Eagle Eye X5R Review

great review! Thanks!

Hi All,
Just purchased and am ecited - first real flashlight as opposed to supermarket flashlights.
Can you recommend a battery I could get to maximize it’s performance. I have Samsung 25R batteries that I use for vaping.
Are they good or should I look for something else?

Thanks

That battery should be fine. This is not a high amp flashlight, only 2.8 2.2 amp at most, so no need for a high drain.

Good to know.

Thanks :slight_smile:

I ordered this one:
Eagle Eye X5R CREE XPL HI 3A 1000LM Tactical LED Flashlight - 3A 5200-5600K BLACK
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_345598.html?wid=21
A friend of mine went to get it from custom and report me this morning that there is a problem.
My Eagle Eye X5R can not change the modes and stay only in one. The button is clicking but nothing happened.
After few hours I will get the light and write what I saw.
Actually do not bеlieve in miracles, so probably there is a problem.
I am very disappointed about that.
Post info
The site is not Gearbest. It is Everbuying.
Althou I told to my friend to order from GB, but he choose another site and did not told me.

Is he clicking the rear button? That one is only on and off. The side button changes modes and it does not click.

Worst case scenario, the driver might be bad.

I bought 3 of the X2R’s and one had a driver issue where it wouldn’t go to high. It went low, med, med. Gearbest refunded me half the cost ($7) and I went to Jin Lang and they sold me a new driver for it for ($5).

The only bad part was waiting 2 weeks for the new driver. Swapping it was easy. I just had to solder the 2 wires to the emitter.

So I wouldn’t worry too much. When you get it, check the tightness of the parts. See if the side button feels right or not.

Actually it works. But only in one mode. May be on high - 500 lumen.
So I have super tactical flashlight. :+1:
One click - ON, another click - OFF.
A, there is side switch. But he is just for decoration.
Now I have it.
Most probably driver is fault.
I saw following negative things on my light:

- the ring on driver was loose;

- the metal + silicon side button is not serious;

  • the reflector in OP, not smooth as they offered;
    Good thing is that diode is well centered and heat dissipation is OK.
    When I put USB charging side switch turns red, but the flashlight do not stop to lightning after while as it should be.

This one scenario on picture also do not work:

At least you got what you pay for. And because the price i low ……….

I have just did night test and can say that I like it how it feels in hand and how it light.
Only the clips make some discomfort, but it is OK.
Because of XPL HI it has impressive throw for such small reflector. The tint is 3A which is rather cool than neutral. Personally prefer 3C or warmer.
Definitely will buy another one.

When you plug in the charger you have to turn on the rear switch, then click the side switch once or twice to turn the main beam off.

Driver and tail cap retainers do sometimes loosen in shipping with all flashlights. It’s good to always check that.

The reflector is very light orange peel. You can see the hotspot pretty well. It’s a deeper than normal reflector as well so you get pretty good distance with it. Did someone say it was smooth?

Does holding the side switch make the strobe come on?

Do you know the main company store on Aliexpress? It’s Shenzhen Jin Lang Electronics. Ask them about a replacement driver for your light. It should be pretty cheap.

Oh yeah, complain to gearbest. You might have to make a video to show them, but it’s easy.

The site is Everbuying.net, not Gearbest. I told to my friend to order from Gearbest, but he decided to order to Everbuying and he told me just after I wrote here.
I can change driver but my X5R works and even it has only high mode it is OK. So when new one arrived I will give this one as a gift.
The reflector as you sad is deep and I notice that. Also as you said it is light orange peel. But both sites write in description: Aluminum Smooth Reflector.
http://www.everbuying.net/product1159016.html
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_345598.html?wid=21
Side switch do not work at all. No strobe, nothing.
Anyway, I will order another one.
My question is:
Should I choose model without USB, because on X5R side switch and USB port are not well water proof.
Does X5 has better waterproof side switch?

Both sites DO say smooth reflector, I guess I saw so many pictures of the textured reflector I forgot what the sales page said.

It’s a shame your side switch isn’t working, but I would not give it away like that. Not being able to turn off the main beam when usb recharging means it will take forever to charge up. :frowning:

I’ve got the free Aliexpress app on my phone which makes it easy to send messages to Jin Lang Electronics. Is it too difficult for you to buy from them? If not, you could get another light, plus another driver for your current light all in one order.

You don’t think the usb cover is waterproof? It seems like it is.

I don’t have the X5, but I would assume it has the exact same side switch.

Without the usb, the X5 is just another light. Well, the forward clicky is a nice bonus. I stopped using my fully programable Convoy S2+ with guppydrv and 3 amp turbo mode for the X5R at work, just because of the nice usb recharge function.

Anyway, good luck to you.

What? No. Everybody should get a good working light for the under $30 price.

I checked Jin Lang Electronics website on Aliexpress and I am sorry I did not do before order.
I will order EAGLE EYE X5R and will pay 2$ more for XPL HI 5A 4500K.
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/EAGLE-EYE-X5R-Ultimate-Edition-1000-Lumen-USB-Wiederaufladbare-18650-Cree-XM-L2-U2-LED-Taschenlampe/1735126_32620981322.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.wEkCin
Now this configuration: tube light, steel bezel, XPL HI, 4500K, candle stand is awesome.
USB charge is good option, but I do not care much about it.
Concerning my fault X5R I am expecting some compensation from webstore.

If you need any help to swap a new driver in, just let me know. It’s very easy.

Thanks.
May be I will order one driver.

Driver is changed with new one.
My X5R XPL HI 3A now works fine. I comapare to Thrunite TC12 NW and Nitecore P12W.
X5R actualy performs very well compare to more expencive similar light.
The things I do not like in X5R are:
side switch cover - you can remove even with hands.
short tube - can not work with protected cell;
soft aluminium - already drop it and made big scratches.

I’m glad you got it working.

I’ve had no issues with the side switch cover. I’ve never tried to pull it off and it’s never come off. Do you mean the rubber usb cover?

I run Evva brand protected cells. I’ve never heard anyone say that a protected cell doesn’t fit.

Soft aluminum? I think all flashlights are made from the same basic aircraft aluminum. I dropped mine on concrete from about 5 feet and it did scratch and slightly pit the aluminum. I think that’s normal.

The finish doesnt appear to be real hard like type 3. Is that what you mean? I’ve scratched mine getting the clip on and off so I’d say it’s a type 2 finish. That’s my guess.

Side switch cover can be removed easy with toothpick without unscrew anything.
The tube is shorter than TC12 and P12W so protected battery are problem for X5R.
The finish is good. Actually from my 3 tube lights: X5R, TC12 and P12W, Thrunite TC12 has best finish.
Here is pictures of my X5R after repairing:


I ordered another one, this time from AliExpess and with 4500K tint.
What I like in this budget tube flashlight is:

- momentary on;

- steel bezel;

- quite bright in turbo mode;

- good throw thanks to XPL HI and slightly rugged reflector;

- step down timer on turbo mode;

- well spaced modes;

- regulated 500 lumen mode with big runtime;

  • compatible with Nitecore 1” diffuser;

Do you mean the silver cap on the rubber boot? Don’t pick at it with a toothpick! Lol. Mine is fine. Maybe they have a dab of glue to hold it on and your glue broke loose when you removed the rubber boot. I would add another drop to male sure it stays in place.

Are you determining what length battery fits by measuring the battery tube legnth? That’s incorrect method. There are many variables. Compression height of springs, how deeply inset the driver is, how deeply inset the rear switch pcb is, etc…

I would measure by taking the rear cap off and sliding in a battery of known length. Then compress until you feel the driver spring bottom out. Now measure how deep that battery goes above or below the battery tube end. Now fully compress the tail switch spring and see how far above or below the retaining ring it goes. This should tell you the max battery length.

Are any of your protected batteries too long to fit? If so, what length are they?

I took my light apart and I’m not impressed with the springs they chose. They do not compress very much at all. EE is shooting themselves in the foot.

With better springs that can compress further, I bet you could gain another 3mm in battery length.

I’ll measure max battery length as well as my 2 different protected 18650’s tomorrow and report back.