The Magicshine Allty 1500S is a compact light with high output and a reasonable run time.
Magicshine markets the 1500S as an urban daytime-running light, with the option for use as a helmet light for off-road use.
It’s supplied with some useful accessories, although not a helmet mount.
Magicshine Allty 1500S specifications and details
Magicshine sells a standard Allty 1500, controlled by a single button on the top, which also acts as a battery indicator.
The latest Allty 1500S adds an LED status display, which provides more detailed battery percentage, light mode and estimated run-time information.
The claimed run time on full beam is a generous two hours and the light ran through all my testing without needing a recharge, suggesting this figure is probably fairly accurate.
The light also comes with a wireless remote control, which the standard Allty 1500 lacks. This enables you to switch the light on and off, and change modes from the bars.
The remote is supplied with a thin, hookless Velcro-style strap. It has a rubber backing so it stays put and doesn’t slip along your handlebar, which is a well thought-out touch.
The battery in the Allty 1500S is also swappable, unlike the standard model, and slides out of the rear of the light.
Magicshine sells a spare battery for $39.99 (UK price not yet available), so this could be a cost-effective option if you want more run time than the claimed two hours at maximum output.
The Allty 1500S includes a bar mount with a nylon strap that tightens with an Allen bolt.
Magicshine supplies four different strap lengths, plus an Allen key to tighten them.
Getting the strap to fit around your handlebar is a slightly fiddly process, because you need to engage the tabs at its ends in recesses in the mount’s body.
The light attaches to the mount using a standard Garmin quarter-turn adaptor, enabling you to choose alternative mounting options to that supplied.
The swappable battery results in an IPX5 waterproof rating, below the standard model, which is IPX7 rated thanks to its sealed-in casing.
Charging is via a USB-C socket behind a sturdy rubber plug that fits deeply into the light body.
There’s an app in the works, which Magicshine says will enable customisation of the modes.
Magicshine Allty 1500S performance
The Allty 1500S is a slimline light that’s comparable in dimensions to the Ravemen LR1600.
It features a single LED plus an always-on COB array, which serves as a daytime-running light and is switched on by default during the day.
It takes up relatively little bar space and is significantly more compact than many lights I’ve tested with comparable output.
Although Magicshine markets the Allty 1500S as an urban bike light, it feels as if this is underselling its capabilities.
With 1,500 lumens on offer, it can provide enough illumination to head away from street-lit roads when riding at night, too.
In fact, the Allty’s alter ego (as recommended by Magicshine) is as a mountain bike helmet light. At 156g (the 172g figure in the specs includes the mounting bracket), it feels as if it might be a bit weighty for this though.
Magicshine doesn’t include a helmet mount, but it sells one separately.
The beam is point-focused, making it useful if you choose to use the light on your mountain bike helmet.
However, this means you lack peripheral illumination which, even on the road, feels as if it gives a rather tunnel-like field of light.
The remote control is also useful. It enables you to do everything the switch on the light body does, including turn the light on and off, cycle through modes and change between the constant and flashing mode menus.
One of the two buttons enables you to switch between the current mode and maximum output, so you can use it as a dipped or full beam without flicking through all the modes – a handy feature.
In any case, it’s useful that Magicshine has the constant and flashing mode menus as separate items, so you can switch between the three constant modes more quickly and don’t have to pass through the flashing modes.
Three-quarters of the sides of the lens are transparent, allowing for good side illumination for other road users if you opt for the urban daytime-running light option.
It’s only the top surface of the lens that's metal, so you’re not dazzled by stray light at night.
Magicshine Allty 1500S bottom line
The Magicshine Allty 1500S provides plenty of illumination in a compact package.
Although geared to urban use, it would acquit itself well on unlit rides, either as a main source of light or as a high-powered, helmet-mounted spot if you can bear the weight.
The long run times, remote control and swappable battery add to its usefulness and versatility.
How we tested | front lights
Front bike lights are essential accessories if you intend to ride at night, in dark and gloomy conditions or simply want to be seen more easily on your regular rides.
For our 2023 testing, we selected the pick of the latest higher-lumen output models, designed for road and gravel riding, to see how they fared.
Big lumens aren’t the be all and end all, though. Our testing included using the lights in varying modes, in diverse weather and light conditions, while assessing the beam shape on the road (and gravel path).
We also checked burn times and highlighted notable plus or minus points when it comes to usability and installation.
Lights on test
Product
| Brand | magicshine |
| Price | 170.00 AUD,102.00 EUR,90.00 GBP,110.00 USD |
| Weight | 172.0000, GRAM () - |
Features
| br_lightType | front |
| br_remoteSwitch | yes |
| br_integratedBattery | yes |
| Features | Run time (full beam): 2 hours IP rating: IPX5 Battery capacity: 5000mAh Modes: 6 |
| br_outputLumens | 1500 |
