Nitecore SRT6i: Tactical USB-C flashlight with 557 yards of throw and 21700 battery launches ^↺

Nitecore has presented its latest high-performance tactical flashlight with a USB-C port. The SRT6i has a highly focused light beam with a throw of up to 557 yards and 2,100 lumen according to the manufacturer. The advertised throw is almost twice as long compared to the direct predecessor, but the SRT6i isn't Nitecore's best performing flashlight either, as the older "New P30" offers 1,000 lumen and a throw of up to 676 yards.

Nevertheless, the Nitecore SRT6i sports some changes that should allow for an easier one-handed operation. For example, the so-called "Smart Selector" control ring has been placed at the end of the flashlight, while the belt clip can now be fixated via the battery screw cap. Speaking of the battery, its capacity has also been almost doubled to 18 Wh. 

With a diameter of 1.57 inches, the head of the Nitecore SRT6i is comparatively thick considering the predecessor only measured 1.34 inches, which also means that already purchased accessories won't be compatible with this latest iteration. The shaft itself is just slightly larger than the 21700 battery itself, but the tactical flashlight has gained 0.4 inches in length and now measures 6.42 inches.

The official data sheet further advertises a battery life of about seven hours at 300 lumen, which drops to 30 minutes at the maximum setting of 2100 lumen. However, Nitecore also notes that high ambient temperatures could result in thermal throttling, which means that the flashlight probably won't emit 2100 lumen for half an hour in the summer heat.

Nitecore SRT6i doesn't work with regular 21700 batteries

As already indicated, the Nitecore SRT6i can be recharged via its practical USB-C port, which supposedly takes about four hours according to the official video presentation. The official data sheet, however, suggests a charging time of 3 hours and 15 minutes. Alternatively, the tactical flashlight can be fast charged with an according separate charger, and if necessary, the gadget can also be powered with two CR123A batteries.

Please note that battery compatibility remains limited. According to Nitecore Singapore's presentation, the tactical flashlight won't work with regular 21700 batteries. It requires one of the newer battery packs, which carry the letter "i" at the end of their respective model number, such as the included NL2150HPi. With that, Nitecore apparently tries to lock customers into its ecosystem, which is an approach that competitors like Pelican have already attempted over the years.

The Nitecore SRT6i is already available to order on Amazon for US$109