DQG 18650 clicky

[Fireclaw18]

Just received my DQG Tiny 18650 clicky:

The picture has from left to right:

• My modded Convoy S2+ mini. 18500 cell, 2500 lumens, 74mm, 49g empty.
• DQG Tiny 18650 clicky. 18650 cell, 87mm, 38g empty
• Zebralight SC62w, 95mm, 40g empty

My initial impressions of the new DQG18650:

• This light is tiny. It's MUCH smaller than my Zebralight SC62w. It's even noticeably shorter than my DQG18650 twisty (1st version).
• Glossy green-grey anodizing looks very well nice. Looks much better than the black anodizing on my early version DQG18650 twisty.
• The button is tiny and has a metal cap. It sticks out maybe half a mm from the body. It also doesn't require that much pressure to click so there is a definite risk of accidental activation.
• UI is a mixed bag. It's not great:

single-click from off: low
double-click from off: medium
triple-click from off: high
long-click from on: turbo
double-click from low, med or high: advance to next non-turbo mode (low-med-high-then back to low)
single-click from low, med or high: off
single-click from turbo: goes back to previous mode before entering turbo
double-click form turbo: off
click from off-wait half second-click and hold: turbo
fast double-click from turbo: off
It has nice shortcut to minimum. Medium and high are also easily accessible. The problem is with turbo. To get to turbo from off you have to first single-click, then wait a half second for the light to turn on, then click-and-hold. Also, turning the light off from turbo requires a double-click, but only a single-click from other modes.
The interface works. It isn't bad. But it's not great either. There should be a faster shortcut to max power, and turning it off should be the same from al modes.

• Ergonomics: This light feels GREAT in the hand. It's fully knurled making it MUCH grippier than than the Zebralight SC62w. And it doesn't have the wobbly head issue typical of many twisties.

• Clip: Quite nice actually. It grips firmly and has a nice cutout for a finger. It's also reversible.

• Battery: I tested this light with a Zebralight protected 18650 cell (3100 mAh Panasonic NCR18650B with protection circuit and wrapper), and a Samsung 20R IMR cell. The light worked flawlessly with both cells. Unlike my early version DQG18650, this light looks like it should fit any 18650 cell. It works fine with flat top cells.

• The head and body tube appear to be separate pieces, but the body tube seems to be threadlocked where it meets the head. Batteries are loaded from the tailcap. Any attempt to mod the driver would need to break the threadlocker though. The bezel is also threadlocked.

• To save space, the battery tube is actually quite cleverly done. There is no spring in the battery tube. Instead there's a raised post surrounded by a foam donut slightly higher than the post at the rear. Install a battery then screw it in until the foam donut stops the rattle. Screw it in further to make electrical connection. This mechanism allows for a shorter battery tube than if the light used a spring. It also gives the light tailcap lockout despite not having anodized tailcap threads. The light is 87mm long with a Samsung 25R installed and screwed down. If you use a longer cell, it will still work fine, but the tailcap won't screw down quite as far making the entire light longer. There are plenty of extra threads in the tailcap to accomodate this system.

• Tailcap lockout works with all sizes of cells and is easy to toggle with one-hand.

• Beam pattern is excellent. Not surprising since it appears to use the same TIR optic found in the earlier DQG18650s. I chose neutral tint. It looks like an XML2 with 3C tint. The beam is fine, though as expected the tint isn't quite as good as that found on lights with 3D or 4D tint.

• Accessories: minimal. Came in a plastic case with a spare o-ring and the clip. No instructions or any other accessories.

• Glow in the dark o-ring under the bezel.

Initial Impression:
Overall, despite the less than perfect UI, this is a much better light than my first generation twisty DQG18650. It's the smallest single-18650 light on the market in both length and weight. It's an excellent choice for anyone who wants the smallest possible light with the runtime of an 18650.
The UI is vastly inferior to Zebralight especially when combined with the risk of turning on in the pocket if tailcap lockout is not used. However, this can be forgiven given that it's smaller and grippier than the Zebralight and costs 1/3 as much. Overall, I like this light.