Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC Multi-Function Flashlight Review
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight features white front output with a laser, multiple side outputs, USB-C charging, and a magnet! Read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a referral link to the Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight product page.
Versions
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight is available in two body colors (black, seen here, and tan), but they both have the same (vast) feature set. There’s also a non-Pro version.
Price
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight lists for $88.99 and is available now through this referral link. Here’s a code for 21% off at that store, too! ZeroAir21
What’s Included
- Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight
- Charging cable
- Manual
Package and Manual
Build Quality and Disassembly
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight does not come apart at all. Build quality is good, though, and the light feels sturdy.
There is a lot going on with this light, though, so be prepared to dive in about all the features!
Size and Comps
125mm x 33mm x 24mm and 131g.
Here’s the light 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 go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also in the photo above, my Standard Reference Material (SRM) flashlight is the Hanko Machine Works Trident, an 18350 light. While I have not reviewed or tested the Gunner Grip version seen here, I have tested a Hanko Machine Works Trident Total Tesseract in brass. I love the Trident, and it’s a striking contrast to the inexpensive Convoy S2+, another great SRM.
Retention and Carry
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight ships with a two-way pocket clip attached.
The clip sort of squeezes the tail of the light and can only go on the tail of the light, too. It does provide nice deep carry, though.
A magnet in the tail end is strong enough to hold the Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight, and is not removable.
Power and Runtime
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight has a built-in 2000mAh LiPO battery. It’s not removable and not user serviceable in the traditional sense.
Below you can see a number of runtime charts for the Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight.
The temperature lines in these charts are included as general context, not precise measurements. The values represent the range (min to max) during testing, but should not be taken as exact readings. A temperature sensor is not always attached to the bezel (or even the hottest spot, assuming that could be defined). Even with ideal placement, too many variables affect temperature to definitively state a specific max value.
Charging
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight has built-in charging. There’s a USB-C charging port on the head.
A USB to USB-C charging cable is included.
Charging is great with both A to C and C to C. Both take just over an hour.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super – White Spotlight (Front) | 2050 | 1h25m | 1868 (0s) 1550 (30s) |
| High – White Spotlight (Front) | 500 | 2h50m | 442 (0s) 439 (30s) |
| Middle – White Spotlight (Front) | 100 | 10h | 115 |
| Low – White Spotlight (Front) | 35 | 30h | 34 |
| Candlelight – White Spotlight (Front) | 5 | 8.5d | 5.7 |
| High – Warm white flood (side) | 450 | 3.2h | 289 |
| Middle – Warm white flood (side) | 50 | 27h | 18 |
| Low – Warm white flood (side) | 3 | 10d | 3.2 |
Pulse Width Modulation
Practically every mode uses some type of modulation, but it’s not bad or noticeable.
Click here to 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
The user interface on this Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight takes a bit of practice. But it’s reasonable once you use the light a bit. First, there’s a slider switch on the side. This slider generally selects between side lights, front lights, and laser (also front output).
Once you’ve made that selection (or after the light is on, too. Really, any time), then you’ll use this big metal-covered, indicating e-switch to control the light.
It’s a nice switch!
Here’s a user interface table! Trustfire calls the modes this way:
Mode 1: Laser – Slider all the way forward.
Mode 2: White Light (Spotlight) Mode – Slider in middle position. (The manual has this wrong.)
Mode 3: Warm White Light (Floodlight) Mode – Slider all the way toward the tail.
And there are some hidden modes!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Any – Off | Click | Battery indicator on the switch |
| Off | Hold | Mode 1: Laser on Mode 2: Front LED On (memory) Mode 3: Side white LED On (memory) |
| On | Hold | Off |
| On | Click | Mode 1: No change in laser Mode 2: Mode advance (ascending through 5 modes) Mode 3: Mode advance (ascending through 3 modes) |
| Off | Double click | Mode 1: UV output on Mode 2: Low red light Mode 3: Slow flashing red light |
| On in hidden mode | Click | Mode 1: No change in UV output Mode 2: Steady secondary modes advance Mode 3: Flashing modes advance |
| Off | Hold 5s | Lockout |
| Lockout | Hold 5s | Unlock |
LED and Beam
Trustfire doesn’t say what any of the (many?) emitters are. Note that below you can also see where the laser exits the front, too. The two white LEDs each have a TIR.
The laser can (surprisingly!) be used while the front white emitters are on!
The side emitters have a lot going on, too. The center two are UV, the surround is warm white, and red/blue are little bars along the top and bottom edge (as seen below).
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
CRI and CCT just for the two white emitters. The side white is claimed to be warm and high CRI, and it is! Very high CRI, in fact – 97 or so! The front emitters are more designed for high output, and have low CRI and cooler CCT.
CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) refers to the measurement of the color appearance of light, expressed in Kelvins (K), which indicates whether the light is warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish). A lower CCT (below 3000K) is considered warm light, while a higher CCT (above 5000K) gives cooler, bluish light.
CRI (Color Rendering Index) is a measure of how accurately a light source renders colors in comparison to natural sunlight. Scored on a scale from 0 to 100, higher CRI values indicate that colors appear more true to life and vibrant, similar to how they would look under the sun.
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. 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
The Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight has a ton of features! If those are features you need, then the price is really reasonable. I am very pleased that the side white emitters are, in fact, high CRI (as claimed) and are pleasantly warm, too. Charging works nicely, and the whole package feels solid. I would prefer that the battery be replaceable, and that the front emitters were a bit warmer and higher CRI. Still, this is a pretty nice package!
The Big Table
| Trustfire Mini X3 Pro EDC multi-function flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | (front white) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $88.99 |
| Cell: | Internal |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Probably |
| Switch Type: | E-switch |
| Quiescent Current (mA): | ? |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | USB-C |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | Only front lowest mode |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 2050 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 1550 (75.6% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 180 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 396lux @ 4.716m = 8807cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 187.7 (104.3% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | front white – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | Side white: 3000 Front white: 5500-5900 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Trustfire |
| All my Trustfire 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
- Many features
- High CRI side COB lights
- Red, blue, and UV are all tucked away in the user interface
- Reasonable user interface once you play with it a bit
- Charging works quickly
What I don’t like
- Low CRI front emitters
- Very steep stepdown on turbo with the front emitters
- Built-in battery
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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