“REVIEW”: Sofirn SP10B (AA/14500) w/ night beamshots [PIC HEAVY]

BEAMSHOT COMPARISON

So, I decided to take a look on how the Sofirn SP10B looks like on the real life – indoor and outdoor - on the dark Winter night ! Also on Christmas night, I admit :person_facepalming: :smiley:

Here it goes.

SP10A vs SP10B (@ 1m)

SP10A vs SP10B (@ 5-7m, both from Low to High)

THE MOONLIGHT MODES
Jetbeam RRT01 (16340 Li-Ion) vs Sofirn SP10B (14500 Li-Ion)

Jetbeam RRT01 (16340 Li-Ion) vs Sofirn SP10B (14500 Li-Ion) vs Olight S1R Baton (16340 Li-Ion)
I had to increase the Jetbeam output so that I could compare the beams, as it is ULTRA-LOW :smiley:

Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI) > Sofirn SP10B

(Reversed order photo)

Some tint comparison between the same lights I mentioned above in the same order;)

NOTE: on the 1st photos the SP10B is on the left, and on the 2nd it is on the right

-Nitecore TIP vs Sofirn SP10B

-Olight S1R Baton vs Sofirn SP10B

-Lumintop Tool AA vs Sofirn SP10B

-Manker E11 vs Sofirn SP10B

-Sofirn SF14 vs Sofirn SP10B

-Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI U6-3A) vs Sofirn SP10B

_

OUTDOOR BEAMSHOTS

@ 7 mts
Sofirn SP10B vs Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI)

@ 5-10 mts
Sofirn SP10B vs Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI)

@ 15 mts
Sofirn SP10B vs Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI)

@ 19 mts
Sofirn SP10B vs Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI)

@ 35 mts
Sofirn SP10B vs Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI)

@ 40 mts (the building)
Sofirn SP10B vs Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI) > Emisar D4 > Amutorch AM30

@ 50 mts
Sofirn SP10B vs Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI) > Emisar D4 > Amutorch AM30

@ 70 mts
Sofirn SP10B vs Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI)

Beams in the Fog :smiley:
Sofirn SP10B vs Nitecore TIP > Olight S1R Baton > Lumintop Tool AA > Manker E11 > Sofirn SF14 > Sofirn SP10A (XPL-HI) > Emisar D4 > Amutorch AM30

And this is it!
Leave comments or questions in case you want :wink:

Best regards :+1:

Nice review and great photos. Pretty excited about the red one I haveon the way now.

Thanks ImA4Wheelr :slight_smile: The red and blue versions seem very neat :sunglasses: I hope you like it when you get it :smiley:

Nice review MascaratumB. It has replaced my tg06 as my edc, for now. There is little not to like about this little light. I too, wish it had a reversible clip, and did try flipping the tube, no joy.

Thanks Dusty :wink: Yup, the tube could be reversible! Not only on this but also on the SP10A and the SF14.
The new SP32A, they improved and put a reversible tube, unlike the former SP32. I like that a lot!
Have your tried using some kind of wire or ring to make contact with the tube reversed?

I’ll try that on mine and see if it works :nerd_face:

What an amazing review! Nice info and beamshots .Thank you for making all this information public . It seems that it took some time and dedication to do all that !!

PS: Every review should have so many beamshots like yours

Thanks NT45! Obrigado :wink:
Yup, it took a while for the photos and some long hours to write and put it up together! :person_facepalming:

And a warm Welcome to BLF !!! Let’s light up this country :smiling_imp: :partying_face:

From your review.

THE THINGS TO IMPROVE:
3 – To have and intermediate mode between Moonlight and Low. :beer:

Very good review MascaratumB.
Well done.

Thanks 264 :wink: Yup, I miss a “in-between” mode over there. From “almost” OFF, on the Moonlight mode, then we are flooded by a “high” low mode. Specially when using 14500 batteries! But also on AAs!
I guess it would make it more balanced :wink:

Nice little light. :slight_smile:

So let me get this straight:

The SP10A is black, the SP10B is red or blue?
This seems to be the case when i look on AliExpress “Sofirn Official Store”.

Indeed it is :wink:
Well, the SP10A used to be sold on black, while the SP10B was sold in black, blue and red.
Apparently it was changed, so maybe the SP10B is now only blue and red!
I guess this had something to do with the changes of the UI on the SP10A and SP10B. They now seem the same, as seen here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Sofirn-SP10A-SP10B-Mini-LED-Flashlight-AA-14500-Pocket-Light-Cree-XPG2-573lm-Keychain-Light-Waterproof/32835929898.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.9.IJbF2Q&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10342_10343_10340_10341_10084_10083_10613_10304_10615_10307_10614_10301_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10103_10142-10000901,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=0d86539b-1e82-4837-ab18-ef6e88a642a9-1&algo_pvid=0d86539b-1e82-4837-ab18-ef6e88a642a9&priceBeautifyAB=0

Maybe on Amazon there is still the SP10B on black?

Well, i ordered one today, together with a C8F (triple) host.
Hope i will like it.

Did you manage to get the black one, or you had to chose one of the others?

I just received a SP10A in Black as a replacement for a black SP10B. Seems to have a slightly different UI than the B I had . Able to access firefly from off with a short press . Long press from off goes to last memorized level. Is this the norm for all SPs now?

Hum…didn’t know that!
I tried to check on their store but couldn’t find that information for the SP10A (black). If that is the new UI, I will love it for sure!!! :open_mouth:

Can you double check it again to see if it is a consistent way of working?

After being on firefly, a single click keeps going on through the modes or does it shut OFF the light?
Does the press and hold shuts OFF the light from any mode?

Also, does 2 clicks go to turbo, 3 clicks to strobe and 4 clicks to lock-out?

Thanks for any input on this :wink:

Yes , the new black SP10A I have does go to firefly with a short click . Everything else works as you asked . Long click to off except when turbo is accessed from off . Now you could turn off in M or H and have direct access to firefly, M or H, or turbo from off depending how you click it.

Short click - firefly, then M,H
Long click- memorized mode
Double click- turbo
Triple click - strobe
4 Clicks - lock out
The only thing I find annoying is there is both a long or short click to off from turbo, depending if you got there from on or off . Easy to forget . Also , accidental on to firefly in pocket could easily happen now with short click if not locked out.

I grabbed a black SP10A for the wife (when I also ordered another set of C8Fs). But wondering about the muggle factor here :question: Anyway, if the wife doesn’t like it— then I get to :smiley:

BTW: any sources for a few of the better 14500 batteries for this little thing? I have NmH but want a pair (maybe four) of these. Not needing bleeding edge, just good solid batteries over say 500-600mAh? I would have loved to buy from Sofirn but they can’t ship batteries to the US (right now) :expressionless:

I looked around, but didn’t see anything that got me excited (mostly junk or expensive— as usual). Any better mid-range sources or deals anyone seen lately? (no hurry so China is fine- just not wanting to mess with Aliexpress sellers I don’t know- but maybe you do?)

Thanks BLF!

Thanks for confirming these features! I like them a lot :smiley: Despite I know what you mean about the possible accidental activation on the pocket with the short click! But I like this UI better than the last, as the lowest mode can be accessed directly!

Well, I guess I will be getting a SP10A then, even more because my SP10B driver is damaged!!

Thanks for the answer :wink:

Hum, for this light I guess a Sanyo 14500 is enough (800mAh), but if you can also try the Efest IMR14500 (650MmAh).
Please note that the Efests are suitable for high drain devices and the SP10A/B are not those kind. Still you can use them on that flashlight.
I bought my Efest from MTN Electronics: 10440 - 14500 - 16340 - 18350 - 18500
The Sanyos I bought from AliExpress, but on MTN you will also find those :+1:

Thanks for the good ideas/sources guys!

I was chatting with Qidong at Sofirn last night and he said he’s trying hard to get a shipper who will ship batteries to the US. I asked IF he could put a pair of 14500s inside the pair of C8F’s (he also shipped with the SP10A to me today), but he said customs would see it in the “X-ray” and send the batteries back.

So I guess I am learning about batteries and US policy seems to be going to the hot place with regard to Chinese imports as the solar market just got slapped with a 30% tariff by TrumpCo last month too (just a fact, not to argue about the guy please) :zipper_mouth_face:

So I feel lucky to have bought my 30Qs last month and have them shipped free from Gearbest. I have not tested them yet (and they have a wrap over a wrap with printing underneath so I am not sure on these), but they did come to the mailbox without issue!