Following the eleaf iStick XC100, it's the turn of its sister, the iStick X80 Kit: the only difference, besides weight and size, is the 3200 mAh integrated battery, unlike the dual 18650 and 21700 choice of the other. The setup remains the same, featuring the new Melo X with the new EC-D coils. The iStick X80 Kit was gifted by eleaf; I neither received money nor have any professional relationship with them.
The box features the same color scheme. Inside are the X80, the Melo X, EC-D coils in 0.3 and 0.5 ohm (one already installed), and the USB Type-C cable—which is much more important here as it allows charging of the integrated battery. Also included are a 5 ml bubble pyrex replacement tank, o-rings and refill gasket, the instruction manual, and warranty.
The Melo X, this time in a black color that covers almost the entire visible surface. It weighs 71 grams, is 43 mm high, and the materials are, of course, all steel. The base starts at 22.5 mm, with the knurled part of the base at 27 mm, reaching 32 mm in the pyrex glass area.
The drip tip connection is 510, so don't expect a direct-to-lung or cloud draw, although (spoiler) there are several coil choices usable on the Melo X that lean towards this field. The stock drip tip is for RDL (Restricted Direct Lung) with a height of 13 mm and a hole width of 7 mm. The refill top cap opens via a slide system held shut by a ball lock, making it safer during transport compared to tanks that rely only on friction with the gasket closing the refill hole. The Melo X comes with one installed, plus a spare in the parts.
The airflow ring is held in place by an o-ring and the 5 ml pyrex tank, which must be removed after unscrewing the base. On both sides, there are two holes almost suitable for MTL, and then the large slot to open for RDL vaping. A stopper is also present, which is useful for helping to unscrew the Melo X from its iStick.
With the base unscrewed, you can better see the usual top airflow system—no leaks and something different from atomizers released in recent years. In fact, the EC-D coils are screwed onto the base and not press-fitted, which is now standard on pods and atomizers. I remind you here that an o-ring MUST be present where the glass rests on the base, ensuring both a watertight seal and preventing the pyrex tank from cracking.
To know how much to screw the coil in and avoid jamming it, you can drop a tear of liquid onto the o-ring at the base to help thread it in and prevent damage to the o-ring itself. Once the o-ring is no longer visible when screwing the coil, the EC-D coil is perfectly installed.
New Melo X, new EC-D coils with a mesh section:
EC-D 0.15Ω (40-70W, Eleaf suggests: 50W)
EC-D 0.3Ω (30-45W, Eleaf suggests: 40W) (included in package)
EC-D 0.5Ω (15-25W, Eleaf suggests: 23W) (included in package)
In addition to the EC-D Coils, there is also backward compatibility with previous EC series:
EC-M 0.15Ω (30-75W)
EC-N 0.15Ω (30-70W)
EC-A 0.15Ω (40-70W)
EC-2 0.3Ω Coil (30-80W)
EC-A 0.3Ω (30-50W)
EC-A 0.5Ω (20-40W)
EC-2 0.5Ω Coil (30-100W)
The weight for the X80 is around 111 grams, keeping in mind the integrated 3200 mAh battery which makes it a truly light box mod. The dimensions are 78.5 x 39 x 28, featuring the same aluminum and the smooth-to-the-touch "Ice Flower" finish.
The 15 mm wide steel plate has the same design as the XC100, with a slight raised step to prevent the atomizer from bottoming out and scratching the chassis. At the center is a spring-loaded gold-plated pin and a 510 thread that allows installing other atomizers besides its Melo X. It's possible to install atomizers up to 25 mm in diameter without them protruding.
The base is completely different from the XC100, with the battery cap disappearing to make way for a rubberized base that adds further stability. Engraved on the rubber are the CE and disposal marks, plus 3 vent holes in case of battery malfunction. The "fourth" hole is a reset button for failed software upgrades.
The front setup is unchanged, featuring the Press-Twist: a single button and knob that acts as the fire button when pressed, and allows menu navigation and wattage selection when rotated. The screen remains a 1.05-inch color TFT.
The switch is also unchanged, allowing you to choose between all buttons locked, all buttons unlocked, and Press-Twist rotation locked with fire unlocked. This is helpful to avoid accidentally changing the wattage. Lastly, the USB Type-C port supports 2A charging.
The themes and Smart Chip Inside 2.0 are confirmed, just like on the XC100. As you can guess from the name, the maximum output for the X80 is 80 watts, which increases by 1 watt at a time. Power Mode allows wattage output, while RTA (Mode) outputs in volts (maximum 9). The firing is virtually unchanged from the XC100; the few misfires I had, I don't even know if they were the box's fault or mine for not pressing the button properly. Battery charge detection is accurate; low battery enters at 2.8V, which is slightly later than some other box mods.
5 clicks to turn the iStick on and off
3 clicks for the menu
Options present in the menu:
Power - selectable wattage from 5 to 80, increases by 1 watt at a time
RTA - selectable voltage from 0.5 to 9.
The 4 themes (Racer, Bubbles, Pulse, Aurora)
Puff Clear
The X80 is definitely more compact than the XC100 and not much larger than other box mods with a smaller integrated battery capacity than its 3200 mAh, with the possibility of mounting atomizers up to 25 mm. Eleaf, besides the Pico, has always hit the mark in the past with the iStick series workhorse box mods. As an on-the-go box mod (maybe in black), it effectively covers the workday, whether you vape MTL or light RDL (25-30 watts), for fans of integrated battery box mods. The Melo X can be the right middle ground for those looking for something different from the usual cloud atomizers, and who want something more versatile than a strictly MTL atomizer, given the wide choice of both new (EC-D) and old EC coils.
For more information, you can consult the dedicated page on the Eleaf website Eleaf iStick X80 & XC100 with MELO X | Smart Vape Mods for the iStick XC100 and iStick X8
I thank ECF and its staff for the space provided, and thank you all for reading.
