I have both the old version RRT-01 and the new 2019 version.
- All versions of the of the RRT-01 fit 18350 without modification. The original RRT-01 was actually one of the first lights designed for 18350 from the start. It was a contrast from contemporary lights like the Sunwayman V11R that only fit 16340.
- The Niteye Eye10 and Jetbeam TCR-01 also fit 18350 without modification. I assume the same also applies to the Niteye Eye10 TiC, but I don’t have one to check.
- The battery tubes on both the old and new RRT01 have about the same diameter. However, the new RRT-01 is thicker and wider at the head and the base of the tail. The new RRT-01 is also noticeably heavier than the old version owing to the wider head and brass pill. The new one feels a bit like a Sipik 68 in the hand and pocket with its pinched-in battery tube. The old one feels like a small tube flashlight.
- The reflectors of both versions of the RRT-01 appear to have the same width and depth. However, they are not quite interchangeable. While the reflective surfaces appear to have the same dimensions the new RRT-01’s reflector has more mass at the sides and doesn’t quite fit in the old RRT-01.
- Early first generation old RRT-01s also shipped with a long clip and smooth reflector. The smooth reflector they came with produced a horrible ringy beam. Much worse than the beam from the new RRT-01. Jetbeam produced a second-generation early version RRT-01 with an Orange Peel reflector and shorter clip.
- Early version of the Niteye Eye10 only had knurling on half the magnetic ring. The other half was completely smooth. In later runs, Niteye added a few ribs to this smooth portion for better traction.
- The internal dimensions of the battery compartment appear identical on both the old and new versions.
- The old RRT-01 featured a ball-bearing on slightly rough matte anodizing with a small detente at off and max. The ring worked extremely well and action was smooth, though some did find the anodizing to be slightly gritty.
- The old Eye-10 had the same ball-bearing as the RRT-01, but featured a non-stop row of detentes through the entire rotation of the ring (something like 16 detentes). It was smooth and simple to operate, but felt more like a 16-setting light than true infinitely variable due to the detentes. It also made a sound like a zipper when you cycled the ring.
- The TCR-01 had a shallow detente at off and max. Overall ring action is smooth with no grittiness. However, the detentes are so shallow they’re almost unnoticeable.
- The 2019 RRT-01 has deep detentes at off and max, with smooth action between. These detentes are quite deep and it takes firm pressure to turn the ring out of them. The original RRT-01 and TCR-01 were unlikely to have the ring cycle accidentally in the pocket. With the much deeper detentes in the new version I think the risk of accidental pocket activation is basically zero.
