SdeNow Mini Flashlight

This flashlight was actually the first externally rechargeable standard sized flashlight that I picked up. That may seem like quite a few qualifiers but it really isn't to terrible. You can recharge this light without taking out the battery. While I did already have a few lights with this capability they are all key-chain lights. Also of note is the fact that this light takes heavy inspiration from many other modern lights from competitors such as Olight and Fenix without being a complete clone. Most of these designs will also be covered below. Because this is not a known manufacturer I have a incomplete information so those areas will be noted but I will try to do my best to fill in the gaps.

Product Description:

Brand: SdeNow

Length: 71.12 mm (2.8")

Head Diameter: 20.32 mm (0.8")

Body Diameter: 20.32 mm (0.8")

Weight: 48 g (1.9 oz)

Material: Aluminum Alloy

Waterproof: IPX8

Impact Resistance: Unknown

Modes: 5, Low (100 Lm/ 5 hr), Medium (250 Lm/ 2.5 hr), High (500 Lm/ 1 hr), Step-less Dimming, Strobe

Control: Side Switch

Light Source: XPL V6 LED

Power Source: 16340 or CR123A

Pocket Clip: Yes

Additional Features: Magnetic Base, Rechargeable Battery Port, Lanyard Point

Price: ~$25

Opinion:

Pros:

First and foremost, the biggest plus is that this light is rechargeable. While it is definitely more convenient to charge through a magnetic base like some other lights I will take the side port if it means I don't have to remove the battery. I have also gotten used to the presence of a side switch, I did not expect to like it but after testing out quite a few that have this configuration with a magnetic base I have come to appreciate the design. That being said, if it did not have the magnetic base I would find the side switch pointless. I was honestly worried about the pocket clip, it looks pretty deep with only a small portion of the light above, but it looks loose. However, I have had very few problems with it getting caught on other items and coming loose. Even compared to some of the clips on other lights that I would expect to be more secure, this one has held up. For the most part I like the UI, I have grown increasingly fond of having to hold down the light to first activate it then cycling through the modes with a button press.

Cons:

My biggest complaint about this light is that I don't feel 100% confident in everything that is listed. I hope that the output and run-times are accurate as well as the water rating but it took me a while to find it on a chart which does not give me the greatest of confidence. Overall, the light could definitely be a little bit more comfortable in the hand, but it is certainly not to tough to hold, just some of the edges and hard points create hotspots.

Conclusion:

Overall, this light is definitely a budget friendly flashlight. You are getting something comparable to the features of a lot of the mainstream EDC flashlights at a very affordable price point. The main trade off is that you may not be getting exactly what it says. I do also want to stress that I don't have any evidence of misinformation, and I certainly hope that that is not the case. I just wish that they did a better job of communicating the lights attributes. I want to include here that it might have a one meter drop rating based on a chart I saw but this was not clearly marked.