Xeno E03

Xeno E03 Version 3

Battery: AA/14500 

Switch: Clicky

Modes: High, Low, Medium, Beacon

LED Type: XM-L T6

Lens: Glass

Price: $35.15/PHP1,500

Last December I bought a really awesome light during the gun show at SM Megamall. The light came along with an extra switch, user's manual, a pair of O-rings, and a lanyard. Sadly, no clip. It comes in blue, black, and red colors and three emitter shades (warm T4, neutral T5, and cool T6).

Bought the blue one (cool T6). Modes start with Medium setting, then Low, High and lastly beacon.

Design

Very good anodyzing and the knurling is good too but not as aggressive as my Solarforce L2. Tail switch design allows for you to insert the lanyard and do a tail stand like a candle. Another addition is the glow-in-the -dark (GITD) switch cover and O-ring.

With a one-piece body tube, it has a stainless steel bezel. There's a spring on both the pill and the tail switch which means you can use flat-top batteries as well. A unique feature of this light are the finger indentations that are in my opinion makes the light easier to hold.

Serial numbers are printed on the tailcap. The logo and letter printing are good.

Technical Parameters

It uses 1 AA or 1 14500 Li-Ion battery.

Operation Mode

Every time you turn on the light it starts on Medium. A soft push on the switch is enough to change to the other modes. If you turn it off, it still retains in memory the last mode used but for only 3 seconds. 

Using AA:

Medium - 45 lumens/4 hrs

Low - 20 lumens/20 hrs 

High - 120 lumens/ 1 hour   

Using 14500:

Medium - 280 lumens/45 mins

Low - 80 lumens/2.5 hrs

High - 430 lumens/ 20 mins

Yup! 430 vampire vaporizing lumens!

Conclusions

It's a very great light! Very well built and extremely bright. Xeno E03 is meant to be a "floody" type flashlight and is best if you're walking the dog at night or camping.

Either you use AA's or 14500's, this won't fail you. The only thing I don't like about it is that it has no clip.

Fenix PD32 flashlight

This is my first time to review a Fenix flashlight so I hope you'd bear with me on this.

Fenix Flashlight announced a few months ago that they'll be conducting a global testing campaign for the PD32 and I was lucky to be included in the list of testers. The prototype sample came at exactly noon time today via Air 21.

Prototype sample came in a white box which looks like the standard box Fenix uses for retail. No batteries nor accessories in the package. The retail version will include a clip, spare o-ring, and rubber switch. 

Design

127 mm (Length) x 25.4 mm (Diameter)

61 grams (excluding batteries)

The flashlight itself can be broken down into 3 parts--head, body tube, tail cap.

The O-rings are thick and located at both ends of the body tube. No lubrication yet on the O-rings. The pieces come together very easily thus avoiding cross-threading.

At 5 inches in length, it makes a nice every day carry light. Its head has a crenelated bezel but no sharp edges. Diamond knurling allows good grip.

Fenix PD32 is waterproof, IPX-8 standard (underwater at 2 m). 

Technical Parameters

The Fenix PD32 uses two (2) CR123A Lithium batteries or one (1) high capacity 18650 Li-ion battery. RCR123 batteries NOT supported. Potential dangers of using Li-ion batteries perhaps?

Operation/Mode Selecting

Pressing the switch (forward clicky) momentarily activates the light and pressing it completely turns the light on and locks it. A single press on the side switch located at the head will adjust the brightness levels.

Turbo - 315 lumens

Low - 3 lumens

Mid - 70 lumens

High - 130 lumens

Strobe - 315 lumens

SOS - 130 lumens

Conclusions

I really like the user interface especially the mode switching. Unlike other lights that you have to keep pressing the tailcap, it uses a side switch and no more head twists like previous Fenix lights. Mode memory is a very big plus on this one and 3 lumen for me is enough for being the lowest setting.

Compared to other lights using 2 CR123A's, this is very compact and I can carry this in my pocket though I wish they included the clip to give better evaluation during every day carry. 

Pro's:

- Mode memory

- 5 modes

- Not too long (5 inches).

- Momentary ON switch function.

- No more head twists to access Turbo mode.

Con's:

- It cannot tail stand.

- Ringy beam.

I'll add additional beam shots later. I can't wait for it to get dark.