Nitecore TIP SE vs Nitecore TIKI
Quick take: The Nitecore TIP SE costs $5 less; the Nitecore TIP SE is brighter (700 vs 300 lm); the Nitecore TIP SE throws farther (118m vs 69m); the Nitecore TIKI runs longer on high (40 vs 1 hrs).
| Spec | Nitecore TIP SE | Nitecore TIKI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25 | $30 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Keychain | Keychain |
| Lumens | 700 lm | 300 lm |
| Candela | 3,500 cd | 1,200 cd |
| Beam distance | 118m | 69m |
| Runtime | 1 hr (high) | 40 min (high) |
| Battery | Built-in | Built-in |
| LED | Osram P9 | Osram P8 |
| Beam type | Balanced | Flood |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | 3 Stepped + UV |
| UI | Dual Button | Twist |
| IP rating | IP54 | IP66 |
| CRI | 70 | 70 |
| Weight | 1.4 oz | 0.4 oz |
| Dimensions | 2.4 x 1.0 in | 1.9 x 0.6 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
What owners report
Nitecore TIP SE
- ✓700 lumens with quick access, from a keychain-sized body
- ✓Two-button interface with real shortcuts to useful modes
- ✓Proper USB-C charging — no extra cable needed
- ✓Detachable pocket clip that also covers the charging port
- ✓IP54 and rated for a 1 m drop
- ✗DEMO mode is very easy to trigger, and the light is often in the wrong mode
- ✗Buttons aren't recessed, which is why DEMO gets triggered
- ✗Charging is slow despite being USB-C
- ✗Plastic lens rather than glass, and a plastic core body
- ✗No neutral white option
Nitecore TIKI
- ✓Three emitters — main white, high-CRI white and UV — in a keychain-sized body
- ✓300 lumens from the main OSRAM P8, which is a lot for the format
- ✓Keyring rated to around 30 kg, with no breakage reports from owners
- ✓Priced competitively for the amount of functionality
- ✓Small and light enough to genuinely live on a keyring
- ✗High plastic content makes it look and feel cheap
- ✗The button and charging port are hard to use with larger fingers
- ✗Built-in battery and no disassembly — disposable once the cell degrades
- ✗Reviewers note the design closely follows RovyVon's without improving on it
- ✗Runtime is very short at higher output