NiteCore

NiteCore is a Chinese manufacturer of flashlights established in 2007 and specializing in compact multi-mode lights, including some models with variable output. NiteCore is owned by Sysmax who also made some JETBeam and other brand lights. Website

Explorer Series
The Explorer series of lights have 7-modes with dual side switches and Cree XP-G R5 LED. Also has a red LED indicator light on the side switch panel which is used to indicate battery voltage, as a locator beacon, low battery indicator, or just a low-level red light. Hidden modes for variable Strobe and SOS are available by holding down the On or Mode switches while light is off. Review of series: Selfbuilt.

EA1 - 1xAA light with output of 3, 12, 40, 100, and 180 lumens (109m throw).

EA2 - 2xAA light with output of 3, 15, 60, 200, and 280 lumens (141m throw).

EA4 "Pioneer" 4xAA light with output of 65, 135, 300, 550, or 860 lumens (283m throw). Unlike other lights of the series, the EA4 uses a Cree XM-L U2 LED and has only one side clicky switch. Batteries are in a bundle of 4 and light has a cylindrical shape. Introduced in January 2013. Review: Selfbuilt

EA8 "Caveman" 8xAA light with a single electronic side-clicky with Cree XM-L U2 LED. Side clicky has a soft-press available for changing modes. Modes are 2, 50, 180, 590, and 900 lumens (490m throw).

EC1 - 1xCR123A light with output of 4, 25, 75, 200, 280 lumens (141m throw).

EC2 - 2xCR123A or 1x18650 light with output of 2, 15, 80, 200, 320 lumens (150m throw).

EC25 "Cobra" 2xCR123A or 1x18650 side clicky light with output of 60, 120, 285, 540 or 860 lumens (222m throw). Has lighted two-stage power switch with low battery indicator. Turbo mode reverts to High after 3 minutes.

Multi-Task Hybrid Series
Introduced after the Multi-Task series, this series of lights includes a built-in micro USB charging port with a charge indicator LED for recharging lithium ion batteries. The port is underneath an outer sleeve that unscrews to reveal the port and indicator LED. With the sleeve tightened, the port is covered and will not be exposed to water. The lights have 2 modes. With the head tightened the lights will come on in Turbo mode. With the head loosened, the user can cycle through the modes using the tail clicky (forward clicky) and the last mode will be remembered. All lights use a Cree XM-L LED. Introduced in December 2012.

MH1A 1xAA or 1x14500. Output levels are 7, 18, 81, and 550 lumens (125m throw) using a 14500 li-ion battery. NiMH batteries work, but cannot be recharged in the light, and output will be less than half as much. Review: subwoofer

MH1C 1xCR123A or 1x16340. Output levels are 22, 75, 220, and 550 lumens (120m throw). Review: selfbuilt

MH2A 2xAA or 1 double-length lithium ion 14500 (seems to be two cells wired in parallel, with operating voltage of 3.7V and 1500mAh capacity). Output levels are 22, 80, 233, and 600 lumens (135m throw).

MH25 "Night Blade" 1x18650 light with a bigger head. Output levels are 40, 130, 320, and 860 lumens (236m throw). Review: selfbuilt

MH40 "Thor" 2x18650 light with an even bigger head. Output levels are 18, 105, 320, and 900 lumens (490m throw).

MH2C 2xCR123A or 1x18650. Output levels are 39, 130, 300, and 800 lumens (140m throw).

Multi-Task Series
The Multi-Task Series are 2-mode lights with a forward tail clicky for power. The modes are selected by tightening or loosening the head. Tightened, the light is in Turbo mode. Loosened, the light will be in the mode last used. While loosened, the user can cycle through the modes by turning the light on and off quickly. The user modes are High, Medium, Low, SOS, and random Strobe. These lights are very similar to JETBeam models PA10, PA20, PC10, PC20, and BC25. Review: Selfbuilt

MT1A - 1xAA with a Cree XP-G R5 LED. Turbo is 140 lumens (86m throw) while user modes are 5, 20, or 50 lumens plus SOS and Strobe. Head is 22.5mm diameter.

MT2A - 2xAA with a Cree XP-G R5 LED. Turbo is 280 lumens (115m throw) while user modes are 15, 50, or 125 lumens plus SOS and Strobe. Head is 22.5mm diamter.

MT1C - 1xCR123A with a Cree XP-G R5 LED. Turbo is 280 lumens (115m throw) while user modes are 20, 60, or 125 lumens plus SOS and Strobe. Head is 22.5mm diameter.

MT2C - 2xCR123A or 1x18650 with a Cree XP-G R5 LED. Turbo is 360 lumens (155m throw) while user modes are 10, 70, or 180 lumens plus SOS and Strobe. Head is 25.4mm diameter.

MT25 - 2xCR123A or 1x18650 with a Cree XP-G R5 LED. Turbo is 390 lumens (228m throw) while user modes are 20, 70, or 180 lumens plus SOS and Strobe. Has a larger 34mm head for better throw.

MT26 - 2xCR123A or 1x18650 with a Cree XM-L U2 LED. Turbo is 800 lumens (209m throw) while user modes are 25, 78, or 250 lumens plus SOS and Strobe. Has a 34mm head for better throw.

MT40 - 4xCR123A or 2x18650 with a Cree XM-L U2 LED. Turbo is 860 lumens (363m throw) while user modes are 100, 280, or 530 lumens plus SOS and Strobe. Head is 50mm diameter.

SENS Series
The SENS series are 3-mode twisty lights with a Cree XP-G R5 LED. The SENS series lights have an accelerometer that allows the light to turn on in Low if pointing down, High if pointing outwards, and Medium if in between. The mode is then locked. But for continuously variable output based on the angle the light is held, the light can be turned on in the up position. Introduced in July 2012. Review of series: Selfbuilt.

SENS AA - 1xAA light with output of 6, 20, and 120 lumens (53m throw).

SENS CR - 1xCR123A light with output of 20, 60, or 190 lumens (76m throw).

SENS Mini - 1xCR2 light with output of 20, 50, or 170 lumens (69m throw).

Other Lights
P25 "Smilodon" 1x18650 side clicky light with Cree XM-L U2 LED. Modes are 2, 50, 180, 550, or 860 lumens (283m throw). Side clicky has soft press available to change modes. Includes a charging port. Introduced in January 2013. Review: selfbuilt

T0 - 1xAAA twisty with 12 lumens output. This keychain light comes in a variety of colors and has a Nichia LED. Introduced in September 2011.

T2s - 3-mode 1xAAA twisty with Cree XP-E R2. Modes are 2, 20, or 50 lumens (28m throw).

T5s - 3-mode stainless steel twisty with Cree XP-G R5. Modes are 2.5, 25, or 65 lumens (24m throw).

TM11 - 8xCR123A/4x18650 4-mode side clicky light with 3 Cree XM-L LEDs. Output levels are 200, 550, 1100, or 2000 lumens. Batteries are bundled together for a wide body tube and short form factor. "TM" said to stand for "tiny monster." To be introduced in October 2011.

TM15 - 8xCR123A/4x18650 5-mode side clicky light with 3 Cree XM-L U2 LEDs. Output levels are 95, 300, 570, 1300, or 2450 lumens (363m throw). This light is similar but a little longer than the TM11. Because batteries are in parallel, the light can be operated on a single 18650 if necessary. Side switch includes a LED to indicate remaining battery strength. Also has a charger port so that batteries can be charged while in light. Introduced in September 2012.

TM26 "QuadRay" 8xCR123A/4x18650 side clicky light with 4 Cree XM-L LEDs. Features a charging port and alphanumeric display panel. Modes are 3, 95, 540, 1700, and 3500 lumens (415m throw). Review: turboBB

Past Lights
NiteCore developed the SmartPD user interface based on the piston drive. The battery fits in a metal sleeve (the piston) which slides inside the body of the light and is activated by pushing the piston into the head to make electrical contact. This mechanism allows the light to be turned on like a twisty or by pushing the tail of the flashlight. The minimum light level is instantly available by double-clicking the switch. Maximum is available by clicking and holding the switch. With the light on, holding the switch in will activate variable ramping and allow any light level to be locked in by releasing the switch again. By loosening the head somewhat, the light can be used with momentary on. This UI has been replaced by the SmartPD SP system which does not have the ramping. Due to the popularity of the original interface, however, a limited edition Tribute Edition D10 with a Cree XP-E R2 emitter was introduced in February 2010 by Battery Junction. YouTube video

D10 - 1xAA SmartPD user interface using Cree XR-E Q5 LED (OSRAM Golden Dragon Plus and Cree XP-E R2 also available). 19 mm x 89 mm long. D10 tribute, a CPF discussion with extensive details manual Reviews: Light Reviews Selfbuilt

D10 SP - 1xAA version of D10 without the classic SmartPD interface. Manual

D11 - 1xAA 1-mode light with Cree XP-G R5. Output level can be set to any level (3 to 145 lumens, but significantly brighter with 14500 lithium ion battery) and remembered with Strobe and SOS modes available as well via a double-click-and-hold and double-click respectively. Introduced in August 2010. Manual

D20 - 2xAA SmartPD user interface using Cree XR-E Q5 LED (later a XR-E R2 LED was available). Now only available in the more conventional SP interface. 25 mm x 154 mm long. Reviews: Light Reviews

Defender Infinity (NDI) - 1xAA 2-mode forward clicky. For the Q5 version, the maximum output is 130 lumens with AA batteries, 190 with li-ion. Other LEDs included the Cree XP-E R2 (maximum output 145 lumens) and OSRAM Golden Dragon Plus (maximum output 130). Tighten the head for maximum output, loosen the head for a low mode that can be set to any brightness down to 3 lumens. Get to strobe by loosening and tightening quickly. Introduced in January 2008. manual Reviews: Light Reviews

EX10 - 1xCR123A using the Smart PD SP interface. Earlier editions had the original SmartPD user interface with Cree XR-E Q5 LED (OSRAM Golden Dragon Plus and Cree XR-E R2 also available). 21.5 mm x 77 mm long. manual Reviews: Light Reviews Selfbuilt

Extreme - 1xCR123A 2-mode forward clicky. 200 lumens of output with Q5, 220 lumens with an R2. manual Reviews: Light Reviews

EZ 123 - 1xCR123A 2-mode twisty. Low mode is 20 lumens, high is 180 lumens for the Cree XR-E Q5. Also available in a neutral white XP-E Q3, 5A tint (max 140 lumens), and an XP-E R2. Light is off with head loosened. As you tighten the head it goes to low mode and then is high when fully tightened. 19 mm x 70 mm long. Introduced in March 2009 with the neutral white following in August 2009. manual

EZ AA - There are two very different versions. The new version, introduced in August 2010, is a 1xAA 1-mode twisty with a Cree XP-G R5 that can be set from 6-160 lumens. To set the brightness twist on-off-on quickly and the light will begin a ramping sequence. Turn the light off to set the brightness you want. This light is a little brighter with a 14500 lithium-ion battery. Reviews: Light Reviews. The original version was a 1xAA 2-mode twisty. Low mode is 20 lumens, high is 180 lumens for the Cree XR-E Q5. Also available in a neutral white XP-E Q3, 5A tint (max 100 lumens) and an XP-E R2 (max 145 lumens). Light is off with head loosened. As you tighten the head it goes to low mode and then is high when fully tightened. 16.6 mm x 83 mm long. Introduced in March 2009 with the neutral white and R2 following in August 2009. manual Reviews: Light Reviews

EZ CR2 - 1xCR2 2-mode twisty. Low mode is 10 lumens, high is 130 lumens for the Cree XR-E Q5. Also available in a neutral white XP-E Q3, 5A tint (max 100 lumens). Light is off with head loosened. As you tighten the head it goes to low mode and then is high when fully tightened. The CR2 is a battery used with some cameras, the size being 15270 as opposed to a CR123A's 17340. 17.5 mm x 63 mm. Introduced in March 2009 with the neutral white following in August 2009. manual

IFD2 - Infilux 2xAA forward clicky with infinitely variable brightness selector ring. 0.5 to 260 lumens of output with Cree XP-G R5 LED. Introduced in July 2010.

IFE1 - Infilux 1xCR123A forward clicky with infinitely variable brightness selector ring. 0.5 to 260 lumens of output with Cree XP-G R5 LED. Introduced in July 2010.

IFE2 - Infilux 2xCR123A/1x18650 forward clicky with infinitely variable brightness selector ring. 0.003 to 345 ANSI lumens of output (133m throw; output figure seems suspicious even though they claim ANSI) with Cree XP-G R5 LED. Output is the same with either battery configuration. Strobe available past the Off position. SOS is hidden, but can be activated by rotating the ring from max to min 3 times. Introduced in January 2011. Reviews: Light Reviews, Selfbuilt

SR3 - 1xCR123A 8-mode forward clicky with selector ring bezel. Low of 5 lumens, maximum output is 220 lumens with Cree XR-E R2 LED. One mode can be programmed to strobe. manual Reviews: Light Reviews

Popular Dealers
Battery Junction has an extensive NiteCore catalog in addition to many other brands of flashlights. Discount available in the CPF Good Deals thread (requires registration).