Sofirn SP40 vs Sofirn HS40
Quick take: The Sofirn SP40 costs $3 less; the Sofirn HS40 is brighter (2,000 vs 1,200 lm); the Sofirn HS40 throws farther (184m vs 173m).
| Spec | Sofirn SP40 | Sofirn HS40 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25 | $28 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Headlamp | Headlamp |
| Lumens | 1,200 lm | 2,000 lm |
| Candela | 7,500 cd | 8,500 cd |
| Beam distance | 173m | 184m |
| Runtime | 2 hrs (high) | 2 hrs (high) |
| Battery | 18650 | 18650 |
| LED | LH351D 5000K | SST-40 5000K |
| Beam type | Flood | Flood |
| Modes | 4 Stepped | 4 Stepped |
| UI | Simple | Simple |
| IP rating | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| CRI | 90 | 70 |
| Weight | 2.2 oz | 2.5 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.1 x 1.0 in | 4.2 x 1.1 in |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
What owners report
Sofirn SP40
- ✓Magnetic base turns it into a stick-anywhere work light off the headband
- ✓Aircraft-grade aluminium with machining quality well beyond the price
- ✓Four genuinely useful brightness levels, with a very bright 1,200 lumen turbo
- ✓Headband comfort improved over earlier Sofirn models
- ✓Long-standing reputation as the best-value 18650 headlamp with onboard charging
- ✗Micro-USB charging rather than USB-C — the clearest sign of its age
- ✗Output is unregulated and tracks the cell voltage down
- ✗No strobe or SOS mode at all
- ✗The head strap is thinner than premium brands'
- ✗Superseded by newer Sofirn headlamps with USB-C and better emitters
Sofirn HS40
- ✓Ships with both 18650 and 18350 tubes — long runtime or light on the head
- ✓Buck driver with better regulation than earlier Sofirn headlamps
- ✓USB-C port sits nearly flush under its plug
- ✓Simple interface with nothing to learn
- ✓Right-angle body works as a headlamp and as a work light
- ✗The button is on the end rather than the side, so no pinch activation
- ✗Less independently reviewed than Sofirn's headline headlamps
- ✗No high-CRI option in the standard configuration
- ✗18350 tube trades most of the runtime for the weight saving
- ✗Basic feature set with no secondary emitter