Tag Archives: 21700

Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max

  1. Introduction
  2. Manufacturer Specifications
  3. Package Details
  4. Build
  5. User Interface
  6. Circuit Measures
  7. Emitter Measures
  8. Beamshots
  9. Testing Results
  10. Runtimes
  11. Pros and Cons
  12. Overall Rating
  13. Preliminary Conclusions
  14. Acknowledgement

Introduction

Following on my recent review of the 1×18650 Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Nichia, I also have on hand for the testing the larger 1×21700 Max edition of this light. Very similar in design and user interface (some small differences are noted below), this Max model features a truly warm-tinted XHP70.2 emitter. This should produce more output than the smaller Nichia version, but at the cost of reduced colour rendition.

As before, this is an angle head light (i.e., the emitter is on the side of the head). This design is very helpful when carrying the light clipped on you, or as a headlamp. Let’s see how it compares to its Nichia sibling, and the competition.

Manufacturer Specifications

Note: as always, these are simply what the manufacturer provides – scroll down to see my actual testing results.

FeatureSpecs
MakerArmytek
ModelWizard C2 Pro Max
EmitterXHP70.2
TintWarm
Max Output (Lumens)3,720
Min Output (Lumens)0.32
Max Runtime2 mos
Max Beam Intensity (cd)3,300 cd
Max Beam Distance (m)113 m
Mode Levels7
FlashingStrobe1, Strobe2, Strobe3
Battery1x21700
Weight (w/o battery)79 g
Weight (with battery)149 g
Length121.5 mm
Head Diameter34.4 mm
Body Diameter23.6 mm
WaterproofIP68 10m

Armytek doesn’t provide an exact colour temperature for “warm light”, but it is quite  warm in tint to my eye, much warmer than the more neutral white tint of the Nichia model (see Beamshots and Emitter Measures below). I would definitely characterize this light as warm white.

Package Details

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The Wizard C2 Pro Max ships in a cardboard display box with an extensive number of labels and descriptions. Inside, you will find the following:

  • Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max flashlight
  • Stainless steel pocket clip
  • Magnetic USB charging dock
  • 21700 battery (5000mAh)
  • 18650 battery adapter
  • Headband and rubber headlamp mount
  • Bicycle mount
  • 2 spare O-rings
  • Adhesive tape strip (3M)
  • Manual

It’s a very good package of accessories, identical to its smaller sibling except the addition of the 18650 battery adapter here (a nice feature, if you wanted to swap in a smaller and lighter cell).

As before, the multi-lingual manual is really more of a quick-start guide, and there is a slightly more detailed full manual that you can download from the Armytek website (direct PDF link here). I recommend you download the longer manual in order to take full advantage of all the features and better understand the user interface.

Build


From left to right: LiitoKala 21700 (5000mAh), Fenix ARB-L21-5000U 21700 (5000mAh), Sofirm IF25A, Fenix E35 v3, Convoy S21E, Imalent MS03, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, Acebeam E70, Nitecore P20iX, Nitecore MH12SE, Lumintop D3, Convoy M21F.

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This physical build is basically identical to the 1×18650 Nichia version, just on a larger scale. As I said before, I find it very reminiscent of the early bomb-proof Armyteks – it feels very solid in the hand. That said, is also reasonably compact for the 1×21700 class.

The anodizing looks exactly like the old matte finish of early Armyteks, very grippy (almost feels rubberized in a way).  It appears to be thick and durable – although I find it also marks up easily (i.e., not scratched down to the bare aluminum, but shows handling marks on the surface). I guess its fair to say Armytek sees their lights as work-horses, not show-horses.

The light lacks traditional knurling, but the ridge details cut-outs and grippy finish help produce good hand grip in my view. The pocket clip attaches very firmly (likely to mark upon removal) and helps further with grip (and clip-on carry of course).

The main distinctive feature is the angle-head light source. As mentioned above, this is very helpful as a headlamp, bicycle light or when clipping onto you. It’s also reasonable to carry this way by hand, especially given the large button on the size of the head (i.e., can easily use your thumb to activate the switch). Switch feel is good, with a definite click upon press.

There is a green/red LED under the switch cover that can signal the status of the light. By default, it flashes red once when the switch is clicked (or glows red when doing a press-and-hold). You can configure it to flag a green locator beacon once every four secs if you wish (see UI section below). It also serves as a low battery and heat warning, as also described in the UI section.

The light lacks a USB-C charging port on the body, but there is a USB-based magnetic charging dock that charges the light through the tailcap (scroll down to my Circuit section for more details on how it works). The light uses a standard flat-top 21700 cell (Armytek-branded 5000mAh in this case), so can easily be swapped out and charged in a stand-alone charger. And thanks to the included 18650 battery adapter, you you can easily run 18650 cells in this light.

Note that this charging format means that there are exposed contact points on the tailcap. However, the center contact is sufficiently recessed (and small enough) to avoid any likely problems.

The magnet is located in the tailcap (and is not user-removable). It is also very strong, and so may attract metal objects. Of course that means you can also attach it to metal surfaces to stand it as a worklight.

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The light uses a warm white tinted XHP70.2 emitter, under a textured TIR optic. The specs claim a 110 degree hotspot and a 150 degree spill, but there is no sharp demarcation between them – this produces a very even and wide flood light. Scroll down to the Emitter measures section for a tint/CRI discussion.

The head has a flat stainless steel bezel ring.

User Interface

The user interface (UI) of this light is very similar the 1×18650 Nichia version, with a few tweaks. The main difference is that you are missing the ~1.0 lumen Firefly2 mode of that model (the brighter Firefly3 of that model has been renamed as Firefly2 here).

On the whole, I find the Armytek UI a bit complex, and somewhat reminiscent of the second generation of the inaugural model of Armytek, the Predator. Just like that earlier light, you will need to download the full manual from Armytek to learn how to use it fully (i.e., the bundled manual is more just to get you started). The detailed manual is available from the website’s product page (downloadable as PDF here). You can also follow the link from the QR code on the box, which takes you to main product page. I don’t understand why they don’t provide this better manual with the light itself, as you are likely going to find it frustrating trying to figure it out all the features from the incomplete quick-start guide alone.

That said, even the full manual doesn’t do a great job of fully explaining the implementation of the UI (although if you follow the instructions, you will likely figure it out for yourself). But to help you out, let me try to break it all down for you.

Note that if you are more of a visual learner, you can skip to the end of this section for a video overview describing how the UI works.

To start, you can switch between two types of operation mode sets (with different mode groups available) – the General UI and the Advanced UI. To do this, unscrew the tailcap by a quarter turn with the flashlight off. Then press-and-hold the button while you tighten the tailcap. The light is set by default at the factory to General UI.

General UI Operation

The General UI gives you access to both Firefly modes (Firefly1 and Firefly2), all three Main modes (Main1, Main2, Main3), but only one Turbo mode (Turbo2 by default – although you can change this to Turbo1 by going through the Advanced UI, as I’ll explain later). Note the strobe modes are not available in the General UI.

General UI, from OFF:

  • Press-and-hold: Turns On in Firefly1 and cycles through the two Firefly modes followed by the three Main modes, and then continues to loop through the Main modes (you select by releasing the switch). So, sequence is: Firefly1 > Firefly2 > Main1 > Main2 > Main3 > Main1 > Main2 > Main3 > Main 1 > etc.
  • Single-click: Turns On in the last used mode (the specific six constant modes described in the opening paragraph are all available to be memorized, including Turbo).
  • Double-click: Nothing (i.e., just turns On and then Off again – but scroll down to see what happens when already On).
  • Multiple clicks (3 or more): Nothing, the light simply turns Off and back On with successive clicks.

General UI, from ON:

  • Press-and-hold: If you are currently in a Firefly mode, it will cycle through the Firefly modes and then through all the Main modes, with in a repeating loop of Main modes (i.e., the same as press-and-hold from Off). If you are in the Main mode or Turbo mode, press-and-hold will cause it to cycle through the Main modes only.
  • Single-click: Turns the light Off.
  • Double-click: Jumps to Turbo (assuming you are not already in Turbo – in which case, it jumps back to last mode used before entering Turbo).
  • Multiple clicks (3 or more): Nothing, the light will just turn Off and back On.

This is a bit of an unusual arrangement, but it’s not that hard to get used to. I recommend you think of this General UI as fundamentally a press-and-hold interface, with single- and double-click offering access to the last memorized level and toggling to/from the Turbo level, respectively. The main tweak that I would have liked to see is a more consistent implementation of press-and-hold when On (i.e., I would like to have it always cycle through Firefly, not just when starting in Firefly) – but that’s just personal preference.

Note that General UI lacks the Strobe modes and Turbo 1 (although you can switch the default Turbo level by programming in Advanced UI if you want). General UI should work well for most users right out of the box.

Advanced UI Operation

This is not well explained in the manual, although the information is technically all there.  Simply put, Advanced UI gives you access to 4 defined Mode Group sets that you can choose between, as well as the ability to cycle through a larger subset (but not all) of the constant output modes.

Available to you in the defined Mode Group sets are both Firefly levels in the Firefly Mode Group (Firefly1, Firefly2), all three Main levels in Main Mode Group (Main1, Main2, Main3), both Turbo levels in Turbo Mode Group (Turbo1, Turbo2), and all three strobes in the Strobe Mode Group (Strobe1, Strobe2, Strobe3). The various Mode Groups are typically accessed by multiple clicks from either On or Off as described below (except for Firefly modes which are accessed by a press-and-hold, with additional modes).

In addition, when you activate the light in Advanced UI by a press-and-hold it will run through the first six constant output modes from Firefly1 up to Turbo1. Again, this is the only way to access Firefly modes (basically, think of this ramp as Firefly plus Main and some Turbo).

Advanced UI, from OFF:

  • Press-and-hold: Turns the light On, and runs through the first 6 constant output modes in sequence from Firefly1 to Turbo1, on a repeating loop (i.e., no more excluding Firefly modes after the first round, as General UI does). All modes except Turbo2 and the three Strobe modes are on this repeating sequence. When you release the switch on any level, you are now in that Mode Group set if you press-and-hold again (i.e., the light will only cycle through the levels of that Mode Group set now). So, for example, if you release the switch on Turbo1, a subsequent press-and-hold of the switch will cycle between the two Turbo modes in this Mode Group.
  • Single-click: Turns On in last used mode (note that mode memory now applies to Strobe as well as all constant output modes).
  • Double-click: Turns On in the Main Mode Group
  • Triple-click: Turns On in the Turbo Mode Group
  • 4 clicks: Turns On in the Strobe Mode Group
  • Multiple clicks (5+): Nothing (i.e., light will just activate in the Strobe Mode Group)

Advanced UI, from ON:

  • Press-and-hold: Light will cycle through the levels in the current Mode Group only.
  • Single-click: Turns the light Off.
  • Double-click: Jumps to the Main Mode Group (or jumps down to Firefly1 if already in Main Mode Group).
  • Triple-click: Jumps to the Turbo Mode Group (or does nothing if light is already in Turbo Mode Group).
  • 4 clicks: Jumps to the Strobe Mode Group (or does nothing if light is already in Strobe Mode Group). Note this means that you have to double-click or triple-click to exit Strobe modes when On (or turn Off and then press-and-hold when turning back On).
  • Multiple clicks (5+): Nothing, it just jumps Strobe mode and stays there (i.e., acts as 4 clicks).

Note that the light will memorize the last Turbo mode you used (i.e., Turbo1 or Turbo2).  If you revert back to General UI, it will continue to use that memorized Turbo mode. So this is how you can program the lower Turbo1 in the General UI if you wish.

I personally prefer Advanced UI over General UI, for the more consistent implementation of press-and-hold from Off (i.e., repeatedly cycles a wider set of modes, including Firefly levels). However, you have to remember to triple-click for Turbo now. Also, when On, you are limited to only cycling through your current Mode Group with a subsequent press-and-hold. But it’s easy enough to remember to turn Off and start a press-and-hold again to access the other modes.

What I don’t like in Advanced UI is the inconsistent effect of multiple clicks when On. The first time I activated Strobe mode for example, it took me a while to figure out how to get out (i.e., only double- or triple-click will exit, unless you turn off and reset by a press-and-hold as I prefer). This is not entirely intuitive, and at a minimum I would have liked for the same number of clicks to enter a Mode Group also be used to consistently exit it. But on the plus side, Strobes are reasonably well hidden if you don’t want to bother with them at all in Advanced UI. And you can always stick with General UI if you really don’t like it.

In terms of the strobes, I do like the slow signaling strobes here, with both high and low power (especially as a bike light).

Standby Indicator:

As mentioned in the build section, you can toggle on a standby indicator that briefly flashes the green LED under the switch cover once every four seconds. You do this in a similar way to how you switch between General UI and Advanced UI, but with an extra step: loosen the tailcap a quarter turn, hold down the button, tighten the tailcap AND then immediately loosen the tailcap a quarter turn. I haven’t measured the standby drain in this mode, but I suspect its pretty minimal.

Shortcuts:

Rather then go through it all again, please see above for how all the clicks and press-and-holds work in the two UI.  In simple terms, press-and-hold from Off is necessary to first access Firefly modes, and multiple clicks are necessary to access Turbo from either On or Off.

Mode Memory:

Yes. The light remembers the last mode used and returns to it (constant output modes only in General UI, all modes including Strobes in Advanced UI). Memory mode persists, even with a battery change.

Lock-out Mode:

Yes. Simply unscrew the tailcap a quarter turn. Even though the tailcap has non-anodized threads, it does turn Off while unscrewing from fully tight.

Low battery warning:

Yes. The switch indicator will signal the battery status once the cell is <25% (at which  point, it will flash orange every 2 seconds). Once the battery is <10%, it will flash red every second.

High temperature warning:

The switch indicator will also signal a high temperature warning, with 3 orange flashes every 2 secs. If heat is critical, it will flash red 3 times every second, and the brightness level will automatically step down.

According to the manual, the brightness decreases once the light approaches 58 degrees Celsius.

Reviewer Comments:

This is a sophisticated interface, with a lot of extra bells-and-whistles (in terms of mode groupings, standby and battery/heat indicators, etc.). It is a bit confusing to configure initially, and there are some inconsistencies in how features are implemented across UI Mode Group sets (i.e., which modes are included in a ramp, exact number of clicks to access or exit a given Mode set, etc.). And since this is not completely clear in the manual (even the extended manual online), you are likely need to refer the UI instructions here to reprogram.

But that’s really more of a quibble – any sophisticated UI is going to have complexities and inconsistencies that won’t please everyone. Once you decide which interface you want – the default General UI or the Advanced UI, you should be able to get used to things fairly quickly.  And again, I like to think of this light as fundamentally a press-and-hold style light for selecting modes, with the clicks really about shortcuts or group selections.

To help you see how all that works in practice, I’ve posted a video to my YouTube channel (@cpfselfbuilt) demonstrating the UI in practice:

Circuit Measures

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM):

Main1:
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There is no sign of PWM or circuit noise at any level. The light appears to be fully constant-current controlled. 🙂

Strobe:

Strobe3:

Strobe2:

Strobe1:

Strobe3 frequency is a fast 9.7 Hz, at full power (Turbo2). Fairly disorienting.

Strobes1 and 2 are slow signaling strobes, both at 1 Hz. Strobe 2 is full power (Turbo2), whereas Strobe 1 is reduced to the Main2 level.

This is basically unchanged from the Nichia version.

Charging:
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The charging dock is identical to the smaller Nichia version of this light – they can be used interchangeably for the two models.

As previously noted, charging this light is a little unusual. The magnetic charging base will snap on the tailcap snugly, and initiate the charge. The power LED glows red when charging, and the battery LED glows green when done (or when the dock is disconnected). The green LED will flash for a few second when first connecting, as it evaluates the charge status of the battery. Note that it will not initiate a charge if the cell is >4.0V resting (i.e., the charging status stays green).

There is also an orange blinking error feature apparently, but I haven’t seen it – it occurs if the charging source is incapable of providing enough power. Solid orange means it is charging at a reduced current.

Note: You need to unscrew the tailcap a quarter-turn, to lock out the light first, in order to charge it. If you try to charge with the tailcap fully connected, you will get a flashing red error light on the charging base. This is a very unusual design.

Resting voltage <3.0V
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Resting voltage >3.0V
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Just like the Nichia version, the Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max shows an initial low initial charging current of ~0.13A when the cell is heavily depleted (<3.0V resting), which jumps up to ~1.0A once the cell is >3.0V resting. This two-current charging is a good design, and indicates a safe integrated charging circuit. While this max charging rate is very reasonable for a 18650 battery, I do find it a little low for the 21700 bundled here. But this is another sign they are using very much the same charging control circuit.

In my testing, once charging begins it will fully charge the cell up ~4.19V resting at termination. However, as mentioned earlier (and like the Nichia version) it will not initiate a charge above ~4.0V resting. You will need to use a stand-alone charger if you wish to top-up you cells within the ~4.0-4.2V range.

Standby / Parasitic Drain:

I measured the standby current as 8.8 uA.

Like its smaller sibling, this is completely negligible, and not a concern (i.e., it would take many years to drain the cell). Nevertheless, I always recommend you store the light locked out at the tailcap when not in use, to prevent accidental activation and cut the standby drain. A quarter turn twist of the tail will lock out this light, despite the lack of anodized screw threads. Note the charger feature still works when the light is locked out (indeed, it only works when the light is locked out, which is pretty unique).

Emitter Measures

This section is a new feature of my reviews, where I directly measure key emitter characteristics in terms of colour temperature, tint, and colour rendition. Please see my Emitter Measures page to learn more about what these terms mean, and how I am measuring them.

As explained on that page, since I am using an inexpensive uncalibrated device, you can only make relative comparisons across my reviews (i.e., don’t take these numbers as absolutely accurate values, but as relatively consistent across lights in my testing).

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~3600K, and the moderately positive tint shift (+0.0083 Duv) to yellow at this temperature. These values seem reasonable for a warm-tinted XHP70.2 emitter (which tend toward positive Duvs at all CCTs), and match my visual experience of this light. CRI measures are pending an upgraded measurement device.

Beamshots

All outdoor beamshots are taken on my Canon PowerShot S5 IS at f/2.7, 0.5 secs exposure, ISO 400, daylight white balance. The bend in the road is approximately 40 meters (~45 yards) from the camera. Learn more about my outdoor beamshots here (scroll down for the floody light position used in this review).

Click on any thumbnail image below to open a full size image in a new window. You can then easily compare beams by switching between tabs.


It is an interesting beam pattern for these Armytek lights; a very even flood beam. The Max version here has a slightly wider spill than the Nicha version, with even less demarcation from spot to spill. I think it could make a good bicycle light, for general illumination in the immediate foreground.

Testing Results

My summary tables are generally reported in a manner consistent with the ANSI FL-1 standard for flashlight testing. In addition to the links above, please see my output measures page for more background.

All my output numbers are based on my home-made lightbox setup. As explained on that methodology page, I have devised a method for converting my lightbox relative output values to estimated lumens. My Peak Intensity/Beam Distance are directly measured with a NIST-certified Extech EA31 lightmeter.

Wizard C2 Pro Max Testing Results

ModeSpec LumensEstimated Lumens @0secEstimated Lumens @30 secsBeam Intensity @0secBeam Intensity @30secsBeam Distance @30secsPWM/Strobe FreqNoise FreqCharging Current <3VCharging Current >3VParasitic DrainWeight w/o BatteryWeight with Battery
Firefly10.320.30.3---NoNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Firefly24.388---NoNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Main1424141---NoNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Main2140150150---NoNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Main3420430430---NoNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Turbo11210-8401,4001,350---NoNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Turbo23,720-8403,9503,8501,710 cd1,670 cd82 mNoNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Strobe1140-----1.0 HzNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Strobe23,720-----1.0 HzNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g
Strobe33,720-----9.7 HzNo0.13 A1.0 A8.8 uA82 g150 g

It’s great to see the multiple Moonlight/Firefly modes here, especially the ultra-low Firefly1 at <0.1 lumens (not sure why we have lost the ~1.0 Firefly2 mode from the Nichia model though). Spacing of modes is very good, with a great range of levels across the whole dynamic range.

At 82g/150g (without/with battery), the Wizard C2 Pro Max is noticeably heavier than the smaller Nichia model (which weighed in at 113g with battery). This may an issue for some in using the Max version as a headlamp (although it will translate into longer runtime as a bike light).

To see full testing results for all modern lights in my testing, check out my Database page.

Runtimes

As always, my runtimes are done under a small cooling fan, for safety and consistency. To learn more about how to interpret runtime graphs, see my runtimes methodology page.

To start, let’s see how the 1×21700 Max version compares to the 1×18650 Nichia version:

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Basically, the circuit regulation and performance is identical – although of course the larger Max version produces more output for equivalent runtime (or longer runtime for equivalent output), consistent with the XHP70.2 emitter and larger capacity cell.

And now how the Max version compares to the 21700 competition:

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And here’s a blow-up of the first few mins, so you can see the initial Turbo step-down better:

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The Wizard C2 Pro Max shows excellent efficiency and regulation at all levels tested, consistent with its smaller sibling, and exactly in the same range as other XHP70.2 lights with very good efficiency circuits. It shows a very controlled step-down pattern as the battery nears exhaustion. I find this result particularly impressive, given warmer tints tend to show lower efficiency (due to the extra phosphor added compared to cool white emitters).

Note that the Turbo2 level steps down a little sooner than the Nichia version did at around 1min to a ~800 lumen level, compared to the ~1350 lumen Turbo1 level. Unless you really need the super high output of Turbo2 for that short length of time, you may find Turbo1 more generally useful (I know I do).

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Excellent current-controlled efficiency, with stable regulation in all modes.User interface is a little unusual, with two distinct UIs with differing mode group sets (with some shortcut inconsistencies between).
Textured optic provides an extremely floody beam, with no real hotspot.Charging dock requires tailcap to be loosened, and won't initiate a charge when cell is >4.0V resting.
Great overall range of output levels, with true Moonlight modes.Need to keep tailcap and screw threads very clean, or you can get some flickering on the highest level.
Compact and easy to activate with a single large button, and a number of warning/notification modes available.
Included high-capacity battery with custom USB charging dock (magnetic).

A neutral comment is that the Wizard C2 Pro Max is an angle-head light – which is beneficial when using as a headlamp or clip-on light, but is different from most other lights.

More significantly, the first sample of the Max that Armytek sent me was defective on Turbo2. It had greatly reduced output from the start, and quickly developed a persistent flicker on this level that wouldn’t go away. The replacement sample worked perfectly from the beginning.

Overall Rating

Preliminary Conclusions

This is another strong showing from Armytek. Like its smaller sibling the 1×18650 Wizard C2 Pro Nichia, this is a powerful and versatile flood light, with a lot going for it.

Angled flood lights have a lot of very practical uses, especially for up-close work or in the near field. Of course, this is also a very high-output light, so it can light up a much wider range than typical. It’s a bit heavy for a headlamp, but the headband holds it in place well. The relatively warm tint is convenient for outdoor use – although I prefer both the neutral white tint and the much higher CRI of the Nichia version. Still, I can see this making an outstanding bike light.

Like its junior version, the performance of the circuit was outstanding – excellent regulation and output/runtime efficiency at all level tested. Given the relatively small thermal mass however, it needs to step down quickly on max (Turbo2). So here again, I recommend Turbo1 as a more practical high output level.

The build has the same solid and rugged feel as the Nichia version, with Armytek’s classic grippy matte finish. Switch action is good, and the status LEDs under the switch serve multiple uses. The charging dock is a little unusual in that it needs the tailcap loosened (and won’t initiate a charge >4.0V resting). Note that this is exactly the same dock as the 1×18650 Nichia version –  and hence, the same charging characteristics.

Mode level spacing is good, although for some reason you don’t have the ~1 lumen Firefly2 level here (you still have the <1 lumen Firefly1). The user interface is a bit complex with its General and Advanced UIs and mode sets, but you can quickly get used to it.

I had initially given the Nichia version 4.5 stars, knocking off half a star for the UI complexity and charging dock quirks. But I have since reconsidered that light as a true 5 star, since the UI isn’t that hard to get used to. In comparison, I think this Max version is more appropriate 4.5 light, given the lower CRI, missing Firefly2, and low (relative) charging rate. But it’s still a great light – and may be better suited to you if you need the great output and/or runtime.

Another strong contender in the full flood family of lights!

Acknowledgement

The Wizard C2 Pro Nichia was provided for review by Armytek. All opinions are my own however, and the light received the same rigourous and objective testing as all other lights that I have reviewed. At the time of review, this light retails for ~$95 USD (~$125 CDN).

Armytek is offering a 15% discount code to readers of my website, please use code flashlightreviews15 when checking out of the Armytek.com website.

Convoy M21F

  1. Introduction
  2. Manufacturer Specifications
  3. Package Details
  4. Build
  5. User Interface
  6. Circuit Measures
  7. Emitter Measures
  8. Beamshots
  9. Testing Results
  10. Runtimes
  11. Pros and Cons
  12. Overall Rating
  13. Preliminary Conclusions
  14. Acknowledgement

Introduction

Upon my recent return to reviewing, the compact 1×21700 Convoy S21E was my first foray into budget models. That light was my first experience of this maker, which was very positive. So I decide to pick up their larger, budget thrower in this 1×21700 class, the M21F.

At the time when I ordered this sample, there was an option for the Luminus SFT40 or Osram CULNM1.TG emitters (both suitable for maximum throw), or the higher output Cree XHP70.2 – with all emitters available in a variety of colour temperatures. Although I expect the SFT40 and Osram emitters would do well in this build, I decided to go for the maximum output to see how it compares to other XHP70.2 lights.

I note this light is now available with the XHP70.3 HI emitter, which might be a good compromise to consider (i.e., greater throw and less chromatic variation for a little less overall output).

Anyway, let’s see how this XHP70.2 version performs in my testing.

Manufacturer Specifications

Note: as always, these are simply what the manufacturer provides – scroll down to see my actual testing results.

FeatureSpecs
MakerConvoy
ModelM21F
EmitterXHP70.2
Tint6500K
Max Output (Lumens)4,000
Min Output (Lumens)-
Max Runtime-
Max Beam Intensity (cd)-
Max Beam Distance (m)-
Mode Levels5 + Ramp
FlashingStrobe
Battery1x21700
Weight (w/o battery)145 g
Weight (with battery)210 g
Length143.8 mm
Head Diameter40 mm
Body Diameter27.5 mm
WaterproofIPX4

Package Details

(edited) 20221229_103547

Like the S21E, the M21F is shipped in a simple cheap cardboard box, wrapped in thin bubble wrap. Inside, you will find the following:

  • Convoy S21E with a thin wrist lanyard, also attached
  • If you buy the version with a battery included, a thin filter pad is included to block contact during shipping

And that’s it. There is no manual or instruction sheet, so you’ll need to check out reviews like this to learn how it works and what all the features are. Minimalist to be sure, in keeping with the price.

Build

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From left to right: LiitoKala 21700 (5000mAh), Fenix ARB-L21-5000U 21700 (5000mAh), Sofirm IF25A, Fenix E35 v3, Convoy S21E, Imalent MS03, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, Acebeam E70, Nitecore P20iX, Nitecore MH12SE, Lumintop D3, Convoy M21F.

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The M21F is larger than its compact S21E cousin, a more “typical” size for a general purpose thrower light. It look more polished and substantial than the S21E.

The electronic switch is more refined here, with a small button with rubberized grip with an integrated clear ring (that shows charging status), along with a stylish blue bezel ring. Button feel is good, with a defined click. There are dim couloured LEDs under the switch which can produce a red, orange or green colour during charging. A more sophisticated implementation than the S21E build for sure (but see below, for my charging experience).

There is a small raised post on the positive contact terminal in the head, so flat top cells can easily be used. Tailcap is flat with a standard spring and retaining ring. Note that like my first S21E sample, the silver-coloured spring included here is fairly stiff, and resulted in some denting of the positive terminal of the battery. I know these springs were replaced with softer gold-coloured ones on later S21E editions.

There is an integrated USB-C charging port on the head of the light, across from the switch, under an attached rubber cover. Cover fits well enough to make me think the light is fairly water-resistant.

The light doesn’t have knurling per se, but rather a series of deep cut-outs with concentric circle “reeling.” I found grip to be pretty good on this model, as the reeling is deeper and more aggressive – better than on the thinner S21E body. The larger head, with cut-out fins, also helps with grip. Wrist lanyard is pretty cheap, and introduces a slight tailstand wobble the way it is attached be default – I recommend you re-thread it to the side cutouts on the tailcap (which is presumably why they are there, to prevent interference with tailstanding).

The light has a distinctive gun-metal blue annodizing, in a satin finish. Anodizing looks to be decent quality, although there are a few small chips on some of the raised reeling rings on the body tube on my sample (making me thing this is indeed type II annodizing, as is common on budget lights). Tailcap screw threads are square-cut and anodized, so you can lock out the light by a twist of the tailcap. Screw threads on the head are not anodized (and don’t need to be).

Any regular-sized 21700 cell (without an integrated USB-C charger) should fit and work in the light. You are best sticking with flat-top cells though, as longer cells (i.e., with a button top) would likely be too tight given the strong tail spring.

A solid build with good hand feel, it certainly feels like a higher-end budget build.

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The XHP70.2 version here comes with a heavily textured reflector (I believe the SFT40 version comes with a smooth reflector). Reflector is quite deep, which should provide good throw.

The mineral glass lens has a light greenish AR coating, which I prefer. Bezel is stainless steel with crenelations. Not overly aggressive, but I’m sure it would hurt if you were hit with it.

I’m not doing white wall beamshots any more, but I did notice a rather yellowish corona around the hotspot, progressing well into the mid-spillbeam range on my sample. You see it even in the simple desktop shot above. In practice though, it is really only noticeable on a white wall though. This is a common occurrence with XHP70.2 emitters.

User Interface

The M21F has the exact same user interface that I described on the S21E. It has a choice of two distinct multiple-output mode sets you can select: one with a smooth ramp in output from min to max, and one with four discrete steps (1%, 10%, 40%, 100%/Turbo) plus a 0.2%/Moonlight level. Also available is a “Tactical” mode which only has the Turbo level. A strobe mode is also available, along with some other bonus features.

From OFF:

  • Press-and-hold: Moonlight
  • Single-click: Turns on to the memorized brightness level
  • Double-click: Turbo
  • Triple-click: Strobe
  • 4 clicks: set to Tactical mode (i.e., only momentary 100% brightness)
  • 5 clicks: Voltage check. The light will blink out the voltage to one decimal place, first by the main volt, then by the decimal point (e.g., 3 blinks, a pause, and five more blinks would mean 3.5V).
  • 6 clicks: Switch between ramping mode and stepped mode
  • 10 clicks: Electronic lock out. Click for another 10 times to re-activate the light. Note that I suggest you simply lock the light out by a twist of the tailcap instead.

From ON:

  • Press-and-hold (in Ramping mode set): Ramp up to 100%/Turbo. Press-and-hold again to ramp down to 0.2%/Moonlight. Release at any time to select the desired level. Note that when you restart the ramp after selecting a level, it reverses direction on the next press and hold.
  • Press-and-hold (in Stepped mode set): Step up to next level (4 main levels on the sequence, Moonlight is not on the main sequence). Press-and-hold again to step down in levels.
  • Single-click: Off
  • Double-click: Turbo
  • 3 clicks: Strobe
  • 5 clicks: Voltage check
  • 6 clicks: Switch between ramping mode and stepped mode

Shortcuts:

  • To Moonlight: Press-and-hold from off
  • To Turbo: Double-click from any mode except Tactical
  • To Strobe: Triple-click from any mode except Tactical

Mode memory:

Yes. The M21F will memorize any brightness level except for Moonlight and Strobe.

Low voltage warning:

Yes. The light will drop down to ~1% output and the switch surround will blink red before eventually shutting off at ~3V. Note that it can run for a very long time at this level before shutting down.

Reviewer Comments:

As before, I find this to be a very decent and versatile interface – easy to use, but with a decent number of options. Hand the light to someone, and it wouldn’t take them long to get used to it, the modes make a lot of sense. Switching between ramping and stepped mode sets is a bit peculiar with the six clicks, but it’s not something you will want to switch between often anyway.

Note that the Turbo mode steps down automatically after a period of time (scroll down for runtimes). And while I’m glad to see the extra ultra-low mode here, it is not actually low enough to be what I would consider a true Moonlight (see Testing Results for more info).

Circuit Measures

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM):

There is no sign of PWM at any level – the light appears to be current-controlled. However, I did detect a faint oscillating noise pattern on two of the discrete levels, 10% and 40%, but not on the 1% or Turbo levels.

Step 40%
M21F-40

Step 10%
M21F-10

Step 1%
M21F-1

The frequency was 1 kHz on the 10/40% levels, and this is not visible in actual use. I am simply including the scope readings for completeness.

Strobe:

Strobe
M21F-Strobe

Strobe frequency is a fast 10.1 Hz, the same as the S21E.

Charging:
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M21F-charging1

The M21F has a single high-current charging rate of ~2.1A.

I normally like a two-stage charging feature (i.e., with a lower charging rate for when cells are heavily discharged). But the M21F’s output drops down to a super low mode when the battery is running low, and big red button flashes incessantly, warning you to shut down. In fact, it is actually very hard to get the cell below ~3.0V in this light . As such, this is reasonable compromise to stick with a single high charging rate integrated charger.

There was an issue with the charging feature on my sample. The charger would never go green, even with >12 hours plugged in. It progressed from red to orange as the battery charged, but the cell would always max out at ~4.12V, according to my voltmeter. It seems the integrated charger won’t go any higher on my sample. I tried other batteries, and the effect was the same – the charger terminates at ~4.12V, leaving the battery not quite fully charged (and the charging LED showing charge still in progress). I suspect this is just a quirk of my one sample

Standby / Parasitic Drain:

I measured the standby current at a negligible 39.5 uA on my sample.

This is nice and ultra-low standby current, and is not a concern for draining the cells. However, I always suggest you lock the light out when not in use to prevent accidental activation (and cut the negligible standby drain in this case). A single twist of the tail will lock out this light, thanks to the anodized screw threads.

Emitter Measures

This section is a new feature of my reviews, where I directly measure key emitter characteristics in terms of colour temperature, tint, and colour rendition. Please see my Emitter Measures page to learn more about what these terms mean, and how I am measuring them.

As explained on that page, since I am using an inexpensive uncalibrated device, you can only make relative comparisons across my reviews (i.e., don’t take these numbers as absolutely accurate values, but as relatively consistent across lights in my testing).

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~6700K, and the very slight positive tint shift (+0.0036 Duv) to green at this temperature. These values are very consistent with a cool white XHP70.2 emitter, and match my visual experience of this light. CRI measures are pending an upgraded measurement device.

Beamshots

All outdoor beamshots are taken on my Canon PowerShot S5 IS at f/2.7, 0.5 secs exposure, ISO 400, daylight white balance. The bend in the road is approximately 40 meters (~45 yards) from the camera. Learn more about my outdoor beamshots here (scroll down for the floody light position used in this review).

Click on any thumbnail image below to open a full size image in a new window. You can then easily compare beams by switching between tabs.



The beam pattern is good, with a nice mix of throw and spill (and the mild colour distortion around the hotspot is not noticeable in actual use outdoors). I would be curious to see how far it throws with a smooth reflector and smaller emitter.

Testing Results

My summary tables are generally reported in a manner consistent with the ANSI FL-1 standard for flashlight testing. In addition to the links above, please see my output measures page for more background.

All my output numbers are based on my home-made lightbox setup. As explained on that methodology page, I have devised a method for converting my lightbox relative output values to estimated lumens. My Peak Intensity/Beam Distance are directly measured with a NIST-certified Extech EA31 lightmeter.

M21F Testing Results

ModeSpec LumensEstimated Lumens @0secEstimated Lumens @30 secsBeam Intensity @0secBeam Intensity @30secsBeam Distance @30secsPWM/Strobe FreqNoise FreqCharging Current <3VCharging Current >3VParasitic DrainWeight w/o BatteryWeight with Battery
Moon 0.2%-1919---NoNo2.1 A2.1 A39.5 uA150 g219 g
1%-3636---NoNo2.1 A2.1 A39.5 uA150 g219 g
10%-445445---No0.99 kHz2.1 A2.1 A39.5 uA150 g219 g
40%-1,1001,100---No0.99 kHz2.1 A2.1 A39.5 uA150 g219 g
Turbo 100%4,0003,1003,00020,200 cd19,400 cd279 mNoNo2.1 A2.1 A39.5 uA150 g219 g
Strobe------10.0 Hz10.0 Hz2.1 A2.1 A39.5 uA150 g219 g

Max output is much lower than the claimed specs (which I expect are theoretical “emitter lumens” and not actual ANSI FL-1 output lumens). The lowest mode is closer to 0.5%, so there no “Moon” mode here, just a reasonable low.

The M21F is also the second heaviest light in my line-up above. The larger mass should help with managing heat dissipation.

To see full testing results for all modern lights in my testing, check out my Database page.

Runtimes

As always, my runtimes are done under a small cooling fan, for safety and consistency. To learn more about how to interpret runtime graphs, see my runtimes methodology page.

MS03-Max

MS03-Hi

M212F-Med

As you can see above, the M21F is very well regulated, with very flat output at all levels tested.

Overall efficiency is excellent, pretty much exactly on par with the much more expensive Acebeam E70 (which also uses the XHP70.2). Convoy is obviously sourcing excellent circuit components.

Here is a blow-up for the first few mins of runtime on Turbo, so you can see the step-down more clearly in comparison to the other lights:

M21F-Max-extended

It is a good implementation of a step-down feature on Turbo, with a nice steady ramp down to the intermediate ~1700 lumen level beginning after 4 mins on max. I suspect the larger thermal mass is helping here.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Excellent output/runtime efficiency and regulation, on par with much more expensive brands.Even with the textured reflector, beam shows a lot of colour variation in the corona and mid-spillbeam with this XHP70.2 emitter.
Decent beam profile with this emitter. However, this build is probably best suited to a smaller die emitter for maximum throw (or the newer XHP70.3 HI option).Charger on my sample never goes green, (always shows as charging). Max charged battery voltage is only ~4.12V.
Good hand feel, with decent grip and nice implementation of an electronic switch.My sample came with a dented positive terminal on the battery, similar to my early S21E model (corrected on that series over time).
A very decent user interface, intuitive yet with a good number of options.Lacks a Moonlight mode, and max output is well below stated specs (but still reasonable for the class).

Another minor issue I noted is the ramping speed is rather quick. But given how few lights actually give you a choice of a continuous ramp option, this is hardly a complaint!

Overall Rating

Preliminary Conclusions

The M21F shows all the best characteristics of the S21E, in a more substantial build. It definitely has a more “classy” look and feel, and I particularly like the implementation of electronic switch on this model. A pity that the charger on my sample seems to terminate early, but I suspect that is an odd quirk of this one sample.

Circuit performance – in terms of regulation pattern and output/runtime efficiency – is excellent, on par with more expensive current-controlled lights. As before, I find the discrete levels are not really well spaced – but you always have the ramping mode available instead. And again, “Moonlight 0.2%” is really just a low mode (but to be honest, I’m not really looking for Moonlight in a thrower build).

Also as before, there are some minor issues I noticed on my sample, in keeping with the budget price. None of these are deal-breakers for me, but it does mean the light tops out at 4 stars in my view. The larger thermal mass here is definitely helpful though, in terms of supporting greater output for as long as possible.

Although it was good to be able to gauge max output performance with the XHP70.2 emitter, I regret not having the chance test the throw of one of the smaller profile emitters, like the SFT40. Given that the compact 1×21700 lights typically do a great job serving as general purpose lights, most people probably want to go with maximum throw on this build – especially given that deep reflector. And so, given the new XHP70.3 HI option available now, I think that is a great option to consider in this build.

Certainly a lot of good choices to consider in this budget thrower build!

Acknowledgement

The M21F was personally purchased from the Convoy store on Aliexpress in the fall of 2022. At the time of review, this light retails for ~$40 USD (~$60 CDN) with a bundled battery (and depending on emitter chosen).

My YouTube Channel – @cpfselfbuilt

One of the features I wasn’t planning to continue in these new reviews was my individual light video overviews on my YouTube channel: @cpfselfbuilt

Back in the day, I found these rather labour-intensive to plan out and produce (even with only minimal editing/processing). And the video format doesn’t allow you to easily update or correct information (except by cards or other pop-ups), which can be frustrating.

I also used them mainly to show the build and user interface – figuring it was often easier to explain visually than with a lot of text. But with these new 2023 reviews, I’m focusing on simplified point-by-point UI descriptions, to serve as manual replacements. So I figured the need for (time-consuming) videos was reduced now.

And to be honest, I also got tired of the constant complaints from many commentators on that site about the lack of outdoor beamshots in the videos. As I painfully tried to explain repeatedly, they have no real value for comparative testing if you are using an auto-brightness-adjusting cellphone camera (as I was for the videos) – everything would look misleadingly bright. And I was already providing fixed-camera-setting comparative beamshot pictures in my actual reviews – video recordings of the same would have no additional value. But it seems like outdoor beamshot videos was all a lot of YouTubers cared about, and the constant trolling on every new video was annoying.

But as I also had a lot of supportive subscribers on that channel back in the day, I figured I owed them a video introducing my return to reviewing. So I posted the video below, outlining my interest in the 21700 battery class in particular:

I must say, I’ve been a bit blown away by the immediate and overwhelmingly positive response to this announcement video!  I had figured that most people would have long-ago unsubscribed, and it was mainly bots that were left on the site. It seems I underestimated how much value people found in these videos.

I’m not going back to individual videos for each light, but I am thinking now of perhaps making some compilation videos showing off lights that have performed exceptionally well in my testing (for a given battery type, or use pattern, or emitter, etc.). That would give me the opportunity to work out any kinks in my descriptions or in the experience of handling the lights ahead of time (as any compilation video would be coming out after the reviews, not concurrently with them).

I’m still mulling the idea over, but please leave me a comment here or on the channel if you can think of something that would be particularly valuable for a video.

Any snark about outdoor beamshots will be promptly ignored. 🙂

Lumintop D3

  1. Introduction
  2. Manufacturer Specifications
  3. Package Details
  4. Build
  5. User Interface
  6. Circuit Measures
  7. Emitter Measures
  8. Beamshots
  9. Testing Results
  10. Runtimes
  11. Pros and Cons
  12. Overall Rating
  13. Preliminary Conclusions
  14. Acknowledgement

Introduction

Upon my recent return to reviewing, I was glad to see that Lumintop is still in operation. I’ve had a number of mid-range and very good quality lights from them over the years – typically at budget prices (or close to).

Despite the low prices, their lights often have some distinctive features, showing they have an innovative side. Enter the D3, which has a number of interesting characteristics for this class. It also features the Anduril 2 user interface, which I’ve heard good things about. So I thought it would be a good light to review and compare – let’s see how it does in my testing.

Manufacturer Specifications

Note: as always, these are simply what the manufacturer provides – scroll down to see my actual testing results.

FeatureSpecs
MakerLumintop
ModelD3
EmitterSFN55.2
Tint-
Max Output (Lumens)6,000
Min Output (Lumens)-
Max Runtime-
Max Beam Intensity (cd)91,600 cd
Max Beam Distance (m)605 m
Mode Levels-
Flashing-
Battery1x21700
Weight (w/o battery)138 g
Weight (with battery)-
Length135.5 mm
Head Diameter45.5 mm
Body Diameter30.5 mm
WaterproofIP68

Package Details

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The D3 comes in a hard cardboard box with cut-out foam to hold everything in place securely. Inside you will find the following:

  • Lumintop D3 flashlight
  • 5000mAh 21700 battery
  • 21700 Battery holder (not needed for 26800)
  • Wrist lanyard
  • USB-C Charging cable
  • 2 Spare O-rings
  • Manual

It’s a decent package, and I like seeing the charging cable (don’t need another one, but it is good to see everything you need to charge the light included). That said, I would have liked to have seen a holster or pocket clip.

Build

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From left to right: LiitoKala 21700 (5000mAh), Fenix ARB-L21-5000U 21700 (5000mAh), Sofirm IF25A, Fenix E35 v3, Convoy S21E, Imalent MS03, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, Acebeam E70, Nitecore P20iX, Nitecore MH12SE, Lumintop D3, Convoy M21F.

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The D3 is a bit longer and wider than most lights in this class – consistent with its larger than typical reflector, and its ability to take 26800 cells. That said, it fits very comfortably in the hand – I don’t find it too large (although I do have large hands).

There is a side-mounted electronic switch on the side of the light near the head, with a stylish electric blue switch ring. The switch features the Lumintop rabbit logo, which glows faintly green when a battery is installed and the light is ready to use (making it easy to find the switch in the dark). Feel and traverse of the switch is good, and easy to activate. Note that it wouldn’t be too hard to accidentally activate the light, so I strongly recommend you keep the light stored locked out at the tailcap when not in use. A simple twist of the tailcap will do the job, thanks to the anodized screw threads. The light can tailstand stably, even with the cut-outs for the wrist lanyard.

The knurling is an attractive square block design. While not very aggressive per se, it actually serves to enhance grip pretty well due to the space between the blocks. With the additional head fins, I’d say overall grip is decent.

Anodizing looks to be very good quality, relatively matte in finish. I didn’t notice any flaws on my sample.

One thing I really like about the light is the square-cut screw threads in the tail – always a nice touch, and I found thread action to be very good.

Inside, the light comes with a TSL-branded standard-sized 5000mAh 21700 flat-top battery, and a battery holder to help make contact. Note the build is designed to accommodate 26800 cells, so a 21700 cell could easily rattle around or be displaced without the extra holder. I like seeing the standard-sized 21700 here – on many lights that use proprietary cells with integrated chargers, it can be hard to find another battery that fits and works in the light. And in a pinch, you might be able to fit in one of those 21700s with an integrated charger. So, no worries here – battery flexibility is a real strong point of this build.

The light includes a USB-C charging port on the body, on the opposite side from the switch (with a well-fitting rubber cover). The switch bunny flashes blue when charging, and goes solid blue once the cell is fully charged. As previously mentioned, the switch bunny glows green when ready to use – and stay green while the light is in use.

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The light uses the SFN55.2 emitter, which is a relatively large 7x7mm LED made by San’an Optoelectronics in China (I don’t know much about the company – someone please leave a comment if they know more about these emitters). It is coupled with a reasonably large heavily-textured reflector. You should expect a good amount of output with a relatively throwy beam. I didn’t notice any significant tint artifacts in the beam, it seems very clean.

The bezel is flat black aluminum, with a standard level of crenelations (i.e., enough to headstand stably, and see when the light is on). The light comes with an AR-coated  mineral glass lens.

Overall, I find this to be a nice looking light with decent ergonomics and a good beam pattern. It fits well in the hand, despite its larger than typical size.

User Interface

The D3 uses the Anduril 2 user interface (UI), which is a popular open source UI with many advanced features. It has two distinct UIs mode sets: Simple and Advanced. The labels are a bit misleading, as both are fairly sophisticated – it is just that the Advanced UI has a lot of extra options not available on the scaled-down Simple UI. Advanced UI also has an option for a discrete Stepped level mode, in addition to the continuously-variable smooth Ramping mode (which is the only mode present on the Simple UI).

To switch from the default Simple UI to Advanced UI, you need to do 10 clicks from Off, with a hold on the 10th click.

It’s easier to show it the UIs than explain them in words, so here is a pic I scrapped off the internet:

ui-diagram

It’s not as complicated as it looks (and Simple UI is quite straight-forward). But let me try to break it down for you.

From OFF:

  • Press and hold: Turns On in lowest output, in either Ramping mode or Stepped mode depending on which mode is enabled (and which UI you are in)
  • Single click: Turns on in last memorized mode used (Ramping or Stepped again)
  • Double click: Turns on to Turbo (aka the Ramping max output)
  • Triple click: Battery check (voltage read out a single time)
  • Triple click and hold: Special strobe modes, but only when in Advanced UI (remembers last strobe mode used)
  • 4 clicks: Lockout mode. In lockout mode you have different options available:
    • Press and hold: Momentary Moonlight
    • Double click and hold: Momentary Low
    • 4 clicks: Turns On in memorized output level
    • 4 clicks and hold: Turns On in the lowest level
    • 5 clicks: Turns On in Turbo
    • 10 clicks and hold: Configure the lock timeout threshold (in Advanced UI only), allowing you to pre-set the timeout time of the lock.

From ON:

  • Press and hold: Ramps up (or Steps up, depending on the mode). Ramps/steps down if you do it again.
  • Single click: Turns Off
  • Double click: Jumps to Turbo
  • Double click and hold: Ramps down (or Steps down)
  • Triple click: Switch between Ramping and Stepped modes (in Advanced UI only)
  • 4 clicks: Lockout mode (see above for options)

Mode memory:

Yes, the circuit memorizes the last constant On output level in either Ramping or Stepped modes.

Strobe/Blinking modes:

Yes, quite a few actually. The strobe/blinking modes are accessible from off with a triple click and hold in Advanced UI only. You can switch between strobe/blinking modes with 2 clicks, in the following sequence (see testing results below to see what these look like):

  • Candle mode
  • Bike flasher
  • Party strobe
  • Tactical strobe
  • Lightning mode

Low voltage warning:

Yes. In operation, the light drops in brightness gradually until shutting off when the cell is ~2.9V.

Lock-out mode:

Yes. In either Simple UI or Advanced UI, lockout is accessed by 4 clicks from on or off (repeat to unlock). The lockout mode is unusual here, as it actually enables momentary operation in the Moonlight/Lo modes. There are other lockout modes available, as explained above. As always though, I recommend you physically lock out at the light at the tailcap, if you want to guarantee no accidental activation.

Temperature check and thermal calibration mode:

This is a little complicated (and beyond the needs of most users), so I will just refer you to the diagram from the manual above.

Reviewer Comments:

This is fairly sophisticated setup – a choice of simple or advanced UI, well thought out (although of course you will never please everyone). While I can see flashaholics enjoying some of the extra items, some of them are really novelties (e.g. candle mode and lightning storm are particularly well done, but when would you practically ever use them other than as a party trick?). At the end of the day, I expect Simple UI is fine for most users. That said, the Stepped mode and bike strobe are something that many could use, so it’s nice to have them as options in the Advanced UI.

Circuit Measures

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM):

There is no sign of PWM on any level, the circuit appears to be fully current-controlled.

That being said, my oscilloscope was able to detect high frequency noise at most levels, as depicted below. Note that these are not a concern, as they are not visible to naked the eye – the light remains flicker free in actual use.

Lo:
D3-Lo

Stepped L1:
D3-L1

Stepped L2:
D3-L2

Stepped L3:
D3-L3

Stepped L4:
D3-L4

Stepped L5:
D3-L5

Stepped L6:
D3-L6

Stepped L7:
D3-L7

Stepped L8:
D3-L8

As you can see, noise begins with L2, and the frequency remains constant at ~16 kHz, but increases in amplitude as output levels rise (which is fairly common, as more light is being emitted) – except for L4, which is noise free. Noise at these super high frequencies is impossible to detect visually, and so not a concern. I am just including for completeness, as I like to present all my findings.

Strobes:

Tactical Strobe:
D3-Tactical

Tactical strobe is a fairly typical 10.4 Hz, although the light spends more time in the On phase than the Off phase on each cycle.

Party Strobe:
D3-Party

Party strobe is a super-fast (and annoying) 25 Hz. I don’t know what kind of parties Anduril fans like to hold, but I won’t be attending any. 😉

Lightning Strobe:
D3-Lightning
D3-LightningB
D3-LightningC

I’ve shown three consecutive 10 sec cycles above, so you can a feel for the frequency and intensity of light flashes. Lightning strobe is a fairly realistic lightning simulation, with variable intensity and time between flashes.

Bike Strobe:
D3-Bike

Bike strobe is a nice, slow 1 Hz signalling strobe – but with with 4 rapid flashes on every signal (shown in more detail below).

D3-BikeB

Beacon:
D3-Beacon

Beacon strobe is a slow 0.5 Hz (again with multiple flashes detected on every signal).

Candle:
D3-Candle

Candle strobe is a continuous flicker, of varying intensity (again, accurately simulating a candle).

Charging:
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Resting voltage <3.0V
D3-charging1

Resting voltage >3.0V
D3-charging2

I measured two distinct charging currents for the 21700 using the D3’s USB-C charging port; 0.14A when the cell is heavily depleted (<3.0V resting), at a jump to 1.5A once the cell is above >3.0V resting. Two-stage current charging is a common feature for integrated chargers on 21700 lights, and these are good levels. You can expect the cell to be charged rapidly.

Standby / Parasitic Drain:

I measured the standby current as 110 uA, which is negligible and not a concern (i.e., it would take many years to fully drain the cell). Regardless, I always recommend you lock the light out when not in use to prevent accidental activation (and cut any standby drain). A single twist of the tailcap will lock out this light, thanks to the anodized screw threads.

Emitter Measures

This section is a new feature of my reviews, where I directly measure key emitter characteristics in terms of colour temperature, tint, and colour rendition. Please see my Emitter Measures page to learn more about what these terms mean, and how I am measuring them.

As explained on that page, since I am using an inexpensive uncalibrated device, you can only make relative comparisons across my reviews (i.e., don’t take these numbers as absolutely accurate values, but as relatively consistent across lights in my testing).

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~6200K, and the slight positive tint shift (+0.0080 Duv) to yellow-green at this temperature. I don’t have previous experience of SFN emitters, but these values seem reasonable for a typical high-output cool white emitter, and match my visual experience of this light. CRI measures are pending an upgraded measurement device.

Beamshots

All outdoor beamshots are taken on my Canon PowerShot S5 IS at f/2.7, 0.5 secs exposure, ISO 400, daylight white balance. The bend in the road is approximately 40 meters (~45 yards) from the camera. Learn more about my outdoor beamshots here (scroll down for the floody light position used in this review).

Click on any thumbnail image below to open a full size image in a new window. You can then easily compare beams by switching between tabs.



Sorry, the label for D3 is mislabelled – my sample has a SFN55.2 emitter.

As you can see above, the beam pattern is more on the throwy side, but with a good amount of spill.

Testing Results

My summary tables are generally reported in a manner consistent with the ANSI FL-1 standard for flashlight testing. In addition to the links above, please see my output measures page for more background.

All my output numbers are based on my home-made lightbox setup. As explained on that methodology page, I have devised a method for converting my lightbox relative output values to estimated lumens. My Peak Intensity/Beam Distance are directly measured with a NIST-certified Extech EA31 lightmeter.

D3 Testing Results

ModeSpec LumensEstimated Lumens @0secEstimated Lumens @30 secsBeam Intensity @0secBeam Intensity @30secsBeam Distance @30secs
L1-2.72.7---NoNo0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
L2-2424---No16 kHz0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
L3-7575---No16 kHz0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
L4-180180---NoNo0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
L5-660660---No16 kHz0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
L6-1,6001,600---No16 kHz0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
L7-2,8002,450---No16 kHz0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
L8 Turbo6,0004,4003,90039,000 cd37,400 cd387 mNo16 kHz0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
Candle-------No0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
Bike Strobe------1.1 HzNo0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
Party Strobe------25 HzNo0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
Tactical Strobe------10.4 HzNo0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
Lightning-------No0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g
Beacon------0.53 HzNo0.14 A1.5 A110 uA170 g265 g

You can tell from above that my D3 sample comes in well below the rated ANSI FL-1 max lumen output spec – and even further below the rated beam distance.

To see full testing results for all modern lights in my testing, check out my Database page.

Runtimes

As always, my runtimes are done under a small cooling fan, for safety and consistency. To learn more about how to interpret runtime graphs, see my runtimes methodology page.

MS03-Max

MS03-Hi

All runtimes above L5 show a “noisy” pattern, with fairly steep step-downs early in the runs, and then significant fluctuations in output over time at their “regulated” level. In practice, the fluctuations shown above are not noticeable (i.e., they are actually fairly slow over perceptual timescales, and unnoticeable). Below L5, the light shows a semi-regulated pattern at best, that looks a lot like direct drive.

Overall efficiency on the sub-Turbo modes is lower than the competition, with runtime duration on L7 and lower somewhat on par with the lights containing lower capacity 4000mAh cells. Despite the flashy Anduril UI, it seems the actual D3 circuit drivers are fairly basic. I would recommend Lumintop look into the improving both the regulation and the efficiency.

Note that some reviews of the early release version of this light showed differing output levels on Turbo/ramping max depending on the mode and UI used. I didn’t observe anything consistent, as shown in two different max runtimes (next to a L7 runtime) below:

D3-Turbo-L7

That said, I did find a slightly higher output (and greater initial step-down) on my initial runtime tests when the battery was new. On successive runs, it seems to have settled into a standard pattern, as shown below (i.e., the red chart is the very first run I did, the others all came later after more testing – and more charge cycles).

D3-max-extended

I’m not quite sure what to make of the variation in initial output. But the circuit does seem to produce mildly different step-down patterns on different runs. Could be thermally-mediated, but all my runtimes are done under pretty consistent conditions (i.e., under a fan, in a climate-controlled room). Again though, you will not notice the differences by eye, given the relatively gradual shifts over the timescales involved. I’m just including the graph for completeness sake.

Finally, as mentioned above, most runtimes are very “noisy” looking – though this is not actually visible in practice, due to the time frames involved and the limits of human perception in terms output changes. To demonstrate, here is a blow-up of a 2-min portion of the run, when the changes in output were the most extreme (on the max output):

D3-Max-extended2

Believe it or not, you will not be able to notice those kind of outputs changes in real life. That said, this is probably the most extreme example of rapid output shifts I’ve seen to date. For example, note how this compares to the Fenix E35 v3 here.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Comes with the advanced Anduril 2, with has both simple and advanced UI options (with lots of features).Max output and throw are not as high as rated.
Very good throw for the class (but not as high as I was expecting).Output runtime efficiency is lower than other lights I've tested with this rated capacity battery.
Can support a range of 21700 cells and 26800 cells, thanks to the bundled adapter.Driver regulation is poor, with inconsistent and "noisy" shifts in output.
Good build quality and hand feel.Lacks a true Moonlight mode, but has a good lowest mode level
Good charging implementation.

Overall Rating

Preliminary Conclusions

I was more favourably inclined toward this light initially, until the runtime results came back.

Don’t get me wrong, the D3 has a lot of nice features, generally well implemented. The Anduril 2 UI is sophisticated, and includes a lot of extras that I can see flashlight enthusiasts having fun with. And the larger thermal mass means it doesn’t step-down from max output as quickly as many competing smaller lights. But the performance of the actual circuit – in terms of overall efficiency, output stability, and regulation patterns – are all disappointing in comparison to other lights in my testing.

Moreover, I find the max output rating to be a little too far off of spec – and the published throw rating completely out of sync with my actual measures. Since many consumers base their purchase decisions on the rated specs, I really can’t justify anything higher than the 3 star rating above.

These performance issues are a shame, as I find the physical build to be otherwise excellent, with a lot of nice touches. The light is a little large, but that’s in keeping with its dual 28600/21700 battery support (and again, brings a thermal mass benefit).

This is my first time testing a SFN55.2 emitter, and I find it does well for the large die-size class (especially coupled with the heavily textured reflector here). I would encourage Lumintop to consider sourcing an alternate driver, as I’m afraid it is really holding back an otherwise very nice build and advanced UI. Considering the low cost of this light, it could be a real winner if coupled with a better, more efficient, current-controlled driver.

Note: the Lumintop website currently lists a SFN60 emitter available in this model, so output may be slightly higher than the SFN55.2 sample I reviewed.

Acknowledgement

The D3 was provided for review by Lumintop. All opinions are my own however, and the light received the same rigourous and objective testing as all other lights that I have reviewed. At the time of review, this light retails for ~$65 USD (~$75 CDN).

Imalent MS03

  1. Introduction
  2. Manufacturer Specifications
  3. Package Details
  4. Build
  5. User Interface
  6. Circuit Measures
  7. Emitter Measures
  8. Beamshots
  9. Testing Results
  10. Runtimes
  11. Pros and Cons
  12. Overall Rating
  13. Preliminary Conclusions
  14. Acknowledgement

Introduction

When I saw the specs for this light, I couldn’t quite believe it – 13,000 lumens on a single cell? Although that is theoretically possible with 3x Cree XHP70.2 LEDs, it wouldn’t likely last for long in a compact 1×21700 light.

But Imalent has pushed the envelope before with some distinctive and unusual lights, so I was willing to give this one a shot. Let’s see how it does in my testing.

Manufacturer Specifications

Note: as always, these are simply what the manufacturer provides – scroll down to see my actual testing results.

FeatureSpecs
MakerImalent
ModelMS03
Emitter3xXHP70.2
Tint-
Max Output (Lumens)13,000
Min Output (Lumens)150
Max Runtime27 hrs
Max Beam Intensity (cd)26,320 cd
Max Beam Distance (m)324 m
Mode Levels6
Flashing-
Battery1x21700
Weight (w/o battery)117 g
Weight (with battery)-
Length110 mm
Head Diameter36 mm
Body Diameter27 mm
WaterproofIPX-8 2m

Package Details

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The MS03 box has a good number of labels, describing everything you are getting and what to expect. Inside the stiff cardboard box with closing flap you will find the following:

  • Imalent MS03 flashlight
  • Imalent 21700 4000mAh high-drain battery
  • Pocket clip
  • Lanyard
  • Holster
  • USB-C Charging cable
  • 2 Spare O-rings

It’s a nice package, with everything you need to use the light. I’m particular glad to see the belt holster, since those are very rare nowadays. Note that you need to use the bundled high-drain 21700 battery if you want to be able to access the highest modes.

Build

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From left to right: LiitoKala 21700 (5000mAh), Fenix ARB-L21-5000U 21700 (5000mAh), Sofirm IF25A, Fenix E35 v3, Convoy S21E, Imalent MS03, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, Acebeam E70, Nitecore P20iX, Nitecore MH12SE, Lumintop D3, Convoy M21F.

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The MS03 is smaller than than I expected – as you can tell from the pics above, it is quite short (the second shortest 1×21700 I’ve tested so far). The head is a bit wider than typical, but that’s not surprising given the 3x XHP70.2 emitters in there.

There is a side-mounted electronic switch on the side of the light near the head, with a stainless steel switch cover. Feel and traverse of the switch is good, and easy to activate (i.e., works even if you don’t hit it straight-on). User interface is very straightforward (scroll down for details). Note that it wouldn’t be hard to accidentally activate the light, so I strongly recommend you keep the light stored locked out at the tailcap. A simple twist of the tailcap will do the job, thanks to the anodized screw threads. And thanks to the flat tailcap, the light can tailstand stably.

The knurling on the body is not very aggressive at all, but with the various rings and cut-outs on the head, overall grip is reasonable. I recommend you attach the pocket clip to further help with grip. The clip is not reversible, and can only be used for head-up carry. Note that the clip doesn’t hold on as tightly as most others I’ve used, so I wouldn’t want to trust it for belt carry – use the holster for that.

Anodizing looks to be good quality, relatively satin black finish. I didn’t notice any flaws on my sample, but I’m not sure if Imalent anodizing is quite as hard as some other makers. One thing I like about the light is the square-cut screw threads – always a nice touch.

The light lacks a USB-C charging port on the body, but there is one built into the bundled high-drain battery. The light is remarkably compact given the length of the cell (due to its integrated USB-C charging port). There is a charging LED on the battery. Note there is a reverse-polarity detection feature in the head, so only button cells will work in the light (but I recommend you stick with the bundled high-drain cell for performance reasons). Also, given the relatively short body length and anodized screw threads, other brands of high-capacity 21700 batteries with USB-C integrated chargers are likely to be too long to fit and work in the light.

I would note that the tailcap spring is very robust, and has caused some minor denting of the bottom battery cell plate. According to Imalent, this robust spring is unavoidable due to the high currents involved.

The light weighed in at 120g without battery in my testing (192g with the included cell). Note that this makes the MS03 the third heaviest light in my compilation above – despite being the second shortest of the group. The light feels relatively top-heavy, suggesting there is good heatsinking.

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The light uses 3x Cree XHP70.2 emitters, within a multi-well smooth reflector setup. So you can expect a good amount of output with a relatively floody beam. The beam profile is surprisingly smooth given the multi-well reflector, and I didn’t notice any significant reflector well artifacts in the beam (surprisingly).

I’m also happy to note a relative balancing out of tint differences across the beam (something XHP70.2 HD emitters are well known for producing). Yes, there is some yellow-green highlighting around the corona into the mid-spill area, and some purple fringing at the periphery. There’s also a bit of purple in the center of the hotspot. But the combination reflector seems to be helping somewhat here in evening tint shifts out.

The bezel is flat black aluminum, so you may not be able to tell if the light is on when head-standing – except for the LED just below the switch, which helpfully lights up green by default when the light is activated. The bezel is well integrated into the body, and it’s not immediately clear to me how you would remove it (likely threadlocked in place). The light comes with an AR-coated toughened clear mineral glass lens.

Overall, I find this to be a good looking little light with decent ergonomics and a good beam pattern. It fits well in the hand, and is surprisingly compact. I would like a bit more robust knurling on the body though.

User Interface

The MS03 uses a fairly straightforward user interface. Note that given the incredibly high max output, the built-in temperature regulation will adjust the output as necessary as the light heats up.

From OFF:

  • Single click: Turns On in last memorized mode.
  • Double click: Turns on in Turbo.
  • Triple click: Lockout feature (although I recommend you lock out the light physically at the tailswitch)
  • 4 clicks: Turns on in Strobe
  • Press and hold: Activate or deactivate the LED indicator light below the switch

From ON:

  • Single click: Turns Off.
  • Double click: Jumps to Turbo.
  • Triple click: Nothing.
  • 4 clicks: Jumps to Strobe.
  • Press and hold: The light will cycle through all of its Low to High modes, in that order. Note that Turbo is not on the main sequence. Releasing the switch will select the desired output level.

Memory Mode:

Yes, the MS03 will remember the last constant-output mode used when you re-activate the light (except for Turbo).

Low Battery Warning:

When turned on, the LED indicator light on the head will flash when the battery voltage drops below 3.0V.

Thermal Control:

According to the manufacturer’s specs and reports online, on Turbo/Hi, the light will drop in output to a ~2000 lumen level when the flashlight’s body temperature reaches 65 degrees C (and the light will not activate in Turbo mode at this point). For modes other than Turbo/Hi, the temperature regulation set point is apparently set at 55 degrees C.

Reviewer Comments:

The UI is fairly straightforward, if a bit basic. I find it to be quite serviceable and easy to remember. But I wish it had a Moonlight/ultra-low level that could be accessed through a shortcut from Off. That way, you would have access to jump to max or min output from Off, without having to cycle through all the modes once On (or remembering the last mode used).

Circuit Measures

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM):

There is no sign of PWM on any level, the light appears to be fully current-controlled.

That being said, my oscilloscope was able to detect high frequency noise at every level, as depicted below. Note that these are not a concern, as they are not visible to naked the eye – the light remains flicker free in actual use.

Low:
MS03-Lo

Middle-Low:
MS03-MidLow

Middle I:
MS03-MidI

Middle II:
MS03-MidII

High:
MS03-High

Turbo:
MS03-Turbo

As you can see, the frequency of the noise remains constant at ~15.7-15.9 kHz, but increases in amplitude as output levels rise (which is fairly common, as more light is being emitted). Noise these super high frequencies are impossible to detect visually, and so not a concern. I am just including for completeness, as I like to present all my findings (and it is increasingly common to see these patterns on modern lights).

Strobe:

MS03-Strobe

Strobe frequency is very disorienting, at a super high 19.5 Hz. More than than, there are multiple pulses during each “on” cycle, so it seems even faster in practice.

Charging:
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Resting voltage <3.0V
MS03-charging1

Resting voltage >3.0V
MS03-charging2

I measured two distinct charging currents for the 21700’s USB-C charging; 1.0A when the cell is heavily depleted (<3.0V resting), at a slight bump to 1.1A once the cell is above >3.0V resting. Two-stage current charging is a common feature for integrated battery chargers on 21700 cells, although the initial charge rate is usually lower. In any case, while not as high as some, this charge rate will charge the cell in a reasonable amount of time.

Standby / Parasitic Drain:

I measured the standby current as 83.5 uA, which is completely negligible and not a concern (i.e., it would take many years to fully drain the cell). Regardless, I always recommend you lock the light out when not in use to prevent accidental activation (and cut any standby drain). A single twist of the tailcap will lock out this light, thanks to the anodized screw threads.

Emitter Measures

This section is a new feature of my reviews, where I directly measure key emitter characteristics in terms of colour temperature, tint, and colour rendition. Please see my Emitter Measures page to learn more about what these terms mean, and how I am measuring them.

As explained on that page, since I am using an inexpensive uncalibrated device, you can only make relative comparisons across my reviews (i.e., don’t take these numbers as absolutely accurate values, but as relatively consistent across lights in my testing).

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~5600K, and the moderately positive tint shift (+0.0095 Duv) to yellow-green at this temperature. These results are very consistent with cool-white XHP70.2 emitters, and match my visual experience of this light. CRI measures are pending an upgraded measurement device.

Beamshots

All outdoor beamshots are taken on my Canon PowerShot S5 IS at f/2.7, 0.5 secs exposure, ISO 400, daylight white balance. The bend in the road is approximately 40 meters (~45 yards) from the camera. Learn more about my outdoor beamshots here (scroll down for the floody light position used in this review).

Click on any thumbnail image below to open a full size image in a new window. You can then easily compare beams by switching between tabs.



As you can see, Turbo is exceedingly bright. In fact, the Middle II and Hi modes are more in keeping with other high-output lights in this class.

Testing Results

My summary tables are generally reported in a manner consistent with the ANSI FL-1 standard for flashlight testing. In addition to the links above, please see my output measures page for more background.

All my output numbers are based on my home-made lightbox setup. As explained on that methodology page, I have devised a method for converting my lightbox relative output values to estimated lumens. My Peak Intensity/Beam Distance are directly measured with a NIST-certified Extech EA31 lightmeter.

MS03 Testing Results

ModeSpec LumensEstimated Lumens @0secEstimated Lumens @30 secsBeam Intensity @0secBeam Intensity @30secsBeam Distance @30secsPWM/Strobe FreqNoise FreqCharging Current <3VCharging Current >3VParasitic DrainWeight w/o batteryWeight with battery
Low150240240---No15.7 kHz1.0 A1.1 A83.5 uA120 g192 g
Middle Low800800790---No15.7 kHz1.0 A1.1 A83.5 uA120 g192 g
Middle I1,3001,2001,200---No15.7 kHz1.0 A1.1 A83.5 uA120 g192 g
Middle II3,0002,8002,750---No15.8 kHz1.0 A1.1 A83.5 uA120 g192 g
High8,000-2,0008,0005,950---No15.8 kHz1.0 A1.1 A83.5 uA120 g192 g
Turbo13,000-2,00013,20011,05022,300 cd17,600 cd265 mNo15.9 kHz1.0 A1.1 A83.5 uA120 g192 g
Strobe------19.5 HzNo1.0 A1.1 A83.5 uA120 g192 g

To see full testing results for all modern lights in my testing, check out my Database page.

Runtimes

As always, my runtimes are done under a small cooling fan, for safety and consistency. To learn more about how to interpret runtime graphs, see my runtimes methodology page.

Let’s start with a blow-up of the first few mins on max, so that you can see how bright the light is initially.

MS03-Max-extended

Believe it or not, it actually seems to reach its rated spec at initiation (or should I say ignition? ;). But after a few secs it does begin to decline in output, at an increasing rate, as you would expect.

Let see how it compares to other lights, on more typical time scales:

MS03-Max

MS03-Hi

The MS03 shows a semi-regulated runtime pattern, similar to the Lumintop D3 above (but with less fluctuations over time). The fluctuations are not a concern, given the timescales involved (i.e., you won’t notice the output changing, given how relatively slow it is over our perceptual scales).

Overall efficiency seems pretty good, given the high-drain 4000mAh cell has 20% lower capacity than most other lights batteries shown above. But the it is not as flatly regulated as some of the competition.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Highest max output that I've seen in a compact single-cell light.Turbo mode drops down quickly, given low thermal mass.
Very good efficiency with the bundled battery, with appropriate thermal-controlled step-downs.Light is not fully regulated in its runtime pattern, and has a very basic interface.
Nicely balanced beam profile with lots of throw and spill.Need to use the bundled high-drain cell for highest output modes.
Very compact build.Lacks a true Lo mode, and has some tint shifting in its beam profile.
Included high-drain battery with USB-C charging port.

Overall Rating

Preliminary Conclusions

The MS03 lives up to its rated specs – it really does produce 13,000 lumens (although not for long). The bundled high-drain cell is necessary to reach those max output levels, but this is an impressive feat!

Overall efficiency is also very good, considering a lower capacity high-drain cell is bundled with the light. Runtimes appear semi-regulated however, without the flat regulation associated with some of the competition. I am increasingly noticing this with modern lights, as it helps with efficiency (and the slow drop-off over time is not noticeable by eye).

The beam profile is relatively clean, with a nice balance of throw and spill. The reflector is impressive, as I would have expected to see more artifacts in this type of multi-emitter light – this is well-done here. There are some minor tint shifts across the beam profile (consistent with XHP70.2 emitters), but the multi-emitter setup seems to help even them out a bit.

It is an astonishingly tiny light, I can’t believe they squeezed all that into such a small body. It also has good weight, with decent heatsinking in the head – better than most other lights in this class. But while the overall build is certainly very decent, it doesn’t have quite the hand-feel I would have expected at this price point (e.g., a bit slippery in finish). The light comes with a nice set of accessories though, in a professional looking package.

More disappointing to me is that the lowest output level is ~250 lumens in my testing, so the light lacks any sort of true low mode (not the mention a Moonlight mode, although I appreciate that is not really expected here). The user interface is also very basic, with no way to jump to the lowest levels (i.e., need to cycle through all modes). That is honestly a bit disappointing in a modern light, given that many budget offerings have more sophisticated interfaces nowadays.

There is no question that if you are looking for maximum possible output in as small a build as possible, this is it. Of course, if you don’t need the top-of-the-line max output, you might want to take a look at some of the other offerings in this space, to see what best fits your needs in terms of interface and output levels. But there is no denying the MS03 is an incredible feat of engineering, and I really appreciate how Imalent has met its reported specs here.

Acknowledgement

The MS03 was provided for review by Imalent. All opinions are my own however, and the light received the same rigourous and objective testing as all other lights that I have reviewed. At the time of review, this light retails for ~$135 USD (~$180 CDN).

You can purchase this light directly through the imalentstore.com, or through Amazon.

Acebeam E70

  1. Introduction
  2. Manufacturer Specifications
  3. Package Details
  4. Build
  5. User Interface
  6. Circuit Measures
  7. Emitter Measures
  8. Beamshots
  9. Testing Results
  10. Runtimes
  11. Pros and Cons
  12. Overall Rating
  13. Preliminary Conclusions
  14. Acknowledgement

Introduction

I’ve long been a fan of Acebeam lights (or Supbeam, in their original incarnation). I’ve always found their lights to be solid offerings, very well made, with efficient current-controlled circuits and well-thought out interfaces. So, upon my recent return to reviewing, I was glad to see that they are still around, and producing new lights.

The E70 is their relatively compact 1×21700 light, with an included 21700 cell. Let’s see what it has to offer, relative to the competition.

Manufacturer Specifications

Note: as always, these are simply what the manufacturer provides – scroll down to see my actual testing results.

FeatureSpecs
MakerAcebeam
ModelE70
EmitterXHP70.2
Tint6500K
Max Output (Lumens)4600
Min Output (Lumens)1
Max Runtime11 days
Max Beam Intensity14,400 cd
Max Beam Distance240 m
Mode Levels6
FlashingStrobe
Battery1x21700
Weight (w/o battery)102g
Weight (with battery)-
Length128.3 mm
Head Diameter30 mm
Body Diameter27 mm
WaterproofIP68 2m

Package Details

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The E70 is shipped in a nice cardboard display box. Inside, you will find the following:

  • Acebeam E70 flashlight, with attached clip (Torx screws)
  • Lanyard
  • Pouch
  • 21700 battery
  • USB-C charging cable
  • Extra o-rings
  • Warranty card,
  • Manual

It’s a reasonable package of accessories, but I would personally like to see a belt holster as well (although I noticed that is very rare nowadays). Note that according to the box labels, multiple tint options are available. I have the standard 6500K cool white tint to review.

Build

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From left to right: LiitoKala 21700 (5000mAh), Fenix ARB-L21-5000U 21700 (5000mAh), Sofirm IF25A, Fenix E35 v3, Convoy S21E, Imalent MS03, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, Acebeam E70, Nitecore P20iX, Nitecore MH12SE, Lumintop D3, Convoy M21F.

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Well, that is a pretty unique design! the flashlight is double-walled, with the inner wall a very pleasing electric blue colour (visible through the slanted cut-outs along the outside wall).  This light is also available in a stainless steel version, which must be particularly stunning. I personally prefer aluminum lights, for the lighter weight and ability to lock out the light (thanks to the anodized threads, as seen here).

The extra wall thickness and larger head make this light a little larger than most in this class, which may be an issue for you if you are looking for something very compact. I have relatively large hands though, so I find the ergonomics to be good.

The rear switch is electronic in nature, with a stainless steel switch cover. Feel and traverse of the switch is good, and easy to activate even if you don’t hit it dead-on. Thanks to the raised tail cut-outs, the light can still tailstand stably. I found the design and interface very easy to use in my testing.

The light lacks traditional knurling, but the cut-outs in the exterior wall produce the same basic effect, along with circular indents on the head. A very rakish design. Note that this double-walled design does produce a certain “hollow” feel when you tap on it, but that’s a minor point.

The pocket clip is firmly attached, and helps further with grip. It is not reversible, and can only be used for downward carry.

Hard anodizing looks to be good quality (as is typical for Acebeam), and is more on the matte side (which I personally prefer, not a fan of glossy lights). As previously mentioned, threads are anodized, so you can lock out the light by a twist of the head.

The light lacks a USB-C charging port on the body, but there is one built into the bundled battery. There is a charging LED on the battery. Given the extra length of these batteries, you’ll have to stick with ones that include such a port. And you don’t want them to be too long (e.g., I found I couldn’t screw closed the head if I used the longer Fenix battery with integrated USB-C charger).

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The light uses a Cree XHP70.2, so you can expect a good amount of output. You can also expect a relatively floody light, thanks to the larger emitter die. Reflector is textured, and reasonably deep for a compact light like this.

Unfortunately, you can also expect some colour distortions in the beam as these are common with the xx.2 HD editions of the Cree XHP series. The mineral glass lens also has a purple anti-reflective (AR) coating, which enhances the purple fringing on the periphery of the beam, as shown above. At least they didn’t go too heavy on the coating – while the fringing is noticeable, I don’t find it too bad in actual use (scroll down for beamshots). I would recommend that they switch to a light green AR coating, which is far less noticeable. I haven’t observed any significant tint shifting across output levels at least.

The bezel has small scalloped crenelations on it, so you can tell if the light is on when head-standing. I haven’t tried it using it as a weapon, but I imagine it would be rather unpleasant to be struck with the business end of this light.

Overall, I find this to be a snazzy looking light with decent ergonomics and a good beam pattern. It fits well in the hand, but is a bit larger than most in the class. A stylish build in the 1×21700 EDC class.

User Interface

The E70 uses a single tail-mounted electronic switch to control the flashlight. Available constant output modes, as per the manufacturer labels, are: Ultralow (which I will refer to as Moonlight throughout this review), Low, Med1, Med2, Hi, Turbo. There is one blinking mode outside the main sequence: Strobe.

From OFF:

  • Press and hold: Moonlight
  • Single click: Nothing
  • Double click: Turns on in last mode used
  • Triple click: Strobe

From ON:

  • Press and hold: Cycles through all the modes from Low to High (note that Turbo and Moonlight are not part of the main cycle)
  • Double click: Turbo (and a repeated double-click returns you to the previously used mode)
  • Triple click: Strobe

Shortcuts:

  • To Turbo: Double click from On to enter Turbo (or double-click twice from Off)
  • To Moonlight: Press and hold from Off
  • To Strobe: Triple-click from either On or Off

Mode memory:

Yes. The light remembers the last constant output used, and returns to it next time you turn on it (with the exception of Moonlight and Turbo).

Low battery warning:

No, not that I have observed.

Reviewer Comments:

This is a very decent interface. About the only thing I don’t like is the need to double click to turn on (not sure why single click wasn’t used, perhaps to avoid accidental activation?). Still, it isn’t too hard to remember this little quirk, and the worst thing that will happen is the light won’t come in with a single click.  Alternatively, a press and hold will activate in Moonlight, and you can always cycle through to the main modes from there.

Note that Turbo requires a double click to enter, and ramps down automatically after about a min or so (scroll down for runtimes). And I’m glad to see the Moonlight mode here (see Testing Results for more info).

Circuit Measures

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM):

E70-Lo

There is no sign of PWM or circuit noise at any level. The light appears to be fully constant-current controlled. 🙂

Strobe:

E70-strobe

Strobe frequency is a reasonably fast 8.5 Hz. Certainly annoying, but not as bad as some.

Charging:
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Resting voltage <3.0V
E70-charging1

Resting voltage >3.0V
E70-charging2
The Acebeam 21700 battery shows an initial low USB-C charging current of 0.9A when the cell is heavily depleted (<3.0V resting), which jumps up to 0.60A once the cell is >3.0V resting. This two-current charging is a good design, and indicates a safe integrated charging circuit. However, the max charging rate is lower than most lights in this class, so it will take longer to fully charge the battery.

Standby / Parasitic Drain:

I have recently re-tested the standby current with an improved setup, and measured 0.152 mA.

This is reasonably low, and not much of a concern in practice (i.e., it would take 3.75 years to fully drain the battery). Still, I suggest you lock the light out when not in use to prevent accidental activation and completely cut this standby drain. A single twist of the head will lock out this light, thanks to the anodized screw threads.

Emitter Measures

This section is a new feature of my reviews, where I directly measure key emitter characteristics in terms of colour temperature, tint, and colour rendition. Please see my Emitter Measures page to learn more about what these terms mean, and how I am measuring them.

As explained on that page, since I am using an inexpensive uncalibrated device, you can only make relative comparisons across my reviews (i.e., don’t take these numbers as absolutely accurate values, but as relatively consistent across lights in my testing).

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~5600K, and the noticeable positive tint shift (+0.0116 Duv) to yellow-green at this temperature. These results are very consistent with cool-white XHP70.2 emitters, and match my visual experience of this light. CRI measures are pending an upgraded measurement device.

Beamshots

All outdoor beamshots are taken on my Canon PowerShot S5 IS at f/2.7, 0.5 secs exposure, ISO 400, daylight white balance. The bend in the road is approximately 40 meters (~45 yards) from the camera. Learn more about my outdoor beamshots here (scroll down for the floody light position used in this review).

Click on any thumbnail image below to open a full size image in a new window. You can then easily compare beams by switching between tabs.



In practice, the yellow-green tint shifting in the corona to mid-spill area of the spillbeam isn’t that noticeable in a natural environment (well, it would be on snow). The purple fringing in the periphery is noticeable but not too distracting. I would recommend they switch to a green AR coating, to minimize the purple (although this would accentuate green in the mid-spill).

Testing Results

My summary tables are generally reported in a manner consistent with the ANSI FL-1 standard for flashlight testing. In addition to the links above, please see my output measures page for more background.

All my output numbers are based on my home-made lightbox setup. As explained on that methodology page, I have devised a method for converting my lightbox relative output values to estimated lumens. My Peak Intensity/Beam Distance are directly measured with a NIST-certified Extech EA31 lightmeter.

E70 Testing Results

ModeSpec LumensEstimated Lumens @0secEstimated Lumens @30 secsBeam Intensity @0secBeam Intensity @30secsBeam Distance @30secsPWM/Strobe FreqNoise FreqCharging Current <3VCharging Current >3VParasitic DrainWeight w/o BatteryWeight with Battery
Ultralow11.01.0---NoNo0.09 A0.60 A1.8 mA101 g175 g
Low505555---NoNo0.09 A0.60 A1.8 mA101 g175 g
Med1180180180---NoNo0.09 A0.60 A1.8 mA101 g175 g
Med2650550550---NoNo0.09 A0.60 A1.8 mA101 g175 g
Hi1,3001,3001,300---NoNo0.09 A0.60 A1.8 mA101 g175 g
Turbo4,6004,2004,00013,800 cd13,200 cd230 mNoNo0.09 A0.60 A1.8 mA101 g175 g
Strobe1,650-----8.4 HzNo0.09 A0.60 A1.8 mA101 g175 g

To see full testing results for all modern lights in my testing, check out my Database page.

Runtimes

As always, my runtimes are done under a small cooling fan, for safety and consistency. To learn more about how to interpret runtime graphs, see my runtimes methodology page.

E70-max

E35-Hi

E35-Med

As you can see above, the E70 is extremely efficient at all levels tested, consistent with a good current-controlled circuit.

To better show the timed step-down feature on Turbo, here is the max output runtime expanded to show the first few minutes:

E35-Max-Expanded

The output rapidly ramps down just before the 1 minute mark, over a period of 30 secs or so. This is quite reasonable, given how the hard the light is driven for the first minute. It also gets quite warm in the hand by the point it starts to ramp down.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Excellent current-controlled efficiency, with flat and stable regulation in all modesDouble-click to turn on is unusual, and deprives the option of an extra shortcut (e.g. to Turbo)
Great range of output levels, including Turbo and MoonlightSlightly larger than most compact 1x21700 lights
Nicely balanced beam profile with lots of spillStandby drain higher than typical, requiring you to lock-out the light when not in use.
Comfortable to hold in the handSome colour distortions in the beam due to the XHP70.2 HD emitter, plus purple fringing at the edge of the spillbeam due to the AR lens coating
Included high-capacity battery with USB-C charging port

Overall Rating

Preliminary Conclusions

I really like the design and features of this light. It is comfortable to hold and operate, and it has a great range of well-regulated and highly efficient output levels (from Turbo to Moonlight). It’s nice to see Acebeam has kept its commitment to using good current-controlled drivers.

The beam pattern is very useful, with a nice big hotspot and tons of spill. However, the XHP70.2 HD emitter used here produces greater tint shifting across the spillbeam than most emitters, which is being accentuated by the purple AR coating on the lens of this model. But it’s not too bad on my specimen, probably due to the heavily textured reflector which helps even things out. And I’m really glad to see the ~1 lumen Moonlight mode here – it’s incredibly useful for dark adapted eyes, and something I (sadly) rarely see any more.

The E70 is a bit larger than some in the class, but I find it actually fits in my large sized hands well. Your experience may differ though, so I could see how this could be a drawback for some. And appearance will always be subjective, but I find it looks snazzy. Good ergonomics and a great overall package, making it a pleasure to use for me personally.

The dual-level charging is good design feature, although the max charging rate is lower than most in this class. But otherwise, I’m very impressed will all aspects of the circuit performance. The only thing I’m not crazy about is the double-click to turn (as a single click is far more intuitive, and is a loss opportunity to have a Turbo shortcut as most others implement).

Collectively, the relatively minor issues above are enough to knock a half star off the top possible rating. But I would still consider the E70 a top pick in the 1×21700 class of flashlights so far, based on features and performance.

UPDATE May 11, 20223: I originally reported an unusually high parasitic standby drain on my sample, as I was getting inconsistent readings and so went with the highest value. I’ve upgraded my DMM leads and more carefully masked off the surfaces, and am pleased to report much more reasonable (and inconsequential) drain levels consistent with the competition.

Acknowledgement

The E70 was provided for review by Acebeam. All opinions are my own however, and the light received the same rigourous and objective testing as all other lights that I have reviewed. At the time of review, this light retails for ~$75 USD (~$125 CDN).

Acebeam is making available a discount code for readers of my reviews. If you purchase the light from the Acebeam.com website, you can use the code “selfbuilt” (without the quotation marks) for 10% off.

Convoy S21E

  1. Introduction
  2. Manufacturer Specifications
  3. Package Details
  4. Build
  5. User Interface
  6. Circuit Measures
  7. Emitter Measures
  8. Beamshots
  9. Testing Results
  10. Runtimes
  11. Pros and Cons
  12. Overall Rating
  13. Preliminary Conclusions
  14. Acknowledgement

Introduction

In my previous reviewing era, I stayed away from budget lights for the reasons I outlined here. But upon my return to reviewing, I’ve noticed a number of inexpensive brands seem to have good quality and consistency. So I thought it was time to start looking at some of the more popular budget models in the 1×21700 class.

Cue up Convoy, whose S21 series was up to its fifth iteration by last fall – the S21E – when I purchased these samples for testing. At the time, the S21E was available with a choice of three different emitters, so I picked them all up from the official store for comparison testing (although many more tint options are available). Specifically, these are ones with the standard “4 mode” circuit (which actually has constant output 5 modes, along with a continuously variable ramp).

I see there are a wider variety of anodizing colours available now, and a different battery than what came bundled with mine. But the specs remain the same, so your performance should match what you see below.

Manufacturer Specifications

Note: as always, these are simply what the manufacturer provides – scroll down to see my actual testing results.

FeatureSpecsSpecsSpecs
MakerConvoyConvoyConvoy
ModelS21ES21ES21E
EmitterNicha 519ASST40SFT40
Tint5000K (Hi CRI>90)6500K6500K
Max Output (Lumens)1,3002,4001,800
Min Output (Lumens)---
Max Runtime---
Max Beam Intensity (cd)---
Max Beam Distance (m)---
Mode Levels5 + Ramp5 + Ramp5 + Ramp
FlashingStrobeStrobeStrobe
Battery1x217001x217001x21700
Weight (w/o battery)88 g88 g88 g
Weight (with battery)168 g168 g168 g
Length116.4 mm116.4 mm116.4 mm
Head Diameter27.3mm27.3mm27.3mm
Body Diameter27.3 mm27.3 mm27.3 mm
WaterproofIPX4IPX4IPX4

Package Details

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Like many Convoys, the S21E can be purchased with any of a number of emitter choices and tints. Shown above are the Nichia 519A 5000K, Luminus SST40 6500K, and Luminus SFT40 6500K. But a wide range of 519A tints (from 2700K through 5700K) are possible, along with a limited number of Luminus tints (although not all options available for each emitter, nor at any given time on the store front).

The S21E is shipped in a simple cheap cardboard box, wrapped in thin bubble wrap. Inside, you will find the following:

  • Convoy S21E with removable pocket clip attached
  • Thin wrist lanyard, also attached
  • If you buy the version with a battery included, a thin filter pad is included to block contact during shipping

And that’s it. There is no manual or instruction sheet, so you’ll need to check out reviews like this to learn how it works and what all the features are. Minimalist to be sure, in keeping with the price.

Build

20230402_162025
From left to right: LiitoKala 21700 (5000mAh), Fenix ARB-L21-5000U 21700 (5000mAh), Sofirm IF25A, Fenix E35 v3, Convoy S21E, Imalent MS03, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, Acebeam E70, Nitecore P20iX, Nitecore MH12SE, Lumintop D3, Convoy M21F.

Note: in all photos below, the sequence from left to right (or top to bottom), are always the Nichia 519A, SST40, and SFT40 emitter versions. Also note that the SST40 version was bought in early fall 2022, and the other two were a couple of months later.

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The S21E is a minimalist, compact build – but seems very well made.

There is a large switch cover over the side-mounted electronic switch. Feel is good, with smooth action. There is a red and a green LED underneath, to show you the charge status when charging (see below).

There is a small spring on the positive contact terminal in the head, so flat top cells can easily be used. Tailcap is flat with a standard spring and retaining ring. Note that my earlier SST40 sample (middle above) came with a stiff silver-coloured tail spring – that applied another enough pressure to dent the positive battery terminal against the head spring. Later specimens (left and right) came with gold-coloured springs than aren’t as stiff – and so, no denting. This also like reflects the thinner metal on the LiitoKala cells.

As an aside, I’m actually impressed to see the rapid correction of this design issue – especially in a budget build. That said, I did notice a batch issue with lens, which I will explain below.

There is an integrated USB-C charging port on the head of the light, across from the switch, under an attached rubber cover. Cover fits well enough to make me think the light is water-resistant, but less so than more expensive offerings in this class (and so, I wouldn’t recommend immersing it in water).

The light doesn’t have knurling per se, but rather a series of cut-outs along with the concentric circle “reeling.” While serviceable, this can be slippery in practice – so I recommend you leave the removable pocket clip attached to help with grip. The pocket clip attaches firmly. It is not reversible, but due to the design can be used for both upward and downward carry (although may be a bit tight, depending on what you want to clip it to).

Anodizing looks to be decent quality, in matte finish (I presume it is only type II, given you can get the light in a variety of colours). Tailcap screw threads are anodized, so you can lock out the light by a twist of the tailcap. I haven’t shown it above, but you can unscrew the head from the body too (screw threads there are not anodized there).

Thanks to the spring in the head, any regular-sized 21700 cell (without an integrated USB-C charger) should fit and work in the lights. You are best sticking with flat-top cells though, as longer cells (i.e., with a button top) may be too tight given the relatively short body.

Finally, there is a built-in magnet in the tailcap, so you temporarily affix the light onto any metallic surface with ease. The magnet is fairly powerful, and it has no difficulty holding the light firmly in place on any metal surface – even upside-down. A nice feature in a budget light.

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20221204_105951

The Nichia 519A comes with a lightly textured reflector, while the Luminus models come with a smooth reflector. Reflectors are relatively shallow, and really seem to be designed best for the SST40 emitter (the SFT40 emitter has quite a few bright rings in its outer spillbeam, for example).

Note that my Nichia 519A and SFT40 samples both show a noticeable amount of purple fringing on the periphery of the spillbeam, due to a heavy purplish AR coating on the lens of those samples (the earlier SST40 sample lens has a milder greenish AR coating, which doesn’t affect the beam as much). Scroll down for beamshots, but I don’t find this purplish AR coating to be as noticeable or a problem on the Nichia model, likely due to the warmer tint and smoother beam profile. The AR tint difference may have been a batch effect of that particular point in time, because I have seen a SST40 model purchased more recently that has the lighter greenish AR coating.

The bezel is stainless steel, and is smooth without crenelations. So you may not be able to tell if the light is on when it is headstanding. The head opens easily at the bezel ring (i.e., no thread locker), and the lens and reflector come right out for easy access to the emitter. I am glad to note an o-ring on both the underside of the lens (toward the reflector) and on the bezel ring itself. This reassures me as to water-proofness.

Overall, I find this to be a very decent quality build – nothing flashy, but serviceable and much better than I expected for the price. Note that this is where having purchased 3 separate samples (over time) to evaluate is important, as I have found in the past that one of the issues with budget lights can be inconsistency. It’s good to see them all equally well made overall, and showing at least one incremental improvement over time (i.e., that prompt revision to a less stiff tail spring). But the lens AR coating issue, which appears to have been limited to a particular intermediate batch, shows that you may still have issues there.

User Interface

The S21E driver is a lot more advanced than I would have expected for a budget offering. It has a choice of two distinct multiple-output mode sets you can select: one with a smooth ramp in output from min to max, and one with four discrete steps (1%, 10%, 40%, 100%/Turbo) plus a 0.2%/Moonlight level. Also available is a “Tactical” mode which only has the Turbo level. A strobe mode is also available, along with some other bonus features.

So, let’s go through the user interface in detail:

From OFF:

  • Press and Hold: Moonlight
  • Single click: Turns on to the memorized brightness level
  • Double click: Turbo
  • Triple click: Strobe
  • 4 clicks: set to Tactical mode (i.e., only momentary 100% brightness)
  • 5 clicks: Voltage check. The light will blink out the voltage to one decimal place, first by the main volt, then by the decimal point (e.g., 3 blinks, a pause, and five more blinks would mean 3.5V).
  • 6 clicks: Switch between ramping mode and stepped mode
  • 10 clicks: Electronic lock out. Click for another 10 times to re-activate the light. Note that I suggest you simply lock the light out by a twist of the tailcap instead.

From ON:

  • Press and Hold (in Ramping mode set): Ramp up to 100%/Turbo. Press and hold again to ramp down to 0.2%/Moonlight. Release at any time to select the desired level. Note that when you restart the ramp after selecting a level, it reverses direction on the next press and hold.
  • Press and Hold (in Stepped mode set): Step up to next level (4 main levels on the sequence, Moonlight is not on the main sequence). Press and hold again to step down in levels.
  • Single click: Off
  • Double click: Turbo
  • 3 clicks: Strobe
  • 5 clicks: Voltage check
  • 6 clicks: Switch between ramping mode and stepped mode

Shortcuts:

  • To Moonlight: Hold from off
  • To Turbo: Double-click from any mode except Tactical
  • To Strobe: Triple-click from any mode except Tactical

Mode memory:

Yes. The S21E will memorize any brightness level except for Moonlight and Strobe.

Low voltage warning:

Yes. The light will drop down to ~1% output and the button will blink red before eventually shutting off at ~3V. Note that it can run for a very long time at this level before shutting down.

Reviewer Comments:

This is a very impressive interface – surprisingly versatile, but also very easy to use (i.e., very intuitive). Hand the light to someone, and it wouldn’t take them long to get used to it, the modes make a lot of sense. Switching between ramping and stepped mode sets is a bit peculiar with the six clicks, but it’s not like it’s something you will want to switch between often anyway.

Note that the highest output modes step down automatically after a period of time (and heat build up – scroll down for runtimes). And while I’m glad to see the “Moonlight” mode here, it is not actually low enough to be what I would consider a true moonlight (see Testing Results for more info).

Circuit Measures

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM):

There is no sign of PWM at any level – the lights appear to be current-controlled. However, I did detect an oscillating noise pattern on several of the levels, include Turbo, as shown below.

Turbo/100% (Nichia 519A, SST40, SFT40)
S21E-Nichia-100S21E-SST40-100S21E-SFT40-100

As you can see, the pattern is variable in intensity, and at a high frequency (~3-6kHz). But rest assured it is not something that you can see visually. It is even more detectable at the higher intermediate outputs, as shown below.

Step 40% (Nichia 519A, SST40, SFT40)
S21E-Nicha-40S21E-SST40-40S21E-SFT40-40

Here is a blow-up of one of the 40% levels, which clearly shows a simple sine-wave oscillation (i.e., no PWM here). Some people call this a saw-tooth noise pattern.

40% SS40 Zoomed in
S21E-SST40-40-Zoom

Still present at the 10% output level:

Step 10% (Nichia 519A, SST40, SFT40)
S21E-Nichia-10S21E-SST40-10S21E-SFT40-10

But it seems to disappear by the lower outputs, as shown below for both the stepped and ramp outputs – but that may just be because the output is too low for my oscilloscope to detect.

Step 1% (Nichia 519A, SST40, SFT40)
S21E-Nichia-1S21E-SST40-1S21E-SFT40-1

Ramp Lo (Nichia 519A, SST40, SFT40)
S21E-Nichia-LoS21E-SST40-LoS21E-SFT40-Lo

Again, none of the above is an issue in use. I am simply including the scope readings for completeness.

Strobe:

Strobe (Nichia 519A, SST40, SFT40)
S21E-Nichia-StrobeS21E-SST40-StrobeS21E-SFT40-Strobe

Strobe frequency is a very consistent fast 10.1 Hz, which most would consider a tactical frequency.

Charging:
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Note that the red/green LEDs are very bright when charging.

Charging rate for the Nichia 519A, SST40, SFT40:
S21E-Nichia-charging1
S21E-SST40-charging2
S21E-SFT40-charging1

The S21E has a single high-current charging rate of ~2.0A-2.1A, as shown for the 3 specimens above.

I normally like a two-stage charging feature (i.e., with a lower charging rate for when cells are heavily discharged). But the light output drops down to a super low mode when the battery is running low, and big red button flashes incessantly, warning you to shut down. In fact, it is actually very hard to get the cell below ~3.0V in this light. As such, this is reasonable compromise to stick with a single high charging rate.

Standby / Parasitic Drain:

I measured the standby current across the 3 samples at a negligible 31.5 uA, 30.5 uA, and 31.0 uA.

This is nice and ultra-low standby current, and is not a concern for draining the cells. However, I always suggest you lock the light out when not in use to prevent accidental activation (and cut the negligible standby drain in this case). A single twist of the tail will lock out this light, thanks to the anodized screw threads.

Emitter Measures

This section is a new feature of my reviews, where I directly measure key emitter characteristics in terms of colour temperature, tint, and colour rendition. Please see my Emitter Measures page to learn more about what these terms mean, and how I am measuring them.

As explained on that page, since I am using an inexpensive uncalibrated device, you can only make relative comparisons across my reviews (i.e., don’t take these numbers as absolutely accurate values, but as relatively consistent across lights in my testing).

S21E Nichia 519A:

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~4350K, and a slight negative tint shift (-0.0008 Duv) to rose at this temperature. These results are consistent with neutral-white Nichia 519A emitters, and match my visual experience of this light.

S21E SST40:

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~5350K, and the very noticeable positive tint shift (+0.0166 Duv) to green-yellow at this temperature. These results are consistent with high output Luminus SST emitters, and match my visual experience of this light.

S21E SFT40:

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~5650K, and a noticeable positive tint shift (+0.0136 Duv) to green-yellow at this temperature. These results are again consistent with high output Luminus SST emitters, and match my visual experience of this light.

CRI measures are pending an upgraded measurement device.

Beamshots

All outdoor beamshots are taken on my Canon PowerShot S5 IS at f/2.7, 0.5 secs exposure, ISO 400, daylight white balance. The bend in the road is approximately 40 meters (~45 yards) from the camera. Learn more about my outdoor beamshots here (scroll down for the floody light position used in this review).

Click on any thumbnail image below to open a full size image in a new window. You can then easily compare beams by switching between tabs.



Testing Results

My summary tables are generally reported in a manner consistent with the ANSI FL-1 standard for flashlight testing. In addition to the links above, please see my output measures page for more background.

All my output numbers are based on my home-made lightbox setup. As explained on that methodology page, I have devised a method for converting my lightbox relative output values to estimated lumens. My Peak Intensity/Beam Distance are directly measured with a NIST-certified Extech EA31 lightmeter.

S21E Testing Results

EmitterModeSpec LumensEstimated Lumens @0secEstimated Lumens @30 secsBeam Intensity @0secBeam Intensity @30secsBeam Distance @30secsPWM/Strobe FreqNoise FreqCharging Current <3VCharging Current >3VParasitic DrainWeight w/o BatteryWeight with Battery
Nicha 519AMoon 0.2%-1010---NoNo2.0 A2.0 A31.5 uA89 g154 g
Nicha 519A1%-1919---NoNo2.0 A2.0 A31.5 uA89 g154 g
Nicha 519A10%-230230---No4.4 kHz2.0 A2.0 A31.5 uA89 g154 g
Nicha 519A40%-550540---No5.9 kHz2.0 A2.0 A31.5 uA89 g154 g
Nicha 519ATurbo 100%1,3001,3001,25011,510 cd10,550 cd205 mNo5.3 kHz2.0 A2.0 A31.5 uA89 g154 g
Nicha 519AStrobe------10.1 HzNo2.0 A2.0 A31.5 uA89 g154 g
SST40Moon 0.2%-1616---NoNo1.65 A2.0 A30.5 uA87 g153 g
SST401%-2929---NoNo1.65 A2.0 A30.5 uA87 g153 g
SST4010%-340340---No4.9 kHz1.65 A2.0 A30.5 uA87 g153 g
SST4040%-750740---No6.6 kHz1.65 A2.0 A30.5 uA87 g153 g
SST40Turbo 100%2,4002,0502,00027,300 cd26,000 cd322 mNo6.9 kHz1.65 A2.0 A30.5 uA87 g153 g
SST40Strobe------10.1 HzNo1.65 A2.0 A30.5 uA87 g153 g
SFT40Moon 0.2%-1313---NoNo2.1 A2.1 A31 uA90 g156 g
SFT401%-2626---NoNo2.1 A2.1 A31 uA90 g156 g
SFT4010%-280280---No4.5 kHz2.1 A2.1 A31 uA90 g156 g
SFT4040%-650640-No6.0 kHz2.1 A2.1 A31 uA90 g156 g
SFT40Turbo 100%1,8001,7501,70041,400 cd37,500 cd387 mNo3.2 kHz2.1 A2.1 A31 uA90 g156 g
SFT40Strobe------10.1 HzNo2.1 A2.1 A31 uA90 g156 g

To see full testing results for all modern lights in my testing, check out my Database page.

Runtimes

As always, my runtimes are done under a small cooling fan, for safety and consistency. To learn more about how to interpret runtime graphs, see my runtimes methodology page.

S21E-Max

S21E-Hi

S21E-Med

As you can see above, the S21E circuit is well regulated, with thermal-mediated step-downs at the higher levels. Note that output tends to rise a little bit near the end of the runs on these levels, before stepping down to the low output.

Here is an expanded view of the max runtime graph, so that you can see the first few minutes with better resolution:

S21E-Max-expanded

Overall efficiency is quite good for each given emitter type. I’m taking the budget cell’s 5000mAh rated capacity as face value here (always a stretch for budget cells), but the SST40 specimen shows nearly comparable efficiency to brand name lights, which is impressive. So this suggests the overall efficiency of this circuit is high.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Very good current-controlled efficiency for each emitter type, across all modes/levels.Stepped mode spacing is not ideal, and Moonlight mode is too bright to qualify as a true moonlight.
Great feature set with both ramping and discrete output levels, including Turbo and Moonlight modes.Light heats up quickly on Turbo, given low thermal mass.
Nicely balanced beam profile for SST40 and Nichia 519A models.Significant purple fringing at the edge of the spillbeam on two samples, due to a batch of heavy AR coated lens.
Very compact build, quite petite for the class.Green/Red LEDs under the switch covers are very bright, and the low-voltage warning flash can be distracting.
Optional included high-capacity battery.Older models came with a very stiff tail spring that caused denting of LiitoKala cells (seems resolved on more recent versions).

Another minor issue I noted is the ramping speed is rather quick. But given how few lights actually give you a choice of a continuous ramp option, this is hardly a complaint!

Overall Rating

Preliminary Conclusions

My new rating system above is based solely on the features of the light, without taking cost into account. And so, given the very low cost of these lights, this is a really impressive showing.

I’m particularly impressed by the performance and versatility of the circuit, and the option for both discrete stepped levels and a continuous ramp. Yes, the discrete levels are not really well spaced, and the ramp is a bit fast, but these seem like relatively minor quibbles. It is frankly surprising to see such a versatile circuit in a budget light, with such good regulation and efficiency.

Charging performance was very good under the circumstances, with a negligible standby drain. All said, this is quite an impressive set of of circuit features for the price. It’s definitely few frills in terms of extras, but it has what you need where it counts.

Physically, the light is a very good build, quite serviceable with decent hand feel and use. There is not a lot of mass however, so it does heat up quickly. And of course, as is often the case with budget lights, you can get variability in components over batches (i.e., the too-strong tail spring on my SST40 sample, the heavy purple AR lens coating on the other two, etc.). So that is one thing you will have to accept in a budget brand.

Beam pattern is reasonably good for all three emitters. That said, the rather small improvement in throw of the SFT40 over the brighter overall SST40 doesn’t seem worth it to me. And the small reflector here seems to be introducing brighter defined rings in the periphery of the SFT40 spillbeam (which is accentuating the purple fringing of the AR coating on that particular sample). I think a light with a larger head/reflector would really be necessary to take best advantage of the SFT40 emitter. So I recommend you stick with the SST40 or Nichia 519A in this series, in your preferred colour temperature (and very nice that they offer that).

I’m glad I decided to pick these up to test. Based simply on their own merits, they are worthy contenders to consider in the 1×21700 space. When you factor in their incredibly low-cost budget price, I’d say these lights are well recommended (at least the Nichia 519A and Luminus SST40 versions).

I’m looking forward to seeing how other budget lights perform.

Reviewer’s Additional Comment: A new model in the S21-series has just come out, the S21F. However, this is a significant build change from the earlier S21-series lights, with a blended multi-emitter design. The S21E remains the most advanced version of the compact, single-emitter 1×21700 light from Convoy.

Acknowledgement

The S21E samples were personally purchased from the Convoy store of Aliexpress in the fall of 2022. At the time of review, these lights retail for ~$30 USD (~$40 CDN) with a bundled battery.

Fenix E35 v3

  1. Introduction
  2. Manufacturer Specifications
  3. Package Details
  4. Build
  5. User Interface
  6. Circuit Measures
  7. Emitter Measures
  8. Beamshots
  9. Testing Results
  10. Runtimes
  11. Pros and Cons
  12. Overall Rating
  13. Preliminary Conclusions
  14. Acknowledgement

Introduction

Fenix is the maker that launched my interest in LED flashlights back in ~2006, so it seems only appropriate to start off my return to flashlight testing with their compact 1×21700 light, the E35 v3.

I recall the first generation E35 when it was released in 2012 – with a whopping max output of 235 lumens. 😉 At the time, it didn’t hold any interest for me. Around the time I wrapped up my reviews, a more interesting E35 Ultimate Edition, with an output of 1000 lumens, had come out. This third version (first released in 2020) is now rated at 3000 lumens, thanks to its Luminus SST70 LED emitter and included 21700 Li-ion battery.

Although this v3 model has been around for a couple of years now, it’s still a respectable contender in the compact 1×21700 EDC class that I plan to focus on in my upcoming reviews. So, let’s see what it has to offer.

Manufacturer Specifications

Note: as always, these are simply what the manufacturer provides – scroll down to see my actual testing results.

FeatureSpecs
MakerFenix
ModelE35 v3
EmitterSST70
Tint-
Specs Max Output (Lumens)3,000
Specs Min Output (Lumens)50
Specs Max Runtime50 hrs
Specs Max Beam Intensity (cd)14,400 cd
Specs Max Beam Distance (m)240 m
Number of Levels5
Flashing ModesStrobe
Battery1x21700
Weight (w/o battery)67 g
Weight (with battery)-
Length118 mm
Head Diameter26.5 mm
Body Diameter26.5 mm
WaterproofIP68 2m

Package Details

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The E35 v3 is shipped in standard retail store packaging, suitable for mounting on a display peg. This means you will need a pair of scissors or knife to open the sealed bubble plastic. Inside, you will find the following:

  • Fenix E35 v3 flashlight
  • Fenix 21700 USB-C rechargeable Li-ion battery (5000mAh)
  • USB-C charging cord
  • Pocket clip (attached)
  • Wrist lanyard
  • Spare o-rings
  • Manual, product brochure, and warranty card

It’s a reasonable package of accessories, but I do miss the old-style Fenix elasticized belt holster.

Build

20230402_162025
From left to right: LiitoKala 21700 (5000mAh), Fenix ARB-L21-5000U 21700 (5000mAh), Sofirm IF25A, Fenix E35 v3, Convoy S21E, Imalent MS03, Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max, Acebeam E70, Nitecore P20iX, Nitecore MH12SE, Lumintop D3, Convoy M21F.

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The E35 v3 is among the most compact of the 1×21700 battery class of flashlights I’ve seen. The extra width of the 21700 cell (over standard 18650) is barely noticeable, and the light fits well in the hand.

The side switch is in a convenient location for traditional flashlight carry, as your thumb rests naturally on the switch. Note there is no tailcap switch, so there is no easy option to carry the light in overhand tactical stance (i.e., you would need to use your little finger on the switch if you did).

The light lacks traditional knurling, and has instead a series of fine concentric rings (which I have sometimes seen referred to as “reeling” instead of knurling). Frankly, I find these rather slippery here – I’ve definitely come across more substantial implementations of this design.

The pocket clip helps with grip, so I recommend you leave it attached (as there are few other protruding design elements). The pocket clip seems designed for downward carry, but you could in a pinch try to mount the light between the clip and body so that it is pointing upward instead. The clip is not physically reversible on the light.

Tailstanding is stable, and there are cut-outs along the raised side ridges for lanyard use.

Hard anodizing looks to be good quality (as is typical for Fenix), and is more on the glossy side than typical (I personally prefer more matte). Threads are anodized, so you can lock out the light by a twist of the head.

The power switch has a metal cover, with a clear centre to allow the integrated battery status LED to shine through (see User Interface below). Switch feel is decent for this style of light.

The light lacks a USB-C charging port on the body, but there is one built into the bundled battery. Given the extra length of these batteries, you’ll have to stick with ones that include such a port (and a pronounced button, as required in this case by the reverse polarity feature). Since the Fenix battery is quite long, I think you will find that few other brands will fit and work in the light (i.e., none of the other ones with integrated USB-C chargers that I have tried would work).

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The light apparently uses a Luminus SST70 LED – but not that you can easily tell, as the TIR optic obscures a clear view of the emitter die. I’m not generally a fan of TIR optics, but this one does an excellent job – a great balance of throw and wide spill, with no real colour distortions over the beam profile. Scroll down to see my beamshots below. That said, the lower output modes do have a noticeable green tint. This is not uncommon on Fenix lights, as constant-current drivers tend to produce more of a green hue at lower drive settings.

The bezel has a copper-colour ring that is completely flat (i.e., no crenelations). So if you lay the light down on its head on a flat surface, you may not be able to easily tell if it is on.

There is a reverse polarity feature in the head, so only true button-top cells will work in the light. I tried a few other 21700 cells, and none would activate the light.

Overall, I find this to be a good looking light with decent ergonomics and a great beam pattern. It fits well in the hand, but is a bit slipperier than I would like. A nice build in the compact 1×21700 EDC class.

User Interface

The E35 v3 uses a single side-mounted switch to control the flashlight. Available constant output modes, as per the manufacturer labels, are: Eco, Low, Medium, High, Turbo. There is one blinking mode outside the main sequence: Strobe.

From OFF:

  • Press and hold 0.5 sec: Turns ON (constant output)
  • Press and hold 2 sec: Strobe
  • Single click: Battery status
  • Double click: Lockout
  • Triple click: n/a

From ON:

  • Press and hold 0.5 sec: Turns OFF
  • Press and hold 2 sec: Strobe
  • Single click: Cycle through Eco to Turbo, in repeating sequence
  • Double click: n/a (it just cycles through the constant output modes)

Mode memory:

Yes.

Low battery warning:

Yes. The indicator LED under the switch will show the remaining power as follows; Solid Green (85-100%), Flashing Green (50-85%), Solid Red (25-50%), Flashing Red (1-25%). It is bright without being obtrusive.

Reviewer Comments:

I really don’t like this interface. I find clicking to advance modes to be counter-intuitive, and I kept advancing to the level every time I tried to turn the light off during my testing. I can normally live with press-hold for on (although prefer single click). But in this case it was ruined by putting strobe as the extended press-hold. So, if you hold the button down for a fraction of a second too long (when either trying to turn on or off), you wind up strobing yourself (which again happened to me repeatedly in my testing)!

Personally, I find this the worse of all possible worlds. I suppose if this is the only flashlight you own, you will get used to it eventually. But having handled an insanely high number of flashlights over the years, I find this sort of non-traditional pairing very annoying (especially for the strobe placement).

I am also sad to see the lack of a true moonlight mode (see Testing Results for more info). This is a real shame, reducing the usefulness of this light as an EDC.

Circuit Measures

Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM):

E35v3-Eco

There is no sign of PWM or circuit noise at any level. The light appears to be fully constant-current controlled. 🙂

Strobe:

E35v3-StrobeB
E35v3-StrobeC

Strobe alternates between two defined frequencies every second or so, measured as 14.7 Hz and 6.0 Hz in my testing. Certainly very disorienting!

Charging:

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Resting voltage <3.0V
E35v3-charging1

Resting voltage >3.0V
E35v3-charging2

The Fenix 21700 battery shows an initial low USB-C charging current of 0.12A when the cell is heavily depleted (<3.0V resting), which jumps up to 1.25A once the cell is >3.0V resting. This is a good design, and indicates a safe and reasonably rapid integrated charging circuit.

Standby / Parasitic Drain:

I measured the standby current as 35.5 uA.

This is negligible and not a concern for long-term battery life, but I always suggest you lock the light out when not in use to prevent accidental activation. A single twist of the head will lock out this light, thanks to the anodized screw threads.

Emitter Measures

This section is a new feature of my reviews, where I directly measure key emitter characteristics in terms of colour temperature, tint, and colour rendition. Please see my Emitter Measures page to learn more about what these terms mean, and how I am measuring them.

As explained on that page, since I am using an inexpensive uncalibrated device, you can only make relative comparisons across my reviews (i.e., don’t take these numbers as absolutely accurate values, but as relatively consistent across lights in my testing).

The key measures above are the colour temperature of ~5200K, and the very noticeable positive tint shift (+0.0199 Duv) to green-yellow at this temperature. These results are consistent with high output Luminus SST emitters, and match my visual experience of this light. CRI measures are pending an upgraded measurement device.

Beamshots

All outdoor beamshots are taken on my Canon PowerShot S5 IS at f/2.7, 0.5 secs exposure, ISO 400, daylight white balance. The bend in the road is approximately 40 meters (~45 yards) from the camera. Learn more about my outdoor beamshots here (scroll down for the floody light position used in this review).

Click on any thumbnail image below to open a full size image in a new window. You can then easily compare beams by switching between tabs.



Testing Results

My summary tables are generally reported in a manner consistent with the ANSI FL-1 standard for flashlight testing. In addition to the links above, please see my output measures page for more background.

All my output numbers are based on my home-made lightbox setup. As explained on that methodology page, I have devised a method for converting my lightbox relative output values to estimated lumens. My Peak Intensity/Beam Distance are directly measured with a NIST-certified Extech EA31 lightmeter.

Fenix E35 Testing Results

ModeSpec LumensEstimated Lumens @0secEstimated Lumens @30 secsBeam Intensity @0secBeam Intensity @30secsBeam Distance @30secsPWM/Strobe FreqNoise FreqCharging Current <3VCharging Current >3VParasitic DrainWeight w/o BatteryWeight with Battery
Eco506969---NoNo0.12 A1.25 A35.5 uA68 g141 g
Low150200200---NoNo0.12 A1.25 A35.5 uA68 g141 g
Med450530530---NoNo0.12 A1.25 A35.5 uA68 g141 g
Hi1,2001,4001,350---NoNo0.12 A1.25 A35.5 uA68 g141 g
Turbo3,0003,0002,90015,150 cd13,710 cd234 mNoNo0.12 A1.25 A35.5 uA68 g141 g
Strobe3,000-----14.7 Hz / 6.0 HzNo0.12 A1.25 A35.5 uA68 g141 g

To see full testing results for all modern lights in my testing, check out my Database page.

Runtimes

As always, my runtimes are done under a small cooling fan, for safety and consistency. To learn more about how to interpret runtime graphs, see my runtimes methodology page.

E35-Max

E35-Hi

E35-Med

As you can see above, the E35 is extremely efficient at all levels tested, consistent with a good current-controlled circuit.

I know the runtime pattern looks rather “noisy” on Turbo, but this is not actually visible to the naked eye. To illustrate, here are the max output runtimes blown-up to show the first 8 minutes:

E35-Max-Expanded

And now, an even greater blow-up of 2 mins in the middle of the run:

E35-2min

The gradual rise, and somewhat faster fall, in output are not visible to the naked eye as they happen over quite a few seconds. For all intents and purposes, the output appears completely stable in actual use.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Outstanding current-controlled efficiency
No Moonlight mode
Excellent balanced beam profilePoorly thought out user interface, easy to strobe yourself when turning on/off
Good thermal management allowing for reasonably high output levelsSomewhat slippery design
Very compact light
Included high-capacity battery with fast built-in charge rate

An additional neutral comment (i.e., not necessarily good or bad) is that only true button-top cells will work in the light. This is due to the reverse polarity protection feature.

Overall Rating

Preliminary Conclusions

I was really expecting to be able to award this light a higher rating when it first arrived. Fenix’s current-controlled circuitry has always had top-notch efficiency, with some of the best runtimes in the business (which is true here too). Although the lack of a moonlight mode was always going to bring it down from top status though – this is a fatal flaw in an EDC light, in my opinion.

I can handle the minor annoyances I found in testing (like the slippery finish), given all its other positive (e.g., its compact size and lovely beam). But the user interface is just bonkers to me. Who makes you long-press to turn on or off, but then makes strobe a slightly longer press? This is a recipe to strobe yourself when turning on or off (which I did repeatedly). Also not a fan of click to advance modes (i.e., easy to forget, so you wind up jumping to a higher level when you meant to turn off). Sorry, but this lack of forethought turns what is an otherwise top quality package into one that is just above average overall.

But it is all relative in the end. If you the user interface makes sense to you, or you figure you can get used to it, this light does have a lot to offer. The relatively high (and well-managed) output levels, the excellent runtime efficiency, and great beam pattern make it a serious contender in the the ultra-compact 1×21700 class of flashlights.

Reviewer’s Note: Between the time of my purchase and this review, Fenix has released a slightly updated version known as the E35R. But this has very minor tweaks – a tiny bump in max output to 3,100 lumens, inclusion of a USB-C charger on the light itself instead of the battery, slight body change with magnetic tail, and minor UI tweak for lockout. I doubt performance would be meaningfully different to what is described here, and none of the changes affect my conclusions about handling or the interface.

Acknowledgement

I personally purchased this light from a local dealer. This review has not been sponsored in any way. At the time of review, this light retails for ~$75 USD (~$105 CDN).