A Full Featured USB Type-C Headlight - Magicshine RN 1200 Review - feat. 1200 Lumen + Garmin Mount

The RN 1200 is Magicshine’s latest commuter bike headlight that provides an affordable option for a high-lumen and compact bike light. Designed around an integrated 21700 Lithium battery, the RN 1200 has a familiar and sleek rounded rectangular design. With a retail price of $74.99 the RN 1200 is more affordable than the Ally 1000 light while offering a brighter 1200 lumen output. Magicshine has also carried forward many of the popular features of the Allty series of lights into these RN lights. That includes the standardized Garmin quarter-turn mount and intuitive user interface with three level battery indicator.

Magicshine has also incorporated two new and exciting features into the RN 1200. The first is the integrated anti-glare lens that deflects a portion of the output that would otherwise blind oncoming traffic. Although this isn’t a sharp beam cutoff, with the 1200 lumen output of the light it’s a great feature to see at this price point. The second feature is the USB Type-C charging port, a feature the bike industry has been slow to adopt. With the RN 1200, not only can you charge at USB Type-C speeds but you can also discharge allowing you to use the light as a power bank to charge other devices. How does the RN 1200 compare to other headlights on the market or Magicshine’s own Alllty headlights? We’ll find out in this review.

While there has been an increasing number of USB Type-C bike headlights on the market, they are typically only partially implemented and still require a USB Type-A to USB Type-C charging cable. The Magicshine RN 1200 has a claimed world's first USB Type-C charging and discharging feature for a bicycle light. Though we can’t confirm Magicshine’s claim, the RN 1200 is the first bike light that we've come across that can actually be charged using a USB Type-C to USB Type-C charging cable...

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00:00 Intro
00:13 Unboxing + Specs
02:30 Fit + Finish
06:36 Comparison (Monteer 1400, Allty 1000, Allty 2000, Fenix BC21R V2)
09:21 Light Output
10:52 The Final Score
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[msrich]

Thanks for this review. I've been looking for a new light for my eMTB, for which I was after a bit more reach. The garmin mount for this was selling it for me as I have an unused computer mount waiting for it and your review was all the recommendation I needed to pick one up on offer.

[romeyDog]

great review. seems like a well-rounded light at an excellent price point. Very nice to see the usb-c type charging.

[jaspreetsidhu]

What I find crazy is how they were able to include an ambient light sensor in the rear light but nothing interesting in the front light which is unfortunate.

[nelsonmejia]

Nice review! I see that is not what Magicshine advertises; I don't see the cut-off line anywhere, it looks like a common round beam light 9:22.

[dixonbidenzmouth]

I tested the claimed run times and this is what I found

CLAIMED ACTUAL

Low. 6.5 13.5
Med. 3 5h 10m
High. 1.5 2h 25m
(Flash 1) 7 13
(Flash 2) 5 11

[cjtuckz]

hi mate, what would you pick... magicshine rn1200 or knog blinder 1300... ?

[PutitoCorner]

Is the mount secure enough that it won't detach easily if it was nudged by accident? Am considering this bike light but am not quite confident with a quarter turn lock for a mount.

[seenstee]

Can the lens be flipped? Best to mount upside down for competitive road riders.

[RoyalTeaLegion]

Hey question: after 2 years of use. Is there any issues with it?

[enotracoon]

i have garmin out front mount, if i buy this light can i mount it under neat my garmin computer? or a need to buy extra adapter or so ?

[twosix_]

My phone uses normal USB input, where can I buy a cable to take advantage of the Powerbank that is type C input

[twosix_]

Between the Allty 1000 and this one, which one is better and why?