You're absolutely correct, my friend. Eleaf has addressed the glaring issues from the original iStick. All that remains is the questionable quality of the Chinese battery that is utilized. I don't believe the batteries are inherently bad. However China is not well-known for their high quality consumer batteries. Consistency in their manufacturing process is abysmal. We will see very disparate experiences with the iStick batteries. Some, perhaps half of us, will see the 500+ charge cycles Li-Po batteries are known for. The remainder of us will see less than 500 charge cycles before the battery(ies) shows signs of deterioration. Currently, this is the cost of purchasing a device in this price range.
First let's understand the scope of this problem. As we all know, forum threads are a repository for user complaints. Yet this thread has remained overwhelmingly positive regarding these devices. Out of nearly 12000 posts, less than a handful of forum member have complained about the battery itself. It's simply too soon to draw any conclusions about the battery. Over the coming months, paying attention and reporting battery issues here will be very helpful.
The batteries in the 20 & 30W iSticks are simple enough to replace but require moderate soldering/electronic skills. The 50W shouldn't be that difficult. I have not had one apart yet however. The question remains of what to use for replacements. Although a standard 18650 Li-Ion would be sufficient, the Li-Po characteristics are part of what has made the iSticks so brilliant. This takes me back to a months-old rant, asking that manufacturers begin supplying the vaping industry with quality batteries designed for our intended purpose, in both chemistry and form-factor. This is the next step that must be taken for customers to be happy long-term with their purchases.
