Nitecore EDC27 vs Wuben X2: Two Standout Everyday Carry Flashlights Compared

Introduction

Everyday carry flashlights have been quietly getting more interesting, and two recent releases show just how far the category has moved. The Nitecore EDC27 and the Wuben X2 both abandon the traditional round tube shape, both target the same pocket-carry user, and both are genuinely good lights. They go about it in very different ways, though, and picking between them comes down to what you value most: slim pocketability and a display, or rugged waterproofing and customizable output.

Nitecore EDC27: Flat Design With a Smarter Display

The EDC27’s form factor is the first thing you notice. At just over half an inch thick, this is not a standard flashlight tube, and it slides easily into a pocket. A raised area near the switch is designed so you can push the light into your pocket without accidentally switching it on. The pocket clip is strong and long, making it ideal for belt carry, and there is a lanyard loop if you need one.

Construction is a solid-feeling stainless steel with a tough black PVD coating, weighing 124 grams (4.37 ounces). Grip areas run alongside the body, and a USB-C port handles charging, with a full charge taking just an hour and 15 minutes. The dual push button switches at the tail end sit where your thumb naturally finds them in the dark, and the two switches feel clearly different from each other, so there is no fumbling.

The standout feature is the OLED display, which shows the current light level and the anticipated runtime. Being able to pick a light level based on how long it will take you to get home, and seeing remaining battery at a glance when you pick the light up, is genuinely useful. Up front, dual cool white LEDs with TIR lenses combine reflector and lens into a very small output area, producing more of a floodlight pattern than a focused beam, which is exactly right for an EDC light.

Nitecore EDC27: Output, Runtimes, and Controls

Because of its shape, the EDC27 uses fixed, non-replaceable batteries. When the battery fails, so does the flashlight. For some that is a deal breaker, but the flat design benefit is hard to argue with for everyday carry. Battery capacity is 1,700 mAh, and the runtimes tell the more important story.

There is no multi-day moonlight mode, which may put some people off. The lowest level is 15 lumens, enough to light your way in close confines without disturbing anyone, running for 37 hours continuously. A 65-lumen level is the get-me-home setting, with a quoted 11 hours of runtime. The 200-lumen level works well as a working brightness for most jobs and lasts 3 hours 45 minutes. The 1,000-lumen mode is quoted at 1 hour 45 minutes, though expect it to step down as heat builds. Turbo delivers 3,000 lumens in short bursts of around 15 seconds, with a countdown on the display to manage overheating.

Operation is simple: the raised switch turns the light on at the last used level and half-presses cycle through the four levels. Half-press and hold gives instant access to the lowest level. The flatter switch gives instant turbo from on or off, or a full press triggers a non-linear strobe. Walking along at your chosen level, spotting something in the dark, and hitting turbo for a few seconds before dropping straight back is a great way to work. A lockout mode prevents unwanted activation in a pocket or bag.

The quoted maximum range at 3,000 lumens is 220 meters, but the practical range is more realistically around 55 meters. The IP54 rating is splash-proof only: fine in rain, but not for submersion. Price sits around 100 pounds or 100 dollars, and the light was named best EDC light at Shot Show 2023.

Wuben X2: Rugged Build and Ceramic Coating

Wuben has been producing some standout flashlights lately, and the X2 is one of them. Like the EDC27, it departs from the traditional round tube and feels super rugged and well made. The aluminum body on this version carries a white micro-arc oxidation ceramic coating, a finish that is super tough, feels great, and looks fantastic, making a welcome change from black.

There is a lot of design detail here, likely serving grip and cooling, and the light sits very nicely in the hand. It is less pocket friendly than the Nitecore, though, with lots of pointy edges. The pocket clip is again substantial and works fine on a belt, and there is a lanyard hole. Weight is 115 grams (4 ounces), so it is reasonably light and quite compact.

A single switch is easy to find thanks to the shape of the light, so you always know which way is up. Underneath the magnetically held switch are the USB-C charging socket and an LED showing battery level and charging status. Charging time is a rather pedestrian three hours. At the front, a triple LED array with triple orange peel reflectors and a tough glass lens produces more of a floodlight than a beam. Two LED options are available: an Osram version that is brighter and whiter, and a Samsung version with more natural light and less power. Batteries are also not replaceable, with a slightly larger 2,000 mAh capacity.

Wuben X2: Output, Runtimes, and Controls

The X2 has no true moonlight mode either, but its 5-lumen low level is good enough to get around without disturbing others and runs a quoted maximum of 80 hours, which is impressive. An 80-lumen medium level gets you home outdoors with a quoted 10 hours of runtime. The 400-lumen high level is a good working output lasting 2.5 hours. Turbo is 1,800 lumens on the Samsung version or 2,500 lumens with the Osram LED, stepping down to around 800 lumens after roughly a minute as the light heats up.

One genuinely unique touch: Wuben lets you customize the light output for each mode, so you pick a mode and then choose your level, though it will not go below 5 lumens. Press the switch once and the light comes on at the previously used level; hold to cycle through low, medium, and high. Press and hold from off goes straight to the low level, a double press from on or off jumps to turbo (and back again with another double press), a triple press triggers strobe, and another triple press gives SOS. Lockout mode is engaged with four presses, preventing accidental activation in a pocket or bag.

The quoted range is 128 to 146 meters depending on the LED choice, with a practical range closer to 40 meters, which is fine for an EDC light. The IP68 rating means the light can be fully submerged, exactly what you would want. Two more unusual accessories are included: a red diffuser that is not particularly useful, and a lanyard neck strap that doubles as a USB-A to USB-C charger for the light. It feels a little like promotional merchandise, but it could be quite handy.

The price is also around the 100 pound or dollar mark.

Which One Should You Buy?

Both are great lights and you will not be disappointed with either. Both offer simple, sensible operation with direct access to turbo and back to normal, direct access to strobe and the lowest level, solid build quality, and good runtimes. Both share the same non-replaceable battery caveat.

The Wuben X2 seems the more robust of the two, is fully waterproof with an IP68 rating, and offers customizable light levels. The Nitecore EDC27 is better in the pocket, has that excellent OLED screen, charges more quickly, and is the brightest at 3,000 lumens. If one has to be picked, the EDC27 just edges ahead, but you cannot really go wrong with either. If both feel a bit large for your everyday carry, they are arguably more every-night-carry lights, and smaller alternatives exist for true pocket-first users.

Conclusion

The Nitecore EDC27 and Wuben X2 prove that everyday carry flashlights can be both exciting and practical. Choose the EDC27 for its slim profile, OLED display, fast charging, and raw brightness, or the X2 for its ruggedness, full waterproofing, and customizable outputs. Either way, you are getting one of the more interesting EDC lights currently available.