Vapouround magazine VM18 | Page 172

REVIEWS REVIEW BY BENEDICT “NED” JONES TPOD KIT DEVICE SPECS: • Construction: Zinc alloy • Dimensions: 84x44x15mm • Output voltage: 3.2-4.2V • Battery capacity: 500mAh internal cell • Charging: 0.4A POD SPECS: • CONSTRUCTION: POLYCARBONATE • CAPACITY: 2ML • COIL: 1.5OHMS • SOLID CONSTRUCTION • REASONABLE BATTERY LIFE • NO SPARE POD INCLUDED The TPOD is TESLACIGS’ second entry into the pod market, being released only a very short time after the Sliver kit. The TPOD is a slightly more substantial piece of hardware, with a larger battery capacity, heavier construction and colour screen. The weight is the first thing I noticed when un-boxing this device. It has a reassuringly solid construction and feels as though it can handle a few accidental drops or bumps without breaking. This is nice to see in a market full of ultra-stealthy pods, which are sometimes on the flimsy side due to material choice. It’s still inconspicuous, though, and will slide into a shirt or trouser pocket virtually un-noticed. Although the pod is draw activated, the TPOD’s body does have a five click on/ off button, which gives the user peace of mind, knowing that the device can be fully switched off. Due to the presence of a small colour screen, I assumed that this button would also serve to adjust power settings, but this is not the case. Instead, the screen simply displays information about the device; remaining battery life, puff counter, resting voltage and amp draw are all there. I am somewhat confused about the decision to include the screen. If there were adjustable settings, it would be useful, however I’m not sure I need to know the amp draw on a device that maxes out at 4.2V on a 1.5ohm coil – simply put, it’s unnecessary detail. A battery life indicator is certainly appreciated, but this can be displayed in more efficient ways, such as an LED. The only reason I can justify the screen here is the puff counter for new users, or vapers that are looking to taper off their usage. This does allow you to track how often and for how long you are vaping. If I look at the TPOD as purely a cessation tool, this does now make sense. The vape quality from the included pod is reasonable. It’s a tight mouth-to-lung (MTL) draw with a fairly cool, but satisfying vape, provided you are using high nicotine strength e-liquids. I actually favoured 20mg freebase liquids in this device, since I found it to give a somewhat cooler vape than other pod systems I have tried. Nonetheless, it’s quite satisfying when you’re in need of a stealthy nicotine fix. Flavour production is about average for a pod system. It didn’t blow me away but did give a good representation of the e-liquids I used in it. PODS 172 | VM18 Battery life on the TPOD is good but not outstanding. I was regularly getting around three to five hours of moderate use before needing to recharge. I still think this is impressive given the small 500mAh internal cell and colour screen. I can’t help but think, though, that if the screen was smaller or not included, that the battery life could have been even better. Overall, the TESLACIGS TPOD is a well-rounded pod system, with solid construction and minimalist aesthetics. The battery life and vape quality are good for such a small device, though I can’t help but feel the inclusion of a colour screen is unnecessary.