Keep in mind that I am not a professional reviewer. This will be more of a first impressions account than a full review. Of course all of my conclusions are based on my personal preferences and experiences and use cases. In full disclosure, I received this light as a winner of a GAW that Flashlightgo conducted on BLF.
Manufacturers Specifications and features:
- Specially designed for tactical, law enforcement, camping, hunting, Search &Rescue
- Uses one CREEXHP35 HD LED with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
- High-performance tactical flashlight with max output up to 2000 lumens driven by one high-rate 18650 Lithium-lon USB C Rechargeable battery
- Compatible with 2*CR123Abatteries
- Buit-in USB Type-Charging port
- Mobile power function
- Max runtime up to 26 hours
- Patented triple tail switch technology allowing for momentary-on, strobe and easy access to all outputs with one hand operation
- Intelligent temperature control system to maximize the lifespan of LED Power indicator function to know power level at anytime
- Reverse polarity function to protect from improper battery installation
- Toughened ultra-clear mineral glass with anti-reflective coating
- Constructed from aero grade aluminum alloy
- Military grade HAlll hard-anodized finish
- Waterproof rating:IPX-8(2meters underwater) Impact resistance of 1meter
- Dimensions: 142mm (Length)*35.3mm(Head Diameter)*26.4mm(Tail Diameter) Weight:120g(Without battery)
The light arrived double boxed. Inside was a retail box designed to be hung from wall hooks. A nice looking box with color graphics. Inside was a plastic tray that holds the light and included belt holster. Inside the holster were a single red O-Ring, a decent lanyard and an interesting USB A to C charging cable. The USB A end of the cable has a USB A female socket in it so a second USB cable can be attached coming out of a charger/USB wall wart. I am not sure how useful this would be, but it is an interesting feature. An 18650 3500 mAh cell with USB C recharge port is installed in the light with a clear plastic insulator for shipment. Unlike many other lights that I have gotten with cells installed, I did not see any clear external reminder to remove the insulator.
There are springs on both ends, the driver and in the tail cap. The tail cap spring is not very heavy duty, but it is a double spring. The good part of the arrangement is that the light was able to use any cell I tried in it. Including protected and unprotected flat an button top 18650 cells.
The flashlight is a good looking light. It is has dark grey anodizing with some nice scalloping around the head and below it in the area of the USB charging port. It has nice knurled panels around flat machined areas and the tail cap has the same knurling. Unfortunately this knurling does not provide much grip at all. It has a nice (I think) stainless bezel that is finished in black. It makes for a very nice look. Under the bezel is what appears to be an AR coated lens with a purple tint.
The first thing I noticed with the light in hand is that it is a large light for an 18650 light. This is due to a few things. It has a relatively deep OP reflector. It has a USB C port for charging. It is a tube inside a tube design. The internal tube carries the signal from the E-Switch (see below). The tail cap is large to enclose the components of the forward clicky and rocker switch. The result is that it is thicker and longer than most of the 18650 lights in this class that I have seen.
The USB charging port cover is very flimsy and made of soft rubber. I don’t have much hope for its longevity. I think removing the cell for charging would be the best for this light. I did try the power bank function. It did charge my old Galaxy S10, but it did not show fast charging.
On the tail cap there is a novel arrangement for switching the light on and off and changing levels.
In the center is a forward clicky switch. I keeping with the tactical billing for the light this allows half press momentary access to turn the light on at the last used level. A full press turns the light on at the memorized level. The novel part (to me) is the secondary E-Switch. It is like a washer with pivot points on either side to act as a rocker. They claim a 3 way switch, but if so, I haven’t figured it out. From off, pressing either side of the rocker will get to momentary strobe. Holding it for more than a couple of seconds will keep the light on in strobe mode. Half pressing and releasing the canter switch will turn strobe off. Fully clicking turns the light on at the memorized level.
Once the light is turned on, clicking the rocker will change levels L/M/H repeat. Double clicking the rocker will get to the highest level (Turbo). The levels are well chosen and by eye pretty equally spaced. Unfortunately, low, which they claim to be 20 lumens (my eyes say it is more) is not low enough for some. But, again, this is designed to be used as a tactical or duty light.
From ON, the center button does nothing with a half click. It will only turn the light off with a full click and the light will memorize that level.
I think this is a nice UI for a tactical light. It does take some getting used to. I find the rocker to be a bit hard to find accurately. Even more so when wearing even thin gloves.
The light will tail stand, but is not very stable. The edges of the “ears” protecting the switches is not enough.
There are small crenellations in the bezel, so it is easy to see if the light is on when standing lens down.
The light uses the XHP35 LED in a pretty deep OP reflector. My Opple 3 showed ~7000K for the CCT and 73 RA on turbo in the beam center. Shining the area of the corona on the sensor showed ~5800K. Now these were just quick measurements. I did not mount the light or accurately set the distance (about 1 meter +/-). But the readings agree with what my eyes and experience tell me. The beam pattern is what I have read people describe as the Cree fried egg pattern. A very white hot spot surrounded by a yellowish corona, then fading to a violet spill at the edge. There is one very fine black ring about 90% of the way from the center of the beam to the edge of the spill. Overall, this is not something that would make beam pattern/CCT/RA purists happy. But, for the intended purpose of a tactical/duty light, probably will not negatively impact the utility of the light.
The light on high was plenty bright at 60 meters to easily identify critters and see what they are doing. On turbo I could see bird’s nests at 150 meters in the trees. It is not a thrower per se, but for it purpose I think it is fine. Spill is decent, but with the XHP35 and deep reflector, not exactly a flooder either.
So, what is the verdict? I think that the JETBeam IIIM ULTRA is a flashlight that has a lot going for it if a person is looking for a tactical type duty light. The combination tail switch gives quick access to the modes that would be needed in such a use case. The light is well built and quite bright. It has a combination of decent throw and reasonable spill for short to medium ranges. It is well built and appears to be quite rugged. Jetbeam quality is generally considered to be very good and from what I have read, they stand behind their products. If one has a need for what this light does, I think it is well worth a close look.
OTH, for my use case, this is not a light that I would buy. Not that it is not a good flashlight, It is just that I don’t need a(really another) tactical style light that has high CCT and Low RA numbers, with the kind of beam it has. It is also too big for what it does… again for me.
Thanks for reading! I may actually add some photos if I get time.
