Just arrived, review will come in a few weeks.
Oh sorry, maybe just bad wording. I meant that the round light emitting surface (which usually helps to improve the beam and reduces artifacts) is not enough to make this a better light.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
The Mateminco MT70 MINI-S is a nice thrower if you can live with a few limitations. Minimal UI, simple FET driver, only IP65. In addition, the manufacturer does not see a reason in advertising their product with any kind of runtime or documenting it in detail.
In some ways, the LED is also a disappointment. Bad color rendering, slight green tint. The round light emitting surface – which has recently become increasingly popular with flashlights, doesn’t help either.
This review was sponsored by flashlightgo.com, a Chinese shop with a large selection of flashlights.
I didn’t see the weight of the battery mentioned so can’t compute WH/kg, but I didn’t look closely.
Yeah, it's mentioned right at the beginning of the review:
Weight (38121 battery): 342 g
It's just their way of boosting initial sales. Afterwards it will likely be available from their regular shop and retailers.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
The description of the Cyansky Carbon sounds tempting! Constant brightness of 2000 lm for four hours and a modern LiFePO₄ battery, which you hardly ever find in flashlights. Plus practical functions such as the integrated fast-charging via USB-C, a charge level indicator with five separate LEDs and a powerbank function.
All of this joy is somewhat diminished when you look at the rather simple direct-drive driver or the slightly greenish SST-20 LEDs, for which there would have been better alternatives.
And yet the Cyansky Carbon is a good choice in some situations: Even if it is not able to maintain the brightness perfectly, it achieves roughly 2000 lm for around four hours without excessive heat. It is quite suitable as a searchlight for longer missions at distances of around 50 m. It is also currently available for pre-order via Kickstarter at a very attractive price.
Got curious? The Cyansky Carbon is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter!
English review at BLF
German review at my website
The Wurkkos WK03 is a great entry-level flashlight if you don’t have too high expectations. Costs were saved in some places, but overall it is by no means a “cheap” flashlight. The special “Gold” edition offers some improvements, such as the significantly better Nichia 519A LED or the extra tailcap with magnet.
In the review you can find a code that saves you 20% when ordering from Amazon.
Similar, but dedomed has a much narrower spot.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
The Wurkkos FC11C is a nice upgrade of the FC11: The light quality has been further improved by using a Nichia 519A and the buck driver keeps the brightness constant for most of the runtime. Combined with the easy UI and the integrated charging function, the FC11C is a really great flashlight for everyday use.
I can’t really think of any negative aspects. Perhaps it could be a bit shorter. Basically, Wurkkos has done everything right. While I have often recommended the FC11 as an entry-level flashlight, the FC11C will take its place in the future.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
Three powerful LEDs with a buttery smooth, floody beam and amazing color rendition, a USB-C charging port, magnetic tailcap and an easy UI. Skilhunt added several new models with USB charging port to their EC series. The single color EC200 shown in this review is a fantastic EDC flashlight at high standard.
Actually I can’t really find any major disadvantages. It would be nice if the head was less symmetrical to make it easier to find the switch. But otherwise it is close to being perfect and definitely a great recommendation for an EDC flashlight.
Could they possibly do an anduril version of the Sofirn SC13? Or revive the LT1 Mini? Either would be nice.
That would be a question to Sofirn and not Wurkkos. Although made in the same factory, they are different companies (more or less).
As mentioned in the review, Wurkkos is already working on an Anduril version.
Hard to say, lol. The driver isn't potted and a hard impact might damage the inductor of the boost driver or other parts of it. The glass can shatter, the aluminum deform. You can destroy any light with enough force. But for normal use it should be good enough.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
A novel design, four Nichia 519A with outstanding color rendition, a boost driver for constant brightness and a simple user interface. The Wurkkos TS26S is an excellent flashlight in its category – good job, Wurkkos!
There are just some minor details that need to be improved, like the sharp cooling fins. Also it would be nice to have a symmetrical battery tube with a single direction clip that you can turn around.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
I’ve been waiting for this flashlight for a long time: At first glance the Armytek Partner C2 seems unspectacular, but in practice it turns out to be a reliable and easy to use partner in demanding situations. The electronic, two-stage tail switch gives you momentary light, silent operation and also serves as a magnetic charging port. The intense spot achieves a surprising amount of throw.
Instead of the strobe I would have preferred direct access to the lowest level. The flashlight can only be switched on in the last used brightness. Overall, an even lower brightness level would have been nice.
Got curious? Then check out the full review linked above! It also includes a 15% discount code.
The protection circuit of a cylindrical Li-Ion battery doesn't report anything. All it can do is to interrupt the circuit if the current gets too high or the voltage too low.
You might mix this up with tool batteries that usually have multiple cells in a series and in parallel, monitored by a battery management system (BMS).
Most quality flashlights have an integrated low voltage protection. The protection PCB will only protect the battery when it's handled outside of the flashlight, but it will usually reduce the performance and efficiency due to the added resistance.
That photo doesn't look like a Sofirn LT1S at all.
You mean Li-ion with integrated step-down converter? They usually require their own special "charger", there's no universal standard.
The Gyrfalcon S8000 is a powerful charger that targets professional users. It allows you to set many detailed options to adjust the charging and discharging process. And it performs really good in charging and discharging batteries!
On the other hand it doesn’t feel quite finished. The firmware got improved a lot over my testing period, but there’s still room for improvement and extension. There are a few mechanical usability problems with the terminals as well.
It is quite obvious that Enova took more than a single look at the SkyRC MC3000 when designing the S8000. It has a similar appearance, similar menu and the manual is almost identical. However it still lacks some features to be a real competitor. So far it is more like an “MC3000 light” – but with the potential for improvement!
For example Sofirn SC32 or Manker U22 III.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
The Sofirn SC13 is a small and lightweight EDC flashlight with a creative design. The waist and texture feel very nice in the hand and allow for a reliable grip. Sofirn did everything right with the UI: It is simple, has shortcuts to lowest, highest and last used brightness and no unnecessary features.
Not sure if there is any benefit from the fancy Fresnel optic. The beam has a smooth spot with some small rings in the spill. Unfortunately the tint is not the best: slightly green with a noticeable tint shift between spot and spill. But for most users it should be acceptable.
Got curious? Then check out the full review linked above. There you can also find a link to Amazon US with a 10% discount code.
English review at BLF
German review at my website
The Prime C2 – Armytek’s new entry-level model of the Prime flashlight series. Compact size and with a simple user interface. But also tough, great switch and with the proven magnetic charging system.
But in my opinion there are too many compromises with the driver, the firmware and especially the light quality. Why was the battery level indicator omitted? The LED is probably still hidden behind the switch. Why is the current so low? The LED could handle more. And who approved this horrendous beam?
I would have been happy to recommend this flashlight. I was really looking forward to it myself. Unfortunately I got disappointed. But just try it out and decide for yourself whether you like it or not. Alternatively, I can recommend the Prime C2 Pro, which is a bit larger but otherwise better in many respects.
It's the same type of flashlight. Hard to say when something is a clone if the specifications are similar.
They share the same basic features: white light, UV and green laser (both class 3A/3R). Rotary control to select the channel, electronic switch in the middle. In addition the E26 has a tail switch for direct access to turbo. The rotary switch also has a lockout setting.
The Arkfeld Pro has magnetic charging, the E26 comes with a USB-C port. The Luminus SFT-40 in the E26 has a pretty neutral tint and is thus much better than the Arkfeld Pro with its greenish light. Output should be similar.