Zebralight SC65c Hi Review
People that like flashlights love Zebralight. They are a great value, have a similar form factor that allows you to easily switch between models, and they are exceptionally space efficient (determined by comparing the size of the light to the size of the battery). Being a contrarian professionally and here with my hobby, I originally did not like them because of what I perceived to be an overly complex UI. I still think that is true, but as the gizmo light has come to be more popular, the UI has, by not changing a skosh in more than a decade, become better than average. In fact, the longer I use it the more I appreciate it. This meant that the last valid complaint I had about the Zebralight brand were the emitter tints. They ranged for okay to awful, but never better than that. Even their most ardent supports bemoaned the greenish or blue tints to the Zebralight emitters. With the SC65c’s absolute bleeding edge emitter (a dedomed, double stacked Nichia 719a) the light produced is a gorgeous, near perfect hue. Time and the latest and greatest emitter heals all wounds. That’s the saying, right? This has a compelling case to be the best light for most people, so let’s look at why.
Here is the product page. The Zebralight SC65c Hi cost me $89.95. It is now $109.95, because, you know, tariffs. There are, thus far, no variants, though if you want a similar light from Zebralight you can get one with a higher high and bulkier body in the 600 series. I have had both, this is better. I have had a devil of time getting one as they were pretty regularly sold out. They were restocked regularly, but the Space Bucks account and the availability didn’t match. Here is a written review. Here is a video review.
Finally, here is my review sample:
TLDR: The TRM N2 of flashlights—the best enthusiast grade torch out there circa early 2025.
Design: 2
Space efficiency is an unsung part of good flashlight design. So let’s compare the SC65 to some of the best lights ever made.
BOSS35: 2.30
McGizmo Haiku: 2.84
HDS Rotary: 2.84
FourSevens Mini Mk. 3 Turbo: 1.94
Muyshondt Aeon Mk. 3: 2.38
SC65c Hi: .70
If I could insert a record scratch sound here I would.
The SC65C Hi is one of the most space effecient flashlight designs on the planet. Every EDC light, almost universally is twice as long as the battery it uses. The Mini Mk. 3 Turbo is VERY effecient and even it is significantly longer than its battery. But the SC65 crams in full clicky functionality into a package that is just slightly larger than the battery. In fact, as you can see above the battery makes up 70% of the length of the light. No light is even close. In the Mini Turbo the light is nearly twice the size of the battery. The Haiku and Rotary are nearly 3 times the size of the battery.
When you combine this exceptional space efficiency with a superior side clicky, a great clip, and a real reflector you have the bones of a superior design. There is nothing here I would change, blueprint-wise. Even the decision to omit a magnet at the rear of the light is a good one. This is just a banger of a design. I’d give it a three here, if I could.
Fit and Finish: 2
This isn’t that glossy, beautiful finish of something like my Millit Torrent, but it is fundamentally solid and free of any flaws. The threads are especially nice as it is basically impossible to cross-thread the light. I also really like the feel the clicky and the rubber boot. There is nothing to complain about and it feels super solid.
Grip: 2
With a very slightly tapered waist and a perfect spacing for medium sized hands, I think the SC65 is about perfect in terms of flashlight grips. The BOSS35, which I think is the best light on the market in terms of grip, is only slightly better. That’s a high complement.
Carry: 2
Do you know of any other 18650 that is a coin pocket light? That’s the difference maker here. That’s why the SC65 really is about as good as lights get right now. With some real throw and a very good runtimes, its almost like you are getting something for nothing, hallowed ground for design. The 18650 battery is great, but it usually has such a huge design penalty in terms of size, that its not worth it. Here, with the very space efficient body tube, the light is just so good because you get 18650 performance in a 14500 size or maybe even a little smaller.
Output: 2
Is 660 lumens too little for you? Think about this—to seem twice as bright, a light needs to have roughly four times the lumens. So a light twice as bright as the SC65 should be 2,400 or so lumens. That’s a easy way of showing that a difference between 660 lumens and 800 lumens is basically nil. In fact, using perceived lumens, you have to jump to over a 1000 to even see a difference. Put short, 660 lumens is plenty.
Runtime: 2
2.8 hours on high and 18 days on low is quite nice. I am also confident that the low is legit. I know because I inadvertently left the light on for about a week. I then took it on a hike at night and it was fine. I am kind of stunned that it was still going two days later. So here is what the runtime looked like: 5 days on low, then three hours (24 hours apart) on medium. I recharged it after that, but I did not run it until it dimmed or died. I like the fact that in a pinch I could turn this into a candle and run it for weeks. Given the 660 lumen high, that strikes me as a great deal of flexibility. That very long low pairs with a self-discharge rate that is effectively identical to the battery’s own discharge rate (that means that there is really no difference between the parasitic drain on the battery stored in the light versus the battery stored independent of a device). All of this is to say that Zebralight has been very intentional and mindful in how it manages power.
Beam Type: 2
This is not a thrower. Don’t pitch your Surefire EDC1-DFT, but it is a very good reflector for the size of the light. Basically this entire body tube is two things—the battery and the reflector. My guess is that the reflector is probably something like 10% of the body tube. When you combine that with the battery, we have 80% of the length accounted for, meaning that the lens, electronics, body tube walls in the tail cap, and the distance between the end of the light and the lens. That’s exceptionally efficient, the best I have ever seen. And yet despite its size, the SC65 still can throw pretty well. Another very space efficient design that works this well is the 47s Mini Mk. 3 Turbo.
Beam Quality: 2
With a lush emitter and a very well balanced reflector, as good as the SC65 is at being space efficient, it is that much better providing accurate, beautiful illumination. This is top shelf performance here and this is one place where a flashlight designer can just buy better. Everyone should always do this—get the best, highest CRI emitter that provides the most lumens.
UI: 2
Like coffee and Lagavulin, the Zebralight UI is an acquired taste, but at this point, I have acquired that taste. Its very flexible and well designed even if it is more complicated than something like the Frelux UI. And, as I mentioned above, as UIs have gotten worse, this looks better.
Hands Free: 2
I am okay with lights having a magent, but I don’t think they always need one. It can be difficult to extract your light without it sticking to random stuff. A flat tailcap works great and with the side switch design, which no one does better than Zebralight, it is more solid than just about anything else out there. And despite the chonky battery you can still hold this light in your mouth if needed.
Other Considerations
Fidget Factor: Moderate
The body tube is well made and fun to fidget with and the clicky, which is eletronic, is great.
Fett Effect: Moderate
Over the years the SC5 has seen some wear and still looks great. I am assuming the SC65 will age as nicely.
Value: High
At the original price, its a super steal. At the current price, which is about 18% its still pretty good. Thanks tariffs (oh, I am going to bang this friggin drum everytime).
Overall Score: 20 of 20; not perfect
This light with the Frelux UI would be perfect. It would be, by leaps and bounds, the best light on the market for under $300. Even at that price, it would still be pretty darn competitive. I think you could also complain about the output, but really, lumens are about the dumbest spec to use to evaluate a light. The old Flashlight Reviews website used to have a great saying: you can’t tell the quality of a whiskey by its proof or the quality of a light by its lumens count. This is, unquestionably, the key axiom in evaluating and appreciating flashlights. I would not hold the light back from a perfect score for that. It almost doesn’t matter once a light reaches a certain threshold and the SC65c Hi definitely meets it.
But let’s not quibble and miss the bigger point—this light is an exceptional performer. It does everything well and does that stuff in spades. It is a great EDC light thanks to its size, but it flexes into a full night walk or night hike light pretty easily. It does everything you ask of it and it does it really, really well. Even with the 20% price increase (again, thanks tariffs), this is still the best lights out there for most people. Its availability is spotty, but if you find one in stock, snag it. You won’t be disappointed.
Competition
This light is basically a competitor to the 18350 and 14500 lights out there because its space efficiency. Given the superior battery the SC65 carries (larger capacity) without a real penalty it is hard not to recommend this light over pretty much everything else out there. If you are in the market for a clicky, this is it. There are cases for other lights, I like the HDS Rotary as a bombproof light, the EDC1-DFT as a night walk light, the 47 Mini Mk III Turbo as a good twisty, and the Reylight Mini Pineapple v3 as a smaller, less capable EDC clicky, but if you don’t have a specific need and just want a light that can do everything well, this is it. Its so well designed with such great output (color rendering-wise) that there is really nothing in its class.
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