Over the last years I have reviewed many flashlights. And often I came across one annoying feature of those flashlights: the UI. Too many functions hidden behind a single button, one tailswitch and one sideswitch (so you have to change your grip each time to change to mode) or no shortcuts to specific modes.
Don’t get me wrong: I also like fancy flashlights with Anduril, but often enough I need a flashlight that can be used reliably in every situation. One flashlight that solves these problems for me is the Nextorch TA30C Max, a tactical flashlight with an amazing UI and great features.
This review is also available on my website in German.
The flashlight was provided by the manufacturer for the review. Still I try my best to make the review as unbiased as possible.
What makes a tactical flashlight? Hard to say. For me it’s ruggedness, simple UI without much thinking and direct access to turbo. It must provide light when you need it, in every situation. Quickly, without searching a sideswitch, unlock it and press multiple times.
Supplied parts and hardware
- 21700 Li-ion battery (5000 mAh, protected, button-top, USB-C charging, 76 mm long, 3.68 V at delivery)
- USB charging cable (USB A → C)
- Lanyard
- Manual (EN, DE, ES, FR, CN)
Unfortunately no replacement o-ring, which would be great because you have to unscrew the tailcap to charge the battery. Size is about 22 × 1.5 mm.
Other accessories are available separately and described later in the review.
The TA30C Max is a larger version of the TA30C. Brighter, but also slightly larger and heavier.
Length: 153 mm
Diameter (head): 38.6 mm
Diameter (tube): 27.5 mm
Diameter (tailcap): 31 mm
Weight: 154 g (+ 73 g for the battery)
Slightly on the larger and heavier side, but not uncommon for tactical flashlights.
The battery tube has a texture that can hardly be felt and is more for the optics. But the surface feels slightly velvety, which effectively helps to prevent slipping even when wet. The anodization appears to be very tough.
The bezel is made of sandblasted titanium (to reduce reflections compared to stainless steel). Embedded in it are three balls, intended as a glass breaker. Disadvantage: The flashlight rests only on these three points which makes it easier to tip over.
Head and battery tube are made of one part, only the tailcap can be unscrewed. This makes the lamp more robust and reduces the opportunities for dirt and water to enter. According to the manufacturer, the lamp is waterproof according to IPX8.
The contour of the head stops the light reliably from rolling away on a flat surface.
The TA30C Max comes with a simple snap-on clip. It can be replaced with an optional tactical ring or you can use the optional holster to carry the flashlight (see below).
Two holes in the tailcap allow to attach a lanyard. Tailstand is possible, but a bit wobbly because the button protrudes slightly (< 0.1 mm). Maybe that’s just the case with my sample.
There is no charging function in the flashlight itself. This makes it more resistant against water and dirt, also you want to use the flashlight and not have it constantly connected to the charger.
The supplied battery from Nextorch has a built-in charging function via USB-C. Due to the low charging current of only around 1.4 A, however, the charging process takes around four hours.
Fortunately the TA30C Max does not require a proprietary battery like some other manufacturers. You only have to pay attention to the length of the battery: Although the TA30C Max has a spring on both sides, they are very flat. Regular flat-top 21700 batteries are too short. Button-top do just about fit, protected batteries fit even better (which are also recommended, see the “driver and runtime” section).
Make sure to insert the battery correctly! It’s the other way around as you are used to. Negative to the head!
Build quality of the TA30C Max is excellent. No sharp edges, cleanly machined to the last detail and perfect anodization without defects.
User interface and features
A distinctive feature of the TA30C Max compared to many other flashlights is the absolutely brilliant operation. Usually there is either a button that controls all functions, a rear switch for on/off and changing the mode, or in combination with a side button. This requires to knowing the current state of the flashlight and, if necessary, even to change your grip to reach the other button.
The TA30C Max offers direct access to all functions via a combination of a rear button and a rotary control ring, also located at the end of the flashlight.
The rotary control ring selects a steady mode: Off (labeled as “TAC”), low, medium high and strobe. It works magnetically, but cannot be switched on by an external magnet. When the flashlight is on, sometimes the mode can be switched with a strong magnet, but it returns immediately when you remove the magnet.
The ring feels great and operates smoothly. No scratching, precise steps. It is best operated with two fingers, but works also quite well with just one finger after some practice.
The rear button has two stages: if you press it halfway until you feel a noticeable resistance, you activate the momentary turbo (same brightness as high) until you release it. If you press it full all the way down, you activate the momentary strobe.
It’s hard to describe the feeling when you press it. No clicking, but not squishy either. The resistance is so great that you usually don’t hit the strobe accidentally.
Direct access to turbo and strobe is available in every mode. For example, you can use the flashlight in low, briefly activate turbo with the rear button and then return to low again. A function that I use very often.
In my measurements the frequency of the strobe varies between 13 and 20 Hz. Although this was not noticeable to me, I assume that this makes it more irritating.
A status LED in the rear button shows the approximate state of charge for two seconds after you switched to flashlight off.
| Color | State of charge |
|---|---|
| Blue | 75% - 100% |
| Flashing blue | 50% - 75% |
| Red | 25% - 50% |
| Flashing red | < 25% |
That’s all. No gimmicks, no hidden features. It allows a mechanical lockout by slightly untwisting the tailcap.
I’m extremely satisfied with this UI. With the direct operation of the TA30C Max you can hardly go wrong, even in stressful situations.
However, I would have liked another brightness level. Either low, medium, high and strobe on the control ring and a brighter turbo via the button or low, medium, high and turbo on the control ring and strobe only via the button.
Illumination
The TA30C Max comes with a Cree XHP50.3 HI. Less tint shift and more throw compared to the regular domed version.
It sits in an orange peel reflector, which creates a floody beam with tight spot. Great compromise between throw and close range suitability.
The three protrusions of the bezel with the balls create small shadow, but they are hardly noticeably in practice.
Color temperature is estimated at around 6000 K, still cool white but not uncomfortably cool. CRI probably the usual 70 – not a problem for a tactical flashlight. The tint is ok. Not rosy, but also not puke green.
Driver and runtime
With a maximum of 3000 lm according to the manufacturer, the XHP50.3 HI is still powered quite moderately. That means less heat and longer lifetime.
| Mode | Brightness | Runtime | Intensity (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 3000 lm | 2:45 h | 38 025 cd (390 m) |
| Medium | 520 lm | 5 h | 6 400 cd (160 m) |
| Low | 70 lm | 35 h | 900 cd (60 m) |
(Manufacturer information)
On high the output steps down after a short time. The head of the flashlight reaches 40 °C max and then settles at around 30 °C while the output stays absolutely constant. It’s nice to see that the manufacturer’s values of the runtime match my measurements quite well.
At the end of the runtime test the flashlight turns off without warning and couldn’t be switched on again. As it turned out, the protection of the battery had tripped at 2.75 V. So I guess there’s no LVP in the flashlight itself. Be careful when you use unprotected batteries!
After the output has stepped down it cannot be raised again by pressing the button or the control ring. Full brightness is available again after briefly switching the flashlight off.
The initial brightness of the high level differs depending on the battery voltage. But in any case the brightness is reduced after about 35 seconds. Interestingly the slope is always identical.
All modes are without PWM. Sadly everything else about the driver is pure speculation. Due to the construction it was not possible for me to carry out a meaningful current measurement. The entire driver (or at least a large part) is in the tailcap. This makes sense, since the sensors for the control ring, the two-stage button and the multicolored status LED are also located there.
The positive pole of the battery is connected directly to the driver in the end cap. Ground is routed through the battery tube. It is double-walled and the inner tube seems to carry the (regulated?) current to the LED in the front.
I will try to create a rig to measure the full system. So far I’ve measured 40 µA quiescent current of the tailcap and the absence of LVP in it.
Tactical ring (“FR-2”)
An accessory for easier one-handed operation of the TA30C Max. It weights only 10 g and in my opinion could also be included directly with the flashlight. The complexity of separate packaging and logistics doesn’t make much sense to me for such a simple part.
The tactical ring is mounted instead of the regular clip. However the design allows it to be used as a clip. So you can put the flashlight in your trouser pocket – with the clip protruding over the edge of the pocket – and pull it out quickly and safely with one finger.
You have to be careful how hard you pull. Since the tactical ring is attached just like the regular clip, you can easily pull it off again with some force.
I think this ring makes most sense while handling a pistol, but I don’t have experience with firearms. Unfortunately I was not able to find a comfortable grip, and I’ve tried many variations. The flashlight with the ring is just too large for my hands and the ring is located not far enough to the rear end.
My way of holding such flashlights might look weird, but it works for me. Someone else might prefer the tactical ring or something entirely different.
Holster (“V51”)
This is simply an ingenious piece of hardware. I’m fascinated by how much engineering skills were put into this 115 g accessory.
The spring-loaded bracket can be locked with a lever so that the flashlight is absolutely secure and cannot fall out. Sometimes the unlocking action sticks a bit. Then it helps to press slightly against the flashlight and after a click the flashlight can be removed.
A screw on the other side allows to adjust the width of the bracket. Officially the holster is compatible with flashlights with a diameter of 25 to 32 mm. The TA30C Max with 27.5 mm sits already pretty tight, though. The head of the lamp should have a diameter between 30 and 37 mm.
A clip on the back allows for quick and secure attachment to the belt without having to pull it out first. A mechanism allows width adjustments from 35 to 55 mm. The slot in the middle makes it compatible with the MOLLE system.
When you pull out a latch at the top, the holder can be rotated in 16 steps and locked again in place. Together with the opening at the bottom of the holster this makes it possible to use the flashlight without holding it in the hand.
Finally you can also separate the belt and flashlight part of the holster from each other by pulling the upper latch slightly forward.
Overall an extremely flexible and functional solution to carry a flashlight. Almost a bit exaggerated, but extremely practical.
Conclusion
Finally a “tactical” flashlight that meets all of my expectations. I am particularly impressed by the direct operation via the rotary control ring and two-stage button. This means that all functions can be accessed intuitively and quickly. Brightness and beam are good for a lamp of this size. In addition it does not require any proprietary batteries.
Unfortunately the lamp has no LVP, so you have to use protected batteries to be safe. With protection and slightly longer springs, it would also work well with regular flat-top 21700 batteries.
A wider brightness range with an additional step in the middle would be nice. Lower low and a distinction between high and turbo.
If you are looking for a reliable duty flashlight for demanding use, you should be happy with the Nextorch TA30C Max. But it is also doing well in everyday usage and now accompanies me on evening walks with my dogs.
