Looks like Fenix increased the lumens and added a flashing red mode. Unless mistaken the optic looks the same which is nice. I have the original HL30, it's fantastic but wonder if they addressed the (IMHO) primary weakness. A problematic battery door. It's a PITA to work. Each time I am sure something is going to break though so far it's good. The new 60 degree angle as apposed to old 180 might be a clue something has been changed in this regard as the headlamp needed to be totally flipped around or removed to change the batteries. Then again maybe they're just talking about the adjustment range when worn so no change has been done. Also the back strap which holds the top band has a wire holder (of no use for this model) which can badly dig into a person's head if put on upside down in the dark. That appears to have been corrected based on the photo. If they fixed the battery door it could be the perfect wide beam 2xAA headlamp. The older HL30 was so nearly that.
+1 I also have the older HL30 and I think it's a great headlamp but found changing batteries was a real pain. It got better after doing it again and again but even if becomes second nature, it's not something you'd want to do on a trail at night: the opening design is simply overly complicated! If they figured something out to improve that. My only other gripes are:
1 the only way to lock it out from accidental activation was to remove the batteries.
2 it loses the Low mode when used with AA lithium batteries which can be a real pain.
I recently used the light to run 30 Km in the dark during an adventure race and the HL30 performed very well. With lithium I didn't even have to use the top strap to keep it firm in place. I like the beam profile and tint better than the HL55 too.