Rovyvon A3 Pro G4

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Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO review

Rovyvon A3 Pro Gen 4 MAO specs

Brand & ModelRovyvon A3 Pro Gen4
Flashlight categoryKeychain / EDC
LEDN/A
Max. output650 lumens
Max. beam distance110 meters
Max. beam intensity2,500 cd
Battery config.Internal
Onboard chargingUSB-C
Main modes4
BlinkiesStrobe
WaterproofIPX6
Review publication dateNovember 2023

Review intro:

Whether it’s an entirely new flashlight, an update to an existing model, or a limited edition finish, Rovyvon is always cooking up something fresh. The Rovyvon A3 has been around for quite a while, and I had the pleasure of reviewing the A3 Pro last year. Not one to sit still, Rovyvon has made some updates to the A3 model, and today we’re taking a look at the G4 (fourth generation) A3 Pro in a special MAO Gray Marble finish. Like most of Rovyvon’s lights, the A3 Pro MAO falls into the keychain flashlights or small EDC category featuring a built-in battery, USB charging, and a compact design.

Rovyvon seems to have sparked a bit of revolution with their Aurora lights a few years back. Shortly after their introduction, several lights of a very similar form factor began to flood the market: Nitecore TIKI, Jetbeam Mini-One, Astrolux K2, Seeknite S11, etc. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Rovyvon must have been onto something.

Package quality.

The Rovyvon A3 Pro arrived in a small, nicely designed, cardboard box. It’s a nice brownish color to match the Desert Tan of the A3 Pro. The front has a window to see the actual flashlight along with a few key specs. The rear features a more in-depth description. Inside the box, the A3 Pro and its accessories are arranged in a sturdy, clear plastic tray. In all, the package contained:

  • Rovyvon A3 Pro MAO
  • Pocket clip
  • Magnet tail base buckle
  • Keyring (large and small)
  • Spare USB cover
  • Manual
  • Warranty card

Flashlight in use, Build Quality, and Warranty

Keychain lights are usually tiny, however, the Rovyvon A3 Pro MAO is particularly tiny. It’s just as short as my shortest AAA light, the Olight i3E EOS, though it is a little bit wider. While the A3 Pro is very smooth, its flattened sides prevent it from rolling around. There is a set of grooves on the side of the A3 Pro for attaching the included pocket clip. The clip can be installed in either direction for your choice of tail-up or head-up carry. And just like the G3 Auroras had, the pocket clip has a slim magnet that runs the length of the clip.

Keeping on the topic of magnets, the 3rd generation of Auroras introduced a new accessory: something Rovyvon called the “magnetic tail base bucket.” That’s a mouthful. It’s essentially a piece of plastic with a strong magnet in it that clips to the tail, making the light just a bit longer and giving you tail-magnet functionality. At first I thought “there’s no way that thing is staying clipped on for long.” I think I’m quite wrong about that. I tried to pry it back off and couldn’t do it with my fingers. I had to get a thin metal tool to carefully slide under it to pop it back off. This new G4 version of the A3 Pro includes this same magnetic bucket accessory.

Rovyvon threw in two different split-rings / keyrings. One is a bit larger and flat; the other is smaller and rounded. The light can tailstand, though it’s not very stable. The only switch is a single e-switch on the side of the head. This button is the same improved button that was added with Rovyvon’s G3 additions; they increased the button area by 50%, making it easier to press. The larger button and its raised bezel are both stainless steel and look quite nice. The raised bezel helps to prevent accidental activations, along with Rovyvon’s pocket-friendly UI.

This special edition of the A3 Pro is coated in a marble gray MAO (micro-arc anodization) finish. It feels a bit chalky, almost like a hunk of unpolished stone. The aesthetic is really cool, though I’m not entirely sure how robust it is. Installing and removing the pocket clip did seem to slightly wear through the finish where there was a firm point of contact.

Being a keychain light, the Rovyvon A3 Pro MAO is best suited for small tasks. Though with a rating of 650 lumens, it’s no slouch either. It’ll work well for navigating to your car or front door, around your house at night, or even a quick walk around the yard. While this is rated at 650 lumens, keep in mind that it is a small light, so runtime isn’t as long as what you’d get with a larger light, and it isn’t going to maintain 650 lumens for very long. Know your task and get a flashlight to match.

Warranty Policy (copied from Rovyvon’s website):

  • Within 2 years of purchase, we will replace or repair it as long as the product is not working anymore because of the factory defects. This does not include obvious user wear or extreme damage.
  • After 2 years of purchase, if your product(s) got a defective or issues, we’ll offer a discount for purchasing new product(s) at a same or similar value.

LED, Lens, Bezel, Beam, and Reflector

Rovyvon frequently provides emitter choices on their lights. I won’t say they are always my favorite LEDs, but there’s usually a cool-white low-CRI “high output” option and a neutral-white high-CRI option. You’re never going to make everyone happy, but I really appreciate the attempt. The version I have on hand is the cool-white option with an unspecified LED. In looking at the design of the LED, I’m quite certain that it is a Luminus SST20. The LED is centered in the smooth reflector.

Spectral measurements: 

I used an Opple Light Master to measure the flashlight at 5 meters distance. 

Mode:CCT:CRI Ra:duv
Turbo5545 K62.7+0.0123

Dimensions and its competition

Dimensions: 

Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MillimetersInches
Length61 mm2.4 in
Head diameter16 mm0.6 in
Body diameter16 mm0.6 in

Dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter, and to the nearest tenth of an Inch.

Weight

Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 Weight in gramsWeight in oz
Just the flashlight20 g0.7 oz
With pocket clip24 g0.8 oz

Weight is rounded to the nearest gram, and to the nearest tenth of an Oz.

Flashlight size comparison with its competition:

Group 1: Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO, Rovyvon A5 G3

Group 2: Wurkkos TS10, Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO, Sofirn SC21 Pro

Group 3: Jetbeam Jet-u, ThruNite Ti3 V2, Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO, Olight i3E EOS, Skilhunt E3A

Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO UI: User Interface and Driver

Rovyvon’s UI is a bit unique. At first, I was turned off by it. But after carrying an Aurora (either A5 G3 or A8x) in my pocket for the past year or two, I’ve gotten quite used to it. The UI is certainly different, but it seems purpose-built for pocket carry with a focus on preventing accidental activations without making you use the lockout mode.

Available modes: 

  • Moonlight, Low, Med, High

Available blinky modes:

  • Strobe

From OFF:

  • Press and Hold: momentary High
  • Single click: nothing
  • Double click: turn on (mode memory)
  • 3 clicks: Strobe
  • 5 clicks: Lockout

From ON:

  • Press and Hold: turn off
  • 1 click: cycle through modes
  • Double click: nothing
  • 3 clicks: Strobe

Mode memory:

  • Yes, there is mode memory (not for Strobe)
  • But… it only memorizes a mode when you’ve left it on in that mode for 3+ minutes 

Shortcuts:

  • To High: press and hold from Off (momentary High)
  • To Strobe: triple click (from Off or On) 

Low voltage warning/protection:

  • The indicator LED under the switch glows red when the battery is running low 

Strobe/blinkies

  • Triple click from Off or On

Lock-out mode: 

  • 5 clicks from Off to activate
  • 5 clicks from Lockout to unlock it

PWM

  • Not visible, measured at 23.4 kHz

Additional/summary info on the UI: 

  • I would have really liked a Moonlight shortcut. Other than that, I can live with this for a keychain light

Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO Charging and batteries

The Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO uses a built-in 330 mAh lithium-polymer (LiPo) battery. It is not user accessible nor serviceable. If you manage to wear out your battery, reach out to Rovyvon if it’s within the warranty period.

As with other recent Rovyvon flashlights, the A3 Pro MAO employs built-in USB-C charging via a port at the tail end. The charge rate is stated as 350 mA and should be able to complete a full charge in 60 minutes. When plugged into my USB meter, I saw a 0.35 amp / 1.82 watt charge rate. The indicator LED next to the charging port lights up “breathing” blue when the A3 Pro is charging and turns green when the charge cycle is complete.

Charge typeFitsNo fitCharge time
Flashlight with onboard USB-CN/A – built-in batteryN/A58min

Performance test

Lumen measurements

How Lumens are Measured: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards How Lumens are Measured: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards: The ANSI FL1 standards specify that output in lumens should be measured 30 seconds after turning on, as this is the standardized time for measuring brightness according to the industry standard. This is why we focus on this part in our measurements. The ANSI FL1 standards require an ambient temperature of 22 ± 3°C. We record the ambient the ambient temperature to identify potential reasons for any observed discrepancies.

Lux was measured by a UNI-T UT383 BT at 5 meters. Lumens were measured in a homemade lumen tube using a VEML7700 sensor, calibrated with a calibration light provided by 1Lumen.

Note that Rovyon provides separate spec tables for the Cool White (high output) and Neutral White (high CRI) options. For High mode with Neutral White, the listed output is 420 lumens instead of 650.

ModeSpecified0 sec.30 sec.10 min.
Moon0.5 lm0.3 lm0.3 lm
Low25 lm20 lm20 lm20 lm
Med200 lm118 lm109 lm67 lm
High650 lm608 lm416 lm119 lm

Parasitic drain:

  • N/A – can’t measure because of the internal battery

Unfortunately I’ve never had much luck with Auroras hitting the claimed lumen spec – even at turn on. Rovyvon doesn’t seem to say that they follow the ANSI spec, so they could just be listing maximums. Even then, my A3 Pro MOA didn’t hit the 650 lumen claim.

Consistent with other Rovyvon Aurora flashlights that I’ve reviewed, High mode begins ramping down as soon as you enable it. I understand that the tiny body can’t absorb too much heat, but I would at least like to see them hold onto their brightness for 30 seconds or so before beginning to ramp down.

Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO Battery Life: Runtime graphs

How Runtimes are Measured: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards About ANSI FL1 runtime standards: The runtime is measured until the light drops to 10% of its initial output (30 seconds after turning on). This does not mean that the flashlight is not usable anymore. The last column shows how long the light actually works till it shuts off. If there is a + symbol, it means that the test was stopped at that particular point, but the light was actually still running. This happens on certain occasions, with certain drivers, firmware, or batteries.
ModeSpecified runtimeMeasured runtime ANSITime till shut off
Moon72h
Low8h6h 22min6h 22min
Med2h 1min1h 44min1h 44min
High1h 31min1h 13min1h 17min

Not only did the Rovyvon A3 Pro MAO not hit the lumen claims, it also didn’t last as long as claimed. Perhaps the battery capacity on mine is on the lower end of the allowed variance.

Peak beam intensity and beam distance measurements

About Peak beam intensity: Understanding ANSI FL1 Standards About peak beam intensity The calculated value of distance in meters at which the flashlight produces a light intensity of 0.25 lux. (0.25 lux is about the brightness of a full moon shining on an object). This means that the intensity has decreased so much, it becomes difficult to see darker objects, or objects that don’t reflect light. The columns ‘Meters’ and ‘Yards’ use rounded numbers.

Intensity was measured at 5 meters after being turned on for 30 seconds. A UNI-T UT383 BT lux meter was used.

ModeSpecsCandela measured MetersYards
Low160 cd250 cd32 m35 yd
Medium700 cd1,200 cd69 m76 yd
High2500 cd3,025 cd110 m120 yd

Well… here’s a bit of a surprise. Despite missing both the lumen output and battery runtime specs, the Rovyvon A3 Pro MAO actually exceeded the beam intensity claims.

Beamshots

Beam shots of the building are taken at 5 m (5.5 yd) using a Pixel 7 set to ISO 800 with 1/30 second exposure time

Beamshots of the following flashlights compared:

  • Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO
  • Rovyvon A8 G3
  • NEXTORCH K40

Please note that beamshots are mainly intended to showcase the beam pattern and beam quality, rather than overall performance. These images are typically taken directly after activation, and do not fully represent its overall performance. For accurate performance metrics, such as output, beam distance, and runtimes, you need to look at the performance section of this review.

Disclaimer: This flashlight was sent to us for review at no cost by RovyVon. We have not been paid to review, nor have we been holding back on problems or defects.

Final Verdict

Pros

  1. Tiny size
  2. USB-C charging
  3. Sweet marble gray MAO finish
  4. Magnetic attachments
  5. Pocket-friendly UI

Cons

  1. Misses lumen output and battery life claims
  2. UI could use more shortcuts
  3. Output ramps down immediately

Explanation on star ratings:

1: Avoid: a match would be a better choice – 2: Poor: significant defect or issues; almost unusable – 3: Average: some defects or issues; but still usable 4: Good: recommended (minor issues) – 5: Great: highly recommended

Reviewer Gabriel
Author: Gabriel

4 stars: ★★★★

While our star rating provides a reliable indicator, we encourage you to read the full review to make an informed decision based on your own needs and preferences.

I held out on adopting Rovyvon into my life for far too long: they used micro-USB well past when everyone else had adopted USB-C. And I just couldn’t fall in love with their UI.

Now that all recent models are USB-C, and I’ve carried an Aurora (A5 or A8x) nightly for over a year, I am much more comfortable with them. I’m sad to see that this model didn’t hit the output claims, and that high mode still starts ramping down instantly.

Oh, and the way they’ve designed mode memory to only remember a mode if you’ve had it active for 3+ minutes is a bit strange. With Rovyvon, the flashlights are different. In some ways that’s a great thing (pocket-friendly UI, tiny form-factor), and some things (especially the UI) just take getting used to. So I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them to everybody, but I do like them well enough to carry one personally every night.

Buy your Rovyvon A3 Pro G4 MAO here:

1lumen selects and reviews products personally. We may earn affiliate commissions through our links, which help support our testing.