What's the Difference Between the Klarus XT30R and the XT32 LED Flashlights?

For their first flashlight of 2018 Klarus announced the XT32 - a powerful flashlight with a monstrous throw. We are definitely impressed by this particular flashlight. At first glance you may confuse it with the XT30R that Klarus released last year. Both of these flashlights are fairly similar to one another but they’re different enough that one flashlight may be better suited for a specific situation than the other. In this blog we'll talk about some of the similarities and differences between the XT32 and the XT30R. So if you've ever asked yourself that question then this is definitely the blog for you.

Similarities in the Klarus XT30R and XT32 LED Flashlights

We'll start with the similarities between these two LED flashlights. First and foremost both of these flashlights are throw lights. If you’re looking for a flashlight that has a great throw to it then you definitely need to check out either the XT32 or XT30R. So let's look at some more similarities.

Size and Design of the LED Flashlights

The first and most obvious similarity is the size and design of both of these flashlights. Because they're both designed to have a long throw they are quite a bit longer and bigger. For the most part they're far too big for everyday carry but they are still compact enough and lightweight enough that you could easily carry this flashlight when you're out hunting or you're at your job.

Both the XT32 and XT30R have a very deep smooth reflector that allows that long beam distance. With both lights you have the heat dissipation grooves and the knurled pattern design on the body allowing you to more easily grip the flashlight. Both flashlights have a body diameter of one inch so you can mount either flashlight onto a weapon. Also both of these LED flashlights have crenelated bezels for self-defense as well as to protect the lens and LED of the flashlight. Both of these bezels are rather short but with the weight of the flashlight they can still do quite a bit of damage.

Switches and User Interface

The XT32 and XT30R both have a side switch and dual tail switches that function independently from one another. This allows both of these flashlights to be very versatile. You can choose if you would like to operate the flashlight using the dual tail switches or if you'd like to operate the flashlight using the side switch. The side switch on both of these flashlights has a built-in memory function as well as a lockout function. So when using the side switch it will turn on to the last brightness level you used. You're also able to lock out that side switch to prevent any accidental illumination.

If you have one of these two flashlights then you understand how to operate both of them. The user interface on the XT32 and the XT30R are pretty much identical. With the dual tail switches you have the main switch and the secondary switch. The main switch allows you to turn on and off the flashlight while the secondary switch allows you to cycle through the different brightness levels and access either the one-touch strobe or one-touch low option depending on which setting the light is in. We’ll get to the programmable settings later in this article.

The side switch turns on and off the flashlight and cycles through the different brightness levels including the two flashing modes - strobe and SOS. So like I said, if you learn the user interface for one of these flashlights you'll know how to operate both of the flashlights.

Programmable Settings and Multiple Outputs

Klarus has released several flashlights that have programmable settings and the XT32 and XT30R are two of these flashlights. The programmable settings allow flashlights to be more versatile and allows the user to have more control over what they need. If you prefer one setting to another you can keep your flashlight in that setting or you can switch settings depending on the situation.

The XT32 and XT30R come with two programmable settings that the user can choose between: the Tactical Setting and the Hunting Setting. We already talked about the user interface previously and for the most part the user interface doesn't change too much between the settings. In both programmable settings the interface for the side switch stays the same and the interface for the dual tail switches changes a little bit. In the Tactical setting the secondary switch will access an immediate strobe when holding it down. In the Hunting Setting, the secondary tail switch will access an immediate low brightness level when holding it down. We've seen debate as to which setting is better and the truth is both settings are great and both settings have their uses. If you’re in law enforcement or security or you want to be prepared for any potential self-defense situation then that tactical mode is for you. With this mode you have instant access to the strobe mode allowing you to disorient any attacker.

On the other hand if you’re using either of these flashlights for your job or any outdoor activity you may prefer the Hunting Setting. With powerful flashlight such as either of these two, it can be really nice to have an instant access to the low brightness level. Not only does an instant low come in handy in many different scenarios, but it also conserves the battery making it ideal for outdoor activities.

Differences Between the Klarus XT30R and XT32 LED Flashlights

As I mentioned before these LED flashlights have a lot of similarities and without doing research you may think they are more or less the same flashlight. The XT32 and XT30R may have more similarities than differences but the differences they have are very significant.

Power and Distance

One of the most obvious differences between the XT32 in the XT30R is the power and beam throw. The XT32 delivers up to 1200 lumens of power and reaches up to 1000 meters. Now the XT30R delivers up to 1800 lumens and has a beam throw of 820 meters. So if you're picking between these two flashlights it's a good idea to consider which is more important to you - the power or the beam throw. While the XT30R is more powerful than the XT32, the XT32 has a longer range to it.

Both of these flashlights have different LEDs as well. The XT32 is equipped with a Cree XP-L HI V3 LED whereas the XT30R is equipped with a Cree XHP35 Hi D4 LED. You'll find that the XT32 has more of a focused beam than the XT30R. However, since both of these flashlights are made to be a throw light both of them have a very focused beam. Both of these LED flashlights also feature 6 total outputs including a strobe and an SOS mode. However, the run times for the outputs are slightly different between the two flashlights.

Battery Source

It's important to note that the power source for the XT32 and the XT30R are different. The XT30R comes with an 18650 battery pack. This battery pack is essentially the body of the flashlight. While some users don't mind that it comes with a battery pack others would prefer to replace batteries rather than having to purchase an extra battery pack in the future.

The XT32, on the other hand, runs on two 18650 batteries. You can also equip it with four CR123 batteries. So when it comes to the power source the XT32 has more versatility. It comes with two 18650 batteries but you can always replace these batteries with different 18650 batteries or CR123 batteries.

Rechargeable LED Flashlight

Another massive difference is the fact that the XT30R is rechargeable whereas the XT32 is not. It's really great that the XT30R is rechargeable because it does come with that battery pack. It has a rather unique magnetic charging port that allows you to secure the magnetic charger easily onto the flashlight. The XT30R does come with a USB magnetic charging cable that can be plugged into your computer or wall or car adapter and then attached to your flashlight to charge it.

The XT32 does not have a charging function. However it does come with the Klarus K2 smart battery charger. With this battery charger you're able to charge your batteries conveniently though maybe not quite as conveniently as the magnetic charging function. However, the good news with the XT32 is that if the flashlight is low on energy you can simply take the batteries out and charge them in the included battery charger. While these batteries are charging you can equip your XT32 with another pair of 18650 batteries or four CR123 batteries so you can continue to use the flashlight. When the XT30R is low on energy you'll have to wait until it's charged fully before you can use it again unless you have another battery pack that you purchased separately.

When choosing between these flashlights preference really comes into play. Some users would prefer a rechargeable flashlight even with the battery pack while other users would prefer the non rechargeable flashlight that can run on different batteries. So it's really up to you which is more important and which you would find most useful.

Final Thoughts

So you now know some of the similarities and some of the differences between the Klarus XT32 and the Klarus XT30R. Both of these LED flashlights are excellent throw lights that deliver a lot of power and an impressive beam throw. You really can't go wrong with either one. However, it's important to note the differences between two flashlights that are seemingly similar. The XT32 and XT30R have some significant differences and it all comes down to what you want in a flashlight.