Hello and welcome back to another Z-Lee review. Today we'll be looking at VooPoo's newest pod release, the Vinci 3. Unlike their release of the more recent Vinci Pod SE Kit, the Vinci 3 is a larger pod device with many more features and a much larger battery built into it. If you are familiar with the Vinci 2, the Vinci 3 has many of the same features, just modified and for the most part, better.
I want to thank @VOOPOO_Official and Freya for sending me this device for review. As always, I will remain fair and unbiased in this critique.
For a more visually-friendly look at the Vinci 3, I'd suggest heading over to VooPoo's official site here.
I want to thank @VOOPOO_Official and Freya for sending me this device for review. As always, I will remain fair and unbiased in this critique.
For a more visually-friendly look at the Vinci 3, I'd suggest heading over to VooPoo's official site here.
• Carbon Fiber Black
• Aurora Blue
• Carbon Fiber Blue
• Aurora Red
• Rose Gold
I believe the Aurora Blue and Carbon Fiber Blue are backwards in this picture, but it came directly from VooPoo's site and so I won't dispute this. It would however make more sense to me if they were reversed. What do you think?
• Mobius Airflow
• 5-50W Adjustable Wattage
• Dual Ignition Modes (I believe this is referring to MTL and RDL vaping)
• Compact
• Affordable
Specs:
• Dimensions (Entire Device): 30.5mm * 21.6mm * 101.3mm
- Pod -
• Capacity: 4mL (Standard & US Edition), 2mL (TPD Edition)
• Material: PCTG
• Recommended E-liquid: Nicotine Concentration < 50mg/mL (5%)
• Standard Coils: PnP-TW30 (0.3Ω, PnP-DW60 (0.6Ω)
• Compatible Coils: All PnP Coils
- Battery -
• Material: Zinc Alloy + Optical Coating Decorative Sheet
• Output Power: 5-50W Adjustable
• Output Voltage: 3.2-4.2V
• Readable Resistance: 0.15Ω to 3.0Ω
• Battery Capacity: Internal 1800mAh Battery
As mentioned in the Specs above, all PnP coils share the dimensional requirements to fit into the Vinci 3 pod. However, being that this device only goes up to 50W, I would not recommend any coil that has a resistance below 0.2Ω, and that's even pushing it. I would recommend using PnP coils at 0.3Ω and above for the most consistent vape experience. This is not for safety-sake, but for performance-sake. If you'll notice above in the wide-array of PnP coils, there are a few such as the PnP-VM5, PnP-VM6, PnP-TW15, and PnP-TW20 that have recommended wattage ranges that exceed the maximum power the Vinci 3 is capable of. Being that a mod/battery's operating voltage starts at 4.2V at a full charge, and drains down to 3.2ish volts when dead, this directly affects what power the battery is capable of delivering as it drains. If the Vinci 3 battery can deliver 50W on a full charge, by the time the battery reaches 30% battery life or below, you can be sure that the maximum power delivery will be far below 50W, and this will drop it below the recommended wattage range for the coils mentioned above. Again, this is for performance-sake, and not for anything safety-wise. You are more than welcome to try the lower resistance coils, but expect that they'll result in an unsatisfying, slurpy vape. You may also find a bit of trouble using the PnP-TR1 coil at 1.2Ω. Calculating a full charge to an empty battery, the capable wattage output starts at 14.7W on a full battery, and diminishes to 8.5W near a dead battery using a 1.2Ω coil. Will it be able to vape the 1.2Ω coil? While yes it will, the expected performance will drop quite a bit as the battery dies.
I will say that it's nice that some companies are using the same coil dimensions across a multitude of their product lines so that we're not funneled into using only a single device, especially if we're stocked up specific coils. However, as you can see from above, this can cause quite a bit of confusion as to what coils are legitimately useable in which device. The new VooPoo Uforce-L tank and Drag 4 or Argus XT mods can easily handle any of the PnP coils shown above, but when we get into smaller devices, the correct coils need to be used to reach the expected performance.
I will say that it's nice that some companies are using the same coil dimensions across a multitude of their product lines so that we're not funneled into using only a single device, especially if we're stocked up specific coils. However, as you can see from above, this can cause quite a bit of confusion as to what coils are legitimately useable in which device. The new VooPoo Uforce-L tank and Drag 4 or Argus XT mods can easily handle any of the PnP coils shown above, but when we get into smaller devices, the correct coils need to be used to reach the expected performance.
Package Lists:
- Standard/US -
• Vinci 3 Battery Pod Mod
• Vinci 3 Empty Pod Cartridge (4mL)
• PnP-TW30 (0.3Ω Coil Pre-installed)
• PnP-DW60 (0.6Ω Spare Coil)
• USB Type-C Cable
• User Manual
- TPD -
• Vinci 3 Battery Pod Mod
• Vinci 3 Empty Pod Cartridge (2mL)
• PnP-TW30 (0.3Ω Coil Pre-installed)
• PnP-DW60 (0.6Ω Spare Coil)
• USB Type-C Cable
• User Manual
Testing Results & Observations
The packaging is vibrant, but quite simple. Everything but e-juice is present which makes this a decently good starter kit. I've noticed that some starter kits have begun shaving down what's included in the kit to the point of not including a spare coil, simply to cut costs. Why I understand the reasoning in doing so, I don't agree with it; especially for those making their first jump from disposables, or better yet, smoking. Why you ask? Well, as a beginner, it's very easy to burn the initial coil - particularly since most devices come with a coil pre-installed. Even as a more seasoned vaper, I've made this mistake before. Pull the pod out, take the protective wrap off of the coil, remove the coil to look at it, put the coil back in and then drop it into the battery mod. Spin the battery mod around to look at all of the features and whoops, I accidentally pressed the fire button. You've essentially ruined the coil. Without a backup coil, you've now rendered the kit useless until you're able to acquire more coils. Luckily, the Vinci 3 kit comes with a spare coil and a very different one at that. I'll get more into that below.
The look and feel of the Vinci 3 puts this device near the top when compared against other past VooPoo pod devices. I very much prefer the form-factor of the rectangular shape versus the square shape of the Vinci 2 - it feels much nicer in the pocket, as well. The clear coat that covers both the front and back of the device makes the decorative sticker underneath really stand out as you can see above. The black portions around the sides are made of polished zinc alloy and adds a bit of weight, but in a good way. I'd much prefer a mod be made out of zinc alloy over aluminum simply for the durability.
Most of what you see above is self-explanatory. The Vinci 3 has auto-draw as well as a button. You are able to turn the button firing off if auto-draw is what you want to use exclusively. It also makes pocketing the device safer in that it won't fire on you by accident.
The juice level window should not be overlooked. There have been many pod devices I've received that are quite difficult to see where the juice level is, which on more than one occasion has had me puffing into a burnt vape. The viewing window for the Vinci 3 is very clear and very big making it very easy to know when to fill 'er back up. The minimum juice line sits at the base of the viewing window if you're wondering when you should refill.
The airflow when fully opened offers a nice smooth RDL vape (not quite full-on DL) and when fully closed, offers a very authentic "true" MTL vape for those that are looking for a cigarette-like draw. Both the 0.3Ω and 0.6Ω coils proved to work well with an MTL airflow configuration.
Most of what you see above is self-explanatory. The Vinci 3 has auto-draw as well as a button. You are able to turn the button firing off if auto-draw is what you want to use exclusively. It also makes pocketing the device safer in that it won't fire on you by accident.
The juice level window should not be overlooked. There have been many pod devices I've received that are quite difficult to see where the juice level is, which on more than one occasion has had me puffing into a burnt vape. The viewing window for the Vinci 3 is very clear and very big making it very easy to know when to fill 'er back up. The minimum juice line sits at the base of the viewing window if you're wondering when you should refill.
The airflow when fully opened offers a nice smooth RDL vape (not quite full-on DL) and when fully closed, offers a very authentic "true" MTL vape for those that are looking for a cigarette-like draw. Both the 0.3Ω and 0.6Ω coils proved to work well with an MTL airflow configuration.
The top of the battery pod mod has your standard brass-plated, spring-loaded connector pins and the auto-draw sensor. Along the sides you can see the oval-shaped magnets that hold the pod in place very well. The bottom of the battery is a rubber bumper that I would consider to be both a pro and a con. While it feels nice when setting the device down, it also makes knocking it over much easier.
The operation of the UI is very simple. The top UI pic is the normal display when activated. From left to right and from top to bottom, you have the battery status, the set wattage, the 4-digit puff counter, and the coil resistance reading. To change the wattage, click the fire button 3 times. The wattage value will begin to blink which confirms you've successfully clicked the fire button 3 times. To change the wattage, click or hold down the fire button to increase the wattage. When reaching the max wattage available for the current coil installed, another click will round-robin the wattage back down to 5W from which you can increase the wattage by clicking or holding the fire button down.
In the middle UI pic is what you'll see after you've taken a puff. From left to right, you have the puff counter, puff timer of your last puff, and the total amount of time the device has been activated since the last puff reset. This allows you to calculate your average puff. My general length of puff is around 3 seconds, and based on the calculation here, it comes out to around 2.6 seconds which is likely accurate being that I've been testing the device in MTL configuration which includes short "tootlepuffs" as ECFers like to call it.
The bottom UI pic is what you'll see when you click the fire button 5 times. It is here that you can lock the fire button so that auto-draw is the only form of activation that will register. You can also clear the puff counter as well as power off the device. To switch between these options when in this menu, simply click the fire button to rotate through.
The USB Type-C charging port charges at around 1.5A and will take around 75-90 minutes to fully recharge from a dead battery. The device does pick up a USB 3.0 QC charging cable but does not allow pass-through vaping.
The battery itself has averaged around 230 puffs per battery cycle which is quite impressive for mostly RDL use. If you're an MTL vaper, you're almost sure to get another 100 or so puffs in per battery drain.
The operation of the UI is very simple. The top UI pic is the normal display when activated. From left to right and from top to bottom, you have the battery status, the set wattage, the 4-digit puff counter, and the coil resistance reading. To change the wattage, click the fire button 3 times. The wattage value will begin to blink which confirms you've successfully clicked the fire button 3 times. To change the wattage, click or hold down the fire button to increase the wattage. When reaching the max wattage available for the current coil installed, another click will round-robin the wattage back down to 5W from which you can increase the wattage by clicking or holding the fire button down.
In the middle UI pic is what you'll see after you've taken a puff. From left to right, you have the puff counter, puff timer of your last puff, and the total amount of time the device has been activated since the last puff reset. This allows you to calculate your average puff. My general length of puff is around 3 seconds, and based on the calculation here, it comes out to around 2.6 seconds which is likely accurate being that I've been testing the device in MTL configuration which includes short "tootlepuffs" as ECFers like to call it.
The bottom UI pic is what you'll see when you click the fire button 5 times. It is here that you can lock the fire button so that auto-draw is the only form of activation that will register. You can also clear the puff counter as well as power off the device. To switch between these options when in this menu, simply click the fire button to rotate through.
The USB Type-C charging port charges at around 1.5A and will take around 75-90 minutes to fully recharge from a dead battery. The device does pick up a USB 3.0 QC charging cable but does not allow pass-through vaping.
The battery itself has averaged around 230 puffs per battery cycle which is quite impressive for mostly RDL use. If you're an MTL vaper, you're almost sure to get another 100 or so puffs in per battery drain.
The PnP-DW60 MTL coil (not pictured) is a new one that's been added to the family with the release of the Vinci 3. The TW coils (pictured here) were released with the Uforce-L tank included with the Drag 4 kit and now offered with the Argus XT and MT kits. This was my favorite coil of the two that came in the kit, but I heavily favor RDL over MTL for flavor.
When inserting the coil, make sure the visible O-ring on the coil seats fully into the pod. You shouldn't be able to see the O-ring at all when pressed in properly.
The refill method is nothing new to many companies making pod devices. It's sleek and for the most part can be done with little to no spilling as long as you do not overfill the pod. Simply snap the top mouthpiece to the side to expose the refill port - remember not to try and use the air vent when doing so. The refill port comfortably fits a large Chubby Gorilla bottle nozzle so there shouldn't be any concerns about nozzle sizes. Whether you prime the coil or not, remember to let a new coil soak for a few minutes before puffing away.
When inserting the coil, make sure the visible O-ring on the coil seats fully into the pod. You shouldn't be able to see the O-ring at all when pressed in properly.
The refill method is nothing new to many companies making pod devices. It's sleek and for the most part can be done with little to no spilling as long as you do not overfill the pod. Simply snap the top mouthpiece to the side to expose the refill port - remember not to try and use the air vent when doing so. The refill port comfortably fits a large Chubby Gorilla bottle nozzle so there shouldn't be any concerns about nozzle sizes. Whether you prime the coil or not, remember to let a new coil soak for a few minutes before puffing away.
Overall Thoughts with Pros/Cons
PnP coils have vastly improved in the last year. They have a long reputation for leaking and while I did experience some leakage from the TW30 coil, it wasn't a lot. I will however say that I believe it's messed with the auto-draw sensor a bit. Every-so-often when I'm using the auto-draw, it will stutter and I'll have to draw in harder to get it to fully activate. Initially when I first used the device, I did not have this issue. That's a huge reason why I support having both auto-draw and a fire button for pod devices simply because this happens all too often across many brands. So, kudos to VooPoo for include both in the Vinci 3.
Personally, I've never really been a fan of PnP coils, but the PnP-TW coils have been quite decent in the flavor department. I wouldn't put them at the top across all brands, but they've certainly improved from when I aborted PnP coils all together with the Vinci 2 being that it became a leaky mess that I no longer wanted to deal with. They're built and assembled much better than previous iterations and they've also improved the flavor output. However, the flavor improvement was more noticeable in the Uforce-L tank I recently reviewed with the Drag 4 and Argus XT kits. In the Uforce-L tank, I'd give the TW coils (namely the TW20) a flavor rating of 8.5. In the Vinci 3, I'd give the TW30 a 7 or 7.5. For a smaller device, the Vinci 3 performs quite well. The DW60 coil can't really be compared because it's meant to be vaped in MTL and you're not going to find many (if any) cases where an MTL outperforms an RDL/DL for flavor output. I will however say that the DW60 is decently solid for an MTL vape in terms of flavor.
How long either coil lasts is beyond my realm of testing. I'm at 732 puffs mostly catering to the TW30 coil and it's still going strong. My guess based on the performance of the TW20 and TW15 coils I used in the Uforce-L tank, that you can expect around 1000 puffs per coil which is pretty average.
+ + PROS + +
• Great hand-feel
• Sleek form-factor/pocket-friendly
• Visually appealing
• Wide range of adjustable airflow MTL to RDL (and done very well)
• Minimal leaking
• 4mL capacity (Standards/US editions)
• Easy to refill
• Auto-sets wattage range based on coil resistance
• Adjustable wattage
• Has both auto-draw & fire button
• Can lock out the fire button
• Great puff count per battery cycle
• Easy-to-see juice levels
• Decent to good flavor output
• Cross-compatible with most PnP coils
• USB Type-C charging
• Mouthpiece is comfortable for both MTL and RDL
- - CONS - -
• Sort of a slow charge speed for a larger pod battery (75-90 min. for full recharge)
+ - PREFERENCE CONSIDERATIONS - +
• Battery underside is rubber
• TW coils have an average lifespan (DW coil unknown)
Personally, I've never really been a fan of PnP coils, but the PnP-TW coils have been quite decent in the flavor department. I wouldn't put them at the top across all brands, but they've certainly improved from when I aborted PnP coils all together with the Vinci 2 being that it became a leaky mess that I no longer wanted to deal with. They're built and assembled much better than previous iterations and they've also improved the flavor output. However, the flavor improvement was more noticeable in the Uforce-L tank I recently reviewed with the Drag 4 and Argus XT kits. In the Uforce-L tank, I'd give the TW coils (namely the TW20) a flavor rating of 8.5. In the Vinci 3, I'd give the TW30 a 7 or 7.5. For a smaller device, the Vinci 3 performs quite well. The DW60 coil can't really be compared because it's meant to be vaped in MTL and you're not going to find many (if any) cases where an MTL outperforms an RDL/DL for flavor output. I will however say that the DW60 is decently solid for an MTL vape in terms of flavor.
How long either coil lasts is beyond my realm of testing. I'm at 732 puffs mostly catering to the TW30 coil and it's still going strong. My guess based on the performance of the TW20 and TW15 coils I used in the Uforce-L tank, that you can expect around 1000 puffs per coil which is pretty average.
+ + PROS + +
• Great hand-feel
• Sleek form-factor/pocket-friendly
• Visually appealing
• Wide range of adjustable airflow MTL to RDL (and done very well)
• Minimal leaking
• 4mL capacity (Standards/US editions)
• Easy to refill
• Auto-sets wattage range based on coil resistance
• Adjustable wattage
• Has both auto-draw & fire button
• Can lock out the fire button
• Great puff count per battery cycle
• Easy-to-see juice levels
• Decent to good flavor output
• Cross-compatible with most PnP coils
• USB Type-C charging
• Mouthpiece is comfortable for both MTL and RDL
- - CONS - -
• Sort of a slow charge speed for a larger pod battery (75-90 min. for full recharge)
+ - PREFERENCE CONSIDERATIONS - +
• Battery underside is rubber
• TW coils have an average lifespan (DW coil unknown)
Overall Rating
8
8
Lots of great features included for a small pod device. I'm still not fully sold on the PnP coils, but it's nice to see that they're improving from what they once were. Overall, if you're looking for a smaller device with some bells and whistles, this is a decent choice for a starter kit. The wide range of airflow will allow both MTL and RDL vapers to enjoy the Vinci 3, and it's a great starting point for those still trying to figure out how they want to vape since they have a chance at experiencing both with a single device.
That about wraps things up! Hopefully this was informative and covered most of what you'd want to know about VooPoo's Vinci 3 Pod Kit. As always, feel free to ask questions or to PM me if you have something specific you'd like to know that wasn't covered in the review. Lastly, a thank you to the readers.
Stay tuned for future reviews and happy vape hoarding!
That about wraps things up! Hopefully this was informative and covered most of what you'd want to know about VooPoo's Vinci 3 Pod Kit. As always, feel free to ask questions or to PM me if you have something specific you'd like to know that wasn't covered in the review. Lastly, a thank you to the readers.
Stay tuned for future reviews and happy vape hoarding!
