I`ve had really low opinion about Wuben for years. But Wuben X-1 (and couple of others, that i reviewed before getting X-1) completely changed it.
So, i offer you to watch Wuben X-1 falcon review. This is a really both advanced and stylish flashlight with serious brightness and good UI. Literally, everything that you need.
you can buy Wuben X-1 at:
➤ Amazon
Stated specifications:
- LEDs 3*Cree XHP70.2 6000K
- Brightness and range 12000 and 303m (23000cd)
- Power supply 2 * 21700 4800mah built-in Li-ion (can be replaced)
- Charging Type-C 18W
- Dimensions and weight:128.55628 and 380g
Package and appearance
Good gift packaging. It will look good as a gift both if you give it and if you receive it.
The whole set is neatly laid out inside: a flashlight, a reversible type-c charging cable, a holster, a lanyard and a manual.
The holster is comfortable and well made. Chances are high that you`ll use it due to flashlight shape and and 380g weight.
Actually, the shape of the Wuben X-1 Falcon is not the usual cylinder, but a bar-brick-parallelogram - call it what you want. The reason for this form is simple - there are 2*21700 batteries inside. It is as a pity that there are almost no any other flashlights with such a form factor on the market, my first flashlight was exactly was one - Nitecore EC4.
Wuben X1 Falcon catches the eye not only with unusual form, but also with an abundance of all sorts of slots and recesses. And in my case, also a combination of a case with a black bezel and a tail cap. I find this flashlight really attractive.
However, the white anodising collects any dirt really fast. However, dirt can be washed off with ease.
The flashlight, despite its unusual shape, is actually comfortable in the hand.
The knurling here is not only decorative, it is deep enough so that the flashlight does not slip out of your hands.
Usually, i dont use lanyard for EDC models. But recommend to attach it this time, flashlight is not lightweight.
Wuben X1 has built-in batteries, 2 * 21700, 4800 mAh each. It was not so much the good capacity of the batteries that pleased me, but the ability to replace them. It requires only PH#1 hex key! I dont remeber that any other manufacturer let user to swap batteries so easily. Well done Wuben, well done, xie-xie!
upd. I wrote this part “so easily” in advance, because i already knew that it would require me simple hexagonal screwdriver to take everything off. Well…this worked for plates that cover button, fan and radiator. but when i inserted screwdriver to head of screws on tailcap, it spinned pretty free, with no tight contact. so i couldnt unscrew tailcap. I`ve honestly spent more then hour in attempts to get to batteries, no success. i assume that with screwdriver kit with someting like PX1.3-1.5 it could work.
The flashlight button lays in a small recess and is easy to find blindly. The button move is short and soft.
Of course, there is the usual illumination of the charging status, blue-red.
- blue: ≥90%
- blue flashing: 40%-90%
- red: ≥15%-40%
- red flashing: 0%-15%
Type-C for charging, of course. The flashlight supports 18W PD, so charging is really fast here. 1.45 min for almost 1000 mAh is very, very good.
The plug of the charging connector is thick. I dont expect that user can occasionally opening it by moving finger above this cover, as is sometimes happens with other flashlights. Above cover port you can see radiator hidden insides the flashlight body.
There is a small fan on the opposide side. The Wuben X1 is reallty a technically advanced flashlight. I’ve only seen a similar fan 2 times before. The super-bright [Acebeam X75]➤ Acebeam X75 review (12*XHP70.3 or 70.2, 4*21700, built-in fant). Lumens beast) (turned out right) and Imalent MR90 (alas…)
On the opposite side from the button there are three notches that build 2 cooling fins. I see this as a design decoration rather then some useful feature.
Wuben X-1 has 3 Cree XHP70.2 LEDs at the bottom of shallow textured reflectors at the bottom. The glass is tempered, with enlightenment.
UI
Nothing out of the ordinary at first glance.
1 click - OFF\OFF
2 selected - Instant Turbo
3 selected - Instant Strobe, 3 more selected - SOS
4 times - (times) blocking
hold from OFF - momentary ECO
hold from ON - change modes eco-low-medium-high
But there is something special. I mean this in a good way, not when the unsuccessful result of the experiment is hidden behind this word.
The brightness of the first three levels can be adjusted! It turns out that inside each brightness level there is a place for some ramping . So, turn on the flashlight, then click and hold and see how the brightness moves up, then down. We reached the right place, let go. Now this will be the brightness you set for the selected mode.
Customizable:
- ECO 20-400lum
- LOW 400-1000lum
- MID 1000-2000lum
- HIGH 2000-3000lum
So, technically, you still have the same ramping mode. It’s just that here it is in the form of a hybrid with the usual stepped adjustment.
How the Wuben X-1 Falcon works
The flashlight has a cool white light with an expected and acceptable level of green tint. Considering advanced users as the obvious target audience for this flashlight, it would be logical to sacrifice brightness in favor of neutral light or add NW version. And i`d also voted for XHP70.3 instead of XHP70.2
Despite the linear arrangement of the LEDs, there is no squareness of the resulting light, it is quite comfortable up close and only slightly different from flashlights with the usual arrangement of LEDs.
Claimed turbo is 12000 lum. According to third-party measurements, there is ~ 9500 lum. Regarding my experience, this is difference more in numbers, I dont think that this will be something significant for eye. And, actually, lower brightness is even better in matter of how fast flashlit case will get hot.
Now, the flashlight holds turbo for a minute. This is a very good runtime for such brightness. Very. Especially comparing with models that sustain the same turbo only 6 (!) seconds.
However, after several restarts, the batteries seem to no longer pull and you are left with something ~5000lum.
Turbo is good, but constantly available modes are much more interesting. Runtime in High mode is WOW! Thanx for built-in cooling of the Wuben X-1. You get two hours of constant, stabilized brightness of about 2000 lumens. This is soooo good. I do not remember a flashlight with such size that could provide with similar runtime. More than enough for a full evening walk. The fan here is not a decorative element at all, I really admire it.
As for the light, this is pure flood light, do not look for some serious range here for constant work. However, you can illuminate a fair amount of territory both far and wide when turn a turbo on.
The main modes, High and Mid, make it possible to widely and brightly illuminate everything around. In general, everything is like a regular powerful floody light flashlight. Most importantly, these modes light will not step down until very discharge!
Dont expect any real throw in any mode besides Turbo, because this is pure floodlight. Nevertheless turbo (at least as long as batteries provide you with full turbo) illuminates everything within 200-250m range. No need to move flashlight, Wuben X-1 falcon illuminates area like soccer field.
Wuben X-1 Falcon video review
you can rewind to final part for outdoor shots. text of video review is identical to this text+photo version
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Wuben X-1 Falcon came out in the summer of 2022 and it completely changed my opinion about Wuben.
For a long time, I consider to be Wuben just another boring manufacturer of dull and useless flashlights. But the miracle that once happened to Lumintop repeated. Probably someone was kicked out and someone was hired, but the manufacturer began to make way more interesting, and in the case of the Wuben X-1, technically advanced flashlights. Yeah, sometimes result is not so much good. But you cannot achieve all at once.
I think that X-1 is definitely successfull mode. And the experienced flashaholics may ony ask for NW version, the rest is really impressive.
The list of advantages of a flashlight is long. So, Wuben X-1 Falcon has:
- cool design, especially in a white anodizing
- long runtime due to large total battery capacity
- the ability to relatively easily change the built-in batteries
- extremely fast charging
- convenient UI with unexpected hybridity of smooth and stepped brightness settings
- stabilized brightness at HIGH mode (up to it`s ceiling adjustable level)
- high brightness in turbo mode (even if it is lower than stated)
- built-in fan, which allows you to keep about 2000lum for 2 hours!
Of course, due to the technical complexity and limited edition, this is not a cheap flashlight at all. And it will be of interest primarily to advanced users and collectors, i.e. those who are ready to spend more. And I sincerely believe that buying a Wuben X-1 Falcon will not disappoint any of them.
If you’re looking for great design, capacious, and the ability to keep some really high brightness for a surprisingly long time, then the Wuben X-1 has it all.
I do not like only one thing in it - 20 lum of minimum brightness. A firefly around 0.5lum per LED would be way better, especially with the ability to adjust it within ~ 1.5-5lum
Ah, and id prefer XHP70.3 instead of 70.2 for its better throw.