REVIEW – Small EDC lights are a huge market. The number of different models, just on this site alone, is staggering. So, how does a company innovate and bring more to the party? AceBeam has decided to add a palm-sized unit with three different types of light sources, with an easy-to-use magnetic ring around the reflector area to switch between them. Does it work? Well, let’s take a closer look.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: Regularly $54.90, currently on sale for $41.00
Where to buy: Amazon and WceBeam
What is it?
A palm-sized EDC light with LED, laser, and UV light sources.
What’s included?
- Light itself
- 14500 1000 mAh rechargeable battery
- USB-A<=>USB-C charging cable
- two spare O-rings
- Lanyard
- Instructions sheet
Tech specs
- Compact EDC flashlight with three light sources: white light, green laser beam, and UV light
- Utilizes a CREE XP-LR 6500K white light LED, max output 1,000 lumens, max throw 223 meters
- Green Beam delivers precise targeting
- 1000mW output and 365nm UV light reveals details invisible to the naked eye
- Rotary magnetic switch to adjust between white light, green beam, and UV light
- Tail switch for turning on/off, and changing settings of white light and UV light
- Included 14500 1000mAh battery with a built-in USB-C port allows you to charge anywhere without needing a separate charger
- Compatible with AA batteries
- The clip allows for easy attachment to pockets, belts, or bags, ensuring quick access when needed
- IP68 rated protection, provides effective protection against dust, and can be fully submersible to 2 meters / 6.5 feet for up to 30 minutes
- High strength and impact-resistant HA III hard-anodized anti-abrasive and corrosion-resistant finish
- AL6061-T6 high-quality aluminum alloy body can withstand 1.5-meter drop test
- BATTERY – Included: One 14500 1000mAh rechargeable battery built-in with a USB-C port
- Length: 110mm/4.33″
- Head Dia.: 25.5mm/1″
- Tube Dia.: 16mm/0.63in
- Weight: 77.4g/2.73oz (including battery)
- 1 x CREE XP-LR 6500K LED
- Low: 9 lumens; 60h
- Med: 200 lumens; 2h40min
- High: 1,000 ~ 650 ~ 110 lumens; 12,432cd; 223 meters; 1min + 30min + 30min
- Strobe: 1,000 ~ 650 ~ 110 lumens; 1min + 30min + 4.5h
- Max. output: 1,000 lumens
- Max. beam distance: 223 meters
- Max. runtime: 60h
- Peak beam intensity: 12,432cd
- 1000mW 365nm UV light
- Low: 180min
- High: 3min~120min
Design and features
The AceBeam K1 is a traditional-looking cylindrical flashlight, with a lens at one end and a push-button tail switch that activates the LEDs at the other. The button is metal, with concentric grip circles.
The unit is a tiny 4.3” x .63” across. The front reflector area widens to about 1” across. Around the front bezel are ridges or scallops. I don’t think they are meant to be glass-breakers, because they are very smooth and have no points to bite into the glass.
Just behind the reflector is a ring that will change the output between the three available light sources: white light, a green laser, and a UV light. There is a clear white silk-screened marking for each, and the ring twists easily. It will change with the light on or off. If you switch from white to laser and back within .3 seconds, the white LED goes into a strobe output. That’s a pretty quick switching time, and it took me three tries to switch fast enough to get it to catch the first time. But it’s good to know about, in case you ever get into that mode. Simply turning it off and back on will return it to normal operation.
The green laser is precise and great for presentations or aligning items along a wall.
Everyone has seen crime scene investigators use UV to reveal bodily fluids, but there are other uses as well. There are adhesives that need to be cured with UV light, and the UV units included with the tube of material are usually underpowered. Also, did you know scorpions and some other animals with exoskeletons fluoresce under UV light?
Performance
The AceBeam K1 performs ok, I guess. Moving between lighting levels is simple, if awkward – you simply click the tailpin on and off until your desired level of lighting comes up. If you turn it off for a good amount of time (a minute seemed to do the trick), it would return to the lowest setting. Otherwise, it would come back on at the next highest setting. This is great, unless you’re not really wanting to have really bright lights flash. Like if you’re star-gazing, and you use the light to see your ‘scope settings. If you turn the light off and then back on too quickly, it’s going to be really bright on the next level. I wish there was a “secret code” you could use to go to exactly the level you want.
This video walks through the three levels of the main light. (A lady came out of the coffee shop while I was recording and was chatting on the phone in the background. Sorry.)
I love the battery. It has a USB-C port near the positive pole, and a light around the button to let you know when it is fully charged. This (as well as the magnetic, rather than mechanical, source-switching ring) preserves the IP-68 ingress level. It will also work with AA batteries, which are available almost everywhere. I was able to charge it with several different chargers, so even though it comes with a USB-A<=>USB-C cable, you can use any USB-C source to top it up.
There is a stainless steel clip along the side, which lets you load it lens-down into a pocket or pack.
I scared my gaming group when we were dealing out cards by turning on the UV light to highlight the backs of the cards as they were being dealt. Fortunately, there were no “fluids” revealed, but it was a tense moment for everyone. They saw the white edges of the cards glow and everyone said “Oh, no!” almost in unison. I was fully expecting a few random swaths of UV-visible stuff, which would have promoted the use of sterile gloves for card games in the future!
Final thoughts
The AceBeam is a versatile light. If you need the laser pointer and/or UV light, there are few others out there that offer easy switching between outputs like it does. I sometimes want to have a laser pointer and don’t want to carry one around specifically for that. But mixed in with the other light types, it makes a great multi-functional light.
What I like about the Acebeam K1
- Three types of light are easily accessible
- The battery is easy to charge
- Can be used with AA batteries
What needs to be improved?
- Can there be a way to lock in a light level, or a faster way to get to the one you want, other than cycling through them all?
Price: Regularly $54.90, currently on sale for $41.00
Where to buy: Amazon and WceBeam
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Acebeam. Acebeam did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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