I just finished reviewing the Weltool W2, a tiny 14500 type flashlight, with an SLD SMD chip. This is basically a laser built into a chip, with roughly the same dimensions as a 50x50 LED.
I’m pretty sure that Kyocera is still the only company producing these. But I might be incorrect. Edit: Weltool said they sourced it from a Chinese company, and not Kyocera
The Kyocera SLD laserlight was the first flashlight with this kind of chip… it was also sold under the name Bushnell AT 1.1, but they were only available in the USA.
The Weltool can be sent anywhere in the world, from many online stores.
We might be seeing a few more brands getting on board now… even though the prices of these chips are very, very high.
The cheapest at mouser is 140USD, but I’m not even sure if that one can be used in flashlights… the others are all about 200USD or more.
Good question. At least they are much, much smaller than the mirror-style LEP modules. So I hope we can see a price decrease in the next few months/years. But a SMD LEP flashlight below $100 is probably not in the picture for the next 2 years or more.
