[Review]: Maeerxu DF02 (Barrel clone) 16340 in SST20 5000k

[UNBLF]

TL, DR: By BLF standard, This is a half-hearted product.

If you desperately want the Barrel look, yet not a billionaire nor out of your mind, then maybe it’s a solid choice; If you just want a nice-looking, simple and basic tool for occasional and short-burst uses, then it’ll do just okay; But if you ever wanna use this as a normal, decent and well-functioning flashlight, probably look away.

The fit and finish is quite decent, and very surprisingly it doesn’t step-down all that much. However everything else is just bad: UI is plain stupid, beam profile is funky, weight and balance is way off, 18650 size yet uses 16340 battery, pathetic run-time, sub-par tail switch, sent me the wrong LED, pocket clip is way too thick and doesn’t match colors, O-ring missing…You name it.

I’ve NEVER encountered this many flaws in one single flashlight product. Too bad, such a shame. It had great potential, being a very nice looking (albeit a clone, but I don’t mind that much since the $1300 price tag for the original is a blatant ripoff IMO), aluminum (performance-wise best material), affordable light.

Excited by UV, of course. In normal use you will not see it like this, unless you take it straight from high-noon outdoor into a dark basement or something.

All glowing parts are optional (one under-optic glowing piece not shown here), bringing the total to $60-70 depending on how you get it, which frankly is not cheap.

I have to admit it looks very, very nice. Both on screen and in person.

Size comparison with Emisar DT8, a 18650 8-emitter hotrod.

Frankly, DF02, with its size and 3 emitters, still uses 16340, is a bit pathetic in terms of total run time.

With standard parts.

The silvery pocket clip is a separate purchase. Notice how the standard pocket clip comes in different color with the light.

Notice that there are two O-ring slots on the brass inner tube, designed for two O-rings on both ends to seal off the perforated section on the body tube. However it only came with one O-ring installed, and no spares whatsoever.

Also, the optional glowing inner tube has no O-ring slots nor any O-rings. No waterproof if you want more glow.

The sustained brightness is very decent, to my big surprise.

In 24 C uncooled indoor running after 10 mins on the highest step, it only dropped about 35% of brightness, which is quite less than my other 3-emitter lights of similar sizes, even when all of them are calibrated to 65 degrees C (149 F). Also, its not because the DF02 is much less lumens than other lights. It’s quite bright, I’ll give it that.

However, it does get very, very hot after 10 mins. The OOF step-down temp feels like 70 C (158 F), or maybe the firmware has a limit on how quickly it steps down and by what increments. I’m not sure. If you favor sustained brightness over hand-holdable temperature, this is good news for you.

Also, after 10 mins when I opened the light for a battery swap, there’s a subtle but nasty smell, maybe suggesting usage of lower quality or unsafe glue or solvent or stuff.

The UI is plain stupid, especially stupid at how it handles AUX LEDs:

It does come with AUX LEDs in color of your choice. However, they do not work like the always-on AUX LEDs you find in Emisar or Fireflies or other lights. Instead, there is a dedicated mode where when you click the switch, it turns on the AUX LEDs instead of the main emitters!

How dumb is that?

It’s like a dual-channel light, except the 2nd channel are AUX LEDs!

How dumb is that?

In addition to that, once you switched into the mode where you can turn on the AUX LEDs, every time you turn on the light, it will be the AUX LEDs lighting up, you have to do another half-click to turn on main emitters.

The only way to get out of the AUX LED mode, is to perform a UI reset.

How dumb is that ???

Beam profile shot. This image is shot from an angle. However notice the layers of uneven brightness and tint, also the weird linear artifacts around the edge.

Another beam profile shot. It’s a bit funky.

One other thing to say is the weight and balance:

The light is in aluminum so it’s not excessively heavy. However it’s balanced extremely toward the head, even after switched to the standard copper inner tube. I find that a bit annoying.

I’m still struggling whether I should return this light for refund. I really like how it looks, however I’m very certain it won’t get any pocket time.

Feel free to ask away any questions.

[Scallywag]

Yeah, if I ordered one, it would be with the intention of a driver swap.

[chops728]

As far as the beam goes — it’s just a standard Carclo 10507 optic —- I admit the UI takes some getting use to —but unlike FW3A with Anduril (with its ramp down dance) — when you put the light in mode 4 it stays there till the thermal step down or it’s too hot to hold —- I have the 14500/18500 version — once I got some good 18500 with 2200 mah runtime is much better - I bought 2 so one is definitely getting a driver swap — more than likely without the aux lights — to me pretty much a novelty

Try using a 10511 Frosted spot optic sanded —- little less throw ( which these lights don’t have anyway ) but a much more pleasant beam profile

[Scallywag]

@chops728

As far as the beam goes — it’s just a standard Carclo 10507 optic —- I admit the UI takes some getting use to —but unlike FW3A with Anduril (with its ramp down dance) — when you put the light in mode 4 it stays there till the thermal step down or it’s too hot to hold —- I have the 14500/18500 version — once I got some good 18500 with 2200 mah runtime is much better - I bought 2 so one is definitely getting a driver swap — more than likely without the aux lights — to me pretty much a novelty

Try using a 10511 Frosted spot optic sanded —- little less throw ( which these lights don’t have anyway ) but a much more pleasant beam profile

Good to know it’s the Carclo triple - means MCPCB compatibility and TIR swaps are hassle-free.

[chops728]

@Scallywag

@chops728

As far as the beam goes — it’s just a standard Carclo 10507 optic —- I admit the UI takes some getting use to —but unlike FW3A with Anduril (with its ramp down dance) — when you put the light in mode 4 it stays there till the thermal step down or it’s too hot to hold —- I have the 14500/18500 version — once I got some good 18500 with 2200 mah runtime is much better - I bought 2 so one is definitely getting a driver swap — more than likely without the aux lights — to me pretty much a novelty

Try using a 10511 Frosted spot optic sanded —- little less throw ( which these lights don’t have anyway ) but a much more pleasant beam profile

Good to know it’s the Carclo triple - means MCPCB compatibility and TIR swaps are hassle-free.

No glue either —- Head was simple to take apart — still trying to figure out the switch end though

I just verified — with Aux light on — when you turn it off — upon turn on again it starts in normal saved mode

One thing I forgot to mention — I found it very odd to not have a Moon Light Mode

[UNBLF]

@chops728

As far as the beam goes — it’s just a standard Carclo 10507 optic —- I admit the UI takes some getting use to —but unlike FW3A with Anduril (with its ramp down dance) — when you put the light in mode 4 it stays there till the thermal step down or it’s too hot to hold —- I have the 14500/18500 version — once I got some good 18500 with 2200 mah runtime is much better - I bought 2 so one is definitely getting a driver swap — more than likely without the aux lights — to me pretty much a novelty

Try using a 10511 Frosted spot optic sanded —- little less throw ( which these lights don’t have anyway ) but a much more pleasant beam profile

Yeah I’m quite surprised at how stable it keeps its brightness.

This model I didn’t find any 18500 version / accessories. It comes in either 14500 or 16340. I’m aware that some other Maeerxu clone lights comes in 18650 etc.

As to the beam profile, maybe I’ll just DCFix it, if I eventually decided to not return it.

In terms of driver swap - would you mind expanding a bit on it a little bit? Sounds like a good way to solve a lot of its problems.

[chops728]

The 14500 version has a removable sleeve —making it able to use 18500 cells

To change out the driver or the optics — first remove that beveled brass lock ring — then the pill unscrews

[Scallywag]

@chops728

No glue either —- Head was simple to take apart — still trying to figure out the switch end though

I just verified — with Aux light on — when you turn it off — upon turn on again it starts in normal saved mode

One thing I forgot to mention — I found it very odd to not have a Moon Light Mode

Let me know if you figure out the switch end.

For the tube, is it just a tight fit or is there a trick to removing the tube?

[ch1ir]

I’m happy with mine at that price point, yes, you can get an Emisar d4 for that price, but I like it. I got banned from a flashlight group on fb for sharing this light, be careful, the “clone war” people will come down on you eventually

[Scallywag]

To me, it’s a cute host. I was never gonna buy a barrel, and mcgizmo only if I had a lot of disposable income.

I would barely even categorize them as clones. In the knife world, there are companies that produce nearly perfect clones. These aren’t anywhere near that.

[chops728]

@Scallywag

@chops728

No glue either —- Head was simple to take apart — still trying to figure out the switch end though

I just verified — with Aux light on — when you turn it off — upon turn on again it starts in normal saved mode

One thing I forgot to mention — I found it very odd to not have a Moon Light Mode

Let me know if you figure out the switch end.

For the tube, is it just a tight fit or is there a trick to removing the tube?

If you’re talking about removing the internal tube that reduces to a 14500 — I just stick my pinky in there and turn while pulling outward

As far as the switch itself — it’s in like a pill module — you can see the two dimples in there — the company sent me a pic of a tool they use —unscrews counter clockwise —I bought some skinny needle nose pliers to grind down

Also I’ve figured the UI a little more (helps to read sometimes ) From startup mode — three presses goes to moonlight — I dropped a few drops of mineral oil around the switch to loosen it up —now 1/2 presses are much easier