I [still] love 16340/CR123 lights. Something about the short fat shape. Makes for solid tailstanding. 
For short burst use they’re great.
The BLF Mini01 is great. Have a few scattered ’round my house… so tiny you can keep one just about anywhere. I’m sure the 02 will be great too.
sorry for the newbieness
anyway i really like to see a depth review on DQG 18650.it just so small considering the battery.
I’m sure there will be much talk of them when they start being delivered. They are supposed to start shipping the 11th.
Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions and continuing to post even though it has been ever changing from the specs of the OP. Now I think the OP should have been titled “Smallest Brightest Li-ion light”
I really like the D25 series, it appears this D25Lc2m is available in NW but only with XPG s2, you have to move to the (longer) D25Lc2 Clicky to get the XML NW.
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Can anyone say if the D25Lc2 2xCR123/18650 series also lose the lower modes functionality when running on Li-ion/IMR, as reported on the AA/14500 series? (I’m thinking only the AA/14500 D series have that problem since their spec. shows “4.2v partially supported” vs the spec. on the Lc2 which shows “4.2v fully supported”)
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Again I really want to love these D25 series, but so far from what I have read they’re not really logical for running on Li-ion/IMR. (hopefully not the 18650 series) I don’t want to go back to disposable batteries.
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I assume these Eagletacs are super reliable? I’m not a modder (yet!) so for now I need reliability in an OEM package.
At $15 more than the DQG18650 these are in the “next level” of pricing but being that they aren’t over $50 I still consider them to be somewhat “budget” compared to similar lights that cost nearly $100. They are sleek and I like the deep carry screwed on clip and ss bezel. Too bad the D25 Lc2 MINI isn’t available with XML.
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I will be considering a D25Lc2/Lc2m, and I’m also looking forward to the upcoming feedback on the DQG.
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Another vote for the Zebralight SC52. Around $64. 500 lumens for one minute with a 14500. UI lets you directly enter High, medium, or low from off. Once in high, medium, or low, simply double click to get a seconday high, medium, or low. You don’t lose any modes with a 14500. Click four times from off to get flashes showing your battery level. If the primary or secondary levels are not enough you can program a different secondary level. There are several low modes, and the lowest low is 0.01 lumens. No one has ever said they wished it went lower.
I edc one, and love it. It is hard to beat the UI and brightness. One click for high, two for medium, three for low. Or press and hold to imediatly get medium. Press and continue to hold from off or on, and it will cycle from low to medium to high.
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$54.40 right now with coupon code: sc52restock
https://illuminationsupply.com/zebralight-c-28_56/zebralight-sc52-cool-white-p-274.html
Agreed, VERY VERY hard to resist J)
DQG 18650 ordered. I decided to take a chance on it since the DQG AAA light had good reviews.
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That one, the ZebraLight sc52 and Eagletac D25LC2 mini are the three finalists that I gleaned out of posting this thread and research, but currently neither of those last two are available in NW.
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And I decided to get all 3! :money_mouth_face: :money_mouth_face: I’m a Flashaholic now and there’s no turning back. J) J)
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EDIT:
SUNWAYMAN C20C Tomahwak
Now also on my radar!
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Cool. Would be nice if you post a mini comparison review of them. Tell us what you think of them.
I like the look of this one.
C20C is kinda meh to me, but SWM makes very nice lights.
Most likely gonna wait on these two (ZebraLight sc52 and Eagletac D25LC2 mini) to see if they are going to offer a NW option, both companies offer NW in many of their other lights.
You mean like this ?
I like how it can go from 16340 to 14500 with the extender tube. Also the fully variable dimming ring control. But spec’d at only 190LM it sure seems to hurting in the output department.
I was responding to this post quoted above.
The C20C HERE doesn’t really impress me.
I do want a SWM with mag control ring though. That is an awesome UI.
That V11R you linked is pretty quite nice. 190 lumen is a low estimate. It says 500 with li-ion right on that page… so 500 is the real max output. Not sure why they would not flaunt the bigger number.
Don’t know how I missed that “Turbo mode 500LM” spec. Thanks for correcting me. And st $55.59 it’s about exactly the same price as the ZebraLight sc52. Now only if they offered a NW option.
Looks like that C20C is discontinued? At least I don’t see it on their site.
SWM has some nice 4c neutrals in some of their lights… not sure about that v11r.