Hello everyone, today we will see the Olight X7R Marauder sent for the occasion from the store Olight ® Direct IT, whom I thank for the opportunity and trust given me.
CLICK HERE to go on its official page on the Olight's websites.
I want to clarify that the reviews are done at the amateur level and without the aid of scientific instruments or test in secret cutting edge Labs therefore, between the lines that will follow, there will also be my humble observations.
Official Olight's Features:
- maximum output of 12,000 lumens, a 33.33% brightness increase over the original X7 Marauder.
- USB Type-C charging port and cable included, providing 3 times faster charging than normal micro-USB cable, and it is also quickly becoming the mainstream technology.
- enhanced safety. Proximity sensor that drops the output automatically when the flashlight head approaches a nearby object. Active thermal management system that reduces the output when the temperature gets too hot to prevent any damage or overheating.
- Innovative twist to open and close charging port cover design that still maintains waterproof ability.
- Ergonomic and user-friendly design. Pop-out lanyard hole for thicker chord to support the weight of the light while still being discrete. Milled finger grooves for a natural and comfortable grip.
- Multi-function indicator under the side switch. It can work as location indicator, flashlight status indicator, and low battery indicator.
Where to buy it
The flashlight in question can be purchased easily on the amazon page of Olight ® Direct.
The packaging and accessories
The X7R Marauder comes in a hard cardboard box that offers good protection against shocks. On the front there is the photo of the flashlight, the name of the brand and the model and the most importants data of the product.
On the back there are the product description and the detailed features and specifications.
On the left side we find, besides the name of the brand, some drawings depicting various applications in which this flashlight can be used.
On the right side we find a QR code that brings on the Olight's website and the warn that products are covered by a warranty of 5 years.
From this side you have access to the content. The packaging is closed due to the presence of two strong magnets inside the carton.
Opened the package, the design on the left that warns us that before using the flashlight we have to remove the protective film on the glass and unlock the flashlight that, for security reasons, was electronically locked.
On the opposite side are, in plain view, the X7R lying in a specially shaped protective sponge. Just below there is a box containing all the accessories.
To easly remove it from its housing, just pull the cord in fabric.
Once extracted everything from package we will have:
- the flashlight
- the cordura sheath
- the wrist lanyard
- an USB cable-> Type-C along about 80 cm
- the power supply with European plug (in my case)
- the manual in several languages
I dwell a moment on the scabbard. It is totally built in cordura but on front they stitched, in addition, a faux-leather piece that bears the brand Olight.
At the rear there is a plastic D-ring and the belt loop.
Through that you can close with Velcro and, if necessary, it can be opened to insert sheath in a M.O.L.L.E. attack.
The blue stitching that can be seen can be torn and will allow us to using wider belts.
The X7R can be inserted inside the scabbard only with the head upwards. No part of the scabbard stretches.
To follow, the manual's scan.
The Flashlight
The Olight X7R is the upgraded version of the fantastic X7. The R in the name indicates the integration of a USB Type-C dedicated recharging circuit .
This convenience, in contrast, makes us fall to compromise to have a battery pack integrated and not removable. Battery pack with 4x 3000 mAh Samsung high shot batteries.
Aesthetics and sizes remain very faithful to the model it replaces. Although X7R is slightly longer and with slightly larger body diameter. Diameter of the head remained unchanged.
The shape of the electronic key was changed. Now has a comfortable thumb recess, have the "O" of Olight transparent behind which they put LEDs. They also changed the button feedback that now has a pressure almost rubbery and the click sounds decided, although not extremely loud.
Next to the key there are furrows deep horizontal, not so much, which improve the dissipation. Just below there is printed the brand's and model's name and, subsequently, there is the foldable support for the wrist strap. On the body, on the right and on the left of that support, there are some simple vertical grooves (four on each side) that improve the grip of the handle.
In the tail, finally, there is the ring that allows you to access the USB port Type-C to recharge the battery.
Looking at the back of the flashlight we can see that the look is very minimal. There are only three horizontal slots indentations for fingers, comfortable when wearing gloves.
N.B. The first time we handle this flashlight we must remember to remove the protective sticker from the lens
it comes off very easily.
Removed the film, we can focus on the big 3x CREE XHP70 with cold tint without dominats. The 3 parables that surround the LEDs have the orange-peel finish. That little satin circle on the right edge of the parable, which might seem a secondary courtesy LED, is nothing but a light sensor that has the duty to preserve the batteries that step down automatic if detects too much light in a given environment.
The lens has anti-glare treatment. The smooth bezel that protect the lens is of the same blue color adopted by Olight.
As I anticipated, this flashlight has a removable support for wrist strap inside the body, protruding only in part and has a small notch for easy extraction.
Once extracted, we can see the hole for the strap. Its coloration is the same of the bezel.
Here's the strap inserted into the hole.
And here's the strap tied to both the flashlight and the wrist.
Finally, there is the tail ring that rotates a few degrees to open the door to access the USB Type-C port and insert the charging cable. On the edge there are vertical grooves that make it easier to open.
Here's the door, slightly sunken, which covers and protects the USB Type-C port. The bottom of the flashlight is totally flat and this allows the tail stands.
Here's the door half opened. As you can see, disappears inside the flashlight body. The movement is fluid and always proceeds smoothly.
And here's the USB port Type-C in all its glory. The cover has completely disappeared inside the flashlight body. Even though right now you can't see, the door is surrounded by green and red LEDs that warn us of the state of charging.
N.B. The circuitry of X7R does not allow to use the battery like a powerbank.
Charging: Accessories and Speed
Among the accessories included in the box, whose task is to recharge the battery pack, we have a wall charger with USB port and a USB cable-> USB Type-C of about 80 cm length.
The wall charger, similar to one of mobile phones, comes sealed. In this case it has the European plug.
Of course, as for the flashlight, the film must be removed as well.
On one of the 2 shorter sides there is the USB port
While on one of the 2 largest facades there are some writings with the technical characteristics. The charger has an input of 100-240V and 0,6A MAX and an output and 5V and 4A.
The cable comes tied with a cable tie. There are two covercaps to protect the connectors.
After removing the protective caps, just insert the USB Type-C Connector into the flashlight
and the classic USB connector to the charger and attach it to the wall outlet.
Once the charging is started, the red LED placed around the USB Type-C port will light up
and become green when charging is complete. With the flashlight fully discharged, and using the charger supplied, the whole process takes about 3 hours to be completed.
Alternatively you can use any device that has a USB port, as the powerbank, provided they have an output of 5v and 2, 2.4 or 3A. But in this case the charging, always starting with the battery completely discharged, takes 5 hours or more.
My tester, which measures up to 2,5A, found a current of 2,39A from a powerbank which is capable of delivering up to 3A from the port. I used the cable comed out from the box and took about 5 hours to complete the charging process.
How Does That Work
The Olight X7R Marauder has 7 levels in total: 6 are normal levels while 1 is the strobe. 3 of 6 normal levels have to be invoked.
According to data of the Olight, normal levels have the following characteristics:
- Turbo S-> 12000 lumens
- Turbo-> 7000 lumens
- High-> 3000 lumens
- Medium-> 1000 lumens
- Low-> 500 lumens
- Nightlight-> 10 lumens
The flashlight arrives with the UI blocked and the first step to use it will be to unblock it by holding down the power button.
A single click will turn on the flashlight on the last level used, but it will have memory only for levels from Nightlight to High.
When turned off, with prolonged pressing of the button, you will access to Nightlight level. One click to turn off.
From turned on, press and holding button will cycle the levels in ascending order. Arrived at High level, you restart the Low. The Nightlight level if necessary, must be invoked. One click to turn off.
From on or off, with 2 consecutive clicks you will access to Turbo. From the Turbo, making other 2 clicks, you access the Turbo S. Double click from the Turbo S to return to the Turbo. If from these 2 special levels you continue to hold pressing, will invoke High level. One click to turn off.
From on or off, with 3 consecutive clicks you will access the strobe. If you hold the button,will return to the start level. One click to turn off.
To block the flashlight simply perform a long press of the button for 3 seconds. To unlock it, as I have already explained, simply hold down the button again.
There is an opportunity to know, very roughly, the charging status of the battery pack. Only from flashlight unlocked and off, just shake it and a LED behind the button will blink, as if it is breathing, with a green or red coloring. The coloring can be seen also with turned on flashlight.
Here are 2 photos showing the 2 LEDs behind the button. The "O" of Olight stands out a lot.
Dimensions and Weight
The flashlight is12.88 cm long and has a diameter at the narrowest part of 5.21 cm and 6.83 cm in the widest part.
Weighs 654 gr. With the addition of the scabbard the weight increases to 690 grams.
Afterwards, the photos for a dimensional comparison between a BIC lighter great,
and a comparison with the X7 Marauder. From the picture below you can see the few millimeters that differentiate them.
The diameter of the head remains the same.
While you have again a few millimeters of scrap on the body.
Lumen, runtime, candles and beamshot
N.B. The tests to follow were made with Samsung batteries battery pack integrated. The whole thing was done in a homely environment at 23° and, depending on the test, with and without forced ventilation.
The following values were taken with rechargeable battery charge and are considered peak.
The following values were taken with the battery integrated in the flashlight and are considered peak.
N.B. Discharge curves are obviously indicative and the result may vary in either positive or negative depending on the batteries used by the end user or by the conditions of use, which may vary from mine during my tests.
Any read discrepancies about the tests made on the same level are due to a different positioning of the measuring equipment.
The following values were taken with the battery integrated in the flashlight and are considered peak.
The following photo was taken at a distance of 20 cm from the wall.
Beam width.
Photos taken in Turbo and Turbo S, High levels. The tree line is at 25 meters.
Photos taken in Turbo and Turbo S, High levels. The House at the end of the street is at a distance of 70 meters.
Personal considerations
I found this Olight X7R Marauder a successful upgrades of old, just to say, X7 Marauder.
The external dimensions are remained very much the same but, aesthetically speaking, minor changes have been made to improve portability, given its weight. Greatly appreciated the pocket hole for the strap, which can be retrieved only when needed.
As you have readed during review, this model incorporates a module that allows you to recharge built-in battery pack that isn't removable. This choice of Olight is backed by many people for the convenience, others hate it because this system is too restrictive. In my opinion, in this case, it's a choice to be appreciated because it relieves you of the burden of finding suitable cells and, at the same time, prevents a careless user to use inappropriate cells or insert them in incorrectly.
According to what we read from the specs online, the cells are 4 excellent Samsung high discharge capacity merged in a battery pack that, putted beside with an equally good charger, recharge them in a reasonable time of 3 hours and a half.
Needless to say, the involved powers are there. The 500 lumens level is enought to walk in the Woods ... figure the nominal 12000 lumens.
If I have to find a flaw, in my humble opinion, Olight could optimize the discharge/cell voltage warning because I find that this too "simplified" considering the price paid for the product.
What do you think about? Do you would to buy?
