"**ATTN: He would like a USA seller and something with changeable batteries***"
Sofirn (https://sofirnlight.com) ships some items from the US, but I'm not sure if that qualifies as a USA seller? Sofirn sells on Amazon as well (https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/993CBC25-2A09-4C75-8EE4-072BBF4C221D), but you'll pay a bit more.
Convoy is also a third party seller on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/s?me=A1Y1CNUWR8NKE2), but it's slow shipping from China instead of Prime shipping from your local Amazon warehouse. However, the S2+ (https://www.amazon.com/LITNIT-S2-Temperature-Protection-GraySST40/dp/B0977857RJ) and S21A (https://www.amazon.com/LITNIT-Temperature-Protection-Flashlight-S21A-GRAY-SST40/dp/B09776X7BL) are under $30 there. I have both, and recommend them. But they don't come with a battery or charger.
Another recommendation is the Wurkkos FC11 (https://www.amazon.com/Wurkkos-Flashlight-1300Lumen-Waterproof-Activities/dp/B08JCM95X6), currently on sale for $26.39 on Amazon, but only comes in warm white colors. For $33, they have the neutral white 5000K version.
The SC31 Pro I recommended above is currently $31.44 (https://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-Rechargeable-Powerful-Camping-Fishing/dp/B09SZ37FX6), which appears to be the lowest priced 18650 flashlight Sofirn sells on Amazon right now. I think the Wurkkos FC11 is solid, though, if you want to be strict about keeping it under $30, it just doesn't have cool white. Also, check out some beam shots, because it's not really much of a thrower.
Most budget 18650/21700 flashlights will have interchangeable batteries, so that's no problem for anything that's been recommended so far. But buying spare 18650 batteries gets into a whole 'nother discussion...
Sometimes ‘best, cheap’ can easily be mixed with ‘best value’ based on your budget. Anyone tried an SC18? It’s like the S11C, also from sofirn and costs within your range.
In addition to the available Convoy lights, the Sofirn SP31 V2 kit provides battery, charger and even beam with good throw and spill. I wrote a review if you'd like to get some info on it.
Any particular reason?
Personal preference shouldn’t roll over to others. If someone simply wants “light” from a torch, and they aren’t all hung up on high CRI - or even know about tints / bins etc - why not recommend cool white? In fact you may not literally be “recommending” it at all, as the perfect device may only come in cool white. I believe if a person asks for recommendations and know all about tints, then they actually know a lot more than they are letting on. Most people don’t even notice or care about tint, they just want light.
So right. I have something like 100 plus lights. Most were purchased based just on lumens. Which, of course, means 6000 plus K. They are all perfectly fine for doing what most people do with a light, meaning light things up in the dark. In addition, they are the most efficient at doing it.
There are situations where lower CCT and tint perfection, as well as high CRI and RA are very important. But for a person getting a first decent light needing to make the dark light, it simply should not be the determining factor. Most of us have gotten to be CCT/CRI/tint snobs have done it over time and with lots of experience. That doesn’t mean that a first light should be discarded from consideration just because it does not meet our “connoisseur” expectations.
In fact, probably most new users will be more impressed and quite happy with a high CCT light, than something that makes some of us perfectionists happy.
In response to the OP, your friend would likely be quite happy with any of the recommendations above in neutral to cool white.
I picked up a Csteboke (Sofirn) SC31T SE for a good price from Amazon (shipped from USA) with an 18650 battery and cable. LH351d sort of neutral white. I gave one to my neighbors in their 80s. Added a cheap wall wart for charging (I have dozens of them). They love it. Not a huge thrower, but a great beam for walking or around the house. I think it was under ~$25.
Because they don’t care to complain, based on what I said in my post. Those of us who are knowledgeable about these particular things may “complain”, but 99.9999% of the population just don’t care or know about tints to know then can complain. I’m my 41 years, I’ve never met another person in to torches, and no one I know has ever turned one on and gone “damn, this tint is horrid” - because they just want light. We are not the average layperson… They are when it comes to lights.
I have absolutely no doubt. Yet my girlfriend and 2 kids (19 and 12) prefer cool. The people you have shown had the choice and knowledge of the tints you showed them - because you showed them. They are quite entitled to choose what they prefer, when shown both options. Nothing is to say if you give a person neutral, they won’t like or prefer cool. It’s an assumption that is based on our own knowledge and bias. I love my Q8 tint - it’s absolutely perfect and I deem it rather stunning. However, I do like a nice (not ugly extreme blue) cool, in some applications. I hear what you are saying in that in general we all prefer neutral or warmer. However, when someone just wants light, they honestly don’t care.
Bort, That's been my experience, too. However, I'd pick a cool white for distance lighting use. I didn't realize that until recently, when I set up some powerful throwers.
When you are choosing for someone else who does not have extensive experience there is no perfect undisputed choice, you should choose what is statistically the popular choice.
One could argue that an analyzing charger is the better choice than built in charging, there are many nerds out there.
Again for a newb you should keep it simple because it is the more statistically smarter choice.
I don’t deem tint an issue that needs to be kept simple because it is anyway. In fact one could argue giving someone who doesn’t care for tint more options is the less simple approach. As for statistically smarter? For whom? People who don’t actually care what they use? That makes no sense.