Emisar DW4 with the 10624 (extra floody) optic, NTG35 4200K, LumeX1 boost driver - great sustained output.
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List updated in post #2
Some entries excluded that did not include a brand name…
PLEASE INCLUDE THE BRAND NAME!!!
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Looks like Convoy and Emisar are the most popular brands.
I’m kinda surprised that Emisar is even more popular than Sofirn or Wurkkos (individually), though I prefer Convoy for my EDC flashlights. 
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I have a tie between 2 lights.
DA1K with the newer optics and NTG50 5000k
Or:
Reylight Pineapple Mini MKIII Seigaiha
Edit to add:
Nevermind! I can’t believe I forgot my Lily when posting. Li Lights are superior to most every other light I’ve seen. Especially with the Max 315 engine.
2025 was such a good year for flashlights, I wrote a whole article about this.
I’ll spoil it here though: it’s the Skilhunt M150 v4, because it’s the first flashlight I know of to get AA/14500 right. That means:
- Modes and mode spacing are sensible with both battery types.
- Low voltage protection works for both battery types.
- The bezel diameter is substantially smaller than any 18650 flashlight - 21mm or less.
- The driver is efficient and well-regulated with both battery types.
It has been common for lights to get three out of four of these criteria right for several years now. The previous M150 failed on the last point, using a linear driver for Li-ion. Several popular lights like the Emisar D3AA and Skilhunt EC150 fail the third, performing well but having fat heads.
One other light I know of satisfies all four criteria: the boost driver version of the Emisar D2. The Noctigon KR1AA should too, but I’m considering the early copies of that sold so far to be prototypes.
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observation: different audiences choose different favorites.
(this post is not a vote for any poll)
on Reddit the ChibiM poll favorite is the Fireflies E04, a 21700 light with 4 LEDs, Anduril UI, and an electronic Sideswitch
on BLF the ChibiM poll favorite is the Convoy T6, an AA/14500 light with 1 LED, a 4 mode UI, and a mechanical Tailswitch
on zakreviews the favorite is the Skilhunt M150 V4, an AA/14500 light with 1 LED and a 7 mode UI, with an electronic Sideswitch
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As much as I’ve been enjoying my various TS10’s and D3AA’s…It’s got to be my Fenix PD35R. I absolutely LOVE the hot spot that reaches 353 meters. It has a gorgeous and well defined spill as well. If only you could get with a warmer LED. I’m also a fan of the dual tail switches that a lot of people seem to not like.
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To be fair, I’m an audience of one. I just get to shout my opinions louder because I put up a website.
The popularity of the Convoy T6 surprises me. It’s as big as an 18650 light and has a third the battery capacity. The T3/5 is smaller and doesn’t get nearly the attention.
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I gifted a T3 and a T6 to someone I didn’t know was interested in flashlights this Christmas. Any use they get from her will be a bit of a torture test, I’m going to be interested in how they hold up and how she likes them. I ordered them both with Li-Ions and SFT25 emitters just to keep things similar.