Pod Mods

I must admit, what you’re about to read, is a review of my most anticipated device of 2019. The hype around the Rincoe Manto AIO was massive and for a relatively unknown company, that speaks worlds. Does it perform as well as we all expected? Let’s get on the hype train and find out. Choo choo!

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Rincoe Manto AIO Verdict – 70%

Best Price: $34.90 – HeavenGifts

Pros:

• Large juice capacity
• Takes a 18650 battery
• 80w max wattage
• Temperature control
• Build quality is great
• DTL, MTL and a rebuildable AIO all in one
• The DTL mesh coil is great

Cons:

• The 1.2ohm MTL coil doesn’t last very long
• Difficult to get good flavor from the RBA
• It’s quite heavy
• Missing screw in RBA packaging

Full Rincoe Manto AIO Review

Packaging

Slide open the Manto AIOs box and you will find the device neatly nestled above a baggie full of spares. Some O-rings, a bell-shaped 510 drip tip (a traditional 510 drip tip is already installed on the device) and an extra coil as well as the user manual. The RBA section was sent to me in a baggie on its own, but to be fair, this may have been for sample purposes only. Unfortunately, one of the post screws was not installed and somehow went missing.

Design and Feel

The Manto AIO is an impressive device when held, chunky and solid, it feels like a quality product with some thought put into it. The Carbon Fiber version I got looks great and not as obnoxious as the dragon and strange panda designs also available, but those crazy designs are available if that’s your cup of tea.

While the Manto is pocketable, it is a heavy device thanks to the 18650 battery, an unavoidable trade-off for increased battery life.

A small screen that gives you access to statistics like power, battery level, resistance, and amp output; adjustment buttons just below that is used for power and temperature modes. The fire button sits perfectly where your thumb falls when palming the Manto and even if it’s a boxy device, it’s quite ergonomic.

Pull off the battery cover and you’d be forgiven for thinking the Manto is a billet box, in fact, I’m convinced Rincoe drew inspiration from the DotMod AIO and Billet Box. The 3ml tank is near identical to that found on these devices and so is the coil setup. It would be interesting to see if the Billet Box bridges can be made to work with the Manto. Speaking of the battery cover, I did find it a bit fiddly to get I seated properly back into the metal chassis. The battery cover has a cutout to keep an eye on your juice level, but it doesn’t go down all the way to the wick ports for some of the coils.

Menu

A tiny 0.49” OLED screen is used to display all vital information about the device, but the menu is fairly easy to use. Five clicks of the power button turns the device on or off, three clicks takes you into selection mode and the adjustment buttons take you through the modes, variable wattage, bypass or temperature control. The screen displays resistance, amperage, battery level, puff counter, puff time and output at all times and while small, clear and easy to read. There’s very little to the menu system and it’s this simplicity that has popularized AIO and POD systems.

Tank and Coils

The Manto AIO tank holds 3ml of juice with a large and easy to use juice port. All three coils, a 1.2ohm MTL, 0.3ohm mesh DTL coil and RBA screw into an airflow ring that is press-fit into the tank. The retail packaging contains 1 DTL coil and 1 MTL coil with the RBA being a separate purchase. Unfortunately, I had some bad luck with the original 0.3ohm coil as it somehow consumed the scent of the box, a strong chemical aroma and turned any juice I tried to pass through it into pinesol. The MTL coil was significantly better, but this coil lasted barely 2 tanks before tasting of dirt.

The next logical step was to try the RBA, after digging through my box of spares for an extra post screw, pray yours come with all screws because this proved to be tougher than I imagined. The build deck is fairly straight forward, similar to that of the Hellvape MD and even though tiny, I had no trouble getting a build in there. The wick ports are gigantic too. I found it really difficult to stuff up a build on this. Flavour isn’t amazing (as I’ve found on most rebuildable AIOs) it provides a dense and acceptable vape.

Performance

The Manto AIO delivers 80w thanks to the removable 18650. Now, I’ve used a few AIOs that claim high power output, RPM40, Vinici X and some others, but the Manto is the first device that I feel really delivers the stated power. Sure, it will drain the battery in a second but firing the Manto at high power is almost addictive. Power is there instantly, and it keeps going until the time-out protection kicks in. It’s pointless to have 80w in a pod-based device, but it’s nice to know the option is there.

Specs:

• 3ml Juice capacity
• Power output: 1-80w
• 0.001s firing time
• Charging Current: 5V/1A
• 0.49″ OLED Screen.
• Charging Port: USB-C
• Size: 24.3mmx45mmx80mm

Rincoe Manto AIO Conclusion  

I’m not going to lie, I was super hyped for the Manto AIO ever since I caught a sniff of Rincoe’s plans to manufacture a rebuildable AIO system. The Tix was an amazing device and the Manto AIO could only be an improvement of that, right? Well, yes and no. As an AIO, it performs great, but sadly with all the R&D, it came to the market too late.

It’s a solid device, but in the time it took to bring to fruition, the market was already flooded. Sadly, the Manto AIO will disappear in the crowd because it doesn’t really offer anything new. If you like the design though, it still performs reasonably well. I though don’t see it taking down the likes of the VooPoo Vinci X or the SMOK RPM40 – two of 2020’s most popular pod-system vapes.

Best Price: $34.90 – HeavenGifts

 

Smok, the brand everyone loves to hate. What started as the most recognized vape brand quickly turned into a high stakes gamble of quality control. Smok has made some great products but running the risk of a malfunctioning $40-$60 piece of kit is too much of a stretch for most people. Recently, it appears Smok has gone through a transition phase where not only did the products look to be better made, they seemed fresh and exciting, the Nord as an example. So how does the new Smok RPM40 stack up, is it the only POD system you will ever need?

Smok RPM40 Verdict – 67%

Best Price USA | DirectVapor | $30.95

UK & Europe | New Vaping | £20.99

Pros:

• 40w POD “styled” system
• 5ml juice capacity
• Can use Nord coils
• Huge internal battery
• Great Screen

Cons:

• Quality control is still iffy
• Heavy
• Leaking issues carried over from Nord
• Micro USB

Full Smok RPM40 Review

Packaging

Smok has always been on point with their product presentations and that no doubt helped cement their fame, marketing is what sells a product after all. The RPM40 is no different, a regular sleeved box, but the printing and presentation are done beautifully. Inside the box, you’ll find your RPM, micro-USB cable, manual and warranty card as well as two PODs, an RPM40 POD containing the all-new 0.4ohm Mesh coil as well as a “Nord” POD that can take the infamous Nord coils. The pre-installed coil is the 0.6ohm Nord variant, which had some issues in the past, but we’ll get to that later.

Design

The RPM40 comes in way too many colours to mention, there is bound to be something you like. Anything from plain black, to Gold carbon fibre and everything in-between. Apart from the Voopoo Vinci, there isn’t much that looks similar to the RPM40, it’s a tall chubby rectangle and much larger than we were led to believe from the images. You’ll get 3 coloured panels and one panel with what must be the best AIO screen to date. A Micro USB port adorns the bottom of the body.

The screen fills an entire panel, contains everything from your power output, to resistance, to puff counter, no complaints here. The battery indicator is one of the best I’ve seen on an AIO as well. It’s colour adjustable too, bright and clear and easy to use on any colour modes (There are 8 in total).

Unfortunately, my test unit had a small crack on the bottom left corner out of the packaging. I’m unsure if this was damaged by the shipping company or otherwise, but a bummer none-the-less.

Both PODs click into the RPM from the top with the juice reservoir disappearing into the body once seated. Be sure to pull it out regularly to ensure you don’t run dry. Speaking of PODs, the RPM has a fairly large duck-bill mouthpiece that is super comfortable. 

PODS and Coils

The inclusion of Nord coils in both the RPM40 and Fetch Mini must be one of the best ideas by Smok in a long time, but unfortunately less than ideally implemented. While flavour and longevity is far above average, the consistent leaking issues persevere. While it’s possible to overcome the POD housing getting flooded, it’s less than ideal to ensure that the RPM40 is always stood upright. Bear in mind, the charging port is on the bottom. Luckily, the new RPM POD, which is also lighter in colour, does not leak as badly (on par with AIO/POD systems) and flavour is still stellar on these. Both POD styles use a rubber flap on the reservoir to fill with a huge fill port.

Performance

It’s difficult to place the RPM40 in a specific category as it crosses the lines between AIO and POD system so regularly. It acts exactly like a POD system, but not only are the coils replaceable, it also allows power adjustments up to 40w. Now, I need to warn you, even if the RPM coils ohm out to 0.4 and are mesh, firing the RPM40 at max output will not be pleasant. The fact that I wasn’t coughing blood after a 1.5-second hit is a miracle that I am still thankful for. Drop the power down to 22ish with the RPM coil and a 12mg freebase juice and you’re in for an amazing vape.

The mesh coils produce so much flavour that rivals many a POD system. The Nord coils I found to perform better at sub 20w, yet flavour remains stellar. Unfortunately, the airflow on the RPM40 cannot be adjusted, so be aware that you will be stuck with something in between a tight direct to lung or loose MTL hit, this counts for both coils.

I was able to get two and a half days of heavy vaping out of the 1500mAh battery, but the trade-off is a heftier system. Charging time also suffers thanks to micro USB charging.

Specs:

• E-liquid Capacity: 4.3ml w/RPM POD – 4.5ml w/Nord POD
• Power output: 1-40w
• Battery: 1500mAh
• 2-2.5ohms Resistance
• 96″ Colour TDT Screen.
• Charging Port: Micro USB
• Size: 25mmx25mmx99mm
• Weight: 99g.

Smok RPM40 Conclusion

The Smok RPM40 is an interesting device from Smok and I have a feeling will turn the company around somewhat. There are still some quality control issues that need to be addressed, but comparing Smok’s latest products to let’s say, the GPriv, it’s clear they’ve made a serious effort to turn the company around. The RPM is a neat device if you can live with the leaking and non-adjustable airflow. It’s got a whopping big battery, great flavour, runs up to 40w and is compatible with the infamous Nord coils. There’s also an RBA coil available if you’re willing to risk your fingers building on that dainty thing.

Generally speaking, I think I definitely prefer the VooPoo VINCI – it’s much the same device but has more consistent coils.

Best Price USA | DirectVapor | $30.95

UK & Europe | New Vaping | £20.99

POD and AIO devices have completely taken over the market. It seems every manufacturer has climbed on the bandwagon and are milking this trend for every last drop. The only way to differentiate your device in these circumstances is to either innovate or make sure it looks so damned good that people simply cannot live without it. CyberVape, a new company on the scene, has tried doing a little of both with its Cyber X AIO kit.

Cybervape CyberX Verdict – 82%

Pros:

• Unique, discreet design
• Good flavor
• Solid build quality
• Enough fire modes to satisfy the US Army
• Affordably Priced

Cons:

• Coils can gurgle if not careful
• Difficult to see screen and juice level in most situations
• Battery life
• Hit or miss coils

Full CyberVape CyberX Review

Packaging

A well-presented device gives a consumer the illusion that a manufacturer has put a lot of effort into its product by following through right to the end, even in their packaging. The CyberX is no different. The flip-top presentation box is classy and logical with all the bits and pieces laid out neatly. Inside you’ll find the device, a USB C charging cable, a lanyard and user manual.

Design

CyberVape boasts about their love for Cyberpunk themed devices and the CyberX is clearly a testament to their design philosophy. It’s a futuristic-looking little thing with sharps lines a sleek, futuristic feel. It’s light in the hand but feels like it should stand up to abuse thanks to the rubberized finish.

There are two sides to the device, one with a removable, triangular door, where the Artery Pal styled POD slides in and the other where the fire button, adjustments buttons, and a small screen is placed. Yes, the CyberX may look and feel like a POD system, but the screen (along with various modes) put it solidly into the AIO category.

The PODs are a bit dark and so are the side panels which make reading the screen in anything other than a dimly lit room, not just difficult, but impossible. Funnily enough, the brashly colored versions have lighter colored PODs and panels which make reading the screen and seeing your juice level easier, so keep that in mind.

Speaking of colors, there’s quite a few on offer; a white, pinkish-blue version, a blue orange and light blue one, green and yellow and my personal favorite, a black and gunmetal version. A small touch no doubt, but the LED on the side of the CyberX that is color-matched to your chosen theme rounds the look off perfectly, even if you can barely see it while holding the device

The CyberX offers three modes, variable power (from 5w to 30w), variable voltage (1v to 6v) and temperature control (200F-600F). Note that even though TC is available with the 1.2ohm coil installed, it will fry your coil near-instantly; the 0.5ohm mesh coil is required to use temperature control effectively.

Short circuit protection, fire timeout and overheat protection are all standard safety features these days and no different in the CyberX.

Pods, Coils and Spoils

Both the PODS and coils of the CyberX are reminiscent of the Artery PAL style with the POD sliding into an enclosed unit and coils screwing into it from the bottom. An AFC ring surrounds the coil base. I’d label this as a solid loose MTL draw, even with the AFC closed all the way down. A restricted direct lung hit is possible with the AFC opened all the way. The PODs are tinted and can make it difficult to see your juice level without removing the side panel. Pods can be filled up to their 3ml mark easily via a rubber-covered port that is large enough to support a dripper tube. Leaking is also non-existent.

Comparing the flavor of the Cyber X to King Caliburn, I’d put the X a notch below it. It’s not fantastic, but it beats the pants off most POD systems released in the last year. Coil life is a bit of a gamble, from the same package, I’ve had one last 3ml and another 18ml, however, all of them started gurgling at some point if used at lower wattages; a few quick fires with the voltage turned up usually resolves this issue.

I found absolutely no reason to use temperature control in this low power, pre-built coil, device, but it may be nifty for those that like a reliable hit with every pull

Battery

Specs:

• Weight: 68g
• Battery Capacity: 800mAh
• Power output: 5-30w
• Charging: 5V/1A
• Charging Port: Type-C
• Size: 84mmx40mmx21mm
• Pod Capacity 3.0ml

CyberVape CyberX Conclusion

So, the CyberX is the first device from a brand-new company. This sends shivers down my spine. Chances of getting a decent product are fairly low, less with something that offers as many features as the X. Colour me impressed then, when I turned this little thing on and took a tote. When you strike gold with one of the good coils, the CyberX performs flawlessly, delivering good flavor, solid feel, and enough features to compare it to a single battery box mod. It may not offer the same finesse as the Caliburn, but it’s got enough tricks up its sleeve to justify your hard-earned dosh.

Price – $34.99 (CyberX) 

The VooPoo VINCI pod system is an immensely powerful pod vape. It has 40W of power, features VooPoo’s GENE chipset, and it packs in a massive 1500mAh battery – what’s not to like!?

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VooPoo VINCI Pod System – Quick Verdict (95%)

Best Price? DirectVapor | $43.95 (FREE SHIPPING)

VooPoo VINCI Pros

• Great Design, A Truly Innovative Pod System
• Multiple Coil Options (Inc. Mesh)
• 1500mAh Battery
• 40W of Power – Makes It Great For Sub-Ohm Vaping
• Large, Detailed Color Display
• 5.5ml Juice Capacity

Cons:

• No MTL Coils
• Only Comes With One Coil In The Box

VERDICT: The VooPoo VINCI is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Yes, it’s a pod vape, but it has more in common with a traditional box mod-style setup, which is why VooPoo is calling it a “Mod Pod”, I guess. You have 40W of power, support for two types of coils, including mesh, and a mega 1500mAh battery for all-day vaping. As pod mods go, it doesn’t get much better than this…

And then you have its performance; with 40W of power, you’re going to be running standard E Juice through this device. But that’s fine. It kicks out tons of vapor and the flavor is as good as you get on a standard vape tank. For this reason, the VooPoo VINCI is ideal for anyone that loves box mods and vape tanks but wants something smaller, but equally powerful. I honestly cannot think of another vaping device quite like this. And that is why VooPoo is onto a winner here. It scratched an itch I didn’t even know I had!

You have adjustable wattage on the VooPoo VINCI 40W, the ability to use breath or a button to fire the device, and a beautiful 0.96in color display that features all the information you could wish for, including a puff counter, battery life, and current settings. For all intents and purposes, the VooPoo VINCI is a box mod shrunken down into a pod vape – it is a true AIO vape device. And I think it will be extremely popular in 2019 and beyond.

MORE: Our #1 Pod Vapes For 2019 & Beyond… 

The design, fit and finish, and detailing on the VooPoo VINCI is exemplary; you have carbon fiber, a wide choice of color options, and a beautifully designed mouthpiece ideal for vaping. The removable pod will hold up to 5.5ml of E Juice and is easy to refill. The coils are replaceable, though you only get one in the box, and the flavor and overall performance are outstanding.

And if that wasn’t enough, you can augment the airflow of the pod by switching how it sits in the device; one way delivers a swooshy, sub-ohm style vape, whereas the other creates a more restricted DTL vape. It’s super-useful and a really clever feature that I hope more manufacturers start using. Sadly, there’s no MTL coil to speak of, which is a bit of a bummer, but I get the impression that VooPoo is going after the mass market here – those that currently use vape tanks and vape mods.

And for my money, I think the company has nailed it. The VooPoo VINCI is a solid performer that looks totally badass, has immense battery life, and kicks out brilliant flavor from excellent coils that last weeks at a time. If you’ve been on the fence about pod mods, the VooPoo VINCI could well be the vape device you’ve been waiting for. I’m totally smitten with it – and I think a lot of you guys will be too.

Best Price? DirectVapor | $43.95 (FREE SHIPPING)

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VooPoo VINCI 40W Review – Design, Specs, Pods, Performance

Design

When it comes to industrial design, VooPoo is a master of its craft. The VooPoo Drag and VooPoo Drag 2 Mini were both stunning devices, built for durability, power, and performance. The VooPoo VINCI picks up on this trend, just in a much smaller form factor. You have carbon fiber instead of plastic, rounded edges instead of sharp corners, and a damn-near perfect ergonomic design that makes for some of the best-looking design I’ve seen in the pod mod/AIO market in recent times.

It’s a very similar deal to the Smok RPM40 Kit, only here, I think the design and build materials are more premium, better thought out. SMOK has an RBA coming to its Smok RPM40 Kit soon, but for most people, I think the standard coil configuration of the VINCI will be more appealing. Simplicity, after all, is the highest form of sophistication. VooPoo knows this and it has used it to develop one of the best-looking pod vapes on the market right now.

In terms of design, you have a charging port on the base of the device, a fire button on the front just above the 0.96in color display. Above that, you have the removable pod that can hold up to 5.5ml of vape juice. The fit, finish, and ease with which the parts come apart is stunning. You can set this vape up and have it running in seconds. The carbon fiber accents also look totally badass.

Verdict: The VooPoo VINCI is a premium-looking pod vape that looks and feels like a million bucks. It’s durable, perfectly ergonomic, and it is simple to set-up and maintain. I’ve used hundreds of pod vapes, but the VooPoo VINCI is now easily inside the top 1% of my current all-time favorites.

Specs & Features

• Intelligent GENE Pod Chip
• Dimensions – 104mm by 25.3mm by 25.3mm
• Integrated 1500mAh Rechargeable Battery
• Wattage Output Range: (5-40W)
• Voltage Output Range: (3.2-4.2V)
• Resistance Range: (0.1ohm – 3.0ohm)
• 3 Power Levels – (3.2V, 3.5V, 3.8V)
• Auto Mode
• Manual Mode
• Puff Curve Mode
• 2 Week Usage Memory Log
• Aluminium-Alloy & Plastic Chassis Construction
• Draw-Activated Firing Mechanism
• Two Adjustment Buttons
• Juice Viewing Window – Check Fill Level
• 0.96″” TFT Color Screen
• Refillable Pod – Replaceable Coil
• 5.5mL Refillable Pod Capacity

Pods

1. 0.3ohm PnP-VM1 Mesh Coil – rated for 32-40W (DTL)
2. 0.8ohm PnP-R1 Dual Coil – rated for 12-18W (MTL)

As I said, there’s no dedicated MTL coil just yet – hopefully, VooPoo will release one soon! But the coils you do have are very impressive indeed, especially if you like vaping on traditional high VG vape juice – like the juice we sell inside our dedicated VapeBeat Juice Store.

I think the 0.3ohm mesh coil is my favorite of the two. This coil, once it’s primed and in its optimal performance window, will deliver clouds and flavor like a standard mesh coil vape tank. That’s impressive for an AIO vape, and it is the thing that really surprised me about this device.

I’ve used plenty of DTL pod systems, but none have lived up to the hype, none have managed to match the performance of a standard mesh coil vape tank. But the VooPoo VINCI does. And this is what makes it such an impressive device, even when compared to similar products like the Lost Vape Orion Plus and SMOK RPM40.

The 0.8ohm coil is decent too, though it lacks the flavor-punch of the 0.3ohm mesh coil. If you’re after a more restricted DTL hit, the 0.8ohm coil is the one to go for – just make sure you have it set to the tightest possible draw when you install it. The flavor is big, like on the 0.3ohm mesh coil, but, for my tastes, it just prefer the way the 0.3ohm mesh coil draws. If you’re gonna DTL vape, you might as well go full steam ahead!

How’s It Perform

Like a traditional box mod and mesh coil vape tank. For me, this was the biggest surprise about the VooPoo VINCI. I’ve used plenty of sub-ohm pod kits over the years. Most were OK, but none could match a mesh coil tank and vape mod combo, so prior to testing the VooPoo VINCI, I wasn’t expecting much.

I installed the 0.3ohm coil, filled her up with juice (TrailBlazer from the VapeBeat Store, obvs) and set about vaping. Within seconds, I knew the VooPoo VINCI was special – it hits just like a mesh coil tank. I pressed on, using it for a week, and it felt like I was using a traditional box mod and vape tank. Only I wasn’t; this thing is technically a pod vape! Insane…

The flavor is, perhaps, the best thing about the VooPoo VINCI. I’ve ever really felt like pod vapes do high VG vape juice justice, something just always seems amiss. Even in more expensive devices like the Lost Vape Orion Plus. But VooPoo has NAILED it. I know I keep going on about this point, but it is the #1 reason you would buy this kit: the VooPoo VINCI vapes like a mesh coil tank, not a pod mod. And, for me, that is a very compelling thing indeed!

As I said, the VooPoo VINCI is a DTL vaping device. The airflow is open and very smooth. The device itself is also very quiet; I didn’t experience any whistling, even with the AFC wide open. The vapor is dense and the clouds are huge. Add in pitch-perfect flavor and you’re in a very good place. But the real star of the show here is the battery, which brings me to my next point…

Battery Life

VooPoo has strapped a 1500mAh battery inside this thing, and that means one thing: you can vape this all day, hard, and it will last. You can run it at maximum output and chain it and it will last. You can run it at lower wattages, conserving power and vape juice, and it will last, most likely, a couple of days.

99.9% of pod vapes suffer from poor battery life; this is a tradeoff most are forced to make for the smaller form-factor. VooPoo has basically said, f*** that!, and inserted a HUGE battery cell inside the VooPoo VINCI, making it one of – if not the – best performing pod vapes on the planet, with respect to battery life.

Bottom line? If battery life is a concern for you, you needn’t worry about it with the VooPoo VINCI. I’ve been using this device for weeks now, and I have yet to run it to zero inside a single day (and I vape A LOT). That should pretty much tell you everything you need to know about how good the VooPoo VINCI’s battery performance is…

Verdict?

As you can probably tell, I like the VooPoo VINCI quite a lot. And the reason for this is simple: it’s a pod mod that delivers vape mod/mesh coil tank-like performance. I haven’t experienced this on a pod vape to date, despite testing upwards of 100 of them since 2017. No one has managed to capture the feel and flavor of mesh coil tank inside a pod mod. Until now…

The VooPoo VINCI, while late to 2019’s pod mod party, I think, will be noted as one of the best all in one vape devices you can buy right now. I’ve been using mine for a couple of weeks, and I can see myself using it regularly, as my daily driver, well into 2020. The reason? The flavor and the clouds. It’s just like using a mesh coil tank and a vape mod, only here it’s a perfectly ergonomic pod mod vape. This is the pod vape I have been waiting years for, basically, and I highly recommend it to anyone that wants vape mod/mesh coil tank performance, just inside a small, compact package.

Best Price? DirectVapor | $43.95 (FREE SHIPPING)

The Smoant Battlestar Baby is a simple, breath-activated pod mod (just like the UWELL Caliburn). It has a large battery, solid design, and picks up where the Smoant Pasito left off. But is it any good? Let’s review…

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Smoant Battlestar Baby Verdict – 72%

Smoant Battlestar Baby Pros:

• Simple to use
• Top-notch build quality and designs
• Great flavor
• Virtually leakproof

Smoant Battlestar Baby Cons:

• Small juice capacity
• Coils don’t last very long
• Spit back can become a problem as coils degrade
• Not the cheapest pod system on the market

Best Price Online? HeavenGift | $29.90

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Full Smoant Battlestar Baby Review

Smoant has been around the block a couple of times, releasing some quality devices since setting up shop in Shenzhen 6 years ago. Naboo, Charon Mini,  Gaia, Battlestar? Almost everything the company has touched, with the exception of the Rabox, has been fantastic.

Then, Smoant released the Smoant Pasito, the first, truly usable, rebuildable pod system and launched their brand into fandom.

In the mass hysteria that is pod systems, Smoant took advice from the vaping community and designed a product that met almost every concern the modern vaper had and, man, was it refreshing to see a company pay attention to the market.

So why then, did Smoant release the Smoant Battlestar Baby, a non-rebuildable, non-variable wattage pod system?

MORE: The #1 Best Pod Vapes We’ve Tested To Date…

The Smoant Battlestar Baby may seem like a step back for Smoant but hear me out. The Pasito was, in most regards, the perfect device for the enthusiast pod user. Someone that likes to tinker, build, adjust and figure things out to get the perfect vape, but when it comes to casual vaping, it’s a bit of a schlep to get the perfect build.

The vast majority of vapers want something simple to use, and this is where the Battlestar Baby comes in.

I’ve had my fair share of devices, but none as simple as the Smoant Battlestar Baby. There’s no power switch, no adjustable wattage, no fire button, and the airflow is set to forget. The coils are prebuilt and that’s it – it really couldn’t be any simpler. Fill the pod, drop it into the device and draw away.

Design

This simplicity is carried over to the design of the device; an electroplated chassis, resembling the original Battlestar (and reminiscent of the God awful Voopoo Nano), graphic side panels (6 styles are available, black, red, stainless steel, gunmetal, blue and green) a singular led showing battery level and a USB C charging at the bottom of the device.

The design is clean and simple and oh so sexy in the resin finish.

There’s no switches, latches or any attachments.

Above all, it’s tiny, easily fitting into your palm. The construction is pretty tight too and carries some heft.

Coils, Pods, and Performance

Best Price Online? HeavenGift | $29.90

The actual pod is contained within the Battlestar Baby and slides into the top easily with the help of a tab to ensure the correct orientation.

Coils are press fit into the bottom with a rubber tab closing up the fill hole, which is a little on the small side.

Two coil variants are available, a 0.6ohm mesh coil for freebase e-juice and a Ni-80 1.2ohm coil targeted at nic salts. With the 0.6ohm coil installed, the Battlestar Baby will output 15w of power while the 1.2ohm will only output 10w.

Specs:

• Weight: 78g
• Battery Capacity: 750mAh
• Power output: 10/15w
• Charging: 5V/0.8A
• Charging Port: Type-C
• Size: 60mmx45mmx15mm
• Pod Capacity 2.0ml

Both coils produce excellent flavor, similar to that of the UWELL Caliburn, but for some reason, I get a barrage of sweet notes from this device.

While it may not be a bad thing for some, it is something to take note of. Coil longevity isn’t great and I’ve found coil life to reach its end near the 6-8ml fill point for both coils, par for the course for Smoant coils, unfortunately, however, replacements are cheap enough.

As the coils degrade, the Baby increasingly spits back, however, you could get more refills out of a pod, but it does get slightly annoying having hot globs of juice spat into your mouth. The Smoant Battlestar Baby is also a breath-activated device too, hence the no button design.

Battery

The Smoant Battlestar Baby houses an internal 750mAh internal battery that charges fully in 45-60 minutes. The LED will flash red at 5-30% charge, blue at 30-60%, white at 60-95% and stay solid white at 100% charge. As the Baby has relatively low power output the battery will easily last 2 days before needing a recharge.

Smoant Battlestar Baby Review Conclusion

If you’re after a simple to use a pod system, I can only recommend the Battlestar Baby. It may not be the next step in the vaping world and it certainly isn’t innovative, but it’s about as simple as it gets. Great build quality, amazing flavor production, and a solid battery make the Battlestar Baby a serious contender for one of the best pod systems on the market right now.

Unfortunately, poor coil life lets it down.

If you can live with that, the Battlestar Baby should be right up your alley. Most importantly, the included lanyard also doubles up as a charger AND a ruler, what more do you want?

Best Price Online? HeavenGift | $29.90

Rincoe is a fairly new vendor in the vape game with only a handful of products on the market. The Mechman 228w was what put the spotlight on them as a solid consumer-level box mod with great designs. Rincoe also made a lesser-known AIO device called the Tix. A weird name with an interesting design, it begged investigation.

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Rincoe Tix Review Verdict – 85%

Best Price? $40 – HeavenGifts

Rincoe Tix Pros:

• Build quality
• Looks and feel
• Updated coils are amazing
• Fairly priced
• Adjustable airflow
• Leak-resistant
• Good battery life

Rincoe Tix Cons:

• Previous generation coils are poor. Make sure you get the updated coils
• Fire button can be awkwardly placed for some
• Some gurgling may occur
• Pods can run dry as there is no way to see current juice level without removing the back cover

Best Price? $40 – HeavenGifts

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Full Rincoe Tix Review

Design

When first looking at the Tix, one can’t help but feel it looks oh so familiar. It’s an AIO style system akin to the current Lost Vape Orion Plus and Orchid Ultra trend, but it’s just a little different that it feels almost new, but it doesn’t quite…there’s something very familiar… oh, wait it’s an Artery Pal!

MORE: Best Pod Vapes (UPDATED) 

In fact, the Tix is so close to the Artery Pal you’d be forgiven in thinking it’s the Ed Hardy edition Artery Pal.

The Rincoe Tix is a miniature box mod (or all in one) style pod system with the pod housed within the body; a weird-looking, but seriously comfortable drip tip pokes out the top. The back panel is removable to give access to the actual pod and airflow. A red shield styled fire button sits comfortably on its side.

Other than looks, that’s where the similarities to the Artery Pal end. The Tix features impressive build quality and feels solid in the hand; the nicest feeling, best built AIO system just slightly nudging out the OG Orion.

I’ve been rocking the Tix for a month, I’m hard on my devices, but I haven’t been able to put as much as a scratch or dent on it.

Rincoe Tix Pods & Coils – Any Good?

The Tix has 3 output modes, red (3.3v), blue (3.65v) and green (Full battery output). These represent the usual low, medium and high voltage modes with constant voltage output per mode apart from the green setting which will give you the maximum output based on your current battery level.

Battery life is adequate and charges fully (via USB C thankfully) in about an hour and a bit, but be careful, once the battery indicator goes blue, you don’t have a lot of power left before that dreaded empty draw comes your way. The side panel has 2 LEDs that light up simultaneously to show both power output as well as battery life, quite a nifty way of displaying your vitals.

The color schemes are certainly unique, not to everyone’s taste, but thankfully, there are more color schemes available for those that prefer a more subtle device. Not all of the colors come from the Ed Hardy catalog thankfully, there are also Vast Sky, Flame, Galaxy, UK Flag, US Flag, Blazing Skull and Carbon Black versions available.

The Galaxy Edition looks amazing.

The Tix comes packaged with two coils; a 0.8 and 1ohm piece. I tried the 1ohm coil first and wasn’t immediately impressed. It vaped fine, but I was hoping for a little more flavor from the coil/device.

Rincoe Tix Performance

The coil lasted around 2 refills with an overly sweet juice before dropping off in flavor. Far from stellar and I hoped this wasn’t all the device had to offer. Dumped the 1ohm and loaded up the 0.8ohm mesh coil. Immediately the flavor improved, but not as much as I had hoped for; perhaps the Caliburn had spoiled me.

Of bigger concern was the gurgling I was experiencing, an abnormal amount. Juice in mouth kind of gurgling. Somewhere, this thing was either leaking or the wicks were way too thin. I quickly contacted Rincoe and was told that they are aware of the issue and have updated not only the PODs (50% more translucent to see juice levels easier), but the 0.8ohm coil as well and would send me one of each.

Rincoe Tix Flavor Performance

When the new coils arrived, I popped one in and OMG are these coils fantastic. I picked up my UWELL Caliburn and put the same juice in there, damn near identical. Can’t be, I thought to myself as I pulled my trusty Suorin Air (The king of flavourful pods, prove me wrong) out of the bottom drawer.

Slightly better flavor from the same juice, but not by much.

This puts the Tix (with updated 0.8ohm coil) smack bang in the middle of the Caliburn and Air. Coil life was very good as well, estimate 20-30ml through a coil before dropping off, but wicking still kept up fine.

I’m assuming Rincoe increased the juice holes on the new pieces or they are using a better grade of cotton. Either way, the changes to the coils made a huge difference. The Tix also has adjustable airflow, as all pod devices should these days. Tight MTL to DTL, it’s all there. I do however prefer the Tix closed off almost all the way with just a sliver of a gap open.

Now, this means nothing if you’re not getting the updated coils for it, so make sure when purchasing. I did experience a little gurgling still when I let the POD sit for too long, but nothing to be concerned about. Spitback? None. I little leaking occurs, but because the POD is contained within the unit, your pockets always remain dry.

Conclusion

The Tix may be the visual similar to the Artery Pal, but it improves on nearly every area. The build quality is unbelievable, the (updated) coils are fantastic, superb flavor and longevity and the battery will last you more than a day.

For such a new company, Rincoe has done really well with the Tix. There are a few slight issues they need to improve on, but I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

Best Price? $40 – HeavenGifts