That is absolute BS! We were told in the FB group that it would work with a non-proprietary battery, as does the Seeker Pro. Not only did I already order the light, I also ordered a non Olight 21700.
Short version: The battery goes in the other way around than in the Seeker 2 Pro. They seem to use the Plus and the proprietary Minus to drive the light for the M2R Pro. They used the regular Minus to drive the light in the Seeker 2 Pro.
Regarding the regular M2R: This light is constructed COMPLETELY differently, and has an inner tube (like the FW3A or Klarus lights) so it can use a standard 18650.
If I bought the light from Amazon, tried (several) standard 21700s, and it wouldn’t work, I’d have to return the light as defective. How could I or anyone else know it would only work with a proprietary cell?
It’s probably only part of the story, but yes. My guess is that it’s also easier to manufacture that way and they save 1-2mm in diameter.
@Olight: I have a regular M2R. I bought it because I liked the UI and that you for once did not opt for a proprietary battery design. The regular M2R is very well executed. It did not fail me once.
But I don’t see the “Pro” in a “tactical” flashlight that can’t even be used with some other 21700s. Nothing “Pro” or “tactical” about this. Won’t buy.
Just seems silly, I purchased just a little while ago, going to be cancelling order first thing in the morning. Don’t care about the charging, but if the light does not work with anything but the proprietary battery that is a deal killer, bad move imho!
Wow, that’s pretty bad. I guess I would understand it if the cell needed wasn’t $30. They wanted to do something that required a proprietary cell? Okay. Still idiotic but, sell the cells for $5 a piece when ordering the light. A guy could stock up on 4 or so. Even though that is still a crappy thing to do. That is next level genius right there.
Still trying to see the logic in posting it on BLF. They should have known the term “proprietary battery” wouldn’t sell many lights here. I am a gun guy as well. CZ is one of my favorite makers. If CZ told me they came out with a new 9mm pistol but it will only shoot their ammo at 6 times the money of say, Winchester ammo, I’d start buing Hi-Point instead. Okay maybe not Hi-Point.
Edit: Question. Will Olights proprietary cell only be able to be charged by the magnetic charging dohicky?
The cell looks to be the same as provided with the Seeker 2 Pro, in which case I can verify that with a small neodymium magnet placed on the (+) end it can indeed be charged outside of the light… You obviously still must use caution because it can quite easily be shorted.