Why those modes? Anduril 2 has 150 levels, so doing measurements and tests for each mode is virtually impossible. I’ve got this light set up how I like it with 5 levels. Bottom of ramp is level 1 and top of ramp is level 100. I’ve set up the stepped ramp with 4 steps so, with turbo added, I get the 5 modes I like. After testing, I raised the ramp ceiling to level 120 to get the middle modes to be a little brighter. Sofirn has used four Cree XHP50.2 emitters in the Q8 Pro. Mine are 5000K, but the most available option is 6500K. Charging is facilitated by a USB-C port on the side of the light. It’s covered by Sofirn’s excellent port cover they use on many of their lights. It’s the best rubber port cover design I’ve come across. USB C-to-C charging cables work fine and it can also function as a powerbank. Charging from empty took six hours from a 5V 3A source which is pretty slow, but supporting USB-PD charging protocol for faster speeds would increase the price so I can live with the slow charging. The light can’t be powered by the USB port alone. The batteries must be installed for it to work, but it can be used while charging which is nice. Competition Sofirn Q8 Pro: predecessor to Q8 Plus, four LED’s instead of six, four 18650 batteries instead of three 21700 batteries, I measured about half the output of Q8 Plus from Q8 Pro, stainless steel bezel

This section is not comprehensive. If I didn’t include a particular light here, it doesn’t mean it’s bad or doesn’t deserve to be here. I simply cannot list every possible competitor. Conclusion The Anduril firmware is an open-source firmware developed for flashlights. It is designed to provide advanced control and customization options, offering a high degree of flexibility and functionality. The Q8 Plus has mode memory. Mode memory means that the flashlight will remember the mode you were using when the light was last turned off, and when you turn it on again. The ramping mode of the Q8 Plus is intuitive, and lets you seamlessly ramp the output up and down over almost the entire output range. Super Bright & Extremely Powerful: Sofirn Q8 Plus is equipped with 6* XHP50B LEDs. At the 16000-lumen turbo mode, the throw distance can reach 554 meters. In addition, the Q8 Plus can achieve a run time of 2.6 hours with repeated use of turbo mode (subject to ATR). This beam profile illuminates a large area with a balanced, useful light at five brightness settings. It is a perfect outdoor companion.Button top cells are required for the BLF Q8 Plus. You also want high-drain cells. These cells are in a parallel configuration, so keeping them married is not as important (as if they were in series) but it’s still a good idea to keep them very similar. That’s better for the cells and safer for you, so just do it. I didn’t test this feature too much but I can say a few things. First, and seen most easily on the second graph below, is that the USB-C port can output well over 3A.

Thermal regulation: works really well. Anduril 2 has some of the best thermal regulation available. It actively raises/lowers the brightness of the light in response to temperature fluctuations to ensure you get as much brightness as possible without overheating. Performance: Turbo is very very bright for a few seconds after turn-on and it gets hot very very fast. High mode lasts a respectable 3 minutes at 4000 lumens before stepping down. Medium runtime is a very impressive 14+ hours. For the Turbo Cooled test I raised the thermal limit to 70C (the max allowed in the firmware) and directed a desk fan straight at the light on its highest setting. The Sofirn Q8 Pro is not for the small handed. I am 6’2” and 215 pounds (Thanks holiday food!) and it fits well in my hands, but dwarfs the hands of my children. That being said, in my hands, it feels quite good. The knurling gives quite a lot of grip so I had no fear of it falling (again), even though it is very smooth. Another great way to tell, thanks to a reader is to see what the lowest level of ramping is. Advanced UI has a quite low low. Simple UI has a much higher “lowest level.” LED and BeamMeasurement 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’s Included