Fenix PD36R V2.0 vs Fenix PD36 TAC
Quick take: The Fenix PD36 TAC is brighter (3,000 vs 1,700 lm); the Fenix PD36R V2.0 throws farther (396m vs 274m); the Fenix PD36R V2.0 runs longer on high (2.5 vs 2 hrs).
Which one to buy
Two takes on Fenix's PD36 platform at the same $100, and the emitter choice drives everything. The PD36R V2.0 uses an SFT-40 for reach: 1,700 lumens, 39,200 candela, 396 meters. The PD36 TAC uses an SST70 for spread: 3,000 lumens, 18,800 candela, 274 meters. TAC owners say its beam works both close up and at distance; PD36R owners say theirs blends real reach with low modes that run for many hours.
The controls are where owners split hardest. The TAC's tactical selector switch lets you set the light's behavior for the job, and owners call it the best thing about it, with controls reachable in every grip. The catch is that duty mode restores the last level used, which may be eco or turbo, and there's no battery indicator at all. The PD36R V2.0's owners complain about the opposite end: a tiny mode button near the head that's hard to find one-handed and covers the battery indicator when pressed. It also won't tail-stand and starts at 30 lumens, with no moonlight.
Both draw praise for build quality and both come with a holster and a lifetime warranty. One PD36R owner ran the previous generation daily for nine years before the switch wore out. TAC owners mention a stiff tail switch and around 3.5 hours to charge its 5,000mAh cell.
The trade comes down to 122 meters of extra reach on the PD36R V2.0 against a switch layout on the TAC that its owners like far better.
Fenix PD36R V2.0
If you spend time outdoors and want to see far, with a light whose owners report years of hard daily use, this is the one.
Fenix PD36 TAC
For officers and security staff who want to set the light's behavior once with a selector switch and use a wider beam up close.
| Spec | Fenix PD36R V2.0 | Fenix PD36 TAC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 | $100 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | EDC | Tactical |
| Lumens | 1,700 lm | 3,000 lm |
| Candela | 39,200 cd | 18,800 cd |
| Beam distance | 396m | 274m |
| Runtime | 2.5 hrs (high) | 2 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 21700 | 21700 |
| LED | Luminus SFT-40 | Luminus SST70 |
| Beam type | Balanced | Balanced |
| Modes | 5 Stepped | 5 Stepped |
| UI | Simple | Dual Switch |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| CRI | 70 | 70 |
| Weight | 3.4 oz | 3.7 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.3 x 1.0 in | 5.4 x 1.1 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
What owners report
Fenix PD36R V2.0
- ✓Blends genuine reach with low modes that run for many hours
- ✓Build quality and warranty that owners report surviving years of daily abuse
- ✓USB-C charging and an included holster
- ✓Simple, no-nonsense interface with a high-output SFT40
- ✓Good balance in the hand for a 21700-class duty light
- ✗The mode button is tiny and hard to find single-handed
- ✗Pressing it covers the equally tiny battery indicator
- ✗Won't tail-stand
- ✗No moonlight mode — the lowest level is 30 lumens
- ✗Gets hot on turbo within a couple of minutes
Fenix PD36 TAC
- ✓Tactical selector switch lets you configure behaviour for the job
- ✓3,000 lumens with good spread — usable close up and at distance
- ✓Sized well: secure in the hand without being heavy
- ✓Controls reachable in every grip, with a firm click that doesn't tire the thumb
- ✓Holster, cable and a 5,000mAh 21700 included
- ✗No battery indicator at all
- ✗Duty mode remembers the last level used, which might be eco or turbo
- ✗Charging takes around 3.5 hours because of the cell capacity
- ✗The tail switch action is relatively stiff
- ✗Large for anything other than duty or outdoor use
Fenix PD36R V2.0 vs Fenix PD36 TAC: common questions
What's the difference between the Fenix PD36R V2.0 and the PD36 TAC?▾
The PD36R V2.0 uses an SFT-40 for throw, reaching 396 meters from 1,700 lumens. The PD36 TAC uses an SST70 for a wider 3,000-lumen beam reaching 274 meters, and adds a tactical selector switch that owners rate as its best feature.
Which has the easier controls to use under pressure?▾
Owners favor the TAC, whose controls they say are reachable in every grip. PD36R V2.0 owners find its mode button tiny and hard to locate one-handed. The TAC's duty mode does remember the last level used, which can surprise you.
Do either of them show how much battery is left?▾
The PD36R V2.0 has a small battery indicator, though owners say your finger covers it when pressing the mode button. TAC owners say it has no battery indicator at all.