A reliable flashlight is a must-have in any camera bag. The Wuben X4 tries something different, with its unique rectangular design, powerful main beam, and versatile side light. It promises to be a versatile light, but does the pursuit of doing everything compromise its performance?
I’ve been trying out a range of lights over the last few weeks, trying to find the perfect options to update my setup with. Wuben’s unique lighting form factors have been interesting, and I recently shared my experience with the compact G5 and pen-light PL01. Those very compact lights are great for tasks at arm’s length, but wouldn’t be sufficient to light a whole hike. The X4, with 1,500 lm turbo and an 18650 battery, pushes into “regular flashlight” territory while still bringing some non-standard features.
Build and Design
The first thing you notice about the X4 is its shape. Skipping the traditional tube design, Wuben has opted for a flat, rectangular body that feels dense and durable in the hand, albeit at a minor cost to comfort. The all-metal construction gives it a premium feel and an IP68 waterproof rating, meaning it can handle an accidental drop in a puddle or a dusty environment without issue. The angular design is very pocketable and prevents it from rolling away, but it feels distinctly different from a more standard round flashlight.
Wuben’s unique approach extends to the controls. A three-position slide switch on the side selects the primary mode: Main Light, Side Light, or Lock. Once a mode is selected, pressing the electronic side switch turns the light on and off, while a rotary dial surrounding the switch allows you to jump between brightness levels. It’s an intuitive system that provides good control over the output, but it doesn’t function exactly like a dimmer switch, as it steps between defined levels.
For quick access to max power, a tactical switch on the tail instantly activates the 1,500-lumen turbo mode from regular lighting modes, or it can also trigger the “moonlight” mode if you just need to look in your bag. If you’re in a rush, getting to turbo from off can be a bit tricky. You have to stop at the middle detents on the sliding switch, with the last detent only triggering moonlight.
Instead of a traditional screw-off tailcap, the X4 has a hinged, locking door that makes swapping the battery quick and easy. The light features a USB-C charging port, which is revealed by sliding the main mode switch. It’s a smart, integrated design choice that keeps the port relatively protected from the elements.
Performance
In my testing, the X4 proved to be a capable performer, albeit with some caveats for picky eyes. The main light, powered by four LEDs with a mix of spot and flood optics, produces a useful, all-purpose beam. At its peak, it throws out a powerful 1,500 lumens, which is more than enough to light up a distant subject or scan a large area. After a short burst, it steps down to 400 lumens, providing consistent, usable light for extended periods.
However, the quality of that light is a mixed bag. The beam’s color temperature is on the cooler side, and its color rendering index (CRI) is fairly low. For general use like navigating a trail, this is perfectly fine. While warmer, higher-CRI beams are generally preferred by flashlight aficionados, this beam is still very usable. The all-in-one beam profile is convenient, with a mix of flood and throw. I did find myself wishing for a way to select just the flood or throw LEDs for more specific tasks, though.
The X4 has more than just that front-facing beam. The side light offers both a warmer 4000K white light and a full range of RGB colors. The warm white light is particularly useful. Combined with the strong magnetic base in the tail, you can stick the X4 to any ferrous surface to create a hands-free area light for changing lenses or setting up gear. It’s bright enough at 100 lumens to flood a personal workspace area and can be dialed down to just 1 lumen.
The side light also supports RGB lighting with user-selectable colors, but as this is just a color wash-style beam, it’s pretty limited in functionality.
Powering all this is a standard, user-replaceable 3,400 mAh 18650 battery. This is a big advantage over lights with proprietary or built-in batteries. You can carry multiple spares and swap them in the field without waiting for a recharge. The higher-capacity 18650 cell also means you get many hours of runtime at even bright output levels. When you do need to charge, the USB-C port enables through-device charging, and the RGB side lights double as a convenient battery status indicator.
Who’s It For?
The Wuben X4 is a jack of all trades. It’s small and light enough to be an everyday carry light, delivering both a beam perfect for lighting a hike and flood lighting suited for changing lenses or studying a map. The optional bike mount can be easily repurposed to attach the light to any pole, giving you a small, positionable light source in a pinch.
While the choices of LED temperature and CRI might leave flashlight fans a bit disappointed, the more general audience will find that this light does a lot of work for a sub-$50 MSRP. The use of a standard 18650 battery is a win compared to built-in batteries. For creators looking for a compact, tough, and adaptable light to handle a wide range of tasks, the Wuben X4 is an option worth considering. It’s available now from Amazon, in white, grey, and black.
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