[Review+Teardown] Nitecore TIP2 - 720 lumen keychain light, 2*XP-G3, micro-USB, magnetic quick release

Thank you for a very nice review. How does the mcpcb keep a good contact with the aluminium shelf? I don’t see any screws there

There’s no aluminum shelf, the internal frame is plastic. The brass heat spreader has a bend just a hair above 90 degrees, so it pushes upwards on the MPCB and outwards on the body of the light. The whole frame is also held forwards against the optics with the screws at the switch, and it’s a pretty tight fit to begin with.

too bad a full frame aluminum case like the UC15 would have been nice

I guess it would have, but the exterior here is all aluminum. Only the internals are plastic, and the rear housing for the USB port. I don’t really see any structural weak points. I would worry about the stability of the switch over time, but the cell sits right behind the frame for added support.

No lockout=BAD.

I recognize you

I forgot my clever disguise!

I am just tired of buying Nitecore lights that turn on in my pocket.
Now they don’t even try to prevent it anymore?

Thanks for the teardown! Got mine today and it desperately needed some different emitters, fortunately I’d already seen the inside so I knew what to expect.
It’s nice to know any potential issues ahead of time and your great pictures and description made the mod go quickly.
UI could sure use some adjustments but the form factor and other features are fantastic. Fits right in the 5th pocket.
Thanks again,
Robert

Perfect, glad it helped you out.

The TIP2 is slick for my old hands and also I value things that are more visible than black so I put some 1” HeatShrink Tubing w adhesive on mine.
I’m not used to using this large type for hobby use so it’s not perfect. The adhesive bubbles up at some point then the tubing starts swelling again after it’s already shrunk. When that happens it can create a void or thicker section. Anyway it did what I needed it to do. More grippy and more easily seen.
Still struggling with my firstworldproblem of 2 second press to ON and no shortcut to Moonlight but other than that this is the ultimate 5th pocket light.
By carrying it in 5th pocket there is still room for a D4V2 or SC64 if needed.

Looks good!

Another thanks for the teardown; mine arrived last week and I couldn’t stand the tint shift of those XP-G3’s, especially as I had some of BSM’s SST-20 95CRI 4000K calling my name from the packet; always easier when you know what to expect :+1:

It certainly has some of the best looking innards of any light I’ve torn into so far.

Thank you for the review; I found this light to be exceptionally useful and versatile. Small size, magnet disconnect and clip/hat mount work wonderfully .

Hey, thanks for the tear down. :+1:

Seems fairly easy to swap those horrific XP-G3’s with Nichia or SST-20. :+1:

The 1.3 second turn on delay sucks a little… :person_facepalming:

I will probably get one anyway, i think it’s a really nice little package.
I saw one on AE for 23 Euro.
Still not cheap though…

Jerommel, the wait makes you use the light when you really, really need it. UI is not ideal but damn, the size and 5th pocket fit is just perfect.
There’s almost no chance it would come on in the 5th pocket, (little pocket above front pocket in blue jeans and some pants) but I guess they figured some folks would put it on their keychain. That’s something I would never consider unless my keychain consisted of a single key.
Swapping emitters is a breeze, if you’re careful you don’t even have to unsolder to MCPCB from the circuit.
For whatever reason the SST-20s create a better beam profile. I tried some Nichia and the spill was very rectangular. SST-20 spill is round all the way out except a tiny bit at the edges.

Okay, thanks for the TIP :stuck_out_tongue:

I think they should have used frosted or pebbled optics in the TIP2.
Especially since they chose to put XP-G3 in it…
The TINI has a very nice pebbled optic.

Hey guys go check out our video of the TIP 2! Go search up “ Light Commanders “ on YouTube, let us know what you guys think about it. We’ve been having a lot of fun with this light!

Got a link so no one has to go hunting for it?

Here is the link to watch our review of the TIP2, let us know what you guys think!


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XePFoeI796o&t=42s