Review: Ultrafire A3 AAA/10440

Ultrafire A3 - AAA or 10440


Light was supplied by Manafont.com for testing .. http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-a3-cree-q5-led-flashlight-aaa10440-p-4180







  • Model: Ultrafire A3
  • Ultra caompact design
  • Features a Cree Q5 LED Emitter
  • Powered by 1 x AAA/10440 battery (not included)
  • 1-mode
  • Tail clicky switch
  • Carrying strap is included
First Impressions :
I was impressed by the output , with a Nimh cell in there I thought it was about as right as a single mode could be . The first thing that got me was the clicky , being recessed so it can tail stand , there is no way I can thumb activate [ oh , its a forward clicky by the way ] , I need to use the tip of my fingers , and even then its a little tricky due to my meaty hands , and I would have personally gone with a exposed clicky and no tail standing in a small AAA light , but thats my personal preference .

Performance :
Nimh
Matsushima AAA = 63L @ 1A
Vapex AAA = 69L @ 1.03A
Duracell AAA = 69L @ 1.04A

Alkaline = 74L @ 1.2A

Dry Cell = 45L @ 0.78A

Li-ion 10440 @ 4.03v = 97L @ 0.38A

Wow , a AAA light that does not stress 10440's and is more sanely set up , well I like it , I really do .

Conclusion :

O rings through out
Well anodized
Forward Clicky
Wrist Strap
Tail stands very well
Runs 10440 at sane current levels
Very nice beam on white wall
OP reflector
Pill is press fit
Accepts protected 10440


Ok , I liked everything except the recessed tail clicky [ so it can tail stand ] , other than this one [ highly ] personal exception , this light did not fail to impress , I thought the output to be just right for this sized light , and the current on a 10440 to be spot on for this sized light . So whether you run AAA Nimh or a 10440 your looking at around 1 hour of runtime , by design or accident I like the fact that both battery options have close run time . I like the AAA form factor , its small enough to go unnoticed in your pocket , yet powerful enough to give good light when needed , even on AAA Dry cells I found the performance to be acceptable , its nice that a manufacturer makes a light thats not a battery vampire , as its usually the other way around with these small lights .

I have a few AAA lights now , and the A3 has certainly found a place in my collection , and the only thing that could make it better would be if it was multi mode , that would take a really nice little AAA and make it killer . As it is , its a very nice well thought out and executed light , and my brother who likes single mode lights just loves it , and I just may need to relent and give it to him since he is so smitten by the A3 .

I still like the recessed switch for tailstanding. :) But I would definitely prefer a multimode for the price. Looks nice though. No contact problems like with older Ultrafire lights?

Thanks for the review! Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.

No contact issues so far ...

Isn't it too big to be a AAA light? I mean, it has almost the same measures as the Tank007 E07 which uses 1 AA, so it has three times the runtime..

If I like AAA lights is because they are very small, like the ITP EOS A3. And as they are so little, I like them to have modes to improve the runtime:

24h at 3 lumens (great for reading),

4h at 40lumens for working or something that requires a bit more light and

1h at 80lumens. With a 10440 I have 10 or 15 minutes of runtime at more than 150lumens (killing the batterie's lifetime, but who cares, I can pay 2usd twice a year to have a nice pocket rocket).

Its a tailclicky longer than a ITP .... The price you pay to get a clicky .

ITP / Maratac / N-light = not really a comparative price point . But I agree , ITP etc are very nice ..

If you want a really nice AAA , N-light with a manual clicky mod ...

$33USD + SHipping + mod = a fully regulated AAA light thats a joy to use

You are right, the ITP A3 is a keyring light, and this is a tactical one. I wasn't considering that point! It is a very nice flashlight but just not my type :P

BTW, very nice the n-Light, but I must not buy more lights for some months..

Thanks Old. Thats a nice looking little light. Comparing it to the ITP A3, I assume the ultrafire out throws it by a fair amount with its XR-E. Its quite a nice surprise that it doesnt gobble 10440's. It looks like some real thought went into the development of the driver.

Surprising throw for the output , it really throws a nice beam , keep meaning to post the beamshot , but got to do my School work first .

Ordered mine yesterday. :)

Great review! thanks i lawasy wnated to hear about a decent AAA.

I have Ultrafire A3 from DX and keep it on my keychain.

It's a little worn out after about two months, but no stutters in operation. Cheap lights love to flash/dim/lose contact after they've been knocked about, especially on keychains. This little soldier looks experienced and still performs admirably.

It's a really impressive little light. I use only NiMh/alkaline.

It's 3 mode, high, low, fast blinky.

High is pretty high for such a small light. Low is low enough to actually light up things in the dark, and still probably last for hours.

If anyone is interested I can do the tailcap measures for different modes.

Viktor

P.S.

I can't seem to find a decent cheap 1xAAA flashlight with at least high/low mode. This one seems like the only one in the neighborhood of $10 range (or below) that has high/low and decent output. If anyone has any better alternatives, please let me know.

You can collect some Dinopoints and then get 1xAAA lights from DD, e.g. the well-received Tank E09. It's my preferred light on the keychain. Eneloop drive is almost as bright as 10440's drive and definitely brighter than iTP A3 EOS Upgraded (XP-G R5) on Eneloops, because it draws a large amount of current from the cells. Runtime is short but acceptable.

It has mode memory (which is supercool) .. and Med-mode is bright too.

Cmon dont be shy ;)

I really like Tank007 E09, but the thing that puts me off is the twisty switch. From my experience any twisty I ever had would twist off and I'd lose parts, batteries, head, lid or the whole flashlight.

How exactly does this switch operate, and will this happen again?

Viktor