[Review] Sofirn IF25A flashlight: $34 (discount code available) with 21700 cell, 3800lm, USB-C, Anduril [pic heavy]

Ah, tnx.

Beam shots of 3 nice lights, shot with Canon on manual settings:

Thanks for the Test/Review !

I really like my IF25 (A’s) aswell. But the 4000k version the least because it has a few Con’s compared to the 6500k version, and i don’t think the 6500k version has really 6500k, it looks way warmer than the blue tint from the IF22A which also has 6500k.

I like the design from the If25A more than the TS21. I always think it looks like the end piece of a lightsaber haha, but an added clip would be nice. And kudos to Wurkkos for making the TS21 in so many different colors !

IF25A has a clip that you could order from China for a couple bucks (yes I know, c’mon Sofirn WT* :disappointed: :innocent: ). At any rate, I should point out my bias: I’m fairly hard-core shutterbug, shoot pics in RAW and nearly always manually adjust WB. I “dream” WB and over the years have become exquisitely allergic to harsh blue tone in photographs (and TV’s), and now flashlights.

As I look around to collect high CRI low-temp flashlights, I’ve noticed how nice the IF25a is: a small light that is 4000k, high CRI, and approx 2000-2200 lumens (EDIT 1/26: among very highest outputs for a small 4000k light, the 6500k version has 3800 lm). Its secret is the 4 SST20’s to increase brightness, and the enlarged end allows this accumulation. Of these 3 lights, Sofirn with its furthest throw is no doubt the most “fun” for me.

T2 with XHP 70.2 Neutral White does warm brightness with such ease, and that warm brightness and extreme flood combination is something to behold. T2 lights up near field everywhere it goes. That it takes 4 LED’s in IF25a to equal the one LED here shows how efficient the XHP 70 is (and I guess how “hard” it is to achieve low K high CRI beams). The proprietary battery does turn me off a little bit.

To my eyes, Wurkkos in champagne is the prettiest of the trio (although Thrunite is the nicest to hold). Without Sofirn IF25a, Wurkkos would be the one for me. Unfortunately the TS21 form only fits 3 SST20, not 4 like Sofirn, so Wurkkos is essentially a less bright Sofirn. BTW the next light that I would like to collect is Convoy 21E or 21F with GT-FC40. But I don’t think Convoy’s brightness is going to match Sofirn IF25a. All IMHO as always.

Wurkkos TS21 4000k, Thrunite T2 NW, and Sofirn IF25a 4000k

As mentioned, in actual use (vs white wall shots) the overwhelming green tint of Thrunite T2 is less bothersome to me, although yes I could see it easily. Otherwise, Sofirn is much more throwy, lighting up the red color of the bougainvillea flower across the street. Thrunite much more floody, lighting up the near field olive tree, the green tint causes leaves to have a nice shade of green. I like both of them, but Sofirn much more than Thrunite.

Sofirn is a essentially a brighter and more throwy Wurkkos. Between the 2 the choice for Sofirn is clear.

Indoor the green tint of Thrunite Neutral White is quite a bit more obvious, illustrating why some people prefer/collect high CRI low CCTemp beam such as in Sofirn 25a 4000K. (If your monitor renders color correctly, the Sofirn shot should look warmer/more yellowish, Thrunite “cooler”/more greenish.)

Notice how uniquely floody that Thrunite is, even in this underexposed shot.

You’ve mentioned the IF25A to be 3800lm but that’s for the 6500K version. Led’s get a lot less efficient at high CRI so the 4000K will probably be about 40% less bright so somewhere around 2000lm.

So the choice between quality or quantity, your pictures make it clear to me I chose the right one for me and I love my 4000K IF25A too.

Post edited. Thanks for the correction. :+1:
40% reduction - is that a common rule of thumb for going from CCT 6k to 4k? A flashlight chart site lists the spec at exactly same number as you wrote, 2000 lm.

Yes I like my Olight M2R, and I like my Nitecore MH12S, but I love the 4000K IF25a. While those other 2 are fun throwers, the Sofirn is more useful both around the house and in my daily evening walk with its combination of flood and throw, and no comparison when it comes to color rendition.

If the tint or beam profile on the Thrunite T2 is not to your liking you could always just turn it into a quad…

The IF25a’s clip is here, from Sofirn China; next to come is the new diffuser. BTW, of these flashlights in picture, for me the IF25a 4000k 95 CRI has the nicest beam color (Edit: statement made before arrival of Nichia 219b 4500K obviously lol). I’ve returned the Wurkkos TS21 (IF25a simply better: brighter, more throw, less heat) and ordered another IF25a with 5000 mAh battery and Anduril 2; the 5000 mAh version with Anduril 2 is available ONLY from Sofirn China btw. Addendum: Latest Amazon version as of 2/2022 appears to have 5000 mAh AND Anduril 2 & if so you no longer need to order from China.

The "IF25A 4000K Kit" I purchased from AmazonUS in late January 2022 from the below link came with a 5000 mAh battery, even though the description for the Kit stated that a 4000 mAh battery would be included:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GG2BM72?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&th=1

But I cannot guarantee which battery size will be included with future purchases by others.

Very interesting & thanks for correction. And you have Anduril 2, not 1?
Sofirn rep told me just a few days ago the 5000 mAh version from US has Anduril 1.

FWIW, clip and the new diffuser are still China only.

Yes, Anduril-2 on that IF25A. The portion of the AmazonUS description which stated "Remarkable UI: sofirn IF25A uses Anduril UI 2" was correct. The "15 Clicks while OFF" Version Check reports "2021 06 06 0612", indicating a "June 6, 2021" version and a "0612" model number.

It's unfortunate that Sofirn does not include clips with the IF25 and IF25A as that is unusual for them. I have three IF22A lights and used those clips (which I believe are the same) for my one IF25 and two IF25A lights, which for the way I use them needed the clips more.

Also, for diffusers, I use these "Cooking Concepts Silicone Travel Dressing Containers, 2.875 in. SKU: 236908" from the Dollar Store (used to be $1, now cost $1.25 each):

https://www.dollartree.com/cooking-concept-silicone-travel-dressing-containers/236908

After you easily remove the top colored hard plastic parts, you are left with a silicone container with a protruding lip at the top and two lower shoulders of differing diameters.

Without any modification, the silicone container fits Lumintop FW3A and Sofirn SC31Pro sized flashlights, but you can off the portion above the first shoulder if you want a shorter diffuser.

If you cut off the portion above the second shoulder, the silicone container fits Sofirn IF25 & IF25A and Wurkkos WK30 sized flashlights.

Surprisingly the silicone containers are not all exactly the same size. Some of them were a loose fit on the Sofirn IF25 & IF25A flashlights, so I double those up by putting one inside of the other and they were then snug and more opaque.

The easiest way to cut the silicone containers down in size is to first fill them with water and freeze them, then align a razor knife against the shoulder and press it down into the ice , rotate the silicone container and do this again and again until you have cut all the way around.

Seems like they’re switching to the 5000 for most lights. My most recent three came with it and I got a C8F from Amazon as a gift for a friend…those always came with the 4000 but this one had the 5000 in it. I’ve been buying more of their lights on Amazon instead of Aliexpress…with a coupon it’s often just a couple bucks more, easier return if necessary, and much faster delivery.

If you don’t see what you want directly from Sofirn on Amazon, also check their distributor 77 Outdoors to see if they have the model or emitter choice you want: https://www.amazon.com/sp?ie=UTF8&seller=A2I2U2GC1R8A5W&isAmazonFulfilled=1

In case you miss this from the other thread - diffuser for IF25a. Unfortunately only from Sofirn China at this point.

Need a little opinion here- I don’t usually stare at the business end of a quad emitter light, but it seems that only 2 of the 4 emitters of my IF25A are working. Do I claim warranty or can I pop the bezel open and try to see if anything is amiss? Only 2 diagonally of the 4 are giving out a beam. It’s useable but just doesn’t feel right. Either in moon, normal, strobe, turbo, I can’t get any reaction out of the other 2 emitters.

I opened mine up last night to slice the domes. The board has one black and two red wires. Each red is linked to two of the emitters diagonally. It’s possible one of your red wires has disconnected.

It’s easy enough to open the light. My bezel wasn’t glued. Removing the optic takes a little patience because the legs are pretty firmly sitting in the board. Try gently prying up, little by little, on each of the four legs as you work around the optic.

If the wires look ok then it is likely the driver.

The IF25A ‘warranty unit’ arrived yesterday.

Kudos to Sofirn’s warranty for staying true to their product. I bought my unit from their Shopee store. I had to submit a short video reproducing the problem and was then given an option to either get refund or replacement. My reply was I’ll take whatever is easier on their part, since I’m conscious of whatever back end process the person on the other side will have to undergo. They opted to send me another unit.

The replacement unit arrived yesterday (no battery included). It’s a rather….interesting replacement. It’s like someone got the inside of a TS21 and stuck it in the body of a IF25A.

Why TS21? Well, it’s got that amber ‘on’ light AND that crazy blue light that shows up randomly (supposedly when going on blinkies and turbo, when voltage changes). 15c would say something like 2022 Feb, which is more recent than what my TS21 Nichia is showing.

Either way, I’m a satisfied customer.

As for the defective unit? Well, it’s still here. I don’t have the means to repair it (simple soldering) and I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that. Maybe I’ll try to fix it someday since I won’t be afraid of voiding anything anymore.

Time to bring the IF25A to its paces!

Awesome find Riccardo - thankyou

Greetings dear community.
I bought this flashlight with 4000K light and it is on its way to me.
Originally wanted a TS21 with Nichia. But then I changed my mind. I can’t explain why I changed my decision.
Do you think I made the right choice?
……