All the important informations about flashlight LEDs
Today, there are virtually no flashlights that are not lit by LEDs, as they are the most modern and efficient means of providing light when it is needed. Sportslights are no exception to this rule, so it's worth clarifying a little about which LED can do what, because there are huge differences between them
Nichia 219B
Size 3.45x3.45mm, lumen output 200-500 lumen. Typically used in smaller flashlights or larger searchlights using more LED.
Cree XPE
Size 3.45x3.45mm, lumen output 200-300 lumen. Typically used in small flashlights , headlamps due to its small size and uniform light output. This LED is also sometimes referred to as Cree Q5.
Cree XP-G2
Size 3.45x3.45mm, lumen output 400-600 lumens. It is usually used in small flashlights and headlamps because of its small size, but it can illuminate up to 60-80 meters in a more serious flashlights .
Cree XML
Size 5x5 mm, lumen output 800-1000 lumen. Now out of fashion, but a few years ago this LED was in all the serious flashlights because it is relatively cheap, has a fair brightness and versatility. This LED is now known as Cree T6.
Cree XM-L2
Size 5x5 mm, lumen output 800-1200 lumens. An improved version of XML, it is the most common LED used today in the most popular sportlight manufacturers' products, and is therefore often counterfeited
Cree XP-L
Size 3.45x3.45mm, lumen output 900-1200 lumen. Small size with high brightness
Cree XP-L HI
Size 3.45x3.45mm, lumen output 800-1100 lumen. Due to its special design, this LED is used in luminaires where the aim is to spread the light as far as possible, rather than to illuminate as wide an area as possible.
Cree XHP35 HI
Size 3.45x3.45mm, lumen output 1300-1600 lumens. Due to its special design, this LED is used in luminaires where the aim is to project light as far as possible, rather than to illuminate as wide an area as possible.
Cree XHP50
Size 5x5 mm, lumen output 1500-2500 lumen. Popular LED for searchlights and premium headlamps, equipped with a significant luminous flux
Cree XHP70
Size 7x7 mm, lumen output 3000-4000 lumen. The most popular LED for searchlights today, because it can illuminate a very large area with a textured reflector
Cree XHP70.2
Size 7x7 mm, lumen output 4000-5000 lumen. An improved version of the XHP70, the highest-capacity sports LED currently commercially available.
Samsung LH351D
- Size: 3,5*3,5 mm
- Dome? Is
- Voltage range: ~3V
- Max current: ~6A
One of the advantages of the 70 CRI versions is that they are equivalent to Cree XP-Ls. The 90 CRI versions bring even more positives since Nichia
Osram KW-CSLNM1.TG or "flat white" or "Throw king"
- Size: 3x3mm
- Dome: None
- Voltage range: ~3V
- Max current: There are several versions. Some are 5A some are 9-10A
You have to get the name straight first. Osram did not name this family but after the earlier osram called Black flat which had a black edge the lamp community named it White Flat as it is the A extremely small size of the WF1's capable of 800-1000 lumens from 5A current max and therefore earned the name Throw king as relative to surface area this A WF2's can draw around 1100-1500 lumens at around 10A current draw. The 4*4 mm versions cool better so they keep their brightness a bit better when warming up. Their projection image is almost laser-like. The modders have been using them for over 1 year but the flashlight manufacturers only discovered them in 2020.
Luminus SBT90 GEN2
- Size: about 10x10mm
- Dome: None
- Voltage range: ~3V
- Max current: ~25A
The new throw king! Luminus has made a big break with this led because since its release every manufacturer wants to fit 1 or more models with this led. Properly powered out that means a current of over 20A at 3V. It's a very hungry thing and it produces a lot of heat, but if you want the top you have to take that into account, because it can produce up to 6000-6500 lumens and all that from a 9 square mm area which means that it has about the same surface intensity as an Osram WF1, but in return you have to forgive the huge power consumption and the heating can only be controlled in a sufficiently large lamp. It is unlikely to be put into small lamps just because of the price and heat output. At least, I don't think it's worth it.
Still missing from the above line-up are two new additions to the Luminus "affordable" category, the SST20, which threatens the position of the XML-2 and XML, and the SST40, which threatens the XHP50.2.
Oh, and if you're missing the Cree XHP90, it's not on the list because it doesn't exist, it's just a figment of some delightful Aliexpress merchant's imagination, so if you see such a LED, don't be surprised if the brightness lack of what you expect.
