Olight Rose Gold S Mini Review

jon_slider · 2018-07-20T23:18:29.000Z

I asked Olight for a review sample of the Olight S Mini and they kindly provided this Rose Gold S Mini. For additional photos and pricing information please refer to this link https://www.ebay.com/itm/162399446399

It is has a beautiful and durable titanium PVD finish over an interior pure copper body. The pocket clip has been finished to match in the same color.

Im a huge fan of the Olight UI, which is a click on click off interface, with memory. I also really like the sublumen low mode for late night full dark close encounters with the loo. Other aspects of the UI that I find especially valuable are the double click for turbo, and triple click for strobe, which I like to use when crossing the street to give notice to motorists to yield to me as a pedestrian.

I also really like that the pocket clip allows the light to work as a hatlamp, a feature many pocket clip lights do not support. This light ships with an included CR123 battery, and in addition it is compatible with 16340 LiIon cells, including the new USB rechargeable style, like this one pictured on the right:

This is what the beam of the Rose Gold S Mini looks like by itself, nice and white, as it would look to my brain when there is only one flashlight in the photo.

If anyone reading this would like additional beamshots and tint information, please do not hesitate to ask. I have available for comparison a couple of other Olight that I own.

This Rose Gold finish is really beautiful and the light feels very nice in hand. If you like a light that keeps its shine, I recommend the Olight Rose Gold S Mini as a very elegant alternative to the more typical black anodized aluminum models.

Coppet · 2018-07-27T12:15:39.000Z

Thanks for the Review :+1:

Geuzzz · 2018-07-27T14:12:15.000Z

I love my s mini, one of my favourites. But it may be fair to also point out the negatives. So people can buy the light well informed.

jon_slider · 2018-07-28T01:11:37.000Z

Geuzzz:

I love my s mini, one of my favourites. But it may be fair to also point out the negatives. So people can buy the light well informed.

Good suggestion, thank you, please go ahead and start, and I will be happy to contribute. I have lots of opinions I am happy to share if anyone is interested…

And let me know if you have any interesting questions you would like to brainstorm about.
for example, do you love or hate the fact that moon is momentary, in lockout?
I hate it… to me lockout means LOCKOUT, not, tactical moonlight… lol

I have more info in other threads about tint and CRI, meanwhile, here is a photo I find interesting in exploring the difficult and confusing topics of Tint, White Balance, and Color Temperature, as food for discussion:
(unretouched iPhone8 photo, auto white balance, taken during dark night, under 3000k incandescent illumination)

this is about where things usually go nuts, since nobody acknowledges the elephant in the living room, the AssUmption that flashlights should mimic Sunlight… again another topic in its own right

anyway, yes, please share your opinions both pro and con, of your S Mini experience
and btw, which metal and finish did you get?

also, theres a few Ti S Mini left at illumn.com if you want some, theyre on clearance @30% off w code blacknovember, but no, theres no BeadBlasted Ti left

I hope you enjoy your weekend

one of the features I like about the S Mini, is the strobe, really handy when crossing the street here, including daytime

oh, and, looking at that photo, note how the green tint is in the middle of the TIR S Mini, while it is in the Corona with an Orange Peel reflector w clear lens… both XM-L2, different eras, 6 years apart, still green tinted crees… green is bright… I like some green things more than others

now watch what happens when the white balance changes
(unretouched iPhone 8 photo, auto white balance, 6pm on a sunny day)

so, which color is true? both, depends on white balance
when does cool white look white?, during daylight white balance adaptation, and when under cool white fluorescents
when does cool white look blue? in the dark of night when adapted to incandescent or full darkness

which is better? both

Olight S Mini CR123A Flashlights

Yes a nichia will work in that light, but I don’t think you can compare that light with the s mini. Btw, I have a 80+ cri Xm-l2 in the s mini. And I don’t have the feeling I’m missing cri compared to my nichias, unless you use them next to each other and really focus on it.

Geuzzz:

Btw, I have a 80+ cri Xm-l2 in the s mini. And I don’t have the feeling I’m missing cri compared to my nichias, unless you use them next to each other and really focus on it.

thanks, I agree
LED preferences vary, and the brain adapts to whatever is in use at the time
it takes about 30 minutes of darkness for the brain to downregulate from daylight white balance, so that 4000k will look white instead of “yellow”, to the operators brain at the time of use.
4000k is very white when I wake up fully dark adapted…
so, is 4000k yellow or white? both, depends relative to white balance of the brain at the time of use

oh, wait, what was the question?

deleted-200707 · 2018-07-28T01:27:52.000Z

congratulations on your free light!

Coppet · 2018-07-28T13:34:51.000Z

So I found the review very informative, thanks again! With this information, I will buy this flashlight immediately if I have decided on a color and execution

@ “Geuzzz” what is there in your opinion to expose negative to the Olight, that would interest me very much before I buy one. Is there any negative or just personal preference?

And my opinion on this review, I think this is a mini review, I expect exactly what I have just read. If I would like to have more and detailed technical information then I would look in here for example: Olight S Mini Cu CW and Ti NW review with measurements (XM-L2, CR123A/RCR123/16340) a really great and profound review!
There are beam shots, tables and measurements, and a few negative and positive points, but not everyone likes this technical side, sometimes you have to decide from the belly.
For my part, I prefer such mini-reviews. If they do not convince me, then such tables and measurments certainly do not :+1:

joechina · 2018-07-28T15:26:29.000Z

Lockout with momentary MOON
I find it great. I lockout my side switch lights when carried in my pocket. When you need to find a keyhole it is often enough light without the hassle to unlock, light,lock again.
And if the button is pressed why I sit on it, nothing gets hot or the battery drains to much.

Geuzzz · 2018-07-28T21:34:18.000Z

Again I love my bb ti S mini. But there are some negatives to take into account. Some of these negative I read in older posts of Jon on earlier reviews, so I that is why I was surprised not to see them here.

- no Low voltage protection (big miss)

- tint can be dull/green, I couldn’t handle mine.

- pwm in the lower modes (no problem for me, but some people are allergic for pwm)

- not rotatable clip, can also be an advantage

not ideal if you don’t like clips. Removing the clip will scratch the light and it will look ugly without.

jon_slider · 2018-07-29T02:04:32.000Z

chinooker:

congratulations on your free light!

thanks, it is very nice!
I feel very fortunate to be able to participate in the Review forum, and appreciate your support

Geuzzz:

no Low voltage protection (big miss)

- tint can be dull/green, I couldn’t handle mine.

- pwm in the lower modes (no problem for me, but some people are allergic for pwm)

- not rotatable clip, can also be an advantage

not ideal if you don’t like clips. Removing the clip will scratch the light and it will look ugly without.

thanks, good talking points. I intentionally did not bring over all my old posts… glad you highlighted some of the pros and cons

No built in LVP facilitates compatibility w CR123 option. I use Protected LiIon cells. You can also use unprotected IMR, with proper respect.

I also find the tint green, and wish the LED was a Nichia, otoh, I have changed some of my newbie biases and am now more tolerant to low cri and tint above the bbl, I notice my brain adapts, in actual use.

its technically not PWM, its constant current ripple, (at about 2000 Hz, not visible like the true PWM @310Hz like on a Malkoff) my camera can see it, but there are no dots when waving the light. I still wish it was not there. I also wish the green tint was not there, but I find it makes me laugh, which is good for my soul

I like the clip very much, it is comfortable when pressing the button, and it is the correct direction for a hat.
I do sometimes remove my clips, and agree they can show that the light is not a factory fresh collector’s item, but Im not a collector, I enjoy the choice to remove the clip. I like that the light still does not roll off the table, thanks to the raised button pedestal. However, I confess I have not removed the Rose Gold Clip, yet, for fear of marking the light in case I decide to gift it to a friend, that is more of a collector than I am. Then again, its so shiny, I want to keep it as a trophy, for becoming a reviewer that gets promotional samples… Its very nice!

joechina:

Lockout with momentary MOON
I find it great.

there you go, good attitude
I do the same but by using the press and hold to moon, and memory

I really dislike the lockout mode, because sometimes if I give a light to a friend, they will lock it by mistake

Coppet:

So I found the review very informative, thanks again!
…
more and detailed technical information then I would look in here for example: Olight S Mini Cu CW and Ti NW review with measurements (XM-L2, CR123A/RCR123/16340) a really great and profound review!
… :+1:

thank you!
I agree, maukka’s reviews have outstanding details, I always read and admire them

your kind words lifted my spirits when my friends were teasing me about becoming a reviewer and getting free samples, but I think they were just a little jealous, and still love me

Reviews are propaganda and this is the forum for reviews
Im glad you like mine, I want to do a good job, I like getting samples, and I really like my Rose Gold S Mini

here is a sale link from our sponsor, on a Rose Gold S Mini
https://www.olightstore.com/olight-s-mini-cu-45-off-from-1-1-30-pm-edt-sun-29th

pm me if you want a secret code for a Copper S Mini, or Rainbow Ti S Mini, for 30%off

now back to our regularly scheduled flashlight consumerism
which light would you like to buy today?

Coppet · 2018-07-29T12:26:15.000Z

Geuzzz:

Again I love my bb ti S mini. But there are some negatives to take into account.

“No, you can`t always get what you want” Rolling Stones 4th July 1969

You love your S Mini and in this case you have to look over some shortcomings.

For example, I love my Maratac CR123 Copper Rev. 3 although I liked the tail of Rev. 1 and 2 much better. The Maratac also has a green cast, I still miss a step between mid and high and sometimes it skips a mode.
But these are all personal things that other people probably will not bother with.
I also have the Klarus MI1C in Copper and that little beast beats my Maratac in all, but if I had to choose then I would choose the Maratac
But I’m not the average flashaholic but if I like something then I buy it. Everything has its good and bad sides, it’s like the women, there is none that is perfect (except my wife was) and you live with them because you love them There is certainly the perfect flashlight but if it is perfect for everyone?
But all that is just my modest opinion

But with the clip you are absolutely right, the same problem exists for example with the Maratac AAA and the Lumintop Tool. If you want to have these flashlights without scratches then you can not remove the clip. Therefore, my Maratac AAA CU has no clip and I polished the spot where the clip was and my Lumintop Tools all have the New Preon P1 clip.

jon_slider:

thank you!
I agree, maukka’s reviews have outstanding details, I always read and admire them

Yes, the review is really more than just extensive but too much for me personally.

jon_slider:

now back to our regularly scheduled flashlight consumerism
which light would you like to buy today?

……a second Maratac CR123 CU :+1: :laughing:

jon_slider · 2018-07-29T15:43:10.000Z

fwiw, I decided to live dangerously and pulled the clip off
I honestly do not see no visible damage from removing the clip. YMMV

this is such a pretty copper light! All the weight of copper, but none of the smell, thanks to the super hard, super shiny Titanium Physical Vapor Deposition. It is by far my prettiest light

ps, if anyone in Europe wants to take advantage of the Olight Sale, and is concerned about shipping, I can help, PM me if interested. I am also willing to help ship other Copper CR123 models, such as the Maratac version.

Coppet · 2018-07-29T15:26:10.000Z

Yes, Olight has made a good decision with the PVD coating on their flashlights. Such a TIN coating is also very scratch resistant in contrast to pure copper or anodized aluminum

jon_slider · 2018-07-29T16:51:44.000Z

fwiw, there is a Sale, 20% off for the Olight S Mini Rose Gold:
https://www.olightstore.com/olight-s-mini-cu-45-off-from-1-1-30-pm-edt-sun-29th

and a super discount of 45% today!
Olight S Mini CU *(45% off* from 1-1:30 PM EDT. Sun. 29th)