My first review! Astrolux FT03 CW

LED Flashlights – General Info 26650 Flashlights
1

The first FT03 CW that I received unfortunately had a faulty LED and was DOA. Banggood customer service was pleasant and painless to deal with. They requested a video depicting the problem and once received issued a full credit. So I bought another one the same day! :smiley:

The Astrolux FT03
https://www.banggood.com/Astrolux-FT03-SST40-W-2400lm-875m-NarsilM-v1_3-USB-C-Rechargeable-2A-26650-21700-18650-LED-Flashlight-Mini-Torch-p-1420116.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc_ods&utm_campaign=content-sdsrm-fish-acc-login&utm_content=nancy&gclid=CjwKCAjwwtTmBRBqEiwA-b6c_4x4sPZASr5nc3DdGl9EhFt6JYbUYuBq3tfwutbzvN_y2Yc9eMRgpxoCBBsQAvD_BwE

Emitter: SST40-W 6500K or 5700K or 5000K (out of stock)
Output (claimed): 2400lm
Candela (claimed: 190 000
Throw (claimed): 875m
UI: NarsilM v1.3
Battery info/type: USB-C Rechargeable 2A 26650 or 21700 (very tight! see image below) or 18650 (with included 18650 battery tube)
Driver: TA FET
Reflector: Smooth
Lens: Glass with AR coating
Waterproof: IPX-7
Weight: 295gr (without battery)
Dimensions: 170mm x 69.5mm x 34.5 (length x head diameter x body diameter)

This is the very nice box that the FT03 arrives in

This is what you get inside the box

Some shots of the light itself in a variety of angles


The tail cap has holes to attach a lanyard and the light can tailstand

The FT03 has the wonderful Astrolux backlit silicone switch

On the other side it has the USB-C charging port with a silicone plug cover

The smooth reflector appears to have a slight orange peel finish to it. Not sure if that’s on purpose or not

Let’s open it up and see what’s rattling around in there

The threads appear to be rounded off square cut threads which came fully lubricated

The top threads which attach to the head are not anodized

It comes with firm double springs

The FT03 comes with a strangely sized 18650 adapter tube that isn’t 26mm wide or 21mm but somewhere in the middle
Like mentioned earlier, 21700 cells will fit but the amount you’re compressing the springs is definitely hard on the springs and battery

Beam profile shots:

This is to show the beam profile and the tint/tint shift. It definitely does have some tint shift on lower levels and I certainly didn’t take the time to edit all these photos to make the tint appear as close as possible to eye perception in real life. Please use this as a guide only not an actual 100% accurate depiction of the tint

The FT03 has a ramping UI so I simply began at moon and ramped up a little until I reached the top and then engaged turbo for the final shot







Thanks for taking a look! I’ll be posting some beam shots and outdoor photos soon as I plan on visiting the creek very soon!

Medium sized throwers
2

great review, first one I ever read that featured… vaping clouds?
I recently got my Astrolux FT02 from banggood and couldn’t be happier.

3

hahaha you are correct! lol It’s definitely going to be a signature component for me with future reviews and when reviewing a thrower it certainly provides some very nice refraction to show off the beam!

4

I have to agree, those clouds add something mystical and impressive to the picture and the review. Have seen so many reviews where the setting was as impressive as the flashlight. I think it makes your review even more unique.

Also have to say I was equally happy with the banggood service earlier with my order. Everything was cool with them.

5

@mattadores, how come the dual phosphor bronze springs springs seem to be deformed a lot on your sample?

6

I noticed that also when I processed the photos. It could be the angle and use of super macro or they’re indeed deformed significantly. The lights at home and I’ll check tonight.

either that or there really is way too much pressure on the springs using 21700 cells

7

lol thank you! I knew my years of playing with smoke would come in handy one day!

I was definitely going for the mystical approach to the cloud shots. I will be upgrading my background to something better than cardboard box lids. Just wanted to get this one out already and will be using the stairwell outside that room repeatedly for beamshots so it worked for this situation. Your take on it though made me think that I’d much prefer a much more industrial background to the countless vivid nature backgrounds every else typically goes with

8

mattadores
Great first review. I too loved the smoke, wish I thought of it.
Think you need a copyright on it. I always knew those old cigars of mine might come in handy someday….
All the best,
Jeff

9

Thank you! It came to me whilst I was vaping indoors in the dark playing with my E07. I realized that a floor of vapor underneath a tail standing light is drawn up around the light due to the air movement from the head heat. Looks amazing on video.

Then I realized it looked cool for still shots for my future reviews.

lol I’ve been working on some sort of a name to coin it

10

Very nice photos! I'm glad you got your FT03 replaced without drama, though I still find it annoying that in today's world the business doesn't take your word for the item being delivered in non-working condition. Sure, most people today have handheld video recorders, but requiring video evidence of problems seems customer-unfriendly to me. If I say it's broke, it's broke. Yes, I'm middle-aged and want those pesky kids off my lawn :HAT: .

This is not a big deal, but when you post HTML links, you can generally delete everything from "?" and afterward in the URL. Pages usually end with an ".html" or similar and the later stuff is tracking, reference, and other details. Sometimes those things may be helpful - for example, if you are trying to point someone to a specific configuration of a product - but usually they are unnecessary. Usually :) .

You can also use the "link" button in the editor (Simple or Advanced) to include such links as hypertext rather than written out in the post. You may already know this, however, and intended to display the link for visibility. You do you ;) .

11

Great review! If you want to try adding runtime tests, Zak has a great app that makes it easy - all you need is an Android phone and a shoebox or closet.

12

Just got mine a few days ago, comes with some really apparent rings. Makes my older C8 and HD 2010 look pristine. Walked around the park, the light is really strong, street signs reflecting off it are just way too bright. Brighter than my chinese HID 6000K clear headlights on my car. I got the NW 5700K and it’s perfect, now I wonder how much the 6000K version can do?

13

Rings in the spill?

Out of curiosity, I just took another look at my 5000K on the ceiling and I realized that there are one or two barely perceptible rings in the spill just outside the corona. I had never seen them before today, so they were apparently not apparent to me :wink: . The hotspot is well-defined and even, the corona is shaped moderately unevenly (as I would expect from a domed, square die), and the spill is wide and extremely even except for the just-discovered slightly brighter band just out of reach of the corona.

Full disclosure: Though I was browsing CPF in the early 00’s, I’m not the beam connoisseur that others might be.

14

yes this light is strong, i did a lame ceiling bounce test, i get almost as much lumens reading as my mf02 cool white. so this light is very strong for its size no c8 light comes close lol. i dont think the 6000k u would notice much difference…

15

Great vaping clouds and review.

16

Did you have to return the Faulty Unit?