At first glance, the TorchEye X1 looks a lot like the Olight Oclip. Then again, there are only so many ways you can shape a compact clip-on light before similarities start appearing. The body is rectangular with a noticeable green dial on the front, an LCD display in the center, and a clip on the back. Visually it is quite appealing. It is not overly bulky and has a familiar feel in the hand.

I am always a little unsure how I feel about lights in this form factor because they tend to be too short to sit comfortably in a pocket for daily carry. Still, the black finish keeps things understated and practical. I would not have minded seeing some brighter color options though. Something like burnt orange would have looked great.

The green bezel paired with the chrome ring around it gives the TorchEye a look that almost reminds me of a wrissmurfch. It is unusual to see that design language applied to a flashlight, but it works. On one side there is a sliding door that reveals the USB-C charging port. Sitting above the bezel are two emitters, one for white light and another for red light, which is fairly typical for lights in this category.

Where things start to get interesting is the front of the body. Along with the LEDs, there is also a laser emitter and a sensor positioned next to it. That combination hints that the TorchEye might be doing more than just acting as a flashlight.

Everything on the TorchEye is controlled through the bezel and the digital screen in the center. The screen itself doubles as a button, functioning almost like an enter or confirmation key. The rotating bezel has a nice tactile feel to it and adds a unique interaction that you do not normally see on a flashlight.

Press the screen once and the light powers on. Rotating the bezel lets you cycle through the available modes. Those include white light, red light, a laser pointer, and even a golfing scorekeeper.

Yes, a scorekeeper.

I will be honest, that one had me scratching my head even after reading the instructions. Maybe it makes perfect sense if you are a golfer, but since that is not my world I am going to leave that feature alone for now. There is also a settings menu where you can tweak a few options and adjust how the light behaves.

As for the flashlight itself, it is surprisingly capable for its size. The white light tops out at 500 lumens and can be adjusted by pressing and holding the screen to cycle through the brightness levels. The exact lumen values for the lower modes are not listed in the documentation I saw, but the stepping works well enough in practice.
There is also a moonlight mode that offers a claimed runtime of around nine hours, which feels believable considering the output level. Maximum throw is rated at about 120 meters, which is respectable for something this compact.

Strobe is available as well, which can be useful for signaling or potentially disorienting someone in an emergency. Because the LEDs face forward from the front edge of the body, the TorchEye works well when clipped to a shirt or hat, allowing for hands-free illumination while working on a project.

One downside to that layout is that the power button sits on the same side as the LEDs. That makes it easy to accidentally shine the light straight into your eyes when turning it on. It is not a deal breaker, but it is something that could have benefited from a little more thought in the design.

The LCD screen itself is straightforward and easy to read. It shows the current mode along with battery level information. The display reminds me a bit of the screens used on some Nitecore lights I have reviewed recently. It is large enough to be useful and the backlighting makes it easy to see even in low light conditions.

It is still a little strange pressing the display to control the light, but functionally it works.
One feature that genuinely impressed me is the laser function. You can use it like any typical laser pointer to highlight objects, entertain the pets, or annoy the neighbors. However, if you press and hold the center button the laser turns into something much more interesting.

At that point it becomes a digital tape measure.

The laser projects outward from the front of the TorchEye and reflects back into the sensor next to it, allowing the light to calculate distance. It is not precision survey equipment by any means, but it is accurate enough for quick measurements when you do not have a tape measure handy. Press the screen once and the measurement is saved.

It is a clever addition and one I would love to see appear on more tools like this. Laser pointers are fun, but adding real functionality like this turns it into something genuinely useful.

For carrying and mounting, the TorchEye uses a strong spring clip that includes protective padding on the gripping surfaces. That padding helps prevent scratching while also improving grip compared to bare metal teeth. It works well clipped to a shirt, hat brim, or just about anything else that fits between the jaws.

The back of the clip also houses a fairly strong magnet. That makes it easy to attach the light to metal surfaces like a car hood during roadside repairs or other hands-free tasks. The concept is similar to the Oclip, though I actually prefer how Godyga implemented it here.

When it comes to compact EDC lights, the TorchEye X1 fills a very interesting niche. It is not the most pocket-friendly design due to its shape, but the number of features packed into this small package makes it surprisingly versatile.

If you do not need the laser functionality, the company also offers a version of the TorchEye without it. Either way, the TorchEye X1 delivers a lot of capability for the money. It is a little unconventional, but it is always nice to see companies willing to experiment and think outside the box.