Olight has a new flash sale kicking off in a couple of days (6/17/2021 at 8pm ET), featuring several new products, including the Warrior Mini 2.
The Warrior Mini was a hugely popular EDC flashlight, with it and the Warrior Mini 2 being described as intended for EDC or tactical use. I can’t speak to its tactical suitability, but the Warrior Mini is an excellent everyday flashlight.
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Key Features & Specs
- 1,750 lumens max brightness
- 5 brightness modes, optional strobe mode
- IPX8 waterproof rating
- Weighs 4.3 oz with battery, pocket clip, and lanyard clip
- 4.65″ length
- 0.98″ head diameter
- 0.91 body diameter
- Reversible pocket clip
- Carabiner-style ring accessory
- Magnetic charging (cable included)
- Powered by a customized 3500 mAh 18650 battery
Olight Warrior Mini 2 vs. Warrior Mini
Olight sent over a review sample of the Warrior Mini 2 for me to check out. Their Father’s Day 2021 flash sale hasn’t kicked off for most customers yet, but I wanted to get this review out early in hopes some of you find it useful.
I have been able to put some time in with the flashlight, and will update this review if any new insights or opinions come to mind.
For me, the biggest question was about how the Warrior Mini 2 compared to the original.
At first I thought the Warrior Mini 2 was a minor update, but there are quite a few changes, and their significance depends on users’ wants and preferences.
To start off, the Warrior Mini 2 has a smart proximity sensor. This automatically dims the light if the lens is obstructed. If the lens remains obstructed, the flashlight turns off after 60 seconds.
Olight sent several emails about the Warrior Mini’s lockout mode, and I got the feeling that some new users were experiencing unintentional in-pocket activations. With the Warrior Mini as bright and powerful as it is, unintentional activation could mean a lot of heat.
So, it seems to me that this new proximity sensor that helps to avoid ill consequences stemming from unwanted in-pocket activations. There is still also a lockout mode.
The Warrior Mini 2 also has a more pronounced crenellated bezel.
There are two pocket clip positions, depending on which way you want the flashlight pointing in your pocket. The Warrior Mini 2 pocket clip is also longer than the one on the Warrior Mini.
The secondary pocket clip position comes with a removable split ring connector. You can use that as a lanyard attachment point, or for the included ring-shaped carabiner clip. Both the lanyard ring and pocket clip can be used in either location.
Additionally, the pocket clip is bi-directional. This gives you a lot of flexibility in how you could carry the flashlight.
Part of the extra height of the Warrior Mini 2 is due to a new reflector. In addition to housing the proximity sensor, the new bezel and reflector throw an improved beam shape.
The Warrior Mini 2 has tighter and brighter central beam, and its flood spill is much more defined than with the Warrior Mini.
Finally, the beam appears to be clean and bright white. Olight says that the new color temperature is around 6000K to 7000K, but it seems a doesn’t seem quite that cool to me. In the image above, the older model appears to give off a blue tint, but this is not visible to my eyes. Against a white wall, there’s not much different in color tint between the two models.
The Warrior Mini 2 will launch with 3 body color options – black, desert tan, and “mountain sky.”
Should You Buy One?
With the Flash Sale pricing, the Olight Warrior Mini 2 will be $67.46 for black or desert tan, and $71.21 for mountain sky.
There will also be new user discounts – $10 off $60+, and $15 off $99+.
This is not an “I’m new to EDC flashlights or rechargeable flashlights” kind of light. if you wait, there’s bound to be another flash sale on the Warrior Mini 2 later in the year, or perhaps on a different light more suited to your needs, although possibly not on these same colors.
Is it an upgrade to the Warrior Mini? Absolutely. It is brighter in the center, and thanks to the upgraded reflector, the beam shape seems improved and refined. The proximity sensor is a neat and potentially helpful addition, although I’ve learned to habitually use the lockout mode with my Warrior Mini.
Additionally, the Warrior Mini 2 has the upgraded pocket clip positions, so you can carry the flashlight bezel-down. If you don’t swap pocket clip positions, there’s also the lanyard clip at your disposal.
Verdict
I think that Olight made some fantastic updates to the Warrior Mini 2. Most of the changes are improvements – added features or bumped-up brightness, but there is a tradeoff – added length compared to the Warrior Mini.
I’m tempted to buy the Warrior Mini 2 in “Mountain Sky” finish, but I already have several Warrior Mini samples and a purchased light, as well as the Warrior Mini 2 in black as shown above.
Although flashlights like this don’t perfectly align with my tendency to do more close-up work, I really do like the side and tailcap activation buttons, and that’s a big reason to stick with this model over others.
The tailcap can activate 2 different brightness modes or momentary mode, and the side button allows for cycling between modes.
If I didn’t have any Warrior Minis, I’d be compelled to buy this as my “one and only” EDC flashlight, with a headlamp or smaller floodlight as a complement for close-up work where a strong central beam might be a disadvantage.
Despite Olight’s description of the Warrior Mini 2 as a defensive everyday carry flashlight, I think it’s perfectly well-suited for general purpose everyday carry.
Size-wise, it’s about at the limit of what I’d consider comfortable for pocket-carry. Any larger, and I’d think the Warrior Mini 2 would need to come with a belt pouch.
I think a lot of people will be happy with the new Warrior Mini 2, although it’s not for everyone. If you want a broader and more diffuse beam shape for closeup work, or you don’t find multiple brightness modes useful, you can probable save some money and get something different or more basic.
Buy Now via Olight
Olight Flash Sale
Bundle Offer
Olight will be offering several Warrior Mini + i3T EOS flashlight bundles as part of their 6/17-6/18/21 flash sale.
The black and desert tan bundles will be $71.44, and the mountain sky bundle will be $74.69.
Additional Information
The Warrior Mini 2 is rated at delivering 1,750 lumens of illumination, and it can sustain this for 4 minutes. After that, it drops to 500 lumens for 206 minutes, after which it drops to 200 lumens for 40 minutes.
Similarly, its second brightness mode can deliver 500 lumens for 218 minutes after which it drops to 200 lumens for 55 minutes.
Its 3rd brightness mode can deliver 120 lumens for 19 hours. 4th and 5th modes deliver 15 or 1 lumens for 164 hours or 45 days, respectively.
The “customized” 18650 battery allows for magnetic tailcap charger, for which you’ll need your own USB charger. Standard 18650 batteries won’t work.
As with other Olight flashlights, the Warrior Mini 2 has different configurations and different activation methods. If you’re on the fence or simply want to learn more, definitely look at the online manual.
Finally, lockout mode is strongly recommended. This requires holding the side button for 2 seconds. Lockout is disabled by pressing the side button for more than 1 second.
These flashlights can put out a LOT of heat, and you need to be careful about not putting pressure on the tailcap especially. This is also a benefit of the Warrior Mini 2 – with the pocket clip positioned at the rear, you can easily carry the flashlight bezel-down, which *might* help with unintentional activation.
“This is WAY TOO MUCH Flashlight for Me!”
Perhaps consider the 1xAA i5T EOS instead? This is a very good light, and I would recommend that you pair it with Energizer lithium batteries.
Price: $29.95
The 1xAAA i3T is also a good buy, and there are usually a couple of color options. This is the same light that’s also presently available in a mountain sky color scheme.
The i3T is an excellent compact and low-frill pocket flashlight, and I’m sure it’s been more than one person’s gateway flashlight.
Price: $19.95