Modlite PL350 | 5 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy 

Update: We now have test results from an independent 3rd party lab. Check out the full report at www.lowlightdefense.com/modlite-pl350-how-many-lumens/

This is perfectly in line with modlite ignoring anything about their products that could be considered negative.

At this price point it should absolutely meet their claims of max lumens. Their declining to answer seems to me like they know it doesn't and didn't expect to get called out. I still think people would buy the light regardless, but I think there shouldn't be false advertising involved. Hopefully cloud defensive steps it up even more and doesn't make false claims when their pistol light comes out.

Let's hope Cloud Defensive's wml pulls through.

One of the best reviews I’ve seen about this light. The lumens issue is a bummer for sure. They can just advertise it at the 900+ ANSI lumen rating and people will buy given the candela. Production issues also need to be rectified. This light has great potential and I’d like to see the next iteration soon.

For a 1000 lumen light for $300+ dollars nothing should malfunction or be deviated from advertised spec. That's my two cents. The candela is impressive but the switches would be the deal breaker for me. I've been spoiled with olight and inforce paddle style switches. Rotary ones are not my preference.

Couldn’t agree more!!! Almost a month after it’s release and you sir are the ONLY person to give an honest review!!! Thank you lol it’s just as overrated as the tiny Surefire.

To abet your question in point 4... yes, it matters. Honesty and integrity are a necessity.

At this price point. Reliability and dependability should be at the top…. This is a great review and shows me that modlite doesn’t have it!

Definitely one of the best reviews I've seen on this light...

I'm glad I discovered your channel. You're the first I've seen to use calibrated testing equipment (e.g., the integrating sphere), at least in the "gunTube" community. Thank you for the thorough analysis. And way to kick the WML industry square in the nuts! This is the kind of content the community needs to keep manufacturers honest.

You are doing a fantastic job with these reviews. They are very meticulous and high quality. Keep up the good work! 👍🏻

Subscribed - your WML comparison videos are easy to watch and follow while still being in-depth. Great work sir

This video is a great sales pitch for the tlr-1 HL. Edit. The modlite is clean looking tho.

Thanks brother. Changed my mind! Going w the Modlite PL350 as of now 👊🏼

You do some of the best reviews, thanks for the effort. For me personally, no momentary is a no go. I don’t think the lumens issue is one honestly, considering the candela. If they built a momentary switch, I’d be interested.

I was planning on purchasing one of these for a handgun, and still am - my overall impression is that, despite teething issues, it's still a good light. I'll just have to make sure to put it through it's paces first to verify everything functions correctly.

Excellent review, information, and accountability of modlite. Thank you for all your hard work you guys are awesome!

By far the best review of this light.

Hmm.... Think I'll wait for a "gen-2" of this one. Thanks for the awesome review!

Really like that you guys do these types of videos. Good info to have.

Thank you. These videos are a legit public service.

I was ready to buy one but am going to hold off as a result of this thorough review. I can’t afford to buy multiple $319 weapon lights to get a couple reliable ones.

I can’t believe this testing. Those are some crazy results.

Such good info! Thank you. Still very impressed with my rig your team built for my G3C with a balder mini. Great holster… Cheers from Anacortes.

Nice honest review, I like it for the Candela, throw, ease of battery change, warranty, and how THIN it is but I think I will wait a bit to see if Surefire or Cloud can compete with this in the near future before I pull the trigger on some massive candela....

Thank you for a through and honest review. Lots of shills on social media and in the industry unfortunately.

Thank you for this test and review! I have 3 of the PL350s, I do not like the switches in the least. The mounting bolt is also far from ideal. I thought it would likely be the best light for the Flux Raider, but the switches make it kind of difficult to use. I agree it could be or is “a training issue”, but the best tools for defense are ones that are easily used, even without training. Thank you again! Subscribed!

Thank you for this detailed review. Don't have a Werkz holster, but I think I'm going to do business with you guys.

I liked the one I got so much that I bought a second one to mount on Picatinny since I put the Glock tab in my first one.

Absolutely love your reviews on WMLs. Combine these with Aaron Cowan who does the reviews on the opposite end of the spectrum and you have all bases covered.

Great review. Having a sample size >1 adds a lot to the value of the info. Missing the rated lumens is pretty vexing considering the price point and the standards set by SureFire in this price range of exceeding rated lumens. It will be also be interesting to see how the switches do over the lifespan of the light and after an extremely high number of cycles. I think I'll wait on this model. I'm still highly invested in CR123a platforms, and with LiFePO4 support, the differences in capability are not very large.

fantastic testing

excellent review

Cloud defensive announced their TWO pistol lights coming soon, so glad I didn’t sell my x300 for this light. Going to be waiting on CD! ☁️ 🔦

Amazing review

Great review!!! Subscribed. I hope you review Cloud defensive pistol light when it comes out

Your vids are great, keep up the terrific work.

For the clicking. I unscrewed the 4 screws in the back of mine. Fixed the oring position and reassembled it and tightened the screws harder than they came in the box. It made the switches a little stiffer so I don’t overrun the off position. And it brought my beautiful clicks back

very useful review

wow so glad I seen this tonight

I have two one was a warranty both had switch problems one had flickering problems I think if they get that fixed it could be a great light

These videos are awesome

Man-what a great review!

Great video love my m6 holster. 🤘🇺🇸

Amazing info!

Thanks

Amazing review.

Love these light reviews - I’ve been using the PL Valkyrie Pro, but have been looking at the TLR-1 HL. I think my biggest concern with the Olight is the fact that I have to charge it and just can’t swap batteries. These reviews really helped and I appreciate how honest and in depth you were.

You are the man! You just saved my ass from purchasing this overpriced light. Not that it doesn’t have potential, I think they need to go over it and make some adjustments. Switch, and reliability.. This awesome review just earned you another SUB!

Great video

Been waiting for this video. I did find it weird that my HLX lumen output seemed basically identical to my PLHv2 (excluding the hotspot/candela). Now seeing your lumen findings, it makes more sense. I've been following the PL350 launch and after pretty closely (as I bought one at launch) and well... modlite is being modlite and fanboys are being fanboys. And of course, fire fuelers being fire fuelers lol. I had to return my PL350 body as it had that dead click, the tabs when overextended or pressed inwards (towards the trigger) turned the light momentarily off. Lastly, there was some anodizing problems on the inside. Hopefully the one coming to me doesn't have any of these problems, but hearing that the dead click is within spec is pretty disappointing. I'm conflicted on whether the feel and controls and runtime and everything besides the output of the TLR1HL is worth running over the PL350 (with any head) or if the output overshadows everything else.

It definitely matters to me. That’s basically the main selling point. That combined with everything else is disappointing to say the least. Especially for the price. Thanks for this video 👍

I’d still go with a SF x300 or streamlight TLR1 hl

I think I’ll wait for them to fix the issues. As far as the switches, constant only is a matter of relearning switch manipulation. It could do without the loud clicks, though. The TLR-1’s constant on detent is fairly quiet.

Good thing there's an aftermarket solution for the overrunning off position

This was a great review. I was on the fence about if I should just wait for Cloud Defense's offering. You have helped me make up my mind, and most assuredly saved me some wasted dollars and sense (sense... not a typo). I think the most damning information, was Mod Light ignoring your multiple inquiries on their lumen claim and their nonchalant response to the issues that you experienced. Anyone know the ETA on CD's offering?

I've only had one issue with it and it might be one not common to the everyday end user. When the battery gets to about 10 minutes of run time, the light will flash three times. The cadence for this is not what I would describe as quick so when it flashes, you have that loss of visibility. I run this on my duty pistol and had this issue come up unexpectedly while clearing a warehouse. Not a deal breaker for a lot of people but it would be nice to have a variant that maybe simply steps down when it is running low. And as an edit, it will do this flash cycle every time you disengage and re-engage the light.

I’d like to see the lumen and candela measurements for their 18650 lights. I wonder if the 18350 is somehow holding the heads back.

Test the Weltool LH1 or LH3 head please! I'm a flashaholic and it's cool to see someone test with real equipment on WMLs.

I have the same issue with the non-clicking on the switches. I noticed it probably within the first 20 clicks lol.

I bought 1 mostly for the beam pattern. 1000lumen is fine and im betting modlite is quoting theoretical lumen output based on specs alone and not actually testing the light after all the internal losses causing voltage drop. Coming from x300u to modlite is easy considering most of my holsters interchange. And the rechargeable 18350 is nice. Honestly the beam pattern is just perfect and my edc light a noctigon kr1 18650 with the w2 emitter is nearly identical in both tint and beam pattern as well as being rated at 1300lumen. Ill likely get a plhv2 head and an 18350 body for my ar15 mostly due to weight and size. Cloud defensive has awesome lights but they are big and heavy. Curious to see the offering into the pistol market. If modlite can get the price under control id have a few more but my first pl350 order was nearly $480 after adding the charger and 4 more batteries.

I hope you are considering testing the x300 turbo

Doing excellent excellent work. Can you let us know if Surefire, Streamlight & Olight are putting out the correct numbers? But from this video, if I’m going to spend a lot on a light, seems like Surefire is the way.

I don’t like that modlite appears to be lieing about the output but I honestly am still considering giving this light a chance vs a surfire

Nice honest review. What extended mag base plates are you using?

Great review. I was wondering whether this brand was worth the money, and based on your analysis, the answer is NO.

I like how you added “training” as a reliable answer to an issue that most Americans would be “victimized” over!! Haha. For me…the rest that showed the passenger in the vehicle blasting through headlights was the most important test. A vehicle with tinted windows film me with anxiety if approach is necessary. Better to get em in the vehicle than to allow exit.

I'll have to wait and see what cloud defensive comes out with... hopefully soon.

Thank you for the content I enjoyed this next level unbiased review very much.. I love my modlite handheld but they need to be honest with the lumens if they aren't what they claimed. If they said 1000 lumens and 54,000 candela people would still buy it for the candela alone. It's more of an integrity thing for me. The plhv2 I have is phenomenal whether it was 1350 or 986 ansi lumens 😆. They should update the specs or update the light to match the specs barring this isn't some weird first production fluke with high resistance in the switch body or something. Is the handheld also only 1000 lumens?

Very good review. I still think the modlite is king of all the lights available on the market. My mind hasn’t changed. Like you said, the most important thing with a weapon light is to be able to defeat the photonic barriers and this one does it while the other fail. All the other stuff you mentioned are minor issues that can be fixed but the candela output can not be fixed. Again, very nice review

I like mine. Wish it had momentary on and off.

I just put thes on 2 glocks and an M&p it blows all other wml out of the water and I just purchased 1000 lumen tlr1s and replaced them all with the pl350

Great video, I mounted my Modlite PL350 to my Sig P320 357 Sig unfortunately the Modlite failed and has to be returned for repairs, the recoil of the 357 Sig destroyed the 1913 rail insert in less than 2 magazines, after watching this video I think I'm gonna get a refund

I was looking at purchasing one of these but I think I'm going to stick with Streamlight TLR1HL

9 months later. Got a new pl350 and I've experienced the switch issues as of today. Looks like no improvements have been made

painful + is amazing

Great review. But does this mean every mod lite heads been wrong about output? Same battery and head? Would the body limit lumen ability?

You are doing some of the lords work, thank you.

Awesome review, the burning question is would you recommend them, or is it still too early to say? I’ve ordered one and it should come next week. The lumens issue is not such a problem but the switching could be.

Just a thought. I really have no idea what I'm talking about from a technical standpoint, but does the size of the battery make a difference in the lumen and candela output? If you compare the specs to their handheld lights, they both list the same outputs.

Can you do a review on crimson trace lights

I've been debating on my next holster. After seeing such thorough reviews, I feel like werkz has to be a great company. Does the m6 aiwb g19 gen4 MOS holster work for a shadow systems mr920? If so I am making a purchase ASAP. Thank you for this great review!

So at the price point these light sell at, I would expect it to meet the advertised spec and be of higher or better quality.

I just put the tlr 1 hl 1000!lumen 20k candella up against the pl350 no comparison the midlife is an absolute monster

Should be perfect for the price

Im waiting for Cloud Defensive’s pistol wml. I prefer their warmer color for true color representation of the lit area, plus it shows more detail. In my experience with their rifle mounted weapon lights it has great candela with some spill which gives you more situation awareness.

Put a Surefire DF head on the pl350 and do a lumen test with it.

because of training. TRUE

What iron sights are you running on the g34 in the video

And that’s why I will stay with my STREAMLIGHT TLR 1 HL this product is to new in the market and it needs to be tested on the field to see how reliable can be only time will tell great review like always 👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

lemme get one you have 5 of them, thanks

My PL350 switches turn the light off after every 2-3 rounds fired with the ARC switches on. Works fine with NO ARC switches. They are going to replace the entire light body.

It’s the battery. It can’t handle the current. Try the plhv2 with your handheld body and a 30q or vtc6. I bet it’ll deliver the goods.

It definitely matters from a legal perspective. If it’s better than it’s competition then it’s the best, but if it doesn’t match the advertised output, then is class action lawsuit ready.

Pistol lights that use 2 CR123 batteries run them in series. Running batteries in series increases the voltage, not the capacity. Watt-hours is a better estimator of runtime, as a flashlight can output the same amount of light at a lower amperage if the voltage is increased. 18350's and 18650's have a nominal voltage of 3.7v, while CR123 batteries have a nominal voltage of 3v. Though, the CR123 powered lights run at 6v, because they're in series. If the CR123 run at 3v with a capacity of 1500mah, then two can store 9 watt-hours of power. The 18350 included with the light runs at 3.7v with a capacity of 1200mah, for a total of 4.44 watt-hours of power. Your conclusion was fairly accurate, but the math wasn't.

if you bought a car and it had advertised MPG of 30 and you got 25 would you be upset?

Does any other manufacturer's lights meet their claimed specs? What about with hand-held lights using the same types of batteries? In the end, if the Modlite "only" puts out a max of abou 1000 and still does the job.....It's not like the human eye can tell the difference between 1000 and 1300 lumens...whether looking into the brightness (trying to) or illuminating something in the distance. Has any light faired better?

It matters; makes you wonder what other specs don't live up to their claims.

So what about your opinion of the rail you had here vs your durability testing you did months after this video where it was the only one that failed to stay attached?