Ok, Fedor... Here goes: Before i get down to the review, I bought my 510 from
http://www.esmokeyshack.com/page/page/6914470.htm. Fast shipping to HI all the way from VA (3 business days). I bought the black manual model, so my impressions might be different from Fedors for this very reason. I bought the 510 with the soul intent to use manual batteries. As far as I know, the 510 is the only factory e-cig that uses a manual battery (until the VX one ships).
Cart:
I don't particurly like the duck bill mouthpiece of the 901, especially considering it size, and find the 510 much more comfortable. I have experienced a little leaking not from the hole in the mouthpiece, but rather from the joint created from the atomizer to cart connection. The Cart Does hold much more liquid than a 901 and can drown the 401 cart, however it's inability to pull liquid from the cart means this increased volume is negated.
Draw:
This is the lightest draw i have ever experienced on an e-cig. The manual battery means that there is no switch to activate, and may contribute to the ease of draw. It is important to note that the new 510 atomizers have only 2 holes, while the old atomizers have 4 holes with 2 of them sealed with glue. I would imagine that if one were to unplug the 4 hole atomizer the draw would be so light that it would not activate an automatic battery.
Throat Hit:
Size wise, its pretty much the best "hitter", I haven't tried the new 901/ or the VX, but in its "class" I've tried the M401, 901 and the 510, and the 510 is the clear winner in terms of throat hit. The secret to this is what seems like a hotter atomizer coil, and the ability to "pre-heat/burn" liquid before the draw.
Vapor:
While my 201 produces more vapor, and i found the 901 produces a "thicker" vapor, the 510 is no wimp at vapor production. Initial burn off of the primer and break-in of the new atomizer took about 1 full day of
vaping. After this the 510 produced solid vapor for about 2-3 weeks, using it around 2-3 hours/day (2-3 hours as total time
vaping non-stop) I have seen a decrease in vapor production (perhaps about 15-20%) but the superb throat hit keeps me on it.
Flavor:
This is a mixed bag. Some lighter flavors come alive when using the 510. I attribute this to what seems like a higher atomizer temperature. However with many of the liquids that i have tried with the 510 i actually see a decline of flavor when comparing it to a 901, 401, and especially the 201. There is also the issue of VG. When using the M401, 901, and 201, I could use as high VG as 50%. This increased vapor as well as mellowing out liquid. When i first tried 50% VG with the 510 i noticed a "waxy" feeling/coating in my mouth. Once i switched to 100% (afaik) PG this went away. I have not tried a lower concentration of VG, and don't really want to try.
MPG Battery and
juice usage:
Battery:
The battery is THE weakest link of the 510. a battery will provide me anywhere from 2-4 hours of usage (I am a heavy vaporer), and i find myself changing batteries AT LEAST 2-4 times a day. It may be because of the increased draw from the atomizer, but having extra batteries is a must. A lifesaver for me is the PCC. This enables me to have a fully charged battery at all times, even when I'm away from a powered usb port or a wall outlet.
Juice:
The increased throat hit, and more vapor come at the cost of not only battery efficiency but also juice. I find myself topping off the 510 twice as much as the 401. This thing just drinks juice.
Value:
In the US, the 510s usually go for about $60. Like everything else deals are there if you search for them. One of the reasons why I bought the 510 when i did was the fact that esmokeyshack was running a grand opening promotion: buy one starter kit, and receive about $50 in extras. The promotion extended to 2 extra batteries, and 2 extra atomizers ($52 in total). IMHO this was a steal. However i don't think i would be as satisfied with the 510 if i did not have the PCC. I purchased the PCC off the classifieds with 2 automatic batteries and 2 atomizers (the used atomizers lasted a whopping 2 days before putzing out...no amount of manual burning/soaking would revive them) for $40 shipped. The batteries seem to have been off the initial "bad batch" and had a rather dissatisfying 2 second cutoff. Even with the bad batteries and the attys I'm still happy i bought the PCC... it has served me well.
Ratings:
510 with 2 sec. automatic battery 2/5
510 with manual battery no PCC 3/5
510 with manual battery and PCC 4/5
