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NU20 Classic
Cost: $24.95
Weight: 1.34 oz (38 g)
Battery: 500 mAh
Lumens: 360 (30 min runtime on Turbo)
Distance: 119 yards.
Lights: White; aux white; red
Charger: USB-C
Max runtime: 5hrs high; 97 hrs low
NU20 Original
Cost: $43.95
Weight: 1.9 oz (54 g)
Battery: 610 mAh
Lumens: 360
Distance: 88 yards.
Lights: White; aux white; red
Charger: Micro-USB
Max runtime: 5hrs high; 160 hrs low
NU25 UL
Cost: $36.95
Weight: 1.59 oz (45 g)
Battery: 650 mAh
Lumens: 400
Distance: 70 yards.
Lights: White; aux white; red
Charger: USB-C
Max runtime: 2:40 high; 10:25 hrs low
NU20 Classic Introduction
This is going to be a short review, but I wanted to share the much-anticipated update to the Nitecore headlamp lineup, and a return to an original design with the NU20 Classic.
As someone with much experience using the NU20, I want to review the product honestly and explain the difference between each model.
Original NU20
Anyone familiar with Nitecore lights has either heard of or likely owned the original NU20 headlamp. It was first introduced around 2017, and I’ve personally had mine since about 2020.
It’s lightweight, easy to use, and comes with a simple elastic headband—it quickly became a staple of minimalist hikers. I’ve used this headlamp for years, and I love it; however, as almost everything transitions to USB-C, the original NU20 was stuck with an outdated Micro-USB charger.
Obviously, that’s a big downside for anyone who doesn’t want to have to run around with multiple charger cables, or anyone who values traveling light.
NU25 Introduction
Many people, myself included, when Nitecore would introduce a USB-C version of the NU20. Fast forward to 2023, and they finally announced the new and improved NU25—a more powerful model, now with USB-C charging. Unfortunately, however, the updated style was completely different.
It has similar functionality, a brighter light, and a more powerful battery, but it’s slightly bigger and heavier, with a new set of buttons and light configuration options. And while I liked the update, I still often preferred to use the lightweight, simpler NU20 model.
Meet The Classic
The company must have received some backlash online for this decision, because shortly after, in 2024, Nitecore finally gave its customers what they’ve been asking for: an actual update to the NU20, called the Classic.
The Classic is virtually identical in size and shape, but now lighter, with improved functionality and the much anticipated USB-C charging port.
NU20 Original vs Classic
If you’re wondering what the exact differences are between the original NU20 and the new, updated Classic model, let’s dive into those changes right now.
While you can still purchase the original 2017 version of the NU20 on Amazon, there’s no real point. Overall, the NU20 is exactly the same as the classic, but better. The updated version is lighter, shaving off about half an ounce.
Not only that, but the light travels further while the lumen output, runtime, and light options remain largely identical to the original.
NU20 Classic vs NU25 Ultralight
So now that just leaves us to compare the NU20 Classic to the NU25 Ultralight. These lights have some overlapping features, but the biggest difference for me is size and functionality, with the NU20 being cheaper, lighter, and simpler to operate, while the NU25 gives you a larger battery, longer run-time, and more light and brightness options.
Feature Comparison NU20 vs NU25
One of the reasons I like the NU20 style is the easy operation. With two buttons, white and red, it’s easy to turn on and off—even when you’re wearing gloves.
To turn on the white light, you just click the left button, which starts on low and cycles through brightness. The red works the same: right button, and cycle through low, high, and blinking red.
There are two more functions here: a long press when off to turn on floodlight mode, and a long press when on to turn on turbo.
So overall, it’s a very simple operation with easy button configuration. It’s light, cheap, has long battery life, and is easy to use.
Why Upgrade to the NU25
So if the NU20 works so well, why would you upgrade to the NU25? The short answer is it’s brighter, with a larger battery offering longer runtimes and more light options. The NU25 features a floodlight, a spotlight, and the ability to use them both combined, as well as a red light.
For anyone who values a variety of features and more advanced operation, then the NU25 is a great option.
Run Time and Battery Life
One of the biggest upgrades is battery life and brightness. Turbo mode on the NU20 Classic will get you 360 lumens, but only for 2 hours, while the NU25 is brighter with 400 lumens for longer, at 2 hrs 40 minutes.
The same pattern holds with the medium and low modes; medium on NU20 is 38 lumens and will run for 7 hrs, but low mode on NU25 is even brighter at 60 lumens and will run for almost 3.5 hours longer.
Light Options
The NU25 also gives you more light options, with a spotlight and a floodlight, while the NU20 just gives you a spotlight and a low-brightness 20-lumen reading light.
The brightness and battery life are also great with both modes: both the spotlight and floodlight alone will get you 200 lumens for over 4 hours, while low mode at 60 lumens will give you 10 and a half hours.
Spotlight mode is better for a more targeted, narrower beam, while floodlight is good for walking at night, as its wider beam covers more area.
If you want a crazy long runtime, you can go to the lowest Ultralow setting—run 6 lumens for 45 hours. That’s not enough to trail run at night, but plenty bright enough to read or find your way around a dark room.
NU25 Cons
The NU25 seems like a no-brainer because it’s a much more powerful light. However, it’s always a tradeoff, and with the NU25, that increased functionality comes with a more expensive light (about $37) compared with just $25 for the NU20 Classic.
Weight and size aren’t that big of a deal unless you’re pinching ounces—the NU25 is bigger and heavier, but only by about half an ounce, which isn’t much. To me, it’s only worth it if you need the extra features it offers.
The biggest hang-up I have with the NU25 is a slightly complicated button system compared to the incredibly simple NU20 single click.
You have to remember the order of the light cycles on the NU25, and it doesn’t have a memory to return to your most recent setting.
For example, to turn on the light, you can either long-press to turn on both flood and spot light, or double-press to turn on Ultralow on the floodlight.
Not too tricky, however, to cycle through the normal modes, you must first turn the light on (long press power button); the second mode button cycles between light modes—one press for spotlight, two for floodlight.
So, for example, if you want to get to the higher setting on the floodlight, you have to first long-press the power button, press the mode button twice, then back to the power button once. But turn the light off, and you’re back to starting over at the beginning.
This is not a huge deal if you keep the light on one setting most of the time you’re using it, but it can be cumbersome if you like to switch back and forth frequently. If you don’t use the light a lot, you almost have to read the user manual to remember the order of buttons you need to press.
NU20 Classic vs NU25 Summary
So, wrapping this NU20 Classic Headlamp update up—this is a small, lightweight, inexpensive headlamp with good brightness and long runtime, with my favorite thing being the easy on/off and brightness toggle button settings.
The NU25, on the other hand, has a longer battery life, is brighter, and has way more brightness settings—with flood and spotlight modes—but this comes at the cost of being more expensive, heavier, and with more complicated button settings.
So which one is right for you? Ultimately, it depends on whether you value customizability and runtime or simplicity.
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