BlueSwordM is correct. Better heat dissipation will also help to extend the lifespan of the LED.
S43S certainly looks a lot better than S43… I am tempted to buy.
But I don’t like this spike thing - the threading on tailcap surely adds 5-10mm to length of flashlight. Plus crenulated bezel also adds few mm length and looks dumb.
I think I wait for S44 without these dumb features 
Thanks for your input. The reason I’ve asked is that I already have an S43 on the slow boat (I pre-ordered it before I knew about S43S) and was wondering if it was worth getting the S version. I like the look but if there isn’t much performance difference I’d rather put my money elsewhere and get something different.
You do know you don’t have to put the spike on? It’s threaded.
The tailcap still adds considerable length without the spike to accommodate the threads of the spike .
Ah of course. Could easily shave 8mm off without the threads. D4 tailcap is 7.6mm shorter.
Just tried the Skilhunt H03 tailcap and it works (thanks for the suggestion bmengineer). That shaves off some length. You need to change the spring though, it’s too wimpy and too short. The light loses contact from the smallest bump.
Interesting but I wait for official solution or revision.
The light can be cheaper without this spike (because fewer components and simpler tailcap manufacturing). So for me it would be win/win if they got rid of it, cheaper and shorter!
Just my preference though, I guess some people like it.
Nichia turn on lumens
VTC5A: 2400 lm
30Q: 2170 lm (14 amps from the tail)
Aspire 18350: 1830 lm (11 A)
Heats up fast with the VTC5A and steps down before 30 seconds. 30Q is 2000 lm @ 30 sec, Aspire is 1730 lm.
How is the lumens and heat/stepdown at “top of ramp” ?
Cree or nichia version ?
Nichia.
What’s up with the Mateminco S03? Was it delayed.
Can't sell at the moment.
But I want an oompa loompa, I want you to get me and oompa loompa right away. I want an oompa loompa noowwwwww Daddy!
Using Uni-T UT210E ammeter to measure current, a freshly-charged VTC5 and Astrolux S43 (quad-Nichia 219C).
The “top of ramp” was measuring around 9+ amps.
But when I did a double-click to Turbo, I got a reading of 20.xx amps (immediate reading for only a few seconds).
I wonder if these are correct readings — I don’t have a way of checking lumens, but assuming 20 amps, how many lumens would that translate too?
I do notice that the S43 does heat up very fast in Turbo mode (automatic thermal stepdown is very fast, almost like Emisar D4)
All replied.
Interested
