Acebeam & Maratac Defender P16 Review (2024 Updated)

Last Updated on November, 2024

In this article, I review the Maratac Defender P16 and cover everything you need to know.

And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. From specs to build quality to performance, this is your one-stop destination to discover all the secrets of the Maratac Defender P16.

Let’s get started!

The Acebeam Maratac Defender P16

The Maratac Defender P16 is a flashlight produced by Acebeam in collaboration with CountyComm to celebrate its 33rd anniversary.

The Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 is a custom OD Green Splash version of the Acebeam Defender P16. This tactical flashlight is a limited edition with just 1,000 flashlights available. The Maratac Defender P16 is powered by an 18650 battery and utilizes dual tail switches for control.

Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 Specifications

a picture of the acebeam maratac defender p16

Here are the primary specs of the Maratac Defender P16:

Flashlight TypeEDC, Tactical
LEDLuminus SFT40
Maximum Light Output1,800 lumens
Maximum Beam Distance 484 meters
Maximum Beam Intensity58,564 cd
Lighting Modes4
BlinkiesSOS, Strobe 
Battery Configuration1x 18650 or 2x CR123
Onboard ChargingNo
Waterproof RatingIP68

What Comes in the Package?

In my experience, the packaging of Maratac flashlights takes a little time to get used to. Their flashlights come tightly packed in a small, clear plastic tube, and the Maratac Defender P16 is no different. 

Here is what you can expect to find in your package:

  • The Maratac Defender P16 flashlight.
  • Lanyard.
  • Extra O-rings.
  • The manual.

Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 Build

a person holding an acebeam maratac defender p16 flashlight

Let’s dive into the details of the Maratac Defender P16’s build! 

Build Quality

The Maratac Defender P16 utilizes an 18650 battery, making it a relatively compact flashlight. It fits well in your hand and your jacket pocket. 

The dual switches of this light are on its tailcap, as is the case with most tactical lights. The more prominent button is used to switch the light on and off. The second switch, located towards the edge of the tailcap, is for shortcuts and to switch between the four lighting modes of the light.

The Maratac Defender P16 flashlight has a big 2-way clip preinstalled. To ensure that the pocket clip is secure, it is attached to the battery tube under its connection to the head. You can remove the clip by unfastening the top.

The pocket clip also provides you with anti-roll protection. However, the tail switches prevent tail-standing because of the way they jut out. Additionally, the only hole available for the lanyard is on the rear end of the pocket clip. This is effective but not the most ideal.

When considering the build quality of the light, the Maratac Defender P16 does not disappoint. This amazing flashlight is made of “aircraft-grade” aluminum with Type III hard anodizing. The flashlight has a matte finish and is very nicely done.

LED, Bezel, Lens, Beam, and Reflector

a picture of the acebeam maratac defender p16 flashlights brightness while its ON

The Maratac Defender P16 features a blacked-out stainless steel strike bezel ring that can also be used as a glass breaker in an emergency. The strike bezel is crenulated, but it’s not too sharp. Underneath the strike bezel is a customized TIR optic lens safeguarded by a sheet of anti-reflective glass. 

The customized TIR optic lens rests on a Luminous SFT40 LED module, a domeless, high-output emitter.  Combining the SFT40 LED module and the customized TIR optic lens brings a concentrated light beam with a small hotspot and a wide spill.

Dimensions

Here are the dimensions and the weight of the Defender P16:

MillimetersInches
Length131 mm5.2 in
Head Diameter32 mm1.3 in
Body Diameter23 mm0.9 in
GramsOunces
Without Battery110 g3.9 oz
With Battery155 g5.5 oz
RECOMMENDED TACTICAL AND EDC FLASHLIGHT
Acebeam Maratac Defender P16
visa, master, amex, paypal

Maratac Defender P16 in Use

a person using an acebeam maratac defender p16 flashlights brightness while its ON

User Interface and Driver

The Maratac Defender P16 has two UIs: tactical mode and daily mode. You can pick whichever best suits your needs. If you want to use the Defender P16 as a tactical flashlight, tactical mode is the obvious pick. The tactical mode gives you access to a one-touch strobe, handy for dealing with an attacker.

Daily mode gives you access to one-touch Low mode, which is excellent for use around the house. This compact flashlight is also perfect for outdoor activities like camping and hiking.

The four lighting modes available with this tactical flashlight are as follows:

  • Low mode.
  • Med mode.
  • High mode.
  • Turbo mode.

The Blink modes available are:

  • Strobe mode.
  • SOS mode.

To access the Tactical mode of the flashlight when it is initially switched off, follow these steps:

  • Press and hold the Tactical Switch to switch the flashlight on momentarily.
  • Click the Tactical Switch to switch on the flashlight entirely.
  • Press the Functional Switch for under 3 seconds to turn on the momentary strobe.
  • Press and hold the Functional Switch for over 3 seconds to turn on the strobe entirely.

To access Tactical mode when the Defender P16 is turned on:

  • Click off the Tactical Switch.
  • Click the Functional Switch once to change brightness.
  • Press and hold the Functional Switch for over 1 second to turn on the strobe.
a picture of the acebeam maratac defender p16 flashlight

To access Daily mode when the Defender P16 is turned off:

  • Press and hold the Tactical Switch to turn the flashlight on momentarily.
  • Click the Tactical switch to turn on the Defender P16 entirely.
  • Press the Functional Switch for less than 3 seconds for momentary low activation.
  • Press and hold the Functional Switch for over 3 seconds to turn on Low mode.

To access Daily mode when the Defender P16 is switched on:

  • Click the Tactical Switch off.
  • Single-click the Functional Switch to change the brightness.
  • Press and hold the Functional Switch for over one second to turn on SOS mode.

Here’s how to access the Strobe and Blink modes:

  • Strobe: Press the Functional Switch when in Tactical mode.
  • SOS: Press and hold the Functional Switch for more than 1 second.

The following are the shortcuts you can use with the Maratac Defender P16:

  • Low: Press/press and hold the Functional Switch when in Daily mode.
  • Turbo: There is no shortcut to get to Turbo mode.
  • Strobe: Press/press and hold the Functional Switch when in Tactical mode.

 During low voltage, you can expect the following warnings and signs:

  • The output falls as the power declines until it shuts off completely.
  • The output blinks every 30 seconds after it falls to the lowest mode.

When considering the mode memory of the Maratac Defender P16, the manual states that Daily mode uses mode memory for the four lighting modes, and indeed, it does.

The manual does not explicitly state that Tactical mode comes with mode memory, but it does. However, I found an issue with the CountyComm and Acebeam websites, stating that the Maratac Defender P16 has a “one-touch strobe, turbo, and low activation.”

This leads to the conclusion that you should be able to activate Turbo mode through Tactical mode, as there is no other way to access a one-touch Turbo. 

But the thing is, you can’t access Turbo mode through the Tactical setting! This feels like a substantial UI oversight by Acebeam and CountyComm. In my personal opinion, I also think it lessens the P16’s usability as a tactical flashlight. 

There is mention of a lockout mode but info on how to activate it is missing. I couldn’t personally figure out a way to electronically lockout the P16.

However, you could slightly unfasten the tailcap to put the flashlight in a physical lockout state. The manual makes no mention of a lockout mode either.

Additionally, this compact flashlight does not have PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).

modes available in maratac defender p16

Charging and Batteries

If you purchase this compact flashlight from Acebeam, you will receive a USB-C rechargeable 18650 battery, which is included with the flashlight. 

However, buying the P16 from CountyComm means purchasing a battery separately. There are springs on both ends, so battery length won’t trouble you. A Samsung 30Q works like a charm.

Maratac Defender P16 Performance

a picture of the acebeam maratac defender p16 kept on the ground

Modes and Lumen Measurements

The measurements below were obtained through a measurement process involving a homemade lumen tube using a VEML7700 sensor. The battery used for testing was an 18650.

ModeSpecifiedAt Start30 sec.10 min.
Low50 lm41 lm38 lm
Med260 lm253 lm247 lm243 lm
High900 lm875 lm861 lm652 lm
Turbo1800 lm 1,6341 lm1,534 lm672 lm
Turbo at 3.6V1,236 lm1,161 lm239 lm

As you can see, I found that this tactical flashlight falls short of its claimed lumen measurement. However, this could be because I didn’t use the same battery as Acebeam when they tested the flashlight. The output on Turbo, for example, is greatly dependent on your choice of batteries.

On the other hand, I expected a better performance because this is basically an Acebeam P16 (just with a unique external finish).

Battery Life

ModeSpecified RuntimeMeasured Runtime (according to ANSI FL1 Standards)Time Till Shut Off
Low22 hrs
Med5 hrs 8 mins5 hrs 21 mins6 hrs 1 mins
High2 hrs1 hr 48 mins2 hrs 45 mins
Turbo1 hr 36 mins1 hr 33 mins2 hrs 31 mins

Even though I recorded lower lumen output values, the runtimes were within the intended specified values. When the switch to Low mode occurs when battery power is nearly depleted, the output blinks every 30 seconds.

This happens for almost an hour, which is more than enough warning to know your flashlight is running out of juice.

Beam Intensity and Distance Measurements

ModeSpecificationCandela MeasuredMetersYards
Low2,756 cd1,30474 m81 yd
Med8,464 cd7,277173 m189 yd
High25,760 cd25,551324 m354 yd
Turbo58,564 cd46,962434 m474 yd

Like with the measurement of lumens, beam intensity results are also lower than what is claimed; they’re within the ballpark of the specifications but are off by quite a margin. This difference could be attributed to the change in batteries used.

Maratac Defender P16 Price and Warranty

The Maratac Defender P16 has a full 365-day warranty on items sold with defects or failures. 

It is priced at $79.95, and you can purchase it here through the CountyComm website! 

RECOMMENDED TACTICAL AND EDC FLASHLIGHT
Acebeam Maratac Defender P16
visa, master, amex, paypal

Maratac Defender P16 Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Excellent build quality.
  • User-friendly UI.
  • Two UI modes.
  • Excellently regulated output.

Cons

  • Falls short on lumen and intensity claims.
  • Would benefit from a Low mode with a lower brightness level.
  • The Tactical mode has mode memory instead of one-touch turbo mode.

Final Thoughts 

The Maratac Defender P16 is an excellent, compact, practical tactical/EDC flashlight I recommend.

It has an excellent build quality with a unique finish, and the UI is uncomplicated for the most part. The TIR lens and the SFT40 LED module lend to a clean beam with excellent coverage.

However, that’s not to say that the P16 is entirely flawless.

The missing one-touch Turbo activation and the marked difference between the specifications and the lumens I measured are some of the main issues with this flashlight. 

I would also have liked built-in charging and a Low mode with an even lower brightness.

At the end of the day, whether the Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 suits you depends on your preferences. 

If you’re looking for a flashlight that will get the job done and are alright with a few cons, this is an excellent choice of flashlight for you!

FAQs

The cost of the Acebeam Maratac Defender P16 is $79.95.

The battery for the Maratac Defender P16 is a USB-C rechargeable 18650 battery.

OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
Acebeam Maratac Defender P16
Brightness
Beam distance
Runtime
Durability
Price

4.9

4.9

4.7

4.8

4.7

Overall Score

4.8

visa, master, amex, paypal
Pros
Excellent build quality.
User-friendly UI.
Two UI modes.
Excellently regulated output.
Get the BEST PRICE until the end of November
Cons
Falls short on lumen and intensity claims.
Would benefit from a Low mode with a lower brightness level.

Was this article helpful?

Photo of author
Author
Dillon Morrison
I have been involved in the flashlight community since 2007. My brother has a flashlight shop from where I have tested and reviewed more than 600+ different types of flashlights. You can find more about me here.

Leave a Comment