Thrunite Catapult Mini vs Catapult Pro: Two Serious Long-Range Throwers

Introduction

Some flashlights are meant to light up a campsite. These two are meant to do something else entirely: reach a very long way. The Thrunite Catapult Mini and Catapult Pro are specialized throwers, built for searching at a distance and for getting someone’s attention far beyond normal flashlight range. Both are impressive tools, and both are genuinely useful rather than just fun to play with, though a word of caution is warranted: at full output, neither should ever be shone at a person’s face.

Two Throwers, Two Very Different Sizes

The Catapult Mini is the surprise of the pair. It is a genuinely pocketable flashlight, small enough to sit comfortably in a jacket pocket, yet it claims a maximum reach of around 600 meters. It uses a different lens design, a plastic lens that focuses the beam, so nearly all of the light goes into one concentrated column with little spill to the edges.

The Catapult Pro is a different animal. It is noticeably larger and not really pocketable, but the numbers are striking: around 2,700 to 3,000 lumens on turbo, roughly 252,000 candela of beam intensity, and a claimed reach of around 1,000 meters. Where the Mini puts everything in one tight hotspot, the Pro adds a softer secondary ring of light around the beam, which makes it noticeably easier to use up close.

Beam Reach and Pattern

Outdoors, the difference in design becomes obvious. The Catapult Mini sends a single concentrated column of light down the road with almost nothing lost at the edges. That is a positive when you want maximum reach from a small light, and a negative when you want some peripheral illumination for walking.

The Catapult Pro’s wider beam coverage and secondary edge ring are the more practical choice for mixed use. In low light, once your eyes have adapted to the dark, that dimmer outer ring helps you see your immediate surroundings while the intense central hotspot directs attention to whatever is far away. It feels like a genuinely multifunctional design rather than a pure one-trick thrower.

User Interface

Both lights start with a moonlight mode: press and hold from off for an ultra-low output that is ideal for preserving night vision. From there, a single click brings the light back on in the last memorized mode, cycling through low, medium, and high.

The Catapult Pro adds the feature that stands out most: continuous output adjustment. Hold the switch to ramp brightness up, and when you reach the top the light clicks twice to let you know. Hold again and it ramps back down. You can lift your finger at any point and reverse direction without going all the way to the top of the range first. It is a small detail that makes the Pro feel considerably more refined in daily use.

Output, Runtime, and Batteries

The Catapult Mini runs at around 700 lumens maximum, but with close to 70,000 candela it still reaches nearly 600 meters, which is remarkable for its size. Its 18350 battery delivers runtime that looks strong for the battery type, comparing favorably with other lights in that class.

The Catapult Pro is the heavyweight. On turbo it produces around 2,700 lumens for about nine minutes, then steps down to 961 lumens for a further 90 minutes. Its peak beam intensity of roughly 252,000 candela is the kind of output that demands respect. Power comes from a replaceable 26650 battery, a larger format than the more common 21700, and the runtime figures are impressive for a light with this much output.

Build Quality and Included Accessories

Fit and finish on both lights are solid. Threads are smooth rather than gritty, the lenses are cleanly done, and nothing is out of place or glued shut. Neither light is designed for pocket clips or headlamps; both are handheld tools for looking at things far away.

Both lights are rechargeable directly via USB-C, carry IPX8 waterproofing, and, notably, come with spare O-rings and a replacement silicone cover for the charging port. That last inclusion is genuinely important. The little rubber port cover is more likely to keep a light working long-term than a lanyard or an extra cable, and most brands omit it. Thrunite including one is a real point in its favor.

Value and Who Each One Suits

Lights with this kind of throw tend to be expensive from other brands, which makes both Catapult models strong on value. The Catapult Pro competes with lights like the Olight Warrior X Turbo on size and output, but at a significantly lower price, which alone earns it serious consideration. If you are building a car kit or an emergency kit, the Pro is easy to justify: a flashlight that can get the attention of someone hundreds of yards down the road is a genuinely useful thing to have on the side of the highway.

The Catapult Mini earns its place differently. If your bag has room for only two lights, one for close-up work and one for throwing a beam a very long way, its small size makes the trade-off much easier to accept. One caveat applies to the Pro: beyond a basic strobe function, no additional strobe modes were found, and a more complete strobe set would have increased its versatility further.

Conclusion

Neither of these is an everyday carry light in the usual sense, and neither is a toy. The Catapult Mini is the compact option that punches far above its size, while the Catapult Pro is the more substantial tool with higher output, a more versatile beam, and a smoother interface. Choose the Mini if pocketability matters most, and the Pro if maximum reach and a car-kit-ready workhorse are the priority. Both are well built, well priced, and come with the small but meaningful extras that show a brand is paying attention.