Preface
After an ongoing discussion here about the smallest 18650 light available, I talked Kathy at GearBest into sending one of those DQG Tiny 18650 lights. At the same time, she included the DQG Fairy. I’ve reviewed a similar light before – the CooYoo Quantum. These are fun little lights, but let’s put it through some paces to see how it looks.
Coupons
- NATURAL WHITE –Coupon: DQGNW Price: $16.69
- WHITE –Coupon: DQGW Price: $15.99
Official Specs:
| Spec | – |
|---|---|
| Lamp Beads | Cree XP-G2 |
| Beads Number | 1 x Cree XP-G2 |
| Lumens Range | 1-200Lumens |
| Luminous Flux | 120Lm |
| Switch Type | Rotary Switch |
| Feature | Lightweight,Reverse Polarity Protection,Anti-Roll Rugged Design |
| Function | Walking,Household Use |
| Battery Type | 10180 |
| Battery Quantity | 1 (not included) |
| Mode | 2 (High > Low) |
| Power Source | Battery |
| Reflector | No |
| Lens | Glass Lens |
| Body Material | Aluminium Alloy |
| Available Light Color | White,Natural White |
| Available color | Gold |
| Mode | Output (lm) | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 4 | 5h |
| High | 10 | 15m |
Versions
There are two versions of this light: Cool (Cree XP G2 R5 1A 6500K) and Neutral (Cree XP G2 R5 4C 4500K). Otherwise the lights are exactly the same. There are also some verrrry similar lights also made by DQG, like the Spy. Same emitter but only available in NW, and there are two metal options: brass and stainless steel. That 10180 light also has quite a bit of knurling. The ‘reflectors’ are similar though, so these lights are basically the same functionally. Truth be told I was nearly sure there is a titanium version, but for the life of me I can’t find it now. (Note the package has check boxes for many other materials, but those checkboxes could be for ANY DQG light.)
Short Review
This is a great light for keychain use, and it nearly disappears in a pocket (even a coin pocket). The amount of light is limited, and there’s no reflector so it’s all flood, but for handling keys or unlocking a door or simple close-range tasks like that, this light is great. As a novelty, this light is even better. 🙂
Long Review
What’s Included
- DQG Fairy
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Manual
Pictures
Here are some glamour shots, some beamshots, and a runtime on high.
Package and Manual
This light comes in a very simple package – a thin cardboard box, with a sticker describing the contents. There’s a generic sticker label on the box, with the appropriate boxes ticked. This is a sticker useful for many DQG lights, so it’s on many DQG boxes (Fairy, Tiny, etc).
The manual is a one sided ordeal: one side in English and one in Chinese. Quite verbose for a two stage twisty light, but it’s thorough, and like the sticker on the package, includes the UI for all the DQG lights.
Build Quality, Disassembly, and Durability
The Fairy is a wonderfully machined piece of brass. It’s nicely brushed and the threads are smooth, allowing easy operation. There is a laser (?) etched logo and model name on the head end of the light. For lack of a better place to put this info, the Fairy has tritium slots! They’re on the tail end, near the post for the split ring, there is one slot on either side of the post. There’s a hole on the body of the light for slipping/gluing in the tritium. What a nice touch!
There’s not a lot to disassemble on this light. There is a lens, but no bezel, so everything is dumped into the light from one side. There are no springs as the cell fits inside perfectly with no wiggle. There’s a soft donut for protection, though.
On a light so small as this, there’s few places that this light can lack durability. The lens is tiny enough that it’s not even exposed much to accidents. The finish is bare brass, which will probably patina slightly, but won’t chip off as anodizing might. And the body is sealed snugly by an o-ring. So durability is great.
Size
Very, very small. It’s smaller than my Streamlight Nano coin cell light. (Also it uses rechargeables instead of coin cells, which is a win.)
Here’s vs the CooYoo Quantum, which is also a 10180 light, and also small. It has built in charging, though. And an emitter comparison vs the Quantum and the Streamlight Nano (a light I just never liked at all.) And here’s a shot with some general lights you may know and love.
Retention
There’s an attach point for a split ring, and a very small one is included. There’s not much else, nor is there really room for much else. The Fairy will tail stand but just barely.
Power
The DQG Fairy is powered by a single 10180 cell. It does not come with that cell, however, so be aware of that. I happen to have one on hand from my review of the CooYoo Quantum. Fortunately the Qantum also charges these cells – otherwise you’d need to include in your purchase, the charger that screws on to the cell compartment of the Fairy. Note that it replaces the head of the light; they aren’t screwed on at the same time. Essentially you use the tail of this light for both the light itself, and for the charger itself. That charger charges at 50 or 200mA, which is probably a good choice for these tiny cells.
I did rutime test this light and stopped when the output got very low. I tested the cell at 2.58V. Even then there was light coming out, so this light clearly doesn’t have low voltage protection.
User Interface and Operation
The Fairy is a twisty. To operate, twist a little for low, and more for high. I don’t often care for this type of twisty (preferring the type that must be twisted off and back on to switch modes) but the twist action on this Fairy is quite nice, and the modes seem to have stayed separated by the same amount of twist throughout my use period.
LED and Beam
DQG chose to put a Cree XP-G2 in the Fairy, and there are two tint options. Of course I opted for the warm 4500K. It’s a very nice tint. The beam is essentially all flood – this isn’t a mule but it’s very nearly so. There’s a bit of a concave around the LED, but it’s actually machined brass, so likely doesn’t direct light whatsoever.
The beam is good for close up tasks, but doesn’t reach much further.
Beamshots, Runtime, and Lux Measurements
This runtime is probably about like you’d guess, but to my surprise the Fairy produced usable light for much longer than rated. There is no low voltage protection, however.
| DQG | Fairy |
|---|---|
| Emitter | Cree XP-G2 |
| Emitter Notes | R5 4C |
| Cell | 10180 |
| Runtime | 10180 |
| Beamshots [0.3″, f/8, ISO 100, 5000k] | 10180 |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 120 |
| Lux (Measured) | 172 |
| At (m) | 0.69 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd | 81.8892 |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 18.09853033 |
| Throw (Claimed) (m) | – |
Random Comparisons and Competitive Options….
There are a slew of 10180 lights, but if your goal is the smallest then you basically have to pick this DQG Fairy (or the Spy, if you prefer knurling).
Conclusion
What I like
- Size
- Tint is good
- Tritium slots
- It’s quite useful for it’s category of usefulness
- Brass is a great choice
- This is simply a fun little light
What I don’t like
- Lack of an included cell
- Lack of internal charging (or charger included)
Final Thoughts
As far as fun lights go, this is probably one of the more accessible lights. It’ll be fun to carry around (as a third or fourth light) and showing it off is fun and rewarding. It shows off what’s out there and available to people who might not always know why we are into flashlights. And non-flashlight-aholics can play with this light without blinding themselves, which is always a bonus.
Parting Shot
The Fairy compares nicely with some other brass I have on hand. Throw isn’t quite as good though.
Coupons
– NATURAL WHITE –Coupon: DQGNW Price: $16.69
– WHITE –Coupon: DQGW Price: $15.99
GearBest Black Friday Sale (Nov 24-28)
LED LIGHT & Flashlight @ Black Friday Sale
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