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REVIEWS
DOTMOD DOTAIO SE
By Benedict Jones
AIOs are officially the market mover of 2020 and as
someone who’s tested hundreds of vaping devices, I
couldn’t be happier. Pod systems certainly have their place
but an AIO can provide vastly improved battery life, more
headroom for power output and increased coil versatility,
while still remaining pocket friendly. Dotmod launched its
first AIO in the middle of 2019 with the DotAIO and the
DotAIO SE is a very similar device, with a lower price point
and different aesthetic.
Construction, fit and finish of the SE are fantastic. With
an RRP that’s almost half of the original model, I had
honestly expected some corners to be cut for this edition
but Dotmod has been clever with the manufacturing. In
lieu of the original’s milled aluminium body and panels,
the SE is cast from zinc alloy, with polycarbonate panels,
keeping costs down. As a result, the SE is actually heavier
than its more expensive sibling and this increase in weight
is something I enjoy. The internals are very clean, buttons
have a satisfying click and the two panels snap into place
securely. This device feels very premium and looks elegant.
In short, I think it’s the prettiest mainstream AIO on the
market right now, with a clean, minimalist style and
beautifully engraved doors. Small details like the laseretched
internals only add to this. It’s also the smallest
18650 AIO that I’m aware of.
In terms of user experience, the DotAIO SE is simple but
provides a good level of user adjustment. You can toggle
through four levels of power adjustment with a small button
towards the bottom of the device. The specific power
outputs will change depending on the resistance of your
coil, which is a nice touch. The 2.7ml internal tank is easy
to remove and so are the press-fit coils. A large fill port on
the side of the tank means re-fills are mess free and quick.
The device is supplied with two coils as standard. The first
is a 0.7Ohm mesh build. This coil could be used for MTL or
RDL vaping, though I feel it really shines as an MTL coil. I
enjoyed it most with the airflow turned all the way down and
the power set to “medium” which, in this case, corresponds
to 18W. With these parameters, the result is a smooth,
specifications
Materials: Zinc alloy, polycarbonate
Dimensions: 78mm*43mm*22.5mm
Battery capacity: 1x external 18650
E-liquid capacity: 2.7ml/2ml (TPD edition)
Power output: 4 variable levels
Charging: USB-C
flavourful and restricted MTL vape that competes with the
best MTL stock coil tanks on the market. Coil longevity is
notable too, as I was able to run 35mls of moderately sweet
nicotine salt e-liquid through the coil before it needed to be
replaced, which translates to approximately two weeks of
use in my case.
The second coil is a 0.3Ohm mesh build. With a wider
bore and higher power ceiling, this coil is better suited to
restricted direct lung vaping. I enjoyed this coil most with
the airflow set to 2/3 open and the power set to “strong”
which uses the maximum 35W the device is capable of
for this coil. With these settings, the DotAIO SE produces a
warm, flavourful RDL vape that competes well with smaller
subohm tanks, such as the Uwell Nunchaku.
In addition to the coils supplied with the device, there’s
also an Aspire Nautilus adapter in the box. This means
you will never be hard pressed to find a compatible coil
for the DotAIO SE and I’m very glad that this decision was
made because it’s very consumer-friendly and allows you
to choose from the wide variety of Nautlius coils currently
available.
Enthusiasts need not worry either, since there are currently
two RBAs for the device, including Dotmod’s DotRBA and
Atmizoo’s Dotshell. We will be covering the Dotshell in a
separate review, since it has plenty of features but restassured
it’s a worthy addition.
In summary, I thoroughly recommend the DotAIO SE to
anyone looking for a compact all-in-one device. It ticks all
the boxes, with great build quality, aesthetics, functionality
and aftermarket RBAs all while being substantially less
expensive than the original model. At the time of writing,
there’s also a huge variety of custom panels, buttons and
tips, so you can really personalise this device. This might be
Dotmod’s best device to date.
PROS
- Build quality
- Ease of use
- Highly customisable
CONS
- 35W power ceiling may be
too low for some
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