Isn't the whole point of purchasing this light i.e. with an XM-L LED, so that one could slap on a RCR123A 3.7V battery and safely enjoy a 219% increase in the amount of light coming out of the flash light?
I've just received a Sunwayman V10R Ti which is rated at 210 lumens. The new XM-L version is much cheaper and is rated at 160 lumens but states that it will punch out 460 with the battery above!
So, will it really be more than twice as powerful? and shouldn't the throw distance be much better too (ceteris paribus)?
I have both the XP-G R5 and the new XM-L T6 models.
On a disposable CR123 which only delivers 3.0 volts, both R5 and T6 output just 160 lumens.
On a rechargeable 16340 which is normally 3.7 volts, the R5 will output 210 lumens, while the T6 will output 460 lumens.
The R5 has a claimed 130 meters of throw.
The T6 has a claimed 130 meters of throw too, but I suspect my T6 throws a little less than my R5; there may be a misprint - I will check for you.
Interestingly, the V10R also comes in Anniversary Edition XM-L T5 bin @ 408 lumens 115 meters [see BigMac_79's review thread], and TI2 XM-L U2 bin @ 500 lumens and 130 meters of throw.
The difference between the three bins T5, T6 and the latest U2, is supposed to be about an extra 7% efficiency and output with each bin.
"So, will it really be more than twice as powerful? and shouldn't the throw distance be much better too"?
Tough to answer.
The XM-L's have more total volume output, so have more quantity of light, but not necessarily more throw.
The old XP-G R5 has a smaller, but more intense hotspot, so it throws further @ 130 meters.
The XM-L's generally have a larger, but less intense hotpspot, so it throws shorter.
There are actually three different sub-versions of the XM-L: T5 has 408 lumens, T6 460 lumens, and the latest U2 500 lumens.
There is roughly a 7% gain in efficiency, output and brightness with each sub-model called a "bin".
The T5 throws some 115 meters.
T6 probably in between at 122.5 meters.
Then U2 at 130 meters.
Thus, the latest U2 bin finally manages to catch up to the old R5 in hotspot intensity/brightness and throw, keeping in mind that the U2 delivers a ton of width with a much wider hotspot, a wider corona secondary band of light, and a brighter lateral spill.
Confused you???
At max, it's very bright as expected. The V10r's beam is noticeably ringy, with a wide dark ring near the edge of the spill. In contrast, the SC600 has no rings at all.
I'm like you, I have both SC600 and pocket sized V10R too.
If you look at the two reflectors, you will notice that the SC600 is
MOP Medium Orange Peel.
While the V10R's is
LOP Light Orange Peel.
The MOP
diffuses the light more, to deliver a
cleaner, and
less ringy beam; and all this generally comes at the
expense of throw, thus despite its huge 750 lumen OTF output and the bigger 30mm diameter bezel, the SC600 only throws only 145 meters ANSI standards, while many other similarly sized 1x18650 powered lights throw much further than this.
Meanwhile, the V10R XM-L on a 16340 3.7 volt battery outputs 460 lumens, with a tiny bezel diameter of just 23mm, but on LOP reflector, it already manages to throw a claimed 130 meters ANSI; the actual throw of this model has not been independently tested by a reputable body like Selfbuilt...
