Acebeam Rider RX vs Acebeam TAC 2AA
Quick take: The Acebeam TAC 2AA costs $0.10000000000000142 less; the Acebeam TAC 2AA is brighter (1,600 vs 650 lm); the Acebeam TAC 2AA throws farther (181m vs 96m); the Acebeam TAC 2AA runs longer on high (2 vs 1 hrs).
| Spec | Acebeam Rider RX | Acebeam TAC 2AA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $50 | $49.9 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | EDC | EDC |
| Lumens | 650 lm | 1,600 lm |
| Candela | 2,300 cd | 8,190 cd |
| Beam distance | 96m | 181m |
| Runtime | 1 hr (high) | 2 hrs (turbo) |
| Battery | AA/14500 | AA/14500 |
| LED | Nichia 219F 5000K | Not named by the maker (6500K) |
| Beam type | Flood | Balanced |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | 5 Stepped + Strobe |
| UI | Simple | Dual Switch |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| CRI | 90 | |
| Weight | 2.9 oz | 3.7 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.8 x 0.7 in | 5.9 x 0.9 in |
| Warranty | 5 Year | 10 Year |
What owners report
Acebeam Rider RX
- ✓High-CRI Nichia 219F in an AA/14500 light
- ✓Bolt-action fidget clip that some owners find genuinely calming
- ✓Type III hard-anodised aluminium with good heat dissipation
- ✓1,000 lumens from a widely available cell format
- ✓Rated 4.5 out of 5 by a reviewer despite the regulation criticism
- ✗Output isn't regulated on 14500 — it dims as the cell drains
- ✗Every mode uses PWM, though it's well implemented
- ✗Forward-clicky tail makes mode changes awkward with the light on
- ✗Longer than most of its direct competition
- ✗Not enough texture for wet or gloved hands, and charging is slow