Review: Nitecore TIP CRI

Note that this review is posted in italian on my blog.
I received the Nitecore TIP CRI Nichia 219B from BangGood for the review. Nitecore makes a CW version of the TIP, featuring a CREE XP-G2 emitter.
Here’s the purchase link

The TIP comes in this simple carboard – plastic box.

The TIP comes with a couple of splitrings and nothing else.

I got the light blue version, but the light is available in different colors.

The TIP is a rather simple light, with a couple of switches, a micro USB port for recharging the integrated battery and a lanyard attachment point.




The centered emitter is inside a small light orange peeling reflector, with a metallic bezel.

The overall design is squared and the light can tailstand or stand on the side without any problem. The TIP however is a smooth light, without a lot of gripping elements such as knurling. The major traction points are the two rubber switch covers.

The switches require a stronger pressure to be operated compared to my Nitecore Tube and Fenix UC01.

UI
The UI is very simple. You have an on/off and a mode switch.
Press the on/off switch to turn the light on. The light has memory mode for low med and high mode.
To cycle between the low mid and high modes, press the mode switch.
From off, keep pressed the on/off switch to turn the light on at low mode.
From off, keep pressed the mode switch to turn the light on at turbo mode. This works also when the light is running.

From off keep pressed both switches to activate the lockout. Do it again to unlock the light.
When the battery is charging the LED under the switches will be red, when the charging is finished it will be green.

During the charging process the light can’t be turned on.

When the light is off press once the mode switch to activate the battery meter (the red led under the switches will blink:

- Once <10% charge

- Twice <50% charge

  • 3 times >50% charge.

Output and runtime
Both tested with the integrated battery.



Beamshot at 0.5 meters from the wall
My eye test doesn’t detect PWM at any level.
The beam is composed by a big spot and a very wide spill that arrives to the ground perpendicularly. Tint is around 4500K according to my eyes.




My thoughts.
The TIP is well built and finished, as you would expect from Nitecore.
IMHO this light does many things right:

- Several spaced levels,

- Good flood beam,

- Available with CW and NW with good CRI emitter,

- Available with several colors,

- Integrated rechargeable battery with standard port (no need of proprietary cables)

- Shortcut to low, high mode and memory mode

- Integrated battery meter

  • Competitive price

The only downsides to this light is that it lacks traction (keep in mind that it is built to be attached to keys and splitrings) and it only has IP54 certification (dust and splash proof), probably because it doesn’t have a micro USB cover (which you can purchase separately).

Thanks to: AntoLed for the camera and the luxmeter.

Thanks for the complete review Budda, I’m especially happy with the runtime graphs, I’m still impressed by the good performance of the TIP!

Thanks for the review mate! They are great lights.

Honestly I did not have such high expectations but the TIP performs really well, and if you think about the cost of one of these lights (with the discount)… it is simply very hard to beat the quality-price ratio.

Yea for sure i had the coupon for 16 USD for the Christmas edition. That discount is finished now. Like what light and battery and charger setup can you get for that price?
Its got a 500mah battery that is almost the same as IMR 16340s and 14500s. Output wise the XPG2 version does the same as my Jet I MK on my ceiling bounce test.

Yeah, it was a supersweet deal, and I’ll carry a TIP 200 times before carrying a Jet I MK.
Too bad I did not bought any of the Christmas editions, I preferred waiting for my testing sample.

Great review, and about time someone did some runtime graphs for this light! Thanks!

I recently purchased 2 TIP CRIs from BG and both still have the lockout bug. I thought that by now all of the TIPs would be V2 and have that problem resolved. Can anyone recommend another seller that has only the new versions for a reasonable price ?

Thanks,
Mike

Banggood offered a solution to get your V1 lights replaced with V2

….Check out the Manker LAD. I’ve had it with the Nitecore TIP fiasco.

Great review, graphs, & fantastic pictures!! :+1: Thank you for sharing it.

I really loving mine, both the TIP CRI and the TIP. :wink:

Actually it is still going on at GB, I just ordered one. $16.59 USD.
It seems the they only have the Red & Green left in the Christmas Edition, which is what the code is for,. :wink:

GIFTDEAL