Aputure MC vs SmallRig M160: pocket RGB lights tested
The SmallRig Pix M160 is the brighter light, and the Aputure MC is the better pick if you want to run several lights from your phone. They cost about the same, and both have survived years of drops and knocks on our film and interview shoots. Which one to buy depends on whether you need output or control.
We filmed this comparison in 2021. The measurements below are from our own tests on those units. Prices are the US launch prices at the time.
What comes in the box with each light
The Aputure MC comes with a carrying case, a USB-C to USB-A cable, a diffuser, two pieces of double-sided tape and the manual. It sold for US$90.
The SmallRig Pix M160 comes with more in the box: a honeycomb grid, a diffuser, a ball head, a USB-C charging cable, a soft bag and the manual. It sold for US$99. You get a grid and a ball head with the SmallRig, and you’d buy them separately for the Aputure.
Brightness and battery life: rated vs measured
We measured both lights at half a metre. The Aputure beat its rating and the SmallRig fell short of its own, but the SmallRig was still more than twice as bright.
| Aputure MC | SmallRig Pix M160 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rated output at 0.5 m (manufacturer) | 400 lux | 1,350 lux |
| Our measurement at 0.5 m | about 500 lux | about 1,100 lux |
| Battery (manufacturer) | 2,600 mAh | 3,800 mAh |
| Our runtime at 100% | about 1 hr 45 min | about 1 hr 20 min |
| Power draw | 5 W | 12 W |
| LEDs | 48 | 160 |
The bigger battery doesn’t buy the SmallRig more runtime, because it draws more than twice the power. At full output the Aputure lasted about 25 minutes longer in our test. Aputure rates the MC at up to two hours at maximum brightness, so our unit came in a little under that.
Both charge over USB-C, and the Aputure also charges wirelessly on a Qi pad. The SmallRig has a USB-A output, so it can top up your phone in a pinch.
Colour, controls and mounting
| Aputure MC | SmallRig Pix M160 | |
|---|---|---|
| CRI (manufacturer) | 96+ | 95+ |
| Colour temperature (manufacturer) | 3,200 to 6,500 K | 2,500 to 8,500 K |
| Dimming | 0 to 100% | 0 to 100% |
| App control | Yes (Sidus Link) | No |
Both lights have a soft falloff and full RGB. The SmallRig covers a much wider white range; the Aputure stops at the standard 3,200 to 6,500 K.
The controls are laid out differently. The Aputure has one dimmer dial with a built-in button, a power switch and an OLED screen. The SmallRig has two dials on the side, one for dimming and one for function with a built-in button, plus a set button for modes, an on/off switch on top and a small OLED screen on the back.
Both have a 1/4-inch mounting thread on the bottom, and the SmallRig adds a second one on the side. Both have magnets on the back. In our testing the SmallRig’s magnets weren’t always strong enough to hold the light on some surfaces, so plan on a mount rather than trusting the magnet on anything vertical.
The Aputure’s app is its biggest advantage. Paired with Sidus Link, it gets many more lighting effects than the buttons alone give you, and you can control several MCs from one phone.
How the two lights work on set
At 100%, the Aputure MC is enough for a small key light on a close subject. The SmallRig at 50% overpowered it by a wide margin in the same position.
We also used the SmallRig as a hair light and as a background light. Close to a wall it throws a spotty pool of light, so pull it back for an even wash. Its built-in effects looked good against a bright white background, even at 50%.
Which pocket RGB light should you buy?
Buy the SmallRig Pix M160 if you need more output from a pocket light: a brighter key on a small setup, a hair light, or a background wash. It has the wider colour-temperature range and the more complete accessory kit.
Buy the Aputure MC if you want to run several small lights from one app, or if you’d rather charge them on a wireless pad.
Renting a pocket RGB light at EFE
We don’t rent either of the lights in this video. Our rental fleet carries the newer Aputure MC Pro, which Aputure rates at 1,585 lux at half a metre. That’s about four times the original MC and brighter than the SmallRig’s rating. It also covers 2,000 to 10,000 K, is rated IP65 against dust and rain, and uses a magnetic mount for its diffusers and grid.
For bigger lighting setups, see our lighting rentals in Langley, or read how renting works at EFE.
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