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Small, affordable, and easy to use, make the Elf Bar RF350 the perfect device for the beginner vaper looking to quit cigarettes or tobacco in general. It offers very little in innovation, but the sheer simplicity of it makes it a winner in our books

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Elf Bar RF350 Verdict – 89%

Elf Bar RF350 Pros:

• Dead simple to use
• Small and light
• USB-C charging
• Decent Flavour
• Cheap as chip

Elf Bar RF350 Cons:

• Less than ideal coil life
• Only 350mAh battery
• Build quality isn’t the greatest

The Elf Bar RF350 aims to take a seat in a segment that isn’t quite so populated as it should be. It is a simple device, like pre-filled disposable vapes, but it has all the benefits of a refillable pod.

There are no buttons, adjustments or fancy metal parts and trim.

It is, simply put, a device to start you on your tobacco-free journey.

Design

The RF350 really is so simple, that it’s a struggle trying to fill the contents of this article. About the wildest it gets is the eight various colours on the polycarbonate and ABS plastic device.

The colours vary from your normal black units to light blue with the pods all being a dark tinted affair.

There are two fairly small airflow holes underneath the pod, a white LED indicator right at the bottom that does not show your battery level, and then your USB-C charge port right at the bottom.

The lack of buttons obviously mean that the RF350 is draw activated only.

The mouth piece is slanted to one side, although I’m unsure what the function of this is. Using it either way around makes no difference in flavour or how comfortable it is (very).

The device, due to its ABS and polycarbonate build is insanely light and one of the smallest in this segment. This makes it perfect to pocket without feeling weighed down. It’s so light in fact, that I often panic because I thought I forgot to grab it before leaving the house.

As simple as the Elf Bar RF350 is, that’s exactly what is needed for users wanting to end their tobacco habit. Nothing fancy and complicated, puff and put away with no worries.

Performance

There will be quite a few people who compare the Elf Bar RF350 to the Caliburn, and for good reason, but believe it or not, the RF350 is even easier to use and maintain than the Caliburn. There are no buttons to push and the RF350 feels more like a disposable than a forever device. Part of the appeal given its extremely low price.

The RF350 can be found for under $9.00

The coils come in at 1.2ohm, perfect for an MTL device, and in the RF350 performs really well. Flavour is spot-on right to the end of the coils life, which sadly isn’t too long. On average, I was able to get 12ml of refills out of a pod; less than stellar compared to Caliburn’s and the like, but miles better than the 2ml you would get out of disposables.

Thankfully, the PODs are equally as cheap and can be found for as little as $1 a piece.

The battery comes in at a measly 350mAh and will not carry you through an entire day, at best, half a day worth of usage, but it does charge extremely fast thanks to the USB-C charger. No doubt it helps keep the cost and weight down of the device, but a slight increase would have been nice.

The airflow works really good and I never felt the need for a tighter or looser draw. It’s got that sponginess you would expect from a traditional cigarette and what I expect to get from any MTL-focused pod device.

Specs:

• Size: 102.5mm x 18.9mm x 11.4mm
• Weight: 20.2g
• Materials: ABS + Polycarbonate
• Battery Capacity: 350mAh
• Tank Capacity: 2ml
• Charging: USB Type C

Elf Bar RF350 Conclusion

There’s honestly so little to the RF350 that it’s impossible to get wrong and that’s what makes it so great.

The RF350 is as simple as it gets, no gimmicks, no innovation, just a device that does what is expected. If you’re looking to stop smoking, there’s very little that can compete with the RF350.

I do wish the battery was a tad bit bigger, even with a size/weight penalty and that Elf Bar manage to get their coils to last just a little bit longer. Other than that, I can nothing but recommend the Elf Bar RF350

The Voopoo Argus Pro is Voopoos newest AIO and is a device that, although too similar to the Drag S, is a real banger.

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Voopoo Argus Pro Verdict – 81%

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Voopoo Argus Pro Pros:

• Shock, dust and weatherproofing is always welcome
• Same unbeatable performance as the previous Drag line-up
• USB-C charging
• Overall build quality is solid

Voopoo Argus Pro Cons:

• A little too similar to the Drag S for my likes
• AFC is still a little wonky

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard about the amazing PNP ecosystem, Voopoos’ answer to creating an easy to use, source and swap environment for their users.

It’s an absolutely rocking system and with their coils being top-tier, it’s one to invest in even if you’re not a Voopoo fan. The Voopoo Argus Pro is pretty much the same, with some extra features sprinkled in for your convenience.

The UI has seen a small update and so have the aesthetics. As a stand-alone device, it’s very good, but we have trouble recommending it over the Drag S on which it’s based due to the similarity.

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Design

Voopoo makes no effort to hide the purloin of design elements from the Drag series for the Argus Pro. The uninitiated will have a hell of a time differentiating between the Drag X and Argus Pro.

Ever seen skin packs in games?

Yeah, this is the vaping equivalent of it. Apart from a more rugged appearance and a handy lanyard/keyring, it’s nearly identical in size, shape, function and form.

A large 0.96 OLED colour screen absolutely dominates the front facia with the fire button above and adjustment buttons and USB C port below. The buttons appear to be weather-sealed or at least pretend to be.

Sadly I could not confirm if they actually are, so please don’t go dunking your Voopoo Argus Pro in a glass of water.

Instead of the polished finish on the Drag S, you now have a rubber-like finish to them in various colour configurations. Denim, Carbon Fibre, Litchi and some variations of leather.

The rubberised finish feels good in the hand, but a drop of juice makes the device look dirty, I’m not the biggest fan. The USB-C charging port is also covered with a weather-proof cap.

The main attraction is the PNP tank that sits atop the Argus Pro and is the same affair found throughout Voopoos’ 2020 range. A 4.5ml drop in affair and accommodates all of the PNP coils (and there’s a hell of a lot of them)

There’s an official RBA that can be used on the Voopoo Argus Pro as well as some third party 510 adapters. Furthermore, Voopoo sells an MTL specific tank for those high-nic, low power vapers out there.

The Voopoo Argus Pro drops the external battery support in favour of a 3000mAh internal cell which feels like a step-down, but taking into consideration that a typical 18650 ranges between 2500 and 3500mAh, it’s a fair compromise for the reduced size and weight.

Performance

It comes as no surprise that the Argus Pro performs exactly like the Drag S, it’s the same coil system, same chipset and the same battery after all, and I couldn’t be happier that Voopoo has left this tried and tested formula as is.

The PNP coils just work, especially the 0.15ohm which is widely regarded as one of, if not the best sub-ohm coil on the market. Flavour is immense and longevity is literally unbelievable. (I’ve thrown out coils because I thought it impossible for it to last 8 weeks) Furthermore, the option of using the MTL or even RBA PNP deck opens up the Voopoo Argus Pro to endless possibilities.

The chipset easily keeps up with the required load and outputs 80w if asked, even if 80w is just a tad too rough for the PNP coils. Not only that, but a single cell at a continuous 80 watts is probably not the best idea.

The Gene.TT chipset features are pretty similar to that of the X and S, but wholly different to that of the base Argus where you only get a monochrome screen and 40 watts. There are slight tweaks that make the chipset feel ever-so-slightly better than the previous generation, but overall it’s par-for-course.

It’s a friendlier and easier system to use than older Voopoo devices but offers less functionality than say the original Drag. Power, and mode selections are pretty much what you’re able to adjust. Speaking of modes, the Smart mode will detect your coil and set the device to the recommended power output.

Nothing new, but nice to see here. RBA mode allows you to set your power at any level regardless of coil type. I’ve found Smart mode to be annoying if you want to adjust your power level during vaping because it will automatically set it back to the recommended mode when the device is turned off.

All the safety features you would expect are there, temp protection, short circuit and so on, obviously with the benefit of slight environmental protection if needed.

AFC, or “Infinite Airflow as Voopoo calls it, the Drag Series. It works well and the implementation is perfect; it’s just not the best fit for MTL operation. It’s also pretty shoddy at auto draw with the airflow open anything over 50% giving you hit or miss results.

These small complaints aside, there’s little wrong with how the Argus Pro or PNP coils perform.

Specs:

• Size: 124mm  x 31mm x 35mm 
• Wattage Output Range: 5 -80W 
• Materials: Zinc Alloy
• Batterie Capacity: 3000mAh
• Tank Capacity: 4.5ml

Voopoo Argus Pro Conclusion

If you’re a fan of the current Voopoo Drag series, but not sold on the aesthetics, the Voopoo Argus Pro is right up your alley. Unfortunately, it’s just a little too similar to the Drag S for me to recommend it as an additional purchase and even over the Drag S for that matter.

That doesn’t mean it’s a bad device, far from it. If the Argus Pro looks better to you aesthetically, I would recommend it in a heartbeat. It’s a phenomenal device that makes great use of the PNP ecosystem, an easy to use UI and great battery life and reasonable power levels.

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Aspire, an old hand at the vaping game has gone with a new approach and the results are magnificent. Moving on from the POD and AIO market, the Aspire Paradox and 9nth MTL tank deliver a vaping experience rivalled by few. If Aspire can nail this level of quality consistently, we may just have a new favourite manufacturer.

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Aspire Paradox Verdict – 95%

Aspire Paradox Pros:

• Absolutely gorgeous
• Solidly built, will take a beating
• USB C charging
• Adjustment buttons are hidden away neatly

Aspire Paradox Cons:

• It’s heavy

Aspire are well known for their all-in-one devices, most notably the EGO series and Aspire Breeze. Not only that, but the Nautilus coils are highly regarded in the MTL realm. It comes to reason that Aspire wanted to probe the MTL market further and as such, the Paradox, a single 18650 mod, and 9th tank were born.

Best Place To Buy – UKECIGSTORE | £59.99

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Design

Created hand in hand with the Italian Engineering House “NoName”, the Paradox takes on the minimalist styling they are known for. Milled out of a solid block of Zinc Alloy, the Paradox exudes class. There’s no immediate sign of any buttons, interface, or ports and instead, it’s hidden neatly behind a zinc-alloy plate that doubles up as the firing trigger.

The cosmetic panel is held on tightly by three phenomenally strong magnets, hiding all buttons, ports and the screen. The monochrome UI is what you come to expect from old school mods with all parameters clearly listed on the screen. Underneath the screen, you’ll find up and down adjustment buttons and a Type C charging port. The actual fire button is found right at the top of the hidden panel and can absolutely be used as-is without the alloy panel.

As with the mod, the controls feel solid, clicky and well thought out. It all feels like a lot of effort was put into the design and elevates the Paradox over the sea of products streaming in.

Apart from the plastic control panel, the only non-alloy part on the Paradox is the rubber hand grip to ensure the mod does not slip out of your hand easily.

Keeping with the minimalist theme, NoName has taken the same design elements and applied it to the 9th tank. There’s no frills on the 9th and as such, it complements the Paradox perfectly, right down to the colour scheme.

What makes the 9th interesting is that it not only uses Aspire premade coils (which are fantastic), but also allows you to drop your own build in with the help of the included RBA. It’s your typical Kayfun styled deck, but here, airflow can be adjusted underneath the coil via replaceable 510 pins. Airflow can also be adjusted via the AFC ring, but bottom coil adjustments is what really matters in MTL.

The biggest disappointment of the 9th tank is the plastic threaded fill cap and while it is extremely smooth, I’m slightly worried about longevity.

Performance

Best Place To Buy – UKECIGSTORE | £59.99

The Paradox perform as old-school as it looks. It’s a no-mess, no fuss mod and fires over and over again without a hitch. The Paradox only offers VV, VW and bypass; there’s no fancy power modes to be found here, allowing Aspire to focus on power delivery and power delivery only. Power is smooth, right up to the 80w max even if the single 18650 starts struggling above 50w, which further confirms that the Paradox was always an MTL device first, at least in my eyes.

If I’m nitpicking, I’m not a fan of screw in battery caps, especially if your battery is exposed as on the Paradox. Some people love the design and it does help with battery rattle, I despise it.

Speaking of MTL, this is where the 9th performs at its best. While it allows for a very very loose restricted lung hit, both the pre-made coils as well as the RBA perform at their best with a tight draw. And what a tight draw the 9th does give with the smallest insert. Even with the airflow control at its widest setting, the draw is as tight as a Kayfun at its smallest setting, just the way I like it. I’m glad too, as this was where the Cog RTA was supposed to stand out, but instead fell flat with its non functioning air control, good job to Aspire then.

Flavour too is excellent, perhaps slightly down from the Cog RTA, but an easy compromise to make and as such, the 9th is now my go to MTL tank.

Specs:

• Size: 78 mm x 42 mm x 28 mm
• Weight: 164gr
• Materials: Zinc Alloy
• Batterie Capacity: Single 18650
• Tank Capacity: 2ml

Aspire Paradox + 9th Conclusion

The Aspire Paradox, paired with 9th tank was the biggest surprise of 2020. Aspires products are generally of good quality, but this, this is just something else. The pièce de résistance in their line-up even if it is completely out of target market. I have no reservations of awarding the Paradox and 9th tank the best product combo in the mid-range segment for 2020, perhaps even 2021.

Best Place To Buy – UKECIGSTORE | £59.99

The Vapefly Manners POD tries to hit the spot with their latest addition, but just barely misses the mark. A sleek and elegant device offering great flavour is let down by lower than average pod life.

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Vapefly Manners POD Verdict – 64%

Vapefly Manners POD Pros:

• Sleek looking device
• Great flavour
• USB C charging
• 650mAh battery

Vapefly Manners POD Cons:

• POD life is horrible
• Weirdly shape drip tip takes getting used to
• No power adjustment

Vapefly has been fairly quiet for a while; other than the Brunhilde series, there was nothing majorly significant from them, until now. Sure, there was the Jester, a leaking mess of a thing we’d all rather forget, but otherwise, radio silence. Now though, Vapefly tries to come in strong with their latest POD system taking a stab at the Caliburn series, but it doesn’t quite succeed.

It is only £14 though, so maybe it is worth a punt after all. Me personally, I’d still rather use the UWELL Caliburn G or.

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Design

The Vapefly Manners flaunts the typical Caliburn style layout, with a few strange angles added. The manners has a 45 degree bottom and a 45 degree mouth tip. This may give the POD system a unique look, but the tip takes quite a bit to get used to while the angled bottom where the USB C port is housed makes it difficult to charge.

It does feel quite nice in the hand and even better in your pocket thanks to sleek dimensions. I could be mistaken, but there seems to be some sort of rubberized coating on the device adding to the feel, albeit minor.

The Manners is both button and draw-activated, ala Caliburn, but here the draw activation works considerably better than on the Caliburn and equal to that on the G. The fire button is nicely positioned under your thumb for quick access while an LED sits next to it to easily see your battery level.

The POD is a 2ml affair, slightly more than the Caliburn; filling mechanism works on the same principle. The pod is enclosed in a black plastic piece but unlike the Caliburn, it uses a rubber bung on the side to refill. No one ever has liked this design and the Manners is even worse as you will 100% get an air-bubble making it impossible to fill completely without a mess.

The Manners POD is a sleek looking device and looks in place on your desk or nightstand, unfortunately, the performance doesn’t quite match

Performance

I had high hopes for the Manners, even after the massively disappointing Jester, but the Manners isn’t all good, unfortunately.

Let’s start with the positive because there is quite a bit of good to Vapeflys’ newest POD system. The 650mAh battery is the perfect compromise between size and capacity. It’s slightly larger than the Caliburn (both in size and capacity) but just enough that it doesn’t need constant charging throughout the day. USB – C is a good touch too, meaning the infrequent charges are speedy.

Draw activation is miles ahead of the Caliburn too, with only a slight wiff needed to get it firing near instantly. The filling mechanism is great too, directly copying that of the Caliburn, no mess, no fuss and works just right. Lastly, flavour production is fantastic equally on par to the best of the best, maybe even slightly better than the Caliburn, with less spitback.

Sadly, all this is let down by poorer than average coil life. I tried both the 1.0ohm and 0.6ohm PODs and neither got me more than 2 days life (2 refills) and averaged at 1 day (1 refill); this with a fairly neutral juice. Coil life is, unfortunately, the biggest selling factor to a POD system for me and here, the Manners fails miserably.

Specs:

• Size: 128.7 mm x 21.5 mm x 12.5 mm
• Weight: 34.6gr
• POD Capacity: 2ml
• Materials: Zinc Alloy
• Batterie Capacity: 650mAh

Vapefly Manners POD Conclusion

The Vapefly Manners had every opportunity to be magnificent and a strong contender to dethrone the now-ageing Caliburn. USB – C charging, a bigger battery, sleeker design, and improved POD capacity, but sadly, it is horribly let down by poor performance in the longevity of the coils. It’s a shame as the Manners looks incredibly smooth and could easily have replaced many a bulky POD system on looks alone.

Perhaps Vapefly will improve the manufacturing of their coils, but as is, I don’t see myself using it outside of this review.

My advice? Get the UWELL Caliburn G instead – it is just leagues better in every way.