Review: Skilhunt M200 - a useful everyday carry light with 18650 power, magnetic charging, and high CRI

This Skilhunt M200 was provided by Skilhunt for review.

Killzone Flashlights, a Skilhunt dealer for the US facilitated the arrangement. Here's the H04F RC at Killzone. Those are affiliate links to Killzone, and my affiliate coupon code "zakreviews" will get you 10% off most flashlights, including the M200.

Overview

The Skilhunt M200 is a medium-size everyday carry flashlight with an optional high-CRI LED, USB-magnetic charging, and a magnetic tailcap. At a glance, it has much in common with the more popular Olight Baton series, but offers features those lack such as LEDs with good color rendering and the ability to use standard 18650 batteries. Olight users will even find the user interface familiar, though more customizable once they switch to the second mode group.

The M200 is more compact and power-efficient than is typical of budget models, and its magnetic charging pad is more waterproof than a USB port, at a cost of using a proprietary cable. Its 944 lumen maximum output and 133m FL1 throw won't break any records in an age of hot-rod flashlights that burn the user's hand after a few seconds, but they're more than adequate for most situations a daily carry light would encounter. Ergonomically, it's mostly a simple tube, but both the switch and charging pad are on opposing plateaus. It can be hard to tell which is which by feel, but squeezing both is easy enough. The only real complaint is the pocket clip: it's bezel-up only and shallow-carry.

Mainstream users will find a lot to like in the M200, and I think enthusiasts won't feel left out either, as long as they can stand the pocket clip. The M200 is recommended.

Specifications

Spec -
Battery 1x18650, 2xCR123A, 2x16340, 2x18350
LED Samsung LH351D
Color temperature 5078K
Color rendering index 91
Max output 944lm
Max throw 133m
Max sustainable output 485lm
Best efficiency 141 lm/W @ 79lm
Candela per lumen 4.7
Length 104.5mm
Head diameter 23.5mm
Weight 44g
Weight with battery 90g
Charging Proprietary USB-magnetic
Low Voltage Protection (LVP) yes
Lockout Mechanical and electronic
Approximate price $47
Rating ★★★★☆ (recommended)

Highlights

  • High CRI
  • Good efficiency
  • Customizable modes
  • Magnetic charging can be convenient

Lowlights

  • Pocket clip is substandard
  • Tint is a little green
  • Magnetic charging is proprietary

Details and technical analysis

Versions

The M200 offers a choice of Cree XP-L or Samsung LH351D LEDs. This is the LH351D version.

Accessories

The M200 comes with a pocket clip, charging cable, lanyard, spare O-rings, and user manual.

Modes and user interface

There are two different UIs: mode group A, and B. A resembles Skilhunt's older products, while B is similar to UIs used by Acebeam, Olight, and Thrunite, but with more modes, and user control over what modes are available. Skilhunt uses L, M, H, and T 2 and 1 to designate the modes, in order of lowest to highest. Blinking modes are designated S 1-3.

Mode Group A

State Action Result
Off Click Last used (except Turbo, Strobe)
Off Hold Low (last-used of L1, L2)
Off Double-click Turbo (last-used of T1, T2)
Turbo/strobe Click Last used
On Hold Off
On Double-click Toggle sub-mode (e.g. M1, M2)
Any Triple-click Strobe
Off Hold 2S Lockout
Off Hold 5S Mode group B

Mode group B

State Action Result
Off Click Last-used (except T1, S)
Off Hold Lowest enabled
On Hold Cycle through steady modes (except T1)
Any Double-click T1
Off Triple-click Last-used strobe
Strobe Double-click Cycle variable strobe, slow beacon, fast beacon
Off Hold 2s Lockout
Lockout Hold 2S Lowest enabled
Off Hold 5s Mode group A
On Triple-click Config

Note that while the lowest mode can be saved into memory, it is not saved when accessed using the shortcut from off.

Loosening the tailcap a quarter turn locks out activation mechanically.

Output, runtime, and efficiency

Advertised performance is with a Skilhunt 3500 mAh 18650 battery and Cree XP-L emitter. Tested performance is with a Sony VTC6 3000 mAh 18650 battery, which should result in slightly shorter runtime. This sample uses a Samsung LH351D emitter, which should have similar output and less throw.

Mode Advertised Lumens Estimated Lumens Advertised throw (FL1 meters) Estimated throw (FL1 meters)
L2 0.5 - - -
L1 10 20 16 17
M2 25 34 25 25
M1 70 79 43 38
H2 150 155 62 52
H1 370 374 98 81
T2 535 532 118 97
T1 1000 944 161 133
T1 (2x18350) 1000 1051 161 141
Mode Estimated lumens Advertised minutes Minutes to 80% Minutes to 50% Minutes to 10% Tailcap current (mA) Efficiency (lm/W)
Standby - - - - 0.039
L2 - - - - 5.5
L1 20 9000 - - 38 125
M2 34 1500 - - 4737 60 135
M1 79 600 - - 3000 133 141
H2 155 300 - - 677 266 139
H1 374 150 - - 267 675 125
T2 532 90 126 140 149 1120 112
T1 944 92 2 128 153 - 112

Light quality

Reading taken from the center spot diffused with DC Fix diffusion film using an X-rite i1Pro spectrophotometer on medium.

Color Temperature Tint Duv CRI CRI R9 (deep red) CRI R12 (deep blue)
5078K 0.0040 (very green) 91 48 74

Beamshots

M200 (left) vs Zebralight SC64c LE (right)

Batteries and charging

The main battery for the M200 is a single 18650 Li-ion rechargeable. Any 18650 can be charged internally with the magnetic cable, and a 3000 mAh battery takes about 4 hours to charge.

Two CR123As, 16340s, or 18350s can be used as spares. They cannot be charged internally.

Modification potential

The M200's bezel unscrews easily, giving access to the reflector, MCPCB, and emitter. Any of the popular 3-volt, 3535 size emitters should work. It is likely possible to find alternate optics, such as TIRs. An Olight pocket clip from the Baton series can be used, even for a bezel-down orientation. This improves the M200's ergonomics.


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