Review: NEW-203 (UF-V3 clone)
The UF-V3 and it's clones have been pretty popular small throwers. There have been some nice mods with these lights. Even stock they provide a lot of throw in a borderline pocketable package. The XM-L variants are a still powerful alternative to the C8 sized XM-L lights, with the advantage of the included clip. This review will focus on a version with a XP-E emitter and a hybrid orange-peel/smooth reflector.
Disclaimer: This light provided for review by Aurabuy
Pros:
- Small size- about as big as you can comforatbly pocket carry
- Half-OP reflector effective at minimizing rings while still keeping good throw
- Always comes on in high when off for over 10 seconds
- What can I say, I like clips on pocket lights
- Nice looking design
- Good size-throw ratio
- Good threads
- Double o-rings
Cons:
- Bad annodization
- No mode memory
- Plastic lens
- Plastic reflector
- Clip no centered
- Feels cheap (but hey, it is!)
Manufacturers specs:
Model: NEW-203
Emitter Brand: Cree
LED Type: XR-E (Nope, XPE)
BIN: Q5
Color: White
Number of Emitters: 1
Voltage Input: 3.7~4.2V
Battery Configuration: 1 x 18650 battery (not included)
Circuitry: 900~1100mA
Brightness: 270LM
Runtime: 2 hours
Number of Modes: 3
Mode Arrangement: Hi > Low > Strobe
Mode Memory: No
Switch Type: Reverse clicky
Switch Location: Tailcap
Beam Range: 100m
Lens: Glass (No, plastic)
Reflector: Aluminum Smooth (half Orange peel)
Strap Included: Yes
Clip Included: Yes
Dimensions: 5.79 in x 1.85 in x 1.85 in (14.7 cm x 4.7 cm x 4.7 cm)
Weight: 4.44 oz (126 g)
The hard numbers:
High: 267 lumens
Low: 77 lumens
Throw: 23800 kcd
A respectable showing for a stock XP-E. It throws well, and has a decent low for walking around. The stobe is the fast and furious "tactical" kind. I took the liberty to de-dome the emitter, and I wasn't very careful. It was so blue I just pried it off with a knife. This left a little bit of the dome still over the phosphor, so the throw and output may be slightly affected. Here are the numbers:
High: 176 lumens
Low: 46 lumens
Throw: 34100 kcd
So it is now pretty pitiful in the spill department, and throws just a small spot. It can throw with much bigger lights now, but not very useful. I am planning to order a xp-g2 to dedome and put in it one day. I think I will need a new driver also.
Size comparison:
Right to left: Trustfire X9, NEW-203, Ultrafire 502B, Uniquefire UF-2100.
As you can see, the 203 is much smaller than the single-cell thrower X9. It is barely taller than the P60 standard 502B, and much wider.
The light is really good looking and well proportioned. The clip could be higher to be carried deeper in the pocket, but it is easy to draw out by the tailcap. Cooling fins near the head help dissipate heat, as well as add to the styling of the light. There is deep enough knurling on the middle of the body and tailcap to help with unscrewing the tail can helping with grip. The clip was slightly off-kilter and the annodization is terrible. There are various chips and knicks all over it. Very paint-ish.
I found it hard to photograph, but you can see a scratch going around the battery tube in the flat indent towards the head. This scratch/indent goes all the way around the light, with the clip rubbing off much of the anno in it's orbital circle. When tightened down the clip doesn't move, but it must have been loose during shipment or was shipped already scratched.
Here is how the clip works. There is a retaining ring over it. This ring can be taken off in order to remove the clip if you don't want it. It can also simply be loosened to change the orientation of the clip then tightened back up. It is threaded. The clip is kinda tricky to get back on there after you get it off.
The tailcap is a GITD green. There is an indent in the tail which serves no practical purpose. The light doesn't tailstand stably anyways, so it is sticking up far enough that it is easy to click. The indent isn't deep enough to help you hit the button with gloves on. On the opposite side is the small lanyard hole with the typical crappy strap included.
Your standard reverse clicky.
Double o-rings, trapezoidal smooth threads, Xtar 2600 battery fits fine.
The business end of the light is nice looking. The bezel unscrews to access the lens and reflector.
A nice big GITD green oring seals in the plastic lens and reflector. There were a lot of specs of silvery plastic coating inside that I had to blow out.
The reflector is the highly desireable "LGKJ" model!
The star is screwed in and has a plastic centering disk around the emitter.
A big goopy spring provides the battery contact point with the driver.
Here's the random parts scattered about.
Here is the pill with the badly done de-dome job.
Fortunately for the uneven de-dome, we have a reflector that is half OP. The spot is still even and has only a couple very thin rings on the outside edge of the secondary corona. Not only is the refector textured differently, but it appears to be slanted a little steeper outside the OP part.
There we have it. This is a cheaper example of the UF-V3 style of lights. It is about the best thrower that is still pocketable. This particular sample suffers from bad modes, and annodizing. If you don't care about the appearance and just want to mod it, this isn't a bad host. Or if you are wanting a half OP light this one does it's job of cleaning up beam artifacts pretty good. If this style appeals to you and you want a better quality version, there are some out there with glass lenses and stainless bezels and XM-L emitters, they will just cost you more. Hopefully I can update this when I get the light modded.
Thanks for reading! (for the couple that made it this far) ;)
