Product intro and specs
The Wenax M Starter Kit by Geekvape is the latest contender in a relatively new product category: compact pod vapes or vape pens paired with magnetic chargers. This category, which is directly inspired by heated tobacco devices (HnB), seems to be selling well because more and more companies have started releasing similar products lately.
The Wenax M kit’s direct competition are devices like the Aspire Vilter Pro, the VOOPOO Doric Galaxy, and the Joyetech eRoll Slim, but there’s also VAPORESSO’s more expensive and elaborate COSS, which seems to have mysteriously disappeared from the market.
The Wenax M kit pairs the 400 mAh Wenax M1 Mini vape pen with a 2500 mAh magnetic power bank that can even be used to charge small devices like earbuds. The device comes with two pods, a 1.2-ohm pod with an attached mouthpiece, and a 0.8-ohm pod that can be used with a Delrin drip tip or the paper filter tips that are included.
So, does the Wenax M kit have what it takes to be a contender in this niche? Keep reading to find out!
Price: $34.99 (at Element Vape)
Colors: State blue, avocado green, carbon grey, earth art, moonlit silver, pastel purple, petal pink
Build quality and design
The Wenax M kit’s strong suit is its build quality. Considering that it’s a 2900 mAh kit (when assembled,) the form factor is perfect. Ergonomic shape, excellent size, and perfect weight. The leathery finish is excellent and has some tiny ridges that feel great in the hand. Oh, and it has super snappy magnets, too!
The design is obviously up to personal taste, but I think most would agree that the Earth Art version is classy. The Avocado Green version on the other hand, well, is not green. It’s greenish-grey with a metallic frame. Not a big fan of this colorway but I’m sure it will have its fans.
An interesting feature that Geekvape managed to squeeze in is haptic feedback. I’m saying “squeeze” because, surprisingly, the vibration comes from the pod and not the power bank. The feedback is activated when you connect the device to the power bank or a charging cable and when you insert or remove the pod.
The Wenax M1 Mini vape pen is nothing to write home about, but it is also well-constructed and surprisingly heavy for its tiny size. It’s still very lightweight, but there is some heft, considering how small it is. The pods are, unfortunately, not magnetic, but they click firmly in place. They are fully transparent, so checking e-liquid levels is very easy.
Getting started
Since this device’s main target is beginner vapers, operation is super simple. There are no settings, buttons, or airflow adjustments—just fill and vape.
The pod can be filled by the port that’s at its side (you need to remove it from the battery to fill). Filling can get a bit messy because the silicon plug is a bit thin and flimsy, but there’s not much you can do with this pod design. After filling, leave the pod aside for five minutes for the wick to saturate, and you’re good to go. If you are using the 0.8-ohm pod, you can remove the mouthpiece and replace it with a paper filter. The M1 Mini can be charged through USB-C, or through the magnetic connection when attached to the power bank.
Performance
The Wenax M1 Mini uses the same pods as the original Wenax M1, You can find more information about the 1.2-ohm pod’s performance in my Wenax M1 review, but this is the first time I’ll be using the 0.8-ohm pod since it wasn’t included with the M1 samples.
The 0.8-ohm pod can be used with a Delrin drip tip or the included paper filters. I’m not a big fan of those; they feel too mushy, and they are like gunk magnets. I’d probably appreciate them more if I were a transitioning smoker, though.
Performance on the 0.8-ohm pod is great. It produces much warmer and more flavorful vapor than the 1.2-ohm pod, and it is great with mid-strength juice. I used it with 9 mg freebase and 20 mg nicotine salt, and the throat hit was impressive. The one thing I noticed, though, is that it feels a bit overpowered when the battery is fully charged. This, combined with the not-so-clean nicotine salt I was using with one of the two pods I tried, killed the coil after less than 4 mL. The second pod still tastes fine after going through around 10 mL of (cleaner) e-liquid, but I think this would have been avoided if the device was calibrated to hit a watt or two lower.
Battery life and charging
The Wenax M1 Mini is not a vape that, on its own, will get you through the day. It’s a compact device with a tiny 400 mAh battery that lasts for around 2 mL on a charge. Thankfully, the 2500 mAh rated power bank comes to the rescue! With the power bank fully charged, you’d be hard-pressed to go through all this battery juice in a day.
The power bank can be connected to devices that use USB-C charging using the included C-to-C cable. It won’t charge every device, but I managed to get some disposables, earbuds, and even my phone to charge with it. Another phone I tried didn’t charge, and neither did a couple of vape mods and a retro handheld console I plugged in. In any case, I wouldn’t make a habit of using the power bank to charge anything other than the Wenax M1 Mini, but in case of an emergency, it may be handy.
Since this device can be charged in various ways, here’s some charging time info:
- One hour 40 minutes to charge the power bank using a 2A charger
- One hour 20 minutes to charge the pod using the power bank
- Around 25 minutes to charge the Wenax M1 Mini using a 2A charger
The power bank gave me a bit under five full charges of the pod, so I’d say it’s closer to 2000 mAh usable. It also seems to be pushing less than the advertised 1A to the pod (I’d say closer to 0.6A), judging by the long time it needed to charge it. But since the M1 Mini will be spending most of its time connected to the power bank, the charge rate is not of high importance.
Finally, both devices have color-coded LEDs for battery charge levels:
- Green: 71-100%
- Blue: 31-70%
- White: <30%
- Red: 0%
The light flashes when the devices are charging and stays green when they are fully charged.
Pros / Cons
Gallery
Verdict
When I reviewed the Wenax M1 two years ago, I called it “an excellent first vape.” From a performance standpoint, the M1 Mini is, for all intents and purposes, the same device. So, with the addition of the super practical power bank, the M1 Starter Kit is an even better first vape. It's simple math!
If you are looking for a classy, beginner-friendly vape, and hate carrying chargers wherever you go, this kit is an excellent solution. It’s super easy to operate, feels great in the hand, and the power bank is a lifesaver. And if you want to help someone quit smoking, or just want to help a disposable user save some money, it is the perfect gift. It’s also a great transition from HnB-heated tobacco devices, especially when used with the paper filters. Two thumbs up to Geekvape for ticking all the boxes!
Highly recommended
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