Acebeam T35

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Acebeam T35 Specifications & measurements

Brand/model	Acebeam T35
Flashlight category	Tactical flashlight
LED	1*Luminus SFT40
Max. output	1,600 lumens
Max. beam distance	352 meters
Max. beam intensity	30,976 cd
Battery config.	1*18650
Onboard charging	USB-C
Modes	5
Blinkies	Strobe
Waterproof	IP68
Review date	May 2024

This particular flashlight was gifted and didn’t need to be reviewed. However, since I got my hands on it, I’d rather review it anyway….

This is the T35, a tactical-style flashlight with ‘only’ 1,600 lumens. That’s because this is the NW (neutral white) version, but you can get 1,900 lumens with the CW (cold white) version.

Since Acebeam has been around for quite some time and built lots of different kinds of flashlights, it should be at least good enough for some users. But is it truly Tactical?

Let’s find out?

What’s in the package

The packaging for the T35 is relatively simple and something you would expect hanging (or standing) on some shelves in a brick-and-mortar store. And this is what you find inside:

• Acebeam T35
• 18650 battery (ARC18650H-260A , 2600mAh)
• USB-C charging cable
• Lanyard
• 2 O-rings
• Spare USB port cover
• Holster
• Warranty card, and manual

Remove the sticker on the glass lens and the plastic insulator from inside the tailcap before your first use.

There is one thing that most Acebeam flashlights have in common: good build quality. And the T35 is no exception to that rule. Mine has some good-looking (brown) anodization, with plenty of knurling on the battery tube and tailcap. The anodization is done pretty well, but if you look super super closely, you’ll notice just a very tiny difference in coating between the tailcap and battery tube. But it’s so tiny that most people wouldn’t even notice. And frankly, it’s so tiny that I don’t care about it.

No build quality problems anywhere on the light.

There are two switches on the T35: an electronic switch on the side and a protruding mechanical forward-clicky switch on the rear. A forward clicky switch activates the light while half-pressing before the actual click. However, the UI is built so that it’s just for power and not mode switching. Because of this, you can use the rear switch for Morse coding in any mode. The side switch controls the UI.

Therefore, you can use the flashlight in the overhand and underhand grip. You can rest your thumb on the rear switch in the overhand grip. It’s easy to manipulate with the flat part of your thumb, unlike some other switches that can only be manipulated by the tip of your thumb/finger.

There is no way to tailstand the T35 because of the protruding switch.

If you’re looking for a flashlight that you want to pocket-carry in your jeans, it may not be the right choice. First of all, because of the rear switch being activated quite easily (and possibly burning your pants if in Turbo mode) and the relatively sharp bezel. You can still carry it in larger pocket if you unscrew the tailcap slightly. This basically functions as a lockout.

Acebeam includes a holster for obvious reasons, but it also includes a lanyard.

This all makes it geared towards tactical use, so guard work, first responders, etc. But for those reasons, I would have liked a shortcut to Turbo, even though you can leave the flashlight in Turbo modes at all times.

I also like that the side switch is illuminated at all times when the flashlight is activated. When I was out doing beamshots, it was very easy to find the switch. Sometimes, when the flashlight is on and I change my hand position, I’m almost blinding myself to find the side switch.

Warranty? Yeah, Acebeam has you covered! The details are:

1. If the customer experiences any problems caused by manufacturing defects in normal use with an Acebeam product within 15 days of purchase, the dealer will replace that product.
2. If an Acebeam flashlight fails during normal use and any problem covered under warranty occurs within a period of 5 YEARS (60 months) of purchase, the dealer is responsible for warranty service.
3. Acebeam flashlights enjoy a limited lifetime warranty – after 60 months the dealer will attempt to repair the flashlight for the cost of spare parts and shipping (i.e. no charge for labour).

I briefly mentioned that mine has a claimed output of 1,600 lumens, and that’s because of the LED they used. Mine has a Luminus SFT40 LED with a neutral white color temperature. If you choose the cold white version, it is claimed to reach 1,900 lumens.

Note: this does not mean that NW is always weaker than CW in the same flashlight. I have several flashlights with both types of emitters where the NW is brighter (but not in all instances).

The Luminus SFT40 does not have a silicone dome like a regular LED. Instead, it has a flat silicone layer, which implies that the beam will shine farther than one with a domed silicon layer.

That’s why the T35 claims a beam distance of 352 meters or 30976 candelas. That’s not bad for this size of reflector.

The LED sits very well centered in a smooth reflector, protected by a glass lens and sharp bezel. The glass lens is touted as utilizing a scratch-resistant coated optical lens with a light transmittance rate of up to 99%.

Spectral measurements:  

I used a Sekonic C800 spectrometer to measure the flashlight at 5 meters distance. These were measured short after turn on.

Mode:	CCT:	CRI Ra:	duv	TM30 Rf	TM30 Rg
Turbo	5776K	68.7	-0.0046	67	95
Med	4877K	68.6	0.0009	69	93

The higher the output the cooler the beam becomes.

Dimensions: 

Acebeam T35	Millimeters	Inches
Length	138 mm	5.4 in
Bezel diameter	26 mm	1.0 in
Body diameter	23 mm	0.9 in
Tailcap diameter	25 mm	0.98 in

Dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter and the nearest tenth of an Inch.

Weight: 

Acebeam T35	Weight in grams	Weight in oz.
Without battery:	91 g	3.2 oz
With battery	138 g	4.9 oz

Weight is rounded to the nearest gram and tenth of an Oz.

Acebeam T35 tactical flashlight comparison

Size compared to other tactical flashlights

Group 1, from left to right: Armytek Predator Pro, NEXTORCH E52C, Fenix PD36R, Acebeam T35, Weltool T2R, NEXTORCH TA20

The Acebeam T35 has two switches, each with a unique feature. The rear switch is only used for on and off, while the second switch (side switch) is used to change modes. The rear switch is a forward clicky switch, so you have a momentary mode, which can be used for signaling, etc.

The available main modes:

• Ultra Low, Low, Medium, High, Turbo

The available special modes (blinkies):

• Strobe

How the UI works when the flashlight is still turned OFF:

• Half-press rear switch: momentary use of current mode
• Single-click rear switch: turns the flashlight on
• Single-click side switch: doesn’t do anything, without powering on first with rear switch

How the UI works when the flashlight is turned ON:

• Single-click rear switch: turns the light off
• Single-click side switch: changing modes
• 2+clicks: just changed modes in sequence
• Press and hold side switch: strobe

Shortcuts within the UI:

• To Turbo: none
• To Moon: none
• To Strobe: long-press side switch when on

Mode memory:

• Yes, it will always turn on in last used mode (which makes momentary on easy to understand)

Blinky modes:

• Strobe.. accessible by a long-press of side switch

Low battery warning:

• Side switch has battery indicator LED. It will show the battery level with 2 colors
• Green: 20-100%
• Red solid: 10-20%
• Red blinking: 0-10%

Lock-out mode:

• Not.. but the rear switch is like a lockout mode.. it’s a mechanical switch
• For pocket carry, I’d recommend unscrewing the tailcap, which functions like a lockout

PWM:

• Not visible in person

Firmware / UI Conclusion:

• Having no access to Turbo is a pity. It would be nice, because when outside, it’s sometimes hard to know whether you are in High or Turbo. And by clicking another time, you might go back to Ultra Low.. instead of Turbo you might expect.
• On the other hand, it’s a very easy UI that everybody can work out without a manual. No hidden modes (except Strobe).
• Ultra Low being part of the normal mode cycle may not be the best choice. When you go from over 1000 lumens to 1.. the difference is just too big. I wouldn’t mind if they got rid of Ultra Low mode, at least in the normal modes cycle.

Acebeam provides a 2600mAh 18650 battery with the T35, labeled ARC18650H-260A. It’s a button-top cell with protection.

It’s a little interesting to see a 2600mAh in this day and age. Most 18650 batteries are north of 3,000mAh when thy are provided by the manufacturer. It does look like a high-discharge battery, as it is labeled as 15A, which is a medium to high discharge current. But again, not very groundbreaking. But it’s better than nothing.

Upon arrival, the battery was 3.82V, and protected by a plastic insulator. You have to remove that first before your first use.

Even though there are springs on both ends of the flashlight, unprotected flat-top batteries are too short to make contact. You need at least a button-top battery and, even better, a protected battery (that doesn’t trip too quickly).

Charging can be done onboard via the USB-C port, hidden on the opposite side of the side switch, and covered by a black rubber cover. And interestingly enough, this rubber cover can be removed and replaced by a small Philips screw.

During charging, a red light is visible, turning green when finished. What I don’t really understand is the charging time. According to the manual, it is approximately 3 hours. But in reality I got 4 different charge times.. 1 of them without a USB meter, but the others were all including the USB meter, so I can watch the charge current etc. I used 2 separate USB chargers, but both should be able to charge at 2A with ease.

Something else that was interesting, is that the charging current jumps to 1.5Amps instantly, even when the battery is below 3V. Other, more sophisticated chargers (different from onboard charging I guess) start at a lower rate, until it reaches 3Volts, at which point the charge current increases to max. The highest current I saw was 1.6A, but it was only for a short time. The charger slowly reduces the charge current over time.

1. First charge: 2h 55min
2. Second charge: 4h 23min (without using a USB meter)
3. Third charge: 3h 19min
4. Fourth charge: 3h 30min

I couldn’t test the end voltage after each charge because I’m busy doing other stuff and don’t notice the end of a charge. But the times that I measured the end voltage ranged from 4.18V to 4.22V. I know that the Voltage drops relatively soon after a charge has finished, so the 4.18 was likely measured some time after the charge stopped. Meanwhile, the 4.22V was measured very soon after the indicator LED turned green.

I’ll share a quick tip on how I know how long a charge takes, and it’s rather unorthodox. I have an IP camera, recording the charges, pointing at the USB meter, so I can easily see when a charge finished, what the maximum charge current was etc.

Charge type	Fits	No fit	Avg. charge time
Flashlight with onboard USB-C	Long 18650 batteries	Flat top, non-protected 18650	3h 20min?

This is the gear I use for testing:

Gear	Purpose	Link to buy
Hagner E4-X	Measuring beam intensity (throw)	Inquire at Hagner.se
2* Extech SDL400	Lumens and logging runtimes	Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk,
Leica Disto D2	Distance for throw measurements	Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk,
Sekonic C-800	Spectrometer for LED measurements	Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Uni-T UTi260B	Thermal Image camera	Amazon.com,

Lumen measurements

How Lumens are Measured: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards How Lumens are Measured: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards: The ANSI FL1 standards specify that output in lumens should be measured 30 seconds after turning on, as this is the standardized time for measuring brightness according to the industry standard. This is why we focus on this part in our measurements. The ANSI FL1 standards require an ambient temperature of 22 ± 3°C. We record the ambient the ambient temperature to identify potential reasons for any observed discrepancies.

The output measurements in this review are based on my homemade integrating spheres, each equipped with an Extech SDL400 Lux Meter. For consistency and accuracy, a calibration light (Convoy S2+ with 249lm and a Convoy S2+ with 261lm) is measured before each set of lumen measurements.
One of the lux meters uses an ND camera filter for high-output lights to prevent the lux meter from maxing out. This is either the Kenko PRO1D ND16 for up to about 80,000 lumens or the Gobe ND32 for anything above.

All of my readings were taken from a fully-charged Acebeam ARC18650H-260A , 2600mAh.

Mode	Specified	Turn on	30 sec	10 min
Ultra Low	3 lm	3 lm	3 lm	–
Low	90 lm	83 lm	83 lm	83 lm
Mid	350 lm	317 lm	316 lm	312 lm
High	700 lm	693 lm	686 lm	657 lm
Turbo	1600 lm	1555 lm	1427 lm	632 lm

The measurements were taken manually at the turn on and in 30 seconds. The 10-minute numbers are taken from the runtime graph. You can see that I couldn’t reach the specified output for 4 out of the 5 modes.

I try to use rounded lumen numbers, except for maybe Low or Moonlight/Firefly modes.

Ambient temperature during testing:

• 21.8°C

Parasitic drain:

• Shouldn’t have any.. the mechanical switch helps to get no parasitic drain

Battery Life: Runtime graphs

How Runtimes are Measured: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards About ANSI FL1 runtime standards: The runtime is measured until the light drops to 10% of its initial output (30 seconds after turning on). This does not mean that the flashlight is not usable anymore. The last column shows how long the light actually works till it shuts off. If there is a + symbol, it means that the test was stopped at that particular point, but the light was actually still running. This happens on certain occasions, with certain drivers, firmware, or batteries.

Runtime tests were conducted in my 50cm homemade integrating sphere, paired with the Extech SDL400 data logging Lux Meter. Temperatures from the moment the runtime test started.

Mode	Specified	Runtime (ANSI FL1)	Time till shut off
Ultra Low	400h	–	–
Low (24.1°C)	16h	18h 37min	18h 37min
Med (24.9°C)	3h 50min	4h 36min	4h 36min
High (23.5°C)	1h 35min	1h 51min	1h 52min
Turbo (21.5C)	1h 31min	1h 33min	1h 46min

I didn’t test Ultra-low, which was specified as being 400 hours.

Turbo and High were pretty close to specified, but Medium ran quite a bit longer, as well as Low. I didn’t test Ultra Low, though. I checked the discharge current in Ultra Low, and it was about 4.5mA according to 2 of my DMMs. So if I do 2600mAh divided by 4.5mA = 578 hours. I also double-checked the Low current, which was 141mA, and 2600 divided by 141 = 18.44, so close to the 18h 37min I measured. So, it’s fair to assume that 400h is on the conservative side.

Tactical light comparison

Some of the best Tactical Flashlights we reviewed: These numbers are NOT from the specifications but are measured by our team. I removed the LEP flashlights that could fall into this category but aren’t comparable.

Flashlight	Max. Output (lm)	@30sec (lm)	Candela (cd)	Distance (m)
Acebeam T35	1555	1427	25,250	318
Armytek Dobermann Pro	1071	1068	31,606	356
Armytek Predator Pro	1206	1193	40,850	404
Armytek Viking Pro	1999	1958	29,069	341
Brinyte PT18 pro	1981	1925	45,675	427
Brinyte PT28	1705	1636	17,800	267
Cyansky P20	1740	1665	14,405	295
Fenix TK11 Tac	1556	1488	27,600	332
Malkoff MDC Bodyguard	872	211	2,650	113
Nitecore P20 v2	893	893	13,900	236
Olight S2R Baton 2	1318	1289	7,500	173
Olight Warrior Mini 2	1721	1658	12,250	221
Olight Warrior Mini 3	1724	1643	14,075	237
Powertac E5R-G4	1718	1602	21,700	295
Speras EST MAX	2400	555	17,250	263
Streamlight Stinger 2020	2183	2141	25,450	319
Thrunite BSS v4	2336	2190	14,775	243
Weltool T12	2000	1846	126,500	711
Weltool T2R	1589	1486	41,750	409
Wuben E12R	1426	1200	10,575	206

Interactive graphs (hover your mouse over the lines for more info

Here’s an interactive comparison graph with some of the best 18650 tactical flashlights I reviewed.

Mobile phone? Hold your phone horizontally for a full graph. If still not clear, click this link to open the interactive graph in a new window.

And here is the same comparison, but then focused on the first 10 minutes. (Max. output only). Or open this link for a closer look at the graph.

Peak beam intensity and beam distance measurements

About Peak beam intensity: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards About peak beam intensity The calculated value of distance in meters at which the flashlight produces a light intensity of 0.25 lux. (0.25 lux is about the brightness of a full moon shining on an object). This means that the intensity has decreased so much, it becomes difficult to see darker objects, or objects that don’t reflect light. The columns ‘Meters’ and ‘Yards’ use rounded numbers.

Measurements were taken indoors with a Hagner E4-X Lux Meter. The measurements were taken 30 seconds after turn on.

Mode	Specified	Measured candelas	Meters	Yards
Ultra Low	–	–	–	–
Low	2,401 cd	1,450 cd	76 m	83
Med	6,400 cd	5,675 cd	151 m	165
High	13,225 cd	12,400 cd	223 m	244
Turbo	30,976 cd	25,250 cd	318 m	348

I measured ultra-low at 1 lux.. which is rounded.. so I didn’t add it to the list

Unfortunately, my measurements did not meet the specified candelas.

Ambient temperature during testing:

• 23.9°C

For the following beamshots, I used a Canon EOS 5D Mk2 with a 50mm lens. Manual settings: ISO1600, 1/4sec, F4, 5000K

The shed is about 65 meters / 71 yards away, and the reflective fence is about 200 meters.

Explore and compare the beamshots from the following flashlights:

• Acebeam T35
• Armytek Predator Pro
• Olight Warrior S3
• Olight Warrior Mini 3

Please note that the following beamshots are mainly intended to showcase the beam pattern and beam quality, rather than overall performance. These images are typically taken directly after activation, and in different seasons or weather conditions, and therefore do not fully represent its overall performance. In few cases the camera settings are even different and therefore not meant for performance comparisons. For accurate performance metrics, such as output, beam distance, and runtimes, you need to look at the performance section of this review.

Disclaimer: This flashlight was sent to us for review at no cost by Acebeam. We have not been paid to review, nor have we been holding back on problems or defects.

Get a whopping 15% off your next order at Acebeam.com with the following discount coupon: 1lumen15. Simply add the coupon code at your checkout.

Buy your Acebeam T35 here

1lumen selects and reviews products personally. We may earn affiliate commissions through our links, which help support our testing.