Preface Official Specs Versions Price Short Review Long Review What's Included Manual and Packaging Build Quality and Durability Size Retention Power User Interface and Operation Modes LED and beam Tint vs... Beamshots, Runtime, etc table. Comparisons Conclusion What I like What I don't like Up Next Notes
Preface
I tend to like Rofis lights. They’re well made, very functional, and more often than not, just neat little lights. So I was excited when this MR30 showed up in the mail – the MR70 is still my go-to powerbank travel light. The MR30 is smaller with the same capacity, and loses the side light (which I never really used anyway). I’m excited to put it to the test!
Official Specs and Features
Versions
There’s just one version.
Price
This one’s going for $50.99 at GearBest at the moment.
Short Review
It’s an easy choice to replace my MR70 with the MR30 for a travel flashlight/powerbank combo. The MR30 is as good, smaller, and easier to carry than the MR70! Aside from MR70 comparisons, I just like it in general! It’s could be a good toe-in-the-water for your first 21700 light, since it includes a cell and has charging.
Long Review
What’s Included
- Rofis MR30 Flashlight Powerbank combo
- Rofis 5000mAh 21700 cell
- Nylon pouch
- Lanyard (with install-helper)
- Spare o-rings (2)
- Spare charge port cover
- Charge cable (USB to micro-USB)
- Powerbank cable (micro-USB to female USB)
- Manual and paperwork
Package and Manual
The package has a window displaying the light, and a bunch of specs included. GearBest has added their inventory sticker.
The box includes output and runtime specs, too.
The manual is fine, and covers the needed information. It’s a big sheet of paper, with many languages.
Build Quality and Disassembly
This is quite a solid light. There’s absolutely zero cell rattle. The anodizing feels like good quality thick anodizing.
I’m not a huge fan of this knurling, but it does provide adequate grip for keeping the light from slipping out of your hand.
The fins on the head are moderately deep, and are needed; the light warms considerably on Turbo.
The threads on the tail end of the light are fairly smooth, and possibly too coated with lube. They’re anodized too, allowing for easy mechanical lockout.
I could not remove the cell tube from the body; possibly there’s Loctite holding it in place. Both head and tail have springs, and the tailspring is quite thick. In fact it’s these springs that hold the cell in place and prevent rattle – there’s around 1mm of play around the cell when the tailcap is off (which is fine, of course).
Size
Officially 120.6mm x 29.8mm (head) x 28mm (tail). It’s not a “small” light.
But for example, if you are comfortable carrying a Convoy S2+, then the MR30 shouldn’t be that big of an increase in discomfort. I carry it very comfortably where I always carry my 18650 lights (back pocket beside wallet).
Retention
A nylon pouch is included. It’s a good pouch, with a metal d-ring, and a snap-over-belt loop, too. The light will fit in either orientation, made easier by removing the pocket clip.
The pocket clip is a standard friction fit clip, reversible for bezel up or down carry.
Bezel up leaves much too much of the light out of the pocket, but it is possible.
And finally, the lanyard attaches through the tailcap. Or, if you trust the pocket clip, it’s possible to connect the lanyard in a couple of places on the clip, too. (The clip is quite snug, but I didn’t require a helper to remove it; use the lanyard here at your own risk.)
Power
Rofis kindly includes the cell required for this light. That’s a 21700 cell, and in this case a 5000mAh capacity one. That’s a very nice addition, since many users probably are just adopting 21700 cells now. This particular cell is a flat top, protected cell (protection circuit on negative end.)
The cell states “overcharge and discharge protection”, and that it’s for “high-drain devices.”
And it’s in an orange wrapper, so it’s clearly a superior cell.
Here’s a runtime on Turbo. These stepdowns are likely timed, and notably match the pictured runtime on the Rofis site. The stepdowns are truly unfortunate, since I think the light could handle much more at much higher output. It does output ~1500 lumens for a solid minute, however.
Runtime on High isn’t much different, except for the 1 minute of Turbo output. Interestingly the step of ~500 lumen output lasts longer on High than on Turbo, so overall the total runtime is longer on Turbo.
In my testing, the light gives a 3.0V switch warning (red flash), and at 2.4V the light switches off completely.
The MR30 has on-board charging, too. There’s a micro-USB port on the head, covered by a very secure rubber boot.
Charging happens at over 1.5A, which is solid, and takes around 3.5 hours.
Rofis includes a charge cable. Also seen below is the out cable, which is used for the powerbank function.
Here’s a pretty crude graph of the USB out. The output can be as high as 2.5ish Amps, at which point the output will shut off. At 1A, the ouptut is very stable and stays at around 5V (good). Output at 2A is even nearly as good, with just a minor dip to around 4.9V (also still good). So overall, this is good for charging things like phones, or larger devices. With the large capacity (5000mAh) included cell, makes for a great powerbank.
The indicating switch will also warn you of the power left in the cell when being used as a powerbank:
4 Green flashes: >80%
3 Green flashes: 50-79%
2 Green flashes: 20-49%
1 Green flash: <20%
When the battery power is less than 2%, the light will stop working.
I wanted to know how close the cell actually measured to the 5000mAh claim, so I did a 0.2A discharge to 2.8V.
Surprisingly, the capacity tested a fair bit higher than claimed, at 5322mAh.
That translates into over 19Wh, too. Not bad at all.
User Interface and Operation
There’s a single switch on the MR30. It’s a side e-switch, with an indicating led in the center. It’s a rubber switch, too. It has a great size, and there’s just a very tiny bit of reveal – not so much that it’s easy to accidentally press, but not recessed, either.
Here’s a UI table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click | On (Mode memory) |
| Any | Double Click | Turbo |
| Any | Triple Click | Strobe |
| On | Hold | Mode cycle (LMH) |
| Off | Hold 3s | Switch indicating locator beacon (red) |
| Off | Hold >4s | Lockout (signified by double flash of main emitter) |
| Locator Beacon | Click | Beacon off |
| Lockout | Hold >4s | Low |
| Strobe | Hold 1s | SOS |
| Any | Click | Off |
Modes
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens | Tailcap Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 1600/750/450 | 1m/6m/450m | 1494 | 3.85 |
| High | 750/450 | 6m/279m | 758 | 1.35 |
| Mid | 200 | 15.8h | 178 | 0.25 |
| Low | 20 | 88h | 20 | 0.01 |
LED and Beam
The emitter here is the Cree XHP35 HI, and it’s under a orange peel reflector. There’s quite a bit of spot in the beam, with minimal (but usable on all levels) spill.
Tint vs BLF-348 (Killzone 219b version)
Beamshots, Runtime, and Lux Measurements
| Rofis MR30 | |
|---|---|
| Emitter | Cree XHP 35 HI |
| Emitter Notes | |
| Cell | 21700 |
| Runtime | Chargetime |
| LVP? | |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 1600 |
| Lux (Measured) | 1030 lux @ 5.035 m |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd | 26111.8 |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 323.2 |
| Throw (Claimed) (m) | 335 |
Random Comparisons and Competitive Options….
There’s really nothing else that compares in the 21700 format. Much less an option that serves as a powerbank. The Acebeam EC65 has the same format and emitters, but that’s a quad, so a very different light. (I’ll be reviewing the EC65 in Nichia in the coming weeks).
Conclusion
What I like
- 21700 format is appealing to me
- Great function as a powerbank
- Output is good, and hits the targets
What I don’t like
- Timed stepdowns (or heavy stepdowns, whatever the case)
- If it was just a shade shorter, it’d be a better edc size
- Tint of this XHP35 HI leaves something to be desired
Up Next
I’ll likely have two chargers by XTAR for tomorrow, and Friday is undecided! Stay tuned!
Notes
- This light was provided by GearBest for review. I was not paid to write this review.
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.wordpress.com. Please visit there for the best experience!
- Whether or not I have a coupon for this light, I do have a bunch of coupons!! Have a look at my spreadsheet for those coupons. It’s possible to subscribe and get notifications when the sheet is edited!!
