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REVIEWS
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A-FENG POD AIO By Benedict Jones
Specifi cations:
- Dimensions: 78mm*44mm*22.5mm
- Power output: “Intelligent” 16W-22W output
- Battery capacity: 1x 18650 external cell
- E-liquid capacity: 3ml/2ml (TPD edition)
- Charging: 1A USB-C
Veteran manufacturers Sigelei has been one of few companies to
take its time with pod-style releases this year and the result has been
devices which feel quite well thought out, such as the Wocket, which
we reviewed recently. The A-feng is the company’s offering, so is it
another winner?
Construction, fi t and fi nish of the A-feng are all great. The metal
chassis feels very solid and the only apparent seam is found at the
door, which is held in place fi rmly by four strong magnets. This device
is a little larger and heavier than most box-style AIOs but it makes up
for this by providing the build quality we would expect from a fully-
fledged box mod.
In terms of user experience, Sigelei have chosen a beginner-friendly
design, which feels appropriate for the device. A single fi re button
powers the device on/off with fi ve clicks and the IFV chipset tapers
the power output automatically in order to produce the best possible
vape quality from the available coil heads. Removing and reinstalling
the 2ml e-liquid cartridge is very simple, with a press-fi t design and
spring-loaded contacts that secure everything in place nicely.
When it comes to vape quality, the A-feng handily competes with the
best in its class. The IFV chipset will initially provide a boost of 22W
before tapering down to 16W during each puff. This isn’t something
I’ve seen before and I was concerned it might result in a cool vape but
in practice it works very well.
The initial 22W burst gets the 0.6Ohm mesh coil up to an ideal
temperature and the taper ensures continued vapour production,
without overloading the coil with heat. The coil base features fully-
adjustable airflow, which is quite smooth across the board and can go
from restricted direct lung, all the way to a tight MTL draw if desired.
I was already quite impressed with the Wocket’s x-grid coils and the
coils bundled with the A-feng deliver much the same experience.
Despite the adjustable airflow, it must be noted that these coils shine
with the airflow opened up, due to the warm output.
This is my only gripe with the A-feng kit. It would have been really nice
to see a true MTL coil bundled here and at the time of writing there is
PROS
- 18650 compatible
- Good flavour production
- Nice build quality
188 VM26
CONS
- No true MTL coil option
- No RBA base
still not an MTL option to purchase separately. I’m really glad to see
that Sigelei are staying with the same coil fi tting, since this is great for
consumers but more options are a must, especially when the devices
that they are compatible with are so well-rounded. A 1+Ohm round
wire head would be great for those who prefer a tighter draw and
higher nicotine levels.
The ability to use an external 18650 of your choosing will be the
hallmark feature for many consumers and it certainly elevates the
A-feng above many of its competitors. When using a high-quality
3000mAh cell, I am easily able to get a full day’s use from the device
with 6mg/ml e-liquids. This is more than can be said for almost
any AIO or pod system when vaping above 20W and I hope more
manufacturers follow suit.
The 1A USB-C charging is admittedly slower than I would like to see.
We know that the USB-C platform can easily support 2A charging
and this is something we should therefore expect. At a pinch, it’s
still serviceable but will take approximately three hours to charge a
3000mAh cell from flat to full. As always when it comes to external
cells, I recommend using an external charger.
In summary, the A-feng is a great little AIO system with solid coils,
great battery life and build quality. This kit is just an MTL coil head or
RBA section away from being my AIO of the year.