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Innokin Proton Review: Test Results Are In

Anthony Victor
May 29, 2018

Innokin Proton review

Innokin is most famous for their smaller internal battery mods. But their newest mod called the Proton is a dual-18650 mod listed at 235 watts. It has a big color screen, a joystick control with a firing bar and a compact form factor, especially for a dual-battery device.

The Proton is sold separately or as a kit with the Innokin Scion II Tank. It is available in three color options, black, silver, and rainbow, but there’s not much variation going on between these designs, besides the slightly different color accents.

Price: ~ $65
Colors: black, silver, rainbow

Specifications

  • Product dimensions: 85 x 44.6 x 29.6 mm
  • Minimum / maximum wattage: 6.0–235 W
  • Minimum / maximum voltage: 0.0V–9.0 V
  • Temperature control range: 150℃–315℃ / 300℉–600℉
  • Maximum charge current: 2 A
  • Maximum output current: 40 A
  • Atomizer resistance range: 0.05 – 3.5 ohm
  • TFT color screen display 1.45 inches
  • Joystick selector button
  • Side-panel squeeze fire button
  • Six color display themes
  • Individual cell battery life indicator
  • Stainless steel 510 threading
  • Dual 18650 batteries
  • Firmware upgradeable
  • Preheat function
  • Adjustable memory TCR
  • Temperature control suite
  • Ni200 nickel / titanium / SS316L support
  • Material and mode selection
  • Low resistance protection
  • Dual circuit and reverse polarity protection

Kit contents

  • Proton mod
  • Scion II tank (0.36 ohm coil installed)
  • Plexus coil 0.15 ohm
  • Spare glass tube (5 mL)
  • Extra drip tip
  • USB charging cable
  • Spare O-rings set
  • Vape band
  • User packet

First impressions

Innokin-proton

When I first got this mod, I was pretty impressed with the size of it. It’s one of the smaller dual battery mods I’ve come across. The screen is bright and colorful and you can also adjust the colors. It’s not a full-color screen like the SX Mini G Class, but more like the Sigelei Fuchai 213 Plus with color text and outlines.

The screen is really large too. At 1.45 inches, it’s the largest screen I’ve seen on a mod to date (the Smoant Cylon and SX Mini G Class have 1.3-inch screens.)

Speaking of the G Class, I also found the joystick on the Proton works well and is really easy to use. I didn’t need to read the manual to figure out how to use it. The menu system is really well laid out, and the joystick makes it easy to navigate. I’m already very impressed.

Build quality and design

Innokin-proton

The Innokin Proton mod has a symmetrical design with a fire bar on one side, and a front-facing screen. The overall design reminds me of the popular Smok Alien and Wismec Predator mods of yesteryear but, thankfully, this one is built much better.

The Proton is solid overall with no button rattle, but there is some minor play in the fire bar (you can wiggle it back and forth slightly.) I have already relayed that information back to Innokin, so hopefully they can fix it. Not a big deal but worth mentioning.

Note: None of my friends who own one reported any play in the fire bar, so it could just be an isolated issue. But I can only review what's in my hand. Outside of that, everything else was on point.

The mod has a solid black body. The color options are just accent panels around the fire bar and the other side of the mod to make it symmetrical. I would have liked to see color options for the body itself. There is a textured plastic plate on the back of it for grip and accent strips on the top and bottom of it. It feels nice and compact. Overall, a well built and good looking mod.

Features and functions

Innokin-proton

The Innokin Proton is packed to the brim with features. Pretty much everything you would expect from a good modern day mod. Wattage mode, TC for SS316L, Ti, and Ni200 as well as TCR mode and a bypass mode. It also features a wattage curve mode with twelve increments (0.5-second increments for a total of six seconds) and four memories for the curves. There really isn’t anything missing from this mod in terms of functionality.

Using the menu, you can:

  • Set the vape cut-off time between 3 to 18 seconds (default is 12)
  • Adjust the dim time, timeout, and brightness of the screen
  • Change from Celsius to Fahrenheit in temp mode
  • Change the screen text color (blue, pink, red, white, purple, green)
  • Check or reset your puff count
  • Check and update your current firmware version

Using the Innokin Proton

Innokin-proton

Using the Proton is pretty simple. It’s three clicks to turn on or off with the fire bar. Three clicks of the joystick to enter the menu system. To change modes, use the joystick to scroll and click to accept. Very easy and intuitive.

To adjust your power or temperature, hold the joystick in any direction until either the power or temperature blinks. Then use up and down to adjust and click to select. When attaching a new atomizer, the mod will ask if it’s the same one and give you the option to select a different mode.

There are also quite a few shortcuts and Innokin includes a large and easy to read quick reference guide. Right and fire together locks or unlocks the mod. Left and fire will read individual battery voltages and show the puff counter.

Power mode performance

innokin-proton-power-output-test-[chart]

Testing on this mod was done with Sony VTC5A Batteries. They list the specs at 235 watts, 9 volts, and 40 amps so kudos on them for listing all three. During my testing, the max wattage achieved was 240 watts, so it’s accurately rated and capable of doing a little more than the 235 watts listed.

The amp limit I got was 40 amps, which is average for a dual battery mod and meets their listed specs. The volt limit I got with a 0.56-ohm coil was 9.362 V, which is pretty high for a dual battery mod. It also confirms that it has a boost circuit as well, which is another plus. Not all dual battery mods have boost circuits.

innokin-proton-power-output-test-[table]

The mod round robins in 0.5 watt increments, which is nice. (I’m not sure why manufacturers still use 0.1 increments as a baseline.) It did get a little warm during stress testing at higher wattages (above 150 watts) but never too hot. During normal usage there were no heat issues.

It’s also a pretty accurate mod as well. It hit a little weak at the 0.12-ohm mark, like most mods do, but at 0.15 ohms and higher, it was usually within 1-3 watts. Overall it performs great and is accurately rated. See the full test results below:

Temperature control mode performance

Using SS316L Wire in TCR Mode with a TCR of 00092 and in SS mode, I tested 6 builds:

  • One simple round spaced single coil
  • One simple round spaced dual coil
  • Two fancy single coil builds
  • Two fancy dual coil builds

When you put a new atomizer on it tells you to pick your mode and you can select SS316, but if you want to use TCR mode you need to go into the menu and manually select it. With that said, in “SS mode” the mod performed poorly. Whatever TCR they use for it is wrong, there was no dry hit protection. (This is something that should be corrected in an upcoming firmware update.)

In TCR mode I got great performance however. It’s pretty accurate. A warm vape will be in the 460-480ºF range and most people will find what they like between 400ºF to 500ºF. The throttle is nice and the dry hit protection at 500ºF and below works great too. Adjusting the wattage changes the ramp up time as well. It works the way it should and is a good performer if you use TCR mode. It’s a pass overall with the caveat of using it in TCR mode and not in SS316 mode.

Likes

  • Power performance
  • Temp performance (in TCR mode)
  • Accurately rated (wattage / voltage / amperage)
  • Compact size for a dual-18650 mod
  • Watt curve mode
  • No button rattle
  • Large bright color screen
  • Easy to use menu system (awesome joystick)
  • Live individual battery voltage reading
  • No overhang with 25-mm atomizers
  • Good build quality
  • Uses a boost Circuit
  • Instruction manual is simple and easy to understand

Dislikes

  • Would have liked the 510 to be centered
  • Fire bar has a little play to it
  • Not much variation in the color options
  • TC doesn't work well in SS316 mode

Verdict

Overall, The Innokin Proton mod is one of the best dual-18650 mods to hit the market in 2018. Their Aethon chip is very underrated, probably because the majority of Innokin’s previous mods used internal batteries, which are just not as popular. Innokin has a long history of making reliable good performing mods and this one lives up to that reputation. If you are in the market for a new mod, the Innokin Proton is worth a hard look for sure.

I started doing reviews at the end of 2016 bringing a unique amount of data and fair points that has made them grow in popularity. I’m an avid temp control vaper but will vape pretty much any style of vaping. My goal is to bring as much good, fair, and unbiased information to the forefront as I can to aid vapers in making informed decisions to get the best vape for their style. I enjoy helping people really get the most out of their vape and finding their “aha” moment when it all clicks into place.
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Kevin
Kevin
5 years ago

I’ve been vaping on and off for a few years, but Im looking to upgrade to something better so I can ditch the cigarettes for good. I’m currently using an older vaporesso target pro with it’s original tank. I have never been real impressed with the flavor from the ceramic ccell coils. They just don’t seem to be consistent at all, so I find myself buying a pack of smokes often. Right now I’m hung up on getting either the Vaporesso Luxe or the Innokin Proton. Can you please tell me why I should go with one over the other?… Read more »

Anthony Victor
Anthony Victor
5 years ago
Reply to  Kevin

Hi Kevin, thanks for reading the review! as far as mod choices it’s hard to say. performance wise both are very similar and same goes for feature wise as well. So it’ll really come down to design. the proton is a little smaller, uses a fire bar, the 510 pin is off center and it has a joystick for navigation. The luxe has touch adjustment buttons a centered 510 pin , is a little bigger, and a little newer. It really comes down to preference. I agree on vaporesso coils as well. they make great mods but their coils are… Read more »

Kevin
Kevin
5 years ago
Reply to  Anthony Victor

Anthony, thanks for the insight. I ended up getting the Proton Plex kit. I am AMAZED! I can’t believe I was using that old Target pro with the ccell coils for so long. Night and day difference! So glad I found this site, I appreciate the help.

John Balboa
John Balboa
4 years ago

Great review! Found this out when I was searching for some positives on the innokin. Haven’t made the jump yet since I am still exploring options.

Was debating between this one and the innokin plex mod. But the Scion kit looks promising for sure. Had recently got a coupon code from vesavape that offers 10% off the item so I get to a save a few bucks in be process.

Just want a different mod to replace my smok mag.