MecArmy SGN3 Keychain Flashlight Review
The MecArmy SGN3 is a keychain flashlight offering a Cree XP-G2 and built-in charging. There are multiple emitters as well, so read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the MecArmy SGN3 Keychain Flashlight product page.
Versions
There’s really just one version, but four body colors of that version. They all have the same emitters. The colors are black, tan, gray, and green.
Price
The price is $42.90. Going for $32.36 on GearBest right now!
Short Review
It’s a solid little keychain light, and for once, I’m not overwhelmed by the UV of a light.
Long Review
The Big Table
| MecArmy SGN3 | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Cree XP-G2 (With red and UV) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $32.36 |
| Cell: | Internal |
| High Runtime | |
| LVP? | Switch to Low |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (A): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Chargetime | |
| Power off Charge Port with no Cell? | ? |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 160 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 40 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 48lux @ 3.173m = 483cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 44.0 (110% of claim)^ |
| All my MecArmy reviews! | |
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.
What’s Included
- MecArmy SGN3 keychain flashlight
- Lanyard
- Split ring
- Manual
Package and Manual
The package is a black printed box with a hang loop and the usual amount of printing. GearBest has placed its inventory sticker directly over the picture of the light.
The manual is a small slip of paper printed in English on both sides. There’s an output/runtime table, a user interface description, and a bit of other information. It’s not the most detailed manual ever, but it works.
Build Quality and Disassembly
This is a nice little light, which feels… quite solid. I might not normally say something like this, but the pronounced rubber switch takes a bit away from the aesthetic. A small something, not more. The light has a great feel in hand.
The sides have a bit of texture – not knurling and not reeding. It’s almost like jimping – well I guess it actually IS jimping. It provides a nice amount of grip.
On to disassembly. Truthfully I’m not even sure how this light is held together. The bezel is clearly pressed in but I can’t tell if it’s press-fit or held in place with a screw around the switch. Either way it’s extremely sturdy.
Size
Officially the SGN3 is 59mm long, 23mm wide, and 10mm deep. It weighs 30g.
This is a very small little light! On par with the Nitecore Tube, but with three times the emitters, and a metal body!
Retention
The body of the SGN3 has a built-in loop on the tail. It’s one piece with the body, and therefore not removable. This is where the lanyard and split ring connect.
I have found the best place for this light is in my coin pocket, or just deep carry loose.
Power
The SGN3 is powered by a “280mAh” lipo battery. The cell is not replaceable, and charges via micro-USB. A cable for charging is not included.
I tested the runtime on High (the highest mode, there is no Turbo). The output isn’t stable and drops off High relatively quickly. The claimed runtime is 1 hour, and it’s around 1 hour that the biggest dropoff happens. The output is at around 60% at this point. The light only ever switched to Low (or “on but barely”), and never shut off. I believe the side switch should indicate (red) when the battery voltage is low (but to be honest I can’t remember if this was the case.)
Charging
The microUSB port has a rubber cover that actually goes into the port. When in place, it’s flush with the body (except the little tab that allows gripping).
The charge chart looks good for the cell, charging at just under 1C. My tests indicate that the battery is in the 330mAh range, which is better than the claim.
User Interface and Operation
There’s a single switch on the SGN3 and it’s a big rubber indicating e-switch.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Press | On (mode memory (all emitters))^ |
| Any | Hold | Mode Cycle (All emitters) |
| White | Click | Mode cycle (M>L>H>Off) |
| UV | Click | Off |
| Red | Click | Cycle (Solid>Flash>Off) |
^ Mode memory does not include the red flashing mode
Modes
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Mode Measured Lux |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 160 | 1h | 2690 |
| Med | 59 | 3h | 856 |
| Low | 5 | 13h | 91 |
LED and Beam
The main emitter in the SGN3 is a Cree XP-G2. The side emitters are 3mm diameter emitters, one red (620nm) and one UV (360nm). Only the center emitter has a reflector, and it’s small and smooth.
PWM is noticeable to my eye on low and marginally noticeable for medium. Not noticeable on High, though.
Beamshots
These beamshots always have the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right.
Random Comparisons and Competitive Options
Here’s a relevantly filtered page on parametrek.com. The keychain flashlight market is quite saturated. This light stands apart by having a full metal body while still being very small, and also having three emitters. The UV is a nice addition, and welcome. It’s powerful enough, but not overpowering like some UV. The SGN3 is the only of the bunch to have UV!
Conclusion
What I like
- Solid metal body
- Indicating switch, and big for the body size
- UV isn’t overpowering, but still useful
What I don’t like
- Impossible to access internals
- Key loop adds unnecessary length
Notes
- This light was provided by GearBest for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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