VooPoo Argus Pod SE Kit
Hello lovely people of ECF! Today I have the first of two pod products recently released by VooPoo. The Argus Pod SE kit is the newer version of the Argus Pod that was released a few months ago toward the end of 2022. The changes are rather subjective and I can't necessarily say they are better, but the kit overall seems to work rather flawlessly, never-the-less.
The slightly older Argus Pod has a display that allows the user to adjust wattage, see the battery percentage, the pod/coil resistance, the voltage output, and also a puff counter. The newer Argus SE did away with the display and now shows the battery status using 3 bars of LED on the side, instead. I suppose for the sake battery conservation, this would be a slight upgrade. In almost every other way, they are identical, including a small sliding switch that allows the user to adjust the airflow from a very tight MTL to a loose MTL airflow which is great to see.
I don't want to get ahead of myself here, so I want to first thank Freya from VooPoo for coordinating the product for this review. And as always, a reminder that this critique will be conducted in a fair and honest manner.
For a more comprehensive and interactive look at this device, I'd recommend you to head on over to VooPoo's Argus Pod SE page. Much of what you see below will be a very brief overlook of their page.
The slightly older Argus Pod has a display that allows the user to adjust wattage, see the battery percentage, the pod/coil resistance, the voltage output, and also a puff counter. The newer Argus SE did away with the display and now shows the battery status using 3 bars of LED on the side, instead. I suppose for the sake battery conservation, this would be a slight upgrade. In almost every other way, they are identical, including a small sliding switch that allows the user to adjust the airflow from a very tight MTL to a loose MTL airflow which is great to see.
I don't want to get ahead of myself here, so I want to first thank Freya from VooPoo for coordinating the product for this review. And as always, a reminder that this critique will be conducted in a fair and honest manner.
For a more comprehensive and interactive look at this device, I'd recommend you to head on over to VooPoo's Argus Pod SE page. Much of what you see below will be a very brief overlook of their page.
Basic Overview:
Color Options:
• Shiny Blue
• Shiny Orange
• Brown
• Red
• Black
Key Features VooPoo States:
• The Gorgeous Design Brings a Brilliant Appearance
Adopting the nanoscale lithography process, the shiny blue and shiny orange ARGUS POD SE are dynamic and gorgeous. The polished zinc body is natural and soft in lines and the color flows with light and shadow.
• ARGUS POD Cartridges with ITO Atomization Technology Bring Delightful Taste
The four-hole airway inlet and airflow buffer make the taste soft and smooth. The four-hole structure firmly stores poorly atomized e-liquid and condensates. Meanwhile, the simple design as the invisible magnetic connection makes each insertion and removal easier. The delicate and ergonomic mouthpiece fits perfectly on the lips and maximizes vaping comfort.
• Simpleness Makes Operation Easy, GENE.AI Intelligence Reassures Vaping
The auto mode of ARGUS POD SE is easy and starter friendly. The stepless airflow adjustment enables the swifts from loose MTL to tight MTL. The bottom-filling and full-view cartridge allows you to check the volume at any time without pulling it out. Adopting GENE.AI 1.2, ARGUS POD SE supports Max 18W power output and matches the appropriate wattage based on the coil resistance. The GENE AI 1.2 also provides six safety protections and reassures your every vaping.
Compatibility:
The Argus Pod SE kit comes with two pod cartridges that have coils built into them; one being 0.7 ohms and the other at 1.2 ohms. Sold separately, there are empty pod cartridges (pods that use removeable ITO-M coils), and all of these pods are compatible with the Argus Z, Argus Pod, Argus Pod SE, Argus G, and Argus P1 shown above.
Specs & Package Contents:
The only thing to really note here is that the Standard Edition, TDP Edition, and the US Edition are all identical being that this pod only holds 2mL of liquid.
Testing Results & Experiences:
The VooPoo Argus Pod SE kit comes packaged all nice and neat. There's plenty of cushion from damage if the package were to be tossed around during shipping for some odd reason. The kit itself is very simple, well laid out, and has everything needed to start vaping with the exception of e-juice making this a great starter kit.
As you can see above, I received a sample product, so what you may find in your package and your specific experiences may differ from what you read in this review.
As you can see above, I received a sample product, so what you may find in your package and your specific experiences may differ from what you read in this review.
The nanoscale lithography design I must admit is quite attractive. It's subtle, until you reflect some light onto it. This can appeal to those that like a more subtle design, and also those that like a flashier design.
Other than the USB Type-C charging port, the only other noticeable features on the exterior of the pod is the sliding airflow knob and the three LED bars that indicate the battery status briefly after each puff. These lights flash red when the battery fully drains. It takes about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes to fully recharge the internal 800 mAh battery from a dead status. A Type-C 3.0 QC cable can be used to recharge the device, but pass-through vaping is not available as is customary with most VooPoo devices. The battery vapes quite well during the last bar of remaining battery while using the 1.2 ohm coil. It won't perform nearly as well with the same low battery status and the 0.7 ohm coil.
There's a rubber sticker placed on the bottom of the battery, but I've been noticing in both the Argus Pod SE and the Argus G, that they're not placed squarely onto the bottom making it very difficult to get the device to stand up on its own without being extremely tipsy. The thought was there, but the execution was not. I feel like this wasn't really a necessary addition as the device is hardly heavy enough to be clunky when setting it down. You can adjust the sticker slightly by moving it around, but again, I don't feel like this was very necessary or a luxury.
The magnets seen in the top of the battery hold the pod in firmly enough to not worry about it popping out, but loose enough to easily remove the pod when needing to refill.
The Argus Pod SE utilizes the Gene.AI 1.2 chip which auto-detects the coil you're using and adjusts the wattage automatically. For those that just want to simply drop a pod in and vape, this kit will do the trick.
Other than the USB Type-C charging port, the only other noticeable features on the exterior of the pod is the sliding airflow knob and the three LED bars that indicate the battery status briefly after each puff. These lights flash red when the battery fully drains. It takes about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes to fully recharge the internal 800 mAh battery from a dead status. A Type-C 3.0 QC cable can be used to recharge the device, but pass-through vaping is not available as is customary with most VooPoo devices. The battery vapes quite well during the last bar of remaining battery while using the 1.2 ohm coil. It won't perform nearly as well with the same low battery status and the 0.7 ohm coil.
There's a rubber sticker placed on the bottom of the battery, but I've been noticing in both the Argus Pod SE and the Argus G, that they're not placed squarely onto the bottom making it very difficult to get the device to stand up on its own without being extremely tipsy. The thought was there, but the execution was not. I feel like this wasn't really a necessary addition as the device is hardly heavy enough to be clunky when setting it down. You can adjust the sticker slightly by moving it around, but again, I don't feel like this was very necessary or a luxury.
The magnets seen in the top of the battery hold the pod in firmly enough to not worry about it popping out, but loose enough to easily remove the pod when needing to refill.
The Argus Pod SE utilizes the Gene.AI 1.2 chip which auto-detects the coil you're using and adjusts the wattage automatically. For those that just want to simply drop a pod in and vape, this kit will do the trick.
You'll probably notice that the 0.7 and 1.2 ohm built-in coil pods look very much alike. They function just the same when it comes to refilling. Really, the only difference between them is when they're dropped into the mod battery and vaped. Based on the auto-setting visible in the Argus G UI (the same chip used in the Argus G is also used in the Argus Pod SE), the 0.7 ohm coil sets itself at around 16W, and the 1.2 ohm coil sets itself at around 10W.
Both pods produce very good flavor, but for once I'd have to favor the 1.2 ohm coil over the 0.7 ohm coil. This is hardly ever the case for me since I favor RDL vapes over MTL. However, there's just something about the 1.2 ohm coil that strikes me as a tad bit more rich in flavor, and I like that.
I've been mostly using the 1.2 ohm Argus Pod in this device and if I had to guess how many puffs a full battery charge can put out, I'd say around 200 MTL puffs. If you use the 0.7 ohm coil, you can expect probably about half of that.
For me, the perfect airflow was just a tiny bit open from the fully closed airflow position. As an ex smoker, this very closely resembled a packed cigarette and what I would call a "true" MTL draw. Far too often with recent pod releases throughout the entire industry, the "MTL" (Mouth-to-Lung) airflow they advertise is actually closer to a tight RDL (Restricted-Direct-Lung) draw, and I find this way too airy for an MTL. The Argus Pod SE did a very good job on the airflow tightness as well as range for an MTL.
I will mention that I've not had the best luck with the Argus Pod and leaking. In only a few short weeks, the 0.7 ohm pod has shown small signs of leaking. The Argus Pod (non-SE) that I won back in November of 2022 in a giveaway ended up leaking quite a bit and ended up getting tossed. I'm not sure if there have been any changes to the pod between the release of the Argus Pod and Argus Pod SE, but they look and function identically which makes me thing there hasn't been any changes. If you do end up getting pods that leak, I'd suggest trying the removeable coil option shown below.
Both pods produce very good flavor, but for once I'd have to favor the 1.2 ohm coil over the 0.7 ohm coil. This is hardly ever the case for me since I favor RDL vapes over MTL. However, there's just something about the 1.2 ohm coil that strikes me as a tad bit more rich in flavor, and I like that.
I've been mostly using the 1.2 ohm Argus Pod in this device and if I had to guess how many puffs a full battery charge can put out, I'd say around 200 MTL puffs. If you use the 0.7 ohm coil, you can expect probably about half of that.
For me, the perfect airflow was just a tiny bit open from the fully closed airflow position. As an ex smoker, this very closely resembled a packed cigarette and what I would call a "true" MTL draw. Far too often with recent pod releases throughout the entire industry, the "MTL" (Mouth-to-Lung) airflow they advertise is actually closer to a tight RDL (Restricted-Direct-Lung) draw, and I find this way too airy for an MTL. The Argus Pod SE did a very good job on the airflow tightness as well as range for an MTL.
I will mention that I've not had the best luck with the Argus Pod and leaking. In only a few short weeks, the 0.7 ohm pod has shown small signs of leaking. The Argus Pod (non-SE) that I won back in November of 2022 in a giveaway ended up leaking quite a bit and ended up getting tossed. I'm not sure if there have been any changes to the pod between the release of the Argus Pod and Argus Pod SE, but they look and function identically which makes me thing there hasn't been any changes. If you do end up getting pods that leak, I'd suggest trying the removeable coil option shown below.
The Argus Pod also has a removeable ITO-M coil version, as well. Although the pod and coils are sold separately, it does give those who are a bit more environmentally conscientious the ability to purchase the ITO-M replaceable coils instead of the entire built-in coil pods. Like pretty much any other drop in coil system, make sure the flat sides of the coil end line up with the pod. If the coil doesn't sit flush with the bottom of the pod, something isn't correct.
Be aware that the flange used in the removeable coil pods is different from the built-in coil pods and that pulling on the end with the arrow pointing toward it is the correct end to pull on. By pulling the other end out, it will be very difficult to push the tethered plug back into the very tiny hole in which it's mounted. Take it from someone that's already made this mistake, lol.
Both of these two versions of cartridges (built-in and removeable coil pods) are fully compatible with the ARGUS G, ARGUS POD, ARGUS P1 and ARGUS Z.
The ITO-M coil I received with the empty pod cartridge was the 0.5 ohm coil. It vaped almost indistinctually from the 0.7 ohm built-in coil pod - maybe a slight bit warmer and more airy. However, the battery maxes out at 18W on a freshly charged battery, so you will experience a decrease in performance as the battery dies. My recommendation is to stick with the ITO-M1 (0.7 ohms), ITO-M2 (1.0 ohms), or ITO-M3 (1.2 ohms) coils when using the Argus Pod SE, if you choose to use the removeable coil pod.
VooPoo did state that the 0.5 ohm ITO-M0 coil is meant for the Argus G with a max power output of 25W, but I figured I'd give it a run to see how it performed. In this case, I would stick to VooPoo's recommendation on this.
Be aware that the flange used in the removeable coil pods is different from the built-in coil pods and that pulling on the end with the arrow pointing toward it is the correct end to pull on. By pulling the other end out, it will be very difficult to push the tethered plug back into the very tiny hole in which it's mounted. Take it from someone that's already made this mistake, lol.
Both of these two versions of cartridges (built-in and removeable coil pods) are fully compatible with the ARGUS G, ARGUS POD, ARGUS P1 and ARGUS Z.
The ITO-M coil I received with the empty pod cartridge was the 0.5 ohm coil. It vaped almost indistinctually from the 0.7 ohm built-in coil pod - maybe a slight bit warmer and more airy. However, the battery maxes out at 18W on a freshly charged battery, so you will experience a decrease in performance as the battery dies. My recommendation is to stick with the ITO-M1 (0.7 ohms), ITO-M2 (1.0 ohms), or ITO-M3 (1.2 ohms) coils when using the Argus Pod SE, if you choose to use the removeable coil pod.
VooPoo did state that the 0.5 ohm ITO-M0 coil is meant for the Argus G with a max power output of 25W, but I figured I'd give it a run to see how it performed. In this case, I would stick to VooPoo's recommendation on this.
From Left to Right: Argus Z, Argus Pod SE, Argus Pod, Argus G - all compatible with one another
-= Pros =-
• It's very small
• 5 Aesthetic options
• Very easy to use
• Good battery life with 1.2 ohm coil
• Removeable coil cartridges available for the ITO-M coils
• Adjustable MTL airflow range nails tight and loose MTL very well
• Auto-draw is hair-trigger
• Both coils taste pretty great
• Secure magnets
-= Cons =-
• Built-in coil pods seem to be about 50/50 in leaking
• No button activation option
• No adjustable wattage
Rating:
8.0
Overall, the kit does a very good job of creating a rich tasting MTL vape, moreso the 1.2 ohm coil in my experience. Unfortunately, I haven't had the best luck with leaking with some of the built-in coil cartridges which brings the overall rating down a bit. If you are looking for a small MTL device with good flavor, this is a great starter kit. Let's just hope that you have a little better luck with the pods leaking than I did.
That about wraps up the review on VooPoo Argus Pod SE kit. If you have experiences to share or questions, feel free to leave a comment below. If you want to get a hold of me after this thread closes, please PM me with any inquiries you might have. Again, I recommend heading over to VooPoo's site to take a better look at this device. Thanks for reading, and take a gander at the Argus G Pod Kit Review by yours truly, if you're looking for a similar device.
Happy vape hoarding!
-= Pros =-
• It's very small
• 5 Aesthetic options
• Very easy to use
• Good battery life with 1.2 ohm coil
• Removeable coil cartridges available for the ITO-M coils
• Adjustable MTL airflow range nails tight and loose MTL very well
• Auto-draw is hair-trigger
• Both coils taste pretty great
• Secure magnets
-= Cons =-
• Built-in coil pods seem to be about 50/50 in leaking
• No button activation option
• No adjustable wattage
Rating:
8.0
Overall, the kit does a very good job of creating a rich tasting MTL vape, moreso the 1.2 ohm coil in my experience. Unfortunately, I haven't had the best luck with leaking with some of the built-in coil cartridges which brings the overall rating down a bit. If you are looking for a small MTL device with good flavor, this is a great starter kit. Let's just hope that you have a little better luck with the pods leaking than I did.
That about wraps up the review on VooPoo Argus Pod SE kit. If you have experiences to share or questions, feel free to leave a comment below. If you want to get a hold of me after this thread closes, please PM me with any inquiries you might have. Again, I recommend heading over to VooPoo's site to take a better look at this device. Thanks for reading, and take a gander at the Argus G Pod Kit Review by yours truly, if you're looking for a similar device.
Happy vape hoarding!
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