Klarus X2 Ultra-Thin EDC Tactical Flashlight for Duty Carry

I have a ton of flashlights and usually like the ones from Klarus. This one is hard to figure out. I am pretty sure it is not 3,000 lumens, it just does not appear that bright. If it was my only flashlight, I am sure that I would get used to it.

The build quality is very nice. I appreciate the digital readout. It is easy to charge and a nice size to carry.

The bean is a very warm color. The clip is a one direction clip.

Overall, I do like it but I don’t love it.

TL/DR: Convenient flashlight about the size of a pocket knife or multitool. Feels very nicely made. When "locked" it is the perfect general use flashlight giving 15 lumens on an intermittent pushbutton. When unlocked, it's a pocket-sized monster. Everything works as described and it charges with a USB C to C or A to C cable.

Longer: I'm picky about flashlights. Specifically, I ask for three things: 1) Good build quality and reliability. 2) An intermittent mode that always starts on the lowest light setting and can't get messed up by bouncing the switch accidentally. 3) A clear control system that won't force me to run through modes I don't want all the time, or cause accidental activations.

This flashlight seems to do great on the first requirement. It looks well made even from a distance, and when you pick it up that appearance is confirmed. It's a solid lump of aluminum with protected lenses on one end and usable buttons on the other end. The shape is designed to hold in your fist and use your thumbs over the buttons, which is exactly how I would hold a flashlight like this regardless of design.

For the second point, this this flashlight has me covered as well. When "locked" the flashlight only operates intermittently at the 15 lumen setting. Locking/unlocking is a quick matter of double-clicking the red button. When the lock is toggled, the flashlight flashes twice as a visual confirmation which I'm not super fond of considering that it has a display on the side, but it could be useful. When unlocked, the flashlight works intermittently at the lowest setting if you hold the button down long enough, but that's where things can get squirrelly because if you are a little too quick it will just turn on and subsequent clicks will change the brightness. Still, I'll call it a win for this category as well because I can just keep it locked 99% of the time and should anyway.

The third point is where things get a bit less than ideal for me with this flashlight. It isn't that the menu system is bad. It's a reasonable menu system that doesn't ask you to remember too much. It remembers the last brightness setting. If you grab the flashlight out of your tool box after a few months you'll be able to get to the modes you need, and if for some reason you want strobe or SOS you can probably figure out how to get to them. I think the problem is the way thermal management works. If you set it to 1200 lumen, and then hold the red button, it will give you up to 15 seconds of really bright light. It will then drop down to 65 lumens until the electronics cools down. If you power the flashlight off and back on, it will flash briefly at 1200 lumens then drop back down to 65. It does that flash at the set brightness and then dimming until the whole thing cools off, including when you cycle through the brightness settings. And, to me, being flashed for a split second is worse than it just turning on to the lower brightness.

I think all of my complaints about how this flashlight works come down to two things: The use of the light to indicate status when they have a perfectly good OLED display (resulting in bright flashes at times when you didn't want or need a bright flash of light), and the lack of protection on the end buttons. Even when locked, the flashlight isn't truly off and can be inadvertently turned on by pressure from clothes or other items in my pockets.

Those complaints don't really take away from the overall quality and function of the flashlight. I can lock it and have exactly the sort of flashlight I want most of the time, and then unlock it to get brighter modes without too many weird quirks.

On a final note, the shape and size of this are pretty much perfect. I would have liked a bit of protection for the end buttons but I can see why they didn't include that. The pocket clip works. The finish feels nice and the detailing/texture they added all work well. The display looks nice and is protected reasonably well. The USB C charging port has a rubber door to cover it in normal use. Overall, I have zero complaints about this flashlight mechanically.

Extremely bright palm sized flashlight on turbo mode. Rectangular form factor makes it good for tucking into a pocket and the dual switches on the back are pretty ergonomic for operating with your thumb. The moonlight mode "shortcut" (holding the black button will turn it on in moonlight mode even when locked) is great for quickly getting a bit of light to quickly read something in dim environments.

I have the X1 as well and the 3000 lumen turbo on this doesn't seem any dimmer to me than the 4200 lumen turbo on that one. They have the same thickness (32x14.5 mm) with this being 39mm shorter. The buttons are slightly different with the X1 having larger buttons in area but they stick out much less from the housing, I'm guessing as an attempt to keep it more compact while maintaining similar usability.

Annoyingly, this X2 has a slightly different control scheme than the X1. Lock is two rapid presses of the red button instead of three, and the steady on modes cycle from brightest down instead of ramping up in brightness. I'm not going to dock any stars as it isn't an issue with this flashlight itself, but not great if you're also swapping between the two regularly. The control scheme is pretty complicated to begin with without having to remember multiple variations. I'm not sure why klarus decided to switch things up between their models.

This tiny flashlight is so bright! It is small enough and light enough that I can carry it in my purse.

The instructions were so small that I had to get my reading glasses to read them. The picture didn't really make sense to me. It took me a while to figure out why it wouldn't work. It was because the safety lock was on. Once I figured out how to turn off the safety lock, it worked like the pictured instructions.

I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of this little flashlight.

This X2 is super bright. It has a sensor on the light to detect when it's in your pocket so it doesn't burn you. The flashlight has a solid feel. It does take over an hour to charge, and only last a short time if you have it on supper bright (about 30 min or so). On the other settings it can last longer. This light is perfect for the woods, running at night, or just for traveling and exploring outdoors. Its my new pocket friend!

My husband LOVES this flashlight. He raved about it all weekend. It is incredibly bright, has many settings, a locking function, glass breaking beads, a belt clip, and a clear/easy to read display that shows you what setting you're on and what your battery is at. It isn't bulky and fits in his pocket nicely.

My husband understood the instructions immediately and had no issues working his way through the different button presses for different functions. I, however, did not. I felt it was a little confusing. I kept changing functions without realizing what I was doing. I got frustrated. If you prefer a flashlight that is easy on/off, this one probably isn't for you. If you like gadgets and are willing to learn how to work this, I highly recommend. I have other "name brand" lights, and this one is of similar quality for a much lower price.

Even though this light wasn't for me, it deserves 5 stars.

TL;DR: Very nice aluminum-crafted light with super bright capability, but the lack of any good way to use it stationary or handsfree prevent it from being a perfect EDC light.

Pros:

This flashlight offers some VERY impressive brightness levels and excels with its intended purpose as a handheld light. After studying the operational instructions for a moment, the interface is intuitive enough and the display is welcomed.

The turbo mode is insane--it actually heats up the LED bulb to scaldingly-hot levels, hence the 15-sec cutoff. This could be a valuable deterrent for assailants or wildlife. The lock feature is VERY welcomed as you would not want to accidentally blind yourself or someone else with that turbo mode!

The flashlight also has a strobe and SOS mode that could be a lifesaver in wilderness camping scenarios. I could also see the strobe being helpful as a roadside visibility marker (which goes hand-in-hand with the alleged ability to break a car window with it)

The flashlight is very comfortable to hold like a remote. The 15, 65, 300, 1500, and 3000 (turbo) lumens modes all appear accurately bright, from dim to blinding, and give a nice range of brightness to work with.
Battery life appears it will last as long as advertised.

Cons:

The placement of the buttons is irksome. I would have preferred they rested at the thumb, above the display, when holding the flashlight like a remote.

Any type of lantern function is missing here. The bottom houses the buttons and is angled, so the flashlight can't stand on its own to produce stationary light. Would've been a very nice ability if it perhaps had a wedge or kickstand to angle stationary light.

The clip does not change direction, so mounting on your hat bill or the like for handsfree operation isn't an option. The clip is magnetic but not really strong, so mounting to things like car hoods does not inspire confidence.

Overall this is a seriously nice light, but for my personal needs the complete lack of handsfree and lantern operation stop it from being a perfect EDC. There's just too many instances where a man needs the use of both his hands in the dark.

I would call this a perfect backup flashlight--one I plan to keep in the car for emergencies and for camping. If you're doing a lot of walking in the dark, and don't need both hands while you do it, this is a strong recommendation.

It’s definitely one of the brightest flashlights I have ever had for the size and it is very lightweight and easy to carry with the built in clip. I like the display with light mode and battery levels. I did find it a bit cumbersome at first to figure out the button sequences to change between brightness modes, lock and SOS mode. It came with instructions but they were vague and should you really need instructions to use a flashlight anyway? I feel the design would be better if the buttons were positioned on the side of the light vs the end of the light, the compact size of the flashlight with the button placement just feels difficult to use one handed, Still it’s an extremely bright flashlight, feels very durable and well made.I expect it to last years and hold up to abuse well. Definitely a great item to have in my truck for a roadside emergency or in my pocket for anything outdoors like boating , hunting, fishing, camping or for extra security to blind a trespasser, attacker, intruder or vicious animal at night.

Once you can figure out how to use this light, it is bright. Out of the box it comes locked. You have to interpret the confusing instructions to figure things out. Pressing multiple times changes the brightness. It has an lcd screen that tells you the lumens you have selected.

There is a turbo mode that gets up to 3000 lumens. I wish the instructions and operation was more straightforward. You shouldn’t have to keep the instructions so you don’t forget how to turn on a flashlight. Also not a fan of the shape with the angled side that contains the buttons.

This review is for the Klarus X2, a flat TAC-style flashlight. In addition to the flashlight you’ll get a one-way clip (preinstalled), a USB-C charging cable, and a user manual. The LED is unknown, as is the color temp (Klarus has not released this information.)

Here are my takeaways…

THE GOOD
-Cool form factor.
-Unique proximity sensor (dims if you get too close to something)
-Lightweight and easily pocketable.
-Easily distinguishable tail switches.
-Digital display shows brightness and battery level.
-Easy access to turbo and strobe.
-Good mode spacing.
-Lockout mode.
-Onboard USB-C charging.

THE BAD
-Possibly the worst green tint I’ve ever seen an LED produce (see beamshot comparison pic).
-Beam pattern isn’t uniform; donut hole in center of hot spot.
-Lumen specs are almost certainly exaggerated,

CONCLUSION
Argh… I really wanted to like this light! It has a unique and appealing body design, perfect size and weight, TAC switches, and a neat proximity sensor. It’s like a budget version of the EDC37.

But I just can’t get past the sub-par beam pattern and horrible tint. I gave it a few days to see if I could get used to it, but it’s just a really bad greenish light. (And I promise, I'm not a tint snob.)

The good news is that I know of two other people who have the same light, and theirs isn’t as bad. So it’s possible that I just got a bad LED. I guess it comes down to whether or not you want to risk it.

Fantastic light at a great price. If you’ve never owned a Klarus before, this is a great one to start with. The UI is simple and very user-friendly, especially for people who are new to EDC flashlights—it doesn’t take long to figure out the modes and the dual-button setup works smoothly.

The ergonomics on this are excellent. It feels natural in the hand, with a slim body and beveled edges that make it easy to grip without slipping. At just over 4 inches and only a few ounces, it disappears in the pocket but feels solid when you’re using it. The aircraft-grade aluminum body and ceramic bezel give it a tough, durable feel, and it holds up well against drops and rain without issue.

This isn’t a long-distance thrower, but that’s not really the point. It floods an area with plenty of usable light, which is exactly what you want in most everyday carry situations. For things like walking at night, working around the house, or just having reliable brightness in your pocket, it’s an excellent choice.

This review is for the Klarus X2 tactical flashlight.

First, it is not “ultra-thin” as claimed in the product listing. It is rectangular and chunky. The first image in the product listing showing the light in someone’s hand is a fair representation of the flashlight.

Next, it is important to note that this is not a simple flashlight. To be honest, I hate the user interface! It is so convoluted that they have to supply a card to show you all the ways to click the two buttons to get to all the “features”. Frankly, it is the worst design of any flashlight I have ever owned except for it’s larger sibling the X1 which also has the same style user interface.

The light has two buttons and a screen. You would think it would be easy to turn it on and just use it. NOPE!

Yeah, I hate these tactical lights from Klarus!

On the good side, the flashlights look super cool. They are sized just right given their shape. They are very comfortable in the hand and look like they are worth every penny that they cost.

I had the X1 on my desk for a long time after I reviewed it. I generally like Klarus products. I carried one of their lights every day for years. I kept the X1 on my desk because it was an expensive light and it looks like million bucks.

I have a ton of flashlights. I have lots of great options and I didn’t want to have to stop and think every time I grabbed the X1. One day at work, a coworker who is a good friend mentioned that he loves flashlights. He did not have very many of them and he is very technical. The kind of person who would explore, memorize and enjoy the user interface. I gave him the X1 and he LOVES it!

He carries the X1 every day. I got the X2 to eventually give to him. It is shorter, so it should fit in his pockets better.

For my part, I’ll play with it. I have no desire to own a flashlight that needs a manual to learn how to operate it. I do have programmable high end flashlights, but all of them work the first time, every time by just turning them on. Given that the X1 and the X2 each have two buttons and a screen. You shouldn’t have to have a manual too.

Good light to keep in a tactical kit. The flashing light is truly blinding. Nice light for daily or specialty use.

Pocket sized with excellent hard metal case and bright wide beam. I am a longtime user of Fenix lights, and this flashlight is a up to Fenix in quality and capability. The LED screen is easy to read and provides Lumens, light output level, and battery level...very useful features at a glance. Unfortunately, the LED screen stays on for just couple seconds then turns off. You have to be fast to check it.

Buttons on the rear of the case are easy to activate and precise in function. The black button turns on/off the flashlight and sets the level. When turned off and back on again a memory function remembers your last brightness setting...excellent feature. When turned on, a short press of the black button changes brightness. A long press turns off the flashlight. Takes some practice to figure this out but once learned it's easy to use. The red button, when briefly pressed activates SOS function at full brightness and it remains on until pressed again to turn off. Continually holding down this red button turns on the solid beam light at full brightness. Releasing the red button turns off the flashlight. All these functions make the flashlight very versatile.

Beam pattern is bright and wide. This suggests close in use like walking or a project within a few feet. It's not going to send a bright narrow beam beyond perhaps 15 feet or so though it projects a bright wide beam out to as far as its adjustable Lumens allow.

It recharges through a rubber covered USB-C port. Had a 30% charge when new and only took a couple hours to recharge to 100%.

Finally, I really like the size, form, and function of this little flashlight. Easy to get into and out of a pocket. It's far better than anything you'll find in department stores and is competitively priced.

(klarus X2 Ultra-Thin Palm-Sized EDC Tactical Flashlight, 3000 Lumens Compact & Mighty Pocket Light, USB-C Rechargeable, Dual Switch, OLED, IPX6 for Outdoor/Duty/Emergency / $45 at the time of ordering)

The light is extremely bright on both the 3000 and 1200 lumen selections. The 3000 lumen is very limited as far as the length of time you can use it. Mostly because it would overheat the flashlight. That's a common restriction with many smaller flashlights/torches. So completely understandable. I found myself using it on the 300 lumen setting. That was plenty bright for most situations. On the lowest setting, it gives you just enough soft/low light to be able to see your immediate surroundings or even read some written text if needed. Overall though, no complaints about the light output.

As far as design, it's fine. It's not the thinnest flashlight but, it's still has a decently compact footprint. The angled top includes 2 buttons (both which offer different options). The larger Black button toggles the main light. And the smaller Red button toggles the lock/unlock and additionally, the Strobe or SOS setting. It's not intuitive (like their other flashlights) but it's learnable fairly quickly. If you're just using this at home, it's great.

Like that it's rechargeable via USB-C. The glass breach feature is fine. Will probably never use that but it never hurts to have. Good IP rating. And it has a pretty good battery life. All good things.

Couple drawbacks. The strobe feature only works when the flashlight is unlocked. So if you're using this in an actual tactical situation, you need to click the button twice to unlock it (you'll hear the 2 clicks) and then click it again to activate the strobe. It's obviously not difficult but realistically, you'd want the strobe to be ready to go at anytime when hitting that button. Not to mention clicking it when you need it just to realize it's locked is enough to throw you off for a few seconds.

Additionally, because the LCD is placed on the left side, the belt clip is on the right. If you're using it left-handed, the bevel/angle at the top naturally makes it easy to hit either of the 2 buttons. Presumably, if you're holding/aiming a gun in your right hand, this makes the flashlight easy to grab and comfortable to use with your left hand. But if you're using your right hand to grab the flashlight off your belt, tactical vest or wherever, the angled top is now working against you making it difficult to hit the Black button and impossible to hit the Red button. A better design would definitely have been a flat top.

Initially I was going to rate this 4-stars. Great brightness. Great build quality. I've purchased other flashlights from this brand in the past and like what they have to offer, even with their confusing user interfaces. But when I tried using this in a tactical setting, it just became a bit too limiting.

This little flashlight punches way above its size. At just over 4 inches and 3oz, it slips into any pocket, but the 3000 lumens Turbo mode turns night into day in an instant. The dual-button control is intuitive—easy to flip between Turbo, Strobe, and low-light modes with one hand.

The OLED display is a standout feature—always know your battery level and mode at a glance. The USB-C charging is fast (about 1.5 hours), and the 40-hour runtime on low means I don’t have to worry about it dying mid-use.

✅ Blindingly bright when needed
✅ Slim, pocket-friendly design
✅ OLED readout + smart controls
✅ Fast charging + long runtime
⚠️ Gets warm in Turbo mode, but auto-dimming keeps it safe

Bottom line: If you want a true EDC tactical flashlight that’s both discreet and insanely bright, the Klarus X2 nails it. Perfect for everyday carry, emergencies, or just having a little fun lighting up the backyard.

This thing is one of those little gadgets you throw in your pocket and mostly forget about until you need it. And when you do, it is surprisingly bright. Walking the dog, checking the backyard, camping at night, whatever, it just lights things up without fuss.

The dual switches are fine, easy enough to figure out one handed. The OLED screen is… there. It tells you battery and mode but honestly it feels like overkill for a flashlight this size. I barely notice it most of the time and half the time I am just like, do I really need this tiny screen telling me what I already know? Couldn't it show me the temperature of the light or something? This thing get hot. I feel it should be heavier just to offset some of the thermal mass issues.

And the pocket clip is a joke. It holds it, sort of, but good luck clipping it onto anything thicker than a thin pocket. I have almost lost it more than once just from normal carry. The aluminum body is solid and the USB C charging is nice, but the battery drains fast if you go full turbo, which is kind of the fun part anyway.

Overall, it works. Bright, tough enough, and tiny. Just do not expect the OLED or the clip to wow you, they are mostly just for show. Still, for an everyday carry flashlight, it does its job. If you know, you know.

I like the form factor of this one better than the X2, but I've found the UI sub-optimal. The mode order is H→M→L.
It's a pretty good value for the money, and easy enough to use. The beam quality is good and there's no real artifacts, though it is low color-accuracy. The size is nice and fits easily in the pocket. Works well for what it's trying to do.

This compact and unique flashlight has some great features. It's pretty bright for its size and has a digital battery life indicator. It has separate switches, one for strobe and the other for moonlight when held down. There are multiple brightness settings too. This compact light is very rugged given its aircraft aluminum housing and ceramic bead glass breaking head. It's also fully weatherproof. BUT, it has one major flaw in my opinion. It's very easy for the main switch, which is larger, to get accidentally pressed and turn the flashlight on. You have to hold the button down a couple of seconds to turn it off, and I think it should be the same when turning it on. Other than that, this is a pretty good slim compact flashlight that is perfect for EDC.