Earlier this month, Milwaukee Tool announced two new USB-rechargeable flashlights within their RedLithium USB battery platform.
The new Milwaukee RedLithium USB personal lighting expansion will include an 1100 lumen twist focus flashlight, and an 800 lumen compact flashlight.
New Milwaukee RedLithium USB Flashlights – Common Features
Both flashlights feature Milwaukee’s TrueView technology and they will both be bundled with Milwaukee’s new 3.0Ah RedLithium USB battery to bolster their runtime.
Advertisement
At first glance these flashlights appear very similar. Both are about 6″ long, matte black with knurled grips, and have similar power/mode buttons.
These new power/mode buttons remember the power mode that was last used when the flashlight was turned on. They also feature a ring LED around the button that indicates the battery charge level.
The built-in USB charging ports are similar, although they are in slightly different locations. And both flashlights have screw off end caps so you can replace a dead battery with a fully charged one and keep on working.
Milwaukee doesn’t mention it, but you can see in the above photo going from the from the left image to the middle image, there is a ring that twists to hide the USB micro charging port.
Here’s a closer look at the removable belt clip.
While these two flashlights look pretty similar, lets take a look at what differentiates them.
Advertisement
New Milwaukee RedLithium USB Compact Flashlight (2160-21)
Here’s a quick look at the compact flashlight specifications:
- Model 2160-21
- Low power: 100 Lumens for 11 hours
- High power: 800 Lumens for 2.5 hours
- IP67 dust and water protection
- 4 meter drop rating
- Weight w/ Battery: 0.36lbs
- Length: 5.59″
This flashlight offers a fixed-focus, “bulls-eye” beam that can illuminate up to 150 meters away in high power mode. Milwaukee claims this style beam “provides the intensity of spotlighting with wide coverage of floodlighting.”
When you buy the compact flashlight, you’ll get the flashlight, 3.0Ah battery, and a USB cable for charging.
Price: $70
Buy Now via Acme Tools
Buy Now via Tool Nut
New Milwaukee RedLithium USB Twist Focus Flashlight (2161-21)
Here’s a quick look at the twist focus flashlight specifications:
- Model 2161-21
- Low Power: 100 Lumens for 14 hours
- Medium Power: 600 Lumens for 4.5 hours
- High Power: 1100 Lumens for 1.75 hours
- IP67 dust and water protection
- 4 meter drop rating
- Weight w/ Battery: 0.41lbs
- Length: 6.09″
This flashlight offers a knurled twist ring focus, which adjusts the illumination angle between spot and flood light modes. It will illuminate up to 175 meters away in high power mode.
When you buy the twist focus flashlight, you’ll get the flashlight, 3.0Ah battery, and a USB cable for charging.
Price: $80
Buy Now via Acme Tools
Buy Now via Tool Nut
Milwaukee expects both flashlights to launch in September 2020, and retailers’ listings estimate that both flashlights will start shipping between September 1st and October 1st, 2020.
Discussion
It looks like the twist focus flashlight might be an upgrade to the first generation RedLithium USB aluminum rechargeable flashlight. That flashlight used a slide to focus mechanism that was somewhat problematic. Because of the airtight nature of the flashlight when you slid the top forward to focus the beam into spot mode, it wouldn’t stay there — the seal was so good that the air pressure pushed it back.
Stuart’s Note: I have found that focus settings on the 1st-gen product are more consistent if you temporarily twist the tailcap to expose the USB charging port. This would be a cumbersome added step for frequent adjustments, but seems to break the seal that prevents the twist-to-focus feature from behaving as expected.
I’m pleased that Milwaukee appears to have ditched the strobe mode for these two flashlights (see my rant about this feature). I’m not a fan of multi-function power/mode buttons, but they are way more tolerable if they don’t have a strobe mode and remember the last mode you used (almost always low power for me).
It’s also interesting that Milwaukee is including a USB cable but no charger, as has been a trend with several of their latest USB rechargeable lights. I understand that everybody has 20 of these USB charging cubes in a drawer somewhere, but by that same logic doesn’t everybody also have 20 micro USB cables? So if you are trying to cut costs, why not ditch the cable too?
I’m actually a little disappointed they aren’t including the charger – I really like the minuscule Milwaukee USB charging brick (pebble?). I’ve never had an issue with one not working (unlike the cheap USB charging bricks that come with other USB accessories) and they are great for packing because of how tiny they are. I also like the quality of their USB cables too, although the head of the Micro USB connector is a little too large to fit some 3rd party devices.
I have two of the aluminum 700 lumen flashlights, and while they can be annoying to refocus the beam shape as I mentioned above, they are still solid performing flashlights. Even so, I can definitely see myself ditching at least one of them for one of these new flashlights.
Advertisement
Mike
They didn’t save these for their next online NPS? Either way the updates look great. I have the first gen and for the most part love it. I’ll definitely pick one up. I’ll upgrade just for no strobe too! I know some people don’t like them cause they are so thick compared to some lights but that never bothers me at work. It’s no my EDC light for sure, but its a regualr at work.
Dan
Agreed. Not my EDC light, but I love Milwaukee lighting products, area and held helds for work. Love to see these in person.
Koko The Talking Ape
Ben,
Do you know if the Twist Focus model has the same bullseye throw pattern as the Compact? I can’t tell from the product photos at Acme or Toolnut.
Thanks!
Benjamen
Unfortunately Milwaukee didn’t provide any good photos of what the beams look like in their media kit.
Since they only mentioned the “bullseye” pattern for the compact, I don’t expect the pattern for the twist would be the same, because the bullseye pattern sounds like it is a compromise between spot and flood.
S
Does anyone know how momentary press works on these? Are they “Momentary-Press=ON”?
James
I’m a little tired of new products having a micro USB connector. The industry is moving towards type C which IMO is a much more convenient connector. It’s one thing for a electronic gadget that will be obsolete in two years to use an old connector but something like this you may actually keep around for 5 to 10 years.
Andy Hong
I’m with James. USB Type C FTW. Pretty much every new electronic gadget with USB that I’ve purchased in the last year (laptops, bike lights, power packs, GaN chargers, etc.) are Type C.
Doug N
Yes, it is strange that a company which prides itself on being innovative is wedded to old technology in its personal lighting division – micro usb charging, and 18650 cells.
Benjamen
The tool industry generally isn’t at the forefront of technology, but a decade or so behind it. Look how long it took brushless motors and bluetooth communication to become prevalent.
I think there’s good reason, because they want to use technologies that are very well established to the point they are dependable and inexpensive. You don’t generally want to rely on the bleeding edge of technology for critical use tools.
I am also not sure what you’d use other than 18650 cells. Going to something larger in diameter would make the flashlights larger in diameter and as commenter Mike said above, many people think these type of flashlights are already too thick.
I agree that USB C would be nice, if only for the fact that you have to try to insert the micro USB three times to find the correct orientation.
Joe
None of these usb tools are high draw output, so not too much benefit from the 21700 id rather keep the the price down, they already claim 2000 cycles out of these batteries, and since you can never just get these tool only(i wish) you usually end up with tons of extras anyway. I currently have 7 batteries 5 of which are rolling around in my tool box, though i do use them all sequentially.
Adam
I consider micro-USB to be a disqualifying fault in absolutely any product at this stage. I just refuse to touch it. The durability of the connectors is trash, and it means continuing to keep old cables around.
Javier A.
Couldn’t agree more – I saw the micro-USB port in the images and my head literally sank. All of the Snap-On lights (and most of the other brands too) that I’ve bought in the past year have been USB-C, I would have thought that surely Milwaukee releasing a new rechargeable light in 2020 would use USB-C. Oh well.
John
I conclude that this blog is afraid of the dark. Flashlights flashlights flashlights
Benjamen
Not so much afraid of the dark as getting older and appreciating good lighting :>)
PETE
Afraid of the dark? Nope. A light is a tool. I’ll sometimes work thru the night- having good light prevents accidents, mistakes & injuries. So having good lights is very important to me. Also- a good pistol light is a must for positive target identification.
Stuart
Thanks to your comment, I fast-tracked a post I had been putting off all month. https://toolguyd.com/led-flashlights-made-in-the-usa-2020/
=)
PETE
lol
Addison
Looks like a big improvement!
Jay M
There’s no way I will buy any device with micro USB. I’d love a really good quality flashlight that was USB – C rechargeable. Milwaukee won’t be taking my money. Micro USB is just a pain. Micro USB takes three times to plug it in the right way. Proven technology? More like extremely inconvenient. And it’s $70 with old-school micro USB technology? No thanks.
Nathan
Now take that adjustable light – turn it into a headlamp. and you’d have a big winner.
I mean I like it as is but that system in a headlamp would be nice.
Erick
So much griping about the micro-USB connector…
Anyways, the first gen light had an annoying “feature” where it would start to blink when the battery was running low. This is extremely annoying. Hopefully that’s no longer the case with the new ones!
Stuart
Consider the alternative – would you want to be working in a dark basement/attic/etc and have the flashlight turn off all of a sudden?
Some flashlights gradually step down at lower voltages, others simply turn off abruptly.
Hmm, this could be an idea for One-Key – a customizable flashlight that offers different low-voltage warning options.
PETE
LOL i really like that feature- they also have it on their rocket lights. Very helpful
TJ
Not impressed, especially with micro-usb connector. I will stay with my O-Light flashlights.
Nick
Failure on the micro-usb connector vs type-C, major oversight by Milwaukee. Regardless of connector style, can it charge a phone in a pinch as well?
Benjamen
No, it it not designed to charge other devices.
Chico
If you travel around from site to site, in isolated areas and don’t have access to big box stores I can guarantee you will find a micro USB charger at a local gas station. Most people have a few just laying around in a junk drawer. My point is you won’t ever get stranded. Old tech isn’t always proven but it is cheap to manufacture. I’m not saying a USB type C connector would add hundreds of dollars to the cost but it would some. Overall it’s not a deal breaker for me. The features and convenience of having a compact rechargeable flashlight with an IP67 rating outweigh a micro USB port.