REVIEWS
REVIEW BY BENEDICT ‘NED’ JONES
DEVICE SPECS:
Dimensions: 92x62.5x30mm
Construction: Zinc alloy
Battery: 2x 21700/20700/18650
Weight: 258g
Power output: 7-220W
Maximum voltage output: 7.5V
Charging: 1.5A
TANK SPECS:
Dimensions: 25x50mm
Capacity: 4ml (standard) / 6ml (bubble glass)
• Great build quality
• Simple, functional chipset
• Above average tank
• 21700, 20700, 18650 compatible
• Some vapour lock issues on the Tallica Mini tank
TALLICA
MINI TANK
Following on from the consistently solid Punk series of devices, the XT220 has
big shoes to fill.
The first things to note about this device are its construction and aesthetics.
This is a heavy, sturdy mod. Coming in at 258g without batteries or an atomiser
installed, this is not a device for those with stealth in mind. The construction feels
about as solid as it can possibly get within the mid-priced range. There are as
few seams as possible in the design, and it’s clear that the XT220 was built to last.
TESLACIGS have done away with the quirky steam-punk look, opting for a more
minimalistic design. If I had to guess, it seems the chassis of this device was
based on the looks of a high-end gaming PC, with sleek curves, LED lights and
a clear panel on one side of the mod.
Ergonomically, the XT220 is comfortable and satisfying. It’s a very large device,
but the curved design makes it fit comfortably in the hand, and the large fire
button is easily accessed whether using your thumb or index finger. The heavy
construction only adds to the luxurious feel of the XT220, and the weight is well
balanced, so this mod is unlikely to tip over when put down.
The chipset here is simplistic but functional. Everything is very responsive, and
power is delivered to your atomiser with no delay whatsoever. There are a variety
of settings to play with, including memory banks, preheat, temperature control
and LED. The preheat settings work nicely, temperature control seems to be
reasonably accurate, which can be amended by tinkering with TCR settings. The
LEDs can be customised or turned off entirely. I must commend TESLACIGS for
sticking to a simple, unpretentious design here. In keeping with this philosophy,
there is a hard on/off switch located just below the fire button. This is more
convenient than simply locking the device and is also more reassuring if you
plan to travel with your XT220.
The Tallica Mini tank that’s bundled with the kit is an interesting addition. Its TS-
XX mesh coils perform well at a wide range of wattages, which is a welcome
feature. Tesla recommend anywhere between 60-110W, and whilst the higher
end of this range was a bit too hot for my liking, there was no sign of a burnt coil.
The TS-XX has above average flavour and dense, satisfying vapour production.
Coil longevity is decent, too. I managed to put approximately 70ml of e-liquid
through each coil before a noticeable drop in performance. Airflow is generous,
though slightly turbulent when wide open. I preferred closing the control ring off
by about one third to enhance flavour and get a smoother experience. Installing
the coil is also somewhat unconventional. Rather than screwing the atomiser
into the base of the device, you slot it into the tank, which is fool proof and does
away with issues caused by over-tightening coils. I will say that I sometimes got
a “no-atomiser” warning with the tank but unscrewing the base and then putting
it back together would always solve this issue. The only thing that you need to
bear in mind with the Tallica Mini is that it does suffer from “vapour lock” – that
is to say, if you don’t leave enough space for air in the top of the chamber, the
wicking action suffers. This is easily avoided by not over-filling.
The XT220W Kit is a solid bundle, boasting fantastic construction, consistent
performance and simplistic design. The Tallica Mini tank produces a great vape
at a variety of wattages.
170 | VM19