XTAR T2 Keychain Flashlight Review
XTAR has been making some interesting flashlights lately, and the XTAR T2 keychain flashlight is no exception. This light boasts a Cree XP-G3 emitter, an e-switch, and most importantly, USB-C Charging!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the XTAR T2 keychain flashlight product page.
Versions
There is only one version.
Price
The only place I see these for sale is aliexpress, where they list for $38.63.
Short Review of the XTAR T2 Keychain Flashlight
As an owner of two versions of the T1 (which I reviewed), I can say that the XTAR T2 keychain flashlight is a worthy upgrade. It might lack some things you want (like a replaceable cell) and have some things you don’t want (like Cree XP-G3) but this is a nice update (upgrade?) to the T1. The T2 is not waterproof (!!!).
Long Review
The Big Table
| XTAR T2 keychain flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XP-G3 (S4) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $38.63 |
| Cell: | Internal |
| High Runtime Graph | Mid Runtime Graph |
| LVP? | Switches off |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | All modes |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 650 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 442 (68% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 3.2 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 65 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 135lux @ 3.094m = 1292cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 71.9 (110.6% of claim)^ |
| All my XTAR 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
- XTAR T2 keychain flashlight
- Lanyard
- Charge cable (USB to USB-C)
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
The build quality on the XTAR T2 keychain flashlight is good. You can see that the anodizing isn’t the typical “black” and not even grey like the T1’s were.
XTAR states over and over that the cell used here is a “10380” which is great! But I don’t see how it’s accessible, and so the actual size of the thing doesn’t matter that much Removing the tailcap only reveals threads and a plastic cover.
Probably by removing that plastic, you could get into the cell but I didn’t try it.
Really this seems to unscrew for access to the magnet, which is glued to the tailcap.
Size and Comps
Officially: 14.8mm in diameter, 75mm in length, and 29.5 grams in weight.
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll show that here, too (usually the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. Mine’s a custom “baked” edition Nichia 219b triple. A very nice 18650 light.
And here’s the light beside my custom engraved TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats.
Retention and Carry
XTAR added a nice pocket clip to the T2 keychain flashlight. It’s a proper clip, too!
Not even any friction fit nonsense – this is a collar style clip!
The clip is removable though if you just hate it or don’t have the need. Unscrew the tailcap, remove the clip.
Also in this tailcap is a magnet, which is just (and I mean just) strong enough to hold the XTAR T2 keychain flashlight horizontally.
These two lanyard holes on the tailcap are perfect for the lanyard, but since the pocket clip is the collar style, you could also attach the included lanyard there.
The clip is not reversible, so the XTAR T2 keychain flashlight is not suitable as a hatlight.
Power and Runtime
Built into the T2 is a lithium-ion cell. XTAR states it as a 10380 cell. I was unable to access it to confirm, and also this means it’s not replaceable.
This is an AAA-sized flashlight, and I’m disappointed we can’t use replaceable AAA cells in the T2.
Runtimes look pretty good, but the output on High doesn’t hit the 650-lumen claim (even at startup).
The T2 does shut off, but since I can’t access the cell I can’t say what the voltage is.
Charging
With the built-in cell comes built-in charging. The T2 uses USB-C charging, with a charging port beside the switch (not directly opposite to the switch, though.)
XTAR also provides the necessary cable – USB to USB-C.
Charging is not very fast, but even at 0.3A is probably around 1C for the 10380 cell.
While charging, the switch is green (that’s right, green.) When charging is complete, the switch turns blue (that’s right, blue).
I’ll note that the charge port cover has a few problems for me. First, it’s hard to open. There’s a little tab, but the whole thing pushes down into the T2, and just becomes nearly inaccessible. Second, when pulling the light off the charge cable, it’s super easy to pull off the charge port cover, too. I did this… fortunately it’s easy to push the cover back in. This will likely require a safety pin or paperclip though. Not the end of the world, but it could be much better.
Finally: Yes, C to C charging works (at 5V).
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 650/360 | 26m | 442 | ? |
| Mid | 130 | 1.5h | 136 | ? |
| Low | 50 | 4.2h | 46 | ? |
| Moonlight High | 6 | 22.4h | 3.3 | ? |
| Moonlight Mid | 4 | 30h | 2 | ? |
| Moonlight Low | 2 | 45h | 0.6 | ? |
Pulse Width Modulation
Every mode displays PWM. This is fast PWM though, and I can’t see it by eye. The scope tells the story, though.
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’s a single switch for the XTAR T2 keychain flashlight. It’s an e-switch near the head, and labeled with a power icon.
It’s not proud. It’s also fairly easy to distinguish from the charge port cover (which sort of sits into the body).
Here’s a user interface table! Note that there are two groups – Moonlight Group, and High Group, each with their own LMH. It’s not complicated, though. One group can’t be accessed directly from the other, though.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click 5x | Lockout (green switch blinks 5x) |
| Lockout | Click 5x | Unlock (White light blinks 3x and light is on) |
| Off | Hold | On (Mode Memory “High Group”) |
| Off | Click 2x | On (Mode Memory “Moonlight Group”) |
| On | Click | Mode advance (LMH direction) |
| On | Hold | Off |
| Any | Click 3x | “Self Defense Strobe” |
| Strobe | Click | Off |
LED and Beam
The XTAR T2 keychain flashlight emitter is a Cree XP-G3. There’s a TIR for shaping the beam.
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
What I like
- Collar pocket clip
- Nice build quality
- USB-C charging
- Good use of mode groups, with easy access to moonlights
What I don’t like
- Can’t access lowest moonlight from off (it’s mode memory of the moonlight group, which isn’t the same thing)
- PWM on all modes
- Built-in cell
Notes
- This light was provided by XTAR for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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