Review: NiteCore SensMini

NiteCore SensMini




NiteCore is a flashlight brand used by Sysmax. This light is the smallest light in the sens series and uses a CR battery. The light is has 3 fixed brightness settings and a new innovative method to select brightness. The light is made of aluminum with hard-anodized (Type 3) finish.

All the sense lights:

Mini, CR and AA

My review copy did not include anything, but the light.



The light has a TIR optic, behind a glass lens.



The battery uses a brass insert with the circuit in. The foam provide anti rattle function and mechanical polarity protection.



Both the head and body has some knurling but without any bite in it.



The spring in the tail is a special type, without much movement.



The tail has holes for an O-ring and the light can also stand on the tail.



The user interface uses a tilt sensor, this is used to select between the 3 brightness settings when turning the light on. Holding it horizontal when turning on will give maximum brightness. Pointing slightly down or straight down will select the two other brightness levels. Pointing the light up will enable auto mode, where the light will adjust brightness when direction is changed between vertical and horizontal.
The light uses a slow turn on, i.e. it fades slowly up to the selected level and slowly up/down in auto. Horizontal position does always reach full brightness fast.



Here is all the part the light can be disassembled in without tools.


The new user interface is a interesting innovation, it makes it possible to turn a twisty light on in any brightness setting, turning on/off multiple times is not needed. But the interface is not intuitive, I tried the light on a couple of people and none could figure it out, without help.
Using the light I am not so happy about the slow turn on, except for that the sens interface works fine.



Technical specification and measurements



The light can be used with a CR2 battery

Measured size and weight:
Length: 59 mm
Diameter: 18.4 mm to 19.7 mm
Weight: 32 gram with a CR2 battery

The light uses a Cree XP-G R5 led.



In the above table I have collected all modes, measured at 2.5 volt. All the estimated runtimes are with 750mAh CR2 battery.
Because my test bench requires the light to be locked in a fixed position, I could not compare the different brightness’s, this is also the reason I only did one voltage sweep.



A voltage sweep at high shows a very good stabilization in the voltage range of a CR2 battery (1.5 volt to 3 volt).



The good stabilization from the voltage sweeps, does give a nearly flat runtime (The drop on high is probably due to temperature), until the batteries are nearly drained.

There are no flashing modes and the light does not contain any pwm or noise.



Comparison to other Flashlights

NiteCore EZ CR2, NiteCore SensMini, 4Sevens Qmini CR2:


Fenix E15, 4Sevens Qmini 123, NiteCore SensCR:


For the full comparison to other lights with graphs and beamshots see here





Notes

The light was supplied by NiteCore for review.

Great review as usual! Thanks for all the measurements. Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

Does the Nitecore SENS CR work with:

- UniqueFire 16340 3.7V Li-Io

  • UltraFire LC 16340 3.7V
    ?

If not, which recheargable battery (from Fasttech?) should I use?

Thanks : 9

I hope you guys excuse me bumping this thread, but I really need to know about the battery options since I consider buying the sens cr.
Cmon : )

Nitecore's manual of the Sense CR claims that a RCR123 is "banned": http://www.nitecore.com/UploadFile/Files/download/1-1_SensCR_UM_en.pdf

However, other reviewers have said they're usable. http://www.thrunite-store.com/forum/showthread.php?195-ReviewTheLight-Nitecore-SENS-Series

On a side note, this review thread is for the Sens Mini which uses a CR2 as opposed to the Sens CR which uses CR123As.

I know, but I did not want to create a whole new thread for a short question.

My SensCR doesn’t ramp properly with RCR’S , but my SensAA runs great with 14500.

Hm, I really like the Sens CR and I want to use rechargable batteries. Any recommendations?

Lifepo4 work great.

Are there Li-Ion options? I only have a Lithium-CHarger.

Get an Xtar MP2. It only costs around $10 and charges li-ion and lifepo4 cr123s. It’s a beauty little charger.

Am I blind or does fasttech not have that charger?

If anybody want to help me, I´d appreciate links for that charger and batteries for the SensCR : )

The trustfire flame protected 880mAH is too long,35.7mm,and won’t even catch the thread.

The Nitecore NL166 650mAH is thicker but still fits widthwise.Lengthwise,at 34.7mm it sorta fits,but comes on with quite

a lot of brass pill showing.The o ring is covered but not sure if it’s enough to guarentee waterproofing.Not really

recommended,shame because the battery is great.

Ultrafire unprotected ty16340 1.2AH(LOL)fits easy at 33.0mm and so it should at that size.

Efest v2 Li Mn 550mAH(500 to 3v on B6 clone)34.3mm fits fine.

All measurements are base to top of button top and you’ll need button tops,reverse polarity prot’n is foam ring

Sorry,please subtract 0.3mm from lengths ,insulat’n tape on vernier.

Nitecore was from FT,you’ll have to check or the rest,but it’s really for the measurements.Efest is from Efest,worthwhile

if you put a $20-$25 order in.

FYI a 12mm dia magnet fits outside,on tail,still tailstands,and you can pull it off if you have credit cards nearby

Hope this helps