Just picked up a HeatVape Invader Mini, so far it's a superior piece. Does everything it claims, and very well at that. I do have ONE nagging problem however, more of a PITA than anything else, but one that seems to be shared by two others I know that own one:
The tactile feedback on the Fire button is dysfunctional. The button works, but only if you give it significant pressure. This has nothing to do with the silicone wrapper and such. It's just like a cell phone button - when you press it and get a -click-, you expect the button to have done something or made contact. Not on the Invader Mini. It takes further pressure, past the initial audible -click- sound and feel to make this contact.
What happens is a light press on the fire button will give you a -click-, but no contact on the circuit board. Continuing with a VERY firm press will finally make the contact, and the unit will light off. But remember, I already had the tactile "feel" of a click, even though it didn't turn on.
So the button "floats" between the click and the actual true on position. To demo to a friend, I pressed the button like 40x times with an audible click - but nothing happened. But sometimes it will turn on/off in that floating state, sort of like a light switch that's 1/2 way. It will sputter and the lights will flicker <-- when it does this, it will inadvertently shut the unit off, or put it into safe mode (5 clicks). Push it hard (white knuckles) and it will behave properly. I've noticed a lot of posts complaining that the Heatvape Invader unit "went into safe mode by itself". Well this partial engagement is what's going on.
This is simply just a build quality and QA problem. It's a first run manufacturing issue, and I've heard every excuse in the world for it in the last few days - "it's supposed to be that way", "it's a safety feature", "it's a security feature", "it's the rubber on the outside", "it's because it's waterproof" etc. Hate to say it, but as fine a design and implementation that this unit really is, it's got a real first-run snag. I wouldn't tolerate it on a cell phone, a garage door opener, a flashlight or anything else with a tactile click that didn't complete the circuit.
How annoying it is is subjective. The [very] kind fellow @ the vape store was alarmed when I casually brought it to his attention. He promptly pulled every one they had off the shelf and tried at least 15 - with the same results. I watched him box up about 50 new units and send them back to HeatVape. Obviously he wasn't impressed. Sure enough, a customer walked in and sheepishly tried to explain the same problem. Not sure what happened as I had already left.
For me I can live with it, because the unit is that good otherwise. But I have a feeling a lot of folks will not be so tolerant over their $60 new gizmo.
Would you send yours back?
The tactile feedback on the Fire button is dysfunctional. The button works, but only if you give it significant pressure. This has nothing to do with the silicone wrapper and such. It's just like a cell phone button - when you press it and get a -click-, you expect the button to have done something or made contact. Not on the Invader Mini. It takes further pressure, past the initial audible -click- sound and feel to make this contact.
What happens is a light press on the fire button will give you a -click-, but no contact on the circuit board. Continuing with a VERY firm press will finally make the contact, and the unit will light off. But remember, I already had the tactile "feel" of a click, even though it didn't turn on.
So the button "floats" between the click and the actual true on position. To demo to a friend, I pressed the button like 40x times with an audible click - but nothing happened. But sometimes it will turn on/off in that floating state, sort of like a light switch that's 1/2 way. It will sputter and the lights will flicker <-- when it does this, it will inadvertently shut the unit off, or put it into safe mode (5 clicks). Push it hard (white knuckles) and it will behave properly. I've noticed a lot of posts complaining that the Heatvape Invader unit "went into safe mode by itself". Well this partial engagement is what's going on.
This is simply just a build quality and QA problem. It's a first run manufacturing issue, and I've heard every excuse in the world for it in the last few days - "it's supposed to be that way", "it's a safety feature", "it's a security feature", "it's the rubber on the outside", "it's because it's waterproof" etc. Hate to say it, but as fine a design and implementation that this unit really is, it's got a real first-run snag. I wouldn't tolerate it on a cell phone, a garage door opener, a flashlight or anything else with a tactile click that didn't complete the circuit.
How annoying it is is subjective. The [very] kind fellow @ the vape store was alarmed when I casually brought it to his attention. He promptly pulled every one they had off the shelf and tried at least 15 - with the same results. I watched him box up about 50 new units and send them back to HeatVape. Obviously he wasn't impressed. Sure enough, a customer walked in and sheepishly tried to explain the same problem. Not sure what happened as I had already left.
For me I can live with it, because the unit is that good otherwise. But I have a feeling a lot of folks will not be so tolerant over their $60 new gizmo.
Would you send yours back?
Last edited:
