Hi BLF!
This is the review of the flashlights Lumintop Tool AA V2.0 and Lumintop Tool 25!
These flashlights were bought in Lumintop Store at AliExpress during the Mid Year Sale (June 2019).
The Tool AA V2.0 costed 12,05€ and the Tool25 costed 14,44€.
The flashlights were bought in one day (21st June), shipped on the following (22nd June), and took about 3 weeks to arrive (12th July).
There are some reviews from the Tool AA V2.0 around:
bilakos10: [Review] Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 - Testing Output, Regulation & PWM for AA and 14500
- sacrileizei+: [Review] Lumintop Tool AA ver. 2
Youtube (roomX - doorman’s channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=askGgfRmawI&t=4s
The Tool25 is quite recent, I couldn’t find any review yet!
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
table(table#posts).
| \\//\\// | Tool AA V2.0 | Tool25|
|Colour| Black| Black|
|Material| Aircraft grade aluminum alloy / Type III hard anodizing, toughened and wear resistant| Aircraft grade aluminum alloy / Type III hard anodizing, toughened and wear resistant |
|Emitter|Cree XP-L HD| Cree XP-L HD [*Note1]|
|Lens| AR coated glass| AR coated glass |
|Battery|1xAA alkaline OR 1x AA Ni-MH OR 1x 14500 Li-Ion [*Note2]|2x AA alkaline OR 2x AA Ni-MH batteries [*Notes 2 & 3]|
|Switch|Reverse clicky tail Switch | Reverse clicky tail Switch |
|Max Beam Distance|127m|91m|
|Candela| 3420cd | 2070|
|Waterproofness|IP68 (Underwater 2m)| IP68 (Underwater 2m)|
|Impact Resistance|1.5m|1.5m|
|Low Battery Warning| Not specified|Using Alkalines below 2.4V = no Turbo mode|
|Reverse Polarity Protection| Yes – Driver Design | Yes – Driver Design |
|Over-heat Protection|Not specified| Using turbo +1 minute = output will decrease|
* Note_1: the User manual of the Tool25 indicates that the flashlight supposedly uses a Nichia 219CT (NW) or a XP-G3 (CW), but it is using a XP-L HD which is not completely Cool White but it is not completely Neutral White, or vice-versa. Beamshots will tell us more.
* Note_2: due to the driver design, these flashlights will not accept flat top batteries. For the Tool AA V2.0, Lumintop warns to use _“reliable and high-quality Lithium-Ion battery with a protective circuit” but long batteries with USB-rechargeable circuit will not fit this light. Button top batteries are easily usable.
* Note 3: due to a lower voltage of the Ni-MH batteries, Lumintop clearly warns that “there would be no turbo mode when using this type of battery”. Also, it is warned that Li-Ion batteries should not be used with this flashlight.
PACKAGE, FLASHLIGHTS and ACCESSORIES
In this part, I will show some photos and information of what we get with the flashlights and their specs. As some characteristics are identical, I will opt to show only 1 photo when those specs are similar.
So, what we get in the Tool AA V2.0 and Tool 25 packages*? The flashlights, lanyard, spare o-rings, user manual and Glow In The Dark diffuser.
Below, the photos, Tool AA V2.0 on the left and Tool 25 on the Right.
THE FLASHLIGHTS
Although these flashlights are “recent” (specially the Tool 25), they have a familiar shape to the older sisters, the Tool AAA and the Tool AA. So the design is not new.
While the Tool AA V2.0 was a “Honey, I shrunk the kids!!” comparing to the older Tool AA, the Tool 25 was like a “Honey, I took Viagra!” comparing the other Tools.
All parts are physically interchangeable among the 3 lights: Tool AA, Tool AA V2.0 and Tool 25. Even the magnetic tailcap of the older Tool AA can be used in these new lights. The Tool 25, being a bigger light with more batteries (= heavier) can easily be sticked in a fridge easily, and won’t fall easily.
Although I didn’t carry prolonged tests with the different heads in different bodies with different types of batteries, I can say that the Tool AA V2.0 works with 2 x AA cells and the Tool 25 works with 1 x 14500 cell.
I can also say that the pocket clips are reversible as well as the battery tubes. This way, one can clip in lights downside in a pocket and can also interchange heads with tailcaps with no issue!
Both lights have square threads. The hosts are not thin, but the threads are well cut and anodized. The threads arriver slightly anodized, but were not dry.
The following parts are common to both flashlights: head and tailcap components.
HEAD: AR coated glass lens, GITD o-ring, SMO reflector, aluminum pill, black gasket, XP-L HD Led in an 12mm aluminum PCB, 14mm driver with flaps designed to accept only button tops.
An overlook to the top. Please note that the Tool AA V2.0 had some dust and black particles inside. I noticed it on time before turning the flashlight on turbo for long time, as it might have damaged the LED. This was the major “flaw” I noticed concerning to Quality Control from Lumintop in these packages. The Tool 25 was clean.
Tool AA V2.0 (Left) and Tool 25 (Right)
TAIL: Lumintop branded silicon cap, aluminum spaced, reverse clicky switch, thick black o-ring and threaded spacer to make contact with the battery tube.
Both flashlights have the ability to tailstand, although in irregular surfaces the Tool 25 will struggle more due to weight/balance.
Tool AA V2.0 (Left) and Tool 25 (Right)
Regarding the dimensions and weight of the flashlights, here are my measurements!
Tool AA V2.0 with AA Alkaline (Aerocell) >>>>> AA Ni-MH (Panasonic 2450mAh)>>>>> 14500 Li-Ion (Sofirn 900mAh)
Tool 25 with 2 x AA Alkaline (Aerocell) >>>>> 2 x AA Ni-MH (Panasonic 2450mAh)
ACCESSORIES
I won’t speak about the lanyard and o-rings, but it must be mentioned that both flashlights have 2 holes in the tailcap in order to attach a lanyard.
USER MANUAL
The User Manuals are written in English and Chinese. In the Tool 25 there is a mistake on the type of LED that these lights take, namely when they say it is XP-G3, while it is XP-L HD.
Apart from this, it is not extensive in information and…I could use a magnifying lens to read it :zipper_mouth_face:
Tool AA V2.0 (Top) and Tool 25 (Down) [Click for bigger photo]
DIFFUSER
Like the Tool AA, these two lights come with a Glow In The Dark silicone diffuser, that after a while dissipates the green light. Given the “kind” runtimes of these lights, it may be handy, though, when used as a candle for an extended period of time. Or even for a short one, if needed, of course!!!
Tool AA V2.0 (Left) and Tool 25 (Right)
SIZE COMPARISON
Here’s some size comparison between these 2 flashlights and some other similar (in size or type) lights.
First, the Lumintop family:
Tool AA vs Tool AA V2.0
Tool AA V2.0 Comparison with normal tailcap [5th from the right] VS with magnetic tailcap [2nd from the right]
Tool 25 vs Blitzwof BW ET1 (my 2xAA lights)
Tool 25 vs Convoy S2+ / Zanflare F1 / Amutorch VG10 / FW3A / Wuben T70 Camouflage
USER INTERFACE
The flashlight can be operated through clicking the tailswitch or twisting the head.
USING TAILSWITCH
Be sure to tighten the head to use the tailswitch to operate the flashlight.
- Full click from OFF = Turns the Light ON in the last used mode (flashlight has memory)
- Full click from ON = Turns the Light OFF
- When ON: single tap/half press on the tailswitch to advance modes in the sequence Low – Medium – High – Turbo.
- When ON: 6 taps/half presses will enter Strobe
- When on Strobe: single tap returns to regular modes, but not necessarily to the last used mode
If the flashlight is turned OFF/ON within 2-3 seconds, it will advance to the next mode. Within 3+ seconds, it will turn ON in the last used mode.
TWISTING HEAD
Be sure to: a) tighten the magnetic tailcap to make contact with the tube, or b) click the tailswitch to allow current passage. Gathered these conditions:
- Loosen the head = Turns the light OFF
- Tighten the head = Turns the light ON
- Single twists will advance modes in the sequence Low – Medium – High – Turbo.
- 6 quick twists will enter Strobe
OUTPUT vs RUNTIME
results may vary according to different types of batteries!
Here’s some data about output and runtime provided by the manufacturer. Please note that results may vary according to different types of batteries!
\\//\\// | TooL AA V.20 | Tool 25 | ||||
Battery type VS Runtime | AA Alkaline | AA Ni-MH | 14500 Li-Ion | 2 x AA Alkaline | 2 x AA Ni-MH | |
Low | 3.7 lum / 60h | 3.7 lum / 60h | 16 lum / 37h | 12 lum / 45h | ??? | |
Medium | 28 lum / 11h50m | 28 lum/ 12h30m | 85 lum / 6h09m | 70 Lum / 6h35m | ??? | |
High | 140 lum / 49m | 140 lum / 2h33m | 360 lum/ 79m | 280 lum / 1h5 min | ??? | |
Turbo | 220 lum / 21 min | 270 lum / 43 min | 650 lum / 33 min | 500 lum / 1h | n/a (turbo will not work…) | |
Strobe | —- | —- | —- | 280 lum / … | ??? |
BATTERIES
As noted above, please take into attention that the Tool AA V2.0 will only take some types of batteries (on the left) namely button top. The flat tops or long button tops with in-built USB circuit will not work or fit!
BEAMSHOTS
First, please take a look to the colour difference of the LEDs. Although it is not explicitly said that the Tool 25 uses Neutral White LED, that seems to be the case, while the Tool AA V2.0 uses Cool White LED.
Tool AA V2.0 (Left) and Tool 25 (Right)
TINT COMPARISON
Tool AA V2.0 >>> Acebeam H20 (XP-L HI U6-4C 4000K) >>> Tool 25 (Right)
Tool AA V2.0 >>> FW3A (XP-L HI 3D) >>> Tool 25 (Right)
Tool AA V2.0 >>> Klarus XT1C (XP-L HD V6) >>> Tool 25 (Right)
Tool AA V2.0 >>> Convoy S2 (Osram White Flat 1 = OSRAM KW CSLNM1.TG) >>> Tool 25 (Right)
Tool AA V2.0 >>> Convoy S2+ (XP-L HI U6-3A) >>> Tool 25 (Right)
Tool AA V2.0 >>> “BLF 348” (Nichia NVSW219BT, 4745 – 5310K) >>> Convoy T2 (Luxeon V – 4000K) >>> Tool 25 (Right)
PWM
Fortunately, and on the contrary of the Tool AA, these new lights don’t have visible PWM!!! On the lower modes, under the camera, there are some traces of it, but it is only visible that way.
Tool AA V2.0 (Left) and Tool 25 (Right)
OUTDOOR BEAMSHOTS
Tool AA V2.0 = Alkaline >>> Ni-MH >>> 14500 Li-Ion
Tool 25 = Alkaline >>> Ni-MH
(maybe due to weaker Alkalines, the output on Turbo was more visible on the AA Ni-MH, contrary to what would be probably supposed)
Tool 25 (2x AA Ni-MH) >>> Tool V2.0 (1 x AA Alkaline) >>> Tool V2.0 (14500 Li-Ion)
OVERALL CONSIDERATIONS
So…what do I think about these lights?
THE GOODS:
- They are lightweight and slim, what makes them perfect for EDC carry on a jeans pocket (Tool AA V2.0) or even in a jacket’s pocket (Tool 25).
2) They are versatile, specially in what concerns the use of different types of battery.
3) They have pretty decent outputs and well spaced modes, what seems more and more difficult nowadays…
4) They are well built despite they are thin hosts. Also, anodizing in the hosts is quite nice despite the knurling is somehow “aggressive” . But it is good for a better grip!
5) They bring a GITD diffuser to use as tailstand light in “candle” mode.
6) They represent an evolution in terms of finishing, comparatively to the older Tool AA, namely in what concerns the ugly tint shift it had and the PWM it showed.
7) We can use a magnetic tailcap, that unfortunately doesn’t come included within the package.
8) They are moddable, despite their PCB and driver dimensions may pose some constraints.
9) The interchangeability of parts of the hosts.
THE “WHAT WOULD I CHANGE?”:
- The pocket clip, as it is the weakest link of these flashlights, both in terms of shape and anodizing.
2) The mode memory. If these lights didn’t have memory (as the older Tool AA), they would probably better flashlights for EDC, not incurring the risk of “blinding” ourselves if the Turbo mode was the last used mode, but if our memory has failed not remember it.
3) Of course, the tint. Although I got Cool White /Neutral to Cold White flashlights, it is time Lumintop and other manufacturers start offering more pleasant tints, real neutral or even warm white, even if it is not Nichia.
4) The Tool 25 could accept 2x 14500s That Would be nice for a long pocket rocket!
5) [INSERT YOUR THOUGHTS!!!]
Overall these are nice flashlights that allow a simple use. I’m sure they could be improved, but for the price I paid and the price they are on sale, there is not much I/we can ask for apart from what was said.
My Tool AA V2.0 will surely take a 15mm driver soon , with a better UI, and a different LED (Luxeon V2?). The Tool 25…well, I gotta see what I can do to make it take 2x14500 Li-Ion cells
Thanks for reading! Leave your comments or questions!