[REVIEW] - Rofis R2 - rechargeable multipurpose rotating head - 14500/AA batteries


Review copy was sent in by Rofislight to me here in Italy, whom I thank very much.
Site page: http://www.rofislight.com/products/rofis-r2/

as I explained in RofisMR30 review, I’ve got this flashlight to review only now, due to problems in shipments

so, after MR30 and R3, here’s to you (belatedly)…

Rofis R2 (and sorry for my bad English!)

RofisLight, continuing in the R series, new adjustable multi-angle head flaslights, after the first, the R1 (16340 / CR123A), released in 2017, placed on the market the R2 (14500 / AA) and the R3 (18650), the biggest of the bunch:
here all three magnetic sisters:

in following image are briefly summarized all the R2’s characteristics and operation modes (according to RofisLight):

length at 0 and 90 degrees positions:

here’s the full text of the instructions manual:
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Main Features:

  • Flashlight head and body can be adjusted from 0-90 degrees. Convenient and practical.
  • Magnetic USB charging.
  • Ergonomic design, perfect for different usage needs.
  • Uses 1 CREE XM-L2 U3 LED bead.
  • Uses a 14500 lithium-ion battery; Max 700 lumens output.
  • Anti-reverse design to prevent incorrect battery installation causes the circuit damage.
  • Has charging indicator, power detection, low battery reminder, active temperature control circuit, etc.
  • Magnetic base connector supports attachment to metal objects.
  • Rotary head and magnetic base connector can be combined with headlight band and clip, and used in numerous scenarios.

Usage Instructions

I Before Use
When using for the first time, please unscrew the tail cap and remove the plastic insulation tab from the flashlight.
Please charge the flashlight battery completely before using for the first time. Battery performance will be better if it is fully charged.
Installing the Battery
Unscrew the tail cap and insert the battery inside the flashlight with the battery’s positive terminal facing inwards and the negative terminal facing the flashlight tail cap. After inserting the battery, tighten the tail cap to complete installation.
Charging

  1. Before charging, make sure the battery has been properly loaded into the flashlight, and the tail cap has been tightened;
  2. Connect one end of the charging cable to the flashlight charging port, and insert the other end of the charging cable into the USB power port. The charging indicator will light up, indicating the battery is charging normally.
  3. If the indicator turns red, it indicates the battery is charging; if it turns green, it indicates the battery is fully charged.
    (Only 14500 lithium battery is allowed to charge.)

II Operation Instructions
Switching on/off
Press the button to switch on/off the flashlight. When switched on, the flashlight turns on at the last used Memory Brightness mode. Memory Brightness modes include: Low brightness, Medium brightness and High brightness.
Changing Brightness Mode
After switching on the flashlight, long press and hold the button for more than 1 second; the flashlight enters “Low - Medium - High ” modes in a cycle. Release the button to select the current brightness mode. Ni-MH / alkaline batteries for LOW and MID mode cycle.
Turbo Mode
When the flashlight is either switched on or off, rapidly double-press the button, the flashlight enters Turbo mode. When using Ni-MH / alkaline batteries, double-click the switch button, the flashlight into the HIGH mode.
Moonlight Mode
When the flashlight is switched off, long press the button for 1 second, the flashlight enters Moonlight mode.
Special Mode
1)Strobe: Under any status, press the button rapidly and continuously to enter the Strobe mode.
2)Strobe-SOS mode: After entering the Strobe mode, long press the button for more than 1 second, to enter the SOS mode. Long press the button again for more than 1 second to enter Strobe mode.

III Other Functions
Lock and Unlock Function
Lock: When the flashlight is switched off, long press the button for more than 3 seconds (the flashlight changes from Moonlight mode on to off, and flashes twice) to completely lock the flashlight.
Unlock: When the flashlight is locked, long press the button for more than 3 seconds, the flashlight enters LOW mode, indicating the flashlight is unlocked and can be used normally.
Battery Power Detection
When the 14500 lithium-ion battery is first installed into the flashlight, the flashlight will detect battery power automatically.
If the green indicator turns off after 2 seconds, it indicates the battery power is greater than 40; if the red indicator turns off after 2 seconds, it indicates the battery power is less than 40.
Low Battery Prompt
When 14500 li-ion battery power is too low, the flashlight red indicator flashes rapidly to remind the user.
Magnetic Attachment Function
The R2 flashlight has a powerful magnetic connector in its base, enabling it to easily attach to metallic objects.
Headlamp
Remove the clip (not required) from the flashlight, and install the flashlight into the silicone case on the headlamp band, and use as a headlamp after adjusting.

IV Notes
1)Please use a soft cloth to clean the flashlight threading every 6 months, and lubricate the threading with silicone oil.
2)When the flashlight is not used for a long time, please remove the battery and store separately, to avoid damaging the flashlight and battery.

Warranty
In case of any quality problem within 15 days of purchase of this product, you can ask for free replacement from the dealer. You can enjoy 5 years’ free warranty service from the date of purchasing this product. After the 5-year free warranty has expired, the product has a lifetime limited warranty service, and only costs are chargeable if any part needs to be replaced.
This warranty does not apply in the following cases:
1)Intentional user damage, dismantling or modification of the product.
2)Product damaged due to incorrect usage.
3)Product damaged due to battery leakage.
To avail ROFIS warranty service, please contact your local dealer or send an email to service@rofislight.com.

Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us.
Tel.: +86-755-82552272
Email address: rofisinfo@rofislight.com
Official website: www.rofislight.com
Mainland China office address: No. 2990 Songbai Road, Shiyan, Bao’an District, Shenzhen.
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Here’s how it comes and what’s coming:

packaging:







as you can see above, R2 package has a cover, like a book, held steady, in the closed position, by a small magnet placed inside the box:

inside the box: flashlight with included 14500 800 mAh li-ion battery marked Rofis (flashlight with clip (5 g) and battery (21 g) total weight: 93 g) - USB-magnetic charging cable - headband (weight: 27 g) - lanyard - two spare 16/18 O-rings - user manual in English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese - warranty card

inside flashlight 14500 800 mAh protected battery (weight 21 g - diameter 14 mm. - lenght. 52 mm.), with the negative terminal protected by contacts by a transparent plastic tab

Battery details:

battery positive terminal:

while charging, red indicator in the middle of the button lights up; green indicator lights up when charging is been completed:

charge time for battery completely discharged with the supplied USB-magnetic able attached to PC is a about 2 hours and 15 minutes
charging current reaches max. 0,5 A

flashlight hasn’t Low Voltage Protection circuit

flashlight exterior look:

details:

glass AR treatment, smooth reflector and CREE XM-L2 U3 led (review sample is NW 5000 K option):

tailcap detail:

body thickness:

contact to positive terminal detail:

threads detail (sliding and lubricate)

the rotation of the head in R2 is much less fluid than in R3 (18650), same than in R1 (16340)

flashlight charging magnetic port:

some contents of the little white box:





flashlight with attached lanyard:

when battery power is too low, red light start flashing (only with li-ion battery type):

dimensional comparison with some 14500 flashlights in my possession (from left: DQG Tiny AA Stainless Steel, Rofis R2, Lumintop Tool AA):

dimensional comparison between Rofis R1 (43,5 g without battery and clip - magnetic tailcap) and Rofis R2 (67 g without battery and clip - magnetic tailcap)

and with headbands:

color beam difference between 5000 K (Rofis R2) and 6500K (Rofis R1)

color beam difference between 5000 K (Rofis R2) and 6500K (Lumintop Tool AA)

and moonlight mode color difference between R2 and R1

some closer details:








2way pocket clip

R2 with clip mounted upside down

my runtime test

(indoor - temp. 20°C - Rofis 14500 battery):
Mid/High/Turbo:

(indoor - temp. 20°C - Eneloop AA HR-3UTGB 2000 mAh battery):
Mid/High:

other tests:

PWM: no, neither at low level;

its first little bath:

after half an hour soaking, (condition much more difficult than possible in real use, in my opinion), I don’t detect any infiltration or trace of condensation)

Some indoor beamshots (shoot distance from wall: 50 cm.; spill diameter at this distance is about 115 cm. - li-ion 14500 battery low - mid - high - turbo):

spill angle:

Holding flashlight parallel to the ground at a height of one meter, spill starts at about 95 cm. from feet

Outdoor beamshots:
daytime scene:

Low mode/Control shot:

linear usage:

headlamp usage:

Drawing conclusions from my tests with Rofis R2, in my opinion, real throw is about 60 meters (turbo mode)

Conclusion

What I like:

  • multi-angle rotary head;
  • possibility of use as a headlamp (headband included) and a range of infinite usages;
  • CW (6500 K) and NW (5000 K) leds, bother available: I’ve chosen a NW color version;
  • 14500 800 mAh protected rechargeable battery included;
  • excellent anodization - excellent grip / handling;
  • solid construction;
  • strong magnetic tail-cap ( I would have preferred it to be removable though);
  • sliding threads;
  • responsive button in a balanced way;
  • output max 700 lm (turbo mode with li-ion battery type);
  • good 2way clip;
  • lock/unlock function;
  • battery charge level indication (only with li-ion battery type);
  • low battery reminder (only with li-ion battery type);
  • temperature control circuit;
  • moonlight mode, accessible with light off;
  • Strobe-SOS modes;
  • aesthetic;
  • very interesting price, considering the constructive level, functions and equipment;
  • tailstand possibility
  • unlike R3, less fluid rotation of the head, like R1

What I don’t:

  • in the dark sometimes it’s difficult to immediately find with finger the flashlight button;
  • I would preferred a removable magnet;
  • smooth reflector (I prefer OP one, for greater spot that gradually blends with spill).

At last my final evaluation:

Would I recommend it? I don’t use very much this battery format flashlight; as you have seen above, I own only two models, DQG Tiny AA SS, and Lumintop Tool AA: the first, hanged to car keys, is used by me during the winter mostly, in mid-week afternoon hikes in mountain, lasting three hours, when I leave late, say about at 3.00 P.M., and that necessarily the last hour require the use of a light to see where I put my feet; in this juncture this format behaves very well, having the output sufficient for the need, as well as the size and weight that make it comfortable in the hand.
As I said, I don’t use very much, but I recommend it to whom needs a multipurpose flashlight, an headlamp included, with easy availability of AA Alkaline batteries, for any emergency.
It’s a nice multipurpose flashlight, to be kept at home or in a garage/car or for outdoor use, with good autonomy - suitable for those who practice hiking and camping, and other endless everyday uses, constructively solid, and it seems right priced, considering equipment and functionalities.

I haven’t yet decided the use I will make of it, also because it’s the third angular/magnetic Rofis I have, but I think I will keep it at home, and occasionally during short night outings.

Thanks for reading/watching my review (the twelve I did, but the third in BLF) and forgive my bad English.

I leave you with some pictures:





mikobiker,

Thank you for the excellent review. How has the Rofis R2 been holding up?

Nice review. Shame about the pathetic NiMH output and useless turbo modes, sad as it looks like a nice light.

Thanks for the review.

I prefer the battery options for the R2, but prefer the mode spacing for the R1, so I’ll likely get the R1 pretty soon.