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REVIEWS
VOOPOO DRAG S
By Benedict Jones
Construction, fit and finish of the Drag S are fantastic.
Voopoo has always excelled in this category and the Drag
S is its best built AIO to date. It has improved ergonomics
compared to previous full-sized Vinci models, with a
solid zinc alloy chassis and leather-style grip, that sits
comfortably in the hand. The buttons have a nice tactile
click and the magnetised pod connection is very strong,
keeping everything firmly in place. The Drag S looks and
feels like a premium device.
In terms of user experience, the Drag S does well for the
most part, but does hit a couple of stumbling blocks. The
pod/tank is filled via a rubber seal at the bottom and though
there is quite a large opening, it doesn’t do well with large
nozzles.
The new Gene chipset is simple but a little quirky. Five clicks
of the fire button powers the device on/off and from here,
three clicks cycles between the modes, including standard,
P+A and RBA. P+A mode activates the draw-to-fire
functionality, which works consistently but doesn’t ramp up
quite as quickly as using the fire button. RBA mode simply
unlocks the wattage control, removing pre-defined power
limits based on the resistance of your installed coil.
Pressing the + and – buttons together accesses the puff
counter display, which tracks your use of the device over
a 14-day period. I like this feature, since it gives the user
a basic idea of how much they are vaping. This doesn’t
account for nicotine strength of course, but it’s always nice
to have a visual representation of usage.
Next, there’s the “score” feature. This has been quite
contentious, displaying a small badge and accumulated
score that builds as you use the device. At certain intervals,
you achieve a new “level”. Presumably, this is supposed to
be a bit of fun, but it doesn’t actually enhance the experience
of the device and I’d rather this was simply left out.
In terms of performance, the Gene chip is as snappy as
ever. Very few devices ramp up as quickly as this one and
I’ve always enjoyed the aggressive vape experience that the
Gene chip provides.
Voopoo has finally included true airflow control with the
specifications
Dimensions: 87mm*33mm*28mm
Weight: 154g
Battery capacity: 2500mAh internal cell
E-liquid capacity: 4.5ml/2ml (TPD edition)
Power output: 5W-60W
Charging: 2A USB-C
Drag S, which is a welcome addition. Wide open, you’ll only
be limited by the inner bore of your installed coil, which
usually means an airy DL draw. Closed down, it results in
a restricted DL draw, or loose MTL draw for some of the
smaller ID coils. You may have to fine tune your airflow to
minimise turbulence and maximise flavour but, in any case,
this is an improvement over Voopoo’s previous AIOs.
The Drag S is bundled with 2 coils. The first is a 0.3Ohm
PnP mesh build, rated for 32W-40W. I found this coil to
shine at 35W, with the airflow set to 1/5 open. With these
settings it produces a warm, flavourful RDL vape. Coil
longevity is good, lasting me 45mls of moderately-sweet
e-liquid before a new coil was needed.
The second coil is a 0.2Ohm PnP mesh build, rated for
40W-60W. I found this coil to perform best at 50W-55W, with
the airflow set to 1/3 open. With these settings, the 0.2Ohm
build produces a warmer and slightly more flavourful vape
than its lower power sibling, though this extra wattage does
take a toll on the 2500mAh internal cell.
Battery life will largely depend on your choice of coil and
wattage. I found the device to last just shy of a full day’s use
when vaping at 35W and this run time is cut in half when
running the device at 50W+. 2A charging means the Drag S
charges from flat to full in just over an hour, which is good
considering the run time.
In summary, the Drag S is Voopoo’s best full-sized AIO to
date. Build quality is excellent, power delivery is snappy
and you can use all of the previous PnP coils without issue.
The odd “score” feature and re-fill system could do with a
rethink, though.
PROS
- Great build quality
- Lots of coil options
- Excellent power delivery
- Good range of airflow
CONS
- Re-fills can get messy
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