around, in this review, we ask if bigger necessarily means better.

The Big Picture: The B20 Dwarves the B10(X) in Size, but Little Else

Close-up of a Profoto B10 studio light showing a digital display reading 3.6 with control knobs below.
The Profoto B20’s control panel features two click-wheel controls (left and center) and the main power button.

Depending on your needs, the Profoto B20 will either be a welcome addition to your studio gear or a let-down in terms of the flexibility you sacrifice with the added size and weight. When placed side by side with the B10, the B20 looks ridiculously large for something that’s supposed to be the former’s successor. While the added size does offer some new features – specifically an additional sync port, larger battery pack, and the ability for users to self-replace the bulb, this is a light that’s meant to live on a stand – in studio or not. It’s not impossible to handhold and work with it, but it’s definitely not comfortable for longer periods. It may not be worth it to upgrade if what you’re really looking for is a light that can handle both studio sessions and more run-and-gun style shoots.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

We’re giving the Profoto B20 three out of five stars. If you want to try one for yourself, be sure to check out the strobe on Amazon.

  • Pro: High-power output capable of working in direct sunlight
  • Pro: Simple UI and no-fuss sync
  • Pro: Long battery life, only had to charge once over a month of regular use
  • Cons: Weight, very heavy if trying to hand-hold for extended periods of time
  • Cons: Profoto Connect Wireless trigger leaves a lot to be desired
  • Cons: TTL on Canon cameras never seemed to work quite right, nearly useless in testing

The Profoto B20 is a Heavy Lift

A Profoto flash mounted on a stand, resting on a stack of photography books.
Product image of the Profoto B20.

When we first reviewed the Profoto B10, our Editor-in-Chief kicked off the article by saying, “When I first used the Profoto B10, I knew fully that this was the perfect light for me….” This was the expectation going into this review, and maybe I set my expectations too high. Before getting into it, it’s important to walk through the light itself, and in terms of set-up and ease of use, the B20 is just as intuitive as the B10 – it’s a light that requires very little thought when using. That’s one of the strongest features of the light, and we’re glad that this has remained consistent.

Three camera lenses in a camera bag, viewed from above, with a blurred outdoor background.
A size comparison. Profoto B20 on the left. B30 in the center. And the original B10 on the right.

Like its larger cousin, the B30, all the Profoto B20’s controls can be fully navigated and modified by the center click wheel. Going from left to right of the rear of the light, you’ll find the modeling light power button, the settings click-wheel, and the strobe’s power button. The center control will be where you’ll be spending the most time – quickly adjusting the B20’s power output.

Close-up of a black cylindrical device with numbers 1 to 5 and a warning triangle symbol on its side.
One of the new features is the user-replaceable flash bulb which can be accessed by removing the three metal clips seen here.

Handling the B20 is both a joy and a pain. Like the B30, the B20 features a rubberized textured coating around the light that makes your grip on it feel secure and robust. Also borrowing from the larger light are a sync port for wired connections and a user-replaceable flash bulb, which you could also use with modifiers that may require or work better with a bare bulb light, like beauty dishes and large grids.

Lastly, the battery pack used in the B20 and B30 is the same as the one used in the B10 and B10X, allowing you to swap batteries as needed. This is a small detail that I appreciate, as it allows you to stay within the system without having to worry about packing the right battery for whichever light you might use.

An overexposed photo of a person outdoors; facial features and details are not visible.
An example of the “power dump” glitch. This occurs after some prolonged use of the Profoto B20, though it is inconsistent. For comparison, this was taken with the same settings as the first image in our edited gallery below.

Despite intuitive controls and solid construction, the biggest downside of the entire system is the poor TTL performance with Canon cameras. In my B30 review, I shared an email that ThePhoblographer sent to Profoto, looking for some clarity on what might be causing the issues with TTL on the R5 and R3 specifically. Recently, we received a Canon EOS R1 for an upcoming review update and found that while the TTL issues aren’t as pronounced, the “power dump” issue is still very present when using the B20. This is a huge letdown, especially considering that you’re sacrificing portability for power output, which you’ll almost have to always use in manual mode if you want to ensure that reliable control over how the strobe responds.

Proof is in the Photos

Like the B30 and the B10 before it, the Profoto B20 works as a powerful light source that benefits from its 11-stop power range. Whether you need just a little bit of extra light to eliminate shadows in product photography, or enough juice to cancel out the harsh, mid-day sun, the B20 can hold it its own. That said, like the B30 (and unlike the B10), you’ll need to ensure that you carry light stands with you on any outdoor shoots (or make sure you’re using that gym membership). The light is heavy enough where it would be uncomfortable to use without one.

The following images were taken with the Profoto B20 and the Profoto Wireless Connect TTL trigger for Canon. We used the Canon EOS R5, EOS R3, and the Canon EOS R1 for the images in this gallery:

Edited Samples

A woman with light brown hair looks up thoughtfully while standing behind a tree outdoors.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R3 and the Profoto B20.
A woman with short hair and a headband sits on a bench outdoors, looking at the camera and smiling softly.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R3 and the Profoto B20.
Smiling woman sitting on a park bench, wearing a navy jacket and brown pants, with greenery in the background.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R3 and the Profoto B20.
Man with glasses and a hat smiling, captured in black and white with a plant blurred in the background.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R3 and the Profoto B20.
Smiling man with glasses and a cap, wearing a black shirt, with a red circular logo in the corner.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R3 and the Profoto B20.
Person wearing a Brooklyn Nets cap, head bowed, in a black and white photo with a red logo in the corner.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R3 and the Profoto B20.
A woman smiling and posing outdoors, framed by tree branches, with greenery in the background.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R3 and the Profoto B20.
A man in glasses and a cap sits on stairs at night, holding a bag, lit by dramatic lighting.
A sample image taken with the Canon EOS R1 and the Profoto B20.

Unedited Samples:

A man in glasses and a cap sits on outdoor stairs beside a railing and brick wall, with plants nearby.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
Man in glasses and a cap sits on outdoor stairs at night, with plants and warm lighting in the background.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
A close-up of a 20-200mm camera lens resting in a padded camera bag.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
Close-up of a camera lens inside a bag on a wooden surface, with a red logo in the bottom right corner.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
A Sigma camera lens with zoom markings, lying on a soft surface next to a detached lens hood.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
Close-up of a camera lens labeled Made in Japan resting in an open camera bag on a wooden surface.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
Man in glasses and a cap sits on outdoor stairs at night, looking to the side with a serious expression.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
A smiling man in glasses and a cap sits on steps at night, holding his phone, with light on his face.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
A man wearing glasses and a cap sits on outdoor stairs at night, smiling and holding a phone.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
A man in glasses and a cap sits on outdoor stairs at night, facing the camera with a neutral expression.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R5 and the Profoto B20.
A man sitting on outdoor stairs examines a black backpack next to a leafy plant at night.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R1 and the Profoto B20.
A man sitting on outdoor stairs at night, looking at a camera in his hands, with a backpack on his lap.
An unedited sample image taken with the Canon EOS R1 and the Profoto B20.

Who Should Buy the Profoto B20

For professional photographers, a reliable off-camera system is an absolute must. When you’re being paid on your ability to successfully achieve a desired look every time, you can’t afford to leave the technical nuances to chance. When it works, the Profoto B20 is able to deliver beautiful light whenever you need it. But despite its overall performance, you will find that the B20 is really meant to live in a studio setting. The size and build don’t really lend themselves well to being carried around for outdoor jobs, and the ongoing issues when used with Canon TTL mean that you’ll either be working with this strobe as fully manual light or guessing/hoping that the TTL function works. Neither of which would justify the cost of entry, unless you’re really committed to the Profoto brand.

Profoto B20 Features via Profoto

  • Compact, robust and lightweight
  • Profoto ECO mode – For maximized longevity
  • Rubberized surface – For easy setup in any locations
  • Optional handle – For easier handling
  • Sync port – For wired triggering
  • Powerful 40W continuous LED-light with adjustable brightness and color temperature
  • User exchangeable flash tubes
  • 11-stop power range
  • Compatibility with 120+ Profoto light shaping tools including RFi-range
  • AirX built-in

Declaration of Journalistic Intent

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  • At the time of publishing this review, Profoto is not running direct-sold advertising with the Phoblographer. This doesn’t affect our reviews anyway, and it never has in our 15 years of publishing articles. This article is in no way sponsored.
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