Fenix vs Streamlight: Battle for the Best Affordable Pistol Light
The Streamlight TLR-7A vs the Fenix GL19R which is better for your pistol?
The Streamlight TLR-7A is a very common and well known pistol light. The Fenix GL19R on the other hand is much less common, but does that make it less worthy? Let’s find out.
Price + Availability
Like I said, the Streamlight TLR-7A is very popular, that also translates to it currently being very hard to find. Currently Brownells, Sportsmans, Amazon and several others are out of stock. It currently is in stock at Optics Planet for $135.99, Midway USA for 144.99 and on sale at Cabelas for $119.97. However even on sale it’s more expensive than the Fenix GL19R for $99.95 at the Fenix Store. Winner: Fenix GL19R
Light Output
So obviously one of the most important aspects of any light, is the amount it outputs. The Fenix claims to have over twice the lumens (1200 vs 500) but lumens can sometimes be misleading, so I put them to the test. I tested both lights at dark in the two most common pistol engagement distances, 15 and 25 yards. I added a photo with no light as well as our control. At 15 yards they are both comparable however the Streamlight is a little warmer and the Fenix a little cooler. I think I can see a slight bit more detail from the Fenix as well. At 25 yards the Streamlight starts to fade, but it still usable. At 25 yards the Fenix is clearly lighting the target better. In fact, the Fenix at 25 yards looks almost identical to the Streamlight at 15 yards. I promise these are not the same photo, if you inspect closely you can tell.
All photos were taken at the same time, from the same distance, using an iPhone 12 mini and are unaltered. Winner: Fenix GL19R
Finding a Holster
So this is the area where the Streamlight really shines and where the Fenix really lacks. Almost any holster that offers weapon light variations, has one for the Streamlight TLR-7A. Even thought Fenix is a well regarded light maker, they are way less popular in the pistol arena and that shows when trying to find a holster to accommodate this light on a handgun. I simply could not find any holster company that directly supported it. Winner: Streamlight TLR-7A
Attaching To Your Pistol
Both the Streamlight and Fenix come with adapters to attach to either Picatinny or Universal rails. The TLR-7A comes with more options, allowing you to shift the light’s placement forward or backward slightly for optimal positioning. The GL19R comes with only one of each but the fit and finish is much better. It seems to be made of the same aluminum that the rest of the body is, the TLR-7A adapters are made of plastic and must be popped out of a panel similar to how model car pieces work. Additionally, the GL19R has a really cool quick detach system that locks up tight and allowed me to add it to my Glock 19 in an instant without any tools. The TLR-7A required me to go grab a screw driver to install it by screwing in a bolt. The TLR-7A also leaves the end of that bolt protruding the other side slightly, creating a possible snag point. Winner: Fenix GL19R
Features
Both lights have the ability to pulsate, which I have no desire to ever use. They both have the ability to disable the light for storage. The Fenix is disabled by holding both light buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds. The Streamlight’s cap can be slightly twisted to a detent, disabling the light. They both last for about an hour of use. The Fenix also has 2 brightness settings, the default “turbo” and a less bright setting that increases it’s battery life from an hour to 2 hours. Additionally the Fenix has a small battery level indicator that activates when you turn the light on. Winner: Fenix GL19R
Batteries
They both come with the required batteries. The Streamlight uses a single CR123A battery while the Fenix uses a rechargeable 18350 battery. The Fenix is charged with a USB-C port on it’s side that can be charged without removing. I happen to keep this gun in my wife’s vehicle and she already has a usb-c cable available for charging her iPad. So when getting in the car, we can easily turn on the light, use the battery level indicator to determine if it needs charged, and if so plug it right in. However if the battery is dead when we need it, we are out of luck unless we carry backup batteries. With the Streamlight, carrying backup batteries is the standard, and maybe some peoples preference. For me personally, the GL19R works better for my needs but I think that may be subjective. Winner: Tie
Battle Ready
I don’t do torture tests. I think they are gimmicky. I do think both of these lights will hold up equally well to small falls and the elements. The Fenix is IP66 rated while the Streamlight is IPX7 rated. If you really want something combat ready, you should look into more expensive options from either Surefire or Modlight. Winner: Streamlight TLR-7A
Overall Winner: Fenix GL19R
If you don’t need a holster, are happy using rechargeable batteries, and the Fenix GL19R fits on your weapon nicely, then it has my recommendation. However if you plan on carrying with a holster, don’t like rechargeable batteries or want precise control of it’s placement on your weapon, then you may want to consider the Streamlight TLR-7A. Now I have not had either of these lights very long, so I am going on my initial impressions. If that changes I will post back with an update. However, I have had other Fenix lights for years and they have stood the test of time.
