Jaxmnve E18 - Budget keychain flashlight - ***SHORT REVIEW ON POST #14 by pc_light***

Other Types of Lights Keychain / Pocket Flashlights
1

Hi there people!

I’ve seen this light a while ago, while I was searching for the Jaxmnve M3 light. The UIs were similar back then (M-H-Strobe // Stepless dimming) so I didn’t pay much attention to the light.

Now the UI of the E18 has also changed (according to manufacturer specs) and is similar to the “new” M3 version:
L-M-H // Stepless Dimming (after double click) // Strobe (after triple click).

The light is 5 cm long, USB rechargeable. According to buyers reviews the light is about 200lumens (less brighter than the Nitecore TIP), and has a 220mAh battery.

Price is about 10€.

Has anyone tried this? I might give it a try, but wanted to know if anyone has experience with this?

This is the (non-affiliate) link:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Mini-flashlight-USB-charging-EDC-ultra-small-hand-light-portable-miniature-pocket-side-by-flashlight-JAXMNVE/32846979287.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.8.27962708sRD1TZ&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_5722815_10342_10343_10340_5722915_10341_5722615_10697_10696_10084_10083_10618_10304_10307_10301_5722715_10059_10534_308_100031_10103_441_10624_10623_10622_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=6a1ecdf1-fd78-4b87-b24d-1262efd83a13-1&algo_pvid=6a1ecdf1-fd78-4b87-b24d-1262efd83a13&priceBeautifyAB=0

2

I like it!

3

Hum, does it mean you have one or that you like the specs? :smiley:

4

oh sorry. No, I mean I like it and would like to purchase one. It looks like the Manker LAD.

5

Oh, ok :wink: For a moment I thought you had one :wink:
It seems as small as the LAD, at least :wink: Different UI and luminous levels, less expensive, but a not so good LED (as the Manker)! And probably less bright (200/250 vs 300).

I’ll probably take a chance on one of these, but apart from AliExpress buyers, I couldn’t find a decent review :zipper_mouth_face:

6

Nice find, looks interesting, will follow with interest. :beer:

Sized similar to the LAD and based on single button UI. Cool tint LED and no secondary red LED though.

Interestingly the Jazman E18 is indicated as being 11g heavier, perhaps a larger battery (would be good)?

Count me in if there’s a GB coming.

7

LOL, at first i thought it’s typo in your title( Jaxman)

8

Hum, from the pics on AliExpress reviews, it is a small battery, 220mAh. Don’t know how big the LAD battery is.
This one also has an attached pocket clip on the back, that seems to be reversible! Maybe that increases the weight as well!

About GB, at least I will not propose one, but maybe other members or “affiliate members” here are interested in contacting the store to see if they have any “coupon” or discount/promotion :wink:

I guess I’ve seen this light cheaper (8€?) on the store, but now it is about 10€…

Ehehe, no typo, it is really Jaxmnve! Some lights of this “brand” were even sold in Banggood ! The names are close, but I guess Jaxman quality is much better (despite the lights from one brand and the other are completely different)

9

That’s disappointing about the battery size, was hoping for more. The Feedback photos show what looks like a solid metal bezel/head, so presumably some of that additional weight (relative to the similarly sized LAD) is additional heatsinking. :slight_smile:

My guesstimate is the Jaxmnve E18 clip adding maybe 3 g, based on the similar Acebeam UC15 clip which is larger and weighs in at 4 g. The E18 clip design also looks similar to the UC15’s which is not reversible :frowning:

I hear you about GB’s, I have to take my hat off to those who are willing to do them, it’s not for the faint of heart because one can take a lot of heat for merely being the middle man :open_mouth:

Jaxmnve, that’s a mouth full. Might be interesting to hear from those who know the story behind it.

Never the less, I’m intrigued and the cost is BLF friendly enough to pull the trigger (or click the mouse), now the wait… :arrow_right:

10

Yup, the metal body seems…“tough” and a bit heavy! But also “impact resistant” :wink:

Hum, taking a better look to the photos, it is probable that it is not reversible. Or it may be, but doesn’t seem to fit so well towards the top! Unless the clip is…modded :smiling_imp:

Just like you said, it seems to be “troublesome” to be and intermediate person, even when the “rules” and conditions are well explained. So I will skip that function and only buy the light and give some feedback on it when it arrives :wink: Then others may buy it or not :

Not this month, but soon I’ll get one, for me or for my parents or brother! It is small and can be useful to carry it around instead a big light!!
I don’t know the story, but I know it gets confusing sometimes to write it down and read about it :smiley:

11

Did you decide to get the JAXMNVE E18? If you did, I’d like to know your impressions.

12

Hey!! I had to hold down my horses and put this light on stand-by for now! I will probably order it next month and will let you know what I think of it :wink:

13

Thanks. I want one with a button (twisting my Glaree 3 times every time I want the high level gets old). But I’m reluctant to spend the $ for the Manker LAD or the Nitecore Mini.

14

I was intrigued because I’ve been on sort of a rectangular keychain light kick lately and the E18 is the first that claimed to have a “stepless ramping” UI, so I decided to check it out.

After a quick trial run, frankly there’s not much here that excits me about the light so I won’t do a detailed review. The Jaxmnve E18 is a basic economy light. Nothing outstanding, new or different. But for the benefit of others here’s a quick look and compare.

Some details

  • Emitter XP-G2 Cool-Neutral (nice tint actually)
  • Smooth reflector, relatively throwy
  • Built-in USB Re-chargeable 220 mAh battery
  • L-M-H+ hidden strobe, w/last mode memory for all modes including the hidden (3-quick clicks from On) strobe
  • Also optional “stepless” ramping UI mode
  • Al Body (available in Red, Black or Silver)
  • Weighs 36g w/clip

Here’s the pacakge as received with pictured accessories -

Here’s a look at the light compared to some other keychain lights mentioned in this thread for comparison.
(From Left to Right) Nitecore Mini — Manker LAD — Jaxmnve E18 — Nitecore TIP — Astrolux K1

Here’s a photo of the same lights, in the same order, lit. It’s a mixed batch, some XP-G’s and Nichia’s, some warm and some cool.

Here’s a look at the business end.

The E18 is a “solid” light, literally. The body and head each appear to be machined from solid stock. While I was hoping the additional product specification weight was the result of a larger battery, it’s actually from the thicker material of the head and body. The extra mass should help with heat sinking when the E18 is on High (3W or 200-250 Lumens; although a higher turbo mode might have been nice.)

The XP-G2 emitter is cool-neutral with no objectionable off-tints. It throws relatively well and has good reach on High (250 Lmn) as keychain lights go.

I was initially attracted to the E18’s “stepless ramping” UI, however the E18’s relatively narrow lumen range from low to high defeats the need for ramping. The low doesn’t go quite low enough and the high is not particularly bright compared to the top end of the other lights in the line-up. All three modes L-M-H and the ramping Min-Max fall within the middle-to-high range of the comparison lights. Thus the lack of direct access from Off to either Low or High are moot since there is no Moonlight or Turbo.

Here is a light level comparison between the Jaxmnve E18 on Low/Medium/High

vs (all photos taken at the same camera exposure settings and color removed for comparison purposes)
the Nitecore TIP on Low/Medium/High (Turbo is not shown)

The Jaxmnve E18 probably works if you need something small (there are smaller), solid (I’m confident it would withstand being driven over by a car as one LAD reviewer did), and basic (one button; 3-levels). As for me. I’m moving along because there’s nothing to see here.

Edit - added light level comparisons

15

which is your favorite of those shown?

16

Of these, the Nitecore TIP CRI for it’s Nichia emitter, larger capacity battery, direct access to Low/Last Mode/Turbo modes, variety of body materials and colors, (sale) price and availability. No contest.

The one improvement I wish Nitecore could make for the TIP would be better heat-sinking and/or mass for the LED.
———————

I think the E18 would be a much better light with a wider range of light levels, to take advantage of the ramping UI for a wider variety of uses.

17

Well pc_light, you took “one for the team” on this!!
I really seems well built (host), but then some things seem that could be better! Still I guess this would be a nice keychain light for a non flashaholic.

Compared with the TIP, it is less good, however, right? I have one (XP-G2, not Nichia), and like it a lot!
Maybe for a gift I can buy one or two, but not for myself!!

Thank you so much for the short review on this!

I will change the title of the thread indicating the short review you made :wink:
Thanks again mate :+1: :beer:

18

Thanks for the review.

19

Rickw12 - for a basic light of this type, it's probably a descent buy. Being an optimist, I just had higher hopes.

Thanks MascaratumB. Hope springs eternal.

Yes, the E18 is a built like a tank basic light and to be fair it is priced lower than ANY of the others.

I'll continue to carry and check it out for a couple of days and expand on any additional insights I find with usage -

(1) it does NOT appear to have any visible PWM

(2) seems to resist accidental in-pocket activation