I recently waded into FFL with the Z1. Though I had some initial issues, once I had a working unit I was simply in love. So I had to try another. The Firefly X4 Stellar seemed like the next logical choice. A quad emitter powerhouse with aux RGB LEDs running Anduril 2‽ Is this the perfect EDC?
*Full disclosure: FFL sent me this one in exchange for my review. If you’re interested, there’s an affiliate link below and I’d appreciate it if you used it. Despite that, this is my honest opinion.*
What’s in the box?
- The Firefly X4 Stellar
- Pocket clip
- Lanyard loop
- Lanyard
- O-rings
- A second 15° beaded TIR optic
This is the first time I’ve had a light come with a second optic, and I love it. The ability to swap optics adds a lot of value. It’s almost like getting a second light, since changing the optic changes the character of the beam. I also appreciate that it came with both a pocket clip and a lanyard loop, so you can set it up however you prefer to carry it. Swapping the lanyard loop or pocket clip is a synch and it doesn’t even open the battery compartment. Customization quickly emerged as a theme with the X4.
Build Quality
I now completely understand why this brand is so popular here. It’s phenomenal. It feels high end and genuinely well made. The threads on the head and tail feel great, and the switch is satisfying to press. The pocket clip is strong and holds perfectly, as well as he tail magnet. The studded body and the heat channels on the head both add real grip and the anodizing feels and looks very high quality.
The charging port is an interesting mix of the usual rubber stopper and a metal port cover. The cover itself is metal, held on with a small rubber hinge, and it’s secured with two little magnets. It snaps shut with a satisfying click. What I really like about it is that it is very easy to open and when you let go it snaps shut, meaning you can’t accidentally leave the charging port exposed.
Design
I love the design of this thing. It looks and feels amazing. The black switch and bezel against the navy blue body is a great combo, and the white badging pops against that navy. The switch sits nicely in a raised bezel, easy to find along with the center charge indicator. It isn’t too mushy or long and ambiguous, which is a must when navigating Anduril. The heat sink cutouts on the head are deep and give it an almost gill-like flare that’s both functional and interesting. The bezel is has interesting grooves which are actually threads to a fix a lantern attachment should you choose to get one. The studded center of the body, combined with the finish of the anodizing, catches light in a fascinating way and adds real texture and dimension. I’ve been catching myself just admiring it.
UI
The X4 runs the open source Anduril 2 UI. I love how customizable this makes things. For a lot of us here, it’s a familiar and favorite UI, but for beginners it can be a bit intimidating at first. It’s worth taking the time to learn if you want to unlock everything the X4 has to offer.
Usability
This is a fantastic EDC light. The form, function, and build quality make it my new favorite to carry. It’s been incredibly useful for daytime projects and for night hikes with my son on the beach. A great all around pocket EDC.
Performance
The emitters in my unit are FFL351A 5000K, and the beam is really comfortable, even up close. Claimed max output is 2800 lumens, with a nice high CRI of 95. It also has enough punch for larger scale illumination. The beam from the 15° TIR is a bit throwier while still holding a ton of flood, which I prefer.
I’ve been using a 5000mAh 21700 Molicel, and battery life has been fantastic. The only issue I’ve run into is that it gets pretty hot after extended turbo use, though backing the output down a bit takes care of that.
Summary
Overall, the X4 is a masterpiece of an EDC light. It’s high quality, and exactly my taste. The beam is genuinely useful, and the Anduril UI along with the swappable optics make it highly customizable and versatile.
If you’re interested, check it out through the affiliate link below.
[
