Sofirn ruined previous model SP33 v3. This flashlight was so cool potentially. Flexible UI, fast built-in charging…but for the sake of a completely unnecessary extra lumens Sofirn got rid of stabilization and let super-agressive thermal control drive brightness up and down in crazy zigzag.
That`s why i was really glad to see that manufacturer made work on bugs and new Sofirn SP33S is quite close to be flawless. This is a really good choice for user who need long runtime, bright light, fast charging and convenient UI. Well…for any BLFer, i guess -)
Specification：
Sofirn SP33S uses CREE XHP70.2 LED 5000 \ 6000-6500K
Working Voltage: 3V-4.2V
Battery Options: One 26650 / 21700 Li-ion battery
Dimension: 126mm (length)× 36mm (head diameter)
Weight: 139±1 gram (without batteries)
Flashlight body: Aerospace grade 6061 grade aluminum alloy hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish to get solid built body
Toughened mineral glass lens
The waterproof level: IPX8
Reverse polarity protection from improper battery installation
Mode Memory : Last mode remembered (except Turbo and Strobe)
Advanced Temperature Regulation (ATR) technology: the brightness level will adjust automatically when the temperature goes up or down, the higher the temperature is, the more the brightness will drop to prevent overheating. When the temperature is low enough, the brightness goes up again automatically.
PACKAGE AND APPEARANCE
Package is luxury by standards of Sofirn.
Kit includes the flashlight itself, 26650 battery (optional), lanyard, type-C cable, manual, pair of o-rings. Everything you need except a holster.
The flashlight retained the design and dimensions of the previous model, i.е. this is the most common and fairly compact 26650 flashlight
126mm length x 36mm head diameter, 140g without battery. Quite a normal size for this category of flashlights.
Left to right: Wurkkos TS21 \ Sofirn SP35 \ Sofirn SP33S \ Convoy S11
The design is quite simple. As usual, Sofirn looks better than the convoy, but worse than almost any more expensive brand. But, believe me, Sofirn SP33S is worse only in design.
I don’t like anodizing that Sofirn usually use. It is not really scratch resistant, and flashlight would definitely look better if the anodizing was matte. But, of course, this doesn`t affect real use at all.
As usual, the flashlight can be disassembled into three parts
The tail cap is flat, the flashlight has firm tailstand. It is convenient when you can direct the light to the ceiling and illuminate the room with reflected light. Sometimes i do this in my countryhouse when there is a need to create twilight in the kid`s room.
The spring at a tailcap is quite thick spring. There is a contact pad at the side of head instead of spring
The knurling is quite tenacious, the grip is certainly comfortable and reliable. no reasons to complaint at all
The head doesn’t really stand out here and just continues the body. Cooling fins are quite deep, not decorative ones.
The button is small, with some backlash. But it is easy to use and to find due to the fact that it is located on a flat area. It has tiny charge indicator LED in the centre.
As usually, there is a Type-C charging connector on the opposite side of head. Cover is thick and reliable. Both charging and powerbank mode are fast
The bezel seems to be stainless steel one and glued to the head. There is a medium sized textured reflector with a Cree XHP70.2 on the bottom. I`d prefer less bright and more throwy XHP50.2. btw.
But Cree XHP70.2 is time-tested choice for 26650 EDC flashlights
In general, externally Sofirn SP33S is the same as it was before. Quite budget, with modest design and comfortable grip.
Backlash button is the only visible flaw in the manufacture.
UI
UI is really good.
Here, a budget flashlight stands head and shoulders above the mass of significantly more expensive flashlights from well known A-class brands.
So, this is the well-known Olight\Thrunite interface with an addition of ramping mode.
Group 1: step mode group (default)
OFF-ON by click
Rewind modes (Eco - Low - Medium - High) button hold
2 clicks - Turbo
Hold from OFF - moonlight
Strobe - 3 clicks (2 clicks to browse through SOS-beacon-strobe)
(un) Lock - 4 clicks from ON. By holding the button in the locked state, moonlight is launched
Group 2: Ramping Group
OFF-ON - click
Increase-decrease brightness on hold
2x clicks - TURBO
Hold from OFF - ECO
Strobe - 3 clicks (2 clicks to browse through SOS-beacon-strobe)
(un)lock - 4 clicks from ON. By holding the button in the locked state, moonlight is launched
4 clicks from ON to switch between stepped and steppless modes.
How Sofirn SP33S illuminates
Let me remind you that I didn’t like SP33 v3 because manufacturer buried stabilization and added extremely aggressive thermal control for the sake of increasing brightness.
Sofirn SP33S no longer has this problem. Brightness is stabilized. Thermal control still has a “saw”, but it is far from being so aggressive.
600 lumens MID is a already decent brightness, which is enough for most everyday needs. And good fact is that Sofirn SP33S doesn’t need wind cooling to sustain this brightness.
High is declared at the level of 2000 lum. Let it be even 1500. Just provide flashlight with some cooling and brightness does not oscillate. In no cooling conditions this thermoregulation zigzag appears after almost 20 minutes. With a high probability, you luckily to switch to MID mode, begore the thermoregulation is triggered.
Of course, this zigzags are inevitable in Turbo mode. However, even so, the situation is still quite decent. From a cold start, well, when you start from MID mode, you will have at least a minute of turbo and even more with cooling. From a “hot” start, there will be about 30 seconds with cooling, or almost nothing without the latter.
However, u usually use this mode outdoor, where there is always some kind of wind. Not to mention the use of a flashlight in the cold season.
By the way, Sofirn SP33S works quite well even without a battery. Just plug cable in and you have access to all the modes besides. This may help you out in certain situation. One my subscriber even made bike light of SP33S and power bank.
As for the light, here we have a well known bright light which is really good for close-medium range works. In other words, it is a comfortable light for most of regular needs.
I really like this combination of the XHP70.2 and the shallow textured reflector. The resulting light is pretty versatile. The beam does not need to be driven back and forth, the side illumination is wide enough. Good brightness allows, albeit rather poorly, to highlight some moderately distant objects.
I can not get past the color temperature. When i wrote review, only 6500K version was available. Now you can also pick 5000K one, and this is exactly what i recommend…until Sofirn offer 4000K -)
Cold light is suitable for the average user, but a more or less advanced user will start to think whether he should put up with cold light for the sake of good brightness.
I feel i have to mention a more compact and long-range Sofirn SP35 (review) with conditionally the same runtime. Yes, it will not be as comfortable for close range work, but it has 5000k light and is quite compact. If you need just floody light and Anduril UI, please, there is Wurkkos TS21 (review).
In fairness, they are both smaller, which means they will warm up faster and will keep higher brightness worse.
Of course, there is no sense to expect any real throw here. Sofirn SP33S optics and LED are not good for this. But due to the high brightness, you can quite somehow, but you can highlight something at a distance of a couple of hundred meters, no further.
and here is video review as well
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
This is exactly what Sofirn SP33 v3, released a couple of years ago, should have become. And if I frankly recommended avoiding that one, then I safely recommend this one for purchase.
Yes, it has a budget look. But at the same time, completely non-budgetary functionality.
Judge for yourself. The flashlight has excellent flexible control with smooth and stepped brightness adjustment modes. And this is not Anduril with its frighteningly huge scheme of all kinds of settings. Management here is quite familiar and it has absolutely everything you need: from an instant firefly and turbo, to blocking.
The battery is capacious and inexpensive, the operating time is very good. Charging is exceptionally fast, try to find 3A somewhere else. In case of need, it works as a power bank with a 15w output.
In the flashlight, however, brightness stabilization appeared and the quickly turning on thermoregulation swings disappeared. They are still present, but at a justified level. Thermoregulation drives the brightness up and down, but only in turbo or high (and there without cooling and not immediately).
The light is good and versatile, both in terms of brightness and light distribution. Convenient at the most popular distances in everyday life, i.e. near and mid. Sofirn SP33S is good both indoors and outdoors as the same walking light. Due to the huge brightness, it will allow you to light up far enough.
Okay, let’s dilute this barrel of honey with a couple of spoonfuls of tar. Now, at the time of writing the review, the flashlight does not have a choice of color temperature, and for me this is the only obvious functional disadvantage. There will be an opportunity to take 4000\5000K - and I will not have any reason to criticize the functionality of the flashlight.
The second point is the price. Sofirn SP33S costs more than the previous version. Yes, the flashlight is actually good. But $45-50 is still higher than the price league in which Sofirn traditionally plays and where the position of this manufacturer is so strong. On the other hand, if you look at the ratio of price and functionality, then it is excellent. For these $45-50, any major brand will not offer you even some basic and primitive 18650 flashlight. I remember that models with the same size, power supply and LED as Sofirn SP33S (for example Klarus G20, Acebeam EC50, Olight R50) always cost twice as much. Yes, they significantly won in design and packaging, but had worse UI and slower charging speed.
In general, this is not a high price. This is a higher price than what you are used to paying for Sofirn. If it suits you, then I’m sure you will like the flashlight. If this is above your budget, then you can give up stabilization and moderate thermal control and take the previous version. Or take the same SP35 or Wurkkos TS21. There is a choice now, and I hope my Sofirn SP33S review has helped you.