How trustworthy are Sofirn batteries?

Same comments as you’ve already seen - I’ve received a few Sofirn batteries when buying a “flashlight and battery” package and those batteries perform as expected and test to capacity in my Lii-500 charger.

I have about 10+ Trustfire flame batteries still working, from year 2010/2011. :slight_smile: I use them for my lasers, XP-Gs and XM-Ls.

They need to be legit Trustfure cells though.

I’ll also comment on the Sofirn 4000mAh flat-top 21700 which is correct capacity and has good IR. (I can only buy Sofirn battery with their flashlight [AliExpress — I’m in Asia], as they do not ship bare batteries to my country… although just very recently some Sofirn batteries from AliExpress seem to be “shippable” to my country now, but I have yet to test that option, it has some shipping fee, and the item description for the battery seems to indicate that they are still not definitely sure if batteries can be shipped to some countries…

For the other Sofirn 3000mAh 18650 (also bought as flashlight+battery kit), I previously tested their Sofirn 3000mAh (on the label) which turns out to be around 2800+ mAh only (despite the 3000mAh label). The IR measurement is definitely not as good as Samsung 30Q or Sony VTC6.

On a more recent Sofirn 3000mAh 18650 (also bundled with Sofirn flashlight battery kit), I tested the battery to now be 3000mAh. IR is still not the same as 30Q or VTC6.

The blue-black Sofirn 2800mAh 18650 (also bundled with Sofirn flashlight battery kit), these are correct at around 2800mAh, and they are protected 18650s (trip at around 6 amps).

I’ve also tried the Sofirn 900mAh 14500 (bundled with Sofirn flashlight), ordered in 2 or more separate occasions, they register around 850mAh capacity. The earlier Sofirn 14500s are shorter button-tops, while the more recent Sofirn 14500 are about as tall as other brands button-top 14500s (unprotected).

I just got the new SP33 which came with a 5500mah 26650 battery. I can’t find out much about the specs of this battery. Has anyone tested it or can point me in the right direction?

These 18650’s tested to be very good cells up to 7A continuous discharge current.

Equipment used - West Mountain Radio CBA lV

Sofirn’s datasheet specify the capacity as 5000mAh. Buyers have shown tests of approx 4700mAh

What tester did you get? I used the Lii-500 until learning it wasn’t testing properly on every cell. It gives a rough approximation.

I recently received the West Mountain Radio - CBA IV and it’s excellent.

I used to think my Samsung INR18650-30Q’s were fake on the Lii-500 as it was reading 2840mAh at 500mA discharge. Tried it on the CBA and it’s 3027mAh at 600mA & 2968mAh at 10A. Big difference

Got this tester https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ATORCH-150W-Constant-Current-Electronic-Load-200V20A-Battery-Tester-Discharge-Capacity-Tester-meter-12V24V48V-Lead-acid/32821877897.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.3da24c4dguTbIi

This also what I’ve heard. They are also not high drain cells. Just generic middle of the road cells.

Yes, their 4000mah 21700 is really top notch and high drain.

I don’t know much about their 18650 cells, but they are definitely not rewrapped name brand units.

Their black 3000mah 18650 seems to be really good. It’s a high drain cell “close” to a Samsung 30Q, but not one. DB Custom got really high output and amps from it.

So I only know about their black 3000mah, black 4000mah and black 26650. All the other versions I don’t know anything about except they are low cost.

Illumn is mainly a USA seller. What country are you in? Have you checked with NKON? Do Banggood or Gearbest ship to your country?

Here is a test at 5A for the Sofirn 3000mAh (Black), Panasonic NCR18650GA (Red), Samsung INR18650-30Q (Pink)

As you can see the Sofirn performs almost equal to the GA.

Interesting, thanks Funtastic. . :+1:

That is more voltage sag than I expected. So not quite as good as a 30Q. I wonder if it is still the same battery that DB Custom tested almost a year ago.

I have 4 of the Sofirn 21700’s and although they seem to be decent cells, they under perform. Fully charged, I put one in my FF E07 and turbo mode didn’t seem that great. Put a Samsung 30Q in, and turbo was noticeably brighter. In other words, they can’t handle the amp draw. Tried with all 4 of the 21700’s, same result. They act like a 10A cell. Ordered some Samsung 30T’s for the E07 instead.

In my next order of Sofirn lights I’ll get some 21700’s and 26650’s for testing and upload the graphs.

I may just start my own thread showing results for

14500 900mAh
18650 2800mAh PCB
18650 3000mAh
21700
26650

That should help those who are on the fence about getting them bundled with their lights.

I use the 14500 batteries of Sofirn and never had a problem. Capacity is as advertised (900mAh, measured several times), but I guess they are not High-drain cells (at least not as EFEST)! Also note that they are shorter than other 14500s!

Have you got a link to your thread, I can’t find it. My bad, I misread. :person_facepalming:

That is a great idea!! Keep us posted if you do start your own thread.

Some actual numbers might help.

They blew away the 30Q in my C8F. 11.5A and 3330lm compared to the 30Q’s 9A and 2900lm. The 30T performed about the same as the Sofirn 4000mah with 11.5A and 1160lm. (The 30T should show its extra muscle at higher amp draws)

I just don’t see how it’s possible a 30Q could actually outperform the Sofirn 21700.

What is the amperage range of the E07?

Also, what is a “10A cell”?

They are good to me…tested like 4 of the 3000mAh ones, and they ALL came to 3,000mAh or a tad more.

Capacity is just one aspect of the battery. The black 18650 3000mah have always been accurate for capacity. It seems to be a bit lacking as far as internal resistance and voltage sag, though. It looks like the 30Q definitely beats it in those regards.

Back when DB tested them the performance was so close to a 30Q he thought that’s what they were, just rewrapped. Their amp draw and output matched the 30Q exactly. The one tested above shows a bit below the 30Q at least as far as a 5A load is concerned. I’m wondering if Sofirn switched to a different battery or a different chemical mix in the last 6 months or so.