VooPoo VMATE Pro Pod Kit
Vapers' Mate, Pure Taste
Hello! Today we'll be looking at one of VooPoo's latest pod releases, the VMATE Pro. The VMATE pod family includes the VMATE E, VMATE Infinity Edition, and the V.Thru Pro - all of which use the same VMATE pods. The VMATE Pro is an upgraded version of the V.Thru Pro and is the first of the VMATE line that I've been given a chance to try. There are quite a bit of similarities with the Argus and Vinci pod lines when it comes to the stick design, however I can't give them too much guff about this as there are only so many ways you can reinvent the wheel. There are subtle differences with the VMATE Pro though, and one key feature that I think they've nailed better than any other pod VooPoo has released to date. We'll be hitting on that later in this review.
I want to thank VooPoo for sending this product out for this review. As always, this critique will remain fair and honest.
• BRIEF SITE OVERVIEW •
This is VooPoo's description of the VMATE Pro:
VMATE PRO, the updated version of V.THRU Pro, is a powerful and portable pod. Adopting VOOPOO's iCOSM Flavor Interpretation Code and stepless airflow adjustment, VMATE PRO delivers a fresh and smooth taste to users. VMATE PRO combines 3 mL e-liquid capacity, 25 W power output, and 900 mAh battery to provide users with the ultimate experience. VMATE PRO, light in body, powerful in performance, and smooth in taste experience, aims to be the user's practical and pocketable mate.
VMATE Pro Features:
1) Light body with large capacity, hold long hours of vaping
VMATE PRO is a lightweight pod with 3 mL e-liquid capacity, which is 25%-50% larger than other pods on the market. The weight of the VMATE PRO is only 43 g, 20% lighter than other pods. Featuring a lightweight body and large capacity, the VMATE PRO can serve as a long-term pocket mate, providing a long-lasting and enjoyable vaping experience anytime, anywhere.
2）VOOPOO exclusive flavor interpretation tech, optimal vaping experience
VMATE PRO is equipped with iCOSM Flavor Interpretation CODE, an exclusive flavor interpretation tech put forth by VOOPOO. The ingenious capsule structure achieves efficient leakage prevention, bringing users a clean and refreshing vaping experience. The silver ion antimicrobial material of the cartridge efficiently locks in the original flavor of the vape oil, keeping every drop of e-liquid fresh. Multiple air inlets can effectively balance the airflow, bringing a rich smoke and smooth taste to the user's vaping experience. The unique inner structuring and heating wiring in the cartridge widen the heating area and make heating even, delivering an exquisite flavor. Coils with different resistances restore the e-liquid flavor differently, giving users multiple vaping experiences.
3) Stepless airflow adjustment, precise control of taste
VMATE PRO comes with stepless airflow adjustment, just push and pull the airflow adjustment button to adjust the airflow. What's more, the valve is designed stepless, and users can control the taste precisely according to their preference for a personalized vaping experience.
4) Powerful performance, ultimate vaping experience
The VMATE PRO features 900 mAh built-in battery and 25 W high power output. 900 mAh of power is sufficient for 48 hours of vaping. In addition, the 25 W high power output, coupled with the ability to switch between MTL and RDL, VMATE PRO supports users to get the ultimate vaping experience. VMATE PRO is equipped with a 0.69'' OLED display that allows the user to know the real-time data of vaping through the screen such as output power, resistance, battery level, remaining charge time, and number of puffs, helping user learn their vaping habits.
5) Smart childproof lock, safe operation
The intelligent child lock of VMATE PRO ensures safer operation. When the childproof lock is activated, the ignition function will be locked if there isn't any operation on the device in 5 minutes. Press the fire button 3 times consecutively to restore the ignition function.
So what exactly is iCOSM?
Color Options:
Unfortunately, the only color options that were disclosed to me are the 3 colors you see in the banner at the top of this review (Grey, Blue Aqua, Turquoise Pink) and the all-turquoise colorway that I received, seen further in this review. VooPoo's online store doesn't have a working sale page for the VMATE Pro as of the posting of this review, so I cannot even see what colors they have to offer.
Product Specs:
Package Lists:
New to me is Russia's package list. You get 2x 0.7Ω VMATE pods instead of a spare 1.2Ω pod.
• TEST RESULTS & OBSERVATIONS •
Intro:
The VMATE Pro is a simple kit. What you see above is what you get, but is more or less everything you'd need start puffing with the exception of juice (no kit is likely to come with juice unless you somehow acquire it in a bundle or sorts). The USB Type-C charging cable is ultra short, maybe 6" long, which can be a bit of a PITA. However, I think Type-C's are around in abundance now, especially with Apple moving over to Type-C's as well. I'd recommend using a longer one. The VMATE Cartridge card gives you a good description of the differences in the 0.7Ω and 1.2Ω pods. The User Manual explains how to access the different UI's and change settings, although I can't imagine you needing it. The operation of the UI is extremely simple. The spare pod you see is 1.2Ω and the pre-installed pod is 0.7Ω.
The VMATE Pod:
(Please excuse my smashed pinky)
With a few exceptions, design-wise, the VMATE pod is like most pods you'll see in today's kits. All VMATE Pro kits excluding the TPD Package hold 3 mL of e-liquid which is a nice bump from the 2 mL pods we're used to seeing. Not having to refill the pod as much is always a bonus.
The resistance of the pod is stated on the rubber refill tab as shown in the top left and bottom right pictures. This tab is opened by pulling the side of the tab that the arrow is pointing to. Once pulled back, the refill hole is exposed which has absolutely not problems fitting a large 120 mL Chubby Gorilla bottle nozzle inside of it. Please remember not to fill the pod right up to the refill hole, or you will run into a bit of a mess every time you do.
One of the differences you'll notice on the front and back of the pod is the oval knurling. This is very necessary for the VMATE pod because unlike most pods that are held in exclusively with magnets, this one snaps into place. And when I mean snaps into place, it takes a decent push or pull to get the pod fully seated, or to take it out. I mentioned in the intro that the VMATE Pro does something better than pretty much any stick pod device I've tested to date, and that's the airflow control. This pod can cinch the airflow down to a very tight "true" MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) which is very rare to see in a stick device. To have this ability however, requires the pod to seat firmly into the battery which is why there are grips on the front and back of the pod.
Remember to firmly seat the pod into the pod mod. I lost the pre-installed 0.7Ω pod not long after receiving it by not doing this, and then dropping it. At the time, I had my headphones in, so I have no idea where the pod ejected itself to. Lesson learned - REMEMBER TO SNAP THE POD IN! This is a pity, since the 0.7Ω pod seems to put out a tad bit more flavor than the 1.2Ω pod.
The mouthpiece tapers down nicely for a solid secure seal with your lips to make use of the tight MTL draw the VMATE Pro offers.
If you are new to vaping or simply haven't looked into Ohm's Law very much, the "Ω" is simply the resistance of the coil, which either needs more power or less power depending on this resistance. A 0.7Ω coil or pod needs more amps and wattage (less voltage) than a higher resistance coil, and a 1.2Ω coil or pod needs more voltage (less amps and wattage) than a lower resistance coil.
The Battery/Pod Mod:
The body of the VMATE Pro pod mod is made of polished aluminum-alloy. It's very lightweight and sturdy enough to serve its purpose, although I wouldn't plan on it surviving being run over by a car.
On the side of the pod mod is where the 0.69" UI sits. Just above this screen is an oval button that functions solely to manipulate the UI; you cannot fire with this button. And just above the button, is one of the two airflow holes - the other is seated opposite of it on the other side.
The top of the pod mod is unique in that the auto-draw sensor and structure of the airflow is a bit different than what I'm used to seeing, but this might be the key in allowing such a tight MTL draw. The positive and negative spring-loaded pins are interchangeable meaning there's no wrong way when inserting the pod.
On the bottom of the mod is where you'll find the Type-C charging port. The charging port is surrounded by a rubber gasket that acts as a subtle cushion when setting the device down vertically. The VMATE Pro does a better job than many other VooPoo stick devices at standing up, but it's certainly not sturdy when set down this way. Also when plugged in to charge, there's a timer that estimates how long the charge is to a full battery which is nice to see. The complete accuracy of it might be a bit on the short side, but it should give you a decent idea on how long.
To the left of the UI (when the pod mod is sitting vertically), you'll find the airflow control which has a small diagram above the sliding switch indicating the amount of airflow you are allowing.
In VooPoo's product info under the "Brief Site Overview" section above, it states that the "900 mAh of power is sufficient for 48 hours of vaping". This could be true if you're taking a 3 second puff every 10 or 15 minutes with the 1.2Ω pod which requires almost half the wattage of the 0.7Ω pod, but I can't say I know any vapers that puff this infrequently. I'd estimate that you'd be very lucky to make it through a day with the 0.7 pod. This doesn't mean this isn't a decent performing pod in comparison to other stick mods with a similar size battery, but I'm just making sure your expectations are a bit more realistic.
When the airflow switch is fully closed to the left, the airflow will constrict down to a very tight MTL. When the slider is centered between holes 2 and 3, you can expect what I'd consider a "true" MTL, which would simulate that of a packed cigarette. Anything further to the right and you can expect a loose MTL or tight RDL.
The VMATE Pro pod mod has a UI that functions very similarly to the Argus pod line if you are familiar with it. A single press of the button will switch between the 4-digit puff counter and the overall puff timer in minutes, and the wattage with volts and pod resistance.
The overall puff timer is cool because you can calculate the average time your puffs are. Simply multiply the "MIN" value by 60 and divide by the puff counter to get how long in seconds you take per puff. For example, my MIN value is 24, which means in total, the draw-activator has been active for 24 total minutes adding up all the little puffs I've been taking. Multiplying 24 min. by 60 gives me 1440 seconds. Divide 1440 seconds by 522 total puffs, and I'm averaging about 2.76 seconds per puff which is pretty accurate for me. You can also use the puff counter to gauge how long the coils in the pod are lasting; resetting it is the best way to record this, but some people don't like to reset the counter. To each their own.
When switching the pod mod to the wattage screen, you can long-press the button for 3-4 seconds to get the wattage to start blinking. Press and hold the button again to make the wattage increase in full increments up to 25W, and then cycling back down to 5W and back up again by pressing and holding button. The Gene.AI chip will auto-detect the resistance of the coil and set the wattage appropriately. You shouldn't have to mess with the wattage unless you prefer a slightly warmer or cooler vape. Be careful not to set the wattage too high though, especially with the 1.2Ω coil, as you're going to experience a burnt vape at some point. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out a way to get the device to auto-detect back to default. The default wattage for the 1.2Ω coil is 12W. I wasn't able to check this before I lost the 0.7Ω coil, but I'm assuming it's around 23W.
On either screen, you can press the button 5 times to access the LOCK, PUFF CLEAR, POWER OFF menu. When reaching this menu, click the button to scroll through each of these 3 options, and then long-press and hold to activate the option. If you choose not to activate any of the options, press the button once and let the UI time out after 3-4 seconds.
The pod charges at 0.8A and with a 900 mAh battery, that's around just over an hour to fully charge from dead.
• CONCLUSION •
The VMATE Pro from VooPoo is pretty solid, there really are no negatives. At first glance, it looks like just another stick device. However, with its range in airflow and the ability to tighten down to a very tight MTL makes it unique and definitely a good look for those that want a tight draw in a small device. The 3 mL pod and interactive UI also make it stand out, since many stick devices come in TPD standards and do not have a controllable UI. Furthermore, many UI screens claim to be OLED, but are often not. In the pictures of the UI seen above, you can see how clean and clear the display is. This is how an OLED should be, and not bright and fuzzy like someone's holding a flashlight behind the screen. Even in the picture on the right where it caught some extra exposure - the screen is still very easy to read.
Even though I'll never be fully accepting of non-replaceable coil pods, I realize they're integrated into vaping and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. With that being said, the VooPoo VMATE Pro is a winner if you're looking for a stick device that can really cut the airflow down to a very tight draw.
(size comparison from left to right: Doric Q, VMATE Pro, Drag H40, Argus P1s)
++ Pros ++
> Leakage/seepage-free (tested for only 2 weeks)
> Small/pocket-friendly
> Lightweight
> 3 mL pod capacity
> 900 mAh internal battery
> iCOSM
> Great flavor output
> Great range in airflow (very tight MTL to tight RDL)
> Adjustable wattage and UI
> USB Type-C (0.8A charging/full charge in a little over 1 hour)
> Juice level is easy to see
- - Cons - -
> None
+- Considerations -+
> The pod can be a bit tough to push in all the way
> Pod will fall out if not "snapped" in
> Puff counter
> Some embellished product specs
And that's it for the VooPoo VMATE Pro. As of right now, it isn't available to purchase yet on VooPoo's online store. Check back to this link if you are interested at seeing what color options are available or when it will be available to purchase. Otherwise, keep an eye out for other participating vendors. If you are looking specifically for V2 VMATE Cartridges, use this link.
I hope this review covered enough to give you an informative opinion about the VMATE Pro. If you have further questions, feel free to leave a response or PM me. Thanks for reading, and as always...
Happy vape hoarding!
