Review: Uniquefire 3900 triple XM-L from lightmalls, possible groupbuy inside.

MEASUREMENTS

Uniquefire 3900 lux output drop (drop-in wrapped with aluminum foil for assisted heat transfer in addition to the threads at the bezel. Note that other drop-ins other than the Trustfire TF-3T6 do not have those bezel thread to screw in).

Time 0 minutes, varying.

1st min = 298 lux

2nd min = 294 - 1.3%

3rd min = 291 - 2.3%

4th min = 289 - 3%

5th min = 287 - 3.7%

6th min = 284 - 4.7%

Trustfire TF-3T6 Time 0 minute = nil as it's varying. 1st min = 327 lux, 6th min = 316 lux Drop = 3.4% (NB. Trustfire 3T6 threads have been applied with heatsink compound to assist in heat transfer) <- pls do not compare this 316 lux figure to the Uniquefire's 284 lux at the end of 6 minutes.

Reflected ceiling bounce lux = 132 lux for Uniquefire 3900.

Trustfire TF-3T6 = 130

Sky Ray 3800 = 160

Tailcap current = 2.29A with XTAR 2600 fully charged 4.2V. 2.15A with Sanyo 2600 unprotected.

LED tint, it is not the slight bluish type of output of the Sky Ray/DRY (1A tint) which is at 6700-7000k. Slightly warmer, same as the Trustfire 3T6. Prob around 6000k from the camera.

It came in a pretty good somewhat sturdy box (at least not just an envelope) and wrapped in 4 layers of bubble wrap. The built is pretty good, as you can see from the photos everything is pretty THICK. You may feel that there are some minor nicks in the finishing from the photos but let me assure you that those are dust, and upon close inspection there are no nicks. Perhaps just 2 extremely minor flakes in the finishing at the edges if you hold it just 6 inches from your eyes.

The anodising is really smooth, significantly smoother than the Trustfire or Skyray (no contest) and is actually 95% on par in smoothness as my Fenix TK70. You can say that it is on par with the Shadow TC6.

As you can see from the above, no issue with the heat dissipation. The above results are obtained with wrapping the drop in with kitchen aluminum foil (no heat sink compound). The drop-in does screw into the SS bezel. The alu foil assists in the transmission of the heat from the lower part of the drop-in to the silver coloured part of the host. It does not equal to the TF-3T6, but also bear in mind that i have applied heatsink compound to my Trustfire TF-3T6 so both can be said to be slightly modified. Unless you are gunning in > 10 minutes in tropics 30 deg C heat in the night, there shouldn't be any issue.

Bill Zeng of lightmalls told me that he can lower the price by a bit if more people can get it. I don't know how much....but anyway the price is inclusive of registered shipping. I ordered on 17th, it got sent out on the 18th and reached me on 24th, 7 days or 5 working days shipping from China. (it went out via Singapore post from Shanghai so that's why it's so fast for me, not sure how that's different from China Post)

http://www.lightmalls.com/uniquefire-3900-3t6-3xcree-xml-t6-3800-lumens-5-modes-stainless-steel-led-flashlight-2-18650

Think you can email him about this on any special BLF pricing esp if more expresses interest.

Hey thanks 2100.

Always posting about the newest lights with useful comparisons.

No problem at all. This light is easily the most beautiful one amongst all my 2 x 18650, single XM-L or triple. As beautiful as the Balder BD-4 (in another way, and IMO of course) but of course built quality is better in the Balder.

The GITD rubber cap needs to go though, change with a black one.

Not sure if the driver is the same as the TF-3T6. Same PWM freq of 124Hz, same drive levels measured at the tail end.

Thanks a lot for the detailed review 2100. Frontpage'd and Sticky'd.

Yes, this is by far the best looking 3 * XM-L light so far.

But, what about brightness compared to the TF-3T6? The TF-3T6 reportedly pulls around 2.7A whereas this one only does 2.29.

Thanks for the nice review.

This is the only 3x XML light I would consider.

I think it's the best in terms of design, build quality and price.

2100 can you post some pic of the Trustfire and Uniquefire side by side please.

Id definitely grab one of these for 45$ shipped if they’d go that low…how’s the throw with this light?

Current draw depends on too many factors which must be stated. Anyway that is why i also provide reflected ceiling bounce test.

Reflected ceiling bounce lux = 132 lux for Uniquefire 3900.

Trustfire TF-3T6 = 130

Sky Ray 3800 = 160

DRY = 250 (capable of doing 270-300 in cold to extremely cold countries)

Standard, just decently ok. If i remember correctly it is about 14k cd.

Will not reach $45, it's a very high quality good-built by budgetlights standards....but i guess if many order it he could do $50. Why not someone email Bill and see what he can do, and then start another thread about this. Need to get the ball rolling. Though the heat disspation to host is not as good as the Trustfire, it is still decent.

So here's the million dollar question for 2100: If you could only buy one, which would it be? Skyray, Trustfire, or Uniquefire? (I personally don't like the styling or the price of the DRY, so that one's already out. :-) )

It would be the uniquefire 3900. But personally i dig the Sky Ray 850's colour and looks, just that it's too expensive at $70 shipped with registered shipping. I wouldn't mind spending $85 for the 5 x XM-L, so i'll wait and see when will the others come out and drive the price down (plus driven harder).

Can this thing tailstand? Probably a bit too top-heavy even if the switch is recessed.

Yes, this thing can tailstand.

Thanks for the info 2100!

Well, I took the plunge. I just ordered a 3900 from Manafont...

Any idea yet if the driver might be the same as the Trustfire 3T6? Any relative strengths/weaknesses of the driver compared to other triple XM-Ls?

Thanks!

Don't really know if the drivers are the same. The PWM freq and output are like the same though. I don't have a stock Sky Ray to measure the PWM freq also.

When I have time i'll try to measure the current with the same batteries and see if they are the same.

We are going to have discussion about some prommising driver in this thread soon. Stay tuned....

2100 so do you think this will soak up the heat as well as the TR-3T6 for long constant runs, im not sure a few alloy threads into stainless will soak up the heat well and the TR-3T6 has about an inch of threads on the middle and 3 contact points of the head for heat soak.

I think this is a nice looking, i like it and priced well but im not conviced it will handle the heat for long night time bush walks as well as the TR-3T6 due to less contact area with the screw in, its the same as my TR-1200 in the way the 3900 screw-in contacts the head but the TR-1200 bezel is alloy not stainless steel so one would thing the alloy bezel would soak the heat up quicker and thats why alloy is used in electrical items not stainless.

the TR-1200 screw-in at 1.7 amps gets hotter then my TR-3T6 screw-in at 2.7 amps when you run them for the same amount of time, since this 3900 is the same style of scew in it makes my wonder if it would handle the heat for long runs, remember i live in australia not ice country.

nice torch nice review as always, please dont take my question the wrong way.