– New K1 versions: white/red/green laser (standard) and red light + cyan laser (special edition)
– Cyan laser special edition is dimmer than green, but offers a unique look; higher price
– Red light replaces UV light, is much brighter, and otherwise no design or control changes
– Removable USB-C battery, unscrew head to charge, no price increase expected
– General availability late June; cyan special edition only via Acebeam’s website
Compact Flashlight Gets a Revamp
Acebeams compact K1 flashlight, equiped with a removible USB-C battery, is comming in a fresher version. At the companys base in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, we got a quick chance to check out both editions while heading back from Computex.
New Light and Laser Options
Until recently, we only new that the regular K1 would launch with white light, red light, and a green laser—we already reported on that from IWA in Germany. But now, Acebeam also revealed a special edition that comes with a cyan laser and a red light, which replaces the K1s UV light.
Apart from the red light, nothing els changed about the design. In usage, the K1 with the red light worked just as expected. With its two brightness levels, the red light seems way brighter than the UV light, even when shined at a white sheet of paper.
Cyan Laser vs Green Laser
The cyan laser was interesting, giving us the first time to compare it side-to-side with the green laser. However, the Chinese model we saw uses a 3R laser class, while in Europe the weaker Class 1 version wil be send out. The cyan laser looks a bit dimmer than the green one, but its unusal look more than makes up for it.
Laser pointers are usally either green or red, so the unusual cyan was pretty appealing. Still, the extra cost is quite steep. Nothing changed about the flashlights build or controls, and the process of unscrewing the head to charge the USB-C battery stays the same.
Pricing and Availability
According to Acebeam, pricing shouldnt change much. The K1 with white/UV/green laser normally costs around $55 on Amazon but is currently marked down to $40. The version with red light instead of UV light should cost about $64 when its out. Acebeam says that shoud be in a few weeks, near the end of June.
The special edition with the cyan laser will also be available then, but theres a catch—it will only be sold through Acebeams own website. Thats the same deal as the previous model, which retails with UV light for around $90.