There's a few reviews already for the SC31 Pro (gchart, Markus and the main SC31 Pro thread here) but I thought I'd share my 2¢ on some of the more subjective things.
Sofirn have released an upgraded version, called the SC31 Pro. This is a quick review, as there’s only a few new things to talk about with the Pro version.
Both the SC31B and SC31 Pro are standard 18650-cell lights, with USB charging. As well as having a brighter LED, the SC31 Pro also comes with USB-C charging instead of Micro USB and comes with a much improved user interface called Anduril. It also has a different tail cap, including a lanyard hole and the e-switch indicator LED is now green, instead of blue.
Versions
As far as I know, the SC31 Pro is the third iteration of the SC31. The original SC31 was 600lm, the SC31B was 1000lm and now the SC31 Pro is 2000lm. This is a quick review, focusing on what’s changed since my SC31B review.
Sofirn sell 2 versions of the SC31 Pro: one with a neutral white 5000K LED and one with a cool white 6500K LED. I’m reviewing the cool white one. Sofirn also sell a magnetic tailcap for the SC31 Pro.
Sofirn SC31 Pro flashlight specs
- Type C Charging Port
- SST40 for Max 2000 Lumens
- Tailcap with lanyard hole
- Emitter: single powerful LED
- Working voltage: 2.8V-4.2V
- Dimension: 117.5 mm (length) x 25.4mm (head diameter)
- Weight: 59±1 gram (without battery)
- Flashlight body: Aerospace grade 6061 grade aluminum alloy
- hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish to get solid built body, anti-crash geometry.
- Toughened mineral glass lens
- Anduril firmware 2020-03-18
What’s in the box
The Sofirn SC31 Pro comes with:
- 3000mAh cell
- Pocket clip
- 2 O-rings
- Lanyard
- USB-C cable
- Manual
Appearance and quality
The SC31 Pro has Sofirn’s usual quality threads and anodising. The tail cap has a hole for a lanyard, which sets it apart from the SC31B.
Physical comparison
Unfortunately I no longer have a SC31B to compare directly to the Pro. I’ve had 3 SC31B’s and given them all away, as they make good gifts. There’s barely any physical difference between the 2 though, aside from the black clip (instead of silver) and tail cap.
The SC31B and SC31 Pro are both also very similar to the Wurkkos FC11.
Interface
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- Click on
- Click off
- Hold to change brightness
- Lots of other modes
The main reason to pick the Pro over the SC31B is the updated user interface. The SC31 Pro comes with the Anduril user interface. By adopting Anduril, the SC31 Pro has smooth ramping brightness, multiple strobe modes and special modes like lightning and candle mode. You can also use the bike flasher mode for cycling.
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Cell and USB-C charging
Sofirn supply a 3000mAh cell with the SC31 Pro. This is an upgrade over the 2200mAh cells that came with the SC31B, though still not the same capacity as a high end 3400mAh cell.
The SC31 Pro also comes with USB-C instead of Micro-USB charging. The indicator light turns red when charging.
LED and beam
The SC31 Pro has a smooth reflector with a SST40. This LED is 5mm square, the same as CREE’s XM-L and XHP50 LEDs. That means it’s a bit less throwy than the 3.5mm LEDs used in the SC31B. It’s still slightly more throwy than my Emisar D4
Sofirn list the SST40 as 6500K (cool white) but the one I have is noticeably warmer than other 6500K lights I have. My guess is it’s between 5700K and 6000K.
Summary
Pros
- Anduril user interface
- USB-C charging
- Better LED than SC31B
Cons
- Sofirn’s machining still leaves sharp edges in a few places, like the lanyard hole
Conclusion
Whilst it looks almost identical, the SC31 Pro is worthy upgrade to the SC31B. For me, the addition of the Anduril UI alone means that the light is more predictable, faster to use and more versatile than the SC31B. The SC31 Pro is one of the cheapest lights with Anduril you can get.
I always recommend warmer tints but the cool white Luminus SST40 LED is actually pretty good, especially compared to many CREE LEDs.
The SC31 Pro was sent to me by Sofirn for review. Other than the light, I was not paid for the review and I have been honest about its defects.