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

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?
……

IF25A has a more usable light projection pattern, TS21 is much more floody. IF25A has a bigger head and has no clip, unfortunately.
I would also have chosen the IF25A anyway.

Got it, thanks. The clamp is not necessary for me. I rarely use it.

My IF25A arrived. After 15 clicks from the off position, there were so many flashes: 212212181614.
What version of Anduril is this?
….

A single short blink is a "0" and a single long blink is a "1" in the Version Check.

So "212212181614" is probably either "2022 02 08 0614" or "2022 02 18 0614".

Thank you. Rechecked, the first option turned out.
«2022 02 08 0614».
And what gives me this knowledge of the firmware?

From forum member ToyKeeper's Anduril 2 User Manual at:

http://toykeeper.net/torches/fsm/anduril2/anduril-manual.txt


From forum member ToyKeeper's Anduril 2 "MODELS" file at:

http://toykeeper.net/torches/fsm/anduril2/MODELS

More information about a particular version of Anduril would require finding where the source code is located and inspecting it or asking a specific question on this forum and hoping someone knows the answer.