Vype ePod Review

Product intro and specs

The Vype ePod is a compact beginner vape that takes prefilled pods in six flavor options. It is a product that’s widely available in the EU, both in online stores and B&Ms. In fact, it is available even in convenience stores in a number of EU countries, same as the rest of Vype’s products.

Unlike many other Vype products, the ePod comes in a modern design and looks like a product that belongs in this vaping generation. That said, the ePod is practically the same product as the Alto, a Vuse product that’s only available in the US. But while the device is essentially a rebrand (possibly of an OEM product), the flavors used are not at all the same. Is this a good thing? Keep reading to find out.

Price: £14.99 (starter kit), £5.99 (pack of 2 pods)

Size, weight, and feel

Due to the fact that the build quality and design of the ePod has already been discussed in the review of its doppelganger, we chose to include some comparisons to some other popular EU products in this section instead.

Compared to the myblu, the ePod is slightly thicker and shorter, but for all intents and purposes they are practically the same size. The ePod feels like a more premium product overall, and uses a magnet to secure the pods—which is certainly better than the squishy click on the myblu. Unfortunately, the magnet is relatively weak, and the pod will easily come off flying if it falls from waist height.

The ePod’s design is very similar to that of the Hexa V2. The ePod mouthpiece is a little thicker, but magnet strength is very similar, and the devices are almost the same color too. In fact, the biggest difference between the two is the fact that the Hexa charges through its micro USB port, while the ePod uses a proprietary charger.

Talking about similar devices, the device that comes closest is the Logic Compact. Dimensions and weight are almost identical, battery size is exactly the same, and both devices use proprietary chargers. The mouthpieces are slightly different and the ePod holds a tiny bit of extra liquid in the pod (1.9 mL against the Compact’s 1.7 mL), and has a small window to check e-liquid levels, but that’s about it for differences. Which is actually a good thing, as the Logic Compact received a positive review from our team.

Getting started

Using the Vype ePod is as easy as it gets. You can start by charging the device, although it will probably arrive with an almost full charge. Then follow the steps below.

That’s it. As is the case with most prefilled vapes nowadays, the ePod is draw-activated so there’s no need to push a button to vape. When the pod is empty you can dispose of it and replace it with another.

How does it hit?

The Vype ePod has a smooth and tight cigarette-like draw which will make most smokers feel right at home. But the hit is where the ePod starts to show its limitations compared to the Vuse Alto. Due to the EU’s legal restrictions, the pods of the ePod come at 18 mg strength, instead of the 50 mg of the Alto. And as expected, that makes a hell of a difference.

The hit on the ePod is much weaker than that of the Alto, and the fact that Vype is using nicotine salt e-liquid is not helping either (nicotine salts smoothen the hit significantly compared to regular nicotine). But that’s not a fair comparison, and the ePod hits similar to many nicotine salt based EU vapes. It’s not as hard hitting as the myblu or the Bo One, but it is very close to the Logic Compact, which will be good enough for most vapers. Transitioning smokers who want a harder hit will probably need to take some primer puffs to reach the vapor temperature they are after.

We didn’t have any leaking from the pods, even when we left the device unused for days. The first couple of puffs of the day may come with a bit of spitting in the mouth, which is very common for prefilled pods. But all in all, the ePod is a relatively trouble-free device, something that beginner vapers are going to appreciate.

Are the flavors any good?

There are six flavors available for the Vype ePod, and our team tried four of them.

Golden Tobacco

That’s Vype’s standard tobacco recipe that is used is most of the company’s prefilled devices. We don’t generally like their tobacco, but it is not that bad in the ePod. The flavor is not as pronounced as in the ePen 3, so it can potentially work as an all day vape for a transitioning smoker. We suggest you try it and see for yourself—but keep your expectations low.

Tropical Mango

The Tropical Mango flavor is the only one included in the starter kit, which is rather strange—most beginner vapes ship with a tobacco pod in the box. But after trying all the flavors we think we know why: it is easily the best of the four. It is not going to blow your mind away, but it is flavorful and refreshing. Some other tangy fruits seem to be involved there, and the flavor leaves a juicy feeling in the exhale.

Vanilla Medley

A rich vanilla flavor which is probably a mix of two or more types of vanilla. There may also be a delicate fruity undertone in the background, but don’t quote us on that. Another decent flavor option here, although some of us found it to be a bit sickly after a while. But it is certainly worth a try.

Chilled Mint

This one is for the menthol smokers and it’s the only one of the four that includes a cooling sensation. The base of the flavor is peppermint and we found it to be an alright flavor for what it is. We wished it was a little bit sweeter though, as it feels quite dry after a while. But if you have been smoking menthols you should give it a go.

All in all, the flavors of the ePod are not bad but not great either. The Mango flavor is a standout, and the flavors perform better on the ePod than they do on other Vype devices. But there’s certainly a lot of room for improvement.

Battery life and charging

The ePod features a 350 mAh battery, a very common battery size for this product category. You should expect to go through around ¾ of a pod before needing to recharge. It doesn’t sound like much, but at the rate the ePod is vaporizing e-liquid, it should get you through the day with moderate use.

The green LED will flash ten times when it is time for a charge. It will stay on while the device is charging and will turn off when it is full. We timed a full charge at 70-80 minutes, which is slower than most of its competition. And the device doesn’t support pass-thru, so you won’t be able to use it while it is charging.

Finally, the ePod uses a proprietary magnetic charger, which means that you will only be able to replace it through Vype if something goes wrong. The magnet is strong, but we noticed that it would fail to make a connection sometimes, so make sure the LED is on when you plug the ePod in.

Pros / Cons

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Verdict

The ePod is a good vape, and easily the best Vype product we have tried to date. Most of its cons have to do with its battery and charging, but it will still last you for most of the day, and that’s what counts. The two things that hold this device back are the lack of a strong throat hit, and the lackluster quality of its flavors—especially when compared with the great flavor selection of devices like the Hexa V2 and the IVG starter kit.

But there is an aspect that the ePod excels in, and that’s accessibility. Depending on where you are on the map, there’s a high chance that there’s a shop carrying the ePod near you. If that’s important for you, then we suggest giving it a go. But if you are fine with ordering your pods online, there are better e-cig options available on the EU market right now.

Vype ePod

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