In the test: The waterproof DN11 LED flashlight from Imalent with IPX-8 certification

A few days ago I got the flashlight Immediately DN11 made available for testing. I particularly like the flashlight because of its handy size and excellent light output. Flashlights are actually not necessarily the content of my blog, but this one has a touch control and also a digital display for the light intensity, so that I actually find them "nerdy" enough to present them here. ;-)

LED flashlight DN11 from Imalent - thanks to the touch and display, I put it to the test (Photos: Sir Apfelot).

Technical data of the Imalent DN11

When it comes to LED flashlights, we usually have to deal with small "powerhouses" who get by with few batteries and still provide a lot of light. So also in this case. You can find out which technical details the DN11 has to offer in this table:

• Dimensions: 109 mm length x 32 mm diameter at the head and 25 mm at the handle
• Weight: approx. 270 g
• LED: CREE XPL HI LED (50.000 h service life)
• Luminous intensity: adjustable between 10 and 1000 lm (365 m light range / 14600 mcd)
• Running time: 1:45 h at full power / 300 h with 1 lumen
• Material: aviation aluminum with anodization
• Operation via touch controls
• Multifunctional display for battery voltage, light intensity and operating modes
• Waterproof to a depth of 2 meters according to the IPX-8 standard
• Overheating warning from 55 ° C and notification when the battery level is low <3.1 volts
• Battery: 2600 mAh, 1x 18650 battery, 18650 battery or 2x CR123
• Charge with Micro-USB Charging option on the lamp
• In addition to the flashlight, the scope of delivery also includes the battery, a USB charging cable, a pouch for the belt, a wrist strap and the manual

Imalent DN11 Scope of delivery: flashlight, wrist strap and bag. The manual, charging cable and battery are also included, but not in the picture.

Look and material

When you have unpacked the flashlight, you are initially surprised by the handy size. Personally, I used to have flashlights with similar light intensities, which American police officers like to use as a baton and are correspondingly heavy and large. Accordingly, I was positively surprised by the DN11, which you can even put in your pocket.

The Imalent DN11 LED lamp combines an attractive appearance with high-quality materials.

Nevertheless, the Imalent LED flashlight looks extremely valuable, as it lies comfortably in the hand and the matt black anodization goes well with such an outdoor item. If you unscrew the back cover, through which the battery can also be removed, you can see that the case is made of a good 2 mm thick aluminum. The adjective "robust" can therefore also be used in connection with the flashlight - despite its small size.

Operation and modes of operation

Im must admit: At first I found it difficult to turn on the flashlight because - as always - I didn't want to read the operating instructions. After a few minutes I was so frustrated that I unpacked it. After a quick look at the paper, it was clear how to do it: you tap twice with your thumb on an area above the small display and turn on the LED lamp. To turn it off, just tap it once. If you want to switch between the various operating modes such as strobe, beacon and SOS, you also tap it twice briefly and then switch through the lighting modes with a simple tap.

Below the display there is also a button with an open and a closed lock. I don't understand why these lock symbols were placed there, but the touch button has an important effect: if you press it, the brightness is reduced in steps of 10 from 1000. Hold your fingertip on the upper switch to raise the bar. The rules are very useful, for example, if you are in a tent and do not want to let your "roommates" go blind. The flashlight produces so much light in the brightest level that you shouldn't even look roughly into the light source. It is also very advantageous that it remembers the brightness setting after switching off and that the next time you switch it on, the light intensity that was used when you last switched it off is active again.

The DN11 has a modern CREE XPL HI LED, which can be regulated from 1 to 1000 lumens. In the brightest setting, the battery still lasts 1:45 hours and it has a range of 365 m.

Unfamiliar touch operation

The operation with the touch-sensitive touch surfaces is unusual, but actually quite reliable - unless you have wet fingers or hold the flashlight under water. Under water - which is not a problem for the lamp due to the IPX-8 certification - it works perfectly, but unfortunately you can no longer use the switch. I find this fact somewhat unsatisfactory with a waterproof flashlight. Using it in the rain should also be problematic if you intend to turn the flashlight off or on with wet fingers. Logically, using it with gloves does not work at all, as the touch elements expect contact with the skin.

Somewhat illogical: a waterproof flashlight that unfortunately cannot be operated with wet fingers. Nevertheless: The IPX-8 certification allows use up to 2 m water depth.

No focusing of the light cone

Another restriction is the control of the light cone. This is also not possible with the DN11. I suppose this is mainly due to the fact that the Imalent flashlight is waterproof. A moving part for the focus should make it more difficult to make the flashlight waterproof. For my purpose in a tent or at home, focusing is not necessary, so I do not see this as a disadvantage.

My conclusion on the Imalent DN11

Basically, the DN11 is a very nice device: strong luminosity, adjustable, extremely well and robustly processed and also waterproof. Another advantage is the long battery life. As a rule, you will not need 1000 lm (the maximum brightness), so that with approx. 50 lm you can easily have 20 hours of battery life. With 50 lm you have about the brightness of the iPhone 6 flashlight, which has always served me well when I've sneaked through the garden in the dark.

The Imalent DN11 is charged with a micro-USB cable, which most of us will be using for other devices anyway. I find this way very practical, as I don't have an additional charger ready for the rather unusual battery size.

From my point of view, a real drawback is the lack of a "real" button for switching on and off. If you have a protruding, mechanical button, you can feel where you have to press it even in the dark. The touch switch of the flashlight, on the other hand, cannot be clearly felt, so that you actually always have to look for it or, if you are lucky, "rum-touched" on the front part of the flashlight. Both are not so nice in everyday use.

Nonetheless, I would give the flashlight 4 out of 5 stars because it simply sits comfortably in the hand and was always practical when I was using it. I just never use them underwater and rarely, as a rule. On the other hand, I have already used the brightness control several times.

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Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.