Thrunite Saber Flashlight Review
The Thrunite Saber is a new EDC pocket flashlight that includes a 14500 cell and can run with a single AA cell, too. Two modes make this a simple EDC light!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight product page.
Versions
There’s just one version of the Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight right now and it’s this cool white version. A neutral white version is listed on the site.
Price
MSRP and going price of the Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight is $25.95. That includes the 14500! Buy yours through my Amazon.com referral link!
Short Review
I appreciate the simplicity of the Saber. Many people look for fewer modes than the typical four or five – the Saber is perfect for that! The TIR provides a nice tight beam profile and good throw, too. I love that this light has the ability to run both 14500 and AA (primary or rechargeable) cells and that a 14500 is included. Also, the price is acceptable!
Long Review
The Big Table
| Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | High Performance LED (Cool White) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $25.95 |
| Cell: | 1×14500 |
| High Runtime Graph | Low Runtime Graph |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | Mechanical |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C (on cell) |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | – |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 659 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 552 (83.8% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 13.04 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 141 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 347lux @ 4.666m = 7555cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 173.8 (123.3% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 6100-6300 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Thrunite |
| All my Thrunite reviews! | |
| Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | High Performance LED (Cool White) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $25.95 |
| Cell: | 1xAA |
| High Runtime Graph | Low Runtime Graph |
| LVP? | Maybe |
| Switch Type: | Mechanical |
| On-Board Charging? | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 235 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 240 (102.1% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 12.1 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 90 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 143lux @ 4.622m = 3055cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 110.5 (122.8% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 5600-5700 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Thrunite |
| All my Thrunite 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
- Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight
- 920mAh 14500 cell
- Charging cable (USB to USB-C)
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
The Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight is very much like the recent Archer Pro and Archer Pro V2. The difference in this light is that the included 14500 cell is accessible and can be replaced! That’s a good feature.
The switch (cover) on this Saber is also a bit different. It’s not rounded and also has a deeper (probably mechanical) action.
The head only uses the MCPCB for contact – there’s no spring or button added.
In the cell tube, however, is a spring.
Size and Comps
96.5mm x 19mm and 56g.
If the flashlight will headstand, I’ll show it here (usually the third photo). If the flashlight will tailstand, I’ll also show that (usually in the fourth photo).
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. Mine’s a custom “baked” edition Nichia 219b triple. A very nice 18650 light.
Also above is the light beside my custom engraved TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats.
Retention and Carry
Included for the carry of the Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight is this two-way friction fit pocket clip.
There’s no lanyard hole on this pocket clip!
The clip can rotate around the light fully.
Power and Runtime
Included with the Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight is a lithium-ion 14500 cell. However, the Saber will also run on a single AA cell, too (that is, a 1.5V cell – primary or NiMH.)
The cell goes into the light in the usual orientation: button (positive end) toward the head.
Below are a set of runtime graphs. Output with a NiMH (or any 1.5V cell) is lower than with the included 14500 cell.
Overall I’d say performance is good, and I really appreciate that the Saber runs on both lithium-ion and 1.5V cells.
Some of the graphs above (particularly the 14500 graphs) show that the Saber has a low voltage warning – it blinks when the voltage is low.
Charging
While the Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight itself doesn’t have built-in charging, the included cell does. That’s USB-C charging, and the port can be seen below.
Thrunite includes a short USB to USB-C cable.
Charging looks fine but is a bit slow at around 0.5C.
While charging, a red indicator LED on the top of the cell is lit. When charging is complete, this indicator turns green.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14500 Low | 57 | 19h | 59 | 0.20 |
| 14500 High | 659+276 | 170s+100m | 552 | 2.57 |
| AA Low | 24 | 14h | 27 | 0.12 |
| AA High | 235 | 75m | 240 | 2.27 |
Pulse Width Modulation
Every mode from both cell types uses PWM. It’s not at all bad PWM though, and I don’t find it the least bit noticeable.
Here you can see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor. Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.
User Interface and Operation
A single switch controls the Thrunite Saber EDC pocket flashlight. This switch in this style of light is a very familiar switch. This one feels mechanical, but others (like the Archer Pro) seem to be electronic.
This switch cover seems to be fully plastic.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Low) |
| On | Click | Off |
| Off | Click 3x | High |
| Off | Tap | Momentary |
LED and Beam
As far as I can tell, Thrunite hasn’t said yet what this emitter is. Whatever it is, a TIR is used and it all provides a nice tight beam profile.
The bezel is smooth with no shape.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
The CCT for 14500 is much cooler than that from the AA. However, the AA seems to pick up a good bit more green (demonstrated by a much higher Duv). CRI is low, too, at under 70.
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.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Conclusion
What I like
- Complete package (including 14500 cell)
- Cell is accessible (Unlike the Archer Pro et al)
- Very simple user interface
- Runs on AA and 14500 chemistries
What I don’t like
- Very green beam (particularly with AA)
- Just two modes (with neither being particularly low)
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
- For flashlight-related patches, stickers, and gear, head over to PhotonPhreaks.com!
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