Hi everyone. I got a lot out of this community so I thought I'd contribute something back. I noticed there aren't many reviews on the DealExtreme models (since they're so looked down upon) and since I have one I'd contribute. Note, this is for the new Quit Smoking models, NOT the Health brand, which I have had extremely bad experiences with.
Note that the Quit Smoking Mini is not disposable - but it is in the same price range as the Q510, so if you are as strapped for cash as I and are deciding which model to get to just try out e-cigs, that's what I'm aiming for.
Here are the products in question.
Q510 Disposable
510 DISPOSABLE E-CIG KIT with Blue LED
Quit Smoking Mini
DealExtreme: $8.22 Quit Smoking USB Rechargeable Mini Electronic Cigarette with 6-Refills
Here is an ImageShack album of the e-cigs in question. There is also a comparison with what a regular cigarette would look like. Also attached are smaller versions of the images in case the album goes down.
ImageShack Album - 5 images
The Test
I am using VG liquid 6mg/ml from American E-Liquids (very nice) and also Melon Mint PG liquid 12mg/ml from StrictlyE-juice. Before vaping I was a light smoker, the maximum being half a pack a day, though usually it was more like a quarter of a pack. I had tried to limit myself to one cigarette a day but it was difficult. I enjoy the habit more than the actual nicotine I think. I buy very light liquid because I like to vape a lot more than I used to smoke, so I need to control my nicotine intake.
The Quit Smoking Mini
This is quite a well-built model, nothing like the cheap DealExtreme ones I bought before. It is sized a little larger than a real Marlboro Light cigarette (the long kind). Priced at $8.22, it is the cheapest e-cigarette in the market. It is meant to be a permanent device - the battery is not disposable and will recharger many times. Vapor production is as good as and maybe a little bit better than a regular cigarette. Refilling is slightly more difficult than I would like, and the cartridge size is small. The flavor is good. The weight is of course heavier than a regular cigarette, but I can still hold it in my mouth comfortably. It is small and portable, and looks like a real cigarette. The red LED is too bright and does not look close to the orange glow of a real cigarette.
The Q510
This is a disposable version of the most popular e-cigarette in the world. Its battery will only recharge 20 times (some report 30-40, but don't count on it) before it quits on you. Vapor production is more like a hookah than a cigarette, it is very impressive. Refilling is easy and support is plentiful because everyone and his mother here have a 510. Many mods are available. The weight is surprisingly not much heavier than the mini, but it is much larger and more awkward to carry and use. Not a good choice if you are embarrassed of your e-cigarette.
Comparisons
Battery Life
The battery life is approximately equal on both models, even though their sizes are very different. I believe this is because the Q510 uses much more power per puff. Both don't last me very long, but if both are charged fully, I can expect them to last me a day between both of them.
Vapor Production
The Q510 doubles the vapor production of the Quit Smoking Mini. However, the Quit Smoking produces a lot of vapor in its own right - definitely enough to replace the look of a cigarette. However I must comment that this is only true (for both models) if you inhale longer than you would a normal cigarette. This difference will come naturally to you. If you like clouds, the Q510 trumps the Quit Smoking badly. However the vapor coming out of the Q510 is so much that it becomes quite conspicuous. Not a nice thing if you're not trying to draw attention to yourself.
Cartridge Size and Juice Usage
I can drop about double the amount of juice in the Q510 cart compared to the Quit Smoking Mini. However, the Q50 also uses twice the amount of juice per puff. This means it eats juice much faster. Therefore the cartridge life on both models is approximately equal. It must be noted that I made mods on both carts so I have no way of determining the original cart life, but you should be modding anyway. I get about 10 drops in the 510 cart.
Nicotine Delivery
The Q510 again doubles the nicotine delivery (a corollary of using double the amount of juice). This means I need a lower mg/ml juice in my Q510 than I do my Quit Smoking Mini. I was taken by surprise the first time I used the Q510, I was very lightheaded.
Throat Hit
The Q510 has a very strong throat hit. Too strong for me. The Quit Smoking has a much smaller hit, which I actually like.
Flavor
The Quit Smoking Mini wins on this one. While the Mini delivers great flavor, the Q510 tends to burn so hot that it mangles the flavor a little bit. This is mitigated through break-in of the atomizer (just use it a few times), but still is not as good as the Mini. I use mostly fruity and menthol flavors and the Q510 dulls these flavors greatly compared to the cooler running Mini. However I have heard the reverse is true for tobacco and stronger flavors.
Draw
The Quit Smoking Mini's draw is very slow and the resistance is very high. I don't like it, but have gotten somewhat used to it. It still annoys me from time to time. A fast draw on the Mini isn't good because the atomizer probably isn't capable of vaporizing liquid that quickly. The Q510 is a 1 hole atomizer so it doesn't draw as fast as other PVs, but it is very acceptable. You need to draw somewhat quicker with the Q510 to prevent burning and whatnot.
Modification Potential and Recommendations
The Q510 should definitely be used with the BFD mod, listed elsewhere on this forum. I won't discuss this further because there are much better guides. The Quit Smoking Mini's cartridge is much smaller and the BFD won't work because few straws are thin enough to be taken in and out easily. However, I put a straw (the same one I used for BFD) in there permanently. It does not fall out. I refill the cart about halfway with liquid. Then I stick blue foam in there as a plug. The straw keeps the foam from being pushed down too far to wick. I call this the foam plug straw riser mod. When I refill, I use tweezers to take out the foam but not the straw. I then refill the cart (halfway) and stick the foam back in, topping it off with one more drop. Note that I use a white cart, but all of the carts that come with the Mini are regular orange-....-colored. The white cart looks much better, but it comes with only one, and it does not have an internal cart (it is just used to protect the atty during shipping). I solved this by popping out the internal cart off one of the orange ones, then sticking it into the white one. Looks much better.
Ease of Refilling/Cleaning
The Q510 BFD mod requires tweezers to refill. The Quit Smoking Mini is harder to refill. It needs both tweezers and a bent paper clip (to push the inner cartridge out of the outer cartridge). This is illustrated in the pictures. Do note that it is easier to drip, dip, and clean the Mini because the atty is exposed. It was very easy to blow the primer fluid out, just hold a towel on the bridge and blow. The recessed atty on the Q510 is significantly harder to clean, but easier to protect from damage.
Conclusion
I love both my cheap PVs and am glad to have purchased both. I have shown you the comparisons and characteristics of each model so you should decide for yourself which to buy. I think a Q510 would be better overall as an introduction to vaping, but it doesn't last long before it needs replacement. The Mini is a better vape for those squeamish about the size of the Q510 (though honestly it is very easy to get used to). In any case, I hope you have learned from my post. Happy vaping.
Note that the Quit Smoking Mini is not disposable - but it is in the same price range as the Q510, so if you are as strapped for cash as I and are deciding which model to get to just try out e-cigs, that's what I'm aiming for.
Here are the products in question.
Q510 Disposable
510 DISPOSABLE E-CIG KIT with Blue LED
Quit Smoking Mini
DealExtreme: $8.22 Quit Smoking USB Rechargeable Mini Electronic Cigarette with 6-Refills
Here is an ImageShack album of the e-cigs in question. There is also a comparison with what a regular cigarette would look like. Also attached are smaller versions of the images in case the album goes down.
ImageShack Album - 5 images
The Test
I am using VG liquid 6mg/ml from American E-Liquids (very nice) and also Melon Mint PG liquid 12mg/ml from StrictlyE-juice. Before vaping I was a light smoker, the maximum being half a pack a day, though usually it was more like a quarter of a pack. I had tried to limit myself to one cigarette a day but it was difficult. I enjoy the habit more than the actual nicotine I think. I buy very light liquid because I like to vape a lot more than I used to smoke, so I need to control my nicotine intake.
The Quit Smoking Mini
This is quite a well-built model, nothing like the cheap DealExtreme ones I bought before. It is sized a little larger than a real Marlboro Light cigarette (the long kind). Priced at $8.22, it is the cheapest e-cigarette in the market. It is meant to be a permanent device - the battery is not disposable and will recharger many times. Vapor production is as good as and maybe a little bit better than a regular cigarette. Refilling is slightly more difficult than I would like, and the cartridge size is small. The flavor is good. The weight is of course heavier than a regular cigarette, but I can still hold it in my mouth comfortably. It is small and portable, and looks like a real cigarette. The red LED is too bright and does not look close to the orange glow of a real cigarette.
The Q510
This is a disposable version of the most popular e-cigarette in the world. Its battery will only recharge 20 times (some report 30-40, but don't count on it) before it quits on you. Vapor production is more like a hookah than a cigarette, it is very impressive. Refilling is easy and support is plentiful because everyone and his mother here have a 510. Many mods are available. The weight is surprisingly not much heavier than the mini, but it is much larger and more awkward to carry and use. Not a good choice if you are embarrassed of your e-cigarette.
Comparisons
Battery Life
The battery life is approximately equal on both models, even though their sizes are very different. I believe this is because the Q510 uses much more power per puff. Both don't last me very long, but if both are charged fully, I can expect them to last me a day between both of them.
Vapor Production
The Q510 doubles the vapor production of the Quit Smoking Mini. However, the Quit Smoking produces a lot of vapor in its own right - definitely enough to replace the look of a cigarette. However I must comment that this is only true (for both models) if you inhale longer than you would a normal cigarette. This difference will come naturally to you. If you like clouds, the Q510 trumps the Quit Smoking badly. However the vapor coming out of the Q510 is so much that it becomes quite conspicuous. Not a nice thing if you're not trying to draw attention to yourself.
Cartridge Size and Juice Usage
I can drop about double the amount of juice in the Q510 cart compared to the Quit Smoking Mini. However, the Q50 also uses twice the amount of juice per puff. This means it eats juice much faster. Therefore the cartridge life on both models is approximately equal. It must be noted that I made mods on both carts so I have no way of determining the original cart life, but you should be modding anyway. I get about 10 drops in the 510 cart.
Nicotine Delivery
The Q510 again doubles the nicotine delivery (a corollary of using double the amount of juice). This means I need a lower mg/ml juice in my Q510 than I do my Quit Smoking Mini. I was taken by surprise the first time I used the Q510, I was very lightheaded.
Throat Hit
The Q510 has a very strong throat hit. Too strong for me. The Quit Smoking has a much smaller hit, which I actually like.
Flavor
The Quit Smoking Mini wins on this one. While the Mini delivers great flavor, the Q510 tends to burn so hot that it mangles the flavor a little bit. This is mitigated through break-in of the atomizer (just use it a few times), but still is not as good as the Mini. I use mostly fruity and menthol flavors and the Q510 dulls these flavors greatly compared to the cooler running Mini. However I have heard the reverse is true for tobacco and stronger flavors.
Draw
The Quit Smoking Mini's draw is very slow and the resistance is very high. I don't like it, but have gotten somewhat used to it. It still annoys me from time to time. A fast draw on the Mini isn't good because the atomizer probably isn't capable of vaporizing liquid that quickly. The Q510 is a 1 hole atomizer so it doesn't draw as fast as other PVs, but it is very acceptable. You need to draw somewhat quicker with the Q510 to prevent burning and whatnot.
Modification Potential and Recommendations
The Q510 should definitely be used with the BFD mod, listed elsewhere on this forum. I won't discuss this further because there are much better guides. The Quit Smoking Mini's cartridge is much smaller and the BFD won't work because few straws are thin enough to be taken in and out easily. However, I put a straw (the same one I used for BFD) in there permanently. It does not fall out. I refill the cart about halfway with liquid. Then I stick blue foam in there as a plug. The straw keeps the foam from being pushed down too far to wick. I call this the foam plug straw riser mod. When I refill, I use tweezers to take out the foam but not the straw. I then refill the cart (halfway) and stick the foam back in, topping it off with one more drop. Note that I use a white cart, but all of the carts that come with the Mini are regular orange-....-colored. The white cart looks much better, but it comes with only one, and it does not have an internal cart (it is just used to protect the atty during shipping). I solved this by popping out the internal cart off one of the orange ones, then sticking it into the white one. Looks much better.
Ease of Refilling/Cleaning
The Q510 BFD mod requires tweezers to refill. The Quit Smoking Mini is harder to refill. It needs both tweezers and a bent paper clip (to push the inner cartridge out of the outer cartridge). This is illustrated in the pictures. Do note that it is easier to drip, dip, and clean the Mini because the atty is exposed. It was very easy to blow the primer fluid out, just hold a towel on the bridge and blow. The recessed atty on the Q510 is significantly harder to clean, but easier to protect from damage.
Conclusion
I love both my cheap PVs and am glad to have purchased both. I have shown you the comparisons and characteristics of each model so you should decide for yourself which to buy. I think a Q510 would be better overall as an introduction to vaping, but it doesn't last long before it needs replacement. The Mini is a better vape for those squeamish about the size of the Q510 (though honestly it is very easy to get used to). In any case, I hope you have learned from my post. Happy vaping.
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