How honored am I that I literally got to be one of the first people to review and test the Bronte BT01? I’m psyched.
So this flashlight is new to the states and I gave it a thorough testing and am ready to present my results to you guys!
Manufacturer Specs:
Bronte BT01 Mini Keychain Flashlight with reversible clip, Powered by 1*AAA battery, IPX-8 Waterproof, 4 Modes from Firefly to Strobe
LED: CREE XP-G2 LED with a lifespan of 20+years of run time
Output and runtime: Firefly: 0.5Lm(125hrs), Mid: 35Lm(4.5h), High: 150Lm(30 mins), Strobe: 150Lm/10Hz
Powered by 1 AAA battery (NOT included)
Working voltage range: 0.9-1.5V
Beam Distance: 45M
Peak Beam Intensity: 513cd
Waterproof to IPX-8 standard(2M).
Impact Resistance:1.5M
Convenient twist switch for one hand operation.
Dimension: 66mm(L)*14mm(D)
Weight:10g (excluding battery)
High-performance metal Orange Peel reflector, double-sided steel coated lenses
Material:aircraft-grade aluminum with premium type Ⅲ hard anodized anti-abrasive finish
Operation:
- Turn On /Off
Easily twist the head to turn on / off the light. Tighten the head for on and loosen for off. - Continuous Lighting Operation-Change Modes
When the light is on,turn off the light and then turn on to change modes.(Middle→High→Low) - Hidden strobe
When the light is on, twisting the head 2 times within 0.25 seconds to activate hidden strobe mode. It is available in any modes.
(Cycle the “Change modes” for 2 times to activate hidden strobe mode)
Package included
1x Bronte BT01 led flashlight
1x Aluminum Gift Box
1x Clip
1x Key-ring
2x spare O-ring
1x User Manual(English)
Construction:
This light is built well. The annodizing, threads, and glass all seem good. The pocket clip is significantly stronger than my Ti3. It is a tiny bit smaller than the Ti3 as well. Simple design, and the modes change pretty smoothly without problems.
Performance:
I performed a ceiling bounce test and did direct comparisons with the Thrunite Ti3, Ti5, as well as the Thorfire PF03, and Tank007 Pa01. These were all conducted at the same day, same time, same ambient light. I tried to make it as accurate as possible. I used a small vacuvise to hold the flashlights and put my lux meter against the wall about 24” away.
As you can see the Bronte has a better spacing than the Thrunite’s. The pa01 is single mode, but wanted to include it anyway
here I conducted a test using a Tenergy Centura AAA 800mah. I measured brightness and runtimes. Tested the BT01 with the Thrunite Ti3, Thorfire PF03, and Tank007 PA01
Runtimes:
BT01 - 26 min
TI3 - 46 Min
PF03 - 86 min
PA01 - 23 min
For my next test I did the same thing, but this time used a Tenergy 1000mah battery. Noticed I swapped out the PF03 for the Thrunite TI5 for this test
Runtimes:
BT01 - 29 min
TI3 - 46 Min
TI5 - 47 min
PA01 - 35 min
For my last test I used an Energizer Lithium battery. I also changed up the lights again to give the biggest variety of comparison. I swapped the Ti5 for the Thrunite TI HI and the Pa01 for the Thorfire PF01
Runtimes:
BT01 - 110 min
TI3 - 115 min
Ti Hi - 115 Min
PF01 - ended early. Exceeds 150 minutes
The BT01 does fall below the pack when it comes to runtime. However is very competitive when it comes to brightness. Bear in mind that my level of error may be 10-15% so they are definitely pretty close. Considering how small this light is, it puts out a tremendous amount of light, and has a pretty impressive runtime with Energizer Lithium batteries.
Beam Shots:
BT01 Vs Ti3 Vs Thorfire PF03 Vs Tank007 PA01
Conclusion:
At the time of this post this light is $13 usd. The only comparison light that is cheaper is the PA01 which runs around $12, and as you can see it is not as bright, and doesn’t run as long. This light is a very close replica of the Ti3 and has a similar brightness. The only area lacking, and my only complaint with the light is runtime. This light makes a very good option for a small edc light, or an extra light to hide in your desk at work or in your car. Seeing as Bronte is new to the US market I’m pretty impressed at their first offering. If Bronte can increase the runtime in the future and still maintain that $13 price this light is going to be a home run.
The big surprise out of this testing? That the Thorfire PF01 has an INSANE run time using energizer lithiums.
