Nitecore MT1C Pro Flashlight Review
The Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight has the features of the MT2C Pro: high output and throw and two modes! But this 18350 tactical weapon light is much smaller!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight product page.
Versions
There’s just one version of the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight specifically. Nitecore also offers a “2” version of this light – the Nitecore MT2C Pro flashlight. You can see a review of that light here.
Price
With the cell and everything seen in this post, the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight sells for a very reasonable $44.95!
What’s Included
- Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight
- 1600mAh 18350
- USB to USB-C charging cable
- Lanyard
- Spare 0-ring
- Manual etc
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
I’ll call this a “fairly simple” light mainly because it has just two output levels. It is reasonably a tactical flashlight, most likely intended as such, because the highest level is first. Low is only accessible after high. That makes perfect sense for a weapon light.
The build quality is very good. When considering the price of around $45, the light is certainly built to at least that level of expectation – it’s a quality light.
I don’t know much about tactical grip and how you’d hold the light for weapon usage, but it seems to have sufficient grip for those scenarios.
The contact point in the head is just a button – a surprise for a tactical light. Usually, you’d expect springs on the head and tail of a tactical light.
That said, the spring(s) in the tail are very beefy and also have quite a bit of travel (around 0.5-1cm).
Size and Comps
Dimensions L-3.46″ x W-1.06″ x H-0.84″
Weight (with battery) 2.82 oz
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Below you can see these two tactical weapon lights side by side – the MT1C Pro and MT2C Pro. They’re very similar – I’d typically call these “combo” lights – one 18650 and one 18350 and otherwise the same.
I do appreciate that the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight seems to be “tuned down” a bit – lower output, lower throw, but otherwise the same.
Retention and Carry
Nitecore includes a screwed-in pocket clip on the MT1C Pro flashlight. This clip uses three screws, which is slightly unusual but that does mean it’s an even more robust connection than two-screw clips! The pocket clip has holes where the included lanyard can be attached.
The lanyard can be attached safely on the clip (because it’s a screw-in clip) but there’s also a complete ring around the tail of the light where the lanyard can be attached, too.
The lanyard is a very simple type.
Power and Runtime
Nitecore includes a 1600mAh Nitecore-branded 18350. It’s a button top cell
The cell goes into the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight in a normal orientation – positive end toward the cell. Do you see how far the cell sticks out in the photo below? The cell can be pressed in (compressing the spring) to below the rim of the cell body. That’s (maybe) 1cm. I mention that just to demonstrate how much travel the spring has.
You can also use an RCR123 or CR123 cells if you want. Output is lower and the runtimes are generally lower, too.
Below are a couple of runtimes – that’s all the modes this light has! There’s a massive stepdown on the highest output. That’s disappointing but you have to expect it a little bit – 1000 lumens from a light this small is really a lot to ask from a heat management perspective. The steady output of around 400 lumens for over two hours is much more reasonable.
I’ll add that even though there is a big stepdown on High, the light does maintain over 900 lumens for over a minute. That’s pretty solid.
Charging
The Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight itself does not have charging but the included 18350 cell does. There’s a USB-C charging port on the positive end of the cell.
Nitecore includes a USB to USB-C charging cable. As usual, Nitecore’s cables are great!
Below is one charging cycle.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 1000 | 1h15m | 975 (0s) 939 (30s) |
2.89 |
| Low | 50 | 16h | 54 | 0.07 |
Pulse Width Modulation
Neither mode uses PWM. Low (right) has a bit of a wiggle, but it’s not PWM and you won’t notice it during use.
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 just one switch on the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight. It’s a mechanical forward clicky. The switch cover is flush or below the edge, so tailstanding is possible.
The action is quite deep, but I’d say “good for tactical.”
Here’s a user interface table! This user interface is, of course, just like that of the MT2C Pro.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Tap | Momentary High |
| Off | Click | High |
| Off | Double tap | Momentary Low |
| Off | Tap click | Low |
| On | Click | Off |
| On | Tap | Doesn’t change anything |
It’s a very simple user interface!
LED and Beam
Nitecore has used a UHi 20 LED in the MT1C Pro flashlight. This is a type of emitter Nitecore has used a good bit lately and it provides great throw and high output.
That emitter is coupled with a smooth and fairly (or “comparatively”) deep reflector.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
There are only two modes on the MT1C Pro. High is first (as below) and it has reasonable CCT (at 5800K). CRI is (very) low, at around 65. Low is warmer, at around 5400K but also moves well into the positive Duv realm (meaning it’ll look green.)
Beamshots
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. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
I love the simplicity offered by the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight. Throw from this UHi 20 emitter is very good. Output is also impressive! CRI (low) and CCT (cool, greenish) do have some room for improvement. I also love that Nitecore is offering an 18650 version of this light. What a great combo! Even the cost of the Nitecore MT1C Pro flashlight is reasonable! Nice work, Nitecore.
The Big Table
| Nitecore MT1C Pro Flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | NiteLab UHi 20 |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $44.95 |
| Cell: | 1×18350 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | Mechanical |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C (on cell) |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | – |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 1000 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 939 (93.9% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 40.87 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 360 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 1404lux @ 5.389m = 40774cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 403.9 (112.2% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 5300-5800 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | NitecoreStore.com |
| 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 I like
- Very simple user interface
- Reasonable cost
- Very good throw
- Good build quality
- 18650 and 18350 both available – a great combo!
- I really like how Nitecore has tuned this light down from 1800lm (18650 body) to 1000lm (18350 body). This is more than just a different size body!
What I don’t like
- Low CRI
- Positive Duv
- Just two modes (not super great for EDC)
Notes
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