Small EDC: Quark MiniX vs Olight i1

[CR123]

I'm a fan of 4Sevens lights but kept hesitating over a MiniX as an XM-L EDC because, while I like the design, its levels just didn't suit me. 1.2 lumens is moonlight, not a useful "low" to me (I realize there was a small initial run with brighter low but I missed those). And on high, 210 lumens gives bragging rights but 1 hr isn't a great runtime. So... I just discovered the (relatively) new Olight i1, presumably a close cousin from the same factory, and found it fits my needs very well. 4 lumens is a nice low mode, while 180 is plenty bright on high (who could tell it from 210? not me) while still giving 1.75 hrs runtime.

Both lights tailstand and seem very similar, especially after stripping off the i1's awkward keychain loop and marginally useful clip. (Put the screws back in, and they'll still keep the light from rolling off a table as the Quark will.) The i1 lacks blinking modes, but Quark's aren't useful to me anyway (I would only ever use a uniform moderate speed blink, the one thing they don't have). And the i1 is less expensive.

So the i1 makes a nice alternative to the MiniX, especially if your tastes are similar to mine.

 

[ti-force]

4sevens actually sent me an Olight i1 for review (although I haven't finished my review yet) and I've finished runtime testing on this light. I also have a 4sevens MiniX that I purchased for personal use. I decided to compare the two and here are my results.

Both lights were tested using new, unused CR123 primaries:

 

[nilfire77]

Just to add.. The anodizing on the MiniX seems a notch better..

 

[vbxt]

I've got a stainless steel Olight i1, and I just want to add that it runs great on 3.7v RCR123a batteries. The high is extremely bright, and you still retain the low and medium settings just like with a primary CR123a. It seems to have some kind of thermal management (or I'm just ruining the light). On high with RCR123a's the heat builds quickly, but then it plateaus and the light output diminishes slightly.

 

[CR123]

I decided to compare the two and here are my results.

Thanks for that. The very similar results of your test suggest that what we have here is not after all a meaningful difference in runtimes on high, but in how runtimes are defined by Olight (to no output at all) vs 4Sevens (to a significant drop from max). In any case, the i1 is a lot of light for the money and I like it.

 

[ti-force]

Thanks for that. The very similar results of your test suggest that what we have here is not after all a meaningful difference in runtimes on high, but in how runtimes are defined by Olight (to no output at all) vs 4Sevens (to a significant drop from max). In any case, the i1 is a lot of light for the money and I like it.

Agreed. The i1 is definitely a good buy. They are both nice lights. If the cost of the Minix makes much difference to you, then you should know that 4sevens has it on sale right now for close to the same money as the i1. If you apply the 4sevens discount (must be a marketplace member) you can get it for $40 shipped. Not trying to persuade you one way or another, just thought I'd point out the sale to you.

 

[Tiggercat]

I have had both, and consider both to be excellent, although I prefer the i1 in stainless. It's really a beautiful light, and I like the anti-roll capability the clip provides.

Sent from my AT100 using Tapatalk

 

[CR123]

... I prefer the i1 in stainless. It's really a beautiful light...

I actually got a few of those too, to give as gifts and yes, they're snappy looking. The one thing I don't like is the head seems a bit harder to turn. It's not the gritty-thread problem that Ti lights have; it just feels stiffer than the Al version, and I notice that esp. with one-handed use. (Turns out selfbuilt pointed this out in his review here.) I've been trying to figure out why. It seems to start screwing on just fine, then meets more resistance at the end -- which, unfortunately, is where you actually operate it. There is lube there, but my best guess is for some reason the steel head is a tighter fit over the O-ring.

 

[pinetree89]

I've got an i1 and a Mini, albeit the XP-G version. They're both excellent lights to be sure. As far as the chassis, I like the Mini just bit better due to it's knurling. Makes a twisty easier to twist, although I like the more refined looks of the i1. I do like the clip of the i1. I usually clip it on my jeans coin pocket.

Overall I really love the form factor of these small 1ea CR123 lights. I EDC my i1, Mini 123, and Fenix E15 quite often. They fit in your pocket so well and pack enough punch and runtime for most circumstances.