NITECORE TINI 3 Review

The NITECORE TINI series of compact flashlights has been our go-to for a few years, so we jumped at the chance to review the newest iteration. Knowing that the format works for travel, we’re curious how the upgrades affect usage, especially when away from home. Let’s dive in and find out!

The Rundown

The NITECORE TINI 3 has five brightness modes. Instead of explaining them in a paragraph, we’ve made this table to illustrate better what each offers.

Additionally, you can change the color temperature of the light between 6500K (cool), 4500K (neutral), or 3000K (warm). This is handy for numerous reasons, including users who are more sensitive to different kinds of light, optimizing your visibility in various weather conditions, and ensuring proper color rendition for filming or when you need to be sure you’re seeing things correctly. That said, we didn’t find ourselves using this feature very often and left it on the 6500K setting because cool light tends to seem brighter.

The flashlight uses a USB-C charger and takes roughly an hour and a half to charge. You can power it up while it’s still connected to the charging cable, which is handy for reading at night while your partner sleeps or if you’re in a hostel. That way, you’re still charged up for the next day and can use the light simultaneously.

The light has an OLED display that shows information about the battery, lumen levels, and color temperature. Additionally, it features a 2-meter impact resistance and an IP54 rating, which protects it from dust and harsh water splashes but not from full submersion. In our experience, this light is mighty durable; however, you’ll start to notice bumps and knicks over time if you’re rough with it or leave it attached to your keys.

At the time of writing, Classic Black, Forest Gray, and Alloy Orange colorways are available; however, NITECORE has stated that they plan to release more. The TINI 2 came in titanium, so we hope to see that eventually.

To turn the light on, short-press the power button; this returns the light to the last setting you had it in. You can cycle through the brightnesses by clicking the mode button. However, you can’t get to the highest output (600 lumens) by cycling through the modes. To do so, you have to hold the mode button for an extended period. Considering how short battery life is at the highest output, it makes sense that they don’t allow you to leave it at this brightness.

To cycle through the color temperatures, press and hold the power and mode buttons at the same time. As stated, we didn’t do this often in testing, though it’s fairly easy and didn’t happen by accident.

Press the mode button to check the battery when the light is off. If you push it again, it’ll change the power level at which the light is set. This is handy if you want enough light to see but not attract attention to yourself.

Hold the power button while the light is on to lock it to prevent it from accidentally turning on. After a second, you’ll reach semi-lock mode, and an indicator will appear on the OLED screen. Hold it for longer to reach full-lock mode. Semi-lock mode only allows you to hold the menu button for the 600-lumen light, and full-lock mode doesn’t allow you to do anything. Hold both buttons to turn off either mode until the screen indicates the lock is off.

Packability

The NITECORE TINI 3 is just as small as its predecessors. If you’re unfamiliar with it, the light disappears into the palm of your hand, which is shocking considering how bright it is.

The light has an integrated eye so you can attach things to it, but it comes with a small keychain. This makes it easy to carry the light with your keys or hook it onto your sling, daypack, or travel backpack. The keychain isn’t anything special—it’s crafted from metal but doesn’t feel super durable. If you plan to get rough and rugged with the light, we’d recommend adding something more durable.

Quick Comparison

The best light to compare the TINI 3 to is its predecessor, the TINI 2, so we can see whether it’s worth upgrading or looking for a deal on a used or discounted old model.

The TINI 2 maxes out at 500 lumens compared to the new version’s 600. This is slightly noticeable; however, in most situations, it’s negligible, and we wouldn’t upgrade just for that.

You couldn’t change the color temperature with the TINI 2, which is something we like on this newest iteration. This won’t matter for most travelers; however, it’s nice to set one you like and leave it there, even if you don’t change it often. If you like cool, white light, you’ll be OK with the 2.

The TINI 3 also has an upgraded battery, jumping from the 2’s 280 mAh to the new model’s 330 mAh. This helps keep the more powerful light alive for slightly longer than the older version. At 1 lumen, the old version lasted 60 hours compared to the new one’s 85, which is a solid shout for readers. At a more considerable 200 lumens, the older version lasted 45 minutes, whereas the new one boasts an hour.

The light’s exterior looks more muscular now, with harsh angles molded into the metal. Both lights are roughly the same size and charge using USB-C, which makes them easy to use.

Overall, the NITECORE TINI 3 has a few features that make it a better choice than the previous iteration, but we’d still recommend the TINI 2 if you’re on a budget or can get a deal. The small buttons on either model can be challenging to use, so keep that in mind if you have larger fingers!