Review: Trustfire X9 [ 1 x 18650 ] 5 mode - XM-L

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

For review : Trustfire X9 .

  • Brand: Trustfire
  • Model: X9
  • Emitter Brand/Type: XM-L T6
  • Color BIN: White
  • Voltage range: 3-4.2V
  • Total Emitters: 1
  • Battery Configurations: 1 x 18650 rechargeable battery (included)
  • Switch Type: Clicky/Clickie
  • Switch Location: Tail-cap
  • Modes: 5
  • Mode Memory: Hi> Mid > Lo > Fast Strobe> SOS
  • Brightness: 1000 lumens maximum brightness (manufacturer rated)
  • Lens: Glass Lens
  • Reflector: smooth Reflector
  • Carrying Strap: Strap Included








Now there are a few things that grab you , first , for a single 18650 battery light , the X9 is on the larger side , the second thing is that the anodizing does not match well on some of the parts , was it done on purpose ? [ 2 tone - possibly ] , its neither here nor there for me . The light is well made , everything appears to be well machined , and the only thing I can mention is the pill to head fit , on the threads , its a bit of a slop fit , but once tightened up , not really an issue .


The reflector appears to be really well made , and this really helps to pump the light forward , the clicky is very mechanical and a little on the heavy side for actuation [ which can be good ] . There is also a lanyard , which again looks to be very well made , and quite useful , being almost two feet long it might just be able to do the job of a lanyard , rather than just being ornamental , or a wrist strap .


Tailcap - clicky , looks to be very well put together ..




















Now at first I didn't like the way the emitter was mounted on the pill , but when I saw some better pictures , and saw how massive the emitter base/star was , well , I thought it might just be ok after all , and then I set about finding a X9 to call my own .


Performance :

Now I did kind of hope its would not be under driven , and not over driven , I wanted it to be just right , and I think it just about does that .


On high with a Xtar2600 18650 it pulled around 2.23A [ 4.19v resting ] and returned some 850L , which for me is right on the money . On medium it pulled some 0.9A and gave about 380L , and on low , pulled some 0.18A and offered some 80L .


Now I thought these figures a little generous so thought I might do a ceiling bounce test to compare .

Two other lights used in the comparison =

L2T low current 500L on high XM-L= returned 47Lux CB

L2 Manafont 3 mode XM-L 940L = 86Lux CB

X9 = 78Lux CB

I did the math on the CB test and it looks to be good , there really must be something in these larger reflectors .

The sun is still , ok its cloudy , but once it gets dark , I will see about some beams ..

Now talking about beams : Lets check out the throw numbers .


In low mode @ 1meter I got some 2500Lux [ surprisingly good ] and in medium mode I got some 13,000Lux which was surprisingly good , and in high I got a reading of some 30,000Lux , which is even good by XR-E standards . Im really looking forward to taking this light somewhere dark , because Im really expecting it to perform ...


Forward Clicky

5 Modes with memory [ High - Medium - Low - Strobe - SOS ]

Smooth Reflector - Aluminum

Well made - except for slop fit between pill and head

Glass lens

Tailstands

Well finished [ 2 tone ? ]

Nice Lanyard

Looks to be a seriously good thrower

I like the current in each mode

PWM = Low frequency


More after I have some time to play :

Solarforce L2 with Manafont XM-L Drop in + Sanyo 2600

X9 on high with Himax 2600 for power

Ok , it looks to throw ... .

Mine wont run on flat top batteries , definitely wants button tops ...

2

A serious thrower and a seriously good looking flashlight.

Did I read that right, old; an L2 with a 3-mode Manafont XM-L was brighter than this light?

Foy

3

Manafont 3 mode XM-L , cold it starts over 1000L+

But sags quickly to 960ish and continues to sag to around 850ish ... Cant hold the high output .

A XM-L driven between 2A and 2.5A makes more sense ...

That drop in pulls close to 4A with the Carlie's Panasonic 2250 18650 , its an insane amount of current for one XM-L

4

XML T6 2,23A=769lm

5

T6 280L per 700mA

1.4A = 560L

2.1A = 840L

So 2.23A measured , it could go a little higher less the MM , so ill stick to my guns on this one ... [ + let's not forget all the variables ]

Now , its also expressed as

XM-L is 20% more efficient than

XLamp XP-G at the same current,

and can deliver 1000 lumens with

100 lumens per Watt efficacy.

Hmmmm , 9.13Watts , Im not getting 900L

6

Old4570

Where did you got the X9 and for how much, a friend is looking for one and it seems at 2.2a its good enough even on stock.

thanks

7

The X9 is available from all over , Manafont , DX to name a few ...

But mine came from Ebay , $36 Shipped to my door .

8

I go by what Match tested here, https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/2346

So that would be 765L @ 2.23 by relating to the 2000mA results.

9

Thanks, Asking cause my X9 bought off ebay is only pulling 1.4A using XTAR 2600mah.

10

The current measurements on this light vary wildly between examples. My eBay x9 draws 2.6 on a SF battery and 3.1 on the Callies Kustoms 2250.

11

I really like mine and am happy with the output.

12

I just wonder how much of the variation in reported current draws is measurement/battery differences and how much is the actual light. They seem to vary widely, but maybe they aren't that different. I like this light a lot even though mine fried the driver withing seconds of turning it on for the first time. I much prefer single cell lights. And since its single cell it was easy to swap out the driver. The PCB/heatsink/whatever design scared me at first, but it seems to work nicely. I get 32k lux@1m (calculated from 5m) out of mine with a T4 5A3 @ 2.8A and got 40K+ with the original emitter.

13

There are a couple of top rated sellers who have the X9 with a buy it now price under $34. Have to pay off my car first or I would pull the trigger.


Wade

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Everybody got the same Two Tone finish?

Ian2381's doesn't look two tone, maybe he lighting is hiding that.

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Mine does not appear two-tone. Maybe a little mismatched on a couple parts, but only noticeable if you look very carefully.

16

Yup, My X9 isn't two tone. Or my eyes is deceiving me.

EDIT: My eyes indeed deceived me, looked at it again in the morning and the bezel has darker color and the whole body include tailcap is lighter.

17

I've seen one other member here saying he got a two tone. Sellers' photos are not two tone in one body, however I've noticed that there seems to be a darker and lighter grey X9. Old4570's X9 seems to have the two grey's in one and it's obvious.

18

Awwww, I want one...

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X9 different drivers?

It's obvious they are not identical.... but on the inside...

You guys maybe should post some pictures. The one on the right is from a pack (batteries, box, charger)

20

My driver is like the top one, with red ring and no rows of holes in the center area.

Mine draws 2.8A with an Xtar 2600