4Sevens Quark MiNi 123 R5
The first thing you notice when you look at the MiNi 123 is that is really is mini. 4Sevens wasn't joking about miniaturizing: I haven't seen a smaller CR123A flashlight. Here's a picture of it in hand to give you a sense of just how small it is.
While 4Sevens' Quark series comes packaged slightly nicer than normal, the MiNi series has some of the nicest packaging I've seen. It looks and feels good - I would say it is a top choice for a gift.
Build Quality
As with all other 4Sevens flashlights I have inspected, the MiNi 123 is distinguished by flawless fit and finish. However, it differs in that the threading is not square, a design that is thought to improve strength and wear resistance. The LED is, as always, perfectly aligned.
The knurling is rougher than most, affording a good grip. And, of course, we have the emblazoned 4Sevens logo.
The light comes clean and well lubricated. That, in combination with the fact that the threads are cut somewhat loose, yields an effortless twisting mechanism. However, the contact could be cleaner: if the head isn't snugly tightened the light will flicker. While the build quality is not lacking, the design may be, as this issue can be overcome by using a retractable pin to make contact, seen on some higher quality twisting flashlights.
The bottom spring is not attached in any way. While the battery holds it in place in use, it did come loose in the mail.
Interface
The MiNi features the same interface as the preon: 3 modes switched by tuning the light off and quickly back on, and three hidden modes accessed by switching modes quickly three times. While the interface worked flawlessly on the Preon, it could be tweaked for the MiNi. The main issue is the contact noise mentioned above, which can also cause it to switch modes.
The light always starts in low, so it is fortunate that low is not "ultralow", but a solid five lumens, which is enough to walk around in the dark without disturbing night vision. The only instance where this is too high is if you want to retain night vision and look at objects only a few feet away, or if you want to avoid waking somebody else up.
It is possible to operate the flashlight with only one hand, but awkward because of its length. However, as I mentioned before, the twisting action is as easy as it gets; there is no design flaw, only the fact that it's harder to use smaller lights.
Output
The MiNi is not built to be a screamer, but it does take advantage of its cutting edge XPG R5 LED. The spot is larger than most, with a decent corona and wide spill.
| Lux at 1m | |
|---|---|
| 4Sevens Quark MiNi 123 | 2150 |
Compared to its big brothers, the 123 Regular and Tactical, the MiNi has a slightly larger spot, more abrupt corona, and cooler tint.
Verdict
The MiNi 123 lives up to its name - it really is one of, if not the, smallest CR123A flashlight around. The fit and finish as well as output are above average; however, the interface is marred by the noisy contact inherent to twisting switches. All around, the MiNi 123 manages a lot for its size and a great size for its lot, but it is not perfect.