Review: Convoy S6 (XIAOZHI clone) from Fasttech. XM-L T5-5C (with tint comparison)

LED Flashlights – General Info
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Ok, so I bought the Convoy S6 from Fasttech and it came on Saturday. From what I’ve been told this is a copy/clone/same thing as the XIAOZHI. I purchased the XM-L T5-5C version which is spec’ed 675 lumens with a 3700-4000k tint. For comparison in tints, the light is quite a bit warmer than my EA4W (neutral white).

Also, I’m not much of a beam profile snob, but here’s a shot on the wall of about 2 or 3 feet away- for those who care.

I decided to purchase the T5 version because I didn’t need one of the 900-lumen scorchers, and I wanted a good balance between high and low modes. With the BLF discount code this light set me back $19 and change.

This light has mode memory with 2 groups. The first group is 5 modes with the following: Low (5), mid (40), High (100%), disco, and SOS. Naturally, I’d rather not have the blinkies. So for me, I prefer the 2nd mode group with just low, mid and high. To switch between groupings, put the light into low mode, wait for the blink then hold the light a half press for two seconds or so. In order for it to remember the mode, you will need to leave it on the desired mode for about 2 seconds. When you switch it back on it should remember the last mode. To scroll between modes just give it half-presses. The switch is a reverse clicky and it glows in the dark. Also any time you in low mode the light will blink once after the first few seconds, this is the blink that lets you switch groupings- it always happens for a fraction of a second one time while you’re in low mode.

I also have noticed a barely audible high-pitched whine while in medium mode. If there is any PWM- I can not detect it- and I’m usually very sensitive to this.

Tailcap readings from my Fasttech purchased Uni-T UT50B multimeter are as follows.

High 2.14a
Mid 1.07a
Low .13a
Mode spacing works for me. The low mode is probably equivalent to the brightness of a 1st generation 3AA mini maglite LED. The high mode is pretty bright- but not quite as bright as my EA4W on turbo.

Ok photos.

The light has a matte black finish, with no markings of any kind. No annoying websites, or anything. It’s plain and very tubular and symmetrical.

The finish on mine was flawless, and the machining is all excellent.

It also tailstands. The tailcap does make it ever so slightly wobbly- but it never fell over.

It comes apart in three sections. The battery tube, the tailcap, and the reflector/pill section. There are two O-rings on either end of the battery tube (although I accidently pulled one off in the photo.)

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The first section, the front area which contains the pill/reflector/etc, is very solid. The threads are all very nice, the pill is solid brass, and the lens is glass. The ring around the lens glows in the dark.

The reflector is well finished inside and out.

The tailcap protrudes ever so slightly, but it still has the ability to tailstand.

Inside the tailcap there are three parts. The GITD cap, a metal washer and the switch pill- made of high quality brass. The threads are all nice, as well as the overall fit and finish.

And finally, it still only accepts unprotected batteries.

Conclusion.

This light is my new EDC which replaces my current Sipik SK68. It is slightly larger, but it’s smaller in diameter, and without protrusions it will fit nicely in my interior jacket pocket. No detail has been spared with this light. Possibly the nicest light you can get for $20, in a EDC style single 18650 light.

The only negatives, if you can call them that… no ultra low mode for walking around the house at night, it accepts unprotected cells, and it doesn’t have a clip. Apparently this one works, and I now have it on order.

Ok, so I got the clip. And since I’m uploading some beamshots here are pictures of the clip.

Of note, it comes with a lanyard but no spare o-rings, in a plain white cardboard box. It has foam inserts, in case you’d also like to use it as a storage box.

Here are beamshots, using all three modes. I picked the shutter/f stop because it most closely matches what I see. The photos are perhaps a little darker than my vision.

And here’s a few photos to help you determine how high the high is by comparing it to the high and medium modes on the EA4W.

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Ok, it’s finished! Even though it doesn’t say XIAOZHI, it’s still a high quality light.

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Thanks for the review, everything looks to be high quality in this light, nice.

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You will like it even more when it's clipped into your pocket .

Thanks for the beamshot tint comparison .

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Thanks for your endorsements of the Xiaozhi in other threads. It pushed me in the direction of this light. I almost bought the original, but Fasttech has so many customizable options, in tints, emitters, and outputs it was hard to resist.

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EDIT: Thanks for the excellent review! 8)

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Very nice review! Yes, that clip does indeed work perfectly with the light. Nice to see this Convoy lives up to the standards of the others. They are truly fantastic lights!

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thanks for the nice review, makes a great EDC w/clip.

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very nice review - the 5c is one of my favorite tinits

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I agree. In fact, with the customization available for this light, it doesn’t need to be modded. You can’t beat the value- it’s a made to order light- and every single component is of the best quality.

I’m looking forward to getting it from Fasttech. Until then it’ll fit just nicely in the suit jacket pocket.

It’s really really nice. Looks almost incan. It’s not quite as warm as a warm white light bulb, but it still has a nice comfortable look.

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I’m curious about the “unprotected cells only” statement. The pic shows the cell sticking out of the head end of the tube. That’s fine, since there is a spring on the tailcap end. I’m thinking It should compress enough to allow everything to fit.
The reason I question this, is the XIAOZHI accepts protected cells just fine, and I’m surprised that this light would have significantly different dimensions.
I’m sure you tried to close up the light on a protected cell; I just do not see anything that looks different than the XIAOZHI that I have.

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It’s the diameter. You and I must not use the same protected cells or this isn’t a clone. I use some unknown laptop pulls in my light. I just tried protected Xtar 2600s and the popular Sanyo red protected from fastechs (2600s too) and neither would even enter the tube.

The product page for the S6 says it will not accept protected cells. So I dunno.

Also post #38 of this thread, says his light does not take them either- while others report them having worked.

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OK, I see. thanks for clarifying that. I tried TF Flames and grey Panasonic protected in my XIAOZHI with no issues.

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Thanks for this review (missed it at first). I too have a Xiaozhi which takes my Tenergy Protected 2600mAh's just fine. Mine had the dreaded Xiaozhi switch problem which I finally resolved soldering my switch to the retaining ring (seems fixed with this Convoy model). Mine won't tailstand no matter what I do with an o-ring in the tailcap to push the button back. Seems Convoy fixed the tailstanding issue. The clip is great! I EDC with the clip everyday and now that it's pool season I'm using it a lot (pool maintenance after dark)! I do miss tailstanding ability though and not sure I want to use unprotected cells (I know it has low voltage protection in it).

-Garry

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Well it ain’t as steady a tailstander as the sipik, but if it’s on a flat surface I don’t have a problem. Thanks for the kudos!

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Oh, and why didn't you do a video review with fancy music? :)

-Garry

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Banggood saw my reviews and sent me some stuff. I have a bike light and a 26650 I’m currently working on. Don’t worry, they’ll be back!

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Garry, I had the switch problems with the XIAOZHI. Very frustrating. I tried in vain to solve the tailstand, which made things worse.
Ask me how I know that light is tough? It took a short flight across the room, with a curb-stomp to finish it off; not a scratch on it. |(
After giving up on the tailstand and just fixing the switch, light works great and the modified Fasttech SS clip makes it a great EDC.

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Mine has taken a few dives on to asphalt ( or "macadam" for some of you people that talk funny :) ) with a few dings at the bezel to show for it, nothing major. My only two complaints: 1) can't tailstand, 2) Medium is too closely spaced to high. If I was buying one again (or when I do), I think I'd go with a 2.1A version. Just not enough difference from 2.8A to 1.4A (medium level) to justify the heat.

-Garry