In this review, we will look at a kind of hybrid of a Pod system and a disposable kit from the famous Chinese company Wotofo – nexPOD Disposable Kit.
Wotofo nexPOD packaging
Wotofo nexPOD All-Inclusive Box packaging on the front Wotofo nexPOD All-Inclusive Box packaging on the back Wotofo nexPOD All-Inclusive Box packaging on the end
I must immediately warn you that the manufacturer provided me for review not with the usual kit, which is intended for sale in stores, but with the so-called All-Inclusive Box, which is distributed a little differently. canadian vape Although, if you really want, you can also buy it. But it is unlikely to interest many people due to its impressive cost – they are asking as much as $149 for such a box. And the box, I must say, is notable: a square with a side of 27 cm and almost 4 cm in height.
Wotofo nexPOD packaging with one cartridge
For mass sale, the kits are much more modest, including a battery pack and a cartridge with one of the flavors you choose. And, of course, both the device and the cartridges can also be purchased separately from each other. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not send them to me so that I could show it to you “live”, so let’s return to our “inclusive” set, where everything is in one box.
Wotofo nexPOD gift box inside
On the inside of the lid, which has a magnetic fastening, you can find a list of the main advantages of nexPOD (“user friendly”, “cost effective”, “high quality”) and all the tastes with their characteristics (“sweetness”, “coolness”, “richness” ). The box itself contains 18 refilled cartridges, two battery packs and a small white box without identification marks.
Inside there were 20 (with a reserve, which is good!) silicone linings for mouthpieces, which allow several people to use one cartridge at once without fear of contracting some kind of Covid infection. In general, standard hygienic caps for a promotional stand or vape shop.
Appearance and design of Wotofo nexPOD
Once assembled, the device is difficult to suspect of any unusualness or uniqueness. A disposable device is like a disposable device, almost everything looks like this today: one half of the body is occupied by a reservoir with liquid, and the second contains a battery. However, the device comes with a surprise: after the liquid runs out, you just need to install a new cartridge to continue using the device; the battery pack is reusable. The nexPOD itself appears to be made entirely of plastic, like many disposable vapes on the market today. And although this is not particularly noticeable in terms of weight, weighing only ten grams more than other samples of a similar format, the body is made of anodized aluminum and will clearly last longer than a disposable one, which is destined to be recycled in a week.
Inside the pod system there is a battery containing a reactive alkali metal – lithium. Such batteries should not be thrown away with household waste, but should be taken for recycling or special disposal.
I won’t talk about the convenience of the form factor; hearths in the form of boxes have both their advantages and disadvantages. And nexPOD is no different from competitive solutions in terms of ergonomics. I can only mention that the device does not take up much space in your pocket, and in your hand it lies as conveniently and comfortably as possible. There are no buttons or display anywhere on the case; all controls and indications are hidden at the bottom of the battery pack.
Wotofo nexPOD device colors
It is gratifying that in addition to black, nexPOD buyers also have other colors available: silver, red (more likely purple) and blue. However, whether it is possible to get these coloring books by purchasing a kit with the device and cartridge at once, history is silent. At least battery packs in different colors exist and are definitely sold separately.
Characteristics of Wotofo nexPOD
Materials: aluminum (anodized), PCTG
Dimensions:
battery pack: 83.3*42.4*23mm
cartridge: ∅22 * 66.9 mm
Weight:
battery pack: 43.5 g
cartridge: 15.1 g
Battery: built-in 650 mAh
Approximate number of puffs: 3500
Nicotine strength: 5 and 2 mg/ml (depending on country)
Cartridge volume: 8 ml
Evaporator: built-in nexMESH (on mesh)
Resistance: 1.1 ohm
Board used: nexCHIP
Adjustable tightening
Charging: USB Type-C
Splash-resistant cartridge connector
Number of flavors: 18
Case colors: Black, Red, Blue, Silver
A battery pack with rounded ribs can hardly be called unusual; for experienced vapers, the “stick” format, when the atomizer is located below the level of the battery pack, will definitely not be a novelty. Except that there is no classic 510 connector here, and the connection, like most pod systems, is made with magnets and spring-loaded contacts. On one side of the case in white paint there is the inscription Designed and manufactured by Wotofo®, on the second there is a device logo, a couple of icons and a second inscription MESH COIL by nexM TECHNOLOGY. Here, if you look closely, you can find the name of the manufacturer and a small strip with a relief pattern reminiscent of knurling.
Top view of the Wotofo nexPOD battery pack
At the top there is a small protrusion and a shaft for installing a cartridge (we will look into it later), at the bottom there is a plastic bottom and standard pictograms prohibiting disposal with household waste and compliance with EU and UK standards. As well as a charging connector, an indicator light hole and a tightening adjustment.
Adjusting the tightness in the Wotofo nexPOD battery pack
It is the tightening adjustment system in nexPOD that distinguishes the device from the same disposables, in which you rarely see such an option. By moving the slider, you can adjust the comfortable air flow. With the hole completely open, there is, of course, no talk of DTL; the puff will still remain like a cigarette, it will just be a little looser. In the extreme left state, such a small amount of air is drawn in that I would call this position more of a “fully closed” position.
Indication and charging of Wotofo nexPOD
The built-in battery does not boast a huge capacity; the user has only 650 mAh at his disposal and will have to be charged regularly. For charging, a modern USB Type-C connector is used, the consumption is low – only 5V/0.6A. You will have to “hang” on the cord for about an hour or more. And if you have a burning desire to vape, you will have to disconnect the cable; the board developers did not provide support for Pasteur. Next to the charger there is an indicator that does not please you with a variety of messages: it lights up when you take a puff and when charging, goes out when finished, and flashes repeatedly when the battery is low.
Appearance of cartridges for Wotofo nexPOD
The cartridges for the device look like black cylinders with a mouthpiece on top. The body has the same pictograms as on the body, and the Wotofo logo and the name of the seasoned flavor are printed in white on different sides. In fact, the plastic from which the cartridges are made is slightly translucent, which is especially noticeable in bright light, especially in the mouthpiece area. But since there is filler like padding polyester inside the container, you won’t be able to see the amount of liquid. You will have to navigate solely by the sensations and emerging taste of the approaching dry hit.
New cartridges are traditionally sealed on both sides to prevent leaks and banal evaporation of flavors from the liquid. On the mouthpiece there is a silicone cap (without a hole, unlike those that are placed separately), on the bottom there is a small translucent sticker with another manufacturer’s logo. All this must be removed before first use. But you don’t have to throw away the cap, but cover the mouthpiece with it after use. This way the cartridge will last a little longer and will not become clogged with dust.
Cartridge mouthpiece for Wotofo nexPOD
The cartridge mouthpiece is quite high and has a flattened anatomical shape, it is comfortable to use and does not cause any complaints when vaping. The bottom platform, apparently held in place by latches on the rest of the cartridge body, is made of metal. In its center there is a contact group and air supply holes for the winding.
Cartridge connector in Wotofo nexPOD battery pack
In the nexPOD battery pack connector you can see why the bottom of the cartridge is made of metal: inside there are three magnets that hold the replacement cartridge. There are also two holes: the smaller one hides a sensor that turns on the electronics when tightening; air passes through the second, which is larger. And, of course, two spring-loaded contacts that supply voltage to the evaporator.
Appearance of Wotofo nexPOD with cartridge
You don’t need any special actions to vape. You just need to remove the protection from the cartridge, install it in the nexPOD and you can immediately start vaping. The cartridge is refilled, already well saturated with liquid and ready for use. You don’t need to turn anything on either; the electronics are activated by tightening.
Description of Wotofo nexPOD flavors
Sakura Milk
Manufacturer Description: Delicate milk mixed with the aroma of cherry blossoms. Each puff will transport you under the splendor of blossoming trees, as if you were watching cherry blossom petals scatter across the sky.
Let’s start our analysis with a scent that is little in demand in our latitudes, but is incredibly popular among Asian vapers. Here you will find a floral “something”, consisting half of sweet milk, bordering on condensed milk in terms of sugar content, and a floral aroma, more like a blooming rose. Well, or sakura, whichever is closer. Yes, there is perfume, and even a slight bitterness is felt, but still this is not a cologne, as sometimes happens with such mixes. In general, for princesses and blondes.
Strawberry Lush
Manufacturer’s description: The refreshing taste of juicy watermelon is combined with sweet and sour freshly picked strawberries. This summer mix exudes juicy flavor!
The watermelon here is not that bad, but still not as “alive” as we would like. Yes, this is a classic “lash” made from pulp with ice, but for some reason both here and in one of the following tastes it is noticeably dry, as if made not from a fresh fruit, but from candied fruits, which is why it is noticeably spicy. And with practically no strawberries, which turned out to be very difficult to catch in the composition.
Three Melons
Manufacturer’s Description: The flavors of watermelon, cantaloupe and cantaloupe combine beautifully to create a fabulous cantaloupe party.
The aroma is fresh, aromatic, but clearly more reminiscent of a mixture not of live watermelons and melons, but of small refreshing candies. There is no excess bitterness or “crust” here, the taste is candy and slightly musky with a pleasant chill that does not tear your throat either when you inhale or exhale, but settles after a puff. But still, the mix is rather melon-like, the watermelon is almost invisible.
Watermelon Lychee
Manufacturer Description: Thirst-quenching sweet watermelon combined with mouth-watering lychee creates a wonderful vaping experience and leaves a delicious sweet aftertaste.
But here the watermelon looks more like itself, but at the same time it turned out to be a little too dry. Even the lychee shade doesn’t help. Not the taste, but the “shade”; the lychee itself lacks either sweetness, acidity, or bitterness to resemble itself. In general, either the cartridge dried out (which is unlikely – it steams great), or the composition itself turned out to be blurry. The excessive “dryness” and spiciness of the fruit, despite the cooler, spoiled the overall impression.
Impression
There are no passable mixes here, there are only those that I personally found a little strange. And there’s a cooler everywhere, there’s no escape from that. But this was done everywhere in moderation and appropriately; naturally, no one began to add it to tobacco. And, yes, most are very sweet. However, like the overwhelming number of today’s disposable ones.
I would like to dwell a little on the idea of Wotofo. It is worth recognizing that the idea of selling separately the battery pack and refilled cartridges is far from new. In case anyone has forgotten, this is where the era of pod systems began. Or rather, the appearance of Juul with salt nicotine on sale. It was only later that disposable devices came flooding in, which turned out to be most in demand due to their maximum simplicity (vaporized and thrown away). In our case, nexPOD is a “reusable disposable” in the sense that it has retained the logic of using changers from the “Jul”, but at the same time is as close as possible to modern maintenance-free devices with bright and cold mixes. And what’s especially pleasing is that it does not require replacing the entire device, but only the cartridge.
But time will tell how widespread this system will become. However, many manufacturers are already making attempts to “return to the roots.” It’s hard to say whether this device will appear in Belarus, given the cartridge volume of 8 ml. There is no information yet about replacements without liquid that would turn nexPOD into a full-fledged pod system. But who knows…