YLP Scorpion X8

The Product

YLP sent me the Scorpion X8, a small keychain light. Standout features of this particular offering include the high CRI main LED, and both UV and red auxillary LEDs. The light uses micro-USB to charge the built in cell.

Spoiler

This is a nifty little keychain offering from YLP. The built feels superb, since it's almost all a single piece, and the stock LED is nice. It's a bit odd to see an 80 CRI 219C used in place of the 90 CRI versions, and the auxiliary LEDs aren't something I use very often - but if you need a keychain light with secondary red and/or UV, this one is worth consideration.

Physical Dimensions

The light measures 62 mm long, 24.0 mm wide, and 10.9 mm thick. With the clip, it weights 33 grams.

For comparison, here it is next to the Rovyvon Aurora A8, Nitecore TUP, Acebeam UC15, JetBeam Jet-u, and BLF-348. It's worth noting that both the Rovyvon and the Acebeam share the two secondary colors with this light.

Build

The entire light is made of aluminum, and seems to be a single piece except for the front surround. This gives it a very solid feel. The front portion seems to be glued or press fit in place. In the front, the white LED takes center stage, with the red LED to the left and UV LED to the right. The top of the light has the product name engraved, the large switch, and a few grooves to help with grip.

One side of the light has the brand marked, while the other houses the charging port. The bottom side is bare as well.

What's Included

The light comes in a red box. Inside, you get:

• The light itself, with the clip installed
• Some paperwork

That's it! There's no charging cable included, but the micro-USB port used here is common enough that most people will have a few cables in a drawer somewhere.

The manual has English on one side and Russian on the reverse.

Ergonomics and retention

Being a keychain light, the large integrated loop on the tail provides the necessary attachment point. The metal at this loop might require a clip or carabiner of some sort, as some split rings won't be able to fit around it. It's solid though.

The second method of retention is the large pocket clip. This is reversible, and has a very solid grip on the body of the light - almost too solid! Truth be told, I had a hard time getting it off. But it works, it certainly won't fall off when you don't want it to, and it will do a great job holding the light in place for use as a hat light.

Modes and Interface

The light is controlled by the single large backlit side switch. The switch has a firm click, with very little travel. The UI is a bit different from the 'traditional' ones we see, but it's quite functional.

• From off, press for medium
• From medium, press for high
• If the light has been on for a certain amount of time, a press will turn it off
• From high, press for off
• From off, hold to cycle through low>red>UV (starts in last used)
• From low, red, or UV, press for off

If you accidentally switch the light on, you will have to cycle through high to turn it off - but in most cases it's not an issue, and there are only two modes to step through. There's a shortcut to low, red, or UV, with memory - that's not a bad idea, as most people have a preference for either red or moonlight.

Light Quality and Beam

The light uses an 80+ CRI 219C in a smooth reflector. It's unusual to see a reflector used in place of a TIR optic in a body this small, but it works well with the emitter they've chosen. It's also unusual to see an 80+ CRI 219C instead of the more common 90+ CRI variant, but that may be due to the age of this light. In any case, the light is neutral white and looks great.
The two auxiliary LEDs are 3 mm. The red beam has some artifacts, and the UV has a fair amount of visible purple light, as is typical for these sort of lights.

Power and Runtime

Runtime was tested on the highest two modes.

On high, the output tracks downwards with voltage, dropping below 10% after an hour. Output on medium lasted roughly 2.5 hours. Both line up perfectly with the manufacturer's claims.

Charging

To charge the light, simply pull out the rubber dust cover and plug in a micro-USB cable.

The indicating LED behind the switch glows red while charging, switching to green when it's complete.

Measuring the current over USB, the two tests were nearly identical. Charge rate is slow at a little over 0.2 amps, but this should help prolong the life of the small integrated cell. Charging from empty to full takes just under 3 hours.

Summary

Pros:

• Unibody design gives the light an impressive solid feel
• High CRI
• Hat clip for hands free use
• Built in charging

Cons:

• Most would prefer the 90 CRI variant of the 219C

Notes and Links

This product was provided free of charge from the manufacturer. I was not paid to write this review, and have tried to be as unbiased as possible.

Manufacturer's product page (and the only place I could find this light available at this time).