| Acebeam Terminator M1 | |
|---|---|
| LEP type / class | Hybrid LED + Shine through LEP |
| Max. beam intensity (candelas) | 640,000 cd |
| Max. beam distance (meters) | 1,600 meters |
| Max. output (lumens) | 700 lm (+ 3500 for LED) |
| LEP Modes | 6 + strobe |
| Avg. Price listed by manufacturer | $279.90 |
Dual light source flashlight
Acebeam has been at the forefront of producing LEP flashlights.. well.. until about a couple of years ago, when they produced their latest LEP flashlight, available to the public. And that was the Acebeam W10 Gen 2. So it has been quite some time since they added a new LEP flashlight, and finally, after about 4 years, they added the Acebeam Terminator M1.
That’s a mouth full, for sure.
And it does have some very unique characteristics. First of all, it’s a hybrid flashlight, with LEDs and an LEP. This means that you can use the M1 for close up work (with the LEDs) and reach very far (with the LEP), by a simple click. But even more interesting is that the LEP has a zoom mechanism, so you can adjust the beam from wide to narrow by simply rotating the bezel.
Use, batteries, and more
The Terminator has 6 modes for the LEDs, and can reach up to 3,500 lumens (with 6500K emitters) or 2,300 lumens (with High CRI emitters). And the LEP can reach up to 700 lumens according to specifications. If that is true, it’s definitely one of the brightest single cell LEP flashlights.
It uses a 21700 battery, that I suppose is included in the package. It’s one with a USB-C port, so you can charge it anywhere, and anytime, as long as you have a USB-C cable and a USB charger.
Performance
I tested the Acebeam M1, and got the following measurements from measuring at 20 meters:
| Mode | Specified | I measured: | in meters | in yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 105,625 cd | 84,000 cd | 580 m | 634 yd |
| Med | 245,025 cd | 228,000 cd | 955 m | 1044 yd |
| High | 640,000 cd | 584,000 cd | 1528 m | 1671 yd |
Then I also tested the Lumen output with the LED as well as the LEP light source.
| LED Mode | Specified | Measured at 0 sec | 30 sec | 10 min. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moon | 1 lm | 1 lm | 2 lm | – |
| Low | 50 lm | 125 lm | 124 lm | – |
| Med1 | 150 lm | 208 lm | 207 lm | 206 |
| Med2 | 500 lm | 551 lm | 548 lm | 542 |
| High | 1000 lm | 1117 lm | 1104 lm | 1076 |
| Turbo | 3500 lm | 2593 lm | 3744 lm | 1055 |
And here is the LEP measurements:
| Zoomed-in Mode | Specified | Turn on | 30 sec | 10min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 100 lm | 62 lm | 62 lm | 59 lm |
| High | 250 lm | 175 lm | 174 lm | 169 lm |
| Turbo | 700 lm | 387 lm | 491 lm | 221 lm |
Final verdict
The M1 is a very interesting light. It’s a hybrid LEP flashlight, small enough to carry it in your jacket pocket, and perhaps in cargo pants pockets. The LEP is focusable, with a maximum distance of over 1500 meters.
With a click on a button, you switch between the LEP and the LED light source. I highly recommend it… if you are in for a hybrid LEP, with zoom function.
