REVIEW: Nitenumen NE01 (XM-L2 , 1x18650)

First impressions:
Shipped from: Gearbest for review purpose
link:http://goo.gl/N3jVe2
Coupon: NE01GB Price: $22.69

It arrived in a well packaged box representing all the primary information about the product, just like every other respectable brand is actually doing with their own products.
The box contains all the accessories showed by pictures and the most important feature of this flashlight is to be really small and portable!! Its design is a lot similar to the Nitecore MH20 but i can’t compare them because i’ve never owned a MH20.

All i can say is that’s an affascinating EDC flashlight with the advantage to using a respectable 18650 battery form factor,capable of longer runtimes…. still maintaining small overall dimensions.










Modes and estimated lumens:
Switch type: ELECTRONIC
There are “ 5 ” modes in the following order:
Ultralow – Low – Med – High – Turbo
and 2 hidden modes: Strobo and SOS.

From OFF state, just 1 click and it starts from ultralow, then low….until turbo, then the next click will turn OFF the flashlight and another one click restart ultralow, low, med…but if you double click the switch you can directly go to turbo, whatever is the starting point mode (medium, low…)
Starting from every mode (except hidden modes), just keep the button clicked 1 second and the flashlight turns OFF.
The only one way to acces strobo and SOS is from OFF state, keep the button clicked 1 second and you’re in strobo, another click and SOS, another click and OFF.

My estimated lumens are 1000

>>LIGHT >>> The angle of refraction:

Weight and dimensions measurements (made myself, not by specs):
This flashlight weighs precisely 91,1 gr
Height 10,6 cm
Diameter 2,5 cm
Head diameter 3,2 cm

Construction quality:
There aren’t evidence of defects or assebling errors and my unit is perfect.
The integrated microusb port is a nice added feature,and considering how much “short” is the flashlight (just 10,6cm) this is a respectable result.

What about LED STATUS ?
Reading the instruction sheet, there should be a GREEN led (hidden under the rubber button) to display the right moment when the internal battery is fully charged by microusb, but in reality there is a BLUE led.
I initially thought that my unit was defective, i charged 2 18650 batteries of 3,3v and the RED led was always showing the charging period, but when i have seen blue led i extracted batteries and i tested them to be 3,96v with multimeter, what’s wrong?
Nothing… i reinserted them into the flashlight and WAITED more time (30m,45m…) and then i tested the voltage and it was 4,21v, so i think that you have to not rely on the color of the led, because when the blue color starts to be showed, you still have to WAIT for a “real” complete charge.
Not a big problem, and maybe it’s only a little defect of my unit.

Speaking about its light beam, the tint is colder than a Sunwayman C22C but warmer than a Nitecore EC11 and the central hotspot is really good for long distances, more than EC11 and C22C ( C22C isn’t good for long distances).
I really appeciated the quite large and usable spill of this flashlight, conjoint the ability to throws a considerable amount of light and i must say it’s one of the most well balanced item to use on every occasion, when you need a light not for a precise utilization (long range or short range) but widely usable at 360 degrees.

Lanyard hole: PRESENT (one)

Threads came FULLY GREASED









Led Tint, reflector and lense:
The led is well centered and its tint is cold white
Reflector made of: SMOOTH – ALUMINUM
Lense made of: GLASS with AR coating



Outside beamshot at 25 meters, only at FULL power (same place for all my reviews)
(1GIF)
Wall beamshot at 250 centimeters, from lower to higher power (same place for all my reviews)

Ceiling bounce test with LUXmeter:


PROS:

- microusb port

- use of 18650 but still small/short body

- well spaced 5 modes

- beam hotspot capable to cover medium/high distances

  • price is fair, really low with Gearbest coupon or flash sales

CONS:

  • while charging, blue led starts from 3,96v and not at 4,2v (but real loading is not affected)

Final thoughts and why you should buy it:
If you’re like me …being a fan of 18650 flashlights, and you never owned a “micro 18650” flashlight like sunwayman C22C or a DQG 18650 and other similar articles, you have to buy this Nitenumen NE01 (or the Nitecore MH20 that’s similar) because it’s really hard to see a flashlight so much desiderable and capable to satisfy you at any time, and i have to remember you that real lumens are in my opinion truly embarassing (1000) for a 10,6 cm long flashlight and yes, it get’s very hot after time at Turbo mode, but not so much scalding as i sincerely expected considering its size, and this is a good indication in my opinion.

Thanks for reading……
….and if you notice some bad written phrases, feel free to correct me suggesting the right way to write it!! :slight_smile:

Nice review.

You referred to the switch as “electronic”. Another reviewer referred to it as “manual”. So, my initial impression was that it is simply a clicky type manual switch and not electronic.

At this price point of $23 I would expect a manual clicky type switch
.
Can you further enlighten me?

Nice review, considering a buy.

Electronic switch.

Thanks for the review. What do you think about the slow PWM in all modes (except turbo) ?

it is an electronic kind :wink: …“manual” is not an accurate description i think….too much generic.

the switch works perfectly and i can’t see the motivation to prefer a “clicky” mechanical switch then a flashlight is designed to use the switch ON THE SIDE……( not back).
An electronic kind allow you to use hidden modes….being programmable ( i think) to do an action if you press for 1/2/3 second….

i read other reviewer …that say the slow PWM is disturbing them……but i am very LUCKY to be NOT ANNOYED by every kind of PWM, i tryed to move around the flashlight with the medium or low mode on but i can’t see anything wrong with the PWM.

perhaps sensible persons……will be affected.

I have the soonfire branded version and the PWM doesn’t bother me at all, and I typically only use it in the lowest setting as well.

Currently $19.99 at Gearbest on a flash sale (no coupon code). Tried a number of coupon codes and they all resulted in higher prices. Sale price ends 12May.

Nice review, BTW. I bought this blindly a month ago before there were any reviews. So glad it turned out to be a good purchase. Great light in a nice form factor. For the low price there aren’t many negatives. Low mode is not very low, and most flat top batteries won’t work in it. Can’t wait to receive my order of a Manker U11 to see how well the NE01 stacks up against it.

Realista thank you for your reviews and detailed comments.

you can just solder a drop, on the “+” of the flashlight contact point to just raise by 0,5 or 1mm the contact point and made it ACCEPT also FLAT TOP batteries

thank you for your post!!

Nitenumen NE01 “GT” produces 29.160Cd (341m) using the original led after gas dedoming.

I placed a XPL HI but I have not the proper insulation gasket for this reflector and I couldn’t properly focus the hot spot.

Hoping mine comes soon…

Was worried a little about quality, but seeing all the issues with the Cometa group buy, at the price they paid… at least this is cheap at 22 dollars inc postage, even if the build quality isnt too great.

Looking forward to sticking an XP-L HI V2 3B in there…

Aha.

Wish I had waited now…

Manker U11 for only 27 dollars…

lol.

Ah well.

Received my NE01 today!

Cant wait to try it out at home…

Then get to swapping the emitter for an XP-L HI V2 3B.

:stuck_out_tongue:

My first opinion is that it’s good. Not amazing, but good.

Small, reasonably throwy, charging seems OK, on the first attempt anyway, feels nice in the hand.

The lowest setting has visible pwm, even to my bare eyes.

Shining it at a fan, you can see pwm on all but the highest mode.

I cannot see the pwm in normal use except on the lowest mode. Lowest mode also makes an audible hum.

Will attempt to swap emitter tonight.

No LVP. Ok light. Charged batt. To 4.16V

I can’t seem to get the bezel off mine to swap the emitter.

Does it need a strap wrench to get it off?

Got the bezel off with a rubber grip thing for opening jars.

unfortunately when Desoldering the wires from the board, the insulation from one of the wires came off. Fun.

Well, soldered new wires on and tried a noctigon, but it is difficult to center the emitter as it’s not screwed in like the stock mcpcb. So as lfatman did above, i dedomed the original xml2 emitter on it’s board and all is now good.

Hi, first time poster:

Re the PWM: I’m very sensitive to PWM. I’m also a firmware engineer — I know what PWM is. I can see it in the LED tail-lights of vehicles up to a mile in front of me, and I hate it (in that context). I wish manufacturers would use a faster PWM, or a programmable current source.

With that said, and from reading the reviews, I was very hesitant to buy this light. I seriously considered the Manker U11, but I’m sure the UI would drive me nuts, while the UI on this light is exactly what I would want. Anyway, the price was too good not to try it:

My verdict: I can easily see the PWM in all modes except Turbo, but it doesn’t really bother me. Perhaps it’s the price, I don’t know, but I’m really happy with this light.

An added data point: I bought the Nitecore MH20 first. It died within a week and I returned it to Amazon. I also bought the SoonFire NS17 clone of the Nitenumen clone. I’m trying to kill it, but it won’t die. I’m very happy with it so far.

ETA: I like that it always turns on in the lowest mode. For camping, that’s what I want. And I also like the ability to turn it off from any mode. The final thing I like is that anybody can pick it up and figure it out. No training needed. Re the useless strobe and SOS mode — they’re stupid, but you can mostly ignore them.

Edit 2: BTW, the internal charger on mine stops at 4.17V. So it doesn’t overcharge, but I suspect that’s pretty random from one to the next.