Sofirn SP32 Pocket Flashlight Review

I received a Sofirn SP32 Pocket Flashlight for assessment and review
from Sofirn. (Thanks Sofirn)
This flashlight can be purchased on Amazon for $26.99 with Free Shipping
currently.
https://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-Sofirn-Outdoors-Cycling-
Rechargeable/dp/B0718YN7X3/ref=sr_1_10?m=A2LRZV29F1JQ87&s=merchant-
items&ie=UTF8&qid=1495659620&sr=1-10

From the product page:
• High-powered functionality torch - 960 lumens beam with Cree

XP-L2 V6 LED, up to 170 hours running time
• Powerful Rechargeable Battery Power Source - comes with 18650

battery and USB Charger to get the most economical use out of it
• Multiple 6 Light Modes - 4 outdoor modes and hidden Strobe /

Moonlight; good waterproofing IPX8 underwater 2 meter for 30 minutes
• Rugged Compact Built - durable air-grade aluminum material

remains pocket size; 122.7mm (4.8 in.)Length× 22.6mm(0.89 in) Diameter
• Silver Side Switch provides one-handed operation; easily

accessing to all functions or protected from accidental activation.

First Impressions and summary:
Light looks to be well made, sleek, stylish, nicely anodized with a side
switch, stainless pocket clip, and smooth reflector.
CREE XPL2 V6 3D LED Emitter has a great neutral/warm tint. I really like
it. I think they selected a very pleasing tint here, not too warm not
too cool, and not at all harsh.
Overall I think it’s a good buy made even better with the added value of
a 2800mAh protected Lithium battery and micro usb charger.

Packaging:
The Sofirn SP32 Pocket Flashlight came in a padded cardboard box that
has a foam lining, wrapped in bubblewrap. It came with the flashlight,
instruction manual, and spare O-rings and pocket clip. A 2800mAh
protected battery and a straightforward usb charger with cord that will
plug in to a cell phone charger or most usb ports was also included.
It’s powered by a single 18650 battery. Both button top and flat top
batteries worked fine no issues. The charger charges at a reasonable
rate of 700mA, when I charged the battery that came in the package it
stopped charging at 4.17 volts on my meter. The battery and charger
never got very warm when charging.

Operation:
Press side switch once to turn on, press again to advance modes from LOW
MID>HIGH->TURBO
Fast double tap for STROBE, Long Press to turn OFF, Long press from
off->MOONLIGHT Light Does have last used MODE MEMORY
I did have a little trouble locating the side switch in my hand at
first, but I aligned the pocket clip in such a way that it lines up with
it for easier locating, at least for me. Take that with a grain of salt,
I have some health issues that impair my ability to grasp and feel
things in my hands very well. Not likely an issue for most people.

The Sofirn SP32 flashlight can tail-stand . It did not come with a
lanyard but there’s a spot for one on the tail cap.
The pocket clip grabs and holds well, but I wish it had a deeper carry
one. This one works fine though.

The SP32 has a Cree XP-L2 V6 LED with a great neutral warm tint. (did I
mention I like the tint? :slight_smile: The reflector is smooth and deep, giving
it decent throw and some flood. The bezel and head of the light reminds
me of a BLF A6 but with a deeper reflector.

It is operated by what feels like an electronic side switch. The side
switch is mounted on a raised flat section of the head surrounded by
cooling fins and some more flats.
Combined with the pocket clip the flats help prevent rolling. Without
the clip installed it does try to roll a little, but not as bad as a
totally round light.

The tail cap with a nice side cut-out with a hole for a lanyard. I like
this feature and frequently see it on more expensive flashlights.

The SP32 has nice looking springs at both the head and tail ends and
anodized threads on the body tube.
I didn’t try to take the light apart further than this at this time. (if
it aint broke and all that)

A closer look at the threads and O-ring.
Threads are pretty smooth and look well cut.
There was some lube on the threads but the O-ring looks like it could
maybe use a dab. I will probably do that before I put it underwater.
With the O-rings in place the flashlight is likely to hold up to its
waterproof to IPX*8 Standard 2Meters depth for 30 minutes claims.
Due to the threads being anodized on both ends I am able to lock-out the
light by loosening either end slightly. I like that because with a side
switch light like this that will help avoid accidental activation.

The body tube and tail cap has nice looking well done knurling for grip.
All the machining looked decent, no crazy tool marks or large blemishes,
missing anodizing, it all looked pretty nice.

The Sofirn SP32 is approximately 4.75 inches long and about 7/8ths of an
inch in diameter. Slightly smaller than a U.S. quarter.

A U.S. quarter for scale.

The Sofirn SP32 lined up for a rough size comparison with some popular
lights that you may recognize.

Moonlight Mode beamshot from approximately 6ft /2meters in a light
drizzle.

Low Mode beamshot from approximately 6ft /2meters in a light drizzle.

Medium Mode

High Mode

Turbo Mode
My picture here doesn’t do it justice, camera operator error. This
light is nice and bright with a smooth hot spot with some throw in the
center and decent flood too.

Low

Mid

High

Turbo

A quick run-time test I did starting with the freshly charged 2800 mAh
battery it came with.
Starting on Turbo mode which measured approx. 1060 lumens which is
higher output than the description, there was a timed step down at 3
minutes to approx. 400 lumens and about 30 minutes after that the light
stepped down again to 120 lumens. I ended the test after an hour or so
on the 120 lumen mode due to time constraints. To make this graph I used
an Android App titled Ceiling Bounce found on github here:
GitHub - zakwilson/ceilingbounce: Test your flashlights and graph their performance ( Thanks Zak)

The published output and run times for this light are as follows:
Output / Running time:
Low: 1lumen / 173 hr
Medium: 119lumen / 16:09 hr
High: 392lumen / 6:12 hr
Turbo: 956lumen / 1:11 hr
Strobe: 956lumen / 4 hr
Moonlight: 0.5lumen / 173 hr

This flashlight’s description page doesn’t seem to make any crazy
outrageous claims regarding performance.
The mode spacing this light has are quite useful.
I wish it had more modes but that’s a matter of opinion mostly and I
always do wish for more mode spacing.

Sofrin SP32 with Cree XP-L2 V6 on left.
XML2 unknown tint on right.

Quad nichia on left.
Sofrin SP32 with Cree XP-L2 V6 in center.
Unknown tint XML2 on right.

Overall I like this light and wouldn’t hesitate to get one. The included
battery and charger add value, It has a very pleasant tint. It’s priced
nicely for it’s feature set . It’s well made and well machined and looks
pretty good too.
Thanks for reading the review!

edit: an image and formatting and I forgot to mention mode memory.

Good review. I’m glad that someone reviewed the SP32 so I could see the differences from the SP31. I like the single side-button configuration.

Thanks SoCAlTiger,

I liked your review too, great photos and descriptive.
I tried to show the great tint this thing has but am cursed with rainy weather, poor camera skills, and no perceptively clear space that works indoors. :blush:
Did I read it right that the SP31 it has momentary?

Yeah the SP31 has momentary since it uses a forward-clicky tail switch. Since it has memory, you just set whatever brightness you want and then use momentary.

I ordered one of these after seeing SoCalTiger’s review of the SP31.

Thank you for the review. I don’t intend to keep mine stock, but it looks like a good start.

Battery update: I decided to give the battery a quick test using an Xtar VC4 charger. Starting with battery mostly depleted around 3.3 volts on meter I measured around 2700 mAh capacity which looks to be in line with the 2800mAh capacity on label.

Nice review. Thanks.
Look’s like neutral tint.
Are other Sofirn lights hase same tint?

As far as I know just the newest lights by Sofirn have this emitter and tint in them, if you scroll down on the amazon page you will see option box for side switch, double switch or tail switch models with what looks like this CREE XPL2 V6 3D LED emitter:

https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Flashlight-Sofirn-Headlight-Waterproof/dp/B0716D3P5T/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495176991&sr=8-1&keywords=sofirn+960lm

Very nice and detailed review, thanks!

Btw the box and the printing reminds me of Thorfire’s products.

Hi Dirty_Pierre!
Thanks for your review and inputs about the SP32.
After the long press to enter MOONLIGHT mode, if you single click does it advance to Low mode or does it shut off the light?
Also, do you have any night beamshots to check out outside tint and range?

This SP32 and SP31 reviewed by SoCalTiger seem really nice!

Thank you once again! :+1:

Hi MascaratumB

When turning light off from moonlight mode with a single press the next single press will turn light on in last used regular mode including turbo. So for instance the light was on turbo or low, mid, high when turned off initially before long press activating moonlight mode a single press turns light off and the next single press returns the light to last used mode (except for strobe).
I will add some more night shots in the next 24/48 hours as soon as I’m able to.
I would like to add a video soon also if time allows, to show the features more fully.
Thanks!

Please, add photos of driver and button and how they placed inside the head.

Hi Dirty_Pierre!

Thanks for the information about the operation modes! I answered my doubt!
I guess that it just won’t solve my dilemma about which one to buy, the Sofirn Sp31 or the SP32 :person_facepalming: :smiley:
I’ll take a look around again and make my mind !

Yeah, please add photos or video when you can. that would be nice!! :+1:

Thank you!

Sofirn sells some of their driver boards.
But I can’t figure out which ones are used in which of their flashlights,

They don’t say which if any are constant-current drivers — anybody know?

I’d sure like to know. I like the easy access to strobe they have, for use in pedestrian crosswalks and as a bicycle light.

Somebody there also doesn’t know how to spell “input” (they have “lutput” and “Iutput” labels for the positive connection point, on their driver closeup pictures)

I guess you can ask them either on the AliExpress store or here on BLF ( member Tracy Wan — Sofirn) about the drivers. They gave “fast” answers when I sent message to them about the flashlights I wanted to buy!
So far this is the only help I can give you. The drivers seem pretty nice, but there’s a lot of (important) information missing so that we can chose correctly!
Try and send them message :wink:

Yep, I have asked. Just curious if people who have the flashlights can compare what they have to what’s on the web page to identify drivers.

What about PWM?

As far as I can tell (through cellphone camera) it doesn’t have PWM. Not even in moonlight mode! :+1:

That’s what i thought too (i reviewed the same light a while back) but it does use PWM but it’s apparently at 21 kHz so it’s unnoticeable.

Thanks for correcting me! I guess that my means to check it are not so good :smiley:
But on the eye and, at least on the cellphone camera, it is, as you said, unnoticeable ! What is great !