Even if you are a non-flashaholic, Olight is one brand that you probably have heard about. With its high-quality products, the brand has established a dedicated group of followers in the past few years.
The Warrior 3 was launched in late 2021 as an upgrade to the Olight M2R Pro Warrior. Olight mentions that it is a “tactical flashlight with class-leading features.”
Does the Olight Warrior 3 have the right features to make it the ideal ultra-bright tactical light?
Let’s dig deeper and find out.
Summary of Contents
What Is Included in the Box?
The last flashlight from Olight that I checked out was the Warrior X Pro and the packaging was impressive. The same goes for the Warrior 3 and the packaging looks premium.
The flashlight comes with all the standard accessories that you will need. Here are the items included in the box.
- The Warrior 3 flashlight
- 5000 mAh 21700 Rechargeable Lithium Battery
- The (MCC3) magnetic USB charging cable
- A holster
- A pocket clip
- User manual
The Olight Warrior 3 Tactical Flashlight
The Warrior 3 is available in 4 different colors and we had the black flashlight for this review. The matte finish with blue accents looks attractive and helps the light to stand out.
The aluminum alloy casing feels solid and comes with an IPX8 waterproof rating. It is also drop-tested from 1.5 meters. So, this Warrior can easily brush off rough weather and a few drops to keep performing.
The middle portion of the body has ridges that provide an excellent grip. The finishing is top-notch and there are no rough edges to cause discomfort.
Inside the casing, there’s a 5000mAh 21700 battery that can stretch the runtime to 55 days. The USB magnetic charging cable comes with a magnetic pad and a standard USB connector at the other end.
The Warrior 3 comes with five operating modes excluding strobe. The light can be activated by using both the side or the tail switch. The light also has mode memory, except for the Turbo mode.
The side switch controls the primary operations like brightness levels and battery level indicator. The switch feels snappy and the slightly raised design makes it easier to locate in darkness. Holding the button will cycle you through the High, Medium, and Low modes.
Surrounding the side switch, there are battery and brightness LED indicators. Each indicator has four levels.
The secondary operation is through a dual-stage tail switch that allows you to shift between turbo and strobe modes. The dual switch has an excellent tactile feel and provides you with direct access to Turbo during an emergency.
Also, the switch is made from metal. You don’t have to worry about rubber surfaces wearing out.
It may take you some time to figure out the two-stage operation of the tail switch– a half-press and a full-press will work differently. But once you get used to it, you will find it a practical feature
Additionally, the Warrior 3 also supports a dual-button magnetic remote switch that allows you to use it as a weapon-mounted light (WML). This can be connected with the tailcap. However, you will need an E-WM25 mount to connect with any firearm with a Picatinny rail. The mount is sold separately.
Specifications
With a length of 5.47 inches, this is a medium-sized flashlight. In terms of size, it is not as compact as a pocket-sized EDC flashlight like the Olight Javelot Mini or a keychain light like the Olight i1R 2 EOS. The body diameter is 1.16 inches and the overall weight including the battery is 6.21oz.
The bezel is spiked to protect the light emitter. But the edges are sharp enough to poke your legs if you keep the light in your jeans pocket. On the plus side, this allows you to use the light as a self-defense tool.
To prevent the light from rolling away on a flat surface, the head is squared off. This is a practical feature that we hope other brands will implement in some of their flashlights.
The Olight Warrior 3 comes with a new cool White LED and a TIR Optic Lens. All TIR lenses come with rotational symmetry and combine a refractive lens with a reflector. This helps in throwing out a concentrated beam of high intensity.
Note, Olight has used SFT-70X-W lamp beads as the light source. These are high-output emitters with a cool white output and fall under the category of SFT White LEDs from Luminus.
The top output is 2300 lumens with a peak intensity of 23000 candelas. This is a solid boost from the 1800-lumen output of the M2R Pro. This makes the Warrior 3 a truly high-performance flashlight for tactical use.
I haven’t mounted the Warrior 3 but other users have mentioned that Olight’s mount keeps the flashlight the right distance away from a gun barrel. So, the shape of the muzzle does not obstruct the beam.
Unlike other premium LED flashlights, the removable pocket clip is not made from metal but hard plastic. However, it feels robust and the friction-fit mechanism is easy to use. I don’t use holsters with my flashlights, but the nylon sheath is well-made. You can use it to attach the light to a MOLLE system.
Lastly, Olight offers a solid 5-Year warranty on the Warrior 3. For the battery and charging cable, the warranty is limited to 1-year.
Lighting Modes
Time to look at the various light modes of the Warrior 3. Beyond the five modes, it also includes a strobe mode. As usual, ensure you do not point the light at anyone’s eyes while using the strobe mode, unless for self-defense.
- The Turbo mode output varies between 2300, 800, and 250 lumens. The max output is delivered for 2.5 minutes and then it drops to 160 minutes for the second stage. In the last stage of 250 lumens, the flashlight will deliver for 39 minutes. The beam distance is 300 meters.
- The High mode will deliver 800 lumens for 166 minutes and 250 lumens for 39 minutes. The beam distance drops down to 180 meters.
- Medium mode delivers 200 lumens for 13 hours. The beam distance is 90 meters.
- Low mode output is 15 lumens for 130 hours.
- The Moonlight mode delivers 1 lumen and the battery lasts for 55 days.
Real-world runtimes are on the lesser side with around 6 to 7 percent deviations from the specs. Even so, the Warrior 3 is on par with other similar options in the market in terms of battery runtime.
Overall, the outputs in various modes are nicely balanced to optimize battery life while providing enough brightness for various activities. Even if you are not into tactical operations, the Warrior 3 is versatile enough to function as a hiking or camping flashlight.
Batteries and Charging
Olight uses a proprietary 21700 cell for powering this rechargeable flashlight. If you want more flexibility with flashlight batteries, look elsewhere.
That said, the battery offers more power than a regular 18650 battery. Technically, you might use a conventional lithium charger to charge the battery. But I wouldn’t recommend that as it might damage the unit.
The charging mechanism is super easy and without any charging ports on the body, the task of waterproofing the light has been easier for Olight. Simply snap the charger on to start the charging process. The total charging time is around three hours.
Features
When it comes to tactical flashlights, durability is one aspect that I don’t take lightly. From that aspect, the Warrior 3 is built like a tank. Quite simply, this is a light that will serve you for years.
On top of that, the beam quality is excellent with the right balance between spot and wide. Another great feature is the moonlight mode which can be used to conserve batteries. While it is not enough for outdoor use, it is great for reading maps in the tent.
For me, the handy magnetic charging cable is the best feature of the Warrior 3. The cable is easy to connect and the connection is strong enough to withstand pulls and accidental drops.
Pricing
Considering the price, the Warrior 3 flashlight offers excellent value. Not many flashlights come with the same set of useful features and top-grade accessories like a magnetic charger at this price range.
For most buyers, a tactical flashlight is meant to be a long-term investment. And the Warrior 3 tactical flashlight is a choice that ticks all the right boxes.
Who Should Use the Olight Warrior 3?
If you are someone who likes a lot of options in their flashlight, the Warrior 3 is right up your alley. With multiple modes for controlling the light intensity and battery life, this is a perfect light for indoor as well as outdoor use. The high beam intensity and excellent throw also make it a great choice for law enforcement teams, security guards, and hunters.
That said, this is not for someone looking for a compact EDC flashlight. And if you need something with more lumen power, check out the Olight Warrior X 3.
Pros
- Excellent light transmission
- Easy-to-use user interface
- Battery and charge indicators
- A 5-year warranty
Cons
- Can only use proprietary batteries
- Turbo mode is not accessible when the battery falls below 75%
Final Thoughts
Honestly, it is hard to find cons in this Olight torch. It has been designed with the right set of features to perform as a professional-grade flashlight. Without a doubt, it will make a great gift for professionals and outdoor lovers.
Overall, the Olight Warrior 3 tactical flashlight is a worthwhile investment for anyone looking for a bright and dependable flashlight. If you are planning to visit the Olightstore, this should definitely be on your wishlist.
In case you are buying a tactical flashlight for the first time, take a look at our guidelines about choosing the best tactical flashlights.