Olight has sold a lot of flat flashlights. The Arkfeld started it, the ArkPro made it mainstream, and now the Olight ArkTac series takes that same pocket-friendly shape somewhere Olight hasn't gone with it before: duty and tactical use. It keeps the slim body but adds a real tail switch, a programmable shortcut button and a magnetic holster system that rides on a belt or MOLLE.
There are three versions. The Olight ArkTac is the base light, the Olight ArkTac Ultra adds a green laser and a tougher body, and the ArkTac Ultra Premium is the Ultra packed in a kit with the holster and a hard case. Here's how they compare and which one fits the way you carry.
Which ArkTac Should You Get?
- Olight ArkTac ($119.99): If you don't need a laser, start here. You get the pure flood, a 1,700-lumen spotlight, red and UV, plus Instant Strobe, in a 6061 aluminum body.
- Olight ArkTac Ultra ($159.99): This is the one most people will want. It adds the green laser, pushes the spotlight to 1,800 lumens and 215 meters, and moves up to Olight's OAL² aluminum.
- ArkTac Ultra Premium ($199.99): Same Ultra light, but it ships with the ArkSnap magnetic holster, a mounting bracket, a second charging cable and a hard case. Worth it if you know you'll be running it on a belt or in a vehicle from day one.
What Is the Olight ArkTac?
Think of it as an ArkPro rebuilt for people who need the light on now, not after a couple of clicks. Olight showed the series at O-Fan Day 2026 in September and says it plans to put it on sale during Black Friday week.
All three models share the same basic design:
- A flat unibody just 17 mm (0.67 in) thick, so it sits in a pocket like a wallet instead of rolling around like a tube light
- A two-stage tail switch: press lightly for Pure Flood, press harder for Turbo Spotlight
- A CommandPoint button next to the tail switch that fires Strobe out of the box and can be reassigned
- A rotary selector on the front for picking a light source and setting brightness
- A built-in 2,050mAh battery that charges from any USB-C cable or Olight's included MCC4 magnetic cable
- ToF (time-of-flight) sensing that won't let the light turn on if something is covering the lens, which keeps it from cooking itself in a pocket
- Compatibility with ArkSnap, Olight's magnetic holster for belts, duty gear and MOLLE
The controls are the real story here. A flat EDC light with a strobe mode isn't a tactical flashlight. Under stress, nobody wants to roll a dial and count clicks. On the ArkTac your thumb goes to the tail for white light or to the CommandPoint for strobe, and the rotary selector is there for everything else when you have a second to spare.
ArkTac vs ArkTac Ultra vs Ultra Premium: Full Specs
| Spec | ArkTac | ArkTac Ultra | ArkTac Ultra Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $159.99 | $199.99 |
| Max output | 1,700 lumens | 1,800 lumens | 1,800 lumens |
| Spotlight | 1,700 lm, 10,506 cd, 205 m | 1,800 lm, 11,556 cd, 215 m | 1,800 lm, 11,556 cd, 215 m |
| Pure flood | 1,300 lumens | 1,300 lumens | 1,300 lumens |
| Red light | 55 lumens (plus 3-lumen low and SOS) | 55 lumens (plus 3-lumen low and SOS) | 55 lumens (plus 3-lumen low and SOS) |
| UV | 365nm, 1,200 mW high / 360 mW low | 365nm, 1,200 mW high / 360 mW low | 365nm, 1,200 mW high / 360 mW low |
| Green laser | None | 510–530 nm; Class 3R (≤5 mW) or Class 1 (≤0.39 mW), switchable | 510–530 nm; Class 3R (≤5 mW) or Class 1 (≤0.39 mW), switchable |
| Light sources / configurations | 4 sources plus Instant Strobe | 5 sources, 10 configurations | 5 sources, 10 configurations |
| CommandPoint options | Strobe, Red or UV | Strobe, Red, UV or Green Laser | Strobe, Red, UV or Green Laser |
| ArkBeat indicator | None | Yes (8-color usage tracker) | Yes (8-color usage tracker) |
| Max runtime | 20 days (Moonlight) | 20 days (Moonlight) | 20 days (Moonlight) |
| Water resistance | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Drop resistance | 1.5 m | 1.5 m | 1.5 m |
| Body | 6061 aluminum, matte black | OAL² aluminum, brushed black | OAL² aluminum, brushed black |
| Weight | 136 g (4.80 oz) | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 140 g (4.94 oz) |
| Dimensions | 135.5 × 29 × 17 mm (5.33 × 1.14 × 0.67 in) | 135.6 × 29 × 17 mm (5.34 × 1.14 × 0.67 in) | 135.6 × 29 × 17 mm (5.34 × 1.14 × 0.67 in) |
| Battery | 2,050mAh built-in | 2,050mAh built-in | 2,050mAh built-in |
| Charging | USB-C and MCC4 magnetic | USB-C and MCC4 magnetic | USB-C and MCC4 magnetic |
| In the box | Light, MCC4 cable | Light, MCC4 cable | Light, ArkSnap holster, mounting bracket, two charging cables, coin, hard case |
Output and Runtime by Mode
The mode set is identical across the lineup. The only difference is Turbo Spotlight, which tops out at 1,700 lumens on the ArkTac and 1,800 on the two Ultra models. Where you see a number stepping down (like 1,300 → 500 → 200), that's the light dropping output to manage heat, with the time spent at each stage.
| Light source | Mode | Output | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotlight | Turbo | 1,800 (Ultra) / 1,700 (ArkTac) → 600 → 200 lm | 3 + 100 + 45 min |
| Pure Flood | High | 1,300 → 500 → 200 lm | 3 + 105 + 45 min |
| Pure Flood | Medium | 200 lm | 6 h |
| Pure Flood | Low | 15 lm | 72 h |
| Pure Flood | Moonlight | 1 lm | 20 days |
| Red Light | High | 55 lm | 3 h |
| Red Light | Low | 3 lm | 90 h |
| Red Light | SOS | 55 lm | 8.5 h |
| UV | High | 1,200 → 580 mW | 5 + 300 min |
| UV | Low | 360 mW | 9 h |
| Green Laser (Ultra only) | Class 3R | ≤5 mW | 90 h |
| Green Laser (Ultra only) | Class 1 | ≤0.39 mW | 260 h |
Strobe runs the spotlight at 13 Hz. Once the battery falls under 10%, the light drops into Power Saving Mode at its lowest setting, so it fades down instead of dying on you without warning.
The Olight ArkTac
Don't think of the base ArkTac as the stripped-down model. It has the same 1,300-lumen pure flood as the Ultra, a 1,700-lumen spotlight that reaches 205 meters, a 55-lumen red light for keeping your night vision, and 1,200 mW of 365nm UV for checking documents, stains and leaks. Strobe lives on the CommandPoint by default, and you can move red or UV there instead.
The body is matte black 6061 aluminum and weighs 136 grams, a little lighter than the Ultra. It carries the same IPX7 rating and 1.5-meter drop rating as the rest of the line. For patrol, security, hunting or general outdoor use where a laser just isn't part of the job, it gives you the exact same control layout as the Ultra and saves you $40.
The Olight ArkTac Ultra
The ArkTac Ultra is the model most buyers are searching for. The headline addition is a green laser, which turns it into a tactical green laser flashlight combo that's still only 17 mm thick. With five light sources you get ten configurations, four of them laser combinations. The tail switch can fire the spotlight alone or the spotlight and laser together, and the CommandPoint can be set to Strobe, Red, UV or the laser.
The laser itself is 510–530 nm and works on its own or alongside any of the other four sources. Press and hold to switch between Class 3R (≤5 mW, 90 hours) and Class 1 (≤0.39 mW, 260 hours). That switch matters if you work somewhere that restricts laser class.
Beyond the laser, the spotlight gets a small bump to 1,800 lumens, 11,556 candela and 215 meters. The body moves to OAL², Olight's newest aluminum alloy, which Olight rates as 7.3% harder with 11.5% higher yield strength than its first-generation OAL. The Ultra also adds the ArkBeat eight-color usage indicator, lit source indicators, a micro-perforated status display and a reinforced strike bezel with zirconium beads set into it.
If you've been hunting for an EDC flashlight with a laser that can also handle duty use, this is the most complete flat light Olight makes right now.
The ArkTac Ultra Premium Kit
The light inside the ArkTac Ultra Premium is the same ArkTac Ultra. You're paying the extra $40 for what comes with it:
- The ArkSnap magnetic holster for belt, duty gear and MOLLE carry
- A mounting bracket
- Two charging cables
- A coin
- A toolbox-style hard carry case with a fitted foam insert
Neither the standard ArkTac nor the standard Ultra comes with a holster. If you already know the light is going on a duty belt, a plate carrier or into a truck, the Premium kit gets you the whole setup in one box.
Is the Ultra Worth the Extra $40?
That $40 gets you the green laser, 100 more lumens and 10 more meters of throw on the spotlight, the OAL² body, and the ArkBeat indicator. In practice, you won't notice the spotlight difference in the field. The laser and the stronger body are what you're really paying for.
- Go with the ArkTac if you want the tactical controls, red and UV, and you know you'll never touch a laser.
- Go with the ArkTac Ultra if you want a laser for pointing, signaling or target indication, or you just want the toughest body Olight puts on a flat light.
ArkTac Ultra vs ArkPro Ultra
It's the obvious comparison, because the Olight ArkPro Ultra is one of the most popular flat EDC lights out there. Both are flat and rechargeable, and both have a green laser and UV. They're built for different days, though:
| ArkTac Ultra | ArkPro Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Tactical and duty | Everyday carry |
| Controls | Two-stage tail switch, CommandPoint, rotary selector | Rotary selector |
| Spotlight | 1,800 lumens, 215 m | 800 lumens, 205 m |
| Pure flood | 1,300 lumens | 1,700 lumens |
| Red light | 55 lumens | None |
| Instant Strobe | Yes, one press on CommandPoint | No dedicated strobe button |
| Water resistance | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Weight | 140 g | 115 g |
| Holster | ArkSnap magnetic (sold separately or in Premium kit) | ArkPro Series Holster |
If your light mostly lives in a pocket and gets used in the garage, the driveway or on a job site, the ArkPro Ultra is lighter, cheaper and actually has the brighter flood. If you need full output with one press, a red light, a dedicated strobe button and a holster made for duty gear, get the ArkTac Ultra.
Who Should Carry an ArkTac?
- Law enforcement and security: spotlight and flood straight from the tail, strobe on the CommandPoint, and ArkSnap on the duty belt
- Hunters and outdoor folks: red light to protect your night vision, a spotlight for reaching out and a flood for around camp
- Inspection work: 365nm UV for leaks, stains, documents and currency
- EDC carriers who want more: it still carries like an ArkPro, just with real tactical controls
Laser Safety
The laser on the ArkTac Ultra and Ultra Premium switches between Class 3R (≤5 mW) and Class 1 (≤0.39 mW). Never point it at people, animals or aircraft, and check your local rules if laser class is regulated where you carry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Olight ArkTac and ArkTac Ultra?
The Ultra adds a green laser, the ArkBeat indicator and an OAL² aluminum body in place of 6061. Its spotlight also goes a bit further, 1,800 lumens and 215 meters versus 1,700 lumens and 205 meters. Otherwise they're the same: 1,300-lumen flood, 55-lumen red, 1,200 mW UV, the same tail switch and CommandPoint, the same 2,050mAh battery, IPX7, and the same 17 mm body.
What is the difference between the ArkTac Ultra and the ArkTac Ultra Premium?
Nothing on the light itself. The Premium adds the ArkSnap magnetic holster, a mounting bracket, a second charging cable and a coin, all in a hard case with a foam insert.
How many lumens is the Olight ArkTac Ultra?
Up to 1,800 lumens from the Turbo Spotlight, with 11,556 candela and a 215-meter beam. The Pure Flood maxes out at 1,300 lumens.
When was the Olight ArkTac released?
Olight unveiled the series at O-Fan Day 2026 in September and has said the ArkTac, ArkTac Ultra and ArkTac Ultra Premium will go on sale during Black Friday week.
Does the Olight ArkTac come with a holster?
Not the standard models. The ArkTac and ArkTac Ultra ship with the light and an MCC4 magnetic charging cable. The ArkSnap holster only comes in the box with the Ultra Premium kit.
Is the Olight ArkTac waterproof?
All three are rated IPX7, so rain, snow and a dunk in water won't hurt them. Olight also rates them for 1.5-meter drops.
How long does the Olight ArkTac Ultra run?
It depends on the mode. Turbo Spotlight steps down from 1,800 to 600 to 200 lumens over about two and a half hours. Pure Flood on Medium (200 lumens) runs 6 hours, Low (15 lumens) runs 72 hours, and Moonlight (1 lumen) lasts up to 20 days. The laser runs 90 hours on Class 3R and 260 hours on Class 1.
How do you charge the Olight ArkTac?
Plug any USB-C cable straight into the light, or use the MCC4 magnetic cable that comes in the box. All three models use the same built-in 2,050mAh battery.
Is the Olight ArkTac a good EDC flashlight?
Yes. At 17 mm thick and 136 to 140 grams it clips into a pocket and disappears, and the rotary selector handles everyday tasks just fine. The tactical controls are there when you need full output or strobe in a hurry.
Is the Olight ArkTac Ultra better than the ArkPro Ultra?
Depends on what you need it for. The ArkTac Ultra has the stronger spotlight, a red light, a dedicated strobe button and tactical tail controls. The ArkPro Ultra is lighter at 115 grams, costs less and has the brighter flood, which makes it the better pick for pure pocket carry.
Get Your ArkTac at Going Gear
We're an authorized Olight dealer, so every ArkTac we sell is genuine Olight stock with full warranty support, and it ships from our Georgia warehouse. Shop the Olight ArkTac, the Olight ArkTac Ultra or the ArkTac Ultra Premium kit, or check out the rest of our Olight collection and tactical flashlights.