Nitecore LR60 vs Nitecore MT2A Pro
Quick take: The Nitecore LR60 costs $4 less; the Nitecore MT2A Pro is brighter (1,000 vs 280 lm); the Nitecore MT2A Pro throws farther (255m vs 45m); the Nitecore LR60 runs longer on high (6 vs 1 hrs).
Which one to buy
A lantern and a penlight rarely compete, and these two meet only on price, $40 against $44. The first thing to know is that the LR60 lantern is discontinued. If you can find one, it's a niche buy; the MT2A Pro is a current light.
Owners who have the LR60 single out its color. The diffused beam is rated CRI 90-plus, rare in a lantern, and owners say it makes a real difference to how food, maps and a first-aid kit look at a camp table. It also works as a power bank for a phone or tablet, has a magnet strong enough to hold it vertically or horizontally on steel, and hangs from a tilting steel ring. The limits are output and price: 280 lumens is modest for lighting a large area, and owners call it pricey for that figure.
The MT2A Pro is a 2AA penlight that throws. Owners describe its 1,000 lumens and 255 m as well ahead of typical AA lights, and they praise the build, with no battery rattle. It runs the included rechargeable cell or ordinary AAs. Two quirks come up in owner discussions: you get only two modes on AAs against three on the lithium cell, and the driver has no low-voltage protection of its own, so when the cell's protection cuts out the light won't restart until you swap or recharge. Its narrow beam also suits distance more than close work.
So the LR60 lights a table and charges a phone, and the MT2A Pro finds the trail and runs on batteries sold everywhere, at the cost of a beam too tight for camp chores.
Nitecore LR60
Only if you find leftover stock and want a high-CRI camp lantern that doubles as a phone charger, accepting its modest output.
Nitecore MT2A Pro
For anyone who needs a current, slim light that reaches far and runs on ordinary AAs in a pinch, which covers most buyers here.
| Spec | Nitecore LR60 | Nitecore MT2A Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40 | $44 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Lantern | EDC |
| Lumens | 280 lm | 1,000 lm |
| Candela | 500 cd | 16,500 cd |
| Beam distance | 45m | 255m |
| Runtime | 6 hrs (medium) | 1 hr (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | AA/14500 |
| LED | High CRI LED + UV | UHi 20 6500K |
| Beam type | Flood | Throw |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | 3 Stepped |
| UI | Simple | Simple |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| CRI | 90 | 70 |
| Weight | 3.8 oz | 2.1 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.5 x 2.0 in | 5.6 x 1.0 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
What owners report
Nitecore LR60
- ✓90+ CRI diffused beam — rare in a lantern and immediately noticeable
- ✓Takes two 21700s or 18650s and works as a power bank for phones and tablets
- ✓Powerful magnet holds it vertically or horizontally on steel
- ✓Tilting steel ring for hanging, plus adjustable brightness and direction
- ✓USB-C charging, more durable than micro-USB
- ✗Pricey for a 280-lumen lantern
- ✗IP66 covers rain but not submersion
- ✗280 lumens is modest if you want to light a large area
- ✗Little independent review coverage compared with Nitecore's flashlights
- ✗Two cells to buy and keep matched
Nitecore MT2A Pro
- ✓1,000 lumens and 255 m of throw — well ahead of typical AA lights
- ✓Runs on the supplied lithium cell or ordinary AAs
- ✓Build quality reviewers rate highly, with no battery rattle
- ✓3.45 ounces with a two-way pocket clip
- ✓Penlight format that carries in a shirt pocket
- ✗No low-voltage protection in the driver — it relies on the cell's own circuit
- ✗When the cell cuts out you must swap or recharge before the light works again
- ✗Only two modes on AA power, versus three on the lithium cell
- ✗Throw-biased beam is narrow for close work
- ✗Penlight ergonomics don't suit heavy-duty use
Nitecore LR60 vs Nitecore MT2A Pro: common questions
Can the Nitecore MT2A Pro work as a camp light like the LR60 lantern?▾
Not well. Owners note its throw-biased beam is narrow for close work, so it lights the trail better than a tent or table. The LR60's diffused, high-CRI light is built for exactly that, but it's discontinued.
What happens when the MT2A Pro's battery runs out?▾
Owners explain that the light relies on the cell's own protection circuit, so it shuts off without a gradual dimming and won't restart until you recharge or swap the cell. Carrying a spare AA solves it, though you get two modes on AA instead of three.
Is the LR60 still worth buying as a discontinued lantern?▾
Only at a fair price. Owners love its 90-plus CRI diffused light, the strong magnet and its power-bank output, but they also call it pricey for 280 lumens, and new stock won't be replenished.