Yeah I was surprised to see that too. I was expecting the two to be identical. The orange peel is definitely more aggressive on my S3 reflector.
Found the problem with low lumens/brightness on the EDC 18650! It's the centering ring - not sure if anyone pointed that out yet, it seems to sound familiar.
I've been disappointed with the output with it doing about 525 lumens with an XML U2, 2.8A Nanjg. So, I updated it to a U3 1C on a SinkPAD and 20 22 gauge wire - only improved it to 560 lumens. So looked at that centering ring and replaced it with a low profile type, and added a paper type of ring insulator because it was needed now - stock centering ring left a good gap between the star and the reflector. To raise it all up, I simply unscrewed the pill a bit and got it to a point where I could tighten up the SS bezel really well and have a good amount of pressure on the star (actually used the rubber strap of a strap wrench to tighten it).
So those adjustments raised the lumens from 560 to 795 on a Sanyo battery, both readings at 30 seconds! Now that's what I'd expect! Oh - also got a AR lens in there, but it's been there all along - one of the first mods I ever did...
ooops -- edited the wire gauge above...
well done Tom! 
It's hard to believe it made such a hugh difference.. I got several 18650 EDC style tube lights, and this has been the worse performer, now it's one of the best, only beaten out by my Convoy S4 host w/XM-L2 U2/SinkPAD, 3.5A Nanjg which does just over 1,000 lumens. I did one or two right about there in the 790-800 lumen range, same XML U3 Nanjg 2.8A setup.
I notice from the pics at OI that it appears there are two different LED centering spacers.
Looks like the grey and gold versions have a round spacer with a round hole, whereas the black version has the “butterfly” spacer with a square hole.
Can anyone comment on this?
I’ve been resisting buying the EDC host for months now…and finally pulled the trigger on the black one. I don’t yet have a tube light, as all my 18650 lights have larger heads.
Thinking of building it up with an XP-G2 R5 3C on copper, conservatively driven @ 1.9A (5x7135 380’s), flashed with customized Star1.1 firmware (1-minute turbo timer).
Thanks
-JW
Just an fyi, this is the Convoy S3. I got both. Believe the round one was the bad one that blocked output.
I see-thanks for the heads-up on that.
-JW
I received my black IO EDC 18650 host yesterday. It seems to be of decent quality for the price.
While there are o-rings to seal between the body, tailcap, and bezel - there is nothing to seal between the lens and the bezel ring.
A thin flat gasket would probably work well, but I don’t want to make one if I don’t have to. Does anyone know where I might be able to buy one of the correct size?
On another note, I also received two more Qlite drivers. I don’t know if this is news to anyone, but these appear to have 24-gauge silicon wires instead of the usual PVC wires.
Thanks
-JW