Emisar D4V2 vs Emisar D3AA
Quick take: The Emisar D4V2 is brighter (4,200 vs 1,620 lm); the Emisar D4V2 throws farther (262m vs 128m).
Which one to buy
Hank sells both for $36 with an NTG35 4200K at 95 CRI, Anduril 2 and IP67 sealing. The D3AA is Hank's shrunken D4V2, and the question is whether you want the bigger light's output or the smaller one's batteries.
The D4V2 runs an 18650 and is rated at 4,200 lumens, 17,100 candela and 262 m, against the D3AA's 1,620 lumens, 4,100 candela and 128 m. Owners call it the light that turns people into flashlight people. Four years in, they report faultless reliability and excellent finish, and they say it outperforms Olight and Nitecore lights at similar prices. They are also clear that its quad in a small tube has little thermal mass, so turbo is a burst that steps down quickly and heats the body.
The D3AA trades that output for a 3.1-inch, 1.3 oz body that runs on a 14500 or a 1.5V cell. Owners call it by far the best Eneloop light available, with regulated output, no PWM and an efficient driver, which matters if your household runs on rechargeable AAs. Its complaints are about finish rather than function: anodizing that could be tougher, red o-rings that break more readily, and a clip with a tight gap and nubs that dig into your leg. Neither charges onboard, both are ordered through Hank's store with long shipping times, and Anduril's configuration menus confuse almost everyone at first. Most owners say they settle in quickly. If you already own 18650s and want the most light per dollar, the D4V2 is the stronger light. If you live on AA and NiMH cells, or want something that weighs half as much, the D3AA is the better fit, despite the clip.
Emisar D4V2
For the most output per dollar on an 18650, from a light owners report as faultless after four years.
Emisar D3AA
If your drawer is full of Eneloops: the AA-size version owners call the best NiMH light available, at about half the weight.
| Spec | Emisar D4V2 | Emisar D3AA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $36 | $36 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | EDC | EDC |
| Lumens | 4,200 lm | 1,620 lm |
| Candela | 17,100 cd | 4,100 cd |
| Beam distance | 262m | 128m |
| Runtime | 1.5 hrs (turbo) | 1.5 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | AA/14500 |
| LED | NTG35 4200K | NTG35 4200K |
| Beam type | Flood | Flood |
| Modes | Ramping + Stepped | Ramping + Stepped |
| UI | Anduril 2 | Anduril 2 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| CRI | 95 | 95 |
| Weight | 2.5 oz | 1.3 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.7 x 1.1 in | 3.1 x 0.9 in |
| Warranty | Manufacturer Limited | Manufacturer Limited |
What owners report
Emisar D4V2
- ✓Configure-to-order: emitter, tint, body material, switch and optics are all your choice
- ✓Anduril is repeatedly called the best flashlight interface available once learned
- ✓Owners four years in report zero reliability problems and excellent fit and finish
- ✓Substantially outperforms similarly priced Olight and Nitecore models
- ✓Aux LEDs under the optic make it findable and can show battery state
- ✓Firmware is open, so the light keeps gaining features long after purchase
- ✗Anduril's configuration menus are genuinely bewildering on first contact
- ✗Ordering means intl-outdoor, long shipping times, and occasional order errors
- ✗A quad in a small tube has little thermal mass — turbo steps down fast and the body gets hot
- ✗No onboard charging on most configurations; you need a separate charger
- ✗The choice matrix is paralysing if you don't already know what emitter you want
Emisar D3AA
- ✓Full D4V2 capability — three emitters, full emitter menu, Anduril 2 — in a smaller body
- ✓Runs both 14500 lithium and 1.5V cells
- ✓Described as by far the best Eneloop light: regulated, no PWM, very efficient
- ✓Upgraded driver improves both output and runtime
- ✓Dedome option available for a warmer beam
- ✗The clip's gap is too small to push into a jeans pocket easily
- ✗Pronounced clip nubs press uncomfortably against leg or hand
- ✗Anodising could be tougher
- ✗Red o-rings on the smaller Emisars break more readily
- ✗Tolerances around the o-rings could be better
Emisar D4V2 vs Emisar D3AA: common questions
Is the D3AA bright enough to replace a D4V2?▾
For close and medium range, often yes, at 1,620 lumens and 128 m. The D4V2 is rated at 4,200 lumens and 262 m, though owners note its turbo is a short burst before it steps down and the body gets hot.
Which runs better on rechargeable AA batteries?▾
Only the D3AA takes AAs, and owners call it by far the best Eneloop light available, with regulated output and no PWM. The D4V2 needs an 18650.
Do the D4V2 and D3AA have the same quality problems?▾
D4V2 owners report excellent fit and finish over years of use. D3AA owners flag complaints about the anodizing, o-rings and clip, but nothing about how the light performs.