Best New Flashlights of the Year: Five Compact Lights Worth a Look

Introduction

Compact everyday-carry flashlights have had a strong run of new releases lately, and a handful of them genuinely feel like some of the best values the category has seen this year. This roundup covers five lights: the ThruNite Saber BS, the ThruNite Archer Pro S, the Acebeam TAC 2AA, the ThruNite MT1A Pro, and the Weltool T1 Pro Tac. Some are budget picks, one is a near class-leader, and each has clear trade-offs you should know about before buying.

ThruNite Saber BS: The Budget Bargain

The Saber BS reaches a maximum output of around 1,000 lumens and runs on a 14500 battery, which is included in the box with Type-C recharging built in. That combination makes it one of the cheapest 14500-powered flashlights available when it goes on sale, with a slightly older variant recently spotted at just $11.

There are only two modes: a top mode just over 1,000 lumens and a low mode around the 50-lumen mark. That is a thin spread, and an intermediate mode in the 10 to 15 lumen range would improve run time and help preserve night vision in a dark room. The hardware, however, is genuinely good. The tail button has a long press and strong spring tension, making accidental activation unlikely, though side fins would have allowed tail standing and added further protection for the switch. The pocket clip is the weakest hardware point: it lacks the rise and spacing needed to slide into a pocket cleanly or clip onto a hat brim. Even with those nitpicks, it is solid overall. Watch for sales, because at a discount it is a decent value even if it is not a class leader.

ThruNite Archer Pro S: Smart Software in a Small Body

The Archer Pro S is a collaboration with 704 Tactical, and it is only slightly bigger than the Weltool T1 Pro Tac. The battery is built in and not removable, but it recharges through a Type-C port integrated into the collar while still keeping an IP68 waterproof rating, which is a clever bit of design. The pocket clip is nearly identical to the Saber’s and could use a little more space and angle, but it works fine.

The tail switch is electronic rather than mechanical. That makes multi-click actions easy, but the short travel and light pressure mean the light generally needs to be locked out when carried in a pocket to avoid accidental activation. It is still an improvement over similar electronic switches on other budget lights.

Where the Archer Pro S shines is the user interface. A single click returns to the memorized mode, and a hold press engages an Infinity ramp system that smoothly moves output up and down so you can select the exact level you want. A double press jumps straight to turbo at over 1,400 lumens, which is impressive output for the size even though the candela is modest and the beam does not reach far. Moonlight and lockout are handled through hold-press gestures, though the lockout implementation has quirks: you cannot cycle up from moonlight into the regular modes, and holding while locked out unlocks the light. A design that allowed cycling up from the bottom of the ramp would have been better. At a typical price around $20 to $30, and a fraction of the cost of the T1 Pro Tac or MT1A Pro, this is a solid pick if it drops below $20 on sale.

Acebeam TAC 2AA: The Performance Standout

The Acebeam TAC 2AA is the light in this group that is most exciting. The hardware is fantastic: a side switch and tail switch, excellent knurling, good heat dissipation, a crenellated bezel, and IP68 waterproofing. The pocket clip is excellent too, with multiple mounting positions including a reversed orientation that keeps almost no metal exposed so it does not snag on things.

The body has fins that let it tail stand and protect the side switch from accidental presses, and instead of electronic lockout you simply twist the head slightly for a mechanical lockout, which is arguably the better solution.

Emitters and Output

Two emitter versions exist: one with a TN LED and one with an SFT2 LED. For a true tactical light, the SFT2 is the one to get. The SFT2 delivers a maximum of 23,400 candela, while the TN LED version tops out at 8,000 candela relative to its 1,600-lumen maximum. That candela difference matters because a concentrated hotspot is far more effective at cutting through vision at distance, and a smaller hotspot also makes the beam less conspicuous. Even the top-performing competitors in this size class, including the Nitecore, are outshined here, with roughly 4,000 more candela and 400 more lumens on top.

User Interface and Battery Options

There are two mode sets. In EDC mode, the light has mode memory and you hold the side switch to cycle low, medium, and high. Getting to moonlight requires an awkward standby step of pressing once, turning on, then holding again, which is not the smoothest system. Switch to TAC mode by holding the side button and pressing the tail, and the light always comes on in turbo, which is what makes it a genuinely tactical flashlight. In TAC mode the side switch has its own odd quirk where the first press does nothing and you need two presses for moonlight, but the simplest approach is to come on in turbo, cycle to your desired mode, and turn it off with the tail switch so turbo is always ready.

Battery flexibility is a major selling point. The included long rechargeable battery has a Type-C port built in, and the light also runs on two alkaline batteries or two rechargeable AA batteries. On low, roughly 1.5 lumens, you get around 177 hours of run time with the included battery and about 100 hours with two AAs, while still reaching 550 lumens and 8,000 candela on the SFT2 with AA cells. One critical warning: never put two 14500 cells in series in this light, as the stacked voltage is far too high and could burn out the light or worse. Around $30, the battery versatility alone makes this a major consideration.

ThruNite MT1A Pro and Weltool T1 Pro Tac

Two other lights in this size class are worth noting for context. The ThruNite MT1A Pro sits around the $40 to $45 mark and stands out as one of the strongest picks alongside the TAC 2AA, with ThruNite’s steady pattern of improvement bringing it close to class-leader territory. The Weltool T1 Pro Tac is the premium option here at around $56, and it serves as the size reference point that the Archer Pro S compares against. If your budget stretches further, both are proven compact tactical options, but the value equation clearly favors the less expensive alternatives in this roundup.

Standout Picks and Buying Advice

Across this group, the Acebeam TAC 2AA and the ThruNite MT1A Pro are the two that stand out the most. The TAC 2AA wins on raw performance and battery flexibility, while the MT1A Pro reflects ThruNite getting very close to class-leader quality.

If you want the cheapest possible entry, the Saber BS on sale is hard to beat. If you value a smooth ramping interface and built-in USB-C charging in a tiny body, the Archer Pro S is the smart pick, especially under $20. If you want a true tactical light with serious candela and the ability to run on AA batteries, the TAC 2AA is the one to buy, just skip the two-14500 temptation and stick with the supported battery types.

Conclusion

Nearly every light here has excellent hardware held back by one or two interface quirks, which is the recurring theme of this generation of compact flashlights. Still, the combination of strong output, USB-C charging, and aggressive pricing makes this one of the best moments in recent memory to pick up a compact EDC light. Match the light to your priority, whether that is price, interface, or tactical performance, and any of these five can be a good buy.