Lumintop GT3 Mini Flashlight Review

Here’s a review of the Lumintop GT3 Mini, a 26350-cell flashlight that uses three Cree XHP50.2 emitters to achieve fantastic output! Read on!

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Official Specs and Features

I don’t think there’s an official Lumintop GT3 Mini flashlight product page yet!

Versions

This seems like it’ll be the only version. Time will tell!

Price

Since there’s no page yet, there also seems to be no price.

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Short Review

I like a few things about this light. First, I like that Lumintop stayed with the design look of the GT3 light. This required that they use an unusual cell, but they include that so “whatever.” They also include an extension tube, and this tube works great for a 26650 cell, so that’s a win too. Output is just fantastical, but does step down quicker than is fun (it’s understandable that it steps down, but it does still take away some of the fun.) 

Long Review

The Big Table

Lumintop GT3 Mini Flashlight
Emitter:	Cree XHP50.2 (6000K)
Price in USD at publication time:
Cell:	1×26350
Turbo Runtime Graph
LVP?	Yes
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (mA):	“3.61 with backlight on 3.50 with backlight off”
On-Board Charging?	No
Claimed Lumens (lm)	6500
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	6259 (0s) 503 (30s)
Candela per Lumen	3
Claimed Throw (m)	300
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	74lux @ 4.931m = 1799cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	84.8 (28.3% of claim)^
Claimed CCT	6000K
Measured CCT Range (K)	5700-6200 Kelvin
Item provided for review by:	Lumintop
All my Lumintop reviews!

^ Measurement disclaimer:  I am an amateur flashlight reviewer.  I don’t have $10,000 or even $1,000 worth of testing equipment.  I test output and such in PVC tubes!!  Please consider claims within 10% of what I measure to be perfectly reasonable (accurate, even).

What’s Included

• Lumintop GT3 Mini flashlight
• 26350 cell
• Extension tube for 26650

Package and Manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

This light really is reminiscent of the Lumintop GT3 from a while back. Build quality is good.

That GT3 had Anduril, though, and this GT3 Mini does not. We do still see an indicating switch, and some other similar appointments, though.

The extension tube is completely blank, but at least that means no grooves or whatever end up mismatched. I actually really love this type of extension tube, and support it fully!

The tailcap has a big ol’ beefy spring – it’ll need that based on how much current the light draws on the higher levels!

The head has only a brass button, though.

Size and Comps

In 26350: 40 x 30 x 76mm; weight 96g (with cell)
In 26650: 40 x 30 x 106mm; weight 108g (with cell) 

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

There’s really only one way intended for carry of the Lumintop GT3 Mini flashlight, and that is by a lanyard that attaches through this metal ring on the tail. A lanyard was not included with my package, but I did not receive a full retail package. 

Unlike the bigger GT3, there is no tripod mounting point.

Power and Runtime

A single lithium-ion cell is used for running the Lumintop GT3 Mini flashlight. Depending on which body you have set up, that’ll be either a 26350 (included) or a 26650 (not included). 

The cell goes into the light in the usual way – positive end toward the head.

Here are a few runtime tests with the included 26350 cell. I didn’t test any levels with the 26650, but Lumintop does state the output will be (much) higher when using that size cell. That’s really only because those bigger cells can typically provide more current, but actual output will depend on which cell you are using (and that’s why I didn’t test it with a 26650, and only tested with the included power source.)

Modes and Currents

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	6500+650	20s+1h40m	6259 (0s) 503 (30s)	>18
High2	4000+550	40s+1h40m	3468	8.00
High1	1800+550	1m+1h40m	1696	2.28
Med	550	2h	564	1.20
Low	130	7h	130	0.23
Moonlight	2	8d	1.88	8.26mA

Pulse Width Modulation

All the middle modes do use PWM. It’s fast enough that it’s nothing to worry about.

For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor.  Also, here’s the light with the worst PWM I could find.  I’m adding multiple timescales, so it’ll be easier to compare to the test light.  Unfortunately, the PWM on this light is so bad that it doesn’t even work with my normal scale, with is 50 microseconds (50us).  10ms.  5ms.  2ms.  1ms.  0.5ms.  0.2ms.  In a display faster than 0.2ms or so, the on/off cycle is more than one screen, so it’d just (very incorrectly) look like a flat line.  I wrote more about this Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight and explained a little about PWM too.

User Interface and Operation

A side e-switch is used in the Lumintop GT3 Mini flashlight.  There are two blue emitters behind the switch, and the switch cover has a translucent Lumintop rabbit logo symbol.

The action of the switch is very low.

Here’s a UI table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Hold	Moonlight
Off	Click	On (Mode memory (low/med/high))
On	Hold	Off
On	Click	Mode advance
Off	Double Click	High2
On	Double Click	Turbo
Moonlight	Double Click	Strobe
Strobe Group	Double Click	Strobe advance (Strobe > SOS > Beacon)
Off	Click 3x	Battery check^
Off	Click 4x	Lockout
Lockout	Click	Momentary Low
Lockout	Click 4x	Unlock (to off state)
Off	Click 7x	Iterate switch backlight (on or off)

^ Battery check is as follows: slowish blinks for the ones digit then pause and faster blinks for tenths. For example, three blinks then pause then 8 quicker blinks indicates 3.8V.

LED and Beam

Used in the Lumintop GT3 Mini flashlight are three Cree XHP50.2 emitters. They have a dome and seem to be foolish. 

Each has a small orange peel reflector, too. 

The lens appears to have AR coating.

LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)

The CRI of this extremely high-output light is actually respectable, starting at around 5500K and drifting up past 6200K in the higher levels. CRI is low, however. 

Beamshots

These beamshots are always with the following settings:  f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure.

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

• Extremely high output
• Fun small size
• Includes an extension for a more reasonable size
• Bigger size provides even more output and better runtimes
• Six output levels
• Not encumbered by ramping

What I don’t like

• Doesn’t use Anduril (as the bigger GT3 does)
• Stepdowns are so quick on the higher levels
• Low CRI
• Hold for off (doesn’t always bother me but seems particularly egregious in this context)

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Notes

• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org.  Please visit there for the best experience!
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