QUICK THOUGHTS:
Fenix was nice enough to send me a prototype of their new E02R keychain flashlight. It’s similar to the Olight i1R2 with a built-in rechargeable battery and twist motion. This one boasts 200 Lumens, 50 lumens more than the Olight and longer runtime with its 120mAh battery. Have a look at my thoughts below!
MSRP: $23.95
Product Link: Fenix-store.com
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
- Fenix E02R Flashlight, utilizing a CREE XP-G2 S3 White LED
- Built-in 120 mAh Li-polymer Rechargeable Battery
- Micro USB Charging Cable
- Key Chain
- Spare O-Ring
- User Manual
- Warranty Card
MODES & ADVERTISED RUN TIMES:
- High – Output: 200 Lumens – Run Time: 25 Minutes*
- Low – Output: 15 Lumens – Run Time: 6.5 Hours
*Note: The High mode is thermal regulated and will decrease output to preserve the life of the LED as heat is generated.
OTHER SPECIFICATIONS:
- Maximum Throw: 49 Meters (54 yards) – On High
- Light Intensity (Candela): 591 – On High
- IPX Rating: IP68
- Impact Resistance: 1 Meter (3 ft. 3 in.)
ACTUAL PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS:
- Head – Max Width: 14.86 mm (0.59 in.)
- Body (Grip Area) – Max Width: 14.85 mm (0.58 in.)
- Tail Cap – Max Width: 13.84 mm (0.54 in.)
- Overall Length – (When On): 47.9 mm (1.89 in.)
- Overall Length – (When Off): 49.11 mm (1.93 in.)
- Weight: 15 grams (0.53 oz.)
LIGHT OPERATION & RUNTIME:
The Fenix E02R is super simple to operate with its twist action switch. Twist the flashlight head to activate low mode and continue twisting to activate high mode. To turn the light off, simply twist the flashlight head the other way. The flashlight head is captured, meaning that it will not come all the way off. There is no mode memory due to how the twist mechanism works, but this is super simple and in my opinion, does not require it.
Fenix also warns not to attempt to disassemble the light. This operation method is common across several brands and it seems to work well. There is a fine spot of “locking” the light out and keeping the waterproof rating up. You will figure it out as you if you unscrew it just the right amount (about 1/4 turn), it’s in the perfect spot.
How much runtime is possible out of this? On Low, Fenix states you can get 6.5 hours out of it. On my runtime test, I squeezed roughly 3 hours out of it when starting on high mode. Have a look at the runtime chart below and you will see how the light steps down from 100% output to less than 10% output over roughly 20 minutes. The E02R produced some level of light before turning off completely after 188 minutes. The Olight i1R2 only produced some level of output for around 60 minutes.
BATTERY & CHARGING REQUIREMENTS:
As mentioned above the E02R ships with a built-in 120 mAh Li-polymer rechargeable battery that is not user replaceable. Battery capacity is the one of the biggest issues with these small keychain lights and Fenix was able to pack a 120 mAh battery into this one where Olight keeps their battery small at only 70 mAh. This really helps with overall brightness and runtime.
Charging the E02R is simple and performed with a Micro USB cable that plugs into the light. Simple unscrew the flashlight head to expose the Micro USB port.
Next to the charging port is a charging indicator. It’s simply a red/green indicating led that will illuminate red when charging and green when fully charged. After the runtime test above, using a Aukey charging block, the E02R charged in about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Not unique to Fenix, but I do wish there was a way to add a battery level indicator to these little keychain flashlights. Perhaps if you twist the light on and off twice quickly, the primary LED could flash a battery level percentage.
Once your battery level is low, you will not have access to the full 200 lumen high mode. It will turn on to about 50 lumens. Your low mode will still fully function at 15 lumens.
Similar to other small lights, some portable power banks may need to be switched to “low current” charging mode to charge the E02R. I just stick to a USB adapter when possible.
LIGHT OUTPUT:
The compact E02R is paired with a CREE XP-G2 S3 White LED and accompanied by a TIR optic.
This combination produces a white output with mostly flooding light. When compared to the Olight i1R2, the E02R is more on the neutral white spectrum. There is a hot spot, but only noticeable when you are close to a surface. I think this is the perfect choice for a keychain light. Have a look at some indoor, outdoor, and comparison photos below.
Outdoor Photos – Fixed Exposure (ISO 400, 1/20s) – (Low, High, Low, High)
Outdoor Photos – Automatic Exposure – (High Mode)
Indoor Photos – Fixed Exposure (ISO 400, 1/20s) – (Low, High)
Indoor Photos – Automatic Exposure – (Low, High)
Comparison with i1R2 Photos – Automatic Exposure – Left: Olight i1R2; Right: Fenix E02R (High Mode)
WHAT I LIKE:
- Compact Size – While the E02R is a bit longer in length than some other offerings, It’s still a small light and smaller than a “AAA” battery light.
- Larger Battery – The larger capacity battery included in the E02R provides longer runtimes.
- Brightness – 200 Lumens is a decent level of light for such a small light in my opinion and serves its purpose well on a keychain
- Ease of Recharging – Micro USB makes it super easy to charge.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE:
- Battery Not Replaceable – I wish this wasn’t a throw away light. While Fenix offers a warranty, I’d love to be able to replace the battery if there are issues.
- No Battery Level Indicator – There is no real way to determine if your E02R is low on battery level or not.
SPECIFICATIONS COMPARED TO THE I1R EOS, I1R 2 EOS, & I3E EOS
| Data Point | Fenix E02R | Olight i1R EOS | Olight i1R 2 EOS | Olight i1R 2 EOS |
| Maximum Output | 200 Lumens | 130 Lumens | 150 Lumens | 90 Lumens |
| Battery Capacity | 120 mAh | 80 mAh | 70 mAh | “AAA” Battery |
| Maximum Throw | 49 Meters (54 yards) | 54 Meters (59 Yards) | 40 Meters (44 Yards) | 44 Meters (48 Yards) |
| Head/Body/Tail Cap Width | 14.86 mm (0.59 in.) | 14.0 mm (0.55 in.) | 14.8 mm (0.58 in.) | 14.1 mm (0.55 in.) |
| Overall Length | 49.11 mm (1.93 in.) | 42.3 mm (1.67 in.) | 44.6 mm (1.75 in.) | 60.5 mm (2.38 in.) |
| Total Weight | 15 grams (0.53 oz.) | 11 grams (0.39 oz.) | 15 grams (0.53 oz.) | 19 grams (0.67 oz.) |
| IPX Rating | IP68 | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| Price | $23.95 | $17.95 | $16.99 | $9.99 |
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
MSRP: $23.95
Product Links: Fenix-store.com, Fenix Instagram
The E02R is a great successor to the E01. It’s more compact, brighter, and has a rechargeable battery. I like that Fenix offers the light in Blue & Black like the E01. Additionally, there is now a brown color! While this is a rather basic light, the improvements are nice and there is a competitive advantage over the Olight I1R with a larger battery, brighter output, and my personal favorite, a more neutral white output for only a few dollars more. I really like that Fenix includes an extra O-ring. I feel that it costs them fraction of a dollar to do so and increases the chance of not having to contact Fenix for replacement parts.
At this time of this review, I do not have a warranty statement on the prototype. However, I suspect it will follow their standard warranty. This is the warranty statement for the E35 V3.0 and may not reflect the warranty for the E02R. I will update this once I receive information from Fenix.
Fenix offers a five-year warranty on most lights. Within the first 15 days, Fenix will replace the product with identical or equivalent products. Fenix will repair the light free of charge for up to 5 years. Post 5 years, Fenix will charge for the parts to repair the light. You are able to extend this warranty by 6 months if you register the light on fenixlight.com. The accessories are typically covered by a 1-year warranty.
I want to thank Fenix for letting me have a look at this prototype E02R! While they provided the light to me for evaluation, it does not influence my personal opinion. Additionally, I was not compensated in any other way for this review. This review and all of my reviews are my own thoughts and opinions gathered after carry and/or use of the light/product.
