Olight M2R Pro Warrior Review (NW LED)

Preface

The Olight M2R Pro Warrior is the latest version of the Olight M2R Warrior, with several new improvements to make it a better tactical flashlight.

Let’s check out the merits and demerits of this new generation Olight M2R Pro Warrior model.

Packaging & First Impressions

This is what the light will come with as shown below.

• The shrink wrapped packaging with its magnetic opening flap looks premium – something not commonly found on flashlights’ boxes.
• The threads and o-ring were lightly lubricated.  Threads were smooth and clean (no gritty feeling).
• The (almost silent) tail electronic switch requires a fairly firm and deliberate press to activate and helps in preventing any unwanted activation of the light.
• The side electronic switch requires a firm and deliberate press to activate and helps in preventing any unwanted activation of the light.
• The provided dual-direction clip is reversible and will provide for deep pocket carry (bezel down) when reversed.
• The clip has sufficient tension to ensure that the light will stay clipped to any material to prevent the light from falling out.
• Magnetic tail cap is able to bear the light’s weight when attached vertically (upside down) to a flat ferrous metallic surface only. The heft of the flashlight prevents it from being attached horizontally.
• It is also compatible with Olight’s magnetic remote pressure switch.
• Anodizing of the light is uniform without any missing specs, as expected from Olight.
• The provided lanyard provided comes with a very useful thin metal to help thread into the lanyard hole.
• The lanyard is able to support the full weight of the light and should hold up to the test of time.
• A holster is provided and should withstand day-to-day abuse without issue.
• The holster comes with a quick release button for faster access to the light, similar to the one used for the Olight Seeker 2 Pro.
• The new MCC3 Magnetic USB Charging Cable can provide up to 2A charging rate. It is backward compatible and its charging rate is dependent on the flashlight’s battery size (e.g. 16340).
• The provided proprietary Olight 21700 battery (ORB-217C50) will not work in other flashlights.
• Battery compartment should be able to take other 21700 batteries that have a slightly thicker battery width.
• Scanning the QR code with your phone/tablet on the box’s bottom would bring up the Olight M2R Pro Warrior’s product page.

Notes:

• Before using the flashlight for the first time, remove the Insulation Film from the battery tube.
• Below photos of the flashlight box shows after the shrink wrap has been removed.

Front:

Back:

Sides:

Top:

Bottom:

Box Contents:

Removing Insulating Film:

Quick Overview (Manufacturer Specifications)

• Body Material: HAIII Aluminium
• Body Color Option:
  • Black
  • Camouflage (Limited run edition)
• LED: Cree XHP35 HI NW (Neutral White)
• Battery Format: 1 x 21700 ONLY
• Output & Runtime (with included Olight 21700 3.6V/5000mAh battery):
  • Moonlight (1 lumen / 50days)
  • Low (15 lumens / 5days 10h)
  • Mid 2 (60 lumens / 1day 16h)
  • Mid 1 (250 lumens / 10h)
  • High (750 lumens / 2h 40min) → (250 lumens / 40min) – Temperature-based stepdown
  • Turbo (1800 lumens / 4min 30sec) → (750 lumens / 2h 25min) → (250 lumens / 45min) – Temperature-based stepdown
• Max Beam Distance: 300m
• Beam intensity: 22,400cd
• Waterproofness: IPX-8 Standard
• Impact Resistance: 1.5m
• Dimension: 136.5mm (length) x 29.5mm (diameter)
• Weight: 179g (including batteries)
• Battery reverse polarity protection
• Accessories Included:
  • 1*Olight 21700 3.6V/5000mAh battery (Olight ORB-217C50)
  • 1*USB Magnetic Charging Cable (MCC3)
  • 1*Pocket Clip
  • 1*Holster
• MSRP: ~$110

UI (User Interface)

UI for this light is suitable for both Every Day Carry (EDC) and tactical usage as it is simple and straightforward to use after the initial learning curve.

Switching ON and OFF is done by the tail or side electronic switches on the light. Momentary activation is possible with the tail electronic switch only.

Note:

• Configuration 1 for the tail electronic switch is the default mode from factory.
• The tail electronic switch functions similarly to an auto-focus button (1/2 Press) on a camera and the same button that takes a photo shot (1 Press).
• There is 1 blinky mode for this light (STROBE only) and no SOS modes.

Normal Operation – Side Switch

From OFF:

• 1 Click  – Last brightness level (all modes except TURBO & STROBE are memorized only) is activated.
• 2 Click – Direct access to TURBO; 1 Click to switch OFF or HOLD down to switch modes.
• 3 (or more) Click – Direct access to STROBE; 1 Click to switch OFF or HOLD down to switch modes.
• HOLD (~1 sec) – Direct access to “MOONLIGHT”.

From ON:

• 1 Click – Light will switch OFF.
• 2 Click – Direct access to TURBO; 1 Click to switch OFF or HOLD down to switch modes.
• 3 (or more) Click – Direct access to STROBE; 1 Click to switch OFF or hold down to switch modes.
• HOLD – Mode change (light cycles through LOW, MID 2, MID 1 & HIGH only; MOONLIGHT & TURBO is not part of the sequence).

Notes:

• If memorized mode is HIGH mode, after 2 Clicks to enter TURBO mode – an additional 2 Clicks will return light to MID 1 mode instead of previous mode (HIGH).
• Any 1/2 Press or 1 Press on the TAIL switch will activate the corresponding MOMENTARY mode and letting go of the TAIL switch will switch the light OFF. In general usage, this would seem like a UI flaw but seeing this is marketed as a tactical light; it is a understandable decision made by Olight to make it more tactical-orientated.

Normal Operation – Tail Switch (Configuration 1 – MID 1 & TURBO)

From OFF:

• 1/2 Press – Direct access to MID 1.
• 1 Press – Direct access to TURBO.
• HOLD (1/2 Press) – Direct access to MOMENTARY MID 1; HOLD (1 Press) to switch to MOMENTARY TURBO mode.
• HOLD (1 Press) – Direct access to MOMENTARY TURBO.

From ON (MID 1):

• 1/2 Press – Light will switch OFF.
• 1 Press – Mode change to TURBO mode.
• HOLD (1 Press) – Direct access to MOMENTARY TURBO.
• 1 Press (SIDE) – Light will switch OFF.
• HOLD (SIDE) – Mode change (light cycles through LOW, MID 2, MID 1 & HIGH only; MOONLIGHT & TURBO is not part of the sequence).

From ON (TURBO):

• 1/2 Press OR 1 Press – Light will switch OFF.
• 1 Press (SIDE) – Light will switch OFF.
• HOLD (SIDE) – Mode change (light cycles through LOW, MID 2, MID 1 & HIGH only; MOONLIGHT & TURBO is not part of the sequence).

Normal Operation – Tail Switch (Configuration 2 – MOMENTARY TURBO & STROBE)

From OFF:

• 1/2 Press – Direct access to MOMENTARY TURBO.
• 1 Press – Direct access to MOMENTARY STROBE.
• HOLD (1/2 Press) – Direct access to MOMENTARY HIGH; HOLD (1 Press) to switch to MOMENTARY STROBE mode.
• HOLD (1 Press) – Direct access to MOMENTARY STROBE.

From ON:

• Not Applicable – Configuration 2 has MOMENTARY modes only.

Switching Settings (Configuration 1 ⇔ Configuration 2)

The following steps has to be carried out to switch Settings between the 2 configurations.

1. HOLD (1 Press) down Tail Switch & 1 Press (Side Switch).
   1. If MOMENTARY TURBO is seen, Configuration 1 has been activated.
   2. If MOMENTARY STROBE is seen, Configuration 2 has been activated.
2. Release Tail Switch to exit configuration mode selection.

Power Indicator

There is only 1 type of Power Indicator for this flashlight.

From ON (in all Modes except “MOONLIGHT”), the Side Switch LED will glow one of the following colors:

• GREEN – Power is >75%.
• ORANGE – Power is between 30% – 75%.
• RED – Power is <30%, do recharge or replace the batteries.
• BLINKING RED – Power is <10%, do recharge or replace the batteries immediately.

Electronic Lockout

From OFF:

• HOLD (till MOONLIGHT is activated & deactivated) – LOCKOUT mode is enabled; HOLD (till MOONLIGHT is activated) – LOCKOUT is disabled.

When Electronic LOCKOUT mode is activated, any button presses will cause the RED LED on the switch button to activate for about 2 sec.

Form Factor

For flashlights that are intended to use on a daily basis (EDC)/tactical EDC and for possibly a long period of time, form factor is extremely important.

This light feels surprisingly well balanced in a medium sized hand (not head/tail-heavy). Switching between overhand and underhand holding method is easy with its form factor.

The new “knurling”/grooves on the flashlight provides ample grip without sacrificing on being overly aggressive (i.e. still fabric-friendly). The light is extremely “grippy”, even with wet hands/gloves.

Even though the tailcap switch is protruded, the 3 crenulated-style prongs at the tail switch enables the flashlight to tail-stand perfectly without the slightest wobble, whilst still providing quick access for easy switch activation.

Reversing the dual direction pocket clip to the tail section slot, will enable the deep pocket carry option.

Note: We do not advise using a flashlight as a defense tool. However, the new crenulated bezel has substantially more aggressive than the one on the Olight M2R Warrior – this new bezel will be more effective in breaking a windshield/glass during an emergency.

Reverse clip to the tail section slot:

Charging Process

With the provided new Magnetic Charging Cable 3 (MCC3), the battery was charging at ~1.95A.

The light is capable of operating on all modes when charging (at the expense of a slower charging rate). However, it is recommended to use “MOONLIGHT” or “LOW” only, to ensure that the battery does get charged.

Solid RED indicator on the TAIL portion of the MCC3 Charger depicts charging in progress.
Solid GREEN indicator on the TAIL portion of the MCC3 Charger depicts charging has completed.

Note: The MCC3 requires a minimum power source with 5V 2A (or above 2A), to function at its optimum charging speed.

Beam Style/Beamshots

For this light, the spill, corona and hotspot is somewhat predictable due to the TIR (Total Internal Reflection) optic used. The LED is fully covered under the Clear TIR optic (with slight frosting in the middle). Hence, the beam has both “throw” and soft flood for recognizing items in the near to mid-range distance.

The above beam profile is a rough interpretation of what is seen when white wall hunting.

The beam has a wide circular hotspot with some slight corona and wide spill (most of the beam produced is focused into the hotspot). There are some beam artifacts in the beam when whitewall hunting but not visible in real world usage.

Note: The crenulated bezel is visible as part of the beam’s spill portion but is not as noticeable in real world usage.

All of the beamshots taken below are done so with the following camera settings (MOONLIGHT: 2.5sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, LOW: 1sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, MID 2: 1/2sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, MID 1: 1/5sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB, HIGH: 1/10sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB and TURBO: 1/13sec, F3.5, ISO100, 5000K WB).
Some pictures have been adjusted slightly to depict as close as to what is seen in real life. The distance of the light from the door is 4.6m.

Control shot:

MOONLIGHT (1 lumen):

LOW (15 lumens):

MID 2 (60 lumens):

MID 1 (250 lumens):

HIGH (750 lumens):

TURBO (1800 lumens):

Mode (Output) Spacing

Mode spacing appears to be progressively brighter to the eye and the modes are well spaced enough to be able to know which mode one is currently in. With that in mind, TLR tend to view mode spacing as battery life indicators (amount of runtime left) rather than the specific output (lumens).

We are very happy to report that the MOONLIGHT mode is perfect for those bedtime night snack runs or with night-adjusted eyes, especially since there is a Direct Access option from OFF.

The MID 1 mode (250 lumens) is probably one of the best decision from Olight to continue including in its UI, it balances runtime and output (as well as heat management) for extended usage.

Tint & CRI

Olight did not disclose the exact tint (color temperature) and/or the CRI (Color Rendering Index) for the LEDs used in their light. For this light, a guesstimate would be in the 5000K and 75CRI ballpark.

However, there is slight tint shift in the beam profile. The hotspot is a neutral white tint whilst the corona possess a slight yellowish green tint; and the spill having a neutral white tint.
This is not noticeable in real life usage.

Waterproofness

The light was subjected to warm water submersion, followed by cold water submersion and left under room temperature running water tap whilst running on TURBO.

No signs of water intrusion in the head, switches or tail was seen.

Lockout Capability

Electronic lockout and mechanical lockout are possible when needed, like during transportation in a bag.

A quarter turn (anti-clockwise) of the tail portion of the light will enable Mechanical LOCKOUT.

For Electronic lockout, see above “Electronic Lockout”, on how to activate and deactivate Electronic LOCKOUT.

Quick Comparison to Olight M2R Warrior

Description	Olight M2R Pro Warrior	Olight M2R Warrior
LED Used	Cree XHP35 HI	Cree XHP35 HD
LED Tint	Neutral White (NW)	Cool White (CW)
TURBO Mode Output	1800 Lumens	1500 Lumens
Beam Distance	300 meters	208 meters
Beam Intensity	22,400cd	10,880cd
Weight (including Battery)	179 grams	155 grams
Length of Flashlight	136.5mm	130mm
Width of Flashlight	29.5 mm	25.4 mm
Battery Included	21700 (5000mAh)	18650 (3500mAh)
USB Magnetic Charging	Yes, MCC3 (up to 2A Charging)	Yes, MCC2 (up to 1A Charging)
Body Knurling	New & more pronounced knurling	Less pronounced knurling
Crenulated Bezel	More aggressive crenulation	Less aggressive crenulation

Scale Comparison (Ruler)

Summary

To sum up, we believe that the most important part of any review is if given the chance to purchase the same light for our own EDC/tactical usage or to gift to our loved ones out from one’s pocket (wallet), would we still do it?
For this light, it is a definite YES, if the rather aggressive crenulated bezel is not an issue for your usage. Update noticed by a reader: ‘If purchasing from Olight Store, there is an option for a complimentary “smooth bezel” accessory add-on.’.

The straightforward UI with Direct Access to MOONLIGHT, TURBO or STROBE from OFF, simple 2 modes interface from the TAIL switch, option of using either the SIDE or TAIL switches for different UI selections, configurability of the TAIL switch, almost silent electronic tail switch, easy access to the tail switch, usage of the new Magnetic Charging Cable 3 (MCC3) faster charging capability (up to 2A), revised knurling style, usage of larger capacity 21700 battery (compared to 18650 battery) and compatibility with Olight’s magnetic remote pressure switch are all plus points for this flashlight.

That said, it would be nice if Olight included an additional (less aggressive) crenulated bezel for the users to change out as required.

Here are a bonus size comparison with some of the other similar sized flashlights.
From Left to Right: Nitecore P18, Olight Seeker 2 Pro, Olight M2T Warrior, Olight M2R Pro Warrior, Klarus XT2CR, Olight Warrior X and Nitecore MH25GTS.

As with all gears, two is one and one is none.

Stay safe,
The Lite Review

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Disclaimer: Light was provided for by Olight (manufacturer) for this review. No other compensation was provided.

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