Wurkkos FC13 vs Wurkkos HD15R
Quick take: The Wurkkos FC13 is brighter (2,000 vs 1,300 lm); the Wurkkos FC13 throws farther (219m vs 179m).
Which one to buy
Neither light is still made, so the real question is whether a leftover unit at $28 suits you, and which successor family to look at if not. Wurkkos folded the FC13 into the FC11C and replaced the HD15R with the HD15. Price matches, both run on an 18650 with USB-C and a 90 CRI LH351D, and what separates them is form and interface.
The FC13 is a pocket light running Anduril 2. Owners like that it ramps from a true moonlight up to a big output, and the illuminated switch makes it easy to find in a dark room. Its 12,000 candela gives it more reach than the HD15R's 8,000. The catch owners raise is the interface itself: Anduril 2 rewards people who configure it and confuses people who don't, so it is a poor gift for someone who wants one click on, one click off. The USB-C cover also takes a firm press to seat.
The HD15R is a flood headlamp with a red LED to protect night vision and a magnetic tailcap, so it frees both hands at camp or sticks to a car hood. Its weak points are ones owners keep raising. The cell is sealed in, so you can't swap a fresh one on a long night, and when it wears out the light is finished. There are only four steps, with high too bright and medium too dim for many jobs, and owners find Wurkkos runtime figures overstate reality by two to three times, so read the rated 2 hours on high with that in mind. On a light you can no longer buy new, the FC13's replaceable cell counts for more than any spec on the table.
Wurkkos FC13
Worth hunting down if you want Anduril 2, more reach and a cell you can replace, and you're happy to learn a configurable interface.
Wurkkos HD15R
Suits a camper who wants a hands-free light with red mode and a magnet and never wants to handle cells, as long as a sealed battery with a finite life is acceptable.
| Spec | Wurkkos FC13 | Wurkkos HD15R |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $28 | $28 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | EDC | Headlamp |
| Lumens | 2,000 lm | 1,300 lm |
| Candela | 12,000 cd | 8,000 cd |
| Beam distance | 219m | 179m |
| Runtime | 2 hrs (high) | 2 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | 18650 |
| LED | LH351D 5000K | LH351D + red |
| Beam type | Balanced | Flood |
| Modes | Ramping + Stepped | 4 Stepped |
| UI | Anduril 2 | Simple |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| CRI | 90 | 90 |
| Weight | 2.3 oz | 2.2 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.6 x 1.0 in | 4.0 x 1.0 in |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
What owners report
Wurkkos FC13
- ✓Anduril 2 with full ramping and configurability at a budget price
- ✓More throw than the FC11 while keeping the same practical format
- ✓Illuminated switch that makes it findable in the dark
- ✓USB-C charging that works well, with solid Wurkkos build quality
- ✓Ramps from a genuine moonlight up to a large output
- ✗Anduril 2 is less approachable than the FC11's conventional interface
- ✗One reviewer couldn't get the power bank function working on the FC13s
- ✗The USB-C port cover needs deliberate pressure to seat
- ✗Recommended for enthusiasts specifically, not as a universal pick
- ✗Easy to confuse with the FC11 and FC13s in listings
Wurkkos HD15R
- ✓Same well-rated HD15 platform: dual emitters, magnetic tailcap, strong build
- ✓USB-C charging in the head at over 2.3A
- ✓Nothing to lose — no cell to misplace or fit incorrectly
- ✓Smaller and lighter than the 21700 HD20
- ✓Good value for the feature set
- ✗Sealed cell — no swapping a fresh one in on a long night
- ✗Finite lifespan: when the battery degrades the light is finished
- ✗Too few brightness levels, as on the removable-cell HD15
- ✗Published runtime figures overstate reality by two to three times
- ✗No Anduril, so the mode spacing can't be reconfigured
Wurkkos FC13 vs Wurkkos HD15R: common questions
Should I buy a leftover FC13 or HD15R now that both are discontinued?▾
Only if the price is right and you accept that neither is in production. Wurkkos replaced the HD15R with the HD15, which takes a removable 18650, and folded the FC13 line into the FC11C, so those are the current lights to compare against.
Is the HD15R's sealed battery a dealbreaker compared with the FC13?▾
For occasional camping it's tolerable, but owners point out that once the built-in cell degrades the HD15R can't be revived, and you can't carry a spare for a long night. The FC13 takes a standard 18650, so a worn cell is a cheap swap.
Which one is easier for someone who doesn't want to learn a flashlight interface?▾
The HD15R, with four stepped modes and a simple UI. Owners call the FC13's Anduril 2 less approachable and recommend it for enthusiasts, though HD15R owners do complain that its four levels are spaced too far apart.