Pocket thrower comparison

Introduction

Here is a quick comparison of the Manker MC13 White, ThruNite Catapult Mini and SPERAS M4.

I will refer to the Manker MC13 White as MC13, the ThruNite Catapult Mini as Mini, and the SPERAS M4 as M4.

Torches in use

Anodising is good for all three torches. The TIR optics all have a little mark in the corner due to the manufacturing process where they snap the TIR optics out.

The MC13 is the largest of the three and it feels like a powerful pocket thrower. There are no sharp edges. The pocket clip is screwed in, so it may be difficult to remove the pocket clip and maintain water resistance. The e-switch in the tailcap has a solid metal button glued to a silicone pad. If you twist the button it will break the glue. Manker also have an 18650 tube for the MC13 for additional capacity.

The Mini is smaller than the MC13 and the quality is also good. Built-in charging is a nice addition. The button is also metal but it is on a side e-switch. The tube has some sharp edges. There is lanyard hole in the tailcap. A branded lanyard was included.

The M4 looks very similar to the Mini but they are not identical. The M4 is a few millimetres shorter. The Mini tube fits in the M4 head but the M4 tube does not fit in the Mini head. There are no sharp edges. I prefer the knurling of the M4 compared to the Mini because it provides more grip and it is not sharp. There is a lanyard hole in the tailcap. A generic lanyard was included.

LED and optic

The MC13 has an Osram KW CULNM1.TG LED.

The Mini has an Osram KW CSLNM1.TG LED.

The M4 has an unspecified LED. It is not an Osram according to SPERAS.

Each torch has a TIR optic. They look very similar. The LED in the M4 might be a bit bigger than an Osram KW CULNM1.TG and the beam looks smoother, warmer and greener compared to the two Osram’s.

Dimensions and size comparison

Dimensions

I took the following measurements using digital callipers.

Measurement MC13 (mm) Mini (mm) M4 (mm)
Torch length 91.5 81.2 78.7
Head diameter 41.7 40.4 40.4
Tube diameter 25.8 25.9 25.9

Size comparison

From left to right: Manker MC13 White, ThruNite Catapult Mini and SPERAS M4.

Manker MC13 White, ThruNite Catapult Mini and SPERAS M4.

Batteries and charging

Battery

A button top Manker 18350 cell with USB-C charging built-in was included.
A ThruNite branded 18350 1100mAh proprietary cell was included.
A button top SPERAS 18350 1100mAh cell was included.

Power supply compatibility

The MC13 has a cell with built-in USB-C charging.
The Mini and the M4 both have built-in USB-C charging.

USB-A to USB-C works.
USB-C to USB-C does not work.

Performance

Lumen measurements

To take lumen measure, I built a lumen tube and forked bmengineer’s project RuTiTe to add support for a VEML7700 light sensor and MCP9808 temperature sensor with help from Owen. Calibration lights from maukka were used.

I used the included 18350 cells for each torch while taking measurements.

Mode MC13 @turn on MC13 @30 sec MC13 @10 min Mini @turn on Mini @30 sec Mini @10 min M4 @turn on M4 @30 sec M4 @10 min
Low 81 lm 81 lm 81 lm 28 lm 28 lm 28 lm 73 lm 73 lm 73 lm
Medium 175 lm 174 lm 175 lm 102 lm 102 lm 101 lm 263 lm 260 lm 257 lm
High 347 lm 345 lm 346 lm 227 lm 226 lm 227 lm 547 lm 540 lm 524 lm
Turbo 734 lm 657 lm 374 lm 606 lm 470 lm 228 lm 1062 lm 973 lm 528 lm

Runtime graphs

Pocket thrower comparison runtime graph first 10 minutes Turbo

Manker MC13 White runtime graph first 10 minutes

ThruNite Catapult Mini runtime graph first 10 minutes

SPERAS M4 runtime graph first 10 minutes

Manker MC13 White runtime graph first 10 minutes Turbo

Manker MC13 White runtime graph first 10 minutes High

Manker MC13 White runtime graph first 10 minutes Medium

Manker MC13 White runtime graph first 10 minutes Low

ThruNite Catapult Mini runtime graph first 10 minutes Turbo

ThruNite Catapult Mini runtime graph first 10 minutes Turbo 2

I ran the Turbo runtime test again with a different cell (Vapcell M11 18350) and the output was much more stable.

ThruNite Catapult Mini runtime graph first 10 minutes High

ThruNite Catapult Mini runtime graph first 10 minutes Medium

ThruNite Catapult Mini runtime graph first 10 minutes Low

SPERAS M4 runtime graph first 10 minutes Turbo

SPERAS M4 runtime graph first 10 minutes Turbo 2

I ran the Turbo runtime test again with a different cell (Vapcell M11 18350) and the output increased from 1062 to 1126 lumens.

SPERAS M4 runtime graph first 10 minutes High

SPERAS M4 runtime graph first 10 minutes Medium

SPERAS M4 runtime graph first 10 minutes Low

Throw

Manker MC13 White, ThruNite Catapult Mini, SPERAS M4

I took lux measurements with a UNI-T UT383BT. Turbo, Low, Medium, and High were measured at five metres after 30 seconds.

A Vapcell M11 18350 was used in each torch. The cell was charged to 4.20V before each Turbo test.

Mode MC13 (cd) Mini (cd) M4 (cd) MC13 (m) Mini (m) M4 (m)
Low 17025 5500 6375 260 148 159
Medium 37450 19950 24625 387 282 313
High 74500 45975 54625 545 428 467
Turbo 150750 133300 108525 776 730 658

Beamshots

Beamshot video

Conclusion

The Manker MC13 White is a solid pocket thrower but my personal preference is for a torch with a side e-switch.

I bought the ThruNite Catapult Mini due to the smaller size and the side e-switch.

I was going to swap an amber Osram LED into the Mini, but I will swap one into the SPERAS M4 instead because I prefer the knurling and the build quality of the M4.

Product page

Manker MC13 White
ThruNite Catapult Mini
SPERAS M4