Grzybek Reviews

Wuben X3 Version Comparison | Prototype vs New

Table of contents

Intro

Wuben X3 started out on Kickstarter. That’s when the prototype version was showcased, of which many reviews have already appeared on forums.

Not long ago, the X3 has been officially released, now with an updated version which changed a few details that I will cover in this post.

Shape and build

Prototype | Black | White

Prototype | New version

In the previous version, the screen “glass” would stick out a bit and cause the sharp edges to be noticable under the finger. In the new version it’s flush with the body.

From what I can see, the screen’s “glass” is actually made out of plastic on both versions. The new version’s plastic seems to be thinner, it bends a lot more when pushed on, which makes me worried it might get punctured or bend into the flashlight on accident.
On the prototype it doesn’t seem to give in and bend as much.

Both white versions have a GITD body.

The charging case is now aluminium, not plastic.

Unlike the prototype version of the X3, the new version uses pogo pins inside the case to charge the flashlight. That’s a welcome change, as wireless charging isn’t very efficient.

The new X3 version is also available with a charging base.

Magnets in the new version can’t be unscrewed or removed.

Changes in the UI

Current UI of the new X3:

  • 20lm red light strobe mode was removed.
  • Red light now has 2 modes – 1lm and 80lm.
  • A lockout mode was added, activated by pressing the switch 4 times.

Beam shape

The releave version of the X3 now uses a new optic which creates a smoother beam profile.

New version | Prototype

Beamshots

The prototype X3 has a bit more range compared to the new X3, but the beam is slightly more focused and not as smooth.
(below I accidently named the prototype X3 as “Kickstarter X3”)

Measurements and graphs

TurboLumensRangecd/lm*
New X3 – 0s552lm82m3,0
New X3 – 30s (ANSI)180lm48m3,2
Prototype X3 – 0s524lm96m4,4
Prototype X3 – 30s (ANSI)169lm55m4,5
Candela/lumen ratio explanation

A good way to determine the beam profile of a flashlight is to divide its candela (cd) by the lumens (lm) it produces. In return, we will get the cd/lm ratio. Here’s an approximate scale of what those values mean:

  • 0.1 cd/lm: light bulb
  • 1-3: flooder
  • 5-15: balanced EDC-style beam
  • 30: compact thrower
  • 100: dedicated thrower
  • 500+: extreme thrower
  • 10000: laser

Conclusion

The new updated version of the X3 has improved the build quality and made a few changes to the UI and smoothed out the beam profile.
There’s also a charging base available, if you don’t need the additional capacity of the case.

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