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'SHOT Show Special' Review: Maglite XL200 (3xAAA)

'SHOT SHOW Specials' are a series of reviews inspired by, or as a consequence of, my visit to the SHOT SHOW 2015.
These may contain photos taken while travelling, and may be of a slightly different format.

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Author's Statement for Transparency and Disclosure
The test sample/s featured in this article have been provided for technical testing and review by the manufacturer. Test samples are retained by the reviewer following publication of the completed review for the purposes of long term testing and product comparisons.

All output figures and test results published in this review are the sole work of the reviewer, and are carried out independently and without bias. Test results are reported as found, with no embellishments or alteration. Though best endeavours are made to maintain the accuracy of test equipment, the accuracy of these results is not guaranteed and is subject to the test equipment functioning correctly.
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MAG-LITE's newest XL Series light is the XL200. It uses the same "QuickClick" interface as the other XL lights, but also incorporates motion controlled functions.

The light on test here was a display sample at SHOT SHOW, so the photos may show some signs of use.





Taking a more detailed look:

The XL200's blister packaging had already been opened when I got it and the pocket clip fitted. The package also includes a set of coloured filters and 3 Duracell AAAs.




The clip is sturdy and a nice 'pocket-safe' plastic.




The tailcap off and battery carrier taken out.




The head-end of the carrier has two contacts.




The tailcap end of the battery carrier has three contacts. There the central pad is the positive and the ring around it is the negative.




There is a moulded arrow on the side to remind you which way it goes into the tube.




The tailcap has two pin contacts and a contact ring. The grooved scratched into the contact ring looks like damage caused by someone inserting the battery carrier the wrong way round as the pin on the correct end is very smooth whereas the pin on the head end of the carrier could cause scratches.




At the head end there are the two contacts to match those on the battery carrier.




Looking down into the focus adjustable reflector at the XP-G LED.




And after removing the head and reflector the LED can be seen more clearly.




The threads are super slick MAG-LITE quality and the o-ring is a special shaped one.




Red, Green and Blue filters are included with a slide on filter holder.




The filter holder acts as an anti-roll feature if you didn't have the pocket clip fitted.




For an idea of size, here is the XL200 amongst a batch of lights on test.

From left to right these are: Olight S10R, Olight S15R, Olight S30R, FOURSEVENS Bolt-Action, FOURSEVENS Preon P2, FOURSEVENS MMU-X3R, Streamlight ProTac HL3, MAG-LITE XL200, NITECORE TM06, Lumintop ED20-T, V54 DC25Cvn and the Streamlight Siege AA.





The beam

In the tightest focus, the XL200's beam is quite narrow with a bright hotspot.




Like most other MAG-LITEs, the XL200 has an adjustable focus allowing the hotspot to be opened out to put more light into the spill beam. This has the unfortunate consequence of introducing a lot of artefacts and rings into the beam, but is effective at spreading the available light over a larger area.




Outdoors the XL200's limited output becomes more apparent as the central hotspot is the only area of the garden that is lit up.





Modes and User Interface:

MAG-LITEs XL200 has a few tricks up its sleeve. Combining the "QuickClick" interface with motion controlled functions.

On the tailcap there are a few reminders as to the functions available.



Both output power and strobe speed can be adjusted using the motion control. The motion control also features in the Nite Lite mode, the Signal mode and in setting the lockout function.

Each of the five modes (Main Beam, Strobe, Nite Lite, Signal mode and SOS) is accessed by rapidly clicking the tailcap 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times respectively.

In both Main Beam and Strobe, if the last click is held you enter the 'adjust' feature.

Main Beam Brightness - Holding the XL200 level (or at a slight angle off level), press and hold the button. Now, while holding the button rotate the XL200 and you will change the brightness. Once you have the level you want, simply let go of the button to memorise this level.

This level is then used for the Main Beam, Strobe, Signal and SOS

Using the integrating sphere to measure the changing output, rotating the XL200 at a consistent rate, the output varies as shown here.

There appear to be a set number of steps which can be seen more clearly as the output decreases in the right hand side of the graph.





Strobe Speed – Entering Strobe just needs a rapid double tap of the button, but if you hold that second tap, just like the Main Beam brightness adjustment, you can change the strobe speed by rotating the body. The brightness is the same as for the Main Beam.


Nite Lite is a useful mode which you get with a rapid triple click. Once in Nite Lite mode, the XL200 will use the maximum brightness, but if you put it down, after 5s the beam dims down to the lowest output. As soon as you pick it up again the beam returns to full output. If you hold it very still it will also go to sleep and dim the beam, but a little movement brings the beam up to full brightness again.


Signal mode is an interesting use of the motion control. Having used four rapid clicks to activate the Signal mode, you then rotate the XL200 to turn the beam on and off. Useful for signalling and can be used for (slow) Morse code as you can control the length of flash easily. The brightness of Signal mode is the same as that set for the main beam.


SOS is the last mode which you activate with five rapid clicks. The brightness of this mode is the same as the main beam.


Lockout is also available thanks to the motion control. Start with the XL200 pointed up, press and hold the button. Then rotate the XL200 to point it straight down and release the button. The switch is now locked out. To reactive the XL200 repeat the same locking procedure.



Batteries and output:

The XL200 uses 3x AAA cells. Testing was carried out with alkaline and rechargeable AAAs and it performed well with either.

To measure actual output, I built an integrating sphere. See here for more detail. The sensor registers visible light only (so Infra-Red and Ultra-Violet will not be measured).

Please note, all quoted lumen figures are from a DIY integrating sphere, and according to ANSI standards. Although every effort is made to give as accurate a result as possible, they should be taken as an estimate only. The results can be used to compare outputs in this review and others I have published.

XL200 using Eneloop LSD NiMh AAA | I.S. measured ANSI output Lumens | PWM frequency or Strobe frequency (Hz)

___________Max Eneloop__________________________214______________________________250
___________Max Alkaline__________________________212______________________________250
____________Minimum_____________________________2_______________________________250

The minimum Strobe speed was 0.66Hz, and the maximum was 10.5Hz

Beam Range measured in at 156m.

As there is an electronic switch we need to consider the parasitic drain. The XL200 drain is 82uA, and using 800mAh NiMh cells it would take 1.11 years to deplete the cells.


The XL200 runtime trace was carried out using 3x 800mAh Eneloop cells on maximum output.

Unlike most other lights, the output goes up after the initial switch-on output level settling at maximum output after around 1 minute. After ten minutes on Maximum, the output gently ramps down over the next 2 minutes down to half the maximum output. This level is then held until the cells can no longer maintain it. Nice steady regulation.





The XL200 in use

While not the only light to use an accelerometer for motion control to adjust the output, it is by far the best implementation of this that I have used. The brightness adjustment becomes second nature and feels intuitive.

I have little use for strobe mode, but reducing the flash rate right down makes it into a beacon (which I do use). Again the speed adjustment is just as intuitive.

Were you to give this light to someone not familiar with the control process, they would find it confusing and would probably only be able to use whatever main beam output level had been set. If it was locked out they would have no hope.

A slight disappointment is the use of PWM at all levels. This is not unusual for a light with tailcap control circuits, but does become increasingly noticeable the lower the output level.

Fit and finish it what you would expect from MAG-LITE. Everything is crisp, super smooth and precise

The fun and usable interface makes the XL200 very versatile even if it isn't a top performer on output.


Review Summary

Things I like

MAG-LITE build quality
Intuitive motion control
Includes pocket clip and coloured filters
AAA powered, so easy to feed
Acceptable parasitic drain
Lockout facility

What doesn't work so well

Uses PWM for lower modes at 250Hz
Plastic lens
214 lumens maximum output


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