Personally i’m hoping for:
1) more 26800 flashlights and 2) boost drivers become the norm 
Edit: i almost forgot, 3) more 519A lights!! ^:)
More boost/buck drivers
New LEDs (better efficiency, output)
Active cooling in smaller, high output lights
Fewer and fewer models of flashlight having a strobe mode.
Fewer and fewer models of flashlight having a built in, non-replaceable battery.
A greater focus on sustained brightness levels/runtimes rather than “Our light does 20,000 lumens!” (Sure it does…for 5 seconds. Not exactly useful to most people.)
Fewer lights with those awful two way pocket clips.
I hope we get more regulated drivers that also offer a FET mode for turbo.
More constant frequency strobes instead of alternating frequency.
My idea is extremely specific...
I'd like to see more budget compact 21700 throwers with a single SFT40 emitter.
Right now, Convoy owns the market, but I'd like to see other manufacturers try to compete with Convoy.
Convoy is pretty nice, but their UI is not ideal compared to some other brands.
1) More budget lights and BLF community lights 2) Stop making poor copies of Anduril and just use Anduril. 3) Less copy and paste designs. 4) More Niche lights (RGBW, UV, Red lights, Cob lights), Work lights (Harbour folding cob led), Bike lights. there’s so few good options.
Firmware update via USB C port.
1. more warm. less blue.
2. less tactical. more practical.
3. more body colors. less black.
I want cheaper LEPs.
- BLF UIs on Convoy lights.
- More USB charging that’s built in the threads, instead of behind a flap
- More 519A, and good ways to drive 6A to them. Buck, or boost if multi-emitter.
- Better side switches that don’t activate accidentally
- manufacturers respecting standby drain more
My perfect light for 2023 would be a ZL SC64 with 519A, 6A buck driver, and anduril. I know ZL won’t do it, so I challenge someone else to get close on the form factor.
Larger switch buttons ala TS11, light that comes on with a shake, or a wiggle.
More lights running on AA batteries - especially coming from Olight, lol.
Also less cold white emitters. Neutral white should be the standard option.
For me, same as ever:
- Smaller
- Brighter
- MUCH better CRI (PLEASE!!)
- Regulated Runtime, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.
- NO BLINKIES!! (not asking. stop that.)
- TIRs, not Parabolas, please (being nice again).
And Muggle-compatible battery options, because I give away a lot of my experiments.
Better UIs and customizable UIs.
And lower prices 
I’d like to see lower power and plastic. Seriously.
Part of increasing lumens/watt numbers in emitters is that workable high levels can now be achieved with less heat.
Fiber-reinforced polymer is an incredibly light and durable material, just lacking in positive thermal properties.
Pelican/streamlight have made durable polymer lights for a while, especially in the specialty industrial lines. Give me an honest glass-reinforced nylon convoy s2 / s12 size light with emitter options and 500 lumens. And a corresponding lightweight headlamp.
Efficient drivers
No blinkies
Less Androol
More mechanical switch lights, side or tail.
One of my most favorite lights ever is a Convoy BD06 that was given to me as a gift. It wasn’t perfect but I eventually got it that way. Stock it wasn’t that great but, with a bit of work it’s now bullet proof. Make a light like that. Make it right the first time and never leave anything on the table.
- Availability of custom/DIY drivers as pre-populated boards for those of us who don’t own reflow capabilities.
- Manufacturers producing more efficient drivers as standard
- Warm white lanterns, to get some sofirn competition going
- More lower cost AA/AAA lights, the category has been stagnant for a while
- More lights with fun/unusual LEDs: Phosphor converted colours, UVC,
- “Super LEDs* (SFT, osram nm1, SBT90 etc) in warm CCT options
Better QA/QC.
Not shipping lights until they’ve completed development, nor expecting paying customers to find bugs for you.