Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight Review

Here’s the Nitecore TIP SE keychain flashlight.  This little keychain flashlight has dual e-switches, dual emitters, and more! Read on!

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Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Nitecore TIP SE Keychain product page.

Versions

There are two body color versions of the TIP SE.  Black (seen here) and grey.  The emitters are the same between them.

Price

The TIP SE is available now from NitecoreStore.com for $29.95 (referral link.)

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Short Review of the Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight

This is a fun little iteration of the TIP series.  It’s definitely better than the others – everything about it seems better.  I’m surprised the charging is so slow since it’s using USB-C.

Long Review

The Big Table

Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight
Emitter:	Osram P8 (x2)
Price in USD at publication time:
Cell:	Internal
Turbo Runtime	High Runtime
LVP?	?
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	?
On-Board Charging?	Yes
Charge Port Type:	USB-C
Chargetime
Power off Charge Port with no Cell?
Claimed Lumens (lm)	700
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	721 (103% of claim)^
Candela per Lumen	3.9
Claimed Throw (m)	90
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	219lux @ 3.703m = 3003cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	109.6 (121.8% of claim)^
All my Nitecore reviews!

^ Measurement disclaimer:  Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.

What’s Included

• Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight
• Pocket clip (plastic, tension)
• Charge cable (USB to USB-C)
• Split ring (2)
• Metal clip
• Manual and papers

Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight Package and Manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

The build quality of the TIP SE is on par with any other of the TIP lights.  It’s a metal body light, with two rubberized e-switches.

It’s a sandwich design, too – the body is two halves, each held together by four Torx screws.  I’m going to call them “probably T4” because my T5 was just too big.  As a result of that, I wasn’t able to disassemble the light.

The bezel actually feels plastic, which is a bit of a surprise with the rest of the body being metal.

The name of the light is partially molded in, and partially either silkscreened or laser etched (unclear).

Here’s a better view of the Torx screws.

The image below also supports that the bezel is plastic – it’s translucent plastic.

Here’s some of the newest from PhotonPhreaks!  Go get yours!

Size and Comps

Length 60 mm / 2.36 in
Weight 26 g / 0.92 oz

The TIP SE is pretty much on par with other TIPs in size.

Retention and Carry

A pocket clip is included.  It’s a plastic tension fit clip and is also the only means of cover on th USB-C charge port.

The clip can effectively fit in four positions.  Front or back on the light, and up or down.  It can be used to cover the switches as well, and is also the only included way to cover the charge port.

Also, an option is the loops on the end of the light, which allow connection of a lanyard or keys, or the included split rings.

There are no magnets inside this light.

Power and Runtime

The battery in the TIP SE is a built-in 500mAh LiPO.

There’s a power indicating option, too.  Click the Mode button while the light is off, and the switches (not the main emitter) will flash according to cell charge as follows:

3 flashes, cell is >50%
2 flashes, cell is below 50%
1 flash, cell is below 10%

The light also has built-in charging via USB-C.  This charge port does not have a cover except for the pocket clip.

A cable is included.  It is USB to USB-C.

Charging looks very good and stable but it is a relatively slow 0.5A.

Modes and Currents

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	700	15m	721	–
High	180	1h30m	218	–
Mid	30	8h	63	–
Low	1	50h	–	–

Pulse Width Modulation

Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor.

Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.

User Interface and Operation

There are two switches on the TIP SE.  They’re both e-switches, and both have a red indicator (probably one indicator that can be seen in both switches).  They’re clicky, responsive, and very proud.  They’re also soft, unlike the switches on the TIP2.  These switches are much more like some other TIPs – the TIP SS Tropical, for example.

There are two user modes for this light.  Daily and Demo.  The light of course ships in Demo mode.  In Demo, the light shuts off after 30 seconds.  In Daily mode, the light does not shut off after 30 seconds.  To switch between the two, hold both buttons and wait for a flash.  One flash indicates Demo, two flashes indicate Daily.  The light can be on or off before making this change.  Interestingly, reactivating the light within 3s after turning it off in Demo mode will make Daily mode active, until the light is again turned off.

Here’s a UI table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click Power Switch (PS)	On (mode memory)
Off	Click Mode Switch (MS)	Battery indicator
Off	Hold PS	Low
On	Hold MS	Turbo
On	Click MS	Mode advance (LMH)
On	Click PS	Off
Off	Hold PS (>2s)	Momentary Turbo
Turbo	Click MS	Low

The UI is really not all that complicated, but importantly adds direct access to Low, which is something I asked for from previous TIPs!

LED and Beam

In the TIP SE is 2 x OSRAM P8.  Wouldn’t have been my first choice for this cool little light, but they’re not too bad.  They are behind individual TIR optics.  By the time the beam gets any distance from the light, it’s perfectly combined.

These beamshots always have the following settings:  f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.

Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)

I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right.

I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!

Conclusion on the Nitecore TIP SE Keychain Flashlight

What I like

• USB-C Charging
• Good UI, adding easy access to Low
• Metal body
• Fully meets manufacturer claims for output and throw

What I don’t like

• USB-C Charging is strangely slow
• Osram P8 is probably not the best choice for this little keychain light

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Notes

• This light was provided by Nitecore for review. I was not paid to write this review.
• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org.  Please visit there for the best experience!
• For flashlight-related patches, stickers, and gear, head over to PhotonPhreaks.com!
• Use my amazon.com referral link if you’re willing to help support making more reviews like this one!
• Please support me on Patreon! I deeply appreciate your support!