Convoy S2+ vs Convoy S21A
Quick take: The Convoy S2+ costs $3 less; the Convoy S21A is brighter (2,300 vs 1,000 lm); the Convoy S21A throws farther (219m vs 184m); the Convoy S21A runs longer on high (2.5 vs 2 hrs).
Which one to buy
Three dollars and one cell size separate Convoy's two classic tubes. The S2+ runs an 18650 and the S21A a 21700, and owners say the bigger cell and the extra aluminum around it handle heat better and hold high output longer. In its SST-40 build the S21A makes 2,300 lumens to the S2+'s 1,000 and runs 2.5 hours on high against 2, for 0.5 ounces more.
With either Convoy you're choosing an emitter, not just a light. Owners of both say the menu is the point, and S21A owners note Convoy charges the same whatever you pick. In the builds on this page, the S2+ carries an SST-20 at 4000K and CRI 95, the S21A an SST-40 at 5000K and CRI 70, so the S2+ shows colors better and the S21A puts out more. Either can be ordered the other way around.
The drawbacks are shared. Neither charges on board, so you need an external charger and cells. S21A owners note there's no manual, and buying either means AliExpress, slow shipping and a variant list S2+ owners call bewildering for a first-timer. S2+ owners rate its build alongside lights costing five times more and report it surviving drops and dunkings, though they treat the waterproofing as splash resistance rather than true IPX8. Simon's customer service gets consistent praise. S21A owners add that it ships in the older, flimsier box.
The S21A is the better buy for most people at $18: more capacity, better sustained output, same emitter menu. What you give up is the S2+'s slimmer body.
Convoy S2+
For the smallest, cheapest Convoy tube, and the one with a decade of parts and accessories behind it.
Convoy S21A
Worth the extra $3 for a 21700's capacity and longer sustained output, with the same emitter menu at one price.
| Spec | Convoy S2+ | Convoy S21A |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15 | $18 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | EDC | EDC |
| Lumens | 1,000 lm | 2,300 lm |
| Candela | 8,500 cd | 12,000 cd |
| Beam distance | 184m | 219m |
| Runtime | 2 hrs (high) | 2.5 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | 21700 |
| LED | SST-20 4000K | SST-40 5000K |
| Beam type | Balanced | Balanced |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | 4 Stepped |
| UI | Biscotti | Biscotti |
| IP rating | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| CRI | 95 | 70 |
| Weight | 2.7 oz | 3.2 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.7 x 1.0 in | 5.0 x 1.1 in |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
What owners report
Convoy S2+
- ✓Enormous emitter and tint selection — you configure the light rather than accept a default
- ✓$15 to $20 buys build quality reviewers rate alongside brands charging five times more
- ✓Simple, reliable driver options with no firmware to go wrong
- ✓A decade of production means accessories, hosts and modding parts are everywhere
- ✓Simon Mao's customer service is repeatedly singled out as excellent
- ✓Survives real abuse — owners report drops and dunkings without failure
- ✗No onboard charging: you need a separate 18650 charger and a cell
- ✗Water resistance is debatable in practice — treat it as splash-resistant, not submersible
- ✗Warranty means negotiating with an overseas seller, not a returns process
- ✗Shipping from China is slow, and the choice of variants is genuinely bewildering for a first-time buyer
- ✗The stock clip and switch are adequate rather than good
Convoy S21A
- ✓2,300 lumens and 280 m of throw for around $17
- ✓21700 mass handles heat better and sustains output longer than an 18650 body
- ✓Wide emitter and tint menu, with custom options on request
- ✓88 grams — light for the cell size
- ✓Impact resistance and thermal protection built in
- ✗Ships in the older, less protective box
- ✗No manual
- ✗No magnetic base
- ✗No onboard charging — an external charger is needed
- ✗Buying means AliExpress and international shipping
Convoy S2+ vs Convoy S21A: common questions
Does the S21A really hold brightness longer than the S2+?▾
Owners say yes. The 21700 body has more aluminum to absorb heat before thermal regulation steps in, so high output lasts longer. It's rated 2.5 hours on high against the S2+'s 2.
Can I get the S21A with a high-CRI emitter like the S2+'s SST-20?▾
Owners say both share Convoy's wide emitter and tint menu, and the S21A costs the same whichever you choose. The SST-40 build runs at CRI 70; ordering a high-CRI emitter trades some output for better color.
Are these waterproof?▾
Both are rated IPX8, but S2+ owners treat it as rain-resistant rather than submersible, even though some report units surviving accidental dunkings. Don't count on the S2+ for submersion.