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Weltool T2R review: tactical flashlight

Weltool T2R specifications
Brand/model | Weltool T2R |
---|---|
LED | ? |
Max. Lumens | 1750 lm |
Max. Beam intensity / distance | 42,550 cd |
Battery config. | 1*18650 |
Onboard charging | USB-C |
Modes | 4 |
Blinkies | Strobe (hidden) |
Reflector | Smooth |
Waterproof | IP66 |
Review date | June 2022 |
Introduction:
Weltool has lots of interesting lights, ranging from small, pocketable UV flashlights, to the farthest throwing LEP flashlights. But their main focus has likely been Tactical gear. Most (if not all) of their flashlights are with a specific use case in mind, unlike other manufacturers that focus on just cramping as many features in a flashlight as possible… for fun.
The Weltool T2R is a tactical flashlight running on a single 18650 battery, which can be charged inside the flashlight with a USB-C cable. So let’s see what Weltool has been up to, lately.
Package quality.
The T2R was shipped in a carton box with adequate protection inside to protect the light from damage during transport. Besides the flashlight, mine included a USB-C cable to get started. This review is written before the flashlight is visible on their website, so I don’t know if it will include a battery by default or not.
So this is what I got (and may be different when they become available to the public)
- The flashlight: Weltool T2R
- Pocket clip (attached)
- USB-C cable
Of course, yours will have a manual included, but I’m not 100% sure about batteries.



Flashlight in use
The T2R has a forward clicky switch that lets you momentarily turn on a specific mode by pressing the switch momentarily. Tapping the switch will change modes, and a full click will activate that mode for continuous use.
Like all tactical Weltool lights, the T2R has very nice knurling on the tailcap and flashlight body. This helps with unscrewing the tailcap, as well as improving the grip. The pocket clip also helps in this regard, besides functioning as an anti-roll feature on flat surfaces.
The light is designed for tactical use, but it should also be good for an everyday carry if you don’t mind the size and the relatively aggressive knurling. Just be careful with the switch, because it can activate (momentarily) easily. It should also be okay for walking the dog, and doing some stuff around the house. It doesn’t tailstand, because the switch boot is protruding.



Build Quality, and Warranty
Weltool usually has aggressive knurling on its lights, and this one has it too. There is knurling on the battery tube and tail cap. All parts are coated in black, including the pocket clip.
The pocket clip has a lever, so you can easily clip it to your belt or pocket. And if you don’t like using a pocket clip, it’s removable, but will leave some wear when removed.
Weltool used some glue or thread locker so you are unable to unscrew the battery tube from the head. The crenelated bezel is also not removable by hand. You’d have to use force or heat to remove it.
Inside the switch, Weltool added a double spring to reduce resistance to increase the output of the flashlight. This has been a common improvement seen in Weltool’s flashlights lately, including the W65B, and the W4 PRO. So that’s nice to see.
The threads came lubricated and have a single o-ring to increase waterproofness.
There is 1 thing that struck me a bit, and that’s the name of the flashlight. Many of us know that Weltool names their lights, besides having a product name. This one has a spelling mistake and is called: Weltool T2R Elegent Tiger. (Shouldn’t that be Elegant?)
Weltool’s warranty, taken from their website:
From the date of sale (the serial number on the Lights body can show the date), the limited warranty for LED products is 5 years, and the warranty for LEP products is 2 years.
The above free warranty does not cover any damages or failure caused by:
- Problems caused by alteration, misuse, abuse, or unreasonable
- Battery leakage , improper operation or using poor quality battery
- The products do not purchase from Weltool directly or its authorized dealers or other illegal way
- Broken lens caused by external force
- Lamp, switch runs out of its lifespan
- rubber cap, O ring’s naturally aging
- normal wear and tea, imprinting, or color finishes
- Other problems caused by improper operation
- Discontinued products
If Weltool products don’t work because of your improper operation, we can provide paid maintenance. Labor is free but we will charge for parts. The total repair fee is assessed according to the cost of the replaced materials. Freight should be paid by customers.






LED, Lens, Bezel, Beam, and Reflector
Since there are no official specifications at the time of writing this review, I can only use my own measurements and observations.
So let’s start with the bezel, which is likely glued in place. I can’t get it to move just by hand. It’s crenulated and probably aluminum.
Behind the bezel sits a black o-ring keeping the glass lens in place. This lens has some sort of AR coating (anti-reflective) because I noticed a purplish hue when I tried reflecting light onto it.
On the inside you can see a relative shallow smooth reflector with a Luminus SFT40 LED in the center. And according to the Luminus website, this emitter is only available in cool white 5000K – 6500K and low CRI (CRI 65)
I used the Opple Light Master III to measure the beam and got the following readings on Turbo mode:
- CCT: 6294K
- CRI: (Ra) 67
- DUV: 0.0050
The beam has a defined hotspot and a weak spill. There is a gradual transition from hotspot to spill, but it’s not as smooth as a TIR optic. The spill isn’t of much use for close-up work.



Dimensions and size comparison
Dimensions:
Millimeters | Inches | |
---|---|---|
Length | 136 mm | 5.36″ |
Head diameter | 26.6 mm | 1.05″ |
Rubber ring (widest) | 30.4mm | 1.2″ |
Body diameter | 24 mm | 0.95″ |
Tailcap diameter | 27 mm | 1.06″ |
Weight:
Weight in grams | Weight inOz. | |
---|---|---|
Without battery: | 94.5 grams | 3.33 oz |
With Samsung 30Q battery | 140.1 grams | 4.94 oz |
Tactical Flashlight comparison
Size compared to other tactical flashlights with 18650 batteries:
From left to right: Olight Warrior Mini, Olight Warrior Mini 2, Weltool T2R, Fenix PD35 Tac, ThruNite Tn12 v4, Fenix TK11 Tac.
Comparison shot with other Weltool flashlights:
From left to right: Weltool W35, Weltool M2-BF, Weltool T2R, Weltool W3 PRO, Weltool T11, Weltool W4, Weltool W4 PRO, Weltool W5.


Driver & User Interface:
I was scratching my head when testing this light first. At first I thought it was a 2-mode, but then I noticed it was a little different than usual. It’s not my favorite UI, and I’m a bit baffled about this. Also, I figured out later that it also had a hidden strobe mode.
Available modes:
- Low, High, Medium, Turbo (in that order)
- Strobe (hidden)
From OFF:
- Half-press: momentary On
- Single-click: Low (no mode memory)
- Tapping: switching between Low, High, Med, Turbo (in that order) a full click will activate that mode
- 4 taps: Strobe mode
From ON:
- Single-click: Off
Shortcuts:
- To Turbo: N/A
- To Strobe: 4 taps from Off (even though the preliminary manual I just received says 3 clicks)
Mode memory:
- No, it will always start in Low
Blinky modes menu:
- 4 taps will activate strobe momentarily
- 4 taps + click will activate the strobe mode continuous
Low battery warning:
- I tested it with a discharged Panasonic battery, and the light steps down when the battery is low and blinks a few times.
Lock-out mode:
- No electronic lockout. It has a mechanical switch, so there should be no parasitic drain
PWM:
- At least not visible to the eye
Firmware / UI Conclusion:
I think the choice of order: Low, High, Med, and Turbo is a little strange. I would have preferred a simple 2 mode, or 4 modes in order, starting from High (this is a tactical light). But maybe there are some tricks to this UI that I don’t know of…
Batteries & Charging
After doing the Turbo runtime test, the USB-port cover (silicone ring) didn’t spin around very easily anymore. I don’t think it was so hard to move before I did that test… At the moment it’s not easy to turn at all. At least not just by grabbing the whole silicone ring. I can move it by poking my finger in the hole (of the rubber ring) and then moving it around. It might have become too hot after the runtime tests?
It uses 18650 batteries and works with button tops, and flat tops alike because it has a spring at the driver’s side and a double spring in the tailcap. It even has reverse polarity protection built in.. and this doesn’t seem to be physical protection, but is likely built into the driver.
Charging can be done with the battery loaded inside the flashlight. The T2R has a USB-C port, and the package includes a USB-A to USB-C cable. This is currently still the most practical cable for most people since millions of devices have USB-A ports.
If you have the light turned off, and you insert the USB cable, the light will turn on, and the indicator LED on the side will flicker. You have to activate the light to charge the battery inside. Why? Because you need to connect the positive and negative terminal. With the switch deactivated, there is no connection with the negative terminal.
During charge, there is a solid red light, which turns green when the battery is full. This indicator LED also functions as a battery level indicator, albeit not very precise. Max charge rate is about 2.3A on my USB power adapter, with USB-A to USB-C as well as my USB-C to USB-C. There is no real benefit of using USB-C to USB-C cables, because the charge current stayed the same.
Please beware that you should not use CR123 batteries in this flashlight, and never try to ‘charge’ them in it.
When powering the T2R, the battery indicator LED will turn on for 5 seconds. The color is either green: battery level more than 50% or red = battery level below 50%.
Weltool says that the flashlight will blink when the battery goes low. I haven’t noticed this during the runtime test, because I probably wasn’t looking, or I just missed it every time. I then tried it with a discharged Panasonic cell, and it stepped down, blinked a few times, and then continued running. So yes, there’s an LVP warning.


Performance test
Lumen measurements:
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.
All of my readings were taken from a fully-charged Samsung 30Q.
Mode | Specs | @ turn on | @ 30sec | @ 10 min |
---|---|---|---|---|
Low | 65 | 61 | 61 | 60 |
Med | 640 | 552 | 546 | 528 |
High | 1070 | 964 | 935 | 845 |
Turbo | 1750 | 1589 | 1486 lm | 843 lm |
Turbo (low battery) | – | 1027 | – | – |
NOTE: The output is lower than advertised at Weltool, and it’s likely because of the battery I used for testing. It’s a non-protected, flat top battery. It may not compress the springs enough to maximize the current flow. Weltool says it should be able to do 1750 lumens at 30 seconds, and even sent me a video to show.
According to ANSI FL1 standards, the output should be measured after 30 seconds. So the column @30 sec is the litmus test.
I also tested to see whether Turbo can be activated when a battery is discharged to about 3.7V. And yes, it reactivates, but the light steps down within a minute. The red light also started blinking to indicate a low battery level.
Parasitic drain:
- There shouldn’t be any, since it’s using a mechanical switch and no electronic switch.
Runtime: Battery life
The runtime test was done with the 50cm integrating sphere, including the Kenko Pro1D ND-16 filter and Extech SDL400 data logging Lux Meter.


Mode | Specified runtime | Measured runtime (ANSI FL1) | Time till shut off |
---|---|---|---|
Low | 31h14min | 29h42min | 29h42min |
Med | 1h50min | 1h50min | 2h17min+* |
High | 1h | 59min | 59min+* |
Turbo | 56min | 55min | 2h28min+* |
During the test, I started to smell something… and it turned out to be this flashlight. A quick check with my Thermal Image camera, the temperature was close to 80 degrees celsius. This was about 35 minutes into the runtime test. A few minutes later I added a fan, that would reduce the temperature. It’s probably the little bump towards the 45 minutes mark. (My thermal image camera’s clock may be a bit off).

The runtimes for High and Turbo are about equal. I just let the Turbo test run for longer than the High test. That’s why the difference in Time till shut off.
ANSI FL1 standards: The runtime is measured until the light drops to 10% of its initial output (30 seconds after turn 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 with certain drivers, firmware, or batteries. At least we tested runtime according to ANSI FL1 standards.
Throw Measurement: Peak beam intensity and beam distance
Measurements were taken indoors with a Hagner E4-X Lux Meter.
Mode | Specs | Candela measured | Meters | Yards |
---|---|---|---|---|
Low | 1675 cd | 1675 | 82 | 90 |
Med | 15825 cd | 15100 | 246 | 269 |
High | 26775 cd | 25850 | 322 | 352 |
Turbo | 42550 cd | 41750 cd | 409 | 447 |
Extra info: Peak beam distance according to ANSI FL1 standards: The calculated value of distance in meters at which the flashlight produce a light intensity of 0.25 lux. (0.25 lux is about the brightness of a full moon shining on an object).
Weltool T2R vs other 18650 Tactical flashlights
Some of the best Tactical Flashlights we reviewed: These numbers are NOT from the specifications but measured by our team. I removed the LEP flashlights, that could fall into this category, but they aren’t comparable.
Flashlight | Battery used | Max. Output (lm) | @30sec (lm) | Candela (cd) | Distance (m) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armytek Dobermann Pro | Armytek 3500 | 1071 | 1068 | 31,606 | 356 |
Armytek Predator Pro | Armytek 3500 | 1206 | 1193 | 40,850 | 404 |
Armytek Viking Pro | Armytek 3500 | 1999 | 1958 | 29,069 | 341 |
Brinyte PT18 pro | Brinyte 3100 | 1981 | 1925 | 45,675 | 427 |
Brinyte PT28 | Brinyte 3100 | 1705 | 1636 | 17,800 | 267 |
Cyansky P20 | Cyansky 2600 | 1740 | 1665 | 14,405 | 295 |
Fenix PD35 Tac | Samsung 30Q | 1030 | – | 9,400 | 194 |
Fenix TK11 Tac | Fenix ARB-L18-3500U | 1556 | 1488 | 27,600 | 332 |
Malkoff MDC Bodyguard | Nitecore NL1835HP | 872 | 211 | 2,650 | 113 |
Nitecore MH25GTS | Panasonic 3400 | 1669 | – | 29,000 | 341 |
Nitecore P10 v2 | Nitecore NL1835 | 956 | 956 | 12,725 | 226 |
Nitecore P20 v2 | Nitecore NL1835HP | 893 | 893 | 13,900 | 236 |
Olight S2R Baton 2 | Olight ORB-186C32 | 1318 | 1289 | 7,500 | 173 |
Olight Warrior Mini | Olight ORB186C35 | 1609 | 1553 | 9,325 | 193 |
Olight Warrior Mini 2 | Olight ORB186C35 | 1721 | 1658 | 12,250 | 221 |
Powertac E5R-G4 | Powertac 2600 | 1718 | 1602 | 21,700 | 295 |
Sofirn TF84 | Sofirn 3100 | 881 | – | 11,600 | 215 |
Thrunite BSS v4 | Thrunite 3100 | 2336 | 2190 | 14,775 | 243 |
Thrunite TN12v4 | Samsung 30Q | 978 | – | 18,250 | 270 |
Weltool T2R | Samsung 30Q | 1589 | 1486 | 41,750 | 409 |
Wuben E12R | Wuben 3100 | 1426 | 1200 | 10,575 | 206 |
Here’s a comparison graph in output with some of the 18650 flashlights, I, Marco reviewed.
And here a comparison of the first 60 minutes
In terms of sustained output, it performs very well, compared to its competitors.
Beamshots
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 just over 200 meters.









Disclaimer: This flashlight was sent to me for review at no cost by Weltool. I have not been paid to review, nor have I been holding back on problems or defects.
Final Verdict
Pros
- Great quality
- Plenty bright
- Plent of throw
- No PWM
- Fast charging
Cons
- USB port cover doesn’t work smoothly after a bit of testing
- The light gets really hot in turbo mode
- UI is a little strange IMHO
Explanation on star ratings:
1: Avoid: my phone flashlight would be a better choice – 2: Poor: significant defect or issues; almost unusable – 3: Average: some defects or issues; but still usable 4: Good: recommended (minor issues) – 5: Great: highly recommended

Tactical: 3.5 stars: ★★★⋆ / General purpse light: 4 stars: ★★★★
I like tactical flashlights, especially ones with an easy UI. Those generally start in the higher output modes or have a secondary switch for instant access to strobe.
The T2R doesn’t have that, even though it has a shortcut to strobe by 4-taps from the off position. To me, the UI is a little too much out of the ordinary. Why not just 2,3 or 4 modes in chronological order, starting from High to Low? This, the sticky rubber USB cover, and the high temperature in Turbo-mode make it that I can’t fully recommend it.
Update: Weltool reached out and mentioned this is a normal flashlight and not a true tactical flashlight. For a tactical light, it’s about a 3.5 stars, as a general light, probably 4 stars.
Weltool T2R For Sale
1lumen selects and reviews products personally. We may earn affiliate commissions through our links, which help support our testing.