Pod Mods

The Apollo Brez Deluxe is designed to take on the JUUL. I just spent a week and a bit testing it out, so how does this closed pod vape system compare to the almighty JUUL?

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Apollo Brez Deluxe Verdict (98%)

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Apollo Brez Deluxe Pros:

• Solid, Portable Design
• Nice Selection of Flavors
• Cheaper Than JUUL
• Decent Battery Life For Its Size
• Great-Tasting Vapor (And Lots of It)
• Replacement Pods Very Well Priced

TL;DR – The Apollo Brez Deluxe is a great little pod vape system. Like the JUUL, it is closed, so you can’t use your own E Juice. This isn’t always ideal, but Apollo’s pods are very, very good. You get four in the pack and each one will last you a couple of days – or thereabouts.

The flavor is great and the Apollo Brez Deluxe, despite its small size, kits out a hell of a lot of vapor compared to the JUUL. The draw is almost 100% the same as a cigarette, only here the vapor isn’t quite as hot. The overall experience is very pleasurable, tasting great on the inhale and exhale.

The Apollo Brez Deluxe is also cheaper than the JUUL, both to buy and run in the short to long term. For this reason, I’d say it is just about the best closed-pod vape system on the planet right now. It’s also totally ideal for current smokers that are looking to get off cigarettes once and for all.

You can pick up a starter pack for $37.95 and that includes five pods (as well as free shipping).

USE CODE: VAPEBEAT15 For 15% Discount 😉 

Full Apollo Brez Deluxe Review

Design

Pod vapes come in all shapes and sizes. But the Apollo Brez Deluxe is more of a traditional pod vape, in that it is designed to be considered alongside devices like the Blu ecig and the JUUL. It’s not refillable like the UWELL Caliburn and is kind of a different deal in many respects…

Pods like the UWELL Caliburn are aimed at established vapers, guys like you and me, people that have vaped for a while and fancy a change from their RDAs and box mods. The Apollo Brez Deluxe is aimed squarely at current smokers that are looking to quit in the simplest and quickest way possible.

For this reason, devices like the Apollo Brez Deluxe need to be designed well. They have to be simple to use and require ZERO prior knowledge to set them up and use them. And with the Apollo Brez Deluxe, Apollo has 100% nailed this aspect of the device. It is, for want of a better phrase, totally idiot-proof.

The Apollo Brez Deluxe is composed of two parts: 1) the battery and, 2) the pods (or cartridges). Setting up the Apollo Brez Deluxe is as simple as inserting a pod and taking a draw. You don’t need to prime the coil inside the pod nor do you need to press anything. Just breath in and you’re vaping.

The Apollo Brez Deluxe is ultra-ultra-lightweight and will fit easily pretty much anywhere. The device itself isn’t even as wide as my finger and it will sit comfortably in the palm of my hand. Inside, you have a 320mAh battery and each pod holds 1ml of Nic Salts E Juice (of which there are currently five flavors).

The Apollo Brez Deluxe comes with a USB charging accessory, so you’ll need to hook it up to a power source, your PC or something, to top it up. I don’t really like proprietary charging docks but JUUL uses one and I think that is why Apollo opted to do the same. Doing things this way means the device can be ultra-slim and lightweight.

Personally, I’d have much preferred a slightly larger device with a microUSB port on the bottom for charging. But that’s just me; I wouldn’t say this was a deal-breaker. It certainly hasn’t stopped JUUL selling millions of devices, anyway!

Apollo Brez Deluxe Specs & Features

• Dimensions: 104.6 x 16.2 x 8.2 mm
• Battery: 320mAh
• Coil Tech: TruCeramic Coil
• Pod Capacity: 1ml
• Charging: Proprietary MicroUSB
• LED Battery Indicator

As you can see, the Apollo Brez Deluxe is pretty spartan in the specs department. But that’s to be expected with a device of this nature. It does pack a punch, however, where it counts. The coolest thing, for me, is the TruCeramic Coil technology; it makes the vapor ultra-smooth and ensures it is jam-packed with flavor.

Flavors (Pods)

• RY4 – Tobacco with hints of caramel for an ultra-smooth, premium vaping experience. Right now, this is my #1 favorite flavor. I can’t get enough of it!
• Berry Blend – Berry Blend is a fruity vape that packs in a lot of flavor notes. Ideal for vapers that want something a little fresher than tobacco, Berry Blend is a sweet and delicious all-day vape.
• Melon – Honeydew melon and cucumber mint combine for one of the most chilled-out vape flavors you’ll ever encounter. Lovely stuff, especially when it’s hot outside.
• Breeze – A straight-up menthol vape that really does pack a punch. If you like menthol, Breeze is one of the best I’ve tried.
• Tobacco – A solid, robust sweet tobacco blend that mimics the exact flavor you get from the most expensive, premium shag tobacco. Forget Marlboro Lights, THIS is what tobacco should taste like…

All of Apollo’s Brez Deluxe’s pods are either 25mg or 50mg nicotine. You can buy the pods in packs of four and they retail for $19.95 per pack. My advice? Find a flavor you like and stock the hell up!

Battery Performance

With a 320mAh battery inside it, and considering the similarly sized JUUL is utter terrible in the battery department, you’d think the Apollo Brez Deluxe would be pretty crappy in the battery performance stakes, right? I certainly did prior to testing it out.

But here’s the thing: the battery life of the Apollo Brez Deluxe is actually very good; it’s way better than the JUUL, probably by a good 30-40%, which is significant. With normal usage, you can easily stretch it through a solid day at work.

My advice? Keep the charger with you, so you can top it up around 3 PM. Do this and the Apollo Brez Deluxe will keep on chuggin’ until it’s time for bed. Honestly, I had no idea you could get so much performance from such a small-sized battery. How Apollo did this? I have no idea! But I’m not complaining…

Should You Buy The Apollo Brez Deluxe?

If you’re thinking about getting the JUUL, but are on the fence and looking for better alternatives, good news! You’ve found one. I used the JUUL on and off for a solid few months and the Apollo Brez Deluxe is a vastly superior device. Not only is it cheaper, but its pods produce a nicer hit that has more flavor. Like JUUL, the flavor selection is limited but what options you do have are all very good.

For me, the standout features of the Apollo Brez Deluxe kit are its battery performance, the flavor you get from it, the MTL draw, which is so close to a real cigarette its kind of scary, and the fact that it is super-simple to use. I think the Apollo Brez Deluxe is the vape ALL current smokers should be looking at, not JUUL. And the reason for this is simple: value for money, performance, and battery life.

You can pick one up right now for $37.95 (with FREE SHIPPING)

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The Suorin Air kind of single-handedly started the whole pod vape phenomenon. And today, we’re looking at its successor, the Suorin Air Plus Kit…

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Suorin Air Plus Kit – Quick Verdict (100%)

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Suorin Air Plus Pros:

• Beautiful Design, Very Sleek
• 100% Leak-Proof
• Outstanding Battery Life
• DTL & MTL Coil Support
• USB Type C Charging
• Immense Flavor Production

TL;DR Verdict – The Suorin Air is now a veritable classic. Like the original iPad, it was the device that started an entirely new line of products. Picking up with the original Air left off, the Suorin Air Plus adds in a significantly larger battery, a smoother, more refined design, better coil heads (both MTL and DTL), and it produces excellent-tasting vapor.

For me, the Suorin Air Plus is easily one of the best pod vapes released inside 2019. Its battery life is considerably better than the UWELL Caliburn, my current go-to pod vape, and the flavor is just as good. This is why the Suorin Air Plus has now usurped my beloved UWELL Caliburn as my #1 pod vape system.

If you’re looking for a pod vape that produces excellent flavor, has long-lasting coils, supports both DTL and MTL vaping, and has market-leading battery life, then the Suorin Air Plus is the pod vape you’ve been waiting for. Nothing else comes even remotely close to it for overall performance in this price bracket. I love the Suorin Air Plus and for the price ($27.95), I think it’s fairly safe to say you guys will as well…

Full Suorin Air Plus Review – Specs, Features & Performance

Design

The ever-expanding popularity of pod vape systems can, arguably, be traced back to a single device from one company. That company is Suorin and that device is the Air.

The Air is still referred to in certain circles as “the credit card mod”, and for good reason: the Air’s revolutionary-for-the-time design was approximately the same dimensions as a standard credit card, albeit thicker.

Suorin hasn’t messed with a winning formula here, either. It’s kept the same credit-card-style design, only this time it’s larger in order to accommodate its bigger 930mAh battery. And that’s a fair trade too; the only criticism I had of the original Air was that its 400mAh battery simply wasn’t good enough.

The design of the Suorin Air Plus is still very sleek, however, and it looks like a way more expensive device than it is – it retails for just $27.95 w/ FREE shipping. Inside, things are equally impressive. You have support for two, distinct types of coil heads: DTL and MTL, so you can use both Nic Salts and normal High VG E Juice in it, further adding to its overall utility.

The chassis is nice and clean too. You have some light branding on the side, a light indicator for the battery, and a USB Type C port on the bottom for charging. The matte finish looks great and, in the weeks I’ve been using it, somehow it hasn’t managed to pick up any scuffs or scratches, which bodes well for long-term usage.

As for that battery indicator light, here’s a quick breakdown on how to understand what the Suorin Air Plus’ LED light is telling you:

• One Light = 20% or under battery remaining
• Two Lights = 20-40%
• Three Lights = 40-60%
• Four Lights = 60-80%
• Five Lights = 80-100%

Suorin has introduced pod options for both traditional e-liquid as well as an option designed for use with nicotine salts, an increased capacity liquid reservoir, and an intriguing “oil-baffle” internal architecture designed to put a stop to annoying leaks. It works too; I haven’t had a single leak in my time with the Suorin Air Plus.

Suorin Air Plus Cartridge & How To Fill It Properly

Once the cartridge is installed, it sticks out the top of the device by just 15mm. Filling up the Suorin Air Plus’ cartridges is super-easy too; just pull out the rubber stopper and start filling. Each cartridge can hold 3.2ml of juice (or 2ml in TPD countries like the UK), which is more than enough to see you through most of the day.

The mouthpiece, where you inhale from, is located on the corner of the cartridge, a placement that might throw you out the first couple of times you use the Suorin Air Plus. However, once you get used to it you’ll wonder why more pod systems don’t use a similar placement.

Suorin Air Plus Specs & Features

• All-In-One Design
• Integrated 930mAh Rechargeable Battery
• Max Wattage Output: 22W
• Voltage Output Range: 3.3-4.2V
• Superior Zinc-Aluminium Alloy Chassis Construction
• Draw-Activated Firing Mechanism
• Fillable Pod System – Replaceable Cartridge
• 3.2mL Juice Capacity
• 0.8ohm / 0.7ohm Resistance
• Horizontal Coil Atomizer
• Organic Cotton
• Bottom Fill System – Silicone Stoppered
• Oil Baffle Design – Prevents Leaks
• Gold-Plated Magnetic Connection
• Not Compatible with Suorin Air Pods
• 5-LED Battery Life Indicator Light
• MicroUSB-C Port

Performance

Suorin’s original run of pod vapes weren’t without their issues. The Drop suffered from inconsistent performance and the Air’s battery sucked. With the Suorin Air Plus, all of these issues and inconsistencies have been remedied and fixed, resulting in proper stellar performance across the board.

I’ve been running my usual array of Nic Salts, meaning Top Brass from the VapeBeat Store, and the flavor I’m getting from the Suorin Air Plus has been brilliant; all the notes are there, even the delicate creams and vanillas that sometimes get lost on some pod devices. Here, you get ALL the flavor in all its glory, as well as plenty of vapor production. Top marks all round, basically.

As for the coil heads, I’ve been getting a solid couple of weeks from both. I do prefer the MTL coil head, simply because I prefer my pod vapes to be MTL, but that doesn’t mean the MTK cartridge doesn’t have a place here. Both perform excellently with respect to flavor and longevity, lasting a good 14 days (minimum) before any degradation of flavor.

Taken as a whole, the Suorin Air Plus is one hell of a performer. Unlike most pod vapes, it manages to do it all – flavor, performance, coil head longevity, and battery life – with very few negativities. In fact, the hardest thing about reviewing this device was finding potential negatives. Three weeks in and I’m still looking…

Battery Life

90% of pod vapes have terrible battery life. The world’s most popular pod vape – the JUUL – is utterly terrible in this regard, struggling to get through half a day’s worth of use. The UWELL Caliburn, one of my favorite pod vapes, is better but even that vape looks utterly pathetic compared to what the Suorin Air Plus can do.

With its 930mAh internal battery, you’re looking at a solid 2/3 day’s worth of vaping with average usage. And that places the Suorin Air Plus well inside the top 1% of pod vapes when talking about battery performance. Out of all my pod vapes, around 25 devices, the Suorin Air Plus is by far the best for overall battery performance.

Should You Buy The Suorin Air Plus?

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If you’re after a pod vape with impressive battery, great flavor, the ability to run both MTL and DTL coils, and that retails for a very aggressive price, the Suorin Air Plus is 100% worth a look. I’ve tested about 40 pod mods in the last 18 months and the Suorin Air Plus is easily one of the best I’ve used to date.

From flavor, for design, for ease of use, for battery life – the Suorin Air Plus is a near-perfect pod vape that is most definitely worthy of your time and money in 2019. Even compared to the might of the UWELL Caliburn, the Suorin Air Plus impresses with its superior battery life and higher capacity pods. And if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about this spectacular pod system, nothing will!

Best Price | $27.95 – DirectVapor (FREE SHIPPING)

SMOK’s back with the new SMOK Novo 2, a direct successor to the company’s ultra-popular SMOK Novo pod system. But is it any good?

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SMOK Novo 2 Review – Quick Verdict (90%)

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SMOK Novo 2 Pros:

• Excellent Design; It’s Super-Portable
• Improved Battery Performance (800mAh)
• Will Do Both MTL & Sub-Ohm Vaping
• Excellent Flavor Performance
• Outstanding Value For Money

Quick Verdict – The SMOK Novo 2 is a compact, potent pod system that delivers plenty of flavor. The coil heads are great, serving up excellent performance and longevity and I really like the color options available for this pod system.

If you’re after a solid, versatile, reliable pod system to use as your daily vape system, it is hard not to love to the SMOK Novo 2; it ticks all my boxes, anyway. Because it’s an MTL device, you’re best running it with Nic Salts (check out VapeBeat’s Nic Salts Sample Pack), as this will deliver the most flavor and the biggest hit.

The MTL draw is nice and tight, though I would have liked a tad more vapor on the inhale. Compared to the UWELL Caliburn, my current #1 favorite pod system, it feels a little underwhelming. It’s good, but it’s just not quite as good as the Caliburn.

Other than that, the SMOK Novo 2 is a great little pod vape that is inexpensive, simple to use, and super-portable. As a secondary vape, it is great. I used mine predominantly like this, either when traveling or out with my friends, and it worked perfectly. You have more than enough battery life and the device is so small it literally fits anywhere with ease. And it’s also very cheap at just $21.95 (w/ FREE shipping). 

Our Full SMOK Novo 2 Review

Design

Sleek, slim, and simple – what’s not to like, right? SMOK’s NOVO 2 is an update to their highly successful ultraportable NOVO pod-based device. This time around, you have a larger battery and more power (up to 25W). The size of the vape, however, remains identical which means the NOVO 2 is still one of the most portable pods around.

The biggest update to the SMOK Novo 2 compared to the original NOVO is the battery; the NOVO 2’s battery is almost DOUBLE the size. And when you consider that the device is identical in size, this is a rather impressive feat of engineering.

SMOK has also bought in a bunch of new resin hue options for the NOVO 2; you have several options – mine test unit was the marble finish one and I think it looks pretty darn badass. It is worth noting, though, that it isn’t ACTUAL resin; rather, it is some kind of treated plastic. Doing this allowed SMOK to keep the price nice and low.

The SMOK Novo 2 has no physical buttons; the pod is breath activated, meaning as soon as you start inhaling the atomizer fires. It works great too. In my few weeks with the NOVO 2, I haven’t had any issues with this aspect of the device. It hits consistently every time. On the bottom of the device, you have a microUSB port for charging. No USB Type C, though, which does kind of suck, as that technology allows for faster charging among other things.

As before, the SMOK Novo 2’s pods are removable and 100% refillable. They each hold 2ml and you have options for either 1ohm or 1.4ohm coil heads. Me personally, I prefer the 1.4ohm pods because they deliver a tighter, more focussed draw. Both are very decent though, so make sure you try both to see which suits your tastes best.

SMOK Novo 2 Specs & Features

• Battery Capacity: 800mAh
• LED Battery Indicator
• Input Voltage: (3.3V – 4.2V)
• Charging Current: Max- 0.55A
• Overcharge Voltage: 4.3V
• Overcharge Current: 1A
• Output Wattage: (6-25W)
• Charging Voltage: 5V
• E-liquid Capacity: 2mL

The NOVO 2 doesn’t include any features that could be as described as “ground-breaking” or “revolutionary”, especially in comparison to the original NOVO.

For all intents and purposes, they are markedly similar – so similar in fact, that they can use the exact same pods. The question is, is this distinct lack of “mind-blowing” technology necessarily a bad thing?

In our humble opinion: no. Pod-based systems have reached a stage of development where they do what they do, and generally, do it quite well. The NOVO 2 does everything you’d expect from a very polished and refined pod system from an industry-leading manufacturer, albeit with a few nice upgrades from SMOK’s previous version.

SMOK Novo 2 Performance

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The NOVO 2 hits on all the points most vapers are looking for when they decide to shop for a pod system. It’s ultraportable, it has a sleek form factor, decent battery life, subtly attractive looks, and is super simple to use.

With respect to performance, the NOVO 2 – like its predecessor – is decent, I just don’t think it quite hits hard enough to get inside our Best Pod Vape Guide, alongside the likes of the UWELL Caliburn and Orchid Ultra. This doesn’t mean it isn’t very good, it just means that there are better options out there – though they do cost more!

The flavor is very good and the coil heads last weeks at a time. In this respect, the NOVO 2 is very accomplished. I also think the device and construction of the device are stunning too; it’s so sleek and so portable, you just want to pick it up and vape! The mouthpiece is also very comfortable for vaping too, which is always a good thing, as so many pod vapes get this wrong.

Overall, the NOVO 2’s performance is a solid 7/10, meaning it’s not market-leading like the UWELL Caliburn, but it is a lot better than most. For this reason, I do recommend the SMOK Novo 2, especially if you’re after value for money – this pod vape is super affordable at just $21.95 (and that includes free shipping)

Should You Buy The SMOK Novo 2?

So why consider the NOVO 2? After all, the original NOVO offered all of these attributes as well. Essentially, is it worth upgrading? The answer is a resounding “maybe”.

If you’re currently using an older pod system that may be lagging in the performance or battery life departments, switching to SMOK’s decidedly modern NOVO 2 will certainly feel like a significant improvement.

Conversely, if you’re the proud owner of the original NOVO device, the NOVO 2 will offer familiar feel and function, but probably won’t seem like a “game-changing” advancement. That said, the NOVO 2 does offer some significant improvements over its predecessor. Airflow sees a boost with a mildly redesigned “U-shaped” air channel, and condensation management has been built-in in the form of redesigned contacts and trenches for siphoning condensed liquid away from the device’s internals.

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So is the NOVO 2 a “YAY!” or a “nay”?

We say: Yay! We think that the NOVO 2’s upgraded features, 800 mAh battery capacity, and various pod options offer enough incentive for users of older systems, including the original NOVO itself, to consider it as a possible path to an upgrade.

Depending on the system you’re currently using, prepare to be more or less impressed by SMOK’s latest evolution in the NOVO line. If you want huge clouds, sublime flavor, and battery life that lasts a week between charges; there are much, much better (not pod-based) systems for that, but for excellent portability, attractive and unobtrusive aesthetics, reliable and simple operation, and an overall well-balanced pod-based experience, SMOK’s NOVO 2 definitely doesn’t disappoint!

Best Price | $21.95 | DirectVapor (FREE SHIPPING)

The Lost Vape Lyra Pod System has just got official – it’s a potent AIO vape with a 1000mAh battery and some new Lyra coil heads. But is it any good?

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Imagine the SMOK Nord, but just infinitely classier and you’re about half-way close to what the Lost Vape Lyra Pod System is all about. Honed from zinc-aluminum, the Lost Vape Lyra is the newest AIO vape system to hit the market. And it is freakin’ gorgeous.

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The Lost Vape Lyra picks up where the Lost Vape Orion Q left off, adding in some new form factors, new coil heads, and the ability to swap out sub-ohm coils (0.6 Ohm) for MTL coils (1.2 Ohms) at the user’s discretion. And like all Lost Vape products, the specs are to die for…

Lost Vape Lyra Specs & Features

• Dimensions: 96.3mm x 30.8mm x 15.8mm
• Battery Capacity: 1000mAh
• Weight: 79g
• Max Wattage Output: 20W
• Pod Capacity: 2ml
• 1000mAh Rechargeable Battery
• 3 Level Power Adjustment
• Single Button Operation
• Side Airflow Slots
• LED Battery Life Indicator Ring
• Snap-In Pod Connection
• Dual Port Top Fill System
• 0.6 ohm Lyra Mesh Coil
• 1.4 ohm Lyra Regular Coil
• Short Circuit Protection
• Weak Battery Protection
• Temperature Protection
• Low Resistance Protection
• High Resistance Protection
• Micro USB Port

As you can see, you got plenty of high-end specs to play with here. The big news, however, is that the Lyra packs in a 1000mAh battery; that’ll make this pod vape last ALL day with MTL coils, and a solid 7-8 hours when used as a sub-ohm device.

Lost Vape Lyra Design

As noted earlier, the Lost Vape Lyra looks quite a bit like the SMOK Nord, just way more premium. It’ll come in several color options too – Black/Lava, Silver/Fantasy, Rainbow/Vortex, Blue/Ripple, Green/Peacock, Black/Leather, Silver/Leather, Rainbow/Leather, Blue/Leather, Green/Leather.

The Lyra features an over-sized fire button that is mounted on the front of the device, just slightly above center. The removable pods are refillable and 100% reusable; they work in a similar fashion to the SMOK Nord’s, whereby you pop out the coils, depending on what style you want (DTL or MTL).

The Lyra’s pods will hold up to 2ml of vape juice, either high VG or Nic Salts, depending on what coils you’re running inside it. Me personally, I always run Nic Salts vape juice in my pods. Why? Simple: you get more of a hit, the same great flavor. Plus, I prefer MTL draws pod vapes.

Still, the inclusion of support for sub-ohm vaping is definitely a plus, as plenty of vapers out there really dig vaping at higher wattages on pod mods. The Lyra has a max output of 20W, which you’ll be using when running sub-ohm coils. With the MTIL 1.2 ohm coils, you’ll keep the power lower, for obvious reasons.

The over-sized fire button on the front of the Lyra also features an LED, which shows you how your battery life is doing – green (65%-100%), Blue (15%-65%), and Red (0%-15%). The pods are snap into place and are held fast by magnets, and on the very bottom of the Lyra pod, you have a small Lost Vape logo.

The design of the Lost Vape Lyra is very tidy; it looks extremely classy and well thought out. I also love that Lost Vape has FINALLY brought leather accents to the pod mod space; those leather finishes look totally badass, just as they do on Lost Vape’s DNA vape mods.

Lost Vape Lyra Performance – You’ll Get PLENTY!

The Lost Vape Lyra, with its 1000mAh battery and 20W of power, is clearly built with performance in mind. You also have the same proprietary chipset that the company used inside the Lost Vape Orion Q, so things will function in a very reliable, safe fashion.

Who’s the Lost Vape Lyra designed for? Everybody, I think. It’s about as versatile as a pod vape can be; you have MTL and DTL support, as well as plenty of design finishes. Having the ability to run both Nic Salts and normal, High VG vape juice will also be very appealing to a lot of vapers as well. And if you’re looking for awesome vape juice, make sure you check the VapeBeat E Juice Store – we got Nic Salts & High VG vape juice at low-ass prices!

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For me, though, the big thing about the Lost Vape Lyra is the size of its battery (1000mAH is HUGE), the new pod system (it has removable coils, both sub-ohm and MTL), and ALL those awesome color combinations for the device’s chassis.

Add in EPIC performance, as is standard on ALL Lost Vape products, and you’re looking at what will likely go on to become one of 2019/2020’s most popular pod vape devices. And best of all is the price – it’s not actually all that expensive for a Lost Vape product.

I’ve seen the Lost Vape Lyra retailing for around $42 online, and for a pod vape of this quality, that is proper amazing value for money!

The SMOANT Pasito tries to do A LOT of things all at once, but as a pod system does it actually manage it? Or are you better off with something like the UWELL Caliburn or VooPoo Drag Nano?

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SMOANT Pasito Quick Verdict – 50%

SMOANT Pasito Pros:

• Nice Design
• Great Idea, Though Execution Isn’t Perfect
• Great Battery Life
• Adjustable Power
• Decent E Juice Capacity

TL;DR – The SMOANT Pasito pod system is a great idea. Everybody’s been asking for a rebuildable pod and SMOANT is the first company to oblige, though I suspect there will be many more in the coming weeks and months.

However, for me, the rebuildable element of the SMOANT Pasito isn’t ideal. For starters, you have to buy the RBA separately. Secondly, the deck is so small you’ll give yourself a migraine building on it – it’s almost impossible.

The device itself, which looks similar to the Lost Vape Orion, is made, more or less entirely, from plastic, so while the pictures of it look great, the reality is far less premium. And that’s not good, not when you can pick up the excellent VooPoo Drag Nano pod for less.

Flavor wise, it’s decent but nothing to write home about. The MTL and DTL coils produce average flavor at best, and neither coil head lasts as long as the UWELL Caliburn’s pods. In fact, I got through both the Pasito’s included MTL and DTL coils within a 8 days, whereas my Caliburn will last me weeks in between changes.

Battery life, however, is very good. You have a 1100mAh cell inside the SMOANT Pasito and this brings with it ALL day vaping. Easy. You don’t even have to recharge the device mid-way through when you’re using the MTL coils, providing you run it on lower power settings.

Bottomline? The SMOANT Pasito tries to do a lot but, ironically, fails to do any one specific thing well. The RBA accessory is horrible to install, the flavor on both the MTL and DTL coils is distinctly average, and the device itself, while well proportioned, feels cheap and plasticky in the hand. And for me, this just doesn’t cut the mustard – not when the competition in the pod space is so strong right now.

My advice? Get the VooPoo Drag NANO or the UWELL Caliburn. Or, if you want a rebuildable pod system, hold your horses until someone like GeekVape releases one because the SMOANT Pasito is not a device I’d recommend…

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Full SMOANT Pasito Review

Design & Set Up

As noted in the TL;DR section, the SMOANT Pasito looks quite a bit like the Lost Vape Orion – or the SMOK Trinity Alpha and GeekVape FRENZY. However, unlike those pod systems, there is nothing premium about the SMOANT Pasito. It’s made from plastic, from top to bottom. Even the resin plates are stickers. And that’s, well… not great.

I like the size and proportions (102 x 38 x 18mm) of the Pasito; it’s easy to hold, dissemble and reassemble, and the filling mechanism is simple enough (you unscrew the drip tip and stick it down the sides). I also like that you can switch power modes; there are five possible settings from 10W to 25W, which you move through by clicking the smaller button below the fire button.

On the top, right-side of the pod, you have an adjustable airflow slot. You move it from left to right to adjust the airflow. It works great, giving you a wide degree of control over the airflow. The AFC is great for the MTL coil too, as you can move between super-tight to semi-restricted, depending on your mood.

The coils slot into the bottom of the pod and are held in place by a golden clamp which connects the coil head to the Pasito’s battery. Installing both the MTL and DTL coils is a cinch; the RBA is nearly impossible to work with, however, on account of its tiny size and oddly position posts. Also: if you have vision problems, the RBA will cause you plenty of issues. I cannot emphasis just how small it is…

Performance

I’m a big fan of SMOANT, so when I heard about the SMOANT Pasito, I was super excited. A rebuildable pod system that can also act as a standard MTL/DTL AIO vape device? What’s not to like! Even when I unboxed it, I was still excited – the concept seemed perfect, just what’s missing from the current run of pod mod systems on the market.

But the problems quickly arrived. First, despite priming the crap out of my coil heads, the flavor was muted and flat. This was the MTL coil. I persisted for a few days, but the situation didn’t improve. Next up, I tried the DTL coil. Same deal – OK flavor, but nothing remotely special.

As most of you will know, I’m a big fan of the UWELL Caliburn. And the reason for this is simple: it just works – the flavor is brilliant and so too is the MTL draw. It’s simple and it works. This is why I have used it more or less exclusively for the past three months straight.

On paper, the SMOANT Pasito looks, sounds, and appears to be a vastly superior device than the UWELL Caliburn. But in practice it doesn’t even come close to matching it – not in terms of flavor and the quality of its draw. The SMOANT Pasito has a few tricks up its sleeve, like variable power, but it is the coils that are lacking here. Gimmicks never make up for bad coils.

And in this context, SMOANT’s missed the mark in more ways than one.

The RBA Deck – Nice Idea, Terrible Execution…

Adding an RBA deck option to a pod system is certainly novel, it’s also something A LOT of people have been asking for. Prior to testing the SMOANT Pasito, I was definitely intrigued. Could this pod mod merge the world of rebuildable tanks and AIO vape systems?

It’s a nice thought, but for me the SMOANT Pasito’s RBA deck is a monumental fail. For starters, it is impossible to build on – the deck itself is so small, you’ll need perfect vision to attempt it. Second, you have to bend your leads at an insane angle to get them into the posts. If ever a postless deck design was needed, it is here.

I did manage to get a build installed. It wasn’t pleasant, but I somehow pulled it off, installing a pre-built, extra-small MTL coil. After a bunch of disappoints with the DTL and MTL coils, I didn’t have high expectations for the RBA…

And my expectations were bang on the money. The flavor is muted, worse than the MTL and DTL coil heads, and even with the AFC wide-open, you never feel like you’re getting enough airflow. As I said earlier, this one’s a swing and a miss. Big time.

Battery Life

The SMOANT Pasito excels when it comes to battery life. Inside, you have a 1100mAh battery and, for a pod vape, that is HUGE. With that much power in the cell, you’re good to go when it comes to all-day vaping. Even more so if you keep the MTL coils installed and run it at lower settings. Ramp up the power with the DTL and RBA, and you’ll need to top up the device’s battery at some point during the day.

Should You Buy The SMOANT Pasito

I love SMOANT. I really do. Its one of my favorite vape brands. And I really wanted to love this pod system. But the SMOANT Pasito just is not for me. Nothing worked as I wanted (or imagined) it would and the flavor on ALL coils was mediocre at best…

Battery life is OK, so that’s a plus. But that’s about it. The pod itself feels too plasticky and the RBA is next to impossible to get right. This is mostly down to its insanely small deck which sadly creates more problems than it solves, but also because of the nature of its posts.

My advice? Skip this one and get the VooPoo Drag Nano or UWELL Caliburn instead…

You Can Pick Up The SMOANT Pasito Via HeavenGifts For $35 – The RBA Deck is NOT Included.

The VooPoo Drag was a stunning mod, and now VooPoo is back with a pod system version of it which goes by the name of the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod – but is it any good? Let’s find out…

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VooPoo Drag NANO Pod Quick Verdict – 98%

VooPoo Drag NANO Pod Pros:

• Truly Stunning Design
• Simple Pod System
• Amazing Flavor
• Solid Coils – They Last AGES
• Decent Battery Life
• Powered By GENE Chip
• Amazing Value For Money – It Retails For Just $21.95!

VooPoo makes good-looking vape devices. Everybody knows this. But the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is impressive, even for VooPoo. Looking like a SkyNet-designed version of the MiPod, the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is quite the looker. And its beauty isn’t just skin-deep.

VooPoo has packed the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod with its GENE chip, and this chipset brings with it masses of performance and safety features. You have draw-activated firing, variable voltage, and “Cold Boot Mode” for kicking out even more flavor from each draw.

Powered by a 750mAh battery, the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod will go all-day-long, providing you top her up during the day. Do this and you’ll be vaping all day and night without any issues whatsoever. You even have fast charge too, so even if you do run out of juice, you can quickly top it up (less than 40 minutes for 70%).

The flavor, the coil head performance, the design – everything is flawless. VooPoo has once again smashed it out the park. And for less than $20 via VaporDNA, it also serves up some monumentally impressive value for money, making the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod a serious contender for 2019’s #1 pod system…

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Full VooPoo Drag NANO Pod Review

Design

Right off the bat, the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is easily one of the best-looking pod vape systems I have ever used. The damn thing is flawless-looking. It’s also perfectly proportioned too (54.5mm by 35mm by 11mm), making it ideal for stealth vaping and vapers that want a proper discreet vape device.

The outer chassis of the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod, made from zinc and aluminium, is completely devoid of buttons and/or notches. All you have is the DRAG branding and plenty of shiny surfaces. The USB for charging is located on the rear (sadly, it’s not Type C) and the pod slides out from the top.

The pod system, which is totally refillable, holds 1ML of E Juice. Not a great deal, but we’ll figure VooPoo for that. To access to pod for refilling, simply pull it out of the mod, remove drip tip, and refill accordingly. The pod itself is held in place by magnets and it sits nice and snug once fitted to the device.

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod features three LED lights that indicate how your battery is doing:

• GREEN – Optimal (Above 60%)
• BLUE – OK (60% to 20%)
• RED – Time To Charge (Sub-20%)

And that’s about it, really. The star of the show is the design of the device, it’s utterly stunning. Pictures do not do it justice. I actually think the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod could well be the best looking pod system on the market right now. Chuck in excellent performance, and you’re looking at a near-perfect device…

Performance

So how’s performance then? As expected, it’s bloody good. The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod vapes solidly and consistently, hitting plenty hard on each draw. As noted earlier, it is breath-activated. Normally, I don’t like this style of pod, but VooPoo has nailed it completely. It works perfectly, delivering intense hits every time.

I’ve been using my VooPoo Drag NANO Pod for a solid few weeks now, alongside a couple of others, namely the SMOANT Pasito and the GeekVape FRENZY, and it is definitely a better overall system than those two mods.

It’s also a hell of a lot cheaper too; you can get the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod for less than $20!

The flavor is utterly brilliant too. Whether this is down to the GENE chip’s Cold Boot Mode or just good coil design, I do not know. Either way, the VooPoo Drag NANO’s flavor performance is brilliant. It’s better than the SMOK Nord and the GeekVape FRENZY and is probably more or less an equal to the world-beating UWELL Caliburn. That should basically tell you everything you need to know about how this vape performs!

Pod & Coil Performance – How Long Do They Last?

Again, very solid. I’ve been getting a solid couple of weeks from each new pod. That’s good. Even for modern pod mods. For instance, right now, the UWELL Caliburn is my #1 favorite pod system. The reason? Flavor and the fact that its pods last for weeks at a time. The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is just as good.

The pods the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod uses are pretty small, they hold only 1ML of juice, but they kick out intense, flavorful vapor and last EONS, so all is forgiven. Plus, the pods are super easy to refill, so it’s not even that much of a hassle having to top the device up – even if you’re on the move.

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod vapes like a monster, hitting solidly and consistently every time. I’m usually wary of breath-activated pods, but VooPoo seems to have NAILED the mechanism here; it works without issue and fires nice and hard.

Battery Life

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod packs in a 750mAh battery, that’s pretty much par for the course with pod mods this size. It’s a lot bigger than the UWELL Caliburn’s battery, so it out performs that pod in this context. In practice, with a top-up mid-way through the day, you’re looking at all-day battery life.

My general rule of thumb when using pod mods is to put them on charge whenever I’m not using it. I like to charge mine for at least an hour or so, collectively, throughout the day. This way they’re always firing on all cylinders if I decide to go out after work.

Follow these steps, and you’ll have no problem with battery life.

Should You Buy The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod?

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is a definite hard YES from me. If you’re after a new pod that looks amazing, vapes brilliantly, and costs just $21.95 – get the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod.

I genuinely think it is the best looking pod mod on the market right now. Nothing else looks quite as good as this pod in real life. Chuck in the excellent GENE chip, great pods that last weeks at a time, decent battery life, and masses of flavor, and you’re in a very good place.

I got my mine via VaporDNA for $21.95 – and for that price, I’d recommend you do the same!