VooPoo Doric Q Pod Kit
Hello again and welcome back! VooPoo sent out a thoughtful Christmas package to its reviewers which included one of two mystery products they released just before the end of 2022. This was received both positively and negatively by other reviewers as it's a gift with expectations attached to it - understandably for some of us drowning in reviews. We were pre-emptively told that we won't know what the products are until they reached our front doorstep which actually happens all the time, but generally by mistake.
Today I'll be doing a quick review on the Doric Q which was one of the two previously mentioned products, the other being the Doric 20 SE which will be covered by other reviewers.
I want to thank Freya @VOOPOO_Official for being kind enough to send out the Christmas package and as always, this will be an honest and fair review.
Without further ado, let's rip this out.
(photos can be clicked on for better reading/viewing)
Available colors from left to right:
→ Mint Green
→ Deep Brown
→ Navy Blue
→ Primrose Yellow
→ Minty Rose
→ Begonia Red
→ Chartreuse Yellow
Main features include:
→ Auto Draw
→ Easy to Fill
→ Visible Capacity
→ USB Type-C Charging Port
→ Intelligent Power Matching
Pod compatibility:
→ ITO Cartridge (Non-removeable pre-installed coils)
→ ITO Pod (Replaceable ITO coils)
→ ITO-X Pod (Replaceable ITO coils)
These cartridges and pods are also compatible with the Doric 20 SE, but you may run into some overhang using the ITO-X pod on the 20 SE. I am unsure what the main differences are between the ITO and ITO-X pods because they weren't sent to me, so will not be included in this review.
Specifications:
- Pod -
Item: VooPoo ITO Cartridge
Capacity: 2mL
Material: PCTG
Coil Resistance: 1.0Ω (0.7Ω & 1.2Ω ITO cartridge also compatible)
- Pod Battery -
Item: Doric Q
Size: 23.2 * 95.6mm
Material: PC
Output Power: 12W
Output Voltage: 3.2-4.2V
Readable Resistance Range: 0.6-3.0Ω
Battery Capacity: 800mAh
The product packaging indicates that I received a sample. Your experience may differ from what you read in this review - hopefully even better.
The package includes:
→ VooPoo Doric Q Battery (800mAh)
→ ITO Cartridge (non-removeable coil pod - 2mL TPD compliant)
→ User Manual
What you see above is all there was for this sample package. I am hoping for their release that they provide an additional cartridge or even the ITO Pod so you have a removeable coil option. To me, that would be a better marketing practice since people like to test out products before they go out buying them.
Regardless, this is a very bare bones kit, but for the most part has most of what you'll need. The only things missing are a USB Type-C charging cable (most people likely already have this), and your very own e-juice.
→ VooPoo Doric Q Battery (800mAh)
→ ITO Cartridge (non-removeable coil pod - 2mL TPD compliant)
→ User Manual
What you see above is all there was for this sample package. I am hoping for their release that they provide an additional cartridge or even the ITO Pod so you have a removeable coil option. To me, that would be a better marketing practice since people like to test out products before they go out buying them.
Regardless, this is a very bare bones kit, but for the most part has most of what you'll need. The only things missing are a USB Type-C charging cable (most people likely already have this), and your very own e-juice.
The pod battery is quite simplistic in design and operation. The body of the battery is made of double injected polycarbonate which we've previously seen with Innokin's GoZee kit and produces a very vibrant look to the device. It even does a very good job of concealing fingerprints.
On one side of the battery we have the airflow inlet and just below it, the USB Type-C charging port, and on the other side is a single LED light. The only two colors this LED puts out are blue and green. When taking a puff, the LED will show green for a second or two after each puff. When the battery is out of power, it will blink green 10 times. When charging, the LED will show blue until it is fully recharged, which will then turn to green. Some additional color indications would have been nice to tell when the battery is getting low before it actually dies.
On the top of the pod are two brass-plated spring-loaded connectors along with the Auto Draw sensor. Nothing new or fancy here. The Auto Draw sensor isn't raises up in previous models but I assume VooPoo is banking on their leak protection design to curb any problems it may cause to the sensor. Only time will tell, but it hasn't leaked so far.
VooPoo claims the battery will last 2 full days on a single charge, and I say that's not a verifiable metric and so will not be agreeing with this. An 800mAh battery can very easily be burned up in a single day, so I'm not sure why they'd claim this. Maybe as a "potential" length of time but then sure, if I take 10 puffs from it a day, it can last me an entire week. Not why claim it can last for a week on a single charge? Again, I question VooPoo's specification metrics.
I clocked the recharge speed at 0.6A. The User Manual and the site do not include the charging speed, but that info was e-mailed to me and states a 1.0A charging speed. 0.6A is quite a bit shy of 1.0A and will not fully recharge in 50 min as it claims it will. From dead, the 800mAh battery should fully recharge in about 1 hr. and 20 min. The charging port does pick up a QC 3.0 Type-C cable and does allow pass-through vaping if you need a puff or two while it's charging.
The ITO cartridge that comes in this has a non-removeable coil meaning when the coil burns out, you toss out the entire plastic pod. If you've read any of my pod reviews that use the same format, you'll already know I'm absolutely not a fan of this because it's a waste of plastic. Why are we causing additional harm to the environment when we could simply be tossing out a coil instead? This bias will not be factored in for the overall rating, but is something I implore you to be conscious of. It would have been nice to have the ITO Pod included with a coil or two to elaborate on how that performs, but alas I did not receive it so cannot comment on it.
The ITO cartridge has performed well so far. The pod has an anti-leak structure which has prevented any residue from seeping into the contact sensor bay. I'm assuming the ITO Pod and ITO-X Pod also would have this (because why not?), but cannot confirm.
The refill hole is large enough to fit a 120mL Chubby Gorilla nozzle in it however, if you notice the shape of the refill port, it's almost round. For anyone that's aware of how air behaves when it's being pushed out the same tiny hole it's being filled in, this doesn't end very well. I have yet to have a refill that didn't require some level of washing off or clean-up which is a big disappointment. For a while now, I thought pod designers figured out ways around this, but apparently not. All they would have had to do was add an additional hole next to the refill hole or made the refill hole longer so it had more room for air to escape instead of pushing its way through the juice, forcing juice to bubble and spill out.
The airflow is definitely not a "true" MTL. By true, I mean a similar suction to that of a packed cigarette. At very best, it's a loose MTL. By plugging the airflow with your finger or thumb, you can achieve something closer to a true MTL, but this may have a negative effect on the coil and/or coil life as it sort of suffocates the coil. I have been vaping a 70/30 VG/PG 3mg Blueberry Strudel in RDL and it's been keeping up very well with the wicking thus far.
The driptip is quite narrow and is non-removeable but is very comfortable between the lips. The tank is tinted but transparent enough to easily be able to tell where your juice level is. The bottom of the pod states the resistance and that's it. Including the coil material or even the name of the pod would have been nice for quick reference. Hopefully they add this in the final release.
The ITO cartridge has small flanges on the sides that help it snap into the battery to make and keep a solid connection.
++ Pros ++The ITO cartridge has performed well so far. The pod has an anti-leak structure which has prevented any residue from seeping into the contact sensor bay. I'm assuming the ITO Pod and ITO-X Pod also would have this (because why not?), but cannot confirm.
The refill hole is large enough to fit a 120mL Chubby Gorilla nozzle in it however, if you notice the shape of the refill port, it's almost round. For anyone that's aware of how air behaves when it's being pushed out the same tiny hole it's being filled in, this doesn't end very well. I have yet to have a refill that didn't require some level of washing off or clean-up which is a big disappointment. For a while now, I thought pod designers figured out ways around this, but apparently not. All they would have had to do was add an additional hole next to the refill hole or made the refill hole longer so it had more room for air to escape instead of pushing its way through the juice, forcing juice to bubble and spill out.
The airflow is definitely not a "true" MTL. By true, I mean a similar suction to that of a packed cigarette. At very best, it's a loose MTL. By plugging the airflow with your finger or thumb, you can achieve something closer to a true MTL, but this may have a negative effect on the coil and/or coil life as it sort of suffocates the coil. I have been vaping a 70/30 VG/PG 3mg Blueberry Strudel in RDL and it's been keeping up very well with the wicking thus far.
The driptip is quite narrow and is non-removeable but is very comfortable between the lips. The tank is tinted but transparent enough to easily be able to tell where your juice level is. The bottom of the pod states the resistance and that's it. Including the coil material or even the name of the pod would have been nice for quick reference. Hopefully they add this in the final release.
The ITO cartridge has small flanges on the sides that help it snap into the battery to make and keep a solid connection.
→ Very small/petite/compact
→ Pocket/purse friendly
→ Ultra lightweight
→ Great build quality for plastic
→ Great flavor output
→ Wicking keeps up/no burnt puffs
→ Very visible juice levels
→ USB Type-C charging port (picks up QC 3.0 cable and allows pass-through vaping)
→ Anti-leaking design appears to be working well
→ Comfortable driptip
-- Cons --
→ No battery level indication until it's dead
→ USB Type-C port only charges at a tested 0.6A vs. the advertised 1.0A
→ Refill port is small making the refilling process messy
+- Preferential Considerations -+
→ Entire ITO cartridge must be tossed out when the coil dies
→ Not a "true" MTL; more akin to a loose MTL unless the airflow inlet is plugged
→ Semi-adjustable airflow using thumb or finger
→ A very bare bones kit
→ Non-removeable driptip
→ It's entirely made of plastic
Overall Rating & Final Thoughts
8.5-9.0
For what it is, the Doric Q vapes quite well. Other than a few hitches like the loose MTL airflow, slower than advertised charging speed, primitive/lacking battery life indicators, no spare pod or coil, and no Type-C charging cable, the Doric Q gets good marks. Do I think this product would successfully help you switch over from cigarettes? Yes. The flavor output alone I'm getting from the ITO cartridge and the fact that the device has yet to leak are both huge bonuses that aid in overcoming its shortfalls.
You can check out the Doric Q at VooPoo's page, find the compatible pods here and the coils here, and purchase the Doric Q Pod Kit here.
I want to thank you, the reader, for sticking through with me till the end of another one of my reviews. I hope I've helped inform you about the Doric Q enough to help you in your decision-making process. I wish you all a wonderful start to 2023 - let's help keep vaping alive!
Cheers, and happy vape hoarding!
