Aspire Breeze Review: Does Aspire Care Like iCare?

The Aspire Breeze is a 650 mAh pocket-sized AIO equipped with both automatic and manual draw. It’s basically a beefed-up iCare Mini for ~$25 across various sites, and there’s an optional 2000 mAh portable charger case (PCC) sold separately for $16. The Breeze comes with two 0.6-ohm coil heads, and replacement packs of 5 are ~$14. In a nutshell, the Breeze is a little subohm device intended for an MTL-style vape. Although this is basically the same thing as an iCare in design, it vapes better. But, like everything else, the Breeze will have its pros and its cons. Here’s a closer look to see which outweighs the other.

It’s a bit puzzling that Aspire would choose to use this design so many months after the iCare was released. Aspire has made a tweak or two that improves — a little bit — on the functionality of the device, but they also regressed in other changes. Most notably, the strange idea to round the bottom of the device. Aside from trying to balance it on the USB port, it can’t stand up on its own though it feels like it should be able to.

For those that know the iCare system, imagine filling the tank or changing out the coils without being able to confidently stand the device up. It’s going to take a spill, figuratively and literally.

On the bright side, the build quality on this one is better quality than others designed like it. The iCare, MyMini from MyVapors, and the Vaporshark Minnow were all similarly priced (and smaller) but not as well made.

Note: The plastic cover that looks like a deodorant cap is just there to protect the mouthpiece from outside elements. It works and it looks nice on the device, but it’s not really practical to leave on unless it’s for travel.

• • Pop off the mouthpiece with a fingernail and use the underside of the mouthpiece as a tool to unscrew the chimney
  • Thread the coil head to the bottom of the chimney, then fill the tank with juice until it reaches the fill mark line
  • Insert the chimney/coil head back into the device and screw it in. You can use your fingers to get it started, but you may need to use the mouthpiece tool to get it snugly situated
  • Attach the mouthpiece. Wait for your juice to soak in the coil (maybe 15 minutes to be safe), then you’re all set
  • Draw on the device, or press the button to vape

Note: the automatic draw switch is on the deck, just like the iCare. But it’s metal, not rubber. At least here no one will get tempted to pluck it out since it firmly embedded in the device. Just leave it alone.

When I first saw this feature, I thought it might be cool. After using it, it just doesn’t do much for me. The button is nice and clicky, but the automatic draw is never deactivated. Once you release the button, if you are still drawing on it, even a little, it will produce vapor. Normally I like to clear the chamber or chimney by dragging an extra second after releasing a button, but doing that here will just keep the thing vaping (since I’d still be activating the auto switch by drawing). I wish there was a way to deactivate it (either with a different top cap or as an electronic feature).

One way I occasionally use the button is to preheat the device on the way to my mouth. That nullifies the Breeze’s ramp as it’s already firing by the time I inhale. I still would prefer one or the other without them overlapping, but it’s kinda cool to have the option.

The Breeze vapes fairly well and has better flavor and vapor than the iCare. But with chain vaping, I get the occasional toasty-cotton tasting hit, or typical muted flavor. As long as I am NOT chain vaping, though, I haven’t had issues with dry or burnt hits. No issues with hot spitback or popping and one coil lasted me over a week with approximately one refill per day.

The ramp is a bit on the slow side to get to max power with the automatic draw, but that’s pretty much par for the course with these types of devices. However, as I stated before, you can press the button before you start dragging on it to bypass the ramp. In general, once it gets going, the ramp mostly disappears. It’s more noticeable once the coil cools back down.

The draw of the Breeze is a hybrid MTL and direct lung hit. It’s more MTL, but you can go direct-to-lung somewhat easily. Unfortunately, unlike the iCare, there is no airflow adjustment. I wish this feature had been included and updated to make it more user-friendly. You could cover up the plus-sign airflow hole and tighten the draw, but it’s difficult to do that the same way every time. I consider this device to have one type of draw, similar to the iCare with maybe one and a half holes closed off.

The 0.6-ohm coil heads are Aspire’s U-shaped dual-chambered heads that are supposed to increase flavor and vapor by sending air with a better flow to the coil and back to the user. These are definitely not iCare coils! They have three wick holes around the head, two small holes (2 mm in diameter) and one larger slot (around 3 mm x 6 mm). I’m not so sure why there are two smaller holes instead of just two slots, but they seem to saturate rather quickly and required no real break-in time.

I’ve been using around 6-9 mg and 60% glycerin. It works fine. I have also tried 70% VG and 3 mg with no issue except that it felt almost like zero nic. I’ll probably still increase my nic some.

I received the PCC with the Breeze and always place it on the dock (since it can’t stand up on its own!), so it’s difficult for say how long my battery lasts before needing a charge. With a 650 mAh battery and a 0.6-ohm coil, the battery life is not going to get you very far (maybe a few hours of vaping). The PCC is golden here to keep you charged up. Of course, you could always charge the Breeze via the USB port (on the bottom of the device) should you prefer to not spend an additional $16.

The PCC is just like the iCare Mini’s, but it has (according to the specs) 300 fewer mAh of capacity than the iCare Mini, despite being larger in size. Also, the PCC does NOT allow you to vape it while it’s charging like you can with the iCare Mini. But you can use the Breeze as a pass-thru when charging through the micro USB port.

The Aspire Breeze is a well-made device, and it vapes decently for flavor and vapor. But I have too many dislikes, many of which were there before I had even used it (once I learned it was an iCare-style AIO). Although the Breeze has better performance than the iCare, it inherits some cons from it and creates a few of its own. If Aspire had found an easier refill method, added adjustable airflow, given the device a flat bottom, and maybe included the charging dock, it would be a much easier device to recommend. As of now, I think it’s a decent kit as a back-up, but that’s about it.