Nitecore EDC09 was sent to me directly by Nitecore for review.
For technical details:
For purchase:
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL DATA:
Nitecore has recently updated its EDC Slim flashlight line with new products, including the adjustable-angle EDC09 flashlight with three color temperatures.
The new EDC09 retains the line’s classic design, featuring a slim body (17mm thick) that’s easy to carry and delivers excellent light output thanks to two quad-core UHE MCT (Multiple Color Temperature) LEDs with a maximum output of 1,600 lumens and a beam that reaches 153 meters.
The Nitecore EDC09 has a very simple, intuitive interface controlled by two switches: one slide switch and one push button.
The new buttons, familiar from the EDC17, provide greater ease of use.
The new Nitecore EDC09 is rechargeable via a USB-C port with a built-in 1100mAh Li-ion battery that offers a maximum runtime of 250 hours (1 lumen). The EDC09 is compact and lightweight, weighing 114g (including clip), features a powerful tail magnet, and offers four brightness levels in addition to a warning flash. The Nitecore EDC3 has a rigid stainless steel body and is IPX6 certified (highly resistant to powerful water jets from any direction).
The Nitecore EDC09, thanks to its features and portability, is ideal for everyday use.
Main Features:
- Uses two quad-core UHE MCT (Multiple Color Temperature) LEDs with a maximum output of 1,600 lumens.
Equipped with three color temperatures: cool white 6,500K (CRI 73), neutral white 4,500K (CRI 83), and warm white 3,000K (CRI 97). - Features a 102° rotatable head.
- Adopts dual TIR optical lenses for a soft, uniform beam.
- Maximum beam intensity of 5,899 cd and a maximum range of 153 meters.
- Offers 4 brightness levels and a flash warning mode for each color temperature.
- Powered by a built-in 1,100 mAh lithium-ion battery for up to 250 hours of battery life.
- Power indicators indicate remaining battery charge.
- Intelligent lithium-ion battery charging circuit with USB-C charging port.
- Advanced Current Cut-Off Technology (APC) for extremely low standby power consumption.
- Highly efficient constant current circuit provides stable output.
- ATR (Advanced Current Control) module. Built-in Temperature Regulation
- Designed with an M button and slide switch for easy use
- Includes a two-way stainless steel clip
- High-strength stainless steel body with PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating
- Features a back stand and magnetic base
- IPX6 waterproof rating
- Shockproof up to 2 meters
Specifications
Length: 108 mm / 4.25"
Width: 34 mm / 1.34" (slide switch included)
Height: 24 mm / 0.94" (clip included), 17 mm / 0.67" (clip not included)
Weight: 114 g / 4.02 oz (accessories not included)
Accessories
Lanyard, USB-C charging cable, speaker
Warranty:
Any DOA/defective product can be replaced through a local distributor/retailer within 15 days from purchase. After that, malfunctioning NITECORE® products can be repaired free of charge within 24 months of the date of purchase. Beyond 24 months, a limited warranty applies, which covers the cost of labor and maintenance, but not the cost of accessories or replacement parts.
TECHNICAL DATA
Note: The data shown is measured using the built-in lithium-ion battery (1,100 mAh), in accordance with the international flashlight test standards ANSI/PLATO FL 1-2019, at an ambient temperature of 26°C (79°F) provided by the NITECORE Lab. Actual data may vary due to different environmental conditions.
Data was tested without temperature adjustment.
Nitecore EDC09 arrived without a box or serial number, as it hasn’t been released yet. Along with the EDC09, I found a lanyard, a USB-C charging cable, and a white silicone diffuser.
The bidirectional steel clip, which extends almost the entire length of the EDC09, comes pre-installed (but detachable) and is held in place by two removable screws. It is very versatile, allowing the EDC09 to easily fit into a pocket or backpack. It features two holes for attaching the included lanyard.
Another very useful accessory included in the package is the silicone diffuser that fits onto the head of the flashlight.
The well-made diffuser is useful in many situations, allowing you to transform the EDC09’s spot light into a diffused, even light, useful for camping in a tent or for reading.
The Nitecore EDC09 boasts excellent build quality, featuring a high-strength stainless steel body and a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating. Its flat body weighs 115g, while its compact size measures 108mm in length. It sits comfortably in the hand, with conveniently positioned switches for easy user interface management.
A special feature of the Nitecore EDC09 is its 102° rotatable head, which expands its versatility, especially when combined with the magnetic tail. These two features make the Nitecore EDC09 very versatile. Rotating the head requires a certain amount of force with your thumb, while the direction of rotation is clearly indicated by a symbol on the side.
The EDC09 uses a dual-lens TIR optical system with two quad-core UHE MCT (Multiple Color Temperature) LEDs with a maximum output of 1,600 lumens. The MCT system provides three color temperatures: cool white 6,500K (CRI 73), neutral white 4,500K (CRI 83), and warm white 3,000K (CRI 97).
The beam has a maximum range of 153 meters, more than sufficient for short- to medium-distance lighting.
During my evening outings, I really appreciated the EDC09’s well-balanced beam with the ability to quickly change the color of the light beam.
On the side of the Nitecore EDC09’s body are the two switches used to control our EDC. The main slider switch, used to turn the flashlight on and change the available levels, is located on the side. Further forward on the same side is the “M” button used to control other functions, such as changing the beam color and activating the warning flash mode. The two switches are easy to find in the dark.
This switch design really impressed me, making the EDC09 easy and quick to use with or without gloves.
On the top of the EDC09 are 4 LED charge indicators that activate after turning on the light or pressing the “M” button to indicate the remaining battery charge (they turn off automatically after 3 seconds).
Indicator Status Power Level
4 Solid 75% – 100%
3 Solid 50% – 75%
2 Solid 25% – 50%
1 Solid 10% – 25%
1 Flashing <10% (Recharge the product as soon as possible)
The EDC09 uses a USB-C port for integrated charging. The internal battery capacity of 1,100 mAh with a maximum battery life of 250 hours is slightly lower than those seen on other flashlights in this series. This is undoubtedly due to the presence of the articulated head and Nitecore’s desire to present a product that is still very compact in size and thickness. The package includes a USB-C cable for connecting to an external power source (e.g., a USB adapter, a computer, or other USB charging devices) to begin the charging process.
The charging time, measured in my tests, is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes (1.5A max.) with fast charging (via a 5V/2A adapter).
During the charging process, the 4 LEDs display the battery charge status. When the battery is fully charged, the LEDs remain lit to indicate charging is complete.
The Nitecore EDC09 can be turned on and operate normally while charging (or remain permanently on using a USB device such as a power bank).
The EDC09 uses APC (Advanced Power Cut-Off) technology to offer extremely low parasitic drain, allowing for up to a year (365 days) of standby time.
Nitecore EDC09 next to other Nitecore EDCs.
From left: Nitecore EDC09, Nitecore EDC29, Nitecore EDC31 e Nitecore EDC25.
USER INTERFACE (UI):
The Nitecore EDC09 has four brightness levels (Ultralow, Low, Mid, and High) in addition to a warning flash. The brightness varies depending on the color used. The levels are well-spaced and easy to adjust.
On / Off
On: When the light is off, slide the slide switch toward the head to turn it on.
Off: When the light is on, slide the slide switch toward the tail to the end position to turn it off.
Brightness Level Adjustment
Slide the slide switch to adjust the brightness level (LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH).
Color Temperature Switching
When the light is on, briefly press the M button to cycle through the following color temperatures: Neutral White - Warm White - Cool White.
Note: The product is designed with a color temperature memory function. When reactivated, it will automatically access the previously stored color temperature.
ULTRALOW Activation
When the light is off, hold down the M button and slide the slide switch toward the head to activate ULTRALOW.
WARNING FLASH Mode
When the light is on, long press the M button to activate WARNING FLASH. Short press the M button to return to the previous mode.
BEAM and RUNTIME:
Please note that the photos and values shown in the graphs should be used primarily as reference values, as they were taken with hobby-grade equipment and under environmental conditions different from those used in a laboratory.
When tested on a wall, the Nitecore EDC09’s beam showed no particular artifacts and provided good diffused light.
The optics do a good job illuminating outdoors with a decent beam depth, and the levels are well spaced. I didn’t notice any PWM at any brightness level. The distance from the start of the spill to the feet is minimal.
The three beam colors are well controlled by the “M” button, with good lighting quality.
As you can see from the thermal imaging photo below, just 45 seconds after turning it on, the heat produced by the LEDs remains significantly on the articulated head, failing to distribute throughout the body. There are no heat issues when holding the Nitecore EDC09 in your hand.
Using the OPPLE Light Master Pro, a reasonably accurate device even if not calibrated, I measured the CCT color temperature and Ra color rendering index (CR) for each of the three colors. The neutral white beam produced excellent values, with no particular color casts. Flicker is in the green range, which is not at risk.
Note: The Duv is a metric that measures the distance of a color point from the blackbody locus on a chromaticity diagram. A positive Duv value indicates that the color is above the locus (greenish hue), a negative Duv value indicates that it is below (pinkish/magenta hue), and a Duv value of zero indicates that the color is perfectly on the locus.
The CRI (CRI or Ra) is a measurement that evaluates the ability of an artificial light source to faithfully reproduce the colors of objects compared to a natural light source. Sunlight is considered the gold standard, with a CRI of 100, indicating the highest color reproduction capability.
Here are some of the values found for the Nitecore EDC09:
Warm Light: Color Temperature (K): 3083 - Color Rendering Index (Ra or CRI): 96.7 - Duv = 0.0043
Cool White Light: Color Temperature (K): 5529 - Color Rendering Index (Ra or CRI): 71.1 - Duv = 0.0036
Neutral White Light: Color Temperature (K): 4346 - Color Rendering Index (Ra or CRI): 85.1 - Duv = -0.0001
The table below shows some peak candela (cd) values taken with my Luxmeter for the 4 levels High, Medium, Low and Ultralow taken with the Nitecore EDC09 set to the Cool White color temperature. The values found are similar to those in the table.
Runtimes were conducted indoors at a temperature of approximately 20°C using a fully charged 1100mAh internal battery.
The Nitecore EDC09, with the ATR module, adjusts its output power to the surrounding environment to maintain optimal performance.
Tests were performed in HIGH and MID modes for the three available color modes.
In High mode, the brightness decreases immediately after startup, becoming rapidly reduced after approximately thirty seconds. After one minute, the light output adjusts slightly and then remains constant for approximately two hours before the internal battery runs out.
In Mid mode, the brightness remains constant from startup for approximately 190 minutes before decreasing due to battery depletion.
**VIDEO **
CONCLUSIONS:
The Nitecore EDC09 is a versatile EDC flashlight with some distinguishing features, such as its three beam colors, including a HICRI, a 102° rotatable head, and a magnetic tail for easy attachment to ferrous materials.
As with the EDC17, I really liked the simple and intuitive user interface, thanks in part to the excellent positioning of its switches.
I also found the white silicone head cover very useful among the accessories, as well as the well-spaced levels and adjustment.
Recommended.
Thanks for reading the review.
Roberto M.
------ My Youtube Channel ------------------------------------------------