First there were simple mods - nothing more than a battery in a tube with a button and an atty connector. Then there were 5V mods, which used two batteries and a linear 5V regulator to get closer to the "sweet spot". Then they turned it up a notch with variable linear regulators - letting people tweak the voltage exactly how they want it. The latest generation of mods takes it a step further by using switching power supplies instead of linear regulators. This allows for better, more efficient power control, which should provide a more consistent vape and better battery life.
Technically, the first purchasable mod using a switching regulator was Nuck's fistpack. It was well liked by those who bought it, but it was quite large, and lacked the refinement of a manufactured mod. Nearly a year after the fistpack, there are finally a pair of manufactured mods on the market using switching power supplies. They use two different types of switching systems though, and this leads to surprising differences in performance. These are currently the pinnacle of mod design (at least from an electrical engineering perspective), and they are the ProVari from ProVape and the Darwin from Evolv.
Both units have been extensively reviewed independently, but I do not know of any reviews which compare them directly to each other. I have had the ProVari for about a month, and the Darwin for about a week. I feel comfortable enough with both units now to try to provide some insight on how they measure up against each other. There are definite differences between the two - both from an engineering standpoint and in practical usage. I admit I do have a favorite, but I will try to keep the comparison as neutral as I can.
Physical Characteristics
The ProVari is certainly the more traditional of the two. It continues a long tradition of tube-with-button mods. If you are accustomed to a tube mod, there will be no surprises here. Evolv decided to throw out the standard design options and go with something different. Sort of a long, thin box with a swiveling, side-mounted atty connector. The Darwin has caught a lot of flack for it's unusual design, but I have to agree with everyone else who actually owns one - it works. It is quite comfortable to hold and not the least bit awkward. The Darwin is a bit wider than the Provari, but it compensates by being thinner. The body on the Darwin is longer, but with the atty swiveled down, it is still shorter than the ProVari with with an atty in place. This, along with being thinner, makes it a bit easier to stick in a pocket.
The most surprising difference between the two units is the weight. The Darwin weighs in at 4.7oz. The ProVari weighs 5.3oz with an 18500 battery and 5.9oz with an 18650. I wouldn't go so far as to say the ProVari is too heavy, but it's noticeably heavier than the Darwin and certainly heavier than it needs to be.
Appearance-wise, the Provari is definitely more polished. The black enamel looks great, and everything is machined perfectly. The Darwin looks more like a one-off prototype. There are tool marks from the CNC process visible everywhere, and the engravings on the back are very rough. Mine also came with a bit of debris under the protective film on the display. I removed the film entirely when I disassembled the unit, so it's no longer an issue, but that shouldn't be necessary.
Battery Life
This was my main concern in choosing a mod. The ProVari's battery life is, in a word, disappointing. A full 1600mAh IMR 18650 lasts barely 4hrs of moderate vaping at 5.2V. It's even worse with an 18500. A 10 hour work day with an hour of commute requires four battery changes. I keep a charger at work as well as at home, but it's really more hassle than it should be. Some people are reporting better battery life with other 18650 batteries, but the AW IMRs were what the manufacturer recommended, so those are what I bought. I'm not sure I would trust cells that weren't rated for high discharge in a boost mod like the Provari.
The Darwin has no problems getting through a long work day on a single charge. I could probably go a full 24hrs before the battery ran flat, but I usually just plug it in as soon as I get home. Having the charger built in (mini-USB connector) is nice, as I am almost always near a computer and could charge at any time while still being able to vape.
As other reviews have mentioned, the battery gauge on the Darwin is not linear. It stays pinned at full for the first third of the charge, then drops faster as the cells run down. It's not really a problem if you're aware of it though, and it certainly beats the ProVari in battery monitoring. With the Provari, you can either press the button 11 times to get the battery voltage, or wait until the button starts blinking to alert you that you're almost out of juice.
The Button
A lot of importance is placed on how well the button operates, and rightfully so. After all, you're going to be pushing it a lot. The Provari wins this category for sure. The button is a squishy membrane type (think button on an xbox controller). It provides good tactile feedback and it lights up when pressed. There have been a few instances where the button would hang up if pressed at an angle, but it is rare and easily avoidable.
The Darwin's button is actually a little brass plate that presses a microswitch. It only moves a fraction of a millimeter, won't work at all unless you press the top edge, and unless you press fairly hard, it can lose contact before you release it. This is probably the Darwin's weakest point.
The "User Interface"
The Darwin looks like an easy winner here, with it's informative dot-matrix LCD display and easy-to-operate adjustment wheel. It is easier to use than the Provari, but it doesn't win by as much as you might think. While the Provari's one-button menu system makes it more difficult than I'd like to check the battery level or change the voltage, the thumb wheel on the Darwin makes changing the power too easy. A wheel with detents or two small buttons would have been a better choice than the wheel that Evolv picked. The LCD display is nice though.
While we are on the topic of design choices, I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't mention Evolv's choice to use power regulation instead of simple voltage regulation. As an engineer, I approve. It is more accurate across multiple attys, and it just feels right to measure what is essentially heat output in watts. That said, I can understand why many non-technical users, who are just now getting used to the concept of "volts", don't want a whole new concept thrown at them.
Vaping Performance
They both vape great. Honestly, once you set the voltage/power level to your preference, they hit pretty much the same.
Price
The Darwin is $230, the ProVari is only $160. $70 is a pretty big difference... Or is it?
The Darwin at $230 is essentially complete. The only thing it doesn't come with (and for that price, it really should) is a mini-USB cable. Most people have them lying round the house anyway, and you can get them for $2 shipped on ebay if you don't. With the ProVari, $160 only gets you the base unit - you still need batteries and a charger. Because the battery life is so short, you'll need at least two batteries, and they'll need to be high-discharge. Even if you already have two high-discharge 18650s and a charger lying around, you will need the $24 18650 end cap. If you don't, you will need two AW IMR 18500s ($11 each) or two AW IMR 18650s ($12 each) and the adapter end cap ($24). If you have to buy a full kit from scratch (two 18650s, endcap and a charger), the grand total is $223 - only $7 less than a Darwin.
Misc. Issues
The Provari has no off switch. It can be turned off, but it requires about a dozen button presses to disable the button, and another dozen to turn it on. For me, this is more trouble than its worth. Combine that with it's soft, easy to press button, and it's kind of a problem if you carry it in your pocket. I carry my PV in my shirt pocket, and there are lots of times when I would cross my arms or carry a large box and hear a sizzle as the button was accidentally pressed. The Darwin shuts off when the arm is down, so you can't have those sort of accidents.
The Darwin does not have any real drip-catching capability. This isn't much of an issue if you use cartomizers (as I do), but if you drip into a standard atty, you're almost certainly going to end up with juice runoff at some point. The Provari has a nice reservoir built into the top to catch drips.
The Darwin is more user-serviceable than the Provari, but only by default. As far as I can tell, there is no way to remove the PCB from the Provari without causing permanent damage. If there is any problem with the board, it will have to be sent back. The Darwin is held together with five brass screws and you can take it apart if you want to. However, the spring-loaded ball bearing that clicks into place when the arm is fully up or down will invariably shoot across the room when you pull the case apart. Getting that bearing and spring into place for re-assembly is tricky. The brass button plate isn't a joy to get in place either. It could be worse, but it could be a lot better too. I do not relish having to take it apart again to replace the battery in a couple years.
Conclusion
For me personally, the battery life and size/weight of the Darwin make it my favorite. If you have different considerations, you might very well prefer the Provari. Both units are very good, but neither is perfect. If the Darwin had a drip-cup and a better button, it would be a home run. If the Provari had a couple extra buttons for voltage adjustments and about 4x the battery life, it would be a home run. For now, either one will do, depending on your needs.
Technically, the first purchasable mod using a switching regulator was Nuck's fistpack. It was well liked by those who bought it, but it was quite large, and lacked the refinement of a manufactured mod. Nearly a year after the fistpack, there are finally a pair of manufactured mods on the market using switching power supplies. They use two different types of switching systems though, and this leads to surprising differences in performance. These are currently the pinnacle of mod design (at least from an electrical engineering perspective), and they are the ProVari from ProVape and the Darwin from Evolv.
Both units have been extensively reviewed independently, but I do not know of any reviews which compare them directly to each other. I have had the ProVari for about a month, and the Darwin for about a week. I feel comfortable enough with both units now to try to provide some insight on how they measure up against each other. There are definite differences between the two - both from an engineering standpoint and in practical usage. I admit I do have a favorite, but I will try to keep the comparison as neutral as I can.
Physical Characteristics
The ProVari is certainly the more traditional of the two. It continues a long tradition of tube-with-button mods. If you are accustomed to a tube mod, there will be no surprises here. Evolv decided to throw out the standard design options and go with something different. Sort of a long, thin box with a swiveling, side-mounted atty connector. The Darwin has caught a lot of flack for it's unusual design, but I have to agree with everyone else who actually owns one - it works. It is quite comfortable to hold and not the least bit awkward. The Darwin is a bit wider than the Provari, but it compensates by being thinner. The body on the Darwin is longer, but with the atty swiveled down, it is still shorter than the ProVari with with an atty in place. This, along with being thinner, makes it a bit easier to stick in a pocket.
The most surprising difference between the two units is the weight. The Darwin weighs in at 4.7oz. The ProVari weighs 5.3oz with an 18500 battery and 5.9oz with an 18650. I wouldn't go so far as to say the ProVari is too heavy, but it's noticeably heavier than the Darwin and certainly heavier than it needs to be.
Appearance-wise, the Provari is definitely more polished. The black enamel looks great, and everything is machined perfectly. The Darwin looks more like a one-off prototype. There are tool marks from the CNC process visible everywhere, and the engravings on the back are very rough. Mine also came with a bit of debris under the protective film on the display. I removed the film entirely when I disassembled the unit, so it's no longer an issue, but that shouldn't be necessary.
Battery Life
This was my main concern in choosing a mod. The ProVari's battery life is, in a word, disappointing. A full 1600mAh IMR 18650 lasts barely 4hrs of moderate vaping at 5.2V. It's even worse with an 18500. A 10 hour work day with an hour of commute requires four battery changes. I keep a charger at work as well as at home, but it's really more hassle than it should be. Some people are reporting better battery life with other 18650 batteries, but the AW IMRs were what the manufacturer recommended, so those are what I bought. I'm not sure I would trust cells that weren't rated for high discharge in a boost mod like the Provari.
The Darwin has no problems getting through a long work day on a single charge. I could probably go a full 24hrs before the battery ran flat, but I usually just plug it in as soon as I get home. Having the charger built in (mini-USB connector) is nice, as I am almost always near a computer and could charge at any time while still being able to vape.
As other reviews have mentioned, the battery gauge on the Darwin is not linear. It stays pinned at full for the first third of the charge, then drops faster as the cells run down. It's not really a problem if you're aware of it though, and it certainly beats the ProVari in battery monitoring. With the Provari, you can either press the button 11 times to get the battery voltage, or wait until the button starts blinking to alert you that you're almost out of juice.
The Button
A lot of importance is placed on how well the button operates, and rightfully so. After all, you're going to be pushing it a lot. The Provari wins this category for sure. The button is a squishy membrane type (think button on an xbox controller). It provides good tactile feedback and it lights up when pressed. There have been a few instances where the button would hang up if pressed at an angle, but it is rare and easily avoidable.
The Darwin's button is actually a little brass plate that presses a microswitch. It only moves a fraction of a millimeter, won't work at all unless you press the top edge, and unless you press fairly hard, it can lose contact before you release it. This is probably the Darwin's weakest point.
The "User Interface"
The Darwin looks like an easy winner here, with it's informative dot-matrix LCD display and easy-to-operate adjustment wheel. It is easier to use than the Provari, but it doesn't win by as much as you might think. While the Provari's one-button menu system makes it more difficult than I'd like to check the battery level or change the voltage, the thumb wheel on the Darwin makes changing the power too easy. A wheel with detents or two small buttons would have been a better choice than the wheel that Evolv picked. The LCD display is nice though.
While we are on the topic of design choices, I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't mention Evolv's choice to use power regulation instead of simple voltage regulation. As an engineer, I approve. It is more accurate across multiple attys, and it just feels right to measure what is essentially heat output in watts. That said, I can understand why many non-technical users, who are just now getting used to the concept of "volts", don't want a whole new concept thrown at them.
Vaping Performance
They both vape great. Honestly, once you set the voltage/power level to your preference, they hit pretty much the same.
Price
The Darwin is $230, the ProVari is only $160. $70 is a pretty big difference... Or is it?
The Darwin at $230 is essentially complete. The only thing it doesn't come with (and for that price, it really should) is a mini-USB cable. Most people have them lying round the house anyway, and you can get them for $2 shipped on ebay if you don't. With the ProVari, $160 only gets you the base unit - you still need batteries and a charger. Because the battery life is so short, you'll need at least two batteries, and they'll need to be high-discharge. Even if you already have two high-discharge 18650s and a charger lying around, you will need the $24 18650 end cap. If you don't, you will need two AW IMR 18500s ($11 each) or two AW IMR 18650s ($12 each) and the adapter end cap ($24). If you have to buy a full kit from scratch (two 18650s, endcap and a charger), the grand total is $223 - only $7 less than a Darwin.
Misc. Issues
The Provari has no off switch. It can be turned off, but it requires about a dozen button presses to disable the button, and another dozen to turn it on. For me, this is more trouble than its worth. Combine that with it's soft, easy to press button, and it's kind of a problem if you carry it in your pocket. I carry my PV in my shirt pocket, and there are lots of times when I would cross my arms or carry a large box and hear a sizzle as the button was accidentally pressed. The Darwin shuts off when the arm is down, so you can't have those sort of accidents.
The Darwin does not have any real drip-catching capability. This isn't much of an issue if you use cartomizers (as I do), but if you drip into a standard atty, you're almost certainly going to end up with juice runoff at some point. The Provari has a nice reservoir built into the top to catch drips.
The Darwin is more user-serviceable than the Provari, but only by default. As far as I can tell, there is no way to remove the PCB from the Provari without causing permanent damage. If there is any problem with the board, it will have to be sent back. The Darwin is held together with five brass screws and you can take it apart if you want to. However, the spring-loaded ball bearing that clicks into place when the arm is fully up or down will invariably shoot across the room when you pull the case apart. Getting that bearing and spring into place for re-assembly is tricky. The brass button plate isn't a joy to get in place either. It could be worse, but it could be a lot better too. I do not relish having to take it apart again to replace the battery in a couple years.
Conclusion
For me personally, the battery life and size/weight of the Darwin make it my favorite. If you have different considerations, you might very well prefer the Provari. Both units are very good, but neither is perfect. If the Darwin had a drip-cup and a better button, it would be a home run. If the Provari had a couple extra buttons for voltage adjustments and about 4x the battery life, it would be a home run. For now, either one will do, depending on your needs.
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