Lumintop FW3A vs Lumintop EDC01
Quick take: The Lumintop EDC01 costs $34 less; the Lumintop FW3A is brighter (2,800 vs 120 lm); the Lumintop FW3A throws farther (184m vs 60m); the Lumintop EDC01 runs longer on high (30 vs 1 hrs).
| Spec | Lumintop FW3A | Lumintop EDC01 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $42 | $8 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | EDC | Keychain |
| Lumens | 2,800 lm | 120 lm |
| Candela | 8,500 cd | 900 cd |
| Beam distance | 184m | 60m |
| Runtime | 1 hr (turbo) | 30 min (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | AAA |
| LED | SST-20 4000K | Nichia 219CT |
| Beam type | Flood | Flood |
| Modes | Ramping + Stepped | 3 Stepped |
| UI | Anduril | Simple |
| IP rating | IP67 | IPX8 |
| CRI | 95 | 90 |
| Weight | 2.0 oz | 0.4 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.9 x 1.0 in | 2.7 x 0.6 in |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
What owners report
Lumintop FW3A
- ✓One of the shortest 18650 lights made, with near-ideal pocket geometry
- ✓Diamond-cut knurling better executed than on far more expensive lights
- ✓Anduril, with a sub-lumen low and a 2,800-lumen high
- ✓Spectacular build quality for a sub-$40 light
- ✓A genuine community design rather than a marketing exercise
- ✗The head exceeds 80°C on turbo; Lumintop advises ten-second bursts only
- ✗The quickfire switch makes accidental Anduril reconfiguration easy
- ✗Some batches squeak and have an uncomfortable switch
- ✗Requires unprotected cells because of the output and form factor
- ✗The pocket clip ring stands proud and creates a pressure point
Lumintop EDC01
- ✓Barely larger than the AAA cell it runs on
- ✓Aircraft-grade aluminium with an IP68 rating
- ✓Three modes with memory — returns to your last level
- ✓Runs on a battery available anywhere
- ✓Cheap enough to buy several and scatter them around
- ✗Gets warm on high
- ✗Bigger and less bright than some rivals in the same format
- ✗The included diffuser is effectively useless
- ✗AAA runtime and output are inherently limited
- ✗No rechargeable option