New Olight Releases Worth a Look: Freeze 2, Baton 3 Pro, and Three Keychain Lights

Introduction

Olight has been releasing updates at a pace few brands match, and the changes are rarely small tweaks. The latest batch includes a redesigned carbon fiber folding knife, a substantially upgraded mid-size flashlight, and a refreshed family of keychain lights. Here is what each one changes, what it does well, and where the trade-offs sit.

Olight Freeze 2: A Serious Folder Gets Lighter

The Freeze 2 takes the original Freeze and pushes it firmly into premium territory. The handle scales are full carbon fiber overlaid on stainless steel liners, with an open back design and a liner lock that locks up solid. The result feels less like a folding knife and more like a fixed blade with a bolster in place of a pivot. The drop point blade shape is close to what you’d find on a Benchmade Bugout, with a bit more flare up top, and the long jimped spine gives a confident grip in use.

Two updates stand out. First, the carbon fiber, which keeps the whole knife at just 3.6 ounces so it carries comfortably all day. Second, the blade steel: 154CM, a crucible super steel that balances edge retention against ease of sharpening better than traditional high carbon steels, which sharpen easily but lose their edge quickly and rust. Out of the box the edge is razor sharp and deployment is fast and clean, and the pivot can be tuned with a Torx wrench to whatever speed you prefer.

Two nitpicks are worth knowing before you buy. The jimping on the flipper tab is fairly smooth compared with the aggressive texturing on the spine, so wet hands could use more purchase. And the pocket clip rides higher than most, with almost no taper, so the knife can catch on things; one carry session required bending the clip back into shape. Neither is a dealbreaker, but both are worth checking on arrival.

Olight Baton 3 Pro: Bigger Button, Bigger Output

The Baton 3 Pro grows over the previous Baton 3, and most of that growth is in service of performance. The large side button is significantly bigger than before and now sits recessed between the shoulders of the body, which makes it easier to find by feel and much harder to press accidentally in a pocket or bag.

The other structural change is at the front. On many Olight lights, the proximity sensor that protects against overheating sits in the reflector and costs some light output. Here the sensor is hidden inside the light behind a thicker bezel, so full output is preserved while the safety feature stays active: bring the light close to a surface and it automatically dials the power back down.

The bigger body now houses a full 18650 battery at 3,200 mAh, and the output numbers reflect that: up to 1,500 lumens, 600 lumens for 17 hours, 120 lumens for 100 hours, and half a lumen for roughly a third of a year. The trade-off is size. This is no longer the svelte one-finger light the Baton line was known for, and it now approaches competitors like the Warrior Mini 2. The redesigned pocket clip, longer and wider than before, helps carry the extra bulk, but a larger light is a larger light. If maximum pocketability matters more than runtime, the smaller models below may suit you better. Otherwise this is a great light with a chunky bezel and a recessed lens that looks and feels well built.

Olight iMorse and i1R 2 EOS: Small Lights, Simple Jobs

The iMorse is a refresh of the i1R 2 EOS, one of the most likeable keychain lights around. It keeps the same tiny size and swaps in a new knurled pattern with Morse code etched into it, a fitting nod for a light whose name is literally a play on Morse. Both are dead simple: twist to switch on, charge over USB-C, and go.

The i1R 2 EOS puts out 180 lumens on full for about 23 minutes, which is plenty of burst for a keychain light, or 5 lumens for around 12 hours, which covers most real-world tasks. USB-C charging is the big convenience win here, since everything in your bag probably charges over the same cable.

Olight iMini: The Bare Minimum Backup

The iMini is the smallest of the group and takes replaceable batteries, so it can sit on a key ring indefinitely and be ready whenever you need it. If you want a just-in-case light that you barely ever think about, this is the one that earns its spot. It is not a performer, and it is not trying to be. It exists so you are never stuck in the dark.

Which One Fits Your Pocket?

If you carry a knife daily and want one upgrade that changes the feel of the whole EDC rotation, the Freeze 2 is the standout, provided you can live with a high-riding pocket clip. If flashlight performance is the goal, the Baton 3 Pro delivers serious output and runtime at the cost of a larger body. And if you just want a tiny light that is always there, the iMorse, i1R 2 EOS, or iMini will do the job for very little money.

A practical approach: pair one of the keychain lights with either the knife or the Baton 3 Pro. The small lights cover the everyday moments, while the knife or the bigger light covers the times you actually need cutting power or real output.

Conclusion

Olight’s habit of steady, meaningful iteration shows in this batch. The Freeze 2 brings carbon fiber and a super steel blade to a well-priced folder, the Baton 3 Pro trades some pocketability for real performance, and the tiny i-series lights keep getting easier to live with. Match the size to your carry style and any of them is an easy recommendation.