Speras M4 Mini Type-C Flashlight Review
The Serpas M4 Mini Type-C flashlight offers incredible throw. It includes the 18350 cell and has a nice e-switch interface. There’s a long tube, too! Read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Speras M4 Mini Type-C flashlight product page.
Versions
I think there’s really just one version of the Speras M4 Mini Type-C flashlight, but it’s available in black or sand (seen here). There’s also a longer body that can use one 18650.
Price
As seen in this post, the Speras M4 Mini Type-C flashlight costs $59.99. That includes the 18350, too!
What’s Included
- Speras M4 Mini Type-C flashlight
- Speras 1100mAh 18350
- Charging cable
- Lanyard
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
You may recognise this format from other recent lights. It’s been popular! I love tiny little throwers – and really all lights that perform way outside their class. You might not expect this light to throw as much as it does… I love that!
The sand colorway of this M4 is interesting. I like it because it’s different! It’s not just your standard black anodized flashlight.
Build quality is great. There aren’t any surprises. In the past, I have not been a fan of these spirals, but I have come around – I love them on this light! They don’t aid or detract from grip, but they look nice.
The head has only a button for cell contact. Threads are nice and smooth and also short enough.
The tail, of course, gets a spring.
Size and Comps
78.5mm x 40.4mm x 26mm and 87.2g.
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+. The version you see below is a custom Convoy S2+ host that’s been laser engraved by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a 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
The only way really included for carrying the Speras M4 Mini Type-C flashlight is a lanyard. That lanyard attaches only through this hole in the tailcap. It’s a firm connection.
Surprisingly, there is no magnet.
The 18650 body extension does not add any carry features, either.
Power and Runtime
The Speras M4 Mini Type-C flashlight runs a single 18350 cell. That cell is included, but it’s a standard button-top. Any 18350 should work fine in the M4.
The cell goes into the light in the usual way – positive end (button) toward the head.
Below are some runtime tests on the 18350 cell. I didn’t get an extension tube for testing 18650, but performance should be about the same, just with longer runtimes.
Performance is quite good! When the cell voltage gets low (around 3V or so), the switch indicates as follows.
Green: 100-75% power
Orange: 70-30% power
Red: 30-10% power
Red flashing: 10-1% power
There’s also an indication just after turning the light on, as above.
Charging
The Speras M4 Mini is a Type-C rechargeable flashlight. The charging port is in the head and has a press-in cover.
A USB to USB-C cable is included.
Charging is very good and consistent. The charge rate is just under 1C and requires around an hour and a half.
Charging should work fine with the 18650 body in place, too.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 1320 | 1h10m | 1097 (0s) 1031 (30s) |
5.63 |
| High | 450 | 1h15m | 456 | 1.53 |
| Medium | 220 | 2h | 204 | 0.61 |
| Low | 60 | 7h45m | 27 | 0.15 |
| ECO | 0.5 | 220h | 0.5 | [low] |
Pulse Width Modulation
None of the levels use PWM.
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 indicating e-switch controls the Speras Mini Type-C flashlight. The user interface is a familiar one from Speras. It’s very similar to others like that of the EST MAX (thought that one has a mechanical tail switch too.)
Action is good and predictable.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Mode memory) |
| On | Click (except in Turbo) | Off |
| Off | Hold | Eco |
| On | Hold | Mode advance (LMH) |
| Any | Double click | Turbo |
| Turbo or Strobe or SOS | Click | Previous Mode |
| Any | Triple click | Strobe |
| Strobe | Triple click | SOS |
LED and Beam
Speras doesn’t say that emitter is used here. The picture below sort of speaks for itself, though – the emitter has a very green flavor.
That’s a clean TIR though!
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
Speras also doesn’t make a CCT or CRI claim for this light, either. But we can see it starts off neutral to cool with low CRI and ventures up into cool white territory, and low CRI.
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!
Summary and Conclusion
As I said above, I love lights like this that perform well outside of what you’d expect. The Speras Mini Type-C flashlight is a small light but throws incredibly! The build quality is great and the light looks very nice, too! Type-C charging works great, and everything seems very reliable. I appreciate that there’s an 18650 adapter, too. Huge bonus!
The Big Table
| Speras M4 Mini Type-C Flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | “Advanced high-performance LED” |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $59.99 |
| Cell: | 1×18350 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-Switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | In any state: lowest output only |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 1320 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 1031 (78.1% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 121.17 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 652 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 3260lux @ 6.191m = 124951cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 707.0 (108.4% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 5700-6500 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Speras |
| All my Speras 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 I like
- Small size thrower
- Charging works great
- Has an extension tube for a longer body
- Great beam profile
- Interesting color
What I don’t like
- Very green output
- Low CRI
Notes
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