Sofirn ST3 Review: 1,450-Lumen 3-in-1 EDC Penlight With Flood and Red Laser
Most pocket lights pick a lane: a tight hotspot, a soft flood, or a gimmick laser. The Sofirn ST3 tries to do all three. It is a slim EDC penlight with a magnetic mode switch that flips between a forward spotlight, a side flood you can warm or cool, and a 0.35 mW red laser. Sofirn has it live on its global store at $39.99 (marked down from $45.99), with estimated delivery November 9–18, 2026. This is a first look from Sofirn’s product page and its official ST3 user manual. We have not had one in hand, so nothing here is a test result.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission from Sofirn (and Amazon when a listing exists), at no extra cost to you. Specs and photos are from Sofirn unless noted. See our affiliate disclosure.
Quick verdict: buy or skip?
Buy it if you want one slim pocket tool that can throw a tight beam, wash a workbench with soft flood, and put a red aiming dot on something across a room — and you like the backup of dropping in two AA cells when the rechargeable is dead. At about $40 with a 14100 cell in the set, that is a lot of modes for the money.
If you only want a simple bright flashlight, you’d be paying for a laser and a flood channel you may never use. Sofirn rates the ST3 at 200 meters, which is fine for a yard or a parking aisle, not a long searchlight. And if you need UV instead of a laser, check which ST3 kit you are buying; Sofirn’s own store is the red-laser version.
What the ST3 actually is
Think penlight, not duty brick. Sofirn’s manual lists the body at 134.7 × 36.66 × 27.9 mm and about 127 g (the store page says 126.6 g). That is pocketable, with a reversible clip and a magnetic mode switch plus a touch button.
The switch is the whole point of the design. Slide it to pick spotlight, flood, or the red laser. Sofirn builds the body from AL6061-T6 aluminum with a sandblasted finish, rates it IPX6 for water, and rates a 1.5 m drop. Four clicks locks it so it does not turn on in your pocket.
Power is flexible in a useful way. Sofirn includes a 14100 lithium-ion cell (2,000 mAh) with USB-C on the cell — about 4.5 hours to charge at 5V/0.5A, per the manual. You can also run two AA cells for emergencies. Sofirn’s own warning is clear: never put two 14500 lithium cells in it.
What 1,450 lumens and 200 meters mean in real life
Lumens is the total amount of light. Beam distance is how far the useful beam reaches. Candela is how hard the hotspot hits — that is what decides reach.
Sofirn’s manual Table 1 rates the spotlight Turbo at 1,450 lumens stepping down to 450 lumens after 1 minute, then running about 1 hour 50 minutes more on that lower level. High is 350 lumens for 3 hours. Medium is 100 lumens for 11 hours. Low is 10 lumens for 75 hours. Moonlight is 1.5 lumens for 220 hours. Sofirn also rates the hotspot at 10,000 candela / 200 meters.
In plain words: Turbo is a short burst to light a whole backyard or find something across a dark lot. After that minute, you are on a still-bright 450-lumen level. For walking the dog or checking a fuse box, Medium or High will feel like everyday settings. If Turbo runtimes confuse you, our guide to reading flashlight runtime explains why the big number is a burst.
On two AA cells, Sofirn rates spotlight Turbo at 450 lumens for 1 hour 25 minutes — useful backup, not the same punch as the 14100.
The flood and the laser
Side flood. Sofirn rates flood Turbo at 440 lumens stepping to 150 lumens after 3 minutes, then about 2 hours 27 minutes more. The flood channel has stepless dimming and adjustable color temperature from 2700K (warm) to 6500K (cool white). That is the “workbench and tent” light — soft, tunable, and not trying to throw far.
Red laser (0.35 mW). Sofirn’s global store listing is the red-laser kit (Gray, Orange, or Green ST3 Set). Soft pointing and presentations are the honest use case. Treat it like any laser: do not aim it at eyes, aircraft, or traffic. Some retailers also mention a 365 nm UV version of the ST3 as a different kit. Sofirn.com’s listing is the laser kit, not UV. Buy the channel you actually want.
Key specs (from Sofirn)
All numbers below are Sofirn’s ratings from the official ST3 user manual Table 1 and the Sofirn.com product page, not our measurements.
| Spec | Sofirn rating |
|---|---|
| Spotlight Turbo | 1,450 → 450 lumens · 1 min + 1 h 50 min |
| Spotlight High / Med / Low / Moon | 350 lm / 3 h · 100 lm / 11 h · 10 lm / 75 h · 1.5 lm / 220 h |
| Throw (spotlight) | 10,000 cd · 200 m |
| Flood Turbo | 440 → 150 lumens · 3 min + 2 h 27 min; stepless dim; CCT 2700K–6500K |
| Red laser | 0.35 mW (Sofirn.com listing) |
| AA spotlight Turbo | 450 lumens · 1 h 25 min |
| Battery | 1× 14100 2000 mAh USB-C on cell (~4.5 h charge @ 5V/0.5A) or 2× AA (never two 14500s) |
| Size / weight | 134.7 × 36.66 × 27.9 mm · ~127 g (manual); store also lists 126.6 g |
| Build | AL6061-T6 · IPX6 · 1.5 m drop · magnetic mode switch + touch button · 4-click lockout |
| Price | $39.99 on Sofirn.com (was $45.99), checked Nov 6, 2026 |
The honest cons
- Turbo is a short burst. Sofirn’s own table shows the 1,450-lumen level lasting about a minute before it steps down. Plan around High or Medium for real use.
- Odd cell size. A 14100 is not as easy to find in a gas-station drawer as an 18650. The AA backup helps, but you will want a spare 14100 if this is your only light.
- Laser vs UV confusion. Some shops list a UV ST3. Sofirn’s own store sells the red-laser sets. Confirm the listing before you click Buy.
- Not a long thrower. 200 m / 10,000 cd is solid for a penlight, not a search light.
- US store lag. The ST3 is on Sofirn’s global store (and some retailers), but it may not show yet on the US Sofirn shop New Arrivals. Shipping windows may vary.
- No Amazon listing yet. Order from Sofirn if you want one now.
Who it’s for (and who should skip it)
Good fit: pocket EDC folks who want spot plus soft flood in one slim body, DIYers who like a warm-to-cool flood for close work, travelers who want AA backup, and anyone who will actually use a low-power red laser for pointing. Also a fair gift if the person already owns a boring one-mode penlight.
Skip it if: you want one simple bright light for power outages, a belt duty light, or a long-range search beam. Our best EDC flashlights page and kit builder are better starting points for those jobs.
How it compares
- Wurkkos K1: another multi-channel EDC idea (spot, flood, ambient glow) on a more common 18650-class setup. The K1 is the “pretty beam and high-CRI flood” pick. The ST3 is the thinner penlight with AA backup and a laser channel.
- Wurkkos HD02 PRO: if you want UV and red plus a real work-light brick for the garage, this is the bench tool. Bigger than the ST3. Pick HD02 PRO for shop work; pick the ST3 for pocket carry.
- Sofirn ST2: Sofirn’s earlier flat multi-light with a rotatable head — we mention it in our kit guide as an under-the-sink / magnet option. Different shape. The ST3 is the slim penlight version of the “more than white light” idea.
- Acebeam H18: if you want hands-free headlamp light instead of a pocket penlight, the H18 is a different tool entirely (right-angle 21700). Not a rival for the same pocket.
FAQ
What battery does the Sofirn ST3 use?
Sofirn’s included cell is a 14100 lithium-ion (2,000 mAh) with USB-C charging on the cell. You can also run two AA cells. Never use two 14500 lithium cells — Sofirn warns against that. Our 18650 vs 21700 vs AA guide covers the common sizes; 14100 is a smaller cousin of the 14500 class.
Is the Sofirn ST3 waterproof?
Sofirn rates it IPX6. That means it should shrug off heavy rain and splashes. It is not a dive light.
How far does the ST3 shine?
Sofirn rates the spotlight at 200 meters (10,000 candela). That is roughly two football fields end to end in ideal conditions — plenty for a yard or parking lot, not a hillside search.
Does it have UV or a laser?
Sofirn.com’s ST3 listing sells the 0.35 mW red-laser kits. Some other shops list a 365 nm UV configuration. They are not both in one light at once. Read the product title before you buy.
Should you buy it?
If you want a slim ~$40 penlight that can spot, flood, and put a red dot on a target — with AA backup when the rechargeable dies — the Sofirn ST3 looks like a clever, honestly useful multi-tool. If you just need a bright simple light, skip the extra channels and buy something simpler. Either way, check the Sofirn listing for the laser vs UV kit you actually want, and remember Turbo is a one-minute burst on Sofirn’s own chart.
Sources: Sofirn ST3 product page and the official Sofirn ST3 user manual (Table 1). Comparison figures come from our own reviews, which cite each maker. Checked November 6, 2026. All photos: Sofirn.
