Sofirn IF24 RGB Flashlight Review
The Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight offers a cool white main light, a white side light, and an RGB option! All are controlled by one e-switch and a dial. Very neat!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight product page.
Versions
It looks like there’s just one version of the Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight. It’s available with or without the 18650 cell, though. Sofirn has made other similar lights, though, such as the similarly named IF23.
Price
Without the cell, the Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight is $38.99. The cell adds just two dollars! (Buy the cell too!) Here’s an Amazon referral link for the IF24. Discount code (10% off): 10IF24BD
What’s Included
- Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight
- Sofirn 3000mAh 18650
- Pocket clip
- Lanyard
- Charging cable
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
The build quality here is acceptable. One thing that annoys me just a bit is that the light will not tailstand securely. For some reason on my light, the center of the tailcap has a bulge, and it sort of rocks just a bit.
Only the tailcap comes off of the Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight. This tailcap is much like those we’ve seen on lights like the Acebeam M1 and Acebeam M2. This tailcap goes over the cell.
Both the head and tail have springs.
Size and Comps
Size: 27.5 x 24.5 x 126mm and 95g (without the cell).
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 just 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
A pocket clip is included with the Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight. It’s a fine clip and can only be attached on the tail end. That means only bezel down carry is possible.
The friction fit clip is removable but does seem fairly secure.
A lanyard is included. It attaches through this hole in the tailcap.
The lanyard is a very simple style.
Finally, the magnet in the tailcap is perfectly sufficient for holding the IF24. That’s even despite the bulge in that cap, which I mentioned above.
Power and Runtime
The Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight is powered by a single lithium-ion battery. If you go for the package deal, you’ll get the 3000mAh 18650 seen below.
The cell goes into the IF24 with the positive end toward the top of the light.
Below are three runtime tests with the main emitter.
There’s a small LED near the charging port that gives notification about the cell voltage state. Here’s how:
Green (steady): 50-100%
Red (steady): 10-50%
Red (flashing): 0-10%
Charging
The Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight sports USB-C charging and the charging port is on the side. It’s covered with a press-in rubber cover.
An appropriate cable is included. It’s USB to USB-C.
Charging looks very good at around 2A. For a 3000mAh cell like the one that’s included, this is perfectly fine. Both A to C and C to C work just fine.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo Front | 2000 | 1.5h | 1280 (0s) 1132 (30s) |
4.30 |
| High Front | 700 | 2.25h | 560 (0s) 535 (30s) |
1.42 |
| Medium Front | 150 | 13.5h | 113 | 0.36 |
| Low Front | 10 | 115h | 10.8 | 0.03 |
| Moonlight Front | 1 | 20d | 1.2 | [low] |
| Turbo Side white | 550 | 3.5h | 438 | 1.92 |
| High Side white | 200 | 5.5h | 184 | 0.82 |
| Medium Side white | 100 | 12h | 86 | 0.42 |
| Low Side white | 20 | 58h | 18 | 0.08 |
| Moonlight Side white | 1 | 20d | 0.4 | [low] |
All steady RGB modes seemed to pull around 0.16A.
Pulse Width Modulation
Nearly all the white output modes (front or side) use PWM. The very last image is a randomly selected RGB color, which doesn’t really display PWM.
For reference, here’s a baseline shot, with all the room lights off and almost nothing hitting the sensor. Also, here’s the light with the worst PWM I could find. I’m adding multiple timescales, so it’ll be easier to compare to the test light. Unfortunately, the PWM on this light is so bad that it doesn’t even work with my normal scale, which is 50 microseconds (50us). 10ms. 5ms. 2ms. 1ms. 0.5ms. 0.2ms. In a display faster than 0.2ms or so, the on/off cycle is more than one screen, so it’d just (very incorrectly) look like a flat line. I wrote more about this Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight and explained a little about PWM too.
User Interface and Operation
The Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight is controlled by a single switch. It’s an e-switch on the side of the head. The user interface is very similar to other Sofirn lights like the IF19 but differs in that there is much more here that needs to be controlled. One addition from the IF23 is that this light has a rotary selector around the e-switch. This is a very nice upgrade!
Because the rotary switch specifies which emitter is active, you end up with a light that more or less has groups that are controlled in the same way. Switching between white groups puts you into the same user interface but for that selected output. The consistency is good, particularly if you can remember how to switch between output levels, and which output you’re in.
Here’s a UI table! The user interface breaks up into three flashlights: front, side white, and side RGB – all depending on which selection on the rotary dial is aligned with the little arrow.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Mode Memory) |
| Off | Hold | Lowest level of selected output |
| On | Hold | White: Mode cycle (Low, Medium, High only)^ RGB: Fade between RGB outputs fairly seamlessly |
| Any (except Turbo) | Double Click | Turbo |
| Turbo or Strobe | Click | Previous state |
| On | Click | Off |
| Turbo | Double Click | Strobe of active emitter(s) |
| Strobe | Double Click | SOS |
| SOS | Double Click | Beacon |
| Any | Rotate the Dial to the lockout position | Lockout |
| Lockout | Click | Charging indicator blinks cell voltage range (as stated above) |
| Dial to RGB group | Click | RGB On (color memory) |
| RGB on | Hold | RGB advance (changes colors) |
| RGB on | Double click (repeatedly) | RGB mode advance as follows: Police flash > Rainbow > RGB Waterfall > Droplets > Neon Fade |
| RGB Special Modes on | Click | Return to Steady RGB |
| RGB on | Click | Off |
^ The manual says “Ramping On” but I think that just means advancing modes, not traditional “ramping.” (At least I couldn’t find a ramping mode!)
LED and Beam
The main emitter here is a Luminus SST-40. It’s cool white and has a nice TIR.
The second set of emitters are these side white emitters. There are two rows of those. In the center is an array of RGB emitters, too!
The RGB emitters can emit in a whole range of colors. It’s very neat!
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
The main emitter is shown first below. It’s cool to very cool and low CRI. The throw is great, though! The second row is the side white emitter and is neutral, with high CRI.
Beamshots
These beamshots are always with the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. The last photo in the group here is another randomly selected RGB option. The point of including it is to show that it’s not really bright enough to compare with the white options.
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. The last photo is a blueish RGB option. Up close, it’s plenty bright! Very floody, though.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
The Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight, an update to the IF23, is a nice successor. The RGB modes are fantastic and fun, and I like the access to them outside of clicks through a single e-switch. I like the rotary! I’d love to have a less cool main emitter and maybe even high CRI there too, and a warmer side white light, but this is pretty good. And the price is very reasonable!
The Big Table
| Sofirn IF24 RGB flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Luminus SST-40 (6000-6500K) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $31.99 |
| Cell: | 1×18650 |
| 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 | with cell: all modes without cell and/or tailcap: all modes except two white turbos |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 2000 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 1280 (64% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 0 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 251 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 594lux @ 4.866m = 14065cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 237.2 (94.5% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | 6000-6500 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 5600-6200 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Sofirn |
| 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 I like
- Very floody side lights
- Side lights aren’t so warm white as to be unusable
- RGB modes are fun
- Both white modes are completely the same – easy user interface to remember
- Big e-switch is great for clicking.
- Rotary dial works very well
- USB-C charging works well, too!
What I don’t like
- Cool white main emitter
- Low CRI main emitter
- Diffuser over side lights could be more opaque
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!
- Please use my amazon.com referral link to help support zeroair.org!
- Please support me on Patreon! I deeply appreciate your support!
