I recently purchased the Provari from Provape and the Infinity from NotCigs for the purpose of seeing what this variable voltage fuss was all about. These two personal vaporizers (PVs) represent the second generation of variable voltage devices to hit the market and both are from established manufacturers. Provape has earned the reputation for a good solid mod in the Provape-1 and NotCigs has demonstrated their ability to create a variable voltage mod with the very successful Buzz.
No tools required
One of the biggest drawbacks to the Buzz is the need for a tiny screwdriver to set the voltage. Not a big deal, but it certainly detracts from the convenience of being able to set your voltage any time you like. Several new models on the market overcome this limitation by offering easily accessible voltage adjustment. The Infinity and Provari incorporate two contrasting approaches to solving the problem. The Infinity with a simple dial, the Provari with electronics.
I’ve spent some time with these models and have enjoyed the vaping experience with both. Pretty much equally, in fact. Both devices supply a constant voltage that can be easily adjusted to suit whatever atomizer or cartomizer is currently being used on their 510 compatible fitting. This variable voltage makes for excellent vapor production and a near perfect vape no matter which one is in hand at the moment. The perfect combination of vapor and flavor is readily available from both of these great devices.
Two design philosophies
Clear away the vapor, however and you begin to see two very different approaches to designing a variable voltage tube mod. NotCigs seems to have had simplicity in mind when designing the Infinity, both in terms of looks and, I suspect, economy. My unit is chrome with brass end caps. Power is applied via a small rubber switch. The fit and finish are good and everything screws together firmly, although I did have an issue with the atomizer connector not making a good ground contact with the rest of the housing. There is a little bit of play in the battery compartment, too, allowing for a rattle at times. The chrome finish is nice and bright and seems to resist scratches well, but is not quite smooth when viewed close up. I recently had a look at Don’s (my partner at Vaping Guides) copper Infinity, and I would definitely recommend against that finish unless you happen to have a butler who will polish it along with the silver plate.
The Provari is less glossy in its finish, but makes up for it with well executed details. From the grooves along the sides to the indentations on the end caps, the impression it gives is of solid machined quality. Everything fits together perfectly. The satin stainless steel finish appears to be quite resilient and does not show any fingerprints. The button is substantial and feels good. It's backlit by an LED that can be turned on or off. It also blinks to indicate when batteries need recharged.
The Infinity, at 124mm long and 17mm in diameter, is sleek and relatively slim, while the Provari is shorter and more robust at 105mm by 23mm. Batteries are a large reason for the difference. The Provari takes a single fatter 18500 battery while the Infinity takes two slimmer 14430s. The Provari’s tube wall is nearly twice as thick as that of the Infinity. The trade-off for this sturdy build quality is that the Provari is more than twice as heavy as the Infinity. With batteries, the two weigh in at 5.4oz and 2.4oz respectively.
Both units feel good in the hand, however and neither are overly cumbersome to carry. The Infinity is a little more enjoyable to hold like a cigar, but the added length becomes obvious in a shallow pocket. The Provari is more suitable to holding in a more vertical position, but still not too difficult to hold horizontally like a cigar. A welcome feature on the Provari is that is can be turned off via the microprocessor and also has a 16 second cutoff, making it a completely pocket-friendly device.
Digits and dials
Which brings us to the distinctive feature of the Provari. Not content with a single LED, the folks at Provape have built in a two digit digital display that provides just about all the data a vaper could want short of flavor or nicotine strength. Five button clicks activate the LED readout, and subsequent double clicks step through a list of choices including power up, power down, on/off, battery status, atomizer ohms and LED on/off. Leaving the button idle for two seconds displays the desired information and two more seconds returns the unit to vaping mode. It is an impressive amount of information at your fingertips and it may seem a little complex, but the single button computer is really quite simple to get the hang of. Voltage is adjustable from 3.3V to 6V.
At the other end of the complexity spectrum is the simple dial of the Infinity. The dial is a major improvement over the set screw of the Buzz, but like that set screw, doesn’t provide much feedback regarding current settings. Numbers on the dial lit by an LED backlight are the only indications of where the voltage is set and I found those to be largely illegible. There is a white mark indicating the middle of the dial, a setting which conveniently puts the unit at a popular 4.5V setting. Any other setting requires a volt meter to determine the exact voltage, but in practice knowing the exact voltage isn’t strictly necessary. Being able to vary the voltage easily to get the best vape is what really counts (if it feels good, it is good!) and the dial makes it as simple as possible, whether you know the voltage or not. Voltage is adjustable from 3.3V to 5.5V.
Battery life
Battery life is quite a bit better on the Infinity, due in large part to the fact that two 650 Mah14430 batteries are used. The Provari takes only one battery and steps the voltage up. I am getting less than a days vaping out of the single 1100Mah 18490. An optional extension cap allows the use of a 1300 Mah 18650 which would allow for further vape time at the expense of length and weight. Neither of these units get unusually warm while in use, meaning that the conversion to selected voltage is pretty efficient. Both of these devices incorporate over-current and over-temp protection and the Provari also includes short-circuit protection.
Pricing
Price is another area in which these two mods differ significantly. The Infinity kit, including one set of batteries and a charger is $99.95, a pretty good deal for a variable voltage mod. NotCigs has obviously designed this new mod with an eye towards affordability. A comparable Provape setup will set you back $186.40. Of course, additional batteries will be a wise addition no matter which device you choose.
Provari wins, but at a cost (literally)
As you may have suspected, there is no clear winner in this variable voltage face-off. The Provari has more to offer, but at a higher cost. If money is not a concern… get both!
For those ready to spend $200 on a mod, the Provari will not disappoint. Its features, ease of use, solid construction and machined details make it well worth the money and the variable voltage should ensure that it suits vaping desires for a long time to come. And along with that comes the satisfaction of owning one of the finest personal vaporizers on the market.
For a little more than half the price, perhaps some of the quality shortcomings of the Infinity can be overlooked and it is a great entry point into variable voltage vaping. Its value lies in the packaging of variable voltage in a sleek enclosure. Hopefully build quality issues will be addressed as the model matures. Those looking to take their vaping experience to the next level should find the Infinity to be a reasonable step up from the average kit. It may not have all the options, but is still a great vape.
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