Lumintop FW3A vs Lumintop GT Mini
Quick take: The Lumintop FW3A costs $3 less; the Lumintop FW3A is brighter (2,800 vs 1,600 lm); the Lumintop GT Mini throws farther (1000m vs 184m).
Which one to buy
Lumintop no longer makes the FW3A, so it's a hunt for leftover stock, and it was never the same kind of light as the GT Mini anyway. The FW3A is a slim 18650 flooder: 2,800 lumens of 4000K, CRI 95 light that reaches 184 meters, in a 2.0-ounce tube. The GT Mini is a pocket thrower, now rebuilt around a 21700 and a Luminus SFT40 for 250,000 candela and 1,000 meters, with a 55 mm head that won't clip into a jeans pocket.
FW3A owners still describe it in superlatives: one of the shortest 18650 lights made, knurling better than on far pricier lights, and Anduril with a sub-lumen low. Its faults are specific. The head passes 80°C on turbo and Lumintop itself suggests ten-second bursts. The quick switch makes it easy to land in an Anduril menu by accident. Some batches squeak, it needs unprotected cells, and the clip ring makes a pressure point in the hand.
The GT Mini's rebuild is about runtime: the 21700 gives it an hour on high, where the old 18650 version ran short. It still has no onboard charging, so the cell comes out to charge, and the tint is cool white only. At 7.4 ounces it is also more than three times the FW3A's weight.
If you want to see something a kilometer away, the GT Mini is the only one of these that can. For everything else, from close work to reading color correctly, the FW3A's tint and Anduril are better, if you can still find one and accept its heat and quirks.
Lumintop FW3A
For enthusiasts who can find remaining stock and want a short, high-CRI Anduril flooder, accepting heat on turbo and unprotected cells.
Lumintop GT Mini
When distance is the job, this is the pick: a tight 1,000-meter beam from a light you can still carry, with cool white as the only tint.
| Spec | Lumintop FW3A | Lumintop GT Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $42 | $45 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | EDC | Thrower |
| Lumens | 2,800 lm | 1,600 lm |
| Candela | 8,500 cd | 250,000 cd |
| Beam distance | 184m | 1000m |
| Runtime | 1 hr (turbo) | 1 hr (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | 21700 |
| LED | SST-20 4000K | Luminus SFT40 |
| Beam type | Flood | Throw |
| Modes | Ramping + Stepped | 5 Stepped |
| UI | Anduril | Simple |
| IP rating | IP67 | IPX8 |
| CRI | 95 | 70 |
| Weight | 2.0 oz | 7.4 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.9 x 1.0 in | 5.9 x 2.2 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 GT Mini
- ✓735 m of throw from a pocketable 18650 light
- ✓Smooth head slides into a pocket, knurled tube stays put in the hand
- ✓Mode memory so you don't cycle back to your level
- ✓IPX68 rated
- ✓Comfortable to hold for extended periods despite the head size
- ✗No onboard charging — an external charger is required
- ✗Large head on a small tube makes the balance awkward
- ✗Body flats and labels don't line up with the button
- ✗Steps down faster than some owners like
- ✗A 2018 design, now undercut by newer pocket throwers
Lumintop FW3A vs Lumintop GT Mini: common questions
Is the Lumintop FW3A still available?▾
Lumintop has discontinued it, so you'll only find remaining stock. Owners still rate it highly as an enthusiast EDC, but they describe it as a light with known quirks rather than a polished product.
Does the Lumintop GT Mini charge over USB?▾
No. It has no onboard charging, so plan on taking the 21700 out and charging it in an external charger.
How hot does the FW3A get on turbo?▾
Owners say the head passes 80°C, and Lumintop's own guidance is to use turbo in ten-second bursts. Treat turbo as a short burst and use the lower Anduril levels for anything sustained.
Why is the GT Mini's head so large compared with its body?▾
Reflector size is what buys throw: a wide, deep reflector concentrates the beam. The 55 mm head is the price of 250,000 candela, and it makes the light too big for a jeans pocket.