Wurkkos Golden WK03 Flashlight Review
The Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight features a 5000K Nichia 519a emitter and is a low-cost 18650-based light offering USB-C charging and a nice range of outputs.
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a link to the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight product page.
Versions
There seems to be just one version of the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight (specifically) but of course, there have been previous versions. I’ve even reviewed one of those with a Luminus SST-40. You can buy the package with or without the 18650 cell, though. It’s a $3 difference.
Price
As shown in this post, the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight sells for $20.99. You can get the light for under $18 but the cell is certainly worth the added $3. It’s available on Amazon too, and because of US-based shipping, that’s where Wurkkos recommends buying the Wurkkos Golden WK03 (referral link)! Wurkkos sent a coupon, too! It’s below, separated for easy copying. 🙂
NFSYVKYH
Use with Amazon front desk 20% coupon. Gold WK03 with battery only: $21.99
What’s Included
- Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight
- Wurkkos 3000mAh 18650
- Charging cable (USB to USB-C)
- Lanyard
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Spare tailcap (with magnet)
- Manual, etc.
Package and Manual
Note that this manual is for the Luminus SST-40 emitter version of the Wurkkos WK03 flashlight. So some of the specifications are not for the Nichia version.
Build Quality and Disassembly
The Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight is listed on the Wurkkos website as the “TLF” version – I searched but can’t see it in the text. That probably means Taschenlampen Forum and is likely a custom version for that group. Either way, this is a body color not often seen. It’s called “golden” but is as yellow as it is golden. I greatly appreciate the emitter that TLF users have gotten into this WK03!
Build quality is great, especially for a sub-$20 light.
Wurkkos includes a spare tailcap. The shorter one does not have a magnet and the longer one does. There are some knurling differences, too. Also interestingly, the tailcap for a Convoy S2+ fits on the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight, in case you just really need more tailcap options!
Both the tailcaps and the cell tube offer springs.
Size and Comps
Dimension: 101.5mm (length) × 24.7mm (head diameter)
Weight: 55g (without battery)
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 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 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
There’s a friction-fit pocket clip included for carrying the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight.
This is a pretty simple pocket clip but does attach securely and ships already attached.
Next up for carry is the included lanyard. This lanyard attaches through a hole in the tailcap. Each tailcap has a slightly different attachment (you can see that in some photos above.) The magnet tailcap allows tailstanding with the lanyard in place. The non-magnetic tailcap is wobbly with the lanyard.
The longer magnetic tailcap is perfectly strong enough to hold the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight.
Power and Runtime
The Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight operates on a single lithium-ion cell. I have a package that had a cell included. It’s a 3000mAh button top and is a completely standard cell.
The cell goes into the light in the “usual way” (which is to say that the positive terminal of the cell goes into the light).
Here are a number of runtime tests. This light appears to have the same driver as the WK03 I reviewed in 2022.
Low voltage protection is observed in all tests.
Charging
The Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight also has built-in charging, by way of a USB-C port on the head.
Wurkkos includes an A to C cable.
Charging works great and only takes around 2.25 hours to complete.
C-to-C charging even works great! Again, for <$20…
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 1800 | 2.3h | 821 (0s) 777 (30s) |
3.23 |
| High | 800 | 2.6h | 338 (0s) 331 (30s) |
1.00 |
| Medium | 350 | 6.3h | 107 | 0.38 |
| Low | 100 | 23h | 10.5 | 0.03 |
| Moon | 3 | 230h | 1.56 | [low] |
Pulse Width Modulation
Every mode uses PWM. It’s a fairly fast PWM and I can’t say I noticed it during use.
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
Control of the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight is performed through a single e-switch. This is a soft switch and has an indication function in the center.
The switch can indicate in green and red and flashing. When the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight is turned on, the switch will indicate the approximate battery level for around 5 seconds. Green means “good” and red means “poor” (or “low”). Flashing red means recharge immediately.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Hold | Moon |
| Off | Click | On (Mode Memory) |
| On | Hold | Mode advance (LMH) |
| Any | Double click | Turbo |
| Turbo or Strobe | Click | Previous state |
| Any | Click 3x | Strobe |
| Off | Click 4x | Lockout |
| Lockout | Click | Main emitter flashes 2x to indicate lockout |
| Lockout | Click 4x | Unlock (to mode memory) |
| Lockout | Hold | Momentary moonlight mode |
LED and Beam
The TLF edition of this WK03 uses a Nichia 519a emitter. This emitter is coupled with a TIR and offers a great beam profile.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
Claimed CCT is 5000K and the TLF Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight hits that on average. CRI is also very good. I happen to also love the beam profile, so this is a fantastic light for my tastes!
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
I (still) can’t even imagine how they make this light for such a low cost. Even the older version of WK03 that used a Luminus SST-40 was a great deal and now the light has a great emitter, without th need for modification? Fantastic deal. The build quality is good and charging works great. A complete package USB-C charging flashlight for around $20 seems crazy! Just to say it specifically, too: the High CRI Nichia 519a is wonderful in the Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight!
The Big Table
| Wurkkos Golden WK03 flashlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Nichia 519a (5000K) |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $20.99 buy it at Amazon.com! |
| 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 or without cell and/or tailcap: one mode |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 1200 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 777 (64.8% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 10.27 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 194 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 361lux @ 4.968m = 8910cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 188.8 (97.3% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | 5000 |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 4700-5100 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Wurkkos |
| All my Wurkkos 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 low cost!
- USB-C charging
- High CRI
- Beam profile from TIR and Nichia 519a
- C to C charging works great
- Very nice beam profile
- Cell included for just $2 extra, still around $20
- Indicating switch
What I don’t like
- I honestly don’t love the body color.
Notes
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The color also put me off. I’d be interested in the differences with the F11C with the improved efficiency buck driver.