[Review] Astrolux S42 4xNichia 219C Rechargeable Mini LED Flashlight supplied by Banggood

Thank you Lexel for the nice review and pictures.
I have this light,exactly the S42S one, and trying today to find the strobe mode, I gave up.Can you or some other guy help to find it out?

Click to turn on.
Press & hold for about 1-2 seconds until the light switches to maximum.
Click again for strobes.

Thank you very much,I’ve got it. :slight_smile:

The sale price and Nichia emitters are appealing. I am not at all happy with the light for some of the reasons mentioned in the review and comments. The USB cover doesn’t stay in place, it gets very hot very fast, and it isn’t efficient. Additionally, mine did not work at all with the 18650 tube for some odd reason. The switch is wonky. Sometimes it does not work until it is good and ready.

My experience with budget lights and Chinese vendors has had a high failure or disappointment rate. I have received dead and defective lights and it is like pulling teeth to get the vendor to make it right. I have spent more money on multiple poor quality lights than if I had just purchased from Fenix or Zebralight. I have several Fenix and one Zebralight and they have been utterly reliable.

Interestingly, my experience with Zebralights weren’t that great. My first one was a SC5c II and it was a horrible green mess that I had to return. My second was a SC5w II and its light output was dimmer than my $10 Utorch UT01. A few weeks later, it pretty much got stuck at a 10 lumen level. I then bought two more SC5w II, which didn’t have that problem but their brightness level really is a lottery as well as their tint so I just kept one of them. However, I’m still not giving up on Zebralights and hoping they will get it right after a few batches/revisions of their 4th gen flashlight, when I will buy more. Some of the Chinese vendors are pretty good like the Emisars and Noctigon Meteor that I bought were perfect and my Thrunites and Sofirns are very reliable and good quality. With that said, the Astrolux S42 is one of the worst flashlight purchases I made. HORRIBLE UI.

I was just about to say that those 2 brands also have their issues.

I dumped my S42 (early buyer) after denting a couple 18350s and shortening the spring(hatchet job). I have the S41S w/18650 tube and if they fix the UI I would buy the S42S. I like the aggressive knurling and the weight in the hand. Beats a roll of coins for assisted knockout punch and pretty bright in the eyes. I’m not really violent, just trying to justify it to my wife. :smiling_imp:

I received one of these recently in a giveaway from a generous member here.
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The reports of the UI being, um, perplexing had me a little worried about how much use it would get, but happily I’ve been able to work with it so far and have been enjoying the light.

Instead of assessing the UI as good/bad, my approach has been more one of “it is what it is,” which admittedly is maybe a little easier with a light that was free to me.
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Some thoughts:
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-The “no off from moonlight without going through turbo” conundrum is fairly easily sidestepped by using a “twisty off” on the head.
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-As Chinooker states above, I also like the knurling and weight, as well as the overall form and appearance.
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-I like that even with an 18650, it’s still more compact and pocketable than some other 18650 lights I have (S2+, Sofirn SP31 and 32A).
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-USB charging is potentially useful, but the port cover was lost before I got the light, so it’s not a light I’d want to expose to moisture. Even if I got a replacement cover, I’d still have some reservations about the water resistance.
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-I don’t find the duration of the long press to off to be excessively long.
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-I like the lack of mode memory in Group 1, it seems reasonable to simply turn the light off and then back on as a sort of shortcut back to moonlight when needed.
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-The Group 2 “muggle mode” seems like a decent option to have available if I want to hand the light off to someone without giving them a detailed account of how to use the light.
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-I’m a big fan of Nichia emitters, which is probably the biggest factor in my willingness to work with the UI, and why I keep grabbing it over other lights lately.
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-Heat build up is noticeable, but I tend to mostly use the lower modes anyway.
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-No issues with the switch yet, and I actually like the “breathing light.” I having been leaving it on with the light on my bedside table at night.
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-No issues with the 18650 tube on mine fitting an unprotected Sanyo GA.

Any updates on this?

I can’t post much just yet but lets just say I am still working on the S42 driver, just under different circumstances. If this works out it could lead to several other lights getting updated drivers / designs as well. Could be a BIG opportunity for BLF as a whole if all goes well.

Actually supposed to get a prototype in the next few weeks for the S42 driver.

Would that new driver be available separately or is this for new lights only? I am still sitting on my brand new S42 and would need the driver (but I am also able to build my own drivers).

I still plan to release the final designs like normal after they enter production for those that want to DIY it.

I am also trying to get them to sell the drivers separately and I think this can be worked out at least on a limited scale.

Many many details still need to be worked out, this is a test of the process.

i got 2 from Lexel and they’ve been great!

Yep, that is another good option, I was not aware he has released a driver for the S42 (or forgot about it if I was lol).

Did anything come of this?

Yes, it was released as the S43 some time ago.

Ah, well that makes sense, thanks!

No problem!

Is it possible to buy S43 driver separately? Does it fit S42?

It should fit the S42 but I don’t think it is available separately.