Does anyone know or have any experience with the new upgraded OTR z821 flashlight, which they claim it has a GaN (gallium nitride) W5050 led with round spot, 1800 lumens, 18 watt max, 470 meters throw with 55200cd. In comparison the xm-l2 version has 1200 lumens 10 watts max 220 Meters throw with 12100cd. It sells for 44 Euros on AliExpress - ON THE ROAD Official Store.
Searched the internet but couldn’t find any information on this new GaN W5050 led or any reviews on this new upgraded z821 flashlight.
@MascaratumB welcomed for comments
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Interesting. I know Anker has been making Gallium Nitride based charges that are much more efficient and barely get warm when charging, even at high Amp rates.
The GaN replaces Silicon in the charger. This is the first I’ve heard of it jumping to LED’s, would like to try some of those!
Thanks for the heads-up, nice catch!
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Interesting catch indeed!
I wonder how much of a difference this material can make and in which ways.
Looks like an interesting LED anyway; nice and small luminous area. Would be nice if this individual LED pops up for sale somewhere!
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When I was in my high school chemistry class, I was fascinated with Gallium because it’s a metal that is liquid at room temperature.
I know that Gallium Nitride would have different properties, but I thought I would share some useless info with all of you. 
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Researching this, Gallium Nitride was being used to make blue light LED’s in Great Britain about 7 years ago, and was growing in use of lasers. But I haven’t found anything about white light LED’s other than the On The Road flashlight.
I have used Gallium between copper heat sinks and copper MCPCB’s for 5 or 6 years, have some now actually. Have to be careful though as it eats Aluminium!
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Gallium Nitride is the base for all blue and UV LEDs, there’s nothing extraordinary on this. They are only advertising it to score on the hype of these new high efficiency GaN chargers. This particular LED is inexpensive, delivers the promised high intensity, and it’s a nice replacement for the XML2 on long throw applications. They are being used on all kinds of zoomies now, advertised as “laser wick”.
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Thank you @TUIG101 and all for your replies. As I am looking to buy a small size zoom flashlight, when I came across this OTR z821 flashlight I said to myself, well this one looks good, although it is rather expensive like all OTR flashlights when compared to Sofirn, Wurkkos, Convoy, etc.
But if this “GaN led” is such an innovation, why there is no such reference of “GaN led” in any other flashlight manufacturer? And to date there is not one video not even from OTR, showing the flashlight and how it operates in close and long distance with that round spot. Also I do not know how close to reality are the claimed manufacturer specs of 1800 lumen 18w 470m distance, and 55200cd.
Despite the above, like @Wingman said, looks like an interesting LED, but for me I would rather wait to see at least one review and a video on this upgraded z821 flashlight.
I think it’s better to give a little bit more money and get a flashlight with little better quality… later down the road is going to be the best possible choice… ! Just my opinion !
I understand what you are saying but my requirements are small size under 15cm, zoomable, 1500 lumens and more 18650/21700/26650 battery, under 50 euro and I can not find anything else except the sofirn s11 zoom which if it was a bit more powerful, it would be an excellent choice for me. If you know something that meets my above requirements please let me know
I don’t know it… but in general is quite difficult to find a product to fit in all of your requirements… eventually you will have to leave some of them out… !?
So i prefer to buy a product with “better quality” from a “better brand” … !
Again, is just my opinion ! Have a good one !
I think the :gotchya" here is the zoomable part. There are many more options if you could do with something that is not zoomable. Often the lights that do this are, well, the less desirable lights in any product line (cheap in features/quality ?). They are certainly not among the most discussed lights on BLF.
That ‘GAN’ led in the first picture looks similar to this LED:
If it’s the same LED they do well in zoomies (i have one in a Cometa) and while i can’t see it being 1800 lumens it would likely be brighter and significantly more focused than the old XM-L2. (‘Old’ because it’s been recently revamped with the same model number.)
There’s no ‘+’ sign on mine though so there’s a visual different at least.
And in the second picture where it says ‘Technology brings iterative renewal’ it’s a different LED again.
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@ Mandrake50 thanks for your reply. I agree with what you’re saying but as I have 3 other flashlights I would like to add a zoomable one into my collection.
@ Marc E thanks for the info and yes they do look alike. I have decided though not to buy this z821, until I see a video or a review about its operation.
The emitter looks exactly like the clear version of the YinDing emitter, see this discussion.
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The ‘GaN LED’ looks identical to the “L50 LED” that Kaidomain is offering on their Aliexpress store (and probably their website too): L50 20W 6000mA 1500 Lumen 6000K 8000K Smd 5050 Led Op Kdlitker Dtp Koper Mcpcb Zaklamp Diy
Even the ‘+’ symbol is in the right place!
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The sofirn s11c was the first not completely trash lithium ion flashlight that I bought when I started getting into those after coming from eneloops and/or just wiring an 18650 battery holder to a headlamp until it melted. And it is really cheap and the zoomie feature is ridiculous and so pointless it really isn’t a zoomie at all, a better description would be it just messes up the normal beam, and then ‘zooms’ it back to a normal one. I bought a better light like immediately after getting it. BUT, to this day it’s still the best tint ive ever gotten from a lh351d over 4000k.
And it’s not totally useless. It’s bright enough for ordinary people. It’s got a real strong strong magnet. Probably because it doesn’t have to hold much weight the thing is like paper thin aluminium and the lens looks like it was made from a recycled water bottle, but still. It’s not really a zoomie though.