A disclaimer of sorts:
Even though this product is something I won, as a result of participating in a forum contest (found here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/electronic-cigz-com/55843-powerpal-m401-pcc-contest.html ), anything that follows is still my honest opinion. I would not want to get duped into or talked out of buying something based on the untrue opinion of another and therefore wouldn't take the time to write something I didn't believe to be true that would lead to either of those two things happening to others.
The banner above is linked to the page on their site with an assortment of different Kit configurations.
The kit I received included the Powerpal m401M(anual) PCC along with (1)401 manual black battery, (1)401 stainless steel auto battery, (2) atomizers, (5) empty carts, usb charging cord, and wall charger.
The PCC:
The one direct comparison I want to make, just as a point of reference for those familiar with it, is to say that this PCC looks and feels every bit as sturdy and durable as the m702 PCC that I have.
I really like the fact that it is black as I prefer dark things anyways. I wasn't to sure of my opinion of the branding on it when I first saw pictures of it back before the contest but once I had it in hand I realized that (a) it actually has less branding/writing on it than any pack of smokes I ever carried around and (b) I think it would actually look funny with the LED screen, that displays the battery charge, being the only thing on it. The name and logo actually give it a more balanced look.
As far as charging performance goes it performs just as expected. I have had no problems whatsoever with charging the PCC itself or with using the PCC to charge the batteries I put in it. Charging the PCC itself takes about 4 hours on average when it is almost completely drained. Once the PCC is charged I was able to get approximately 5 full battery charges out of it before needing to recharge the PCC. That number could be higher though as I often will take out one battery and use it for a little while and then put it back in the PCC and let it charge back up before it has actually been drained.
Also, I wanted to see if there was any power drain when leaving a battery screwed into the PCC without using it. So I held off on this review and I left a fully charged battery screwed into the PCC, which also had a full charge, for the last three days. Just as I started to write this review I picked it up and pushed the button on the front and the LED panel is still showing the PCC as being fully charged. I then held the button to start the PCC charging the battery that was in it and the battery did not need any charging.
Inside there is room for 2 batteries, one screwed into the charger, and 2 atomizers with cartridges attached along with 2 other cartridges. Now they do carry different models of the PCC for 401/402 and manual or automatic batteries. The one I have is set up for manual m401s. However, for those who do use both 401 and 402 batteries, the 401 manual PCC will work to charge 402 batteries with the only issue being that in order to screw/unscrew the battery for charging you will need to remove the second battery and a cart or two as it sits very low and doesn't leave a lot of length to grab onto.
The Ultras :
The m4xx series, for me personally, is the closest thing I've tried to the size and feel of a real cigarette. Therefore the Ultras, being a m401, are a great replacement for someone who wishes to make the switch from smoking to vaping but still have a recognizable feel to the device.
As I stated above I received one black manual and one automatic stainless steel battery. Both are very nice in appearance and the logo branding on them is pretty subtle so it isn't an eyesore. The LED on both of them is a nice bright emerald green that I actually think looks really good with both black and stainless steel. They do have other options for battery and led colors on their site though.
Both the batteries and atomizers have performed very well so far. Each battery lasts me about 3-4 hours of fairly heavy use and only takes about an hour to recharge in the PCC. They give a nice hit with plenty of vapor and flavor (both of which are obviously partially dependent on the liquid you are using).
The Cartridges:
This is the only thing I don't particularly like about the Ultras as at the time that I received mine they still had the smaller inner carts. In all fairness though these are the standard carts that come with most m4xx units and they may be changing (or even already changed) to the larger inner carts that have recently come out. Even if they aren't (haven't) the carts are easy enough to buy and still use with the Ultras.
Also, I never liked those tiny inner cartridges (I used them previously on my m702(803) ) when I used them before. When I opened my package and saw that was what they used I immediately switched them out for larger carts that I already had.
A couple days later, just out of curiosity, I decided to give them another try because I had only ever used them with smaller automatic batteries and smaller atomizers.
I still didn't like the performance of the tiny inner cart on the auto batteries. I decided that I would try them on the manual battery even though, in my mind, I was thinking they would perform/wick even worse because of the manual battery heating things up faster. Now, maybe someone else can explain this because I can't, for some reason, on the manual battery, they seemed to wick better and be able to be used until dry without the issues I experience on an automatic battery of having to top off after just 4 or 5 drags.
So overall, after 2 weeks of use, I would say that both the Ultras and the PowerPal PCC are really good devices that perform very well. I would definitely recommend them for anyone, especially those just starting out, who wants that familiar size of a cigarette with a pack to carry them in like they are accustomed to. The PCC is definitely a great convenience for anyone on the go.
