Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Fenix PD36R Pro vs ThruNite Archer 2A Pro
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Flashlights: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Fenix PD36R Pro is the one light most people should buy: a removable, USB-C-rechargeable battery, honest sustained output, and a beam that works up close and at distance. The ThruNite Archer 2A Pro is the smart cheap companion that never leaves you battery-less because it runs on ordinary AAs.
Fenix PD36R Pro
Buy itOne rechargeable light that genuinely does everything, with a real removable battery and honest sustained output.
- Removable 21700 Li-ion with built-in USB-C charging, so a spare cell means no downtime
- Holds a strong, usable output well after turbo steps down, with long runtime on lower modes
- Balanced beam that floods a workbench and still reaches down the driveway; IP68 and drop-rated aluminum body
- Dual-switch interface (tail on/off, side for modes) is fast and hard to fumble
- Like every light, its top turbo number drops within seconds; the sustained figure is what you actually get
- Premium price, and larger than a keychain light
ThruNite Archer 2A Pro
Buy itA cheap, simple, genuinely reliable light that runs on AA batteries you already own, no charging cable required.
- Runs on two common AA cells, so there is no proprietary battery to die or discontinue
- Focused, far-reaching beam that is well suited to spotting the far fence or a dog across the yard
- Tactical tail switch with momentary on and a simple mode set; IPX8 water resistance and an aluminum body
- Slim, pocket-clip carry and an easy price to keep one in every drawer and glovebox
- Lower maximum output than the rechargeable lights, and AA cells cannot sustain the brightest mode for long
- No built-in charging; you buy or recharge AAs separately
Side by side
| Fenix PD36R Pro | ThruNite Archer 2A Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants a single, reliable light for the house, garage, car, and outages. | People who hate charging cables and want a no-fuss backup light that always has a battery. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Fenix PD36R Pro - One rechargeable light that genuinely does everything, with a real removable battery and honest sustained output. Choose the ThruNite Archer 2A Pro instead if people who hate charging cables and want a no-fuss backup light that always has a battery.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Flashlights: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).