NLIGHTD L3 Copper SFT25R#

Specifications
Introduction
Torch in use
Build quality
LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam
Size and comparison
User interface
Batteries and charging
Performance
Beamshots
Conclusion
Price
Product page

Specifications#

Brand/model	NLIGHTD L3 Copper
LED	Luminus SFT25R 5000K
Maximum lumens	1,600 lm
Maximum beam intensity	87,500 cd
Maximum throw	580 m
Battery	118350, 118650 (optional tube)
Onboard charging	No
Material	Copper
Modes	6
Blinkies	-
Reflector	Smooth
Waterproof	IP68
Review date	September 2025

Introduction#

The NLIGHTD L3 Copper SFT25R is a heavy 18350-sized torch with a forward-clicky tail switch and a Luminus SFT25R emitter. It is available in black aluminium, white MAO aluminium, copper, polished titanium and stonewashed titanium.

NLIGHTD is a brand by nealsgadgets.com.

Neal kindly provided this torch for review. I have not been paid for this review nor have I held back my opinions of this torch.

Packaging#

The NLIGHTD L3 comes in a box with the NLIGHTD logo on the top. There is foam to protect the torch and the accessories.

The following was included in the box:

NLIGHTD L3 Copper.
Pocket clip.
18650 tube (optional).
Two spare o-rings.
Rubber switch cover.

Torch in use#

The NLIGHTD L3 Copper SFT25R is heavy! It weighs over 400 grams with the 18650 tube.

It is controlled with a forward-clicky tail switch.

The 18350 and 18650 tubes can easily be swapped.

The torch can tail stand on the button but it is better to stand it on the head.

Is this a bonking torch? It feels like one.

Build quality#

This NLIGHTD L3 Copper SFT25R is made out of a chunk of copper. It is smooth and it looks pale initially.

The one-way pocket clip might pull your pants down (the torhc is heavy!).

There is a bit of grip on the head with a cross pattern.

The torch came with protective film on the lens to remove.

Tritium vials, or glow sticks, can be added to the six slots around the tail.

The rings on the inside of the tube look cool!

Button top and flat top 18350 and 18650 cells fit due to the large brass pill at the head and the small spring at the tail.

LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam#

This NLIGHTD L3 Copper came with a Luminus SFT25R 5000K emitter and a smooth reflector. It is also available in 6500K.

CCT, CRI, and duv#

I have taken Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) and Colour Rendering Index (CRI, RA of R1-R8) measurements with the torch positioned one metre away from an Opple Light Master Pro III (G3).

The CCT is around 4600K, the CRI is around 63, the Delta u, v is positive (green) on lower modes and closer to pure white on Turbo.
The beam produced has small intense white hot spot surrounded by a donut shaped corona with a slightly darker and wide spill.

Mode	CCT (K)	CRI (Ra)	x	y	Duv
Moonlight	4488	61.2	0.3655	0.3891	0.0104
Low	4490	63.1	0.3645	0.3831	0.0080
Medium	4543	63.9	0.3619	0.3785	0.0068
High	4651	64.5	0.3575	0.3724	0.0054
Turbo	4862	66.6	0.3497	0.3596	0.0022

Calculate Duv from CIE 1931 xy coordinates

Dimensions and size comparison#

Dimensions#

I took the following measurements using a digital caliper.

Measurement	Unit (mm)
Length with 18350 tube	107.90
Length with 18650 tube	140.87
Head diameter	33.01
Tail diameter	27.50
Button diameter	13.91

Weight#

I took the following measurements using a digital scale.

Weight	Unit (g)
NLIGHTD L3 Copper with 18350 tube	352.84
NLIGHTD L3 Copper with 18650 tube	407.61

Size comparison with its competition#

From left to right: NLIGHTD L3 Copper, Manker E05 II, Acebeam Pokelit AA, ReyLight Pineapple Mini, Wuben X2 Copper

From left to right: Vastlite Bow SFT25R, NLIGHTD E1 Copper, NLIGHTD L3 SFT25R Copper, Manker MC13 II SE, Olight Warrior Nano

User interface#

The NLIGHTD L3 has a forward-clicky tail switch.

There are five modes in the main group: Moonlight, Low, Medium, High and Turbo

There is a hidden mode called with an output of 1,000 lumens. Once you enter the mode, momentarily pressing the button will activate 1,000 lumens instead of cycle through the main group. To exit the hidden mode, half press the button quickly about three times from off.

State	Action	Result
Off	Half press	Momentary on (mode memory)
Off	Half press within 1 second	Cycle (Moonlight, Low, Medium, High, Turbo)
Off	Half press 5 times quickly and fully press	Hidden Mode
Off	Click	On (mode memory)
On	Click	Off

Mode memory#

There is mode memory.

The torch will use the last used mode when turning the torch back on.

Strobe#

There does not appear to be a Strobe mode.

Low voltage protection#

There is low voltage protection. The torch turns off at 2.50V.

I tested low voltage protection by connecting the driver of the torch to a bench power supply and then by lowering the voltage from 4.2V to 0V for a 3.7V Li-ion cell.

Pulse Width Modulation#

I did not notice any visible PWM (flickering).

I measured the PWM of the light with a Zoyi ZT-701 oscilloscope.

18350 (Moonlight, Low, Medium, High, Turbo)

What I like about the UI#

Simple.
Forward-clicky tail switch.

What could be improved#

Neal asked for suggestions prior to mass producing the L3 SFT25R so I am pretty happy with this user interface.

Batteries and charging#

Battery#

The NLIGHTD L3 SFT25R takes either an 18350 or an 18650 3.6V Li-ion cell.

A NLIGHTD 18350 3.6V Li-ion 1600mAh 5A Li-ion cell can be purchased separately.

I tried the following cells:

Cell	Top	Compatible?
NLIGHTD 18350 3.6V Li-ion 1600mAh	Flat	Yes
Vapcell M11 V2 18350 3.7V Li-ion 1100mAh (yellow)	Flat	Yes
Vapcell N40 18650 3.7V Li-ion 4000mAh	Flat	Yes
LOOP 18650 3.6V Li-ion 4000mAh	Button	Yes

Charging#

There is no built-in charging.

Performance#

Specifications from the product page:

ANSI/NEMA FL1	Turbo	High	Medium	Low	Moon	Hide
Output (lumens)	1,600	650	250	70	1	1,000
Runtime
Beam Intensity (cd)	87,500	37,350	14,400	3,600	12	52,200
Beam Distance (metres)	580	386	240	120	7	457

I tested the torch using an NLIGHTD 18350 3.6V Li-ion 1600mAh 5A cell, a Vapcell M11 V2 18350 3.7V Li-ion 1100mAh (yellow) 10A Max CDR cell and a Vapcell N40 18650 3.7V 4000mAh 10A Max CDR cell.

Lumen measurements#

I used a UNI-T UT139C digital multimeter to measure the current for Moonlight at turn on (7.67 mA).

I used a bench power supply to measure the current at turn on for all other modes.

Cell	Mode	Amps at start	Specs	Lumens @turn on	Lumens @30 sec	Lumens @10 min
18350	Low	0.12 A	70	76	74	74
18350	Medium	0.47 A	250	285	282	281
18350	High	1.55 A	650	748	739	570
18350	Turbo	7.80 A	1,600	1,682	1,473	562
M11V2	Turbo	7.80 A	1,600	1,796	1,606	563
18650	Low	0.12 A	70	76	76	74
18650	Medium	0.47 A	250	283	282	281
18650	High	1.55 A	650	723	716	561
18650	Turbo	7.80 A	1,600	1,899	1,664	555

Moonlight is too low for my DIY lumen tube to detect.

Standby drain#

There is no standby drain. This torch has a forward-clicky tailswitch.

Runtime graphs#

I used my own DIY lumen tube with a TSL2591 sensor and forked bmengineer’s project RuTiTe to record runtimes.

Note: Lumen measurements may be off by 10% with my DIY lumen tube.

The room temperature was approximately 18 C.

18350#

18650#

Turbo#

Runtime#

Here is a summary of the runtime results:

Cell	Mode	Runtime	Turn off	Final voltage
M11V2	Turbo	48min 47s	50min 18s	3.06
18350	Turbo	52min 17s	1h 6min 54s	2.94
18350	High	56min 29s	1h 11min 0s	2.92
18350	Medium	2h 20min 20s	2h 40min 47s	2.94
18350	Low	9h 4min 36s	10h 8min 28s	2.87
18650	Turbo	2h 21min 16s	2h 53min 34s	2.90
18650	High	2h 24min 30s	2h 58min 7s	2.90
18650	Medium	5h 53min 10s	6h 42min 25s	2.92
18650	Low	22h 41min 33s	24h+

“Runtime” is the time until the output reduces to 10% of the output at 30 seconds (as per the ANSI/PLATO FL1 2019 Standard).

“Turn off” is the time until my DIY lumen tube no longer detects more than one lumen.

“+” indicates that the light remained on after recording had stopped.

Moonlight is too low for my DIY lumen tube to detect.

The output is well regulated.

There are no official runtime results so here are my results.

Throw#

I took lux measurements with a UNI-T UT383BT at 30 seconds. Turbo was measured at five metres.

Cell	Mode	Specs (cd)	Specs (m)	Candela measured (cd)	Distance (m)
18350	Turbo	87,500	580	83,150	576
M11V2	Turbo	87,500	580	89,850	599
18650	Turbo	87,500	580	89,550	598

Beamshots#

I went to a local park and aimed the torch at a tree 70 metres away while using Turbo.

Beamshots were taken using a Sony RX100M2 using 3.2", f3.2, ISO 100, 5000K WB.