MecArmy PT16 v2 Review

I also have the PT16. The body isn’t shiny. It’s not like the cheap super-shiny anodizing on a Sipik 68. It’s actually a very nice Type III anodize and looks virtually the same as the matte black on my Convoys and BLF A6.

Thanks for the review. Looks like a neat little light!

Impressive review, thanks!

Nice review, answers a few questions i had about this light. Thanks.

How low is low? Would you call it moonlight/firefly low (~1 lumen)?

Nice review and light, wish it were a little cheaper.

Thanks everyone, I just read the manual and it mentions variable output by real time temperature monitoring, if it really has PID regulation this is a big deal, I will test it tonight. What I do know for sure is that the output starts dropping almost immediately after turn on.

The manual says 5lm but at 40mA it should be about 15-20lm. Looks almost the same as bright as the Nitecore tube. But it’s low enough for most tasks, and has decent runtime with a 16340, about 16 hours.

Runtime test done!

This one was performed with fan cooling, I will do one without any cooling tomorrow. It does seem like temperature regulation to me, but the 16340 has so little capacity the output starts to drop due to low voltage when the temperature starts to normalize. With a higher capacity cell we can observe the temperature regulation more evidently.

1hr 30min after the runtime test finalized it was still lit and putting out some useful light, it wasn’t much, but I’d say at least 5 lumens. At this point I took the battery out and it read 2.54V. This light does not have low voltage cut out. But then this also means it is compatible with CR123s.

I see Massdrop is offering these @$43.99+$8+$3.49 shipping . U.S. only I believe.
All the PT series are listed.

Thanks for the review will. Love the beam shot comparisons.

Thanks for the great review. These are a real help in making a purchasing decision.

This is what’s inside… everything is neatly put together with a flat o-ring sealing the bezel. The MCPCB is aluminium and quite thin. Will be replacing the LEDs with XP-L HI V2 1A (because I love pure CW tint). There is a solid shelf but seem to be really thin.

“ALTUN” also marked on the mcpcb, it seems like all components in this light are proprietary.

Thanks for the review.
Pity all the MecArmy triple don’t come in neutral or warm white option

MecArmy has a V3 out now. It’s got a plastic sleeve for 16340’s and without 18350’s. GoingGear might have them listed as V2’s. A poster on CPF reported the sleeve from one bought at GoingGear that arrived a few days ago. A few of the German sites also list a V3.

Long term update #1

Since the day of this review I’ve been carrying the PT16 in my keychain and it has been taking some abuse: multiple drops, bumps, gets scratched by the keys and my Spyderco honeybee. It gets daily use and charged twice a week, and works just as fine as the first day.

My claim about this being the best keychain light still stands strong. (if you don’t mind the size)

I just received my V3 after being lost in the mail since december !, to fix my lost I bought a really great replacement wish is the OLight S1R updated version, and I must say this is my favorite light, with the clip(I put it on my cap every days) and the magnetic base and charger this is also a lot slimmer in the pocket and almost as powerful as this mecarmy, now that I just receive this light I do think the pt16 is a little bit brighter than my S1R in turbo mode but on every other specs it loose to the race of practicality smallness and the ease of that charging process, (having to unscrew the top to charge it in the dark its a pain to do instead of just clip it to the magnetic base with the OLight )

if you dont need a clip and dont really need to carry it in your front pocket this light is great and very strong for longer period of time in turbo mod specially. and a plus side with the v3 is to be able to use a 18350 cell wish is what I use, also you can charge any cells with the base wish is not something you can do with the Olight wish require a original cell to charge it with the usb magnetic wire.

both great lights ! love them for different reasons , buy the 2 and be set =)

thanks for that tidbit

the 18350 IMR I picked up with my new PT16 is 2X brighter on turbo than the stock 16340. fwiw The light gets uncomfortably hot for me to hold, within 2 minutes. afaict, there is no thermal regulation within my comfort zone.

Only turbo varies in brightness on different cells, the other modes do not change brightness with different batteries.


The tactical tail got into a scrape with my driveway. The driveway is fine.

The PT18 is modded to 4000k N219b,

its fun having lego options.

Just confused that what’s the difference between PT16, PT16-BS and PT16-Ti, just the materials or anything else?
And why this flashlight is so expensive? what is the unique feature that makes it more expensive than other China-made flashlight?

The larger, heavier noble metal versions feature reflectors in place of TIR optics.

Thanks, did not know Shiny Metals were larger

Yup, Shiny costs extra, and is heavier :slight_smile:

there are actually two variants, the Mecarmy PT16 as well as the Blackwater SR71,
more Noble Bling

and info here

Anyway, whats not to Love about an 18350 PT-16 in LIGHT weight Ano?:

and then, if money is no object TakeMeToo!