The Acebeam M1 Terminator is a legend, that much is clear. Zoomable LEP, bright triple-LED, compact housing and a unique style. But the ergonomics and the UI couldn’t quite keep up. Version 2.0 brings some interesting things to the table: A tailswitch with a surrounding selector ring in addition to a side button. Add to that more brightness for the LED and LEP. Whether all this actually works in practice, and ideally significantly better than the original, is something I was very eager to find out.
All my reviews can be found on my website.
Disclaimer: Acebeam provided me with a discount for this flashlight. This had no influence on the review.
Typically for Acebeam, the flashlight comes in an orange box, decorated with a stylized picture of the light and a few details. Inside, the light rests safely packaged in foam. Included are the flashlight along with the battery, a holster, a charging cable, a lanyard, two O-rings, a manual, product and warranty certificates and a “legal disclaimer”. As a special feature, a diffuser is also included!
At first glance, not too much has changed externally, the basic shape has remained the same. On closer inspection, however, you can see that some major changes have crept in. Not only the two holes in the middle, but especially at the tail. There is now only one switch on the side, but in return there is the combination of a switch in the middle with a surrounding selector ring at the rear.
The zoom mechanism seems to have remained the same and still works exactly as it did on the old version. I would rather attribute the changes regarding the zoom angle to a slightly larger LEP module, possibly also to a modified lens, but not to a change in the zoom mechanism.
There has been an addition to the LEDs. Not 3, but 4 white LEDs are now housed in the TIR - and additionally a red one in the center. Whether there is still a glass lens over the TIR, I cannot say for sure.
Where there used to be two switches, there is now only one. This one sits slightly raised in a recess and is easy to find. The press is almost silent, there is also hardly any haptic feedback. However, the travel is so short that this does not stand out negatively.
The main part of the user interface sits a bit further back, at the tail of the flashlight. The rotary switch turns with just enough resistance to still be easily turned, but will under no circumstances adjust itself. It clicks lightly into place in all 5 positions. For my taste, this is implemented almost perfectly.
The tailswitch feels like a classic, mechanical forward clicky. Long, spring-loaded travel, momentary light just before pushing it through. As soon as you push through, it clicks into place and you get constant light. For the intended use in the flashlight a good choice in my eyes.
Next to it sits the tailcap. It stands significantly higher than on V1 and is therefore much more pleasant to handle, but the basic principle has remained the same. The risk of getting your fingers dirty on the threads has become significantly smaller, though, the handling is pleasant for me.
Of course, there is also the battery indicator, placed quite similarly to V1 and also identical in function. Next to it, however, there is an innovation: A USB-C port. Sealed with a metal cap, excellently integrated and with a very high-quality feel.
Unfortunately, the indicator is, as is mostly the case with Acebeam, not really useful. Sure, you know when the battery is almost empty, but the indicator does not distinguish between half full and full.
Overall, I have to emphasize that the build quality is on a top level, not only on the flashlight, but also on the accessories. Many little details have been considered.
I also count the fact that Acebeam included a silicone diffuser among these. Because this not only diffuses the light, it also protects the front of the flashlight during transport. Since the lens of the LEP in V1 was already relatively sensitive, it is nice that protection for it was considered with V2.
The grip with the flashlight is somehow a bit strange, but works surprisingly well. Depending on hand size, it can be more comfortable to hold the LED or LEP side. The side button cannot be operated optimally like this, but if you have the light flat in your hand, it is quite comfortable. Then, however, you cannot avoid changing your grip or using your second hand if you want to change the light source.
What do you compare an M1 2.0 with, other than an M1? I simply reached onto the shelf - you also see a Wuben X1 Pro and an Imalent BTL50.
The M1 2.0 weighs 326g incl. battery, you can take the dimensions from the following picture.
LanyardA sturdy and high-quality looking lanyard is included and can be attached to a lanyard hole between the tailcap and tailswitch.
Clip: There is no clip. However, I could imagine that something will follow in the future. I cannot imagine that the two holes in the flashlight only serve for weight reduction.
Magnet: No magnet is integrated
(Jacket)pocket: The flashlight is not suitable for my pants pockets, but I don’t see a problem in a jacket pocket. Due to the design, however, the light is not completely unobtrusive and tends to snag occasionally.
Holster: The included holster is well thought-out, cleanly manufactured and can keep up with the flashlight in terms of build quality. On the back there is a D-ring, a firmly stitched loop and piggybacked on this another loop, which is closed with velcro.
Explanation 1C, 1H...
1C: short click, 2C: double click, …
1H: press and hold without letting go
2H: short click, followed by 1H
The UI is simple, but well thought-out. The selector ring chooses the light source (Lock, LEP, LED, Red, LED + LEP), the tailswitch gives momentary light on a half press, constant light on a full press.
The side switch handles the finer control.
| State of the light | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| off | 1C | on, last used mode |
| Off / On | 2C | Turbo - if 2C again, then back to the last used mode (LED) or Low (all others) |
| Off / On | 3C | Strobe |
| off | 1H | Ultralow |
| on | 1H | Cycle through brightness levels |
The UI functions similarly to that of the L-series lights, so it is well-tested and works flawlessly. In combination with the rotary switch, however, a slight change of grip is occasionally required - but with a flashlight like the M1, I cannot imagine how this could be solved for every grip position without changing grip.
An interesting peculiarity caught my eye: If you turn the flashlight off by setting the rotary switch to Lock, it turns back on as soon as you turn the selector ring back. This also applies if it was turned off with the side switch.
All measurements were taken in my 30cm integrating sphere. The temperature was between 20 and 24°C. Furthermore, an Opple Light Master III and a TASi TA636B lux meter were used. Please note that this is hobbyist equipment, so inaccuracies and deviations are possible! With lights like the M1, slightly larger deviations can occur, especially when only one of the two light sources is on.
The M1 is of course somewhat special when it comes to the beam. The 4 LEDs provide good output, but not much throw. In front of your feet, they create an even carpet of light, without artifacts. The LEP, fully zoomed in, is exactly the opposite. A real beam of light - albeit wider than on the V1. Zoomed out, the LEP cuts a surprisingly good figure. Still a sharply defined circle, but this one is even and also reasonably large enough right in front of your feet.
If you combine the two light sources… admittedly, that is a bit peculiar. Floodlight combined with an extremely tight beam does not really harmonize well. But if you adjust the LEP a bit wider, a more harmonious picture emerges. Now, however, it no longer surprises me that this option did not exist on the V1. Still nice that Acebeam included the possibility, technically it is implemented cleanly and I can’t fault the light for it!
As can be seen in the following charts, the flashlight gets quite warm in the uncooled runtime tests - bordering on uncomfortable. However, this does not happen to such an extreme extent in normal operation when holding the light in your hand, at least during use I never noticed it, even on warm nights.
Both Light Sources
The performance of the light is good, the LEP in particular is impressive. In the beamshots this becomes even clearer compared to the V1. The cool white LEDs don’t perform badly, however ~4000lm in a floody light is significantly less spectacular than the LEP - that is not meant to be derogatory, because you only get this combination in the M1 2.0.
LED Only
LEP Only
All Turbos Compared
For the red light, I unfortunately cannot provide any output data, it is at a good level, roughly on par with a Sofirn ST10. A standard red LED with ~620nm is installed.
Red light
| mode | Max. lumen | Lumen @ 30s | runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acebeam M1 v2 Combo turbo | 3023 lm | 2877 lm | 2h 5min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 Combo high | 988 lm | 981 lm | 2h 9min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 Combo low | 325 lm | 323 lm | 5h 42min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 LED turbo | 3483 lm | 2951 lm | 5h 42min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 LED High | 793 lm | 787 lm | 5h 56min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 LED mid | 393 lm | 392 lm | 8h 53min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 LED low | 51 lm | 51 lm | 47h 18min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 LEP Turbo | 862 lm | 753 lm | 2h 41min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 LEP high | 328 lm | 322 lm | 3h 17min |
| Acebeam M1 v2 LEP mid | 305 lm | 302 lm | 3h 18min |
For the LEP, I measured a throw of 1653m at turn-on (measured at a distance of 6m), for the LED 206m.
| LED low | LED turbo | LEP low | LEP turbo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCT | 5500 | 5900 | -* | -* |
| CRI | 69 | 72 | ~70** | ~70** |
| DUV | 0,008 | 0,000 | 0,008** | 0,005** |
* Not usable, as the values fluctuate between 4000 and 12000K due to the irregularities of the phosphor.
** these values also fluctuate, but the rough range is accurate.
I tested for flicker on the lowest level for both LED and LEP, everything looks good.
PWM is visible neither to the eye nor with a camera.
More details regarding the measurements can be found here.
There are also beamshots. Since the light is difficult to compare with other lights, I decided to use the predecessor model as a comparison. To make the differences clear, I photographed both lights simultaneously. Always the M1 on the left, the M1 v2 on the right.
Distance ~ 250m
Of course, I also want to show you the combined beam. Once fully focused, once ~half focused and once completely defocused.
The battery is spring-loaded at both ends, so that a good contact is always guaranteed. The capacity is rated at 5600mAh, my Vapcell S4+ confirms this and shows 5896mAh for the battery. The battery is protected - whether the reverse polarity and over-discharge protection is implemented through it or integrated into the light (or both), I cannot test. In combination with the original battery, both are given in any case.
The charging curve shows an exemplary CC/CV charging process via USB at just under 5 V, where the charging current continuously rises to a maximum of approx. 2.08 A in the CC phase. The entire charging process is cleanly regulated and completely finished after about 2 hours and 23 minutes at a termination current of approx. 68 mA.
The spikes in the curve are artifacts of the measuring equipment and can be ignored.
What can I say - the Acebeam M1 2.0 is an absolutely successful continuation of the M1. The operating concept was adapted to the L-series with an independent tail switch for turbo and additionally expanded by a rotary ring, the output was increased and a red light added.
The throw virtually does not increase despite significantly more lumens from the LEP, this is due to the noticeably wider beam. With 1.4km of throw, there isn’t much to complain about anyway, and the larger hotspot makes it easier to hit the desired target. The LEP has a noticeably warmer and greener tint than in the V1, but this appears rather neutral than unpleasant.
But Acebeam doesn’t cut corners on the accessories either. A great holster is included, a diffuser that protects the lens too. Sure, the lanyard is also of high quality, but you can expect that at this flashlight’s price point.
Rarely have I found an upgrade as recommendable as with the M1 - all weaknesses were addressed and improved, but especially the operation. The new M1 2.0 feels much more mature, less like an expensive toy and much more like a flashlight that wants to be used. But there has to be a catch, right? Yes, sure - just like with the V1, I would spontaneously name the price - because Acebeam also demands a notable monetary equivalent. Nevertheless - when in doubt, it is worth saving up a little for this light.