RovyVon A3 Pro MAO Flashlight Review
The RovyVon A3 Pro MAO G4 flashlight is an updated Aurora A3 Pro. This keychain light features a Luminus SST-20, USB-C charging and a nice marble gray finish.
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight product page.
Versions
There are a ton of RovyVon Aurora lights. There are even a bunch of A-series Auroras. It doesn’t even stop there – multiple iterations of the A3 Pro exist, too! The most recent version is the G4, which I think means this has a Luminus SST-20 emitter. There are two options of that emitter available, too – high output (seen here) and high CRI.
Price
This MAO Marble Gray sells for $36.95. It’s possible to add tritium from the factory too; that adds around $30.
Short Review
I like the new finish on the A3 Pro. MAO is neat but this really is more of a “marble gray.” Luminus SST-20 emitters are also great, but this one’s cool white; I’d definitely prefer the lower output higher CRI option. Otherwise, this is a standard Aurora, and they’re nice little lights. The battery isn’t swappable, so bear that in mind.
Long Review
The Big Table
| RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Luminus SST-20 (Cool White High Output) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $66.95 |
| Cell: | Internal |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes (according to manufacturer) |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | Two modes only |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 650 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 396 (60.9% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 110 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 166lux @ 4.619m = 3542cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 119.0 (108.2% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 5100-6000 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Rovyvon |
| All my RovyVon 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
- RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight
- Split ring (2 types)
- Pocket clip
- Magnet tail attachment
- Spare charge port cover
- Manual etc.
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
I recently tested a “regular” A3 (not-Pro) that has “real” or actual (or “what everyone means when they say MAO”) MAO. This RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight is called MAO Marble Gray, and I think the Marble Gray is a great addition to the name and finish. This marble gray fees a bit more robust than just straight up MAO, too, which is greatly appreciated.
Size and Comps
Dimensions: 60.5mm (L) x 15.6mm (Dia.)
Weight: 23g
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. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Retention and Carry
I had sort of missed this point before but this card holding the pocket clip really shows the ideal (and maybe “intended”) attachment point to the light.
As with other Auroras, the RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight has a pocket clip. This does not ship attached to the light, and it has a new magnetic side feature! The magnet is perfectly strong for holding the light in any orientation.
Unlike some other variations of the Aurora, there’s just one place to connect this pocket clip. There are still options, though, because the clip can go on the front or back and up or down.
Not just the pocket clip, but the tailcap also has an attachment and that attachment also has a magnet!
Also included is this little tailcap magnet I mentioned above. This connector snaps in.
Either magnet holds the RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight very securely.
RovyVon includes two split rings too.
Power and Runtime
The battery is a built-in LiPO and is not removable. RovyVon states that the A3 Pro has a 330mAh battery.
The light shuts off when the cell voltage is low, but I’m not able to test at what voltage it shuts off. RovyVon has confirmed that the shutoff voltage is 2.8V.
Charging
The RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight is charged via USB-C, which has a push-in rubber cover. This cover stays attached. The plug is a little harder to manipulate than most I’ve used, but it works just fine.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 650 | 1m+1.25h | 589 (0s) 396 (30s) |
| Medium | 200 | 1m+1.5h | 183 |
| Low | 25 | 6h | 31 |
| Moon | 0.5 | 56h | 0.2 |
Pulse Width Modulation
Every mode uses PWM, but it’s fast enough that you’re unlikely to notice it.
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
There’s a single side switch for operating the RovyVon A3 Pro MAO flashlight. It’s a clicky e-switch.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Hold | Momentary High |
| Off | Click | No action |
| Off | Double Click | Memorized mode (technically the manually memorized mode^) |
| On | Click | Mode Cycle (Moon > Low > Med > High) |
| On | Hold | Off |
| On >3m | Click | Off (and also sets the mode memory) |
| Any | Click 3x | Strobe |
| Off | Click 3x | Strobe |
^ It’s possible to memorize any of the 4 modes with this UI. Just leave the light on for around 3 minutes, and that mode is memorized (except for secondary emitters). Your light will likely ship with this mode set to High!
LED and Beam
RovyVon states that the A3 Pro MAO flashlight uses a Luminus SST-20. That’s the same emitter that was in the RovyVon A3 MAO. The big difference in these two lights really seems to be that the Pro version has a reflector, while the non-Pro uses a TIR.
I’m honestly indifferent to this difference, because I like both TIR lights and reflector lights too!
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
I would have guessed being the “higher output” option of A3, that this Luminus SST-20 light would be fairly cool. It’s actually more neutral-to-cool, starting at under 5100K and going up to around 6000K. CRI is low, at around 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
- USB-C charging works well
- Nichia 219c emitter at 5000K and 90CRI is a great option
- Magnets on pocket clip and tailcap are useful
- MAO finish is a fun change of pace
- Marble Gray MAO is even better (more robust, it seems) than regular MAO
- RovyVon will install tritium at a cost!
What I don’t like
- Output falls below specification
- Battery is not user-serviceable
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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