Acebeam has made subtle improvements to its tactical flashlight by launching the new TAC AA 2.0. It's a very compact everyday carry (EDC) flashlight that can be powered by either a 14500 battery with 3.7 volts or a standard AA battery. However, the battery needs to be removed from the flashlight in order to be charged via USB-C.
The body itself has only received minor changes and is just 0.008 inches longer than the predecessor. Additionally, the belt clip can now be attached to hats with a sun visor, which is a feature that was missing from the previous model.
Choosing the right EDC flashlight has also become a bit more difficult with the Acebeam TAC 2.0. More specifically, there are two model variants with different colors. The black version uses a TN LED, whose technical specifications are similar to the predecessor, which utilized a Nichia LED.
This variant has a throw of 920 feet with 1,000 lumens in turbo mode, which can be used for 35 seconds before the flashlight throttles to 500 lumens, which are available for 49 minutes. The 5, 50, and 260 lumen modes have a runtime of 58, 14, and 2 hours, respectively.
On the other hand, the red and blue SKUs are equipped with an STN LED, and apparently, a different optic. In this case, the high-output modes have been reduced to 240, 450, and 900 lumens and are somewhat similar to the black variant.
That said, the throw of 1,180 feet is slightly longer, while battery life numbers remain unchanged. Both LEDs produce a cool light with a color temperature of 6,500 Kelvin. Meanwhile, two diffuser rubber covers can transform the flashlight into a small lantern with a white or red light.
Acebeam is already selling its new flashlight. Including the battery, it’s priced at $39.90. This is the same official price tag as the predecessor, but even the new EDC gadget has already been discounted to $29 on Amazon.