The Magichine Allty 1200 series of lights is one of Magichine’s latest bike headlights and combines affordability with the latest FTR LightSync Control technology. Not only does it offer 1200 lumens of output, but Magicshine has also incorporated the ability to turn the headlight and a paired taillight on or off with a single button press. Retail price on the Allty 1200U is an affordable $79.99 and features a top tab-style mount with an available Allty 1200 with a standard Garmin bottom mount. Both lights are compatible Magicshine’s FTR LightSync control which allows the headlight and compatible taillights to powered on and off with the same wireless remote which is included with the Allty 1200U.
The Magicshine Allty 1200 / 1200U combine a form metal bodies with Magicshine’s latest LightSync technology.
| Rating | 9.1 / 10 |
| Retail Price | $79.99 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 162 (Allty 1200), 193 (Allty 1200U + adapter), 47 (out-front mount) |
| Likes | + Bright output with 1200 lumen output + Flash modes are separated from constant modes + Supports LightSync to power on and off compatible taillight with a wireless remote |
| Dislikes | – GoPro adapter may not fit all mounts due to large release button |
| Where to Buy (US) | Magicshine 15% OFF coupon code: “TheSweetCyclists” |
UNBOXING
The Magicshine Allty 1200 lights come in a compact cardboard box with Magicshine’s eye-catching black and orange graphics. A glossy graphic of the light is printed on the front of the box along with specs on the sides. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Allty 1200 headlight light
- USB-C charging cable
- Instruction manual / warranty card
- Allen key
With the Allty 1200U Magicshine also includes:
- Dual-sided plastic out-front mount
- Metal tab to GoPro adapter w/ hardware
- Wireless remote
The Allty 1200 includes:
- Plastic handlebar mount
- Garmin to GoPro adapter
Aside from the mounting differences, the big difference is that the Allty 1200U includes the wireless remote which is needed for the FTR LightSync control
MOUNTING
One of the interesting features of the Allty 1200 is that Magicshine sells two versions with different mounting options. The standard Allty 1200 uses a standard Garmin mount on the bottom that is bolted onto the body and provides the common quarter turn locking mechanism. It’s a very popular mount design that allows you to use nearly any third-party mount. With the Allty 1200U, Magicshine has utilized a new tab mount design that’s more compact than the Garmin mount. Magicshine includes a very nice GoPro adapter that appears to be all metal which is very surprising at this price point. Instead of a flimsy plastic release, the adapter has a spring loaded metal release button that makes it easy to install or remove the light.
Note, the release button on the Allty 1200U is fairly large which means it may not be compatible with out-front mounts that have a curved edge like our Topeak UTF out-front mount. We hope Magicshine consolidates the Allty 1200 line and offers a reversible mount like those found on the Lightskin U8 and Knog Blinder in the future so you could use the same light for either mounting. With the anti-glare lens design of the lights you should not flip either of Allty 1200 light that would create more glare so we’d highly recommend purchasing the correct version for your application.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Magicshine Allty 1200 shares the same rectangular design and square profile found on Magicshine’s various Allty and RN headlights. In fact, the Allty 1200 is quite similar to the previous RN 1200 but adds some diagonal cuts on the exterior to help differentiate it. Magicshine offers the Allty 1200 in both a top mounted Allty 1200 option with a Garmin mount and a bottom mounted 1200U version. Both lights have the same black metal body with simple single LED lens and USB-C charging port on the rear. Branding is limited to Allty 1200 graphics printed onto the sides and a Magicshine logo on top. The edges of the body have a more modern chiseled appearance with the sharp bevels along the edges instead of the smoother design we’ve seen with other Magicshine lights..
The Allty 1200 lights both use a single LED design with an anti-glare lens. It’s a simple setup we’ve seen with other Magicshine headlights but upgraded to a second generation design for the Allty 1200 lights. The lens combines a dimpled lens to disperse the light with horizontal diffusers to redirect some light downward. While this doesn’t have a sharp beam cutoff like Magicshine’s EVO 1300 or EVO 1700, the glare is slightly reduced which is helpful. Magicshine has incorporated small cutouts on the sides of the lens to add some side visibility as well as an extended shield above it to reduce glare when you are riding out of the saddle.
USER INTERFACE
As far as the user interface, the Allty 1200 lights use a single button that supports long, short and double presses. There is a two level menu which separates the three constant modes from the two flash options. A single press cycles through the options for each mode, while a double press toggles between the modes. We’re happy that Magicshine has designed it this way as you never have to cycle through flash modes to change the intensity. As with other Magicshine lights there is also a lockout mode that can be activated by holding the power button. It’s useful for transporting the light as it won’t accidentally be turned on while in a backpack or pocket.
These lights can also be synced with the Magicshine app which lets you create custom modes, re-arrange modes and change the brightness. With this simple single LED setup and great factory settings we didn’t see much value in using the Magicshine App. Magicshine also includes a nice two button remote with the Allty 1200U. It has a lightweight plastic construction with two buttons that have a square and a circle label on them. Despite the plastic construction, the remote feels well made and even has a bright LED indicator in between the buttons. Holding either button turns the headlight on while the circle button cycles through intensities. Double pressing the square button toggles between flash and constant modes, while a single press activates the maximum 1200 lumen constant mode.
LIGHTSYNC TECHNOLOGY
The other impressive feature of the Allty 1200 lights is that they are both compatible with Magicshine’s new FTR LightSync control. That means you can pair the remote with one headlight and one tail light. That means you can power the headlight and taillight on and off together with a single button press which provides a more intuitive and seamless experience. You’ll need a compatible taillight like the Magicshine Seemee 50 V2.0 or the Seemee 50 Mag which can be paired with the remote. Once you’ve paired them you will see the headlight and taillight power on and off together. To change the mode of the paired taillight you have to use the button on the taillight itself though, as the mode switch on the remote only controls the headlight. It’s a very convenient feature that allows you to jump on the bike on and turn both the headlight and taillight on and off together rather than fiddling with separate power buttons.
LIGHT OUTPUT
Out of the box, Magicshine programs the Allty 1200 lights with five modes which include three constant options and two flash options. The constant modes are low (300 lumen / 12 hr runtime), medium (600 lumen, 4.8 hr) and the full power high mode (1200 lumen, 2 hr). The constant modes have large jumps between them which makes it easy to differentiate. There is a night flash (300 / 1200 lumen, 4.6 hr) which is less distracting at night as it switches between the low and high constant modes. Finally, the fifth mode is a daytime flash (0/1200 lumen, 11.5 hr) which has a uniform on/off style flash that’s ideal for daytime riding. The flash modes are separated from the constant modes via a double press which ensures you don’t have to cycle through flash mode while adjusting the intensity. Note, you can also create your own output modes in any order you prefer using the Magicshine, however, it’s fairly clumsy and not that helpful here as the factory modes are great.
We would describe the beam optics of the Allty 1200 lights as more of a spot beam as a majority of the light is focused on the road ahead of you. The dimpled lens and vertical diffusers help reduce some of the glare but it will still be blinding for oncoming traffic at high modes so we’d recommend tilting the light downward to reduce the glare. We found the medium and high constant more than adequate for night time riding as the beam creates a nice spot beam with good side visibility for taking corners. The backlit power button and bright LED on the wireless remote are also easy to see at night and make it easy to keep an eye on battery status and operate the light.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Magicshine Allty 1200 to be bright and feature-packed headlights. Magicshine has taken their familiar rectangular single LED design and incorporated a large 4200mAh battery and 1200 lumen output. The light offers both a top-mount Allty 1200U tab option and a standard bottom Allty 1200 with Garmin mount to allow riders to choose their preferred setup. As with all Magicshine lights, the Allty 1200 have USB-C charging ports, bright multi-level battery status indicators and durable metal bodies. We were impressed with the new FTR LightSync Control technology which allows the wireless remote to power on and off the Allty 1200 and a compatible Magicshine taillight directly from the wireless remote. The only negative we found with the Allty 1200U is that the GoPro adapter may not fit all mounts due to the large metal release button. That said, the Allty 1200 lights offer the latest technology at affordable price points.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Magicshine. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.