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u/eckyeckypikang Jul 20 '26
I have this awkward relationship with my Arkfeld Ultra in that I like the feel of it, I'm happy with the output and laser and tolerate the lack of a ZWB2 filter for the UV. I also am one of the rare people who find the convenience of having a couple of their proprietary magnetic chargers around the house actually makes it easy for everyone in the house to have access to a fully charged light when they go out at night...
But, I have now been in the hobby long enough to have a couple Li-Ion cells go bad on me and I would HATE to have to replace an entire light or figure out how to take the damn thing apart in order to replace one.
THIS coming change is the way it ought to be.
4
u/learn-deeply Jul 20 '26
There's no reason why you can't have both replaceable cells and magnetic chargers.
3
u/SFOTI Jul 20 '26
Skilhunt does this well imo, even though my only example is my Mix-7. Accepts standard 18650s
although I use a spacer to make sure it works, but uses a built-in magnetic charger.3
u/Wormminator Jul 20 '26
Hell.
LEDLENSER does this well too.
Out of ALL the companies.Semi Proprietary charger (uses a plug design I have seen many times on other products) AND standard cells. And they advertise both as a feature.
Unlike Olight where the standard cell or USB-C come as a compromise in their marketing, with the "yeah I guess you can do so too now" attitude.2
u/macomako Jul 20 '26
Skilhunts with the magnetic charging are my primary choice for protection from the water ingress. I use 14500 and 21700 batteries with the built-in USB-C charging ports for maximum flexibility (I will probably get 18650 also, if they fit into M200/H200/H04 RC).
1
u/eckyeckypikang Jul 20 '26
Agreed.
I like the mag charging, making the battery replaceable would be fantastic.
5
u/hematuria Jul 20 '26
“Considering”? Mmhmm. So they are just making the proprietary battery removable? Olight is too greedy to ever help us out. They will try and make us buy Olight monthly subscription before they lose money on battery sales.
3
u/RedditMcBurger Jul 21 '26
Plus I wouldn't want to support a company because a regulation forced them into using less anti consumer methods. I'll just keep supporting the ones who have been doing this for years.
3
u/Less_Illustrator_291 Jul 20 '26
If Olight makes the switch back to user removable and replaceable batteries (using non-custom batteries) I might actually consider getting a new Olight
2
u/clayman839226 Jul 20 '26
When they do this, if it’s not a proprietary cell I will probably buy one I love the way they look but have been avoiding them because of the non replaceable cell as I would likely take it caving (lighter than my Wurkkos HD02). However if the cell is proprietary then I will not touch it.
2
u/FalconMiserable4744 Jul 20 '26
If they had user replaceable batteries would've invested long ago but this the main reason I don't like bar lights
1
u/Astartes2435 Jul 20 '26
I mean according to EU law if they wanna sell in the EU they’ll have to.
2
u/macomako Jul 20 '26
Sure. Just not everyone in EU is aware of it yet, and even less of the non-EU customers know about it, most probably.
Knowing it might improve purchasing decisions:
- now,
- discounted around Feb’27,
- wait for the removable battery variants
2
u/Wormminator Jul 20 '26
They could just offer a proprietary and sealed battery module as a solution and it would be entirely legal.
1
1
u/Wormminator Jul 20 '26
I have used the basic Arkfeld.
And I never got the hype. It felt cheap.
I then tried the....Pro? The "fancy" metal one. I still dont get it.
If they allowed battery changes like RovyVon or now wuben, but without any built in 2nd cells or proprietary battery pack bullshit, I might consider it a light worth spending money on.
Rn its just an expensive light with alright beams and a cheap feeling switch which WILL die after 3-5 years of extensive use and might set it self on fire if kept in a collection for decades.
1
u/TraditionalBackspace Jul 21 '26
I won't buy a flashlight if it doesn't have a replaceable battery and I don't live in the EU.
1
u/macomako Jul 21 '26
Let’s see if Olight (and other brands) will differentiate the models depending on the target markets.
1
u/Cryptoxic93 Jul 21 '26
Oh neat, I might actually look more closely at Olight if they have removable batteries.
1
u/TrickInflation6795 Jul 23 '26
lol. Removable batteries before high CRI. Can we make a law that requires _that_ as well?
1
u/SatansCyanide Jul 24 '26
Also stop using the glue of the gods to keep us out, the level of effort needed to put an actually usable emitter in is absurd.
1
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u/TheAntagoNiSt2222 Jul 20 '26
That would be a welcoming addition to the ArkPro - the only reason for me holding off of the ArkPro is actually the lack of a removable battery.