Wuben X4 First Impressions

[jon_slider]

Received a review sample of the Wuben X4. It is smaller than I expected. It weighs 140.4g including 18650 battery.

There is a very sturdy pocket clip that carries the light with the Front LEDs pointing UP, out of the pocket.

There is a 4 position slider switch, the options are: Lock, Sidelight, Frontlight and Moonlight.

There is a momentary Turbo lever on the tailcap. Turbo works when the slider is in either Sidelight or Frontlight, only when those lights are Off.

The momentary Turbo lever acts as an On Off switch when the slider is in Moonlight position.

Near the slider switch there is also an On Off button, with a rotary dial under it. The On Off button will also turn Moonlight On and off. The rotary dial has no function while in Moonlight mode.

The rotary dial works after the switch button is pressed to turn on the light, when the slider is in either Sidelight or Frontlight position.

There are two sidelight modes, one is RGB, and the rotary dial will change the color.

If the switch button is held down while in RGB Sidelight mode, the light will switch to Sidelight white LEDs. The rotary dial will change the brightness of the sidelights. The Rotary Dial works very well.

The light can be switched off either by pressing the side button, or by moving the slider switch to a different position. The last used output of each slider position is memorized.

The features are easy to use. I find the light most convenient to operate while held in my left hand. Because this puts all the controls at the top of the light where I can see them, and aims the sidelight away from my palm.

The white LEDs are cool white and Low CRI. The smooth ramping rotary dial works very well to change brightness of the White LEDs, or to change the color of the RGB LEDs. Double clic from off, while in Sidelight mode gives access to two color RGB flashing modes, including Red and Blue.

My favorite feature is the Rotary Dial when used to change the brightness of the white LEDs.

The Tactical Tailswitch works well for Momentary Turbo, and a double clic from Off provides Constant Strobe. These modes are available when the slider switch is in either Sidelight or Front light position.

The front lights are made up of Four separate LEDs, with different lenses. They all turn on and off together, so the beam is a blend of Flood and Throw. The combination works well.

For more complete operating details, here is a link to the Online Manual.

The Wuben X4 has an interesting form factor. I enjoy handling it. I like the sidelights for use on a table top, and the front lights can work well for walking outdoors.

[Firelight2]

I have a Wuben X4 I got a month or two ago.

Personally, I was disappointed. Like the X2 Pro, the X4 has some interesting features and novel design. It looks cool and high-tech when not on. But also like the X2 Pro, the execution just doesn’t quite cut it and the result is a disappointing light that is noticeably worse at being a functioning flashlight than what came before.

In aesthetics it is a step forward, but in function it is a step backwards.

The problems were significant enough that my X4 is sitting in a drawer and unlikely to be used again.

The specific issues I had with the X4:

• HORRIBLE choice of LEDs.
  • The stock LEDs are Cool white, low CRI, have a greenish tint, and are low power. The are the same LEDs used in the X2Pro. Both the X4 and X2Pro are considerably dimmer than the original X2 which used 3 XP footprint LEDs. This more than anything else makes the X2Pro and X4 feel like a colossal step backwards.
    • It is unforgivable to select crappy LEDs for a premium light when there are so many excellent options these days.
  • I would have much preferred XP footprint LEDs so I could emitter swap to something different.
  • It’s possible to emitter swap. Someone in another thread on BLF did so. But due to the non-XP footprint the choice of alternate LEDs to reflow onto the stock star is very limited.
    • Assuming the stock LEDs are 3V, It would be very difficult to emitter swap to XP footprint LEDs. Doing so would require either designing and ordering a custom star, or carefully cutting up several XP stars. Given how mediocre the rest of this light is, it’s not worth the effort in my opinion.
  • It seems a bit odd that Wuben chose to use the optic and LEDs from the X2Pro, which were designed to use the X2Pros digital zoom but without including that zoom function. Maybe it’s a marketing thing since the optic does look cool and unique from the front when the light is not on.
• Side switch needs improvement. It’s clever having the side mode selector switch also be the cover for the USB-C port, but the execution just isn’t there. The switch moves too easily. Just brushing it in a pocket is enough to change modes.
  • The switch has detentes with a spring and ball-bearing, but the detentes are too weak and the switch moves too easily.
    • One solution would be to replace the spring for the ball-bearing in the switch with a stronger one, and/or drill the holes for the detentes slightly deeper.
    • Alternatively, maybe make the track the switch slides in slightly narrower so it rubs the track and friction can help to prevent unintended movement.
  • Getting from lockout mode to turbo is not convenient to do by feel since you have to slide the switch forward, but not too far forward.
• Better options available. There are much smaller and more powerful single-18650 flashlights available (Emisar D4, Zebralight SC64, etc.)
• Battery Door latch has questionable durability.
  • I haven’t experienced this myself, but I did see pictures someone else made of their battery door latch breaking off when they dropped the light. The latch itself is a fairly tiny piece of flat aluminum so this looks quite plausible.

It’s really too bad. If this had a tighter sliding switch and XP footprint LEDs I’d rate it a good light. Same for the X2 Pro.

[QReciprocity42 (efficacy ≠ efficiency)]

@Firelight2

The stock LEDs are Cool white, low CRI, have a greenish tint, and are low power.

Do you have a photo of the LEDs and do you know what the footprint is? I’m very curious about modding potential. Currently still waiting for my review sample in the mail.

[jon_slider]

@Firelight2

I would have much preferred XP footprint LEDs so I could emitter swap to something different.

agree!

Low CRI is not something I will use..
I could see using the Red RGB as a nightlight

@QReciprocity42

Do you have a photo of the LEDs and do you know what the footprint is?

ask worrub918, it was a post of his

[Firelight2]

I do not, but there is one here on BLF somewhere posted by someone else. Maybe in the “what did you mod today thread”. I saw the picture several months ago so you might have to check a lot of posts.

[QReciprocity42 (efficacy ≠ efficiency)]

Thanks for the pointer! To answer my own question:

@worrub918

I took the bezel off to see how easy it would be to swap LED’s. It turns out, not so easy. They aren’t a standard sized LED. I did not remove them to measure what size they are or see what the pads look like under the LEDs… yet fingers crossed some E21A’s will fit!!!. However, I will and I will update this post when I do. They are rectangle in shape. Looking at the traces on the MCPCB, it looks like they are running in series. So, is this a boost driver? Wuben should advertise that, if it is. And, it appears that some flux may have gotten on the emitter on the right. This is after I tried cleaning with 99% alcohol. The burn mark will not come off. So, how long before that LED completely burns out?

[worrub918]

The LEDs are a 2016 size. I used a Cree XEG 4000k and the footprint lined right up.

[Firelight2]

Where did you buy the XEG emitters?

[worrub918]

They’re still a bit green. But, they read as right at 90 CRI on my Opple 4

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/941-XEGAWTH200UT540G