Jetbeam M1X WP-RX

Jetbeam M1X WP-RX LEP flashlight review

Introduction:

The Jetbeam M1X series was first launched in 2009. Now, 11 years later they upgraded their M1X series with a WP-RX version. An LEP white laser flashlight.
On paper, it is supposed to throw 2300 meters, and I can already tell you that our testing shows even better numbers.

What you’ll get:

The M1X WP-RX comes in a nice sturdy carry-case. But that is about all I can say positively about the packaging. The inside is disappointing. The padding isn’t strong enough to keep everything in place and the manual is printed on normal copy paper and in Chinese only. I guess this model wasn’t meant to be sold overseas? Just guessing.

  • Jetbeam M1X WP-RX flashlight
  • Lanyard
  • Micro USB charge cable
  • Spare O-rings
  • Manual printed on normal copy paper in Chinese

Jetbeam M1X WP-RX Specifications

Brand / ModelJetbeam M1X WP-RX
LEPClass 3B
Lumens480
Beam intensity1,322,500
Battery config.1*21700
MaterialAluminum
Modes2
Blinkies
Reflector
WaterproofIPX 8
Review dateApril 2020

Handling of the light

The M1X doesn’t feel very slippery, and nor does it feel very grippy. They included an extra rubber tactical ring that replaces the pocket clip. I took the pocket clip off (which doesn’t really match this kind of light anyway) and replaced it with the rubber tactical ring. I like the extra bit of grip personally. Since the size of this light, it feels a little awkward to hold it like a cigar though. Too front-heavy.

It doesn’t have a side switch, so power and mode-switching all happens at the tailcap. Since it only has 2 modes, you won’t accidentally activate strobe or any hidden mode. And the more I play with these simple UI’s the more I appreciate them. The M1X has s forward clicky switch which is easy to operate and not too stiff.

I don’t really know how strong the pocket clip is. The light is a little too expensive to test this. I would advise to use the cigar grip or the lanyard instead.

And no, it can’t tailstand. See pictures.

Build Quality, knurling, threads, and anodization

I’m a big fan of the knurling and anodizing of Jetbeam. The M1X doesn’t disappoint me either, but some of their lights look better.

There is 1 thing I only realized recently and never really cared about.

If you ever had a C or D Maglite, you know what I’m talking about. When you try to attach the tailcap to your Maglite.. not so easy. You need to push that tailcap really down for the threads to line up and screw together. The M1x doesn’t need so much pressure at all, but you still need to press the tailcap spring to line the threads up. I never really thought about this, until recently.

If you have a spring on either side of the battery, this is usually the case. This means that you can use different kinds of batteries; protected, unprotected, flat top, button tops. So there could something be said about adding springs on both sides. The downside is that you need to add more pressure to close the tailcap.

The knurling and anodization are great. Unfortunately enough, I already damaged the anodization with my wedding ring. I tried to unscrew the bezel and scratched my wedding ring a little too hard. Result: a scratch.

All threads came lubed as well as the O-rings. No complaints.

Oh yeah, the guy lasering the text must have been a little drunk? What did you say sir: mllltary.. What? mllltary.

LEP, Lens, Bezel, and Reflector

All right. I changed LED to LEP, since the M1X doesn’t have an LED but a laser. Also, important to note is that it doesn’t use a white laser. It’s a blue laser and by reflecting it onto phosphor and other sorts of technology the beam you can see is made white. So the actual laser is blue, but the beam is whitish.

The bezel is stainless steel and glued so you can’t open it up. Even if I could look inside, I might damage it to the point of making the light useless. They glued it down on purpose… to keep me out.

Dimensions:

  • Length: 185 mm /  7.28”
  • Head diameter:  61 mm / 2.4 ”
  • Tailcap diameter: 28.5 mm / 1.12 ”

Weight: 

  • With 21700 battery:  342g / 12.06 oz

Flashlight throwers compared

Size compared to other long-range torches / flashlights;

From left to right:

Astrolux FT03, Noctigon K1, Jetbeam M1X, Speras T1.

Lep flashlights:

Size compared to other LEP flashlights

From left to right: Acebeam W30Weltool W4Jetbeam RRT M1X raptor, Jetbeam M1X WP-RXNo-brand 26650 LEPNextorch T10L, Jetbeam RRT M2S, Jetbeam M2S WP-RX, Weltool W3 PROFenix TK30Nextorch T7LAcebeam W10 gen2.

Driver & User Interface:

The Jetbeam has the easiest UI there is. Only 2 modes, high and low.

Mode memory is about 3 seconds from off. If you switch it on in less than 3 seconds it will switch modes.

Modes:

Not sure which comes first though… High or Low.

  • High – Low

From OFF:

  • Half-press: signaling
  • Full-click: On

From ON:

  • Half-press: there is no half-press
  • Single-click: Off

Low battery warning:

  • Nope. It will just turn off. But the output is greatly reduced so you know the battery is running low.

Lock-out mode:

  • Uhmm. it has a mechanical tail switch, so you don’t need a lock-out

PWM:

  • No, not visible. I’m not sure whether this type of light can have PWM? It seems like it can’t. Correct me if I am wrong.

Firmware / UI Conclusion:

The UI is super simple. Click on Click off, Click on, Click off.

Batteries and charging:

Jetbeam includes a 21700, 5000mAh battery with the light. The battery is too long to fit in a normal charger because of the added charging board. The board has a Micro USB port and a USB cable is provided. No power adapter though.

I can’t test the capacity since the battery is too large for my chargers. There is a little red light that turns on when charging and green when it is fully charged.

The M1X accepts unprotected flat tops as well due to the double spring (driver side and tailcap)

Performance:

All output numbers are relative to my homemade Integrating Sphere. It is set up with an Extech SDL400 Lux Meter for measurements including a Kenko PRO1D ND-16 filter. The base measurement is done with a Convoy S2+ that has been tested at 255 lumens.

For Amp readings, I use a Fluke 77III DMM. For higher amps, I now use a Fluke 325 True RMS clamp meter. For microamps, I use a cheap DMM with an easy-to-use micro amp setting.

Lumen output measurements were redone in October 2021:

Using a Samsung INR21700-50G battery. Measured inside a homemade integrating sphere, with a calibration light (Convoy S2+ that is tested at 255 lumens)

ModeAmps measuredAdvertised lumens@start@ 30 sec
Low0.52A458073
High3.26A480502491

It’s interesting to note, that High started increasing output for a few seconds before dropping again. I noted the highest measurement for start, although it’s not actually really start, but after a few seconds.

I also retested with a Jetbeam 21700, and it performed a little lower than the 50G.

Runtime:

I did the runtime test with the home-built integrating sphere, including the Kenko Pro1D ND-16 filter and Extech SDL400 data logging Lux Meter.

The drop off is at 3 minutes. Then the light will turn off at 2 hours and 43 minutes. The battery protection probably tripped because there is no Voltage reading on the battery.

The low-mode has a battery life of up to 8 hours and 36 minutes. Which is longer than the 7.5 hours the manual shows.

The average output is about 60 lumens.

Throw measurement:

Measurements were taken both indoors and outdoors with a professional Hagner E4-X Lux Meter. I took measurements at 10m and 20m outdoors. Using high mode, I get:

  • Measured at 10m:  2,300,000 cd =  3033 m / 1.88 miles / 9951 feet
  • Measured at 20m:  2,280,000cd =  3020 m / 3302 yards / 1.88 miles / 9908 feet

That is just insane. I don’t know why Jebeam underrated this bad boy, but I trust my measurements more. If you look at the beamshots you can see the insane intensity of the beam. If you have 1, please measure yours. I just want to double confirm my copy is special or not.

Beamshots

I took the following beamshots with a Canon 100mm lens, F4, .5 sec, ISO1600, 5000K.

The first tower is about 650 meters away and the second 450.

Disclaimer: This flashlight was bought from my own money. I have not been paid to review, nor have I been holding back on problems or defects.

Overall conclusion

Pros:

  1. Extremely, extremely high intensity
  2. 3 km /1.88 miles of reach
  3. Includes 5000mAh 21700 Micro USB rechargeable battery
  4. Did I say it could reach far?

Cons

  1. The padding inside the box is lacking
  2. Manual is in Chinese and printed on normal copy paper
Author Marco
Author Marco

Rating: 5 stars: ★★★★★

If I had to give a star rating based upon beam intensity I should have given it 6 stars, lol. It’s just too crazy intense. The beam can reach 3km 1.88 miles according to my measurements. The beamshots show that I’m not kidding. This thing is just in another league by itself. If you’re looking for an LEP flashlight, and don’t want to pay a couple of hundred, get this instead. 

Jetbeam M1X for sale

Unfortunately, this one is not available anymore. Have a look at the Weltool W4 instead. Or look at its successor: Jetbeam RRT M1X Raptor.