An AIO that’s almost a pod
Halfway between a classic AIO box and a pod, the VI Rod really stands out. Slim and compact, it houses a proprietary cartridge with a built-in coil. Just like the VI Class, it features PURE mode. It’s your best friend when it comes to preventing dry hits.
Technical specs
| Mod dimensions | 103 x 22.3 x 26.7 mm |
| Mod weight | 78 g |
| Battery size | Built-in 1000 mAh battery |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Maximum power | 35 |
| Max. atomizer diameter | |
| Modes available | Watts, temperature control, curves |
| Clearomizer weight | g |
| Clearomizer capacity | 3 ml |
| Range of use | 13 to 18 W |
| Filling | From the side |
What’s in the box?
- Mod
- Clearomizer
- USB cable
- Coils
- Drip tip
- User guide
Practical and compact
On the underside of the VI Rod is a USB-C port for fast charging of the built-in 1000 mAh battery. The battery charge doesn’t last very long. But adding anything more to a device that already has a cartridge and a chipset under a metal casing seems tricky. We recommend using low powered coils so you won’t have to recharge too often.
The fire button stands about 0.1mm proud of the top of the VI Rod. It fits perfectly and sits very naturally under your thumb or index finger, whether you are right- or left-handed. There’s no need to push too hard either. There is no play in the assemblies and we didn’t notice any annoying noises.
On the opposite side there’s a large window next to the cartridge. We will come back to that later. The VI Rod is covered by an all-metal sleeve. It’s held in place on the battery body by a system with micro-notches at the top. The hold is firm, and once it’s in place nothing moves or comes loose. A slot under the main window allows airflow in to cool the coil. Further down, there’s an opening so you can see the screen at all times.
Once you remove the cover, you can access the built-in battery, all the buttons and the screen for adjusting your settings. The “+” and “-” buttons are only accessible when you remove the metal cover. The screen is black and white and small, but the information displayed is easy to read. The brightness level is suitable for outdoor use.
It features several modes: a classic variable power mode, a PURE mode, temperature control and curves. Intended for those new to vaping and more experienced users, the VI Rod is easy to use thanks to its YiHi SX503J electronics.
The main modes are Watts and PURE. What’s so good about PURE mode, which works with the VP cartridges, is its anti dry hit functionality. During our tests, we pushed this mode to its limits by continuing to vape with just a few drops of e-liquid in the tank.
The system rose to the challenge. Although we could feel that the vape was different (we could tell the coil wasn’t well-soaked any more), the VI Rod made sure we were safe by indicating there was “no liquid”.
You can forget about that odd burnt taste you get if you forget to check the liquid level.
Our model was a pre-production test version. We couldn’t vape while it was charging. You can’t use the VI Rod when it’s plugged into the mains. After we discussed this with the manufacturer, they updated the electronics so that you can vape during charging.
For us, this is a must in any device with a built-in battery. The only thing we don’t like is that you have to go to a physical shop to get the update, or buy a small extra module.
We would have liked to see the updates offered free of charge for vapers who can’t get to a shop.
A wide choice of vaping styles
The VI Rod comes with a P20 cartridge. It houses a 0.8 ohm SS 316L mesh coil for a range from 13 to 18 W. The coil is sealed inside the tank. When it wears out, you will have to change the whole thing. It’s pretty easy and practical, and avoids a certain amount of fuss, but it uses a lot of plastic to achieve this.
The drip tip fits onto on a screw-on base on top of the VI Rod. When fully screwed on, the cartridge is held firmly between the base of the housing and the drip tip. This metal part has two lugs that act as a stopper once the mouthpiece is fully screwed on. That’s handy, because you can change the tank without removing the drip tip or using a tool.
Underneath the tank there’s a small window that lets you adjust the airflow to cool the coil. This part allows you to change the draw from very tight, to tight, to much more open for a very restricted direct draw. This is a good feature that allows you to vary your vaping experience with the same coil. The Vi Rod has plenty of options to explore the sensations it offers. The VP cartridge is actually available in different 1 ohm or 0.4 ohm versions. Depending on which ohm value you choose, the tank capacity varies from 2.5 ml (for 1 ohm) to 4 ml (for 0.4 ohm).
Another tank is also available as an option, the Vi Tank. Its coil is not sealed. So when you change the coil you keep the cartridge, and just replace the coil. You adjust the airflow with a rotating ring at the bottom of the tank.
The Vi Tank takes mesh VT coils with ohm values of 0.8, 0.4 and 0.17 ohm. We don’t recommend the 0.17 ohm coil because it uses too much power for the VI Rod, which is better suited to minimum 0.4 ohm coils for a good vaping experience.
Another option lets you go even further. It’s a little tray called the Vidi, which fits onto the bottom of the cartridge housing. It means you can use Dot Tank cartridges, whether they’re rebuildable or not. At just over €10, this accessory is really useful.
For example, you can use TMD Dot Tank cartridges by BP Mods. This is just one example – you have lots of options. Our tests didn’t reveal any particular problems with the Vidi Kit, and the electrics worked perfectly.
The VI Rod is a good piece of kit. We loved the PURE functionality for preventing dry hits. It’s great for users who don’t want to carry spare batteries around. But the 1000 mAh battery isn’t very powerful. That means using low ohm cartridges or considering recharging it occasionally to last through the day. The flavours are very clear and delicious, especially fruity flavours.
Summary
What we like
- Small size
- Vape quality
- Versatile when it comes to coils
- The PURE function
What we don’t like
- Updates in-store
