Cree

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Chromaticity chart with tint bins used by Cree

Cree is a LED manufacturing company based in Durham, North Carolina. They produce a number of different models of high output LEDs that are widely used in flashlights. They do not actually make flashlights, though some companies will describe their product as a "Cree flashlight." This refers to the LED inside the flashlight.

Cree bins individual models of LED on the basis of total flux or light output, typically measured at 350mA. Bin numbers might be P4, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, R2, R3, R4, and R5 with each bin being about 5% additional flux. The P4 is 80 lumens, a Q5 would be 107 lumens, and the R5 bins are 137 lumens. At higher amperage than 350mA, the brightness goes way up, with the XP-G producing 3 times as many lumens at a maximum current of 1500mA.

Cree classifies tints of white LEDs as being warm, neutral, and cool, but has recently added "outdoor white" in between and overlapping neutral and cool (4000-5300K). Tints are binned using a system based on the ANSI White standard. Cree's tints subdivide and expand on the ANSI regions giving bins such as cool 1B, neutral 5B1, and warm 7D2, though many other tints and subdivisions are available. Click on the graphic at right to see all of the bins, though not all bins are available.

In addition, Cree produces High CRI LEDs, with CRI values of 80, 85, and 90 represented by bins H1, P1, and U1 respectively (separately, L1 represents normal CRI white LEDs, and O1 is outdoor white).

Below are output numbers for different currents for the various brightness bins of LED models. There is more information available with the Cree Product Characterization Tool, an online calculator that allows you to look up output based on more factors. The numbers on this page, like those given by the PCT, are based on charts in the LED datasheets.

MC-E

An older 4-die LED available with four of the same color dies or the MC-E Color with four different color dies (white, red, green, blue). The maximum current is 700mA with a Vf of 3.4V, though this varies from one color to another. Bins run from G (240 lumens) to M (430 lumens) at 350 mA. The white quadrant of the MC-E Color is available in cool white (A5) or neutral white (A4).

Cree MC-E datasheet

The MC-E was widely used in high-power flashlights like the EagleTac M2SC4, Fenix TK40, iTP A6 Polestar, and JETBeam M1X with advertised output of up to 700 lumens. The color version is in the Quark RGB (with neutral white or cool white available) but although the LED allows mixing of colors, the Quark RGB is switched to one color at a time.

Cree MC-E multi-die LED
Brightness Bins for Cree MC-E
(max is N bin)
Bin 1400mA
(350mA/die)
100%
2800mA
(700mA/die)
175%
H 280-320 490-560
J 320-370 560-648
K 370-430 648-753
M 430-490 753-858
N* 490-550 858-962
P 550-620 962-1085

MT-G2

Large die high power LED has versions that run at 6, 9, or 36 volts with maximum power of 18 watts, first available around November 2012. The LED is 8.9mm x 8.9mm and the light will be floody compared to the smaller XM-L. The first production lights to use this LED were the Crelant 7G10 and Solarforce S200, introduced in May 2013. The LED is binned at 85°C. The bins shown below have been increased by 15% to give output at 25°C for easier comparison to other LEDs.

Brightness Bins for 6-volt Cree MT-G2 at 25° C
Bin 1100mA
100%
1500mA
172%
3000mA
230%
D0 460-506 598-658 1058-1164
E0 506-552 658-718 1164-1270
F0 552-598 718-777 1270-1375
G0 598-644 777-837 1375-1481
H0 644-690 837-897 1481-1587
J0 690-736 897-957 1587-1693
K0 736-782 957-1017 1693-1799
M0 782-828 1017-1076 1799-1904
N0 828-874 1076-1136 1904-2010
P0* 874-920 1136-1196 2010-2116

XB-D

Cree XB-D is similar to the XT-E but smaller.

Very compact LED (the die is mounted on a chip 2.45 mm square opposed to 3.45 mm square for XP series) introduced in February 2012, promising lower cost. Should provide similar brightness to XP-E LEDs. First available units were warm white with Q2 brightness bin (at 350mA). This LED is used in some budget Ozark Trail 3xAAA lights at Walmart. The XB-D is binned at an operating temperature of 85° C instead of 25°, so in order to directly compare its output to other LEDs that are typically binned at 25 degrees, the output numbers in the table below have been increased by 14% from what is shown in the datasheet (see XB-D output for the 85° numbers). Can be driven up to 1000mA. Datasheet, press release.

Brightness Bins for Cree XB-D at 25° C
Bin 350mA
100%
700mA
172%
1000mA
222%
Q2 100-107 172-184 222-238
Q3 107-114 184-196 238-253
Q4 114-122 196-210 253-271
Q5 122-130 210-224 271-289
R2 130-139 224-239 289-309
R3 139-148 239-255 309-329
R4* 148-158 255-272 329-351

XM-L

Cree XM-L LED with 6 yellow strips and 3 bonding wires

Widely used in high power flashlights, this larger die LED was first available in November 2011, offering efficacy of 160 lumens per watt at 350mA. Output is as high as 340 lumens at 700mA (bin U3, which is still rare) therefore it is more efficient and puts out more light at any current than earlier single-die Cree LEDs. However the biggest improvement to overall output is the XM-L can be driven to 3000mA for 1100 lumens of output. Because the XM-L is binned at 700mA, the bin numbers do not correlate exactly to those of the smaller die LEDs which are binned at 350mA. The LED die is 2mm x 2mm on a 5mm x 5mm substrate with 6 yellow strips and 3 bonding wires as opposed to the XP-G with 4 strips and 2 bonding wires and the XP-E with 3 strips and 2 bonding wires. The first production lights to feature the XM-L were versions of the ThruNite Catapult V2 (first to ship), EagleTac M3C4, a 4Sevens Quark MiNi, and the JETBeam M1xm, introduced in December 2010, but budget retailer KaiDomain had LEDs and P60 drop-ins as well as P60 lights around the same time. Neutral and warm tints began shipping in March 2011. Press release Cree XM-L datasheet

Brightness Bins for Cree XM-L
(max is U3 bin)
Bin 700mA
100%
1000mA
137.5%
1500mA
195%
3000mA
325%
T2 200-220 275-303 390-429 650-715
T3 220-240 303-330 429-468 715-780
T4 240-260 330-358 468-507 780-845
T5 260-280 358-385 507-546 845-910
T6 280-300 385-413 546-585 910-975
U2 300-320 413-440 585-624 975-1040
U3* 320-340 440-468 624-663 1040-1105

XM-L2

Same 5mm x 5mm size as the original XM-L but with up to 20% more output. Introduced in December 2012. Like the XP-G2, the XM-L2 is silver on top, has two bonding wires, and the die has dots instead of lines. The XM-L2 is significantly larger than the XP-G2 and has a round hole at the upper left as opposed to the XP-G2's square hole. The LEDs are binned at 85°C, so the values shown below have been increased by 13.7% to make comparisons with other LEDs binned at 25°C easier. The first production lights to feature the XM-L2 were the ThruNite Catapult V3 and TN31 in January 2013, followed by a number of Xeno lights which also had options for neutral tints in Feburary. Press release.

Cree XM-L2 datasheet

Cree XM-L2 is the same size as the original XM-L, but a new design
Brightness Bins for Cree XM-L2 at 25°C
(max is U3 bin)
Bin 700mA
100%
1000mA
138%
1500mA
194%
3000mA
328%
S4 186-196 256-268 360-377 612-641
S5 196-207 268-284 377-400 641-679
S6 207-227 284-313 400-439 679-746
T2 227-250 313-343 439-483 746-820
T3 250-273 343-375 483-528 820-895
T4 273-296 375-406 528-571 895-970
T5 296-318 406-438 571-615 970-1044
T6 318-341 438-468 615-659 1044-1119
U2 341-364 468-500 659-703 1119-1193
U3* 364-386 500-533 703-750 1193-1268

XP-C

Cree XP-C LED has a smaller die than the XP-E

A lower current version of the XP-E with a smaller die. Maximum current 500mA and Vf of 3.5V. Bins up to Q4 (100 lumens) in cool white, Q2 in neutral white (84.7 lumens) and P3 in warm white (73.9 lumens). Looks like the XP-E, but the die has 2 yellow strips and 1 bonding wire instead of 3 strips and 2 bonding wires. The XP-C is used in the Streamlight Microstream and some Mini Maglites.

Cree XP-C datasheet

XP-E

Introduced in Fall of 2008, the XP-E shrunk the XR-E by 80% (though it uses the same die), now 3.45 mm square. It is available, in white (cool, neutral, and warm), blue, green, amber, red, and red-orange. For cool white, bins are Q3, Q4, Q5, R2 and R3 with output from 93.9 to 122 lumens. Neutral white bins are from P4 to Q4 (100 lumens min) and warm white bins range from P2 to Q2 (87.4 lumens min).

Cree XP-E datasheet

This LED is used in the NiteCore Defender Infinity, early Quarks (R2, neutral whites used a Q3), the iTP A series EOS and S series lights, EagleTac P100 and T100 series.

The XP-E has 3 strips on the die as opposed to 2 on the XP-C and 4 on the XP-G.

Cree XP-E LED
Brightness Bins for Cree XR-E, XP-E
(max bin for XP-E is R4, XR-E is R2)
Bin 350mA
100%
700mA
170%
1000mA
220%
P4 80.6-87.4 137-149 177-192
Q2 87.4-93.9 149-160 192-207
Q3 93.9-100 160-170 207-220
Q4 100-107 170-182 220-233
Q5 107-114 182-194 233-251
R2 114-122 194-207 251-268
R3 122-130 207-221 268-286
R4* 130-139 221-236 286-306

XP-E2

Introduced in September 2012, this redesign is similar to the XP-G2. Cree claims up to 20% more output than the original XP-E at half the cost in terms of lumens per dollar. Press realease, datasheet. The XP-E2 is binned at 85°C, but for ease of comparison, the output numbers below are increased by 16% to get 25° values.

Brightness Bins for Cree XP-E2 at 25°C
(max bin is R3)
Bin 350mA
100%
700mA
171%
1000mA
218%
P2 78.0-85.7 133-147 171-187
P3 85.7-93.5 147-160 187-204
P4 93.5-101 160-174 204-222
Q2 101-109 174-187 222-238
Q3 109-116 187-198 238-253
Q4 116-124 198-212 253-270
Q5 124-132 212-226 270-289
R2 132-142 226-242 289-309
R3* 142-151 242-258 309-329

XP-G

Same size package as the XP-E, but with a larger die. Therefore the resulting beam has a little more flood. It is available in varying output bins from R2 to S3 (S2 and S3 are rare and not always the best tints). Maximum current is 1500mA and Vf of 3.3V with efficacy of 141 lumens per watt. Cree XP-G datasheet, press release.

The XP-G R5 began widespread use in 2010 after being adopted early by 4Sevens and EagleTac. The limited edition titanium Quarks were among the first to use the XP-G, with an R4 bin. S2 bins became available in November 2010 but only in Quark and iTP special edition lights. Special edition matte-finish titanium Quark Mini and Turbo models were the first to feature S3 bins, shipping in December 2010.

Cree XP-G R5 LED
Brightness Bins for Cree XP-G
(max is S3 bin)
Bin 350mA
100%
700mA
187%
1000mA
250%
1500mA
333%
R2 114-122 213-228 285-305 380-406
R3 122-130 228-243 305-325 406-433
R4 130-139 243-260 325-348 433-463
R5 139-148 260-277 348-370 463-493
S2 148-156 277-292 370-390 493-520
S3* 156-164 292-307 390-410 520-547
S4 164-172 307-322 410-430 547-573

XP-G2

Introduced in July 2012, the XP-G2 is an all new design with the same size as the earlier XP-G. Like Cree's other 2012 offerings, the XP-G2 is binned at 85°C, but for ease of comparison, output shown on this page is increased by 13% to get 25° values. In August 2012, Foursevens was the first company to adopt this LED, claiming up to 20% more output and a 5% smaller hotspot for greater throw compared to the same models using a XP-G. Press release, Datasheet

Cree XP-G2 LED is the same size as the XP-G, but a different design
Brightness Bins for Cree XP-G2 at 25°C
(max is R5 bin)
Bin 350mA
100%
700mA
183%
1000mA
243%
1500mA
329%
Q4 113-121 206-220 275-294 373-399
Q5 121-129 220-235 294-313 399-425
R2 129-138 235-252 313-336 425-454
R3 138-147 252-268 336-357 454-485
R4 147-157 268-287 357-382 485-518
R5* 157-170 287-310 382-412 518-558


XP-L

Introduced in May 2014, the XP-L puts the same size die as the XM-L2 onto the smaller 3.5mm board of the XP-G (shaving off the edges of the dome to make it fit). Due to the larger die, it will not throw quite as well as the smaller die of the XP-G, but it puts out more light and can be driven at higher currents. Binned at a higher current than the XM-L2, higher bins are typical for the XP-L, but a V5 bin XP-L is roughly equivalent in output to a U2 bin XM-L2.

Brightness Bins for Cree XP-L at 25°C
(max is V6 bin)
Bin 1050mA
100%
1500mA
135%
2000mA
169%
3000mA
225%
T6 318-341 429-459 537-575 715-766
U2 341-364 459-490 575-614 766-818
U3 364-387 490-521 614-652 818-869
U4 387-409 521-551 652-690 869-920
U5 409-432 551-582 690-729 920-971
U6 432-455 582-613 729-767 971-1022
V2 455-478 613-644 767-805 1022-1073
V3 478-500 644-674 805-844 1073-1124
V4 500-523 674-705 844-882 1124-1176
V5 523-546 705-736 882-921 1176-1227
V6* 546-569 736-766 921-959 1227-1278

XR-C

Same size as XR-E (7mm x 9mm) but is designed for less current (500mA max). The die itself is smaller than the XR-E (same as the one in the XP-C). The maximum bin is Q2 with 87.4 lumens for cool white. It is available in white (cool, neutral, and warm) as well as royal blue, blue, green, amber, red-orange, and red. Vf is 3.5 volts at 350mA. Identifiable by the metal ring around the dome and a LED die with only two yellow strips and one bonding wire.

Cree XR-C datasheet

The XR-C is used in retail lights made by Coleman, River Rock, and Energizer.

XR-E

Cree XR-E LED easily identified by the metal ring around the LED

Introduced in the Fall of 2006 the XR-E was widely used in a number of different flashlights, with cool white, neutral white, and warm white colors available in addition to blue, royal blue, and green. Common bin numbers are P4, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, and R2 with increasing output from 80 lumens to 122 lumens at 350 mA and a Vf of 3.3V, but with much greater output available with higher currents. The size is 7 mm x 9 mm and you will often see this referred to as a 7090 XR-E. The die itself was available as the EZ1000 at first and then the smaller EZ900. Because the EZ900 can have the same overall output as the larger EZ1000 but in a smaller form, it should provide 23% greater intensity and throw (the EZ1000 is 1 mm square and the EZ900 is 0.9 mm square).

Cree XR-E datasheet

This LED was very widely used, featured in flashlights by Fenix, JETBeam, NiteCore D10, and EagleTac P20 and T20 series, and is still available in some budget lights. The neutral white version was used in Nitecore EZ series. It is easily recognized by the metal ring around the die with 3 yellow strips and 2 bonding wires.

XT-E

Cree XT-E LED

Introduced in February 2012, the XT-E has the same size chip as the XP series but seems to have a wider viewing angle for more flood and less throw. Can be driven up to 1.5A and available in bins up to R5 (at 350mA). This LED is binned at an operating temperature of 85° C instead of 25°, so in order to directly compare its output to other LEDs that are typically binned at 25 degrees, the numbers in the table below have been increased by 14% (see XT-E output for the 85° numbers). Cree introduced the XT-E as a low-cost, high efficiency LED capable of 148 lumens per watt at 350mA, offering higher lumens per dollar. The LED is not a flat square, but has an X shaped hill on the surface. The beam is like a small XM-L with a large hotspot and some varying tint across the beam. EagleTac announced that the XT-E would be an option in its D25 clicky series in April 2012, but XT-E lights were never actually released, supposedly due to beam quality issues. At about the same time, KaiDomain offered P60 drop-ins and flashlights with the XT-E. Cree uses the XT-E LED in its line of household light bulbs, introduced in 2013. Datasheet, press release.

Brightness Bins for Cree XT-E at 25° C
(max is R5 bin)
Bin 350mA
100%
700mA
178%
1000mA
230%
1500mA
302%
Q5 122-130 217-231 280-299 369-404
R2 130-139 231-247 299-320 404-421
R3 139-148 247-263 320-341 421-448
R4 148-158 263-282 341-365 448-479
R5* 158-169 282-300 365-388 479-510
S2 169-178 282-316 388-409 510-537