Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro Flashlight Review

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro Flashlight Review

The Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight is an even more updated light over previous iterations. This one uses a Luminus SFT-70 emitter and has USB-C charging!


Official Specs and Features

Here’s a link to the Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight product page.

Versions

The page hints at some other versions (like a neutral white version), but for now it looks like there’s only this cool white version of the Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight.

Price

MSRP of the Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight is $49.95, a reasonable price for such a great (and tiny) thrower that includes the required 18350 cell! The package includes an extension for using a 18650 cell, too!


What’s Included

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight what's included

  • Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight
  • Extension for using one 18650
  • Thrunite 1100mAh 18350
  • Charging cable (USB to USB-C)
  • Lanyard
  • Spare o-rings (2)
  • Spare charge port cover
  • Manual and papers

Package and Manual

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight box

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight box

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro manual

Build Quality and Disassembly

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight

Unlike the V1 of the Thrunite Catapult Mini flashlight, (but like V2), the Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight is standard black. The build quality is very good, which you should already expect from Thrunite. So no surprises at all there.

There’s fairly minimal branding – I think this is silk-screened and seems to me to be very much like on the bigger (and legendary) Thrunite TN42.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight with 18650 extension

Only the cell tube comes off the light – it’s really just a two-part flashlight.  The threads are short and anodized.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight threads and contacts in head

Below you’ll see why this detail is important, but there’s just one contact point at this brass button. Negative travels through the cell tube and to the outer rim. You’ll see why that’s important later.

Inside the body you can see a nice beefy spring on the tail end, and just a brass button for contact in the head.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight tail spring

The 18650 extension tube screws into the head and onto the cell tube. I really like this approach for offering 18650 support! Do note that this light is not for two 18350 cells! That’s too much voltage!

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight extension tube

Size and Comps

Dimensions: 89.5mm x 43mm x 26mm and 90g without the battery. The size is up a very little bit from V2. Thrunite doesn’t specify a size for the 18650 option but you can estimate that it’ll be around 30mm longer.

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).

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight in hand

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight in hand

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight in hand

Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host 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

Really the only option for carrying the Thrunite Catapult Mini V2 flashlight is the included lanyard, which attaches through this hole in the tailcap.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight lanyard

It’s a fairly standard lanyard, but gets the job done.

There is no pocket clip. There is no magnet. There is no pouch. You probably wouldn’t really want those things, but for example, the Manker MC13 has a pocket clip, and I didn’t complain that it did have a pocket clip.

Power and Runtime

The Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight is powered by a single lithium-ion cell. One is provided, seen below. It’s a standard 1100mAh 18350! This is a pleasant update from the V2, which used a proprietary cell. (Used one, but didn’t require one.)

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight with included 18350

The cell fits with the positive end toward the head (which is the normal configuration).

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight with included 18350 in place

Below are a few runtimes; the highest three modes. Thrunite only claims 20 seconds at the very highest output, which I measured as over their claimed 2588 lumens.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight runtime with included 18350

You might notice a tiny change in the three runtime charts below. I added a little label for what throw you could expect for that lumen value. This is just a calculation and it’s based on the cd/lm value that’s been included in The Big Table for a long while now. Please comment below what you think of this data point. It’s a bit of a pain to include and if you were ever interested in it you probably already inferred it from checking the cd/lm and calculating throw. (Ok that’s a bit of a stretch! I do know you all are smart, though!)

So what do you think about this addition?

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight runtime with included 18350

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight runtime with included 18350

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight runtime with included 18350

The Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight shuts off with low voltage protection at around 3V.

I didn’t perform any runtime tests with an 18650. Just to put a note, though – you wouldn’t expect any enhanced output, but the runtimes would be longer!

Charging

Also built into the Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight is USB-C charging. The port is in the head (opposite the switch) and has a press-in rubber cover (and a spare is included). This is a high-quality port – something I don’t say all that often because it’s not always so evident. The port lines up perfectly with the opening.

There’s also a cable included for charging – USB to USB-C.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight charging cable

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight charging graph

The charge cycle is very consistent, which is good.  At 1A or so, it’s plenty “fast” charging – around 1C.

Modes and Currents

Mode Mode Claimed Output (lm) Claimed Runtime Measured Lumens Tailcap Amps
Turbo 2588-680 20s+60m 2610 (0s)
1012 (30s)
9.79
High 1233-660 60s+65m 1214 (0s)
1202 (30s)
2.50
Medium 309 2.5h 287 0.42
Low 66 9h 62 0.07
Firefly 11 47h 15 [low]

Pulse Width Modulation

There’s no PWM on any mode.

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

Thrunite put a single switch in the Catapult Mini Pro. It’s an indicating e-switch on the head, and just slightly proud. The cover is hard (but probably plastic, not metal) – still a great switch. It’s easy to differentiate between the switch and the charge port cover.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight e-switch detail

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight e-switch profile

I am super pleased that this light does not use the “Thrunite Ramping” user interface. I’m sorry to say, Thrunite, but I hate that user interface. But this user interface. This user interface is fantastic!!

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight e-switch actuation

Here’s a UI table!

State Action Result
Off Click On (Mode Memory except for Firefly, Turbo, Strobe)
Off Hold 1s Firefly
Off Click 4x Lockout (the main emitter blinks 3x to confirm)
Lockout Click (1, 2, 3) No Output (switch indicates in blue (or possibly battery status))
Lockout Click 4x Firefly
On Click Off
On (including Firefly) Hold Mode advance (LMH only)
Any Double Click Turbo
Any Triple Click Strobe

LED and Beam

In the Thrunite Catapult Mini V2 is a Luminus SFT-70 emitter. That’s a solid high-output emitter and good for throw too.

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight emitter detail

Notably, the Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight has a reflector (not a TIR). This is great for those reflector lovers (or TIR haters).

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight emitter on

Not pictured, but one improvement is that this Pro version of the Catapult Mini has a bezel with teeth. They’re small teeth, but I appreciate the texture.

LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)

CRI on this Luminus SFT-70 emitter is low, at around 70. CCT ranges from 6100K on the low output to a cooler 7200K for Turbo. This is very cool white!

Beamshots

These beamshots are always with 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. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.

I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!

Summary and Conclusion

There’s a whole category of lights like this now – maybe all stemming from the original Thrunite version. This Catapult Mini Pro is another great flashlight in the lineup, too. The Pro still has a side e-switch, and still has the great Thrunite user interface. Both output and throw here are outstanding, of course, and for $50ish, it’s a great purchase. I love the 18650 extension, too!

The Big Table

Thrunite Catapult Mini Pro flashlight
Emitter: Luminus SFT-70
Price in USD at publication time: $49.95
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 with or without cell or cell tube: lowest two modes
Claimed Lumens (lm) 2588
Measured Lumens (at 30s) 1012 (39.1% of claim)^
Candela per Lumen 36.56
Claimed Throw (m) 566
Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) 1656lux @ 5.201m = 44795cd
Throw (Calculated) (m) 423.3 (74.8% of claim)^
Claimed CCT
Measured CCT Range (K) 6100-7200 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 I like

  • Great thrower
  • Excellent build quality
  • Complete package includes a capable (standard) 18350 cell
  • 18650 extension tube is a great way to offer 18650 compatibility
  • USB-C Charging
  • Another good use of the “standard” Thrunite user interface
  • Specifically it doesn’t use the Thrunite ramping user interface!

What I don’t like

  • Low CRI
  • No belt clip (or really: any way other than lanyard. It doesn’t have to be belt clip.)

Notes

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