Freemax Maxpod 3 15W Pod Kit
Hello folks. Today we'll be taking a look at the Maxpod 3. This is the latest in the Maxpod line following the FreeMaX Maxpod 11W, and Maxpod Circle. I didn't get a chance to test out either of these products, but I did do a review on the Onnix 2 toward the end of 2021 and there are a few similarities between them - the biggest difference being the ease of use favoring the Maxpod 3.
I want to thank @Freemax_Jerry for reaching out to do this review. As always, I will remain as objective as possible while adding some of my own opinions throughout. Please visit FreeMaX's official Maxpod 3 webpage for a quicker breakdown.
Welp, shall we?
(photos can be clicked on for better viewing)
- Colors -
Color options are as follows from left to right:
- Grey
- Light Blue
- White
- Yellow
- Orange
- Purple
- FM SaltCoilTech 4.0 -
- The Pods -
The construction of the pods are simple, but leak proof. Coming from someone that's tested out quite a few pod devices, leaks are the number one culprit for having a bad experience. The Maxpod 3 is Child Resistance Certified and is extremely easy and mess-free to refill. I will get more into the refilling process down below.
- The Pod Mod -
- Specs -
Size: 26.7*18.2*99.5mm
Pod Capacity: 2mL
Coil Resistance: 0.8 & 1.2 Ohm
Battery Capacity: 480mAh
Output Wattage: 9-15W
Output Voltage: 3.3-3.6V
Material: PCTG+PC+ABS
Weight: 39g
Charging: USB Type-C
- What's in the Package -
- 1x Maxpod 3 15W Battery
- 1x MD Mesh Pod 0.8ohm
- 1x User Manual
- 1x Desiccant Bag
- Review Testing & Observations -
The exterior design has a wavy agate-like look to it. I believe the same pattern is used for all of the color variants, but the brighter colors are likely to be more pronounced. The outer clear coating is flawless and smooth as a baby's bottom.
In the top picture above, you'll notice a single plastic bulb that functions as your battery indicator and charging/connectivity LED. The LED lights up when you puff and fades out after you stop drawing from the mouthpiece. When the battery no longer has enough power to fire, the light will blink 3 times. Also, when connecting a USB Type-C cable to recharge the battery, the light will come on and stay solidly lit. When the battery is fully recharged, the LED will turn off. When disconnecting the cable, the light will flash 3 times.
In the second and third pictures, you'll notice the two airflow holes lined up opposite of each other. While the draw is somewhat of an MTL, I wouldn't consider it a "true" MTL like you'd experience with a packed cigarette. The natural draw from this device would be more like an unpacked cigarette. You can however plug both holes with your index finger and thumb to create a tighter draw - closer to that of a "true" MTL.
A few things to note about this pod mod that are different than many others that I've reviewed. This USB Type-C port does not register a 3.0 QC cable (cannot be charged using newer android charging cables) when plugged in. When testing the recharge speed, I got 0.5A which is half of what's advertised. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the battery isn't very big and you can charge it in about an hour. I say unfortunately because I'm a huge sucker for larger battery capacities. If that's something you're after, I'd suggest checking out the FreeMaX Onnix 2 which sports a 900 mAh internal battery and can be charged over twice as fast at 1.5A. Also, this device does not allow pass-through vaping. When you're charging the device, you cannot vape with it.
On the top of the pod mod, you'll find the standard spring-loaded brass positive and negative connector pins located near the center, along with the two round silver magnets found near the edge of the plastic base plate. The two holes pointing downward you see are used for the auto-draw function.
One thing to note about leaking if you do encounter it. In the last picture above, you can see where the airflow holes are positioned in relation to the plastic base plate. If you do happen to get leaking from the bottom of the pod tank, the juice is going to flow out of the airflow holes. All you'll need to do is wipe down the pod and the inside of the pod mount along the base plate.
- The Pod -
The pod is very simple which is probably why it hasn't leaked much. On one side of the pod, you'll notice a MIN line denoting the point at which you should refill the pod tank. Consuming more juice at this point can screw up the syphon in the tank leading to either flooding or dry hits - more than likely the latter.
On the opposite side, the pod series and coil resistance is printed very visibly.
The base of the pod is made of ABS plastic and seals the bottom of the tank with 3 flanges that act as O-rings. You can see that they press up firmly against the tank walls to prevent leaking. The anatomy on the bottom of the pod lines up perfectly with the pod mod making it a nice, secure, & snappy fit. The magnets that hold the pod in are adequately strong enough pick the device up by the pod while also making it easy enough to remove the pod when needed.
One big plus about the Maxpod 3 is that you can see the MIN line while the pod is still in the pod mod. No more having to pull the pod out to check if there's any juice left.
- Pod Replacements -
- Pros/Cons, & Conclusion -
(+)(+) Pros (+)(+)
- No leaks (outside of user error)
- Very compact
- Looks and feels solid
- Top fill
- Pod fits snug, but is easily removed
- Extremely simple to use
- Great loose MTL vape
- Auto-draw
- Great flavor for a mini-pod device
- Mouthpiece is very comfy in lips
- You can see the refill MIN line with the pod in
- Refilling is super easy and mess free (makes me wonder why coil head tanks haven't done this yet)
- USB Type-C (0.5A)
(-)(-) Cons (-)(-)
- No backup pod/coil in the kit
- Pod can spit back sometimes
- Auto-draw activation is a bit loose for an MTL device
(-)(+) Preferential Considerations (+)(-)
- No Pass-through vaping
- No power options
- No airflow options
- 2 mL pod with a 0.8 Ohm coil can drain pretty quickly
- No fire button
- Battery is a bit small
- Not a "true" MTL draw, but can get close with both airflow holes plugged
- Charging speed is a little slow
- LED lacks a battery status indicator
- No charging cable
Between the two devices, I've only had a single incident with leaking and that was likely due to user error. I always try to remind people not to refill the juice all the way to the top of the tank, but I'm also guilty of doing this sometimes. In this case, 2 mL fills up pretty quickly and you can overfill the tank very easily.
There are lots of things to consider based on your preferences, but this device is very user-friendly. If you don't want to deal with coils or power settings, this is a great choice for a device - anything to get you off of the stinkies, right?
I will have to say that this kit is pretty bare bones, however. I've come to expect a second coil/pod in most kits, but I suppose if it keeps the initial price down. The good news is, the replacement pods come in packs of 3 instead of 2 and are comparatively around the same price as pod replacement packages you'll see from other companies that are only offering 2. Also, for life expectancy in a coil, you'll be hard pressed to find a brand that outlasts FreeMaX's coils.
For a loose MTL device, this is a pretty decent choice.
- Overall Rating -
8 - 8.5
(A great, simple vape)
Happy vape hoarding!
