The Sofirn SP31 is one of Sofirn's newest 18650 flashlights. The SP31 is a single 18650 EDC tube light which utilizes a domed Cree XP-L2 V6 3D in a polished reflector with a balanced general purpose beam. Output is speced at a max of 960 lumens (I measured ~1060 lumens @ 30 sec.) There is also a 1 lumen "firefly" mode. The SP31 comes from the factory with a very pleasant warm-neutral tint at 4700K.
I had the opportunity to evaluate the Sofirn SP31 and was provided a copy for review by Sofirn.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716D3P5T/
Official Product Specifications
- Amazingly Crazy Bright: adopted latest Cree XP-L2 V6 LED Max output 960Lumen, and gets powerful throwing 200 meters / 218 yards
- Single 18650 Rechargeable Battery & USB charger come in Compact Package. The Tac flash light uses one 18650 rechargeable Li-ion battery or two 3V CR123A Lithium batteries which powerful battery keeps the flashlight going awhile
- Bicycle Headlight or Bike Light: 4 outdoor light levels and one hidden Strobe, while different click to get different “Strobe”. One is “4-12HZ Flash” as self defense light and the other is “Bike Blink” for cycling
- Tactical Tail-cap switch with Momentary-on Function; and silver side switch to change 4 lighting modes. Also tail-stand like a candle
- 130.8mm (5.14 in.) Length x 24mm（0.94 in.）Diameter; 77.6-gram weight (2.74 oz.). Lightweight and portable pocket torch in everyday carry / EDC
Like Sun lighting up the backyard at Night!!!
The flashlight remains in pocket size but focus on tactical usage. Cree V6 Led makes the beam powerful and wide to view the target clearly 200 meters away. To activate the high brightness in backyard, your pet thinks the sun is coming up at night! 130.8mm length and 77.6 gram makes the torch portable as a do-everything-go-anywhere light. Furthermore, tactical tail switch and side switch enable fast and simplified operation, works great in camping, cycling, hiking, night walking, emergency, law enforcement, car or bike.
Specification:
Cree XPL2-V6 3D LED with a lifespan of 100,000 hours
Waterproof IPX-8 rated, underwater 2 meter / 6.5 feet for 30 minutes
Reliable durable aluminum material with premium Type III hard-anodized
Orange Peel reflector and lens made of toughened glass with anti-reflective coating
Smart low-voltage indication, 2 blinks per second lower than 2.8 volt
Reverse polarity protection, to protect from improper battery installation
Working Voltage: 2.8-8.4V
CCT Range: 4700K-5000K
Brightness:
Level: Firefly | Low | Mid | High | Strobe
Lumens: 1 | 43 | 354 | 957 | 957
Runtime: 173h | 40:28h | 6h | 1:11h | 36min
Instant-on firefly mode and the highest setting will induce blindness, so please shine it to eyes.
Package:
A Tactical Flashlight Torch with clip
A 2800mAh 18650 battery and USB charger
Two Spare O Rings
Comment: The official listing states that it is an OP reflector. However, it is a SMO reflector.
Packaging and Contents
The SP31 arrived in a basic cardboard box. The light is protected in a bubble-wrap sleeve and there is foam padding on the bottom of the box. Accessories included clip (pre-installed), 2 spare O-rings and manual. This light also includes a Sofirn 18650 battery and USB-powered charger. The packaging is more than sufficient in addition to the mailer packaging. There is no significant risk of damage or scuffing to the light during delivery using this packaging. This packaging is better than I have seen for some other lights (in other lights I've experienced scuffed finishes from poor packaging). It is possible, but unlikely, that the box may come open during transport if it is shipped loosely in a larger box.
1 x Sofirn SP31
1 x Clip (Pre-Installed)
2 x Spare O-ring
1 x Manual
1 x Sofirn 18650 Lithium Battery
1 x Sofirn 18650 Lithium Battery
1 x USB-Powered Lithium Battery Charger (700mA)
Included battery and charger. The charger is USB powered and requires a standard-sized USB outlet/power source. The side that connects to the charger is micro-USB sized. The charger is rated at 700mA charge current.
Fit and Finish
The SP31 has smooth black anodizing (Type III HA). The anodizing was applied well and my copy did not have any notable defects in the finish. The anodizing has a nice non-glossy sheen and I feel that this finish looks very nice and professional in quality (cheaper lights have an overly glossy or painted-on appearance).
The body of the light is a 18650-size EDC tube design that some people also may describe as an "S design". The width is similar to fat marker. It is a little thicker but shorter than a dry erase marker. Due to the design, there is minimal roll-resistance unless the clip is attached.
The center and tail of the body has a subtle diamond pattern knurling which adds grip, a clean look, and some scratch resistance. The knurling is not overly aggressive and it feels good in hand. This is perfect for use bare-handed.
The threads were cut perfectly square and a nice touch is the anodizing on both the head and tail threads. Thanks to the smooth anodizing, the threads were buttery straight from the factory. I added my preferred lube, but it was not necessary.
Lanyard and Case
The threads were cut perfectly square and a nice touch is the anodizing on both the head and tail threads. Thanks to the smooth anodizing, the threads were buttery straight from the factory. I added my preferred lube, but it was not necessary.
Lanyard and Case
No lanyard or case included. The included clip is great although I would have also liked a lanyard. Fortunately, I already own a few spare lanyards that work perfectly.
Tail Stand
The SP31 can tail-stand on a level surface and is stable. Installing a lanyard will de-stablize tail standing somewhat.
User Interface and Modes
The light has a rear forward-clicky (On/Off/Momentary) and uses a side-switch to control modes.
Output starts low and cycles up then back down. FF -> L -> M -> H -> M -> L -> FF
There is mode memory. The light will activate on the last used brightness.
Output starts low and cycles up then back down. FF -> L -> M -> H -> M -> L -> FF
There is mode memory. The light will activate on the last used brightness.
Strobe & bike strobe are hidden.
Operation:
- To turn the light ON (MOMENTARY), partial press and hold tail switch.
- To turn the light ON, press tail switch.
- To advance modes, press side switch (FF -> L -> M -> H -> M -> L -> FF)
- To turn the light OFF, press tail switch.
Strobe / Bike Strobe (Hidden):
- To turn STROBE ON, double-click side switch (when on).
- To turn STROBE OFF, press side switch (will return to previous mode).
- To turn BIKE STROBE ON, long-press side switch (when on).
- To turn BIKE STROBE OFF, press side switch (will return to previous mode).
Comments: I like the mode rotation (which goes up then back down). The side switch UI is very intuitive and I also like that Firefly is not hidden and part of the normal mode rotation. I always like when strobe modes are hidden. Because the mode and power switches are different, it's also very easy for me to always change the mode back to Firefly before turning it off so that it always starts on the lowest mode.
Output, Runtime and Power
Measurements were done using a freshly charged EVVA protected Panasonic NCR18650B.
I estimate High exceeds spec at roughly 1060 lumens at 30 seconds (I measured 1056 & 1066 on two different runs). Peak at activation was about 1140 lumens. This makes it a 1060 lumen light by ANSI FL 1 standards. Medium is 485 after 30 seconds (initial peak was 486).
Like most 18650 tube lights, I consider the 1060 lumen mode to really be "Turbo" as the light will get very warm on this setting. I consider the 485 lumen mode to be "High" and this mode is best for sustained high-brightness use.
"Firefly" mode was almost exactly 1 lumen (I measured 1.4 lumens). This is my ideal setting for the lowest power level. I consider this to be "perfect".
PWM
I did not detect PWM on the SP31 via video method. If it has PWM, it is very high frequency.
Regulation
This light has timed step-downs when on High or Medium.
* When on High, the light will step-down to Medium after 3 minutes.
* When on Medium, the light will step-down to Low after 30 minutes.
Comments:
* The user can manually step back up the power.
* The light does not get that hot on Medium. I suspect that the step-down at 30 minutes is in the interest of saving energy as well as to provide extended run-times since the light can run for a very long time on Low.
* On Low, the light is barely warm.
* This test was done with a constant cooling fan. Ambient temperature in my house was 78F (25C).
* Low and Firefly both have very long runtimes.
Balanced General Purpose. The SP31 uses a domed Cree XP-L2 V6 3D in a polished reflector. The beam is very balanced for general purpose use with a relatively large hotspot. The hotspot is large and transitions smoothly and gradually throughout the beam. The beam has defined edges. This light works very well for people seeking a more balanced beam. This light works great for general purpose use both indoors and outdoors.
Beamshots, Color Temperature and Tint
The Sofirn SP31 is a very nice warm neutral white at 4700K. When white-balanced in Adobe Lightroom against "Daylight 5500K", the beamshots appear slightly warm to neutral. The light appears slightly warm white in practice. This is a very good choice of default color temperature and I'm really happy to see a manufacturer using this color temperature for a light.
Low Voltage Protection (LVP)
I confirmed that this light has LVP. The light will start flashing about a couple times per second when the voltage is around 2.8-3V and the light will turn off entirely 1 minute after hitting 2.8V.
Battery Support and Fitment
The SP31 is powered by 1x18650 lithium-ion (INR, IMR, ICR, etc.)
Protected Batteries Fit. The EVVA Protected Panasonic NCR18650B fits fine length-wise at 69.5mm and width-wise at 18.67mm. The included battery is also protected and fits fine. The dual-spring design is very tolerant of a range of battery lengths.
Button vs Flat-Top: Both the Panasonic and Sofirn batteries were button-top. Flat-top batteries should also fit due to the dual battery springs.
The positive & negative contacts are both springs.
Lock-Out
You can physically lock-out the light by loosening the tail (or head) one-half turn to break the circuit.
If there is a possibility of accidental activation, you should lock-out the light.
Size Reference
Flashlight pictured next to a AA, 18650 and C8 for size reference.
Summary and Conclusion
This is a very good, well-built 1x18650 EDC tube light which performs above spec at ~1060 lumens in High. Like most tube lights, High is more of a "Turbo" as the light gets very warm. Medium is perfect at 485 lumens (drawing ~1A, similar to 3x7135) and can easily sustain longer runtimes. For people who mainly use Low or Firefly, this light will provide great run times. The modes are well-spaced and the Firefly is perfect at 1 lumen. I also like that Firefly is part of the normal mode rotation (not hidden).This size light is a good 18650-sized EDC and will fit comfortably in dress pants, cargo shorts, jacket, etc. The finish looks excellent, is clean and my copy had no defects. The use of a forward-clicky in the tail is great for people who use momentary on.
The beam profile is very balanced and is well-suited for general usage. I love the very pleasant 4700K color temperature (warm neutral) and wish that more manufacturers made lights like this (I do not like cool white LEDs).