Sofirn SP31 v2.0 Flashlight Review

The Sofirn SP31 v2.0 is an 18650 flashlight that uses a Cree XP-L HI emitter, and offers an indicating side e-switch. Read on for testing!

Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Sofirn SP31 v2.0 flashlight product page.

Versions

There are two packages. One has a cell and a charger, the other doesn’t. But there’s just one version of the light.

Price

$28.99 just the light, $35.99 with the cell and charger (shown here). Available on Amazon.

Short Review

This is a good workhorse light, with a nicely rounded-out package, and a well-considered UI.

Long Review

The Big Table

Sofirn SP31 v2.0
Emitter:	Cree XP-L HI
Price in USD at publication time:	$35.99 on Amazon (referral link)
Cell:	1×18650
Turbo Runtime	High Runtime
LVP?	Warning
Switch Type:	E-Switch
Quiescent Current (A):	?
On-Board Charging?	No
Claimed Lumens (lm)	1200
Measured Lumens (at 30s)	870 (72.5% of claim)^
Claimed Throw (m)	200
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s)	425lux @ 5.896m = 14774cd
Throw (Calculated) (m)	243.1 (121.6% of claim)^
All my Sofirn 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

Sofirn SP31 V2.0 Flashlight
Sofirn 3000 mAh 18650
Charger – Single bay li-ion
Charge cable
Lanyard
Spare o-rings (2)
Manual

Package and Manual

The light arrives in a very simple (but standard) Sofirn box. There are no photos of the light, and the box is a fairly generic Sofirn box.

A black Sofirn LED flashlight box is shown on a wooden surface. The box features an image of Earth with a bright light on the horizon and the words Sofirn LED flashlight printed on it.

A black Sofirn product box with yellow and white text detailing the company’s background, product uses, certifications, and contact information. A barcode with the code B07FKJDH93 is visible at the bottom.

The manual covers the bases and has useful diagrams.

Build Quality and Disassembly

As has been the case with the other Sofirn lights I’ve handled, this one is well built. The anodizing feels good. Nothing is sloppy about any part of the light.

I said that about other Sofirn lights, and it’s true here too.

There’s nothing exceptional about the build quality; it’s overall good.

A black Sofirn-branded flashlight with a textured grip and metal clip stands upright on a wooden surface, with a blurred background.

A black tactical flashlight with a metal clip is standing upright on a wooden surface. The background is blurred, and the flashlight appears to be the main focus of the image.

A black, metal flashlight with a textured grip and pocket clip stands upright on a wooden surface. The background is blurred, emphasizing the flashlights details.

A black textured flashlight stands upright on a wooden surface outdoors, with sunlight casting shadows around it. The background is blurred and the flashlight appears to be the main subject.

I wasn’t able to remove the bezel, so this is as far as I went:

Both head and tail have thick springs, and the MCPCB is Sofirn branded. The tail switch is held together by a brass retaining ring, which has indents for easy removable and maintenance of parts.

The cell tube is not reversible (threads are longer on one end). The threads are also anodized, which means locking the light out mechanically requires a very short twist.

A small black metal flashlight body with a textured surface and a metal pocket clip stands upright on a wooden surface. Both ends of the flashlight are uncapped. The background is blurred.

A black, cylindrical metal object with textured grip and threaded ends is lying horizontally on a wooden surface, photographed in natural light.

Size

Officially 23.4mm(body diameter) x 133.5mm(length), and 72grams.

A black Sofirn flashlight is placed horizontally on top of a two-dollar bill, both resting on a weathered wooden surface.

A black Sofirn flashlight is placed horizontally on top of a United States two-dollar bill, both set on a weathered wooden surface.

This light is much longer than the Convoy S2+, unfortunately. Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. Mine’s a custom “baked” edition Nichia 219b triple. A very nice 18650 light.

Two flashlights stand upright on a wooden surface. The left flashlight is black with a metal clip and button, labeled Sofirn SC31 Pro. The right flashlight is brownish-red and labeled Convoy S2+.

Close-up view of two flashlight heads placed side by side on a wooden surface. The left flashlight has a single LED, while the right one contains four small LEDs arranged in a square pattern.

Retention

The first line of carry is the pocket clip, which isn’t reversible. It’s an ok clip. Friction fit, and allowing only bezel down carry. The whole tailcap sits out of the pocket using this clip, and I measure that at 32mm. That’s much too much sticking out of the pocket.

A close-up view of a black Sofirn SP12.0 flashlight, showing its textured grip, side metal clip, and part of the power button, with a blurred background.

A close-up view of a black textured flashlight with a silver metal pocket clip attached to its side, shown against a softly blurred background.

The second option is the lanyard, which attaches on the tailcap. It’s also possible to connect it on the pocket clip, but I’d stick with the tailcap.

Power

The SP31 V2.0 is powered by a single Li-ion cell. Sofirn includes a Sofirn branded 3000mAh 18650, which was used for all testing of this light. Since the light has springs on both ends, any type 18650 should work just fine.

Here are a few detailed shots of the cell. It’s a button top cell, and doesn’t mention any type of protection on the label.

A black Sofirn 18650 rechargeable lithium-ion battery with yellow text stands upright on a wooden surface outdoors, with sunlight casting a shadow behind it.

A black Sofirn rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion battery stands upright on a wooden surface in natural light. The battery has yellow text indicating its type and capacity.

A single black cylindrical battery with yellow text stands upright on a weathered wooden surface. The background is blurred, putting the focus on the battery.

Standard button top.

A close-up of a single AA battery lying horizontally on a wooden surface, with the positive terminal facing the camera and the background out of focus.

A black cylindrical battery lying horizontally on a wooden surface with sunlight and shadows in the background. The battery’s flat terminal end is facing the camera.

It’s a bit longer than the 65 moniker would indicate, but that’s not unusual. Longer than the HG2, too.

I performed a runtime on turbo, and reset the light to turbo once during the run. Turbo falls off quickly, from around 920 lumens to 840ish at 2 minutes. Not too bad. But very soon, the light steps down very hard, to the High setting. Turbo can be reset, but the output doesn’t reach the initial output. At around 3.1V, the indicating switch starts to flash slowly. The light also switches to very low output, but doesn’t switch off.

A runtime on High is largely the same as Turbo, minus the turbo blip. Temperature is never even a thought on the High setting.

Charging

Also included in the package is a single bay 18650 li-ion charger. I didn’t test it for this review, but it’s the same as the one I tested in the C8F review. It works fine for this application.

A close-up of a black rectangular object with a small silver label on the front, placed on a wooden surface. The background is blurred.

A close-up photo of a rectangular black object with a USB connector and two metal rails inside, resting on a wooden surface. The background is blurred. The text ZEROFIAR.WORDPRESS.COM is visible along the left side.

A close-up of a black lithium battery charger placed on a wooden surface, with technical specifications and certification symbols engraved on the front panel.

User Interface and Operation

There are two switches on the SP31 v2.0. The tail switch is mechanical forward clicky. The dome on the switch is big and grippy, and protrudes enough to prevent tailstanding.

The other switch is on the head, and is an indicating e-switch. It’s nicely clicky, and has a very good action. The indicator in the center of the switch can be green or red.

The switch is proud just a little. Maybe 1.5mm or so. (Could be a little lower, and be better.)

One notable thing about the indication on that switch is that it indicates the battery charge level for 5 seconds ever time the tail switch is turned on.

Green = “Enough power”
Red = “Short of power”
Flashing red = “running out of power.”

Here’s a user interface table!

State	Action	Result
Off	Click Tail Switch (TS)	On (Mode Memory)
Off	Click Side Switch (SS)	No Action
Off	Half press TS	Momentary (Mode Memory)
On	Click TS	Off
On	Click SS	Mode Advance (L>H direction)
On	Hold SS	Strobe
Strobe	Click SS	Strobe Group Advance
Strobe	Hold SS	Return to previous mode
On	Double Click SS	No Action

That’s really a pretty simple double switch UI. I like it too, because everything makes pretty good sense, and is intuitive. Strobe is also not too in the way.

Modes

Mode	Mode Claimed Output (lm)	Claimed Runtime	Measured Lumens	Tailcap Amps
Turbo	1200	2h37m	865	2.42
High	500	3h41m	450	0.73
Medium	160	9h45m	139	0.17
Low	50	26h49m	47	0.04
Eco	5	291h	8	–

LED and Beam

Sofirn puts a Cree XP-L HI in this light. The reflector is smooth and fairly shallow. The beam profile is mostly spot, but on higher modes, a little spill is noticeable.

Strangely there’s a pronounced yellow center to the beam, even at a bit of distance.

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.

A mostly black image with a faint, dim light spot in the center and the text ZEROAIR.WORDPRESS.COM vertically along the left side.

A circular, soft white light glows at the center of a dark background, gradually fading outward. The text ZEROAIR.WORDPRESS.COM is vertically aligned on the left side.

A circular white light is centered against a dark background, creating a diffused halo effect. The words ZEROAIR.WORDPRESS.COM appear vertically on the left side of the image.

A bright white light shines at the center of a dark background, creating a circular gradient effect. The words ZEROAIR.WORDPRESS.COM are vertically visible on the left side of the image.

A bright, circular beam of white light shines on a flat surface with a gradient halo effect. The words ZEROAIR.WORDPRESS.COM are vertically displayed along the left edge.

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. There are many lights in this category. The Sofirn competes well based on price, particularly with the “light only” option.

Conclusion

What I like

Full package for only $37 is not a bad deal
Solid build quality
Indicating side switch

What I don’t like

Beam tint has a big ol yellow spot in the center
Can’t tailstand

Notes

This light was provided by Sofirn for review. I was not paid to write this review.
This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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