For a long time, I’ve been searching for a good flashlight whose manufacturer specifications at least halfway match what we get in reality. This time, I chose the rather large Paweinuo flashlight powered by the XHP360 LED chip and 26650A cells.
I purchased the flashlight with my own money on Aliexpress. According to the manufacturer, the flashlight’s body is made of aircraft-grade aluminum (6063-T6 alloy), ensuring its resistance to mechanical damage. At first glance, it appears very solid. It is large and heavy, measuring 5.5 centimeters at its widest point, 25.3 centimeters in length (+2.5 centimeters when extended with the zoom function). It also has an interesting shape, as you can see in the photos. The version I chose is equipped with two 26650A cells hidden inside. The interior is secured by a large cap with additional eyelets for extra mounts, one of which is included in the set. The flashlight and cells cost me 39 EUR.
The grip is large and knurled, making it easier to hold the flashlight. The body has a cap covering the charging port (USB type C). On the opposite side, there is the power switch. Typically, it has a 100% power option when turned on, 50% with one click, and a strobe mode. This differs from what the manufacturer states, as they mention an additional low light mode. The switch is also fastened with four screws, which looks interesting but can be confusing in practice and in the dark. It’s hard to find the switch by touch alone, as you might just touch a screw. The switch could protrude a bit more.
The top of this flashlight features a large glass lens housed in grooved aluminum for better passive cooling. There are four indentations that facilitate extending this element – you naturally grasp these spots with your fingers to use the zoom function (and extend this massive element). The lens cover can, of course, be unscrewed.
The heart of the XHP360 flashlight is a 36-core LED, which is quite bright. In telescopic zoom mode, you can see the individual cores. The manufacturer claims the flashlight can illuminate up to 800 meters ahead, but this is quite an exaggeration. I tested the flashlight in complete darkness near a forest in Roztocze, and it does shine far, but the lens does not focus enough to make those 800 meters visible. It should be noted that the flashlight can be powered by two 18650A or 26650A batteries. The 18650A cells are a popular, older design with quite good capacity. The 26650A cells are newer, more expensive, and can have up to twice the capacity of the 18650A. If you have access to reliable 18650A cells, you can safely choose them for this flashlight, as there are many dubious quality knock-offs on the market. I chose 26650A as I had the opportunity to purchase the flashlight with the rechargeable batteries. You charge them directly in the charger using USB-C and the fast-charging mode. Near the switch, there are four small LEDs indicating the current battery charge status.
The flashlight also has an overheating protection function and a fast-charging option (full battery in 4 hours). The IPX6 water resistance level ensures protection against rain and moisture, making the flashlight usable in harsh weather conditions. However, the flashlight is not intended for diving.
During use, the flashlight starts to heat up. The protections ensure that to maintain optimal temperature, its brightness decreases. You can notice it dimming slightly, and this is most evident when you turn the flashlight off and on quickly. It defaults to 100% power, so the protection quickly reduces its brightness.
This also decreases battery consumption, making the flashlight last longer. With these cells, the manufacturer promises an average runtime between 4 to 8 hours, but you should expect the lower end of that range.
