Excellent review. A very impressive AA 14500 torch.
Very very nice. I'll have ten drivers please, better throw a light in as well. 
Great review- very tempted. I have a Manker Timeback which is beautifully built- if this is as well built I want one.
Subscribed…
JM,
Any hints as to price? It’s a great design w/ the side clicky.
Can't wait for you to mod it ;)
Can they add a magnet to the tail?
Someone posted an eBay link in another thread.
The price is $69.50, which is Zebralight territory
This looks like a shot across Zebralight’s and Nitecore’s bow. Very nice looking light!
Your enthusiasm says a lot about this light. I am eagerly awaiting the production/retail pricing of this light. A true moon mode would be nice…
At this price and if I was in the market for a 1XAA light with that kind of funds in my hands, considering reputation, size, modes and stuffs like that, I would have to say it really is a no brainer to choose the ZL S5/H5?. We don’t even know about the regulation, runtimes at present.
edit: I forgot to add the PWM vs current controlled for the ZL. No thanks.
Me want!
Neutral tint+lower moonlight mode+MSRP 40$ and Im in!
I wonder how efficient is it regarding runtime?…
Almost forgot - very well done for review!
Nice review JM! Actually pretty amaz'n they are getting 500/800 lumens from an XPL HI. With just an XPL, the lumens would be even higher. The tint looks pretty cool white from the pics, not sure. is that how you see it?
I'm not a fan of the double-click UI on these, unless it's done perfectly. I always seem to stumble into double-click when I want just fast single clicks. How do you find this one?
Thanks, Tom. Output looks nothing like the ceiling shots I posted. Its the camera making ten appear bluish. In person it is a very creamy white with no hint of green or blue tint at all. I would guess it to be a step cooler than 3C and right on the border of being considered cool or neutral.
The UI isn't perfect that's for sure and if I wasn't blinded by the amazing performance, looks, and feel of it I would certainly been more picky with the UI. Scrolling through the modes can be done much faster than any "hold and scroll" torches like smaller Olight models. If you get too impatient, then yes, you will accidentally engage blinky modes. Ideally I'd like to see a 1 second press directly to moon low added to the driver and I'd be pretty happy but perfect would be long press to low and double click to turbo. Once on then hold to scroll. From off or on maybe triple click for blinky modes.
I could provide more information if my contact in marketing there would answer my emails. Its been 4 days and counting since his last reply.
Tom E, can you please explain what is difference between XPL HI and non HI variant?
As I understand, HI is more suitable for high amp drivers and is more efficient at higher
currents, while non HI is brighter at lower currents?
Thanks!
Sounds like the 2B tint I'm using now in a MaxToch M12. It's the XPL HI V3 2B - seems like no longer available from Richard or Hank. Think Dale really liked this tint as well - right between the neutrals and cool whites. Maybe Manker bought them all up 
.
I'm very interested in UI's and UI preferences as of late. I'm a fan of quick clicks and holds. Yes - quick access to both moon and turbo hi.
The way mine works:
from OFF: click to moon, hold to hi, longer hold to strobe
From ON while still mode changing: click to next mode, hold to prev mode, longer hold to strobe
From ON with a mode locked in: click turns it OFF, hold to prev mode (breaks mode locked in), longer hold to strobe
Also, the OFF state is included in cycling through modes.
The idea is quick easy access to moon, hi, and strobe, and quick mode changing. I'm looking at adding config settings to replace strobe with other features, for those that don't want strobe, or for some lights and usage where strobe doesn't make sense.
Sorry, CREE makes the standard XP-L with a full dome, and the XP-L HI that has a flat silicone covering. The XP-L HI has better throw but less lumens output, similar to characteristics of de-doming a CREE emitter, like we do with an XM-L2. Our own de-doming though gets better throw but shifts the tint significantly, while the XP-L HI's have the more common tints - neutrals and cool whites.
Thanks man!
I don’t understand why would they put a throwy emmiter in light this small, I’m sure I’m
not the only one who would expect this to be pocket flooder, not thrower.
They used a throwy emitter because it is designed to be a pcket thrower. You would be correct if this light had the usual AA sized reflector but with the oversized head and reflector it would almost be a sin to not use the HI emitter. 