SPECIFICATION
- Model name: Nitecore P27iX
- Max brightness and range: 5000 lumens, 430m (46320 cd)
- **Battery:**21700
- LEDs: 4 x NiteLab M515S LED, 6500K
- Body material: Aluminum alloy
- Size and weight: 143x32x26mm; 124g (without battery) / 201g (with battery)
- Other features: Basic and Professional modes; switching between flood, throw, and combined light
PACKAGING AND DESIGN
Black cardboard box. As usual, the front features an image of the flashlight, while the back lists key functional specifications. Inside, however, instead of the standard plastic tray, there is a cardboard insert with two compartments. One holds the flashlight itself, while the other contains the tactical holster, clip, 2xCR123A adapter, lanyard/cable, manual, and a small bag with a spare O-ring.
To start the review, it is worth noting that the flashlight has a lot of unusual technical and design solutions. The first and most obvious one is apparent right out of the box: the dual-ended USB-C charging cable that also serves as a lanyard. Time will tell how practical this is, but at first glance, the idea seems quite sensible.
The second feature is the holster. Instead of a standard fabric pouch, it uses a specialized tactical plastic holster designed for rapid deployment. The plastic has a textured finish. There is an opening at the bottom - aligned with the LEDs - to prevent the holster from burning through if the flashlight is accidentally switched on. When holstered, the flashlight looks quite futuristic, reminiscent of a lightsaber hanging from a Sith’s belt. Speaking of belts, take a look at a small but handy detail: the holster clip. One section features a plastic insert, which is sized, I assume, to fit the width of a standard belt perfectly.
While manufacturers often try to give EDC flashlights memorable designs, tactical flashlights frequently look rather faceless. That is certainly not the case with the P27iX; it has a distinctive, recognizable look. It may not be entirely unique, but it is definitely unmistakable. I find its appearance aggressively menacing - exactly what you’d expect from a tactical flashlight.
Finally, there is the battery adapter. While it might have made more sense to design it for 18650 batteries, Nitecore believes a pair of CR123s is the ideal substitute for a 21700 cell. That may well be true for the North American market, where such lithium batteries are extremely popular and widely available.
The “i” in the P27iX model name places it in Nitecore’s specific line of tactical flashlights that use unique batteries featuring both positive and negative contacts at both ends. Why use such a unique battery? Typically, to implement dual tail-switch controls, a flashlight body is made with a dual-layer design, with each layer carrying the signal from a specific button. This type of battery, however, eliminates the need to press-fit an extra inner tube into the body, thereby avoiding any increase in diameter or weight.
The knurling is exceptionally grippy and (thanks to the spiral grooves running around the body) visually appealing. The clip is two-way and attaches or detaches without the kind of excessive force that sometimes wears down the body’s anodized finish.
Thanks to all this, both grip styles are firm and comfortable.
The primary control method uses the setup familiar to tactical flashlights: a pair of tail switches. A standard round button and a flat spring-loaded one (referred to as “Engage” in the manual). The latter is angled for maximum ease of use when holding the light in an underhand grip. And, quite unexpectedly, both buttons feature two-stage actuation! I’ll say right off the bat that I was extremely impressed by the flexibility of this flashlight’s controls.
Right there, beneath the flat button, lies a small mechanical lockout switch. It operates smoothly, and, I’m sure, it’s self-explanatory; there’s no need to waste time explaining how it works. just click the GIF.
The head of the Nitecore P27iX is only slightly wider than the body. The cooling fins are merely symbolic; as is often the case, they are more of a design element and a nod to tradition than a truly practical feature, given the combination of high brightness and the fins’ actual dimensions.
Right next to it, you’ll see another button. To its right is a charge level indicator. It features four segments, making it much more informative than the standard red-green type. Four other indicators on the left show the current brightness level. To be fair, it’s unlikely that this is a crucial feature for most users, but it’s there and doesn’t get in the way.
The button is flat, and ,I have to admit, I found it hard to locate by touch. Fortunately, positioning clip directly opposite the button really helps in situations like this. That approach worked here too: your finger lands instantly and unerringly on the button.
The charging port is the standard USB-C, the only real option these days (aside from magnetic chargers). However, the port is covered by a sliding metal shutter instead of a classic rubber cover. This design has both pros and cons. The advantage is much faster and easier access to the port, with zero risk of accidentally tearing off or losing a cover. The downside of the shutter is that it offers less moisture protection than a rubber cover.
But that only applies to the shutter itself; the port has its own IPX8-rated waterproofing, something unheard of just a few years ago! The charging power is 18W, as advertised, allowing the included 5500 mAh battery to fully charge in about two and a half hours.
A tactical flashlight wouldn’t be complete without a somewhat aggressive bezel “crown,” and this model delivers exactly that. Furthermore, glass-breaking balls are embedded in alternating “teeth” of the bezel.
Beneath the bezel lies a piece of tempered glass covering an array of four shallow, textured reflectors; at the base of each sits a truly unique NiteLab M515S LED. As far as I know, these are manufactured by Sysmax, the parent company of the Nitecore brand.
To be honest, these LEDs had previously escaped my notice, and I was genuinely surprised to see them in action. The standout feature of the NiteLab M515S is its ability to switch beam types! A single LED can produce a wide flood beam, a narrow long-range beam, or a combination of both. In effect, one flashlight can deliver three distinct beam types two of which are fundamentally different from one another.
UI
For the past five years or so, the Anduril interface has been the gold standard for control flexibility. I didn’t expect P27IX to surprise me ; after all, what can you really expect from a tactical flashlight with a generally standard layout? Yet, the UI the Nitecore P27iX turned out to be exceptionally flexible. It was so versatile that I actually missed the “Search” mode option (maximum-output long-range beam) and had to retake my beam-shot photos…
In short, here is the lowdown on the controls. It features both standard and advanced modes.
In professional mode, each of the two tail switches can be customized: one for brightness levels and the other for special modes (Luminshield, Search, Strobe). And, as a reminder, these modes offer multiple levels. In other words, the two buttons allow you to configure four distinct actions! And that’s not even counting the side button.
You can select one of three lighting profiles to suit your current needs.
I didn’t care for the standard mode, as it allows only a three-second window to adjust brightness before the light turns off. The professional mode felt much more convenient to use.
Switching between Basic and Professional modes
With the flashlight off, fully press and hold the tail switch. While holding it, quickly press the SET button three times. The flashlight will flash: once to confirm switching to Standard mode, and twice to confirm switching to Professional mode.
Basic mode
- With the flashlight off, fully press the round tail switch to access TURBO mode. A half-press cycles between MID and TURBO modes.
- With the flashlight off, a half-press of the round tail switch activates MID mode. Subsequent half-presses cycle between MID and TURBO.
- With the flashlight off, press the SET button to access the LOW brightness level. You then have 3 seconds to press the button to cycle through brightness levels in this order: LOW-MID-HIGH-TURBO-Off.
- Turning Off - with the flashlight on, press the round tail switch.
Tactical Momentary Illumination
- Hold the tail switch half-pressed (MID) or fully pressed (TURBO). Release to turn off.
- Hold the flat ENGAGE button half-pressed (LUMIN SHIELD®) or fully pressed (STROBE). Release to turn off.
- Warning Flash. With the flashlight off, press and hold the SET button until the mode activates. Briefly press the SET button to turn it off.
- Beam type switching (default setting: floodlight). When LOW/MID/HIGH/TURBO mode is active, press and hold the SET button to cycle through beam types in the following sequence: Focused Beam - Mixed Beam - Flood Beam.
- Release the button to select and save the beam type. The selected beam type is automatically applied to other brightness levels and the WARNING FLASH mode. Upon reactivation, the device automatically uses the previously saved beam type.
Professional Mode
- Turning on - when the flashlight is off, briefly press the SET button.
- Turning off - when the flashlight is on, press and hold the SET button to turn it off.
- Brightness level adjustment - when the flashlight is on, briefly press the SET button to cycle through brightness levels in the following sequence: LOW-MID-HIGH-TURBO (mode memory included).
- Changing beam type - press the SET button, then quickly press and hold it again.
- When the flashlight is off, press and hold the SET button until the WARNING FLASH mode activates.
- To turn off the flashlight, briefly press the SET button.
Customizable tail switch functions.
- Flat ENGAGE button (half-press and hold): When the flashlight is off, lightly press and hold the ENGAGE button, then press and hold the SET button to cycle through modes in the following sequence: LUMIN SHIELD® (default setting) - STROBE - SEARCH. Release both buttons after selecting the desired mode. The flashlight will save this setting for the half-press and hold action of the ENGAGE button.
- ENGAGE button (full press and hold): When the flashlight is off, fully press and hold the ENGAGE button, then press and hold the SET button to cycle through modes in the following sequence: LUMIN SHIELD® - STROBE (default setting) - SEARCH. Once the desired mode is selected, release both buttons. The flashlight will save this setting for the full-press-and-hold action of the Engage button.
- Tail switch (half-press / half-press and hold): With the flashlight off, lightly press and hold the tail switch, then press and hold the SET button to toggle between LOW and MEDIUM brightness levels. Once the desired mode is selected, release both buttons. The flashlight will save this setting for the half-press and half-press-and-hold actions of the tail switch.
- Tail switch (full press / full press and hold): With the flashlight off, fully press and hold the tail switch, then press and hold the SET button to toggle between HIGH and TURBO brightness levels (default setting). Once the desired mode is selected, release both buttons. The flashlight will save this setting for the full-press and full-press-and-hold actions of the tail switch.
Factory Reset
In Lockout Mode, press and hold the Engage button (either half-press or full press) and do not release it. Then, quickly tap the SET button three or more times. The flashlight will flash three times to confirm a successful reset. Unlock the flashlight for further use.
NITECORE P27IX ILLIMINATION
The vast majority of tactical flashlights feature cool-white light, as raw output is generally more critical for tactical applications than color rendering nuances or overall beam quality. This model is no exception, featuring a 6500K beam. However, not all cool-white LEDS are equal; to the credit of this unique LED, the light does not take on a greenish tint at lower brightness levels.
RUNTIME
The flashlight performs impressively in terms of runtime. It sustains Turbo mode for a long duration, and even after restarting the high-output special modes (Luminshield and Search) it provides enough uptime to ensure they aren’t merely “gimmicky” bursts of light. Brightness is regulated.
However, there are two points worth noting:
- I don’t understand why the brightness in the 400-lumen “High” mode drops by about 7%; the flashlight should easily handle this level without any output sag.
- There is a definite need for an intermediate brightness level between the 400-lumen “High” and 1200-lumen “Turbo” settings. 400 lumens is a standard output for a “Medium” mode, not “High.”
Interestingly, that intermediate level is actually achieved after the thermal protection kicks in during Turbo mode. Without active cooling, brightness drops to around 650 lumens, whereas operating outdoors (especially in winter) allows for a relatively stable output of approximately 1000 lumens.
Runtime of Turbo mode is excellent. Two minutes without cooling and six minutes with cooling should certainly suffice for the vast majority of use cases.
The output of Search and Luminshield modes also performed admirably, particularly the latter. Durations of 25 and 20 seconds, respectively, are highly practical, allowing you to calmly inspect distant objects or instantly flood a vast area in front of you with light. Typically, repeatedly restarting high-output modes or activating them after the flashlight body has already warmed up from use results in the output dropping back down after a brief “turbo burst.” With the Nitecore P27iX, however, the runtime remains constant, with only a slight dip in brightness; this clearly indicates a timer-based step-down rather than a temperature-based one.
I believe the advantages of a timer-based approach outweigh the downsides. The primary benefit is obvious: the ability to reactivate the mode if you really need to. The downside is that overusing this feature could potentially overheat the flashlight’s internal components. In short, just exercise reasonable caution, and you’ll be fine.
BEAM EXAMPLES
As for the beam itself, the Nitecore P27iX is remarkably versatile, offering the specific type of illumination you need for the situation. When you use it ndoors say, in an apartment, you can switch to a broad flood beam for close-range tasks. In a large warehouse like Hangar 18, you can activate a hybrid flood/throw beam, providing useful close-up illumination while simultaneously reaching distant objects. Outdoors, the flashlight delivers a focused, long-range beam, particularly in “Search” mode.
It is worth noting that the brightness level remains the same across the different beam types. This means that the “High” setting (400 lumens) in hybrid mode won’t throw as far as the same setting in dedicated throw mode, since some energy is diverted to the flood LEDs. Conversely, it won’t appear as bright up close as the dedicated flood mode, because power is being shared with the mid-range throw LED.
But enough talk, let’s see it in action. Click on the GIFs to compare the different brightness levels and beam types. You can really see just how well-chosen the name “Luminshield” is out here in the field. With a full press (or a half-press, depending on your settings), the flashlight produces a truly blinding wall of light. When it comes to the blinding capability, a crucial feature for a tactical flashlight, this dual-stage switch really shines. Press halfway, and a focused beam shoots out in “Search” mode; if you miss your target with the beam, press all the way down, and the light floods the area in “Luminshield” mode.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Nitecore has managed to create an impressive and technically advanced flashlight. So, what makes it so impressive?
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The versatility of its beam. By purchasing a single flashlight, the user gets a “three-in-one” tool for various lighting needs: close-range, long-range, and mid-range illumination. While one could argue that any multi-emitter flashlight offers similar versatility, those usually rely on different LEDs for different roles; here, a single type of LED performs all three functions.
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The flexibility of the controls. Not only does it feature a combination of a side button and two tail switches which already offers considerable versatility, but the tail switches are also customizable! You can assign specific brightness levels and special modes to them for instant access. Yes, it takes some time to study the manual, but once you grasp the internal logic, it becomes intuitive. Actually, that will be no challenge for anyone who managed to conquer Anduril .
As for the light itself, I have no complaints regarding brightness or throw. When needed, the flashlight can punch through the distance, provide flood lighting, or operate in a combined mode. It maintains this performance for a long time thanks to its 5500 mAh battery. I was particularly pleased that it holds up well even in high-output special modes. One can expect that Luminshield would be brief “turbo burst,” but this mode maintains output reliably, even after a restart.
I also appreciated the aggressive, high-quality aesthetic that fits a tactical flashlight perfectly, and the replacement of the standard rubber port cover with a sliding shutter that is far more convenient and durable (or so it seems to me). The flashlight’s price is another factor worth mentioning. It’s not cheap, but it’s right in line with other tactical lights from major brands.
For the sake of objectivity, I should also list the things that i have question about. None of these are truly critical flaws; they are more like “why did they do that?” .
- The Basic UI allows only 3 seconds after turning the light on to switch brightness levels. It’s not ideal… even if you can fiddle with the tail switches to access the desired brightness. I still don’t see an objective reason for it.
- There’s a gap between 400 and 1500 lumens. First, the 21700 powered flashlight’s size suggests it should easily handle a steady output of around 800–1000 lumens (which is exactly what happens after thermal step-down kicks in). Second, that’s a really big jump between brightness levels; I can’t find a reason for the lack of an intermediate setting. Surely it can’t be that they designed the body with four indicator LEDs, one for each selected level, and only then found themselves constrained by that design, realizing there was simply no way to display a fifth mode…
Many people want a tactical flashlight (or any flashlight, really) that is simultaneously: a) powerful and bright, and b) capable of long-range throw. Usually, you get either the first option with a wide flood beam for close range, or the second option with relatively low brightness by modern standards. The Nitecore P27iX, however, managed to deliver brightness, long-range throw, and truly exceptionally flexible controls, along with all the features essential for a tactical flashlight such as instant access to Turbo and Strobe modes.
