There isn’t one perfect UI, it depends on the purpose of the light:
My favourite for general use - Convoy’s Biscotti/12-Group - easy to use, programmable, mode memory can be on/off, mode memory includes strobe, but shame about the alternating frequency strobe (should be constant frequency).
My favourite for light painting photography - Ryu’s Lightworks UI on Light Painting Paradise LightPainter.
My favourite for headlamps - UI on Nitecore HC65 - direct access to pretty much any useful mode with one button.
anduril is pretty good
anduril 2 is probably better
both of them have a lot of config options, which are good to have but may be too much for the noob, or someone who prefers simplicity to changeability
I like Anduril/Narsil and also magnetic ring like the ThruNite TN-31 or the AceBeam K70, K60
Acebeam L19 has superb Tactical UI.
Nope. I prefer a mechanical switch. I like the Convoy lights with Biscotti. I mostly use 1, 10, 35, 100 with mode memory turned off.
My only complaint is that the 12 groups don’t offer every arrangement I might want for a given light. I’d love to be able to plug in a USB or something and use an extremely simple, user-friendly, idiot-proof program to tell it that I want X% on mode 1, Y% on mode 2, etc.
Even better is the ring control on one of my Sofirn lights. It has low, medium, and high. I just turn to what I want. It’s the closest thing to an old-school hardware control with no guess work and easy access for even the dimmest bulbs among us. 
I’m can live with most UI’s as long as they’re well thought out, I like Anduril but also still enjoy the older Bistro lights like the A6 BLF SE and the X5 BLF, but sometimes a simple 3 to 5 mode layout is more than enough. I have no lights with a magnetic ring myself but would like it a lot, seem like a great idea.
What I think important myself:
- I like memory to be on/off by choice.
- no stupid click-combinations or to much different use of clicks for simple operation, think K.I.S.S. and just don’t overdo
- If it has moonlight it should be direct accessible from off or it is worthless.
- When using electronic switches the light needs a mechanic lock-out (twist of the tailcap or head)
- Much more important than all the above, give me NW, WW and hi-CRI options, I won’t buy angry-blue no matter how smart the UI is
I don’t think Anduril is the answer. I think in 10 years, Anduril will only be mentioned in the BLF archives.
My prediction is that touch OLED screens will end up on the larger lights, and virtually all lights will be programable via computer whether wirelessly or with a USB cable. They will have a simple web UI. At that point, you will be able to have 1000’s of settings because it will be easy to manage.
The stage is all set at his point. The technology is there, once prices drop a bit more, some Chinese manufacturer will jump on it.
^
This.
Except I don’t need a switch for on/off, but it doesn’t hurt.
Hmm OLED screens on lights seems like a really bad idea to me. Seems like that would really limit your impact resistance, moisture resistance, and temperature tolerances.
Imalent has models with screen.
Giving it some thought a light with 4 modes and the ability to select them would be grand.
Lets say i can pick a percent for each one in the UI and it saves it. And preferably saves it even with no battery so i don’t have to reprogram it each time i remove the battery for charging.
They aren’t exactly known for their reliability around here either 
Frankly, it’s a pain having to remember the UI of each e-switch light you own, when your collection of lights goes beyond a handful of unique UI’s. In a perfect world, you have one UI that’s workable for most applications. You can customize it as you want. Simple or Advanced, and then other options set as needed. Everything predictable. As such, I’d be totally happy if every single e-switch light I own had Anduril.
I don’t even touch my NarsilM lights anymore. Anduril is so close but superior IMHO.
I agree. I have gone to the point of buying about 8 new lights with Anduril to make my EDC, home, car and travel lights consistent. They are all configured exactly the same and so I don’t have to figure out How Does This One Work? whenever I need illumination. I did cheat a little and kept my Gladius and Tiny Monster for nostalgias sake. All others are going to Good Will in a big bag.
I hear you. Out of curiosity, which Nitecore Tiny Monster do you have?
It is labeled TM 26 and rated at 3800 lumens if that helps. I don’t even remember when I bought it but it was new at the time. About $265 as I recall.
I wish i could do this, a simple unified UI for all my lights would kick ass.
OK. Thanks. Yeah, this flashlight came out in 2013… so it’s 8 years old now. The TM28 (nearly same design, more output) is still made and selling for $399 at full retail. The old TM26 occasionally appears for sale used, anywhere from $120 ~ $200. Because I mentally “earmarked” it, I had considered maybe getting one, but there hasn’t been much enthusiasm for it in recent years. Seems the 4 separate reflectors design is being phased out as TM39 is back to one reflector. UI design-wise, the TM26/28 seems decent. I don’t know how hard it is to change emitters, but if one could get an old TM26 for about $100 and install more efficient & tint-friendly emitters, it could be a worthwhile endeavor.
In order for EDC light-
1. Surefire gas pedal switch.
2. Early 4/7s quark loosen/ tighten head to select mode group.
3. Anduril
For a dedicated tactical light I just want 100% every time, with partial press for momentary.