Innokin Sceptre Tube Kit
Hello and welcome. Today I have a new product to share with you, the Innokin Sceptre Tube. This starter kit is the successor to the Innokin Sceptre Pod Kit that has a more sleek rectangular look with a slender mouth piece. It is one of the only pods I've ever seen with a quarter turn locking mechanism that firmly seated the coil while also accommodating an adjustable airflow. The new Sceptre Tube has simplified all of this while still maintaining the same features and remaining not much taller than your standard mini-pod devices. You can see comparison photos toward the end of this review. It's hard for me to determine if this kit qualifies as a "pod" device; it has many features akin to your basic 510 kit, but it still uses a drop-in pod system. I'll get into the specs and features below.
I guess this really begs the question, what qualifies a pod system to be a pod system? I would consider any kit that uses a drop-in pod and has a pod mod specific to that pod, that it's a pod device no matter how big or small. Agree, or disagree?
I want to thank
@Innokin_timmy for sending this device out to me for the purpose of this review. As always, I will remain unbiased and fair in this critique.
Without further ado, lehgo.
(click on photos to enlarge them)
-Colors-
From left to right we have:
- Black
- Pink
- Red
- Silver
- White
- Purple
I received the pink and black colorways. I just realized, these are eerily similar to the patterns of the Surge pod kits I recently reviewed. I wonder how that could be?
You'll see below that the colors are true to their representation. I think the faded gradient adds an elegant touch to a very pleasant vape.
-Sliding Top Cap-
I mentioned in the intro that this device has some very similar features to what we see in regular 510 kits. As far as I know, this is the first pod-style atomizer to utilize a sliding top cap for refilling. Furthermore, it sports a replaceable 510 drip tip giving you the option to replace the stock drip tip for your comfort and pleasure.
Shown with arrows in the above picture, the pod has 2 oval airflow holes that line up with the airflow gap cut out of the pod mod. You simply twist the pod clockwise or counter-clockwise to allow for a restricted direct lung (RDL) hit while also being able to tighten down to a respectable "true" mouth-to-lung (MTL).
-2 Power Modes-
To change power modes, simply press the fire button twice in quick succession. A purple or blue ring around the fire button will let you know which power setting you've changed to.
Current power mode indication lights a ring around the fire button after releasing the fire button.
- High Power Mode (Purple): 20W
- Low Power Mode (Blue): 18W
I can't say the power difference is super noticeable, but it's just enough to be able to tell a difference in the flavor and warmth of your juice. I'm a flavor chaser and found the best flavor was often using the 20W High Power mode. I would suggest using the 18W Low Power mode if you need to be conservative with the battery or like a slightly cooler vape.
This little guy features a 1300 mAh internal battery which is not bad for a device this small. As noted above, the battery level indications are as follows:
- Green = Above 50%
- Yellow = Between 10% and 50%
- Red = Below 10%
These light indications blink twice after the power mode light fades. If I were to release the fire button and see a fading blue light followed by 2 yellow light blinks, the mod would be set in 18W Low Power mode with between 10% and 50% battery life left.
One of my gripes with this mod is the percentage distributions chosen. Knowing whether or not my mod has 50% or 99% battery left is important to me, especially if I'm going to be gone for an extended amount of time. I wish the indicators would have been something closer to 0-40%, 40-70%, and 70-100%.
-Specs-
Dimensions: 20 mm diameter * 118.2 mm height
Pod Capacity: 2 mL
Coil Compatibility: 0.5Ω S-Coil (RDL & MTL)
Mod Resistance Range: 0.4Ω - 3.5Ω
Battery: Internal 1300 mAh
Power Modes: 2 Modes
Min/Max Wattages: 18W & 20W
Min/Max Voltage Outputs: 2.65V to 3.4V
Charging Current: 5V/1A (0.7A actual)
-Impressions & Thoughts-
First off, I want to thank Innokin like I do in every review, for using recycled package material. I want the liberty to be able to vape just like everyone else that does, but not at the expense of ourselves and others who choose not to vape. This is a huge reason why I'm an avid advocate for not buying disposable vapes besides the fact that you have no idea what they've been pre-filled with. So again, kudos for that.
Package contents include:
- Sceptre Tube Mod
- Sceptre Tank (2 mL)
- Spare O-ring package
- Spare 0.5Ω S-Coil
- USB Type-C charging cable
- Starter Guide
- Warning Booklet
**In the photo above, disregard the spare box of coils on the left. These are 1.2Ω coils and vaping them in a device that only allows 18W and 20W settings is sure to leave you with the feeling of the Hindenburg disaster inside your throat. I believe these were sent to my by mistake, lol. The Sceptre Tube is only meant to be used with the 0.5Ω S-Coil. You might be able to get away with the 0.65Ω S-Coil, but unless you like a borderline flaming vape, I'd highly recommend you stick with the 0.5Ω S-Coils. The 0.65 and 1.2Ω S-Coils were meant to be used in the OG Sceptre.
These are the coils you are looking for.
-The Tube Mod & Tank-
The mods are quite petite and have a nice nice hand feel. Remember this pod kit is not much taller than most other standard mini-pod vapes; I'm talking about the Freemax Onnix 2 Pod, the Surge Pod, the Innokin MVP Pod, the Kumiho Model V, etc. It is cylindrical so the profile isn't quite as small. This however, allows for a whopping 1300 mAh battery which is about double the average battery capacity of the mini-pods mentioned above; the Freemax Onnix 2 coming in the next highest at 900 mAh. The shape has also enabled the use of a sliding top cap on the pod which is a very nice feature for a device this small. No more rubber plugs to pull out, or snapping the mouth piece off. The 510 drip tip is removeable, in case you're looking to add some comfort or style with your own. The drip tip will need at least 1 rubber O-ring on it to properly seal. Remember to pull the yellow sticker covering the coil before trying to vape.
The design is very simplified. On the front with the fire button, there's a small Sceptre Tube logo. On the backside you'll find the USB Type-C charging port accompanied by Innokin's logo. The font is quite small so it's hardly noticeable if you're concerned about logos and looks.
On top of the mod where the pod sits, the airflow compartment and spring-loaded connector pins are a pretty standard configuration for a pod device. The ringed ledge that runs the circumference of the mod is where the pod magnets will firmly secure themselves. This allows the pod to be turned a full 360 degrees for your preferred airflow while stubbornly resisting pod movement as to not change your airflow preference by accident. On the bottom of the mod you'll find the battery information. This mod does have your standard safety protections.
As I'd previously just mentioned, the 5 magnets along the circumference of the bottom of the pod secure it quite firmly to the pod mod. Without the coil or drip tip in, you can see how dialed down the diameter of the chimney is - that would indicate that this device is meant for an RDL or MTL vape.
In the picture on the left, you may or may not have noticed that the silver coil is sitting in a brass plated cup. This is an adapter for the S-Coil since it was originally sized to accommodate the OG Sceptre. When you change out your 0.5Ω S-Coil and put in a new one, remember to remove the adapter and attach it to your new coil before inserting the coil into the pod. The coil on the left is how the pre-installed coil will look when you receive the device. Remember to remove the coil from the pod and give it a quick prime by adding 3-4 small droplets into each of the 4 round juice ports until those ports are no longer absorbing the juice. You'll see the juice bulging out of the ports when it's fully saturated like you see in the right picture.
These two pictures are more or less show you what's going on under the hood and how your pod will look with the coil properly seated into it. In the right picture, you'll notice a circular hole carved out of the brass adapter. This is your airflow inlet that will pull air through the mod airflow opening, shoot it through your pod and brass coil adapter airflow openings, and then finally connecting with vaporized e-juice up through the chimney and out of the drip tip.
I did notice with the tinting of the pod, that the triangular marker you're looking for to slide the top cap back, can be difficult to see. If you are finding it difficult to see, you can run your finger along the top of the pod and feel for the embossed Innokin logo. Once you find the logo, you can press just above it to slide the top cap back since the triangular marker you're looking for is just above the logo.
The nice convenience of the sliding top cap makes refilling a breeze.
The bottle you see in this picture is a 120 mL Gorilla bottle nozzle. As you can see, it quite easily fits down into the rubber gasket. If you find it difficult to get the nozzle properly seated inside the gasket, you can always remove the drip tip to make this process even easier. Remember, the pod only holds 2 mL of e-juice so this puppy is going to fill up pretty quickly!
-Final Evaluation-
During our interactions to get this product shipped out to me, Anna told me that the Innokin team has been working to improve the S-Coil. I've heard mostly good things about the OG Sceptre pod but of course I've also heard some not so good stories. I often wonder how many of these problems are user error and/or the lack of knowledge or understanding with the product they're using. This is a big reason why I go so in-depth with products that are considered "easy to use". I want users to be able to fix simple issues they face so that they can continue to vape
I currently have an hour and 1/2 commute to work (trust me, I hate every mile of it), but have brought this little gem with me pretty much every day. The vape is pretty great and these coils have been holding up very well so far. I've probably refilled this pod 20 or so times and am still using the original coil that came pre-installed. I would say from my experience that you can expect around 3 refills per battery discharge. This will vary some depending on how open the airflow is and how long of a drag you pull. If you like a wide open airflow, the Sceptre Tube offers a pretty great RDL (restricted direct lung) vape. If you close it off, it's a great true MTL. I can't say there are a lot of devices that offer this kind of airflow range effectively. I say "true MTL" because I used to smoke, and this very accurately simulates the draw of a packed cigarette. I've noticed a lot of products are advertised as an "MTL" when in actuality, it's a very loose MTL which is more like an RDL. I wish companies would stop doing that. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
Overall, I'm going to have to give the Sceptre Tube pretty good marks. The only real con I'd have to say would be the 2 mL tank. I've easily burned through 4 or so refills while writing this review. Understandably, the taller the tank is, the further the vape has to travel which can greatly degrade the flavor - the way this kit is now, it puts out really good flavor. You can't have your cake and eat it too. What I'd suggest is to lower the Wattage mode outputs to say 11 and 13 Watts, and utilize the 1.2Ω S-Coil. Or, have the mod auto-detect which resistance is being picked up between the 0.5, 0.65, and 1.2Ω coils, and set the 2 Wattage mode outputs accordingly. Another small con I have to mention is the 1A charge speed. The slower the charging speed, the healthier it is for your lithium ion batteries as it conducts the least amount of heat. This is great for products with an internal battery wanting a long life expectancy. However, with today's level of impatience, I can see that being an issue. The charge time for a battery from completely dead to full is around an hour and a half. You can vape while it's charging, however.
I will say that this product is quite durable. My clumsiness has dropped or knocked this off of my desk on several occasions, and it's still vaping like a champ. It's also spent 12+ hours pretty much every single day laying on its side in my lunch box - no leaking what-so-ever.
==Pros==
- No leaks (so far)
- Very easy to use and understand
- Compact/Pocket friendly
- Sleek/Petite look
- Durable
- Great battery life
- 0.5Ω S-Coil puts out great flavor
- Sliding top fill
- Removeable 510 drip tip
- 510 drip tip seals well
- Great airflow range from an open RDL to a true MTL
- Great coil life
==Cons==
- 2mL tank size
- 1A charging speed
==Preference Considerations==
- Sliding top fill marker is kind of hard to see
- Battery life percentage light brackets are a bit wonky
- No auto-draw feature (thanks UncleJunkle)
-Overall Rating-
In comparison to other mini-pod devices of its size: 9
The Sceptre Tube Starter Kit can be purchased directly from
Innokin's website for $28.99 or from affiliate vendors. You can also purchase
4-packs of S-Coils from their site as well (use the link I provided to direct specifically to 0.5Ω S-Coils - not to be confused with their Sensis coils).
As you may very well know, Innokin uses recycled materials in their packaging. They've taken it a step further by planting trees in the Amazon. I think this is a great cause! If you'd like to read more about this or get involved, you can find a basic overview
here or read more in-depth about it in their blog
here.
I hope everyone's had a great weekend. Keep an eye out for future reviews!
Cheers and happy vape hoarding.
Please leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions!
