Hi BLF!
This is my review of the Astrolux EC03, green version!
The flashlight was won in a GAW organized by freeme, to whom I thank, sponsored by Astrolux/Banggood and 1thedeals.com !
I’ve done the vídeo review a while ago, but only now I was able to do the written review ,mostly because I wanted to take some outdoor beamshots to show what this light is capable of!
The EC03 can be bough on Banggood, here (non-affiliated): Astrolux EC03
So, take a look at it below!
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Body Colour: Green ( also available in black and brown )
Material: Aluminium + Stainless Steel bezel
Emitters: 3 x SST40 5000K ( also available in 6500K, and 3 x XHP50.2 6500K )
Reflector: Triple Smooth Reflector
Lens: Glass, Non-AR Coated
Battery: 1 x 21700 / 1 x 18650 (with adapter tube)
Charging: USB-C
Switch: Electronic Side Switch
Max runtime: NA
Max beam distance: +300m
Max output: 1200 lumens
Candela: NA
Waterproofness: Equivalent to IPX8
Impact resistance: 1m
Low Voltage Warning: Yes
Reverse Polarity Protection: Yes
PACKAGE: Flashlight and Accessories
The Astrolux EC03 was kindly sent by Banggood after communication with freeme to choose the prize. It arrived within around a month, in the mid January.
Inside the box – carboard, Astrolux branded, with sticker on the side informing about the type of LEDs - I found: Astrolux EC03 flashlight, 1 battery tube adapter, a USB to USB-C charging cable, a lanyard, 2 spare o-rings and the User Manual.
THE FLASHLIGHT
This is my first Astrolux flashlight, so I didn’t know what to expect when I got it. I must say, I was impressed.
The EC03 model is a relatively ergonomic and compact model in terms of length, although with a large head to hold its three LEDs.
I’ll try to detail it some more:
- a good overall design that provides a good grip and activation with the thumb or even index fingers
- nice smooth anodizing in green, without any imperfections or marks
- stainless steel bezel with some grooves/protuberances that can be seen as for “attack” or to…let the Light pass through the grooves while the head is against a surface
- cooling fins on the head, that are not very deep, but that are needed to provide some cooling as this light may get HOT
- the front side has the rubber switch button that protrudes enough to find it through the touch, and the back side has the USB-C charging port protection, that provided a good grip contrast
- the switch can be lighted in green, working as LED indicator, both with the flashlight ON and/or OFF
- glass lens above the triple smooth reflector, being the lens NON AR coated, which is good to avoid greenish tint shifts
- 3 perfectly aligned Luminus SST40 5000K Leds, under a “flawless” reflector
- “large” pineapple knurling on the battery tube that doesn’t affect the grip negatively
- it can be disassembled in 3 major parts: head, battery tube and tailcap
- driver has a big brass button to make contact with both flat or button top batteries
- battery tube is non-reversible, with different types of threading on both sides, all machined well, and it has 2 sealing o-rings, one in each side
- tailcap has 2 lanyard holes outside and inside it has double springs, a thinner one below/inside thicker one; the PCB can be removed/replaced
As I mentioned before, although being a compact flashlight in length, it is a bit heavy towards the front of it.
Using a 21700 battery, which is recommended, will put some more heavy on it, but I didn’t find it uncomfortable to carry or to use… But you’ll need large pockets indeed to carry it!
As for the ergonomics and usability, this is a great light to be used with a side switch! It fits really well in the hand both to provide thumb or index activation, in “walk” or in an “attack” mode too (this one not portrayed in the photos)!
THE ACCESSORIES
Let’s start by the lanyard and the o-rings. Not much to say about these.
I can only tell that this flashlight deserves a better lanyard, and I will pick some paracord and do it some day 
The USB to USB-C charging cable has around 1m. It can be easily plugged in on the charging port of the EC03.
I can advance that:
- when charging the switch button will be RED
- when the charge is completed, the charge will be GREEN
- you can use the charging cable in the head of the flashlight without the battery and tube/tailcap
- if you use it this way on a low level, the switch will be GREEN
- if you use it this way in a higher/ramped level, the switch will be RED
NOTE: I do not recommend “charging” the flashlight and use it without the battery inside, as I don’t know if it can do any harm to the circuits!
The battery tube adapter is made of thick plastic. It is done to fit an 18650 battery, to prevent it from rattling inside the flashlight.
In the photos below I was using a Sony VTC6 18650 and a Vapcell T50 21700 as examples.
NOTES:
- High drain cells are (> 20A) are recommended
- Shorter unprotected flat top 18650 may not fit/work (the Sanyo GA and the Sony VTC6 I tried didn’t work)
The User Manual brings almost all the information needed to operate this flashlight which has the Anduril firmware implemented.
I will not enter in details, but will post some photos (meh…) of the user manual here. Some versions of it are available online in case you want to read/take some doubt.
In this sequence I will already write that Anduril provides the possibility to use:
a) Smooth ramping, in which by pressing & holding one can ramp up from 1 to X000 lumens
b) Stepped ramping, in which one can define between 2 and N levels and go up and down through those modes
c) Access to Turbo
d) Access to Blinky modes
e) Lock-out
f) Temperature configuration and others
g) Muggle mode
h) Momentary Mode
In the case of the Astrolux EC03 I will only emphasize the possibility to activate the side switch as LED indicator
- From OFF, when locked: click 3 times to alternate between the different states: no light > dim light > strong light > blinking light
- From OFF when unlocked: click 7 times to alternate between the different states: no light > dim light > strong light > blinking light
Currently I have mine configured, when locked or unlocked, to be on “dim light” led! Is good enough to find it in the dark if needed, without having too much parasitic drain.
FLASHLIGHT COMPARISON
Just to give you a notion of the size of this EC03 flashlight when compared with others:
Vs Fireflies ROT66 GEN II
Vs On The Road i5 and Olight Warrior Mini
Vs Convoy S2+ and Wuben TO50R
BEAMSHOTS
And now, just let it shine!
This is where this flashlight conquered me the most! If on the one side I actually like the beam at close distance, without major shifts or artifacts (except o the lowest modes, eventually), on the brightest it goes far and put a LOT of light!
Of course, you don’t have the temperature limit configured, it will probably get too hot, but still, it is not impossible to be held in the hand.
There is no visible PWM on the light. The beam seems a 3 leaf shape when put close to a surface. There is some shift at that distance and low level as mentioned before.
Now some outdoor beamshots!
Compared with my other “beast” flashlight, the Amutorch AM30 with XHP70.2 and deep SMO reflector (on the right)!
For these beamshots I opted to have 4 modes, with the lowest and the highest levels configured, + Turbo, in a total of 5 “shots”.
More than 150m!
And now my improvised “diffuser” made from a bulb! It is helpful given that this light allows to have very low modes, and also candle mode, and that it takes a 21700 5000mAh battery, which can last…a while 
OVERALL APPRECIATION
I was definitely impressed with this Astrolux EC03 flashlight, both for the form factor and the output it can produce.
And honestly, even not saying it is flawless or that it cannot be improved in some aspects, I wouldn’t have any major recommendation about it!
I guess being the first Astrolux, the first SST40 and the first triple reflector light I have, is something new, so I don’t have others to compare it with.
The performance seems to be good, as is the ergonomics. A bit less weight in the front would be nicer though
I’ll also leave my video review below, which I did when the flashlight arrived:
GLAM PHOTOS
And last but not least, some “glam” photos
Thanks for looking! :+1:
