Clips are a common feature on flashlights. They make it easy to attach the flashlight to a pocket or a belt. In some cases, the clip can also be useful during operation, allowing you to keep your hands free. And on some models, the clip is even an integral part of the design.
The Wurkkos HD03 is one such clip flashlight. It features three channels for a spot light, flood light and colorful effect lighting. With its clip and an integrated magnet, it can be mounted in many ways.
You can find the German version of this review on my website: SammysHP Blog › Wurkkos HD03
The flashlight was provided by the manufacturer for this review. Thank you very much!
Backstory
Back in the spring Wurkkos provided me with a prototype of a new flashlight with an integrated clip for internal testing. It then took several more months before the new model was released.
At Christmas I finally received a finished unit in the Christmas special edition with a personal engraving. Compared to the prototype, not only were the cool white floodlight LEDs replaced with a slightly warmer version, but the user interface was also revised and the brightness regulation slightly adjusted.
Overview
Within the last year Wurkkos changed the design of the packaging. Whereas the lights previously came in a box with a magnetic closure and a foam insert, they are now delivered in a typical retail packaging with a vacuum-formed insert.
- Long loop with carabiner
- Short loop with ring
- USB-C charging cable
- Manual (EN, CN, RU, DE, FR, ES, IT, JA, PT)
The manual has also been given a new format: when unfolded, it consists of a 49 × 34 cm sheet of paper printed on both sides. In addition to the text, the operation is explained using pictograms and a flowchart. There is a very strong resemblance to Olight’s manuals.
A pull tab makes it easier to remove the insert while at the same time explaining the most important aspects of operation.
The HD03 is a small EDC light with an integrated clip and multiple light sources. Unfortunately I only noticed too late that the cover for the charging port is not completely closed in some of the photos.
The light is compact, with the clip accounting for about 8 mm, roughly a third of the overall depth. The numbers for width and depth refer to the narrowest and widest parts, respectively, including the clip and the buttons.
Height: 60.0 mm
Width: 24.0 – 30.0 mm
Diameter (bezel): 28.0 mm
Depth (incl. clip): 20.7 – 25.3 mm
Weight: 47.7 g
Unfortunately, I don’t have many lights of this type for comparison. In the photo, alongside the Cyanlamp M12R, you can also see another prototype that was later released as the Sofirn ST10.
Non-slip rubber pads combined with the strong spring tension of the clip ensure a secure attachment. A hole at the top end of the clip can be used to attach a cord, wrist strap or carabiner, for example.
Even more mounting options are possible with the magnet, that is integrated into the lower part of the clip. When properly balanced, the light can stand upright, but in most cases it hangs upside down.
The built-in 600 mAh LiPo battery is charged via a USB-C port at the top of the flashlight. A silicone cover protects it from water and dirt.
Charging at 500 mA takes just under 1.5 hours. During this time, the light can only be used on the Low level. The progress is indicated by an LED in the button, which changes from red to green when the battery is fully charged.
According to the manufacturer, the HD03 is IPX6 water-resistant. This means it should withstand a rain shower or a brief rinse under running water, but it’s best not to fully submerge it. It is also rated to survive drops from up to 1.5 meters.
User interface
Viewed from the front, the left side of the flashlight has a two-position switch, while the right side features a button with an integrated status LED.
The sliding switch allows you to toggle between the spot LED and the flood LEDs. While it was quite sharp-edged and uncomfortable on the prototype, its edges are now rounded – almost a bit too slippery. In addition, the cover around the switch wobbles slightly. It operates with minimal wear using a Hall sensor, which means that a strong magnet nearby can temporarily switch the channel.
The button is used to turn the flashlight on and off, as well as to adjust the brightness. Pressing it produces a noticeable click.
Compared to the prototype, the operation has been completely redesigned: Whereas the sliding switch previously controlled the change between white and RGB light, it now toggles between spot and floodlight. Additionally, brightness is no longer saved when the light is turned off (no mode memory). The flashlight can only be turned on in Low (or Moon) mode. There is also no direct access to Turbo from off.
| State | Action | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Off | 1 click | Turn on in Low |
| Off | 2 clicks | Turn on steady RGB mode |
| Off | 3 clicks | Lockout |
| Off | Hold | Turn on in Moon |
| On (white) |
1 click | Turn off |
| On (white) |
2 clicks | Turbo |
| On (white) |
3 clicks | Strobe |
| On (white) |
Hold | Change brightness (Low → Med → High → Turbo) |
| Strobe | 1 click | Previous brightness |
| Strobe | 2 clicks | Switch between Strobe → SOS → Beacon |
| RGB (steady) |
1 click | Turn off |
| RGB (steady) |
2 clicks | RGB effects |
| RGB (steady) |
Hold | Smooth color change |
| RGB (effects) |
1 click | Switch to steady RGB mode |
| RGB (effects) |
2 clicks | Change effects (blinking → police strobe → color fading → disco → meteor → breathing → chasing lights) |
| RGB (effects) |
Hold | Smooth color change in effects mode |
| Lockout | 3 clicks | Unlock and turn on in Low |
| Lockout | Hold | Momentary Low |
The RGB effects are a fun gimmick if you want to use the flashlight decoratively. The brightness of the RGB light cannot be adjusted. The selected color is memorized when the light is turned off, but the chosen mode is not.
In the strobe group, there is a strobe that alternates between 7 and 14 Hz, an SOS signal and a beacon with a two-second interval. Here too, the selected mode is not saved.
After switching on, a status LED in the button indicates the approximate battery level for five seconds. When the battery voltage is critical, the LED is red all the time while the light is on.
| Color | Battery level |
|---|---|
| Green | 50% – 100% |
| Orange | 20% – 50% |
| Red | < 20% |
The clip offers many ways to carry the flashlight – not just for transport, but also for use: for example, on a belt, backpack strap, jacket pocket or shirt. You just need to keep in mind that the light cannot be tilted, so it will always shine straight ahead.
Illumination
The HD03 is equipped with a cool white LED for the spot beam, nine neutral white LEDs for the floodlight and nine RGB LEDs for the colorful effect lighting.
The light is shaped by a special TIR optic with different zones: the central area for the spot beam has horizontal prisms to slightly direct the light downward. The floodlight and RGB LEDs are positioned behind small microlenses to diffuse the light.
Due to the current weather conditions, I was unfortunately unable to take up-to-date outdoor beamshots of the production version. For these images, I therefore used earlier shots of the prototype.
At the center is the LED for the spot beam, with a specified color temperature of 6000 to 6500 K. There is no sharply defined spot; instead, a few subtle artifacts appear in the middle due to the special TIR optic.
The floodlight, rated at 5000 K by the manufacturer, is not only slightly warmer than the spot beam but is also said to offer high CRI. The TIR optic spreads it widely, making it ideal for close-range use.
The color of the RGB LEDs can be adjusted smoothly, but there is only one brightness level. The light is very diffuse and not particularly bright, making it more suitable as ambient decorative lighting or as a marker light.
Driver and runtime
In terms of intensity, only a single value is provided by the manufacturer, which presumably applies to the spot beam. At the same time, a throw distance of 180 m is stated, which does not match the listed intensity of 3,500 cd – according to the ANSI FL1 standard, the throw would be just 118 m.
| Mode | Brightness¹ | Runtime¹ | Intensity¹ (Throw²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot Turbo | 680 lm | 1:10 h | 3500 cd (118 m) |
| Spot High | 320 lm | 1:20 h | |
| Spot Medium | 110 lm | 2:10 h | |
| Spot Low | 20 lm | 7:40 h | |
| Spot Moon | 1 lm | 36 h | |
| Flood Turbo | 320 lm | 1:10 h | |
| Flood High | 150 lm | 1:20 h | |
| Flood Medium | 75 lm | 1:50 h | |
| Flood Low | 15 lm | 5:30 h | |
| Flood Moon | 1 lm | 35 h | |
| RGB | 10 h |
¹ According to manufacturer ² ANSI FL1
The brightness remains constant in segments over the runtime. Unlike the prototype, there is a gradual reduction after about two-thirds of the runtime, possibly to extend the runtime.
Even on Turbo, the flashlight only warms up to around 35 °C, so I omitted the temperature measurement from the chart.
Despite the fairly stable brightness, almost all levels are controlled using PWM at a frequency of 10 kHz. On the lowest setting, the frequency drops to just 1 kHz, which can be noticeable in some situations. The only exception is the Turbo mode on the spot beam, which operates without PWM.
When the battery is depleted, the flashlight turns off to prevent deep discharge. Because the battery is built-in, it was not possible to measure the current draw or the cutoff voltage.
Conclusion
With its large clip and built-in magnet, the Wurkkos HD03 can be mounted in a variety of ways. The separate spot and flood beams make it easy to adapt the light to any situation. Additionally, it offers colorful RGB lighting, which can be used as an ambient or marker light.
