iSTICK T80 By Benedict Jones
Specifi cations:
- Dimensions: 78mm*36mm*28mm
- Materials: Aluminium, stainless steel - Power output: 1W-80W
- Battery capacity: 3000mAh internal cell
- Charging: 2A USB-C
The Eleaf iStick range is one of the most iconic in all of vaping. It
began in 2014 with the original iStick 20W, which changed the game
forever by introducing a pocketable variable wattage device to the
mass market, at an affordable price. Since then, we’ve seen dozens
of iStick variants and the new T80 looks like a return to the original
vision, so is it worth checking out?
Construction, fi t and fi nish of the T80 are great. This is an affordable
mod, so you shouldn’t be expecting to see any premium materials like
carbon fi bre or abalone, but the simple aluminium and stainless-steel
frame feels very sturdy. Seams are minimal and the three buttons
have a pleasant tactile click, only rattling when the mod is shaken
vigorously. Pro tip – don’t shake your mod vigorously.
This is a tiny device with a smooth elliptical shape, which means
ergonomics are fantastic. The device is comfortable even for those
with smaller hands and it easily fi ts into pockets or purses.
In terms of user experience, Eleaf have kept things simple but the
chipset still provides enough functionality for all but the pickiest of
vapers. Three clicks of the fi re button opens the menu, where you can
choose from variable wattage, bypass, temperature control and TC
memory banks. Holding the fi re and + buttons opens a second menu,
where you can set up a basic preheat, enter stealth mode and change
display preferences. Holding fi re and + when in one of the TC memory
banks allows you to lock coil resistance and even change TCR values.
Despite its modest looks, the T80 boasts a vast array of options and
presents them intuitively. Impressive.
PROS
- Great build quality
- Feature-rich chipset
- Good battery life and
charging speed
When it comes to performance, the T80 is solid. Power output is
responsive and accurate and the preheat function, while basic, does
its job. Eleaf’s temperature control is very solid out of the box and can
be further confi gured with TCR values, so this makes the T80 a great
option for TC fans on a budget.
The 3000mAh internal cell performs as I would expect, and its run
time will depend entirely on your chosen atomiser and power output.
With an MTL atomiser set to 16W, I can easily get two full days’ vaping
on a single charge. With a mesh tank set to 50W, it gets through most
of a day, which is still very respectable for such a small device. Down
time is kept to a minimum by the 2A quick charging, which takes the
cell from flat to full in 1.5 hours, another impressive feature.
In summary, the Eleaf iStick T80 is an outstanding miniature mod,
boasting great build quality, a feature-rich chipset and fantastic
battery life for the size. This is a great option for any vaper in need of
something compact that doesn’t sacrifi ce in terms of features or run
time. Long may the iStick line continue.
CONS
- None
VM26 189