Being the incan Streamlight Key-Mate is long gone, yet the incan Solitaire is still being made I chose the 'budget' section to showcase a pair of sub $10 lights.
The Solitaire is an under rated little light that to this day does a great job when only a little bit of light is needed. But that Key-Mate, (although was basically a Solitaire rip off....at least according to Maglite.) was a fierce competitor for a few minutes of history.
Point is they were similar, but the Key-Mate differed in it's approach.
Shows the differing approach used by both.
The Mag used a simple push/pull internal mechanism in the center.
The Streamlight uses a side mounted number that generally serves the same function.
Streamlight used a sorta external not so user servicable approach.
Win for Maglite.
The Mag has a removable tailcap. Streamlight had a solid body with a front load approach.
To insert a new cell in the Mag is easy and quick. Twist off rear cap and insert cell.
Streamlight had you remove the light assembly that was held in by a tiny (easy to lose) pin.
A clumsy approach in darkness outdoors. You push in and twist the light assembly and hope the loose fitting pin don't fall out.
Win Maglite.
When head is removed in both lights it's on. Great mule.
But with the Mag you can remove the tailcap to have it turned off when changing bulbs. Not the case with Streamlights approach.
Win Mag.
One hand operation by the Mag is a simple, user friendly approach. Location of an o-ring on the Streamlight causes a stiffness but in real world cases not that much more difficult.
But...a quarter rotation takes the Streamlight from off to spot with a nice (bulls eye beam) spill in between.
The Mag requires a full rotation to get to spot. In one handed scenarios that's 3-4 twists.
Hmmm, I think win goes to Streamlight here.
Water tight on the Streamlight consists of one fat o-ring vs 2 potential points of entry on the Mag.
The Streamlight has a gasket between the lens and reflector. If the Mag does it's unseen.
Win Streamlight.
For tailstand both do well. Surface area on the Streamlight is wider and flatter.
Win Streamlight.
For tailstand with wrist lanyard the side approach to the Mag allows the lanyard to be looped without interfering with tailstand. The hole through the body of the Streamlight has potential for the lanyard loop to be across the tail.
The Mag allows a 8mm split ring to hold the lanyard. The Streamlight approach requires one at least 16mm.
Win Mag, but who uses a lanyard on a 1aaa light?
A microstream pocket clip will fit either light. But the slightly larger girth of the Key-Mate requires it be stretched and scratches the heck out of the HA type 2 finish. Mag has the same type finish.
Tie goes to both.
The Mag disappears in your pocket a bit easier.
Both have plastic lenses.
Both put out about 2 lumens.
And both are slippery with wet hands.
The Mag has the cell inserted normal as in button to head. The Streamlight has you insert the cell backwards. Button goes tail down.
Again the Mag is more of a typical configuration most folks are used to.
Win Mag.
But...it's a flashlight. And with that goes light output. So all the wins added up so far have Mag way out front. But in a NASCAR race nobody remembers who won the Daytona 499. It's the final lap that counts the most.
And with flashlights lap 500 is the beam.
So here we are at the start finish on lap 499
And the beams are side by side in door to door action with one lap to go....
And your winner by a mile...
The Key-Mate.
The Solitaire is an under rated little light that to this day does a great job when only a little bit of light is needed. But that Key-Mate, (although was basically a Solitaire rip off....at least according to Maglite.) was a fierce competitor for a few minutes of history.
Point is they were similar, but the Key-Mate differed in it's approach.
Shows the differing approach used by both.
The Mag used a simple push/pull internal mechanism in the center.
The Streamlight uses a side mounted number that generally serves the same function.
Streamlight used a sorta external not so user servicable approach.
Win for Maglite.
The Mag has a removable tailcap. Streamlight had a solid body with a front load approach.
To insert a new cell in the Mag is easy and quick. Twist off rear cap and insert cell.
Streamlight had you remove the light assembly that was held in by a tiny (easy to lose) pin.
A clumsy approach in darkness outdoors. You push in and twist the light assembly and hope the loose fitting pin don't fall out.
Win Maglite.
When head is removed in both lights it's on. Great mule.
But with the Mag you can remove the tailcap to have it turned off when changing bulbs. Not the case with Streamlights approach.
Win Mag.
One hand operation by the Mag is a simple, user friendly approach. Location of an o-ring on the Streamlight causes a stiffness but in real world cases not that much more difficult.
But...a quarter rotation takes the Streamlight from off to spot with a nice (bulls eye beam) spill in between.
The Mag requires a full rotation to get to spot. In one handed scenarios that's 3-4 twists.
Hmmm, I think win goes to Streamlight here.
Water tight on the Streamlight consists of one fat o-ring vs 2 potential points of entry on the Mag.
The Streamlight has a gasket between the lens and reflector. If the Mag does it's unseen.
Win Streamlight.
For tailstand both do well. Surface area on the Streamlight is wider and flatter.
Win Streamlight.
For tailstand with wrist lanyard the side approach to the Mag allows the lanyard to be looped without interfering with tailstand. The hole through the body of the Streamlight has potential for the lanyard loop to be across the tail.
The Mag allows a 8mm split ring to hold the lanyard. The Streamlight approach requires one at least 16mm.
Win Mag, but who uses a lanyard on a 1aaa light?
A microstream pocket clip will fit either light. But the slightly larger girth of the Key-Mate requires it be stretched and scratches the heck out of the HA type 2 finish. Mag has the same type finish.
Tie goes to both.
The Mag disappears in your pocket a bit easier.
Both have plastic lenses.
Both put out about 2 lumens.
And both are slippery with wet hands.
The Mag has the cell inserted normal as in button to head. The Streamlight has you insert the cell backwards. Button goes tail down.
Again the Mag is more of a typical configuration most folks are used to.
Win Mag.
But...it's a flashlight. And with that goes light output. So all the wins added up so far have Mag way out front. But in a NASCAR race nobody remembers who won the Daytona 499. It's the final lap that counts the most.
And with flashlights lap 500 is the beam.
So here we are at the start finish on lap 499
And the beams are side by side in door to door action with one lap to go....
And your winner by a mile...
The Key-Mate.
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Sorry, I am just not a fan of icans!! 
