I got it @ 2pm EST!
Here is my assessment before I take it outside when it gets dark. None of these are deal breakers,just an honest critique and assessment!
1.Beam Profile- No doubt Vinh Q. Nguyen does a better job and he de domes them completely,I believe this has a protective film on the LED.
Not far outside the hot spot there are about 7 or 8 distorted rings. In real life use[outside] it won’t be that noticeable after about 30’.
2.No doubt they used the same holster as the M22,which is understandable. However, The tail cap for my M22 is noticeably smaller in diameter making the M23 much more difficult to fit through the hole at the top of the holster. It literally took me 6 or 7 seconds to close the flap! With Two hands spreading the opening is much easier! For me that is NOT good because my left arm is occupied by Capo my Siberian Husky! In other words when we are hiking[every night] and I want to get this out of the holster it will be more difficult.
It will get worn in by ripping the opening!The M23 tail cap has the exact same DIAMETER as the M2X tail cap. Only difference is the 3 crenulations of the M23 vs. 4 for the M2X.
3.The “Boot COVER on the tail cap is very mushy once the light is activated,Honestly, never had one this mushy!
4. Spring in head is a GOOD thing,my FT IMR batteries all work in it.
5.Definitely solid and built well like my M22 and other Olights
6. Has a nice tint,similar to my D25Cvn Ti XP-L 5700[Dome on]
7. It definitely has thermal management and steps down. Not noticeable by eye until you turn it off which I did after 10 minutes,then immediately turned back on and THEN I could notice the higher output. Also ,the light was noticeably hotter by touch after 5 minutes than it was after 10 minutes! In addition the Olight 3400 battery started at 4.20V. After 10 minutes it was at 4.04v[3 minutes rest]. If it was 1020 lumens for 10 minutes it would definitely be lower. Not your fault ZANE! Can not notice it unless you did what I did,sense of touch test, Voltage test and turn on/off visual test!
8. I keep adding things! It is 81F/27.222C on my loft. It NEVER got too hold to hold. From start to now @ the 30 minute[10 min. increments] mark. From my experience this is a VERY GOOD thing because in actual use the light always stays cooler than tail standing w/ no fan!
Did you notice that I am a Perfectionist!!
As long as it is durable, reliable and “Throws to specs” I will be happy. I am Field testing it[by myself, no assistant tonight] from ~ 500 yds,just outside the 477yds[436m] specs.