Sofirn IF23 Pro Review
Disclamer
I recived this product from Sofirn for a very small fee in exchange for a review. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Introduction
Sofirn has been hard at work making amazing flashlights again. This time around we got a new multi-function flashlight. This will now be taking over for the old IF23, and be an option for those looking at the newer IF24 (Pro). Will this overthrow it’s older siblings? To answer this question, I will be comparing the IF24 Pro with this flashlight throughout the review. In the competition and comparison section you can read about what I have found out.
Pricing, availability and options
The IF23 Pro costs $63.99 with a battery. The only option you get is with or without a battery. The flashlight can be bought at both their official store and at their Aliexpress store. You can see the links to buy the flashlight at the end of the review. Sofirn run a lot of sales, therefore there is a good chance of getting this flashlight for a good deal.
The IF24 Pro costs $45.99 with a battery.
Packaging and what comes in the box
This flashlight arrived in a really nice box, this adds a lot to the experience. In the box, sofirn included the following:
- The flashlight itself
- The optional battery (inside the flashlight)
- A charging cable (USB-A to USB-C)
- A landyard and spare o-rings
- A pocket-clip (attached to the flashlight)
- The user manual
Build quality, size, weight and handling
I was a little sceptical of even the IF24 Pro. It seemed a little big and heavy. When I got used to it though, it turned out to be very pleasant to use. This also seems to be the case for the IF23 Pro. Sofirn did a grate job on the body of the flashlight, and made it very comfortable to hold. The body seems to be the same as the last multi-function flashlights made by sofirn, with just a few very slight adjustment. The size and weight is no problem either when you get used to it. At first though, it can feel like a little too much. Again, sofirn made the flashlight really nice to hold and use. The switch “system” feels nice to use.
The build quality is amazing, as with all sofirn flashlights. The anodization feels grippy, but smooth. There are no problems with the machining whatsoever, no sharp edges, no defects. No concerns here!
User interface
The switch “system” used here and in the IF24 (pro) is really nice, unlike the original IF23. It seems like the switch here and on the IF24 (Pro) is the same. The rotary switch can be in four positions:
- The lockout position - to prevent accidental activations
- The Main LED (front) - Single XHP70.2 in 6,000 - 6,500 kelvin
- The side LEDs with white light - multiple LEDS in different kelvin temperatures that blend their light together (2,800 - 6,500 kelvin)
- The RGB side light - Multiple RGB emitters
Unlike the IF24 (pro), the flashlight doesn’t automatically turn on if you turn the switch even if it is off. This is an update from the IF24 (pro). The flashlight does however stay on if you turn to the lockout position. I don’t know how I feel about this though. Anyways, under I have listed the main functions of the flashlight in bullet points:
- For all channels:
- Press once to turn on and off
- For the main and white side light channel:
- Press and hold to adjust brightness
- Press and hold from off to access the moonlight mode (lowest mode)
- Double press to access turbo, continue to double press to go through the strobe modes, press once to get out
- For the RGB light channel:
- Double press to change the mode
- Hold to adjust the color of the light in some modes
- For the lockout channel:
- Press to show battery status for 5 seconds
- Hold to get momentary moonlight from the main LED and to show the battery status
Something that applies only to the white side light, is that if you double press and hold, you will tint ramp. This means to change the kelvin temperature of the light. This is possible because this flashlight has side LEDs with different kelvin temepratures.
Overall, I really like this user interface. It is simple and includes everything you need. The rotary switch really keeps the user interface simple!
Light quality
The light quality in this light isn’t the best, but is better than all of the previous multi-function flashlights. For the main LED it uses an XHP70.2 in 6,000 to 6,500 kelvin. This isn’t the most comfortable light, but it is wide and has a nice beam. Here is a list of what LEDs the other multi-function flashlights made by Sofirn use as their main LEDs:
- IF23 - XHP50.2 in 6,000 - 6,500 kelvin
- IF24 - SST40 in 6,000 - 6,500 kelvin
- If24 Pro - SFT40 in 5,000 kelvin
- IF23 Pro - XHP70.2 in 6,000 - 6,500 kelvin.
I like the light comming from the IF24 Pro aswell, but it had som artifacts from the lens and the LED was not centered correctly. The IF23 Pro uses a reflector and has no artifacts.
For the sidelight. All of the multi-function flashlights are similar, but the IF23 Pro has a new feature. As you might have seen on the first picture in this review, this flashlight has a lot more side LEDs. These are in different kelvin temperatures. This allows the flashlight to tint ramp, an amazing feature. The side LEDs are anyways really nice. They are both floody and useful, but also powerful and reach a good distance.
The RGB light actually seems less powerful than on the IF24 (Pro). The brightness might be dependent on the state of charge of the batteries though. I just charged the IF24 Pro, but it still seems weird. Regardless, both work well. Everything else seems to be the same. I especially like the red light from the RGB to use at night. The RGB light can also be a lot of fun!
Performance, battery, charging and runtime
I don’t have the proper equipment to measure the lumens or runtimes for this flashlight. However, based on the LEDs, drivers and battery, the claimed runtime and output seem to be accurate. Here are the runtimes listed in bullet points:
Main LED (XHP70.2):
- 5,000 lumens on turbo with 226 meters of throw
- Highest sustainable output of 1,300 lumens and 120 meters of throw for 3 hours
Side light (white light):
- 750 lumens on turbo with 42 meters of throw
- Highest sustainable output of 400 lumens and 32 meters of throw for 4 hours
Side light (RGB):
- The RGB side light should last 40 hours
The perfromance is better in every way here over the IF24 Pro. The modes are brighter and last longer. The IF24 Pro does throw futher with it’s main LED though.
The Sofirn IF23 Pro has built-in USB-C charging. It should charge at a decent rate, and a full charge would take about 2 - 3 hours.
Competition and comparison
As promised, I will look tell you what I think about the IF23 Pro compared to the IF24 Pro, and also some other flashlights. I only own and have reviewed the IF24 Pro, so I am getting data from Sofirn’s website about the other flashlights.
IF23: The non-pro version is very different from the pro. The IF23 compared to the IF23 Pro is;
- A little smaller
- Less efficient
- Less powerful
- (Significantly) more difficult to use
- Worse battery-life (same battery, but less efficient)
IF24: This is the updated version of the IF23. It got an updated design with a rotary switch. It does have a smaller battery though. The IF24 compared to the IF23 Pro is;
- Less efficient
- Less powerful
- A little throwier
- More compact
- Noticeably worse battery-life
IF24 Pro: This is the pro version of the IF24. It has a better main LED and driver. The battery is still the same, smaller one used in the IF24. The IF24 Pro compared to the IF23 Pro is;
- A little less efficient
- Less powerful
- Throwier
- More compact
- Worse battery-life
This is a difficult one. If you are concidering any of these, the pro-versions are definitely the ones to look at. Both the IF24 Pro and the IF23 Pro are grate choices. I would chose the IF24 Pro if all you need is a multi-function flashlight with the features it offers, it is a nice and compact package. If you need a multi-function flashlight, but want it to be very powerful with amazing battery-life and you can bare the noticable size and weight difference, the IF23 Pro will be the right for you.
All in all, both the IF24 Pro and IF23 Pro will likely fill your need. The IF24 Pro is really simple to use and has a sleek look. It has everything you need. The IF23 Pro just does everything better at the cost of size and weight. I prefer bigger flashlights because of the extra runtime they offer, and would chose the IF23 Pro personally.
Conclution and where to buy
The Sofirn IF23 Pro is definitely one of the best flashlights on the market currently. It does everything, and it does it well. That is very difficult to achieve. As with all products from Sofirn, you get a refined flashlight with amazing quality for amazing prices. This flashlight is more on the expensive side of what Sofirn offers, but with all you get, the value is amazing! There are a lot of uses for these multi-function flashlights. If you need these features, the IF23 Pro is a grate way to get everything in one package. This and the IF24 Pro are by far the best multi-function flashlights.
Here are the tings I like about the IF23 Pro:
- Grate user interface
- Powerful
- Efficient
- The side LEDs are nice, and I like the tint ramping
- The RGB side light is both useful and fun
- Big battery and amazing runtimes
- Easy to carry
- Build quality
- The price
Here are the thing I think can be improved about the IF23 Pro:
- It is a little big
- Weight can be a concern for some
Here you can buy this flashlight from Sofirn’s official website
Here you can buy this flashlight from Sofirn’s official Aliexpress store - Sofirn shared a cupon code to use at their Aliexpress store during the 11/11 sale - “SOFIRNTOP1”
