The Zenith tank is the latest release from Innokin’s Platform series, a collaboration with Phil Busardo and Dimitris Agrafiotis. According to the team, all products coming from the Platform series are designed to help smokers make a transition to vaping, and the main points of focus are ease of use and safety.
Busardo is one of the most well-known product reviewers on YouTube. Agrafiotis, who also began reviewing vapes online, is better known as an advocate and host of the Smokefree Radio podcast.
The Zenith is a mouth-to-lung (MTL) tank that uses drop-in coils, and is the second Innokin atomizer they have collaborated on. The first was the Ares, a rebuildable MTL tank that has been compared to similar recent products like the Digiflavor Siren 2 and the VandyVape Berserker.
So, where does the Zenith stand in a market which has been ruled by the Aspire Nautilus series for a long, long time?
Price: ~ $30
Colors: black, stainless steel, red
Let’s get this out of the way: the Zenith is not going to win any beauty pageants. It is not by any means an ugly tank, but it’s not pretty either. It feels a little bit bulky for an MTL tank at 24.7 mm in diameter and its top cap makes it look too… utilitarian? I am not sure I like the look of it, but, on the same token, there’s nothing really wrong with it.
The Zenith might have been the best-looking tank if it came out in 2014, but with tanks like the Freemax Fireluke Mesh Tank looking absolutely gorgeous, this one feels just a bit outdated. And the “OPEN” and “CLOSE” markings on its top cap don’t help its case.
It’s no stunner of a tank. But we’re not here for the looks, are we?
First things first, the Zenith has one of the best filling mechanisms I have ever encountered on a tank. The top-cap slides open with a small twist, giving way to a beefy fill slot, while at the same time functioning as a liquid flow control mechanism. And this is a big deal. The Zenith will not flood, and you will not have to use any of the tricks you have become accustomed to in order to avoid gurgling and spitting on the first draws. (I’m talking to you, Nautilus 2.) I haven’t had even the tiniest bit of leaking, and the tank has been performing flawlessly after every fill.
The main part of the tank is one piece, with only the top cap and the airflow ring being removable. One disadvantage to this design is that you can’t really take it apart to clean the tank. You’ll have to remove the coil, let water run freely within, then blow out the excess water, and let it dry for a couple hours. Another potential issue comes from the fact that the glass part of the tank is built inside the metal part of the main body. This means that you can’t replace the glass if it breaks. You either have to be careful or use a vape band.
The Zenith has five airflow holes, each with a diameter of 1 mm or so. One hole gives a smooth and slightly loose MTL draw. With it fully open, it will perform between a very loose MTL and a very restricted direct lung (DL) draw, depending on the coil used.
In the box, you will also find a thank you card with a QR code, which leads to a page with video tutorials by Phil Busardo. Thumbs up to Innokin for these videos, which will be a real help for new vapers.
The Zenith comes with two Kanthal coils, a pre-installed 1.6-ohm and a spare 0.8-ohm coil. Both coils are similar to Innokin’s iSub coils, with the 510 connection housed inside the coil itself. The design ensures that you can change coils without emptying the tank and messing with paper towels. You just unscrew the airflow ring, remove the old coil, place the new coil using the two notches as a guide, screw the ring back on and you are good to go. If you’ve ever used the Innokin EZ Watt kit, these coils are similar but easier amd cleaner to use.
I was pleasantly surprised by both coils. I went through more than 40 mL of e-liquid on each coil and they showed no signs of slowing down.
The 1.6-ohm coil performed better on the tighter airflow options (up to two holes) between 13 and 14 watts. At these settings, it gives a satisfying MTL draw with a defined throat hit and dense vapor. Opening the airflow beyond two holes didn’t do it for me. I am pretty sure that the coil was designed with these airflow options in mind. Be prepared that the coil needs at least 1.5 tanks to break in, but after that I noticed no weird “coil flavor” whatsoever.
On the other hand, I found my sweet spot on the more versatile 0.8-ohm coil at three holes open, with the power set between 17 and 18 watts. This coil broke in faster than the 1.6-ohm one too; half a tank or so and it was good to go.
While the 1.6-ohm coil seemed to perform better with my 50/50 juices, they both seem capable of wicking up to 70 VG e-liquids without struggling. I actually found the flavor of both coils to be superior to the BVC coils used in the Nautilus series. And vapor production — though not very high on my list of priorities for an MTL tank — was better than expected. I also found that it was much easier to switch flavors on the go with these coils than it had been with other MTL coils I’ve used in the past. A couple of primer puffs and the new flavor kicks in almost instantly.
The Zenith is the first MTL tank that caused me to raise an eyebrow since the arrival of Aspire’s Nautilus 2. In my opinion, Innokin’s new offering is an excellent option for new vapers, especially those who focus on the utility more than they do on the design. It is a more versatile tank with a better filling mechanism than the Nautilus 2, eliminating all the issues users of that tank had with flooding, leaking, and gurgling.
As things stand, the Innokin Zenith is the tank I will be recommending to smokers looking for an easy-to-use first vape beyond the typical auto-draw devices. It’s also ideal for experienced vapers who want a hassle-free stock coil MTL tank for everyday use.
If you’ve tried the Zenith, how was your experience? Let me know what you think in the comments section.
I’ve found the Vapefly Nicolas MTL tank to be an excellent alternative to the Nautilus 2. For some reason there haven’t been very many reviews of this tank, but so far I’ve been impressed by its performance. I wonder how it stacks up against the Innokin Zenith.
That would be an interesting comparison. The Vapefly Nicolas is a contender in the MTL league and was also featured in our August update of Best Vape Tanks. My only issue with the Nicolas (and the reason I don’t own one and can’t compare it with the Zenith) is the limited availability of its coils in brick-and-mortar shops. Coil availability is one of the reasons I have been recommending the Nautilus 2 with its BVC coils as a first (non auto-draw) vape up to now. As for the Zenith, judging by Innokin’s long tradition in supplying I am sure that… Read more »
If it’s as good as the T20-S then I will be a customer. The coils last for weeks!
Thanks for the comment Dave!
The Prism T20-S is indeed a very good tank but in my opinion the Zenith is a more versatile option (with adjustable airflow) which should be viewed as an upgrade over the Prism. You will not be disappointed by its coils, they are high performers and last for long.
Thank you for the tip and yes, adjustable airflow does appeal!
I have used Innokin products for years and have never been dissapointed. I look forward to getting my hands on a Zenith!
Just bought the Zenith. Like the ease of use. Still using Kayfun Lite rebuildable tanks and wanted an easier experience of refilling liquid (meaning no tools required).
I wish Zenith had a rebuildable deck included. I like changing wick after 8 ml’s of juice used to keep it very clean. My coils can last up to 6 months and I just change wick often. Would LOVE it if I had that option for the Zenith Tank.
Hey Tammy, thanks for your comment. I’d also love to have an RBA deck for the Zenith, but I also think that much of its appeal comes from its solid coils. The latest 0.5-ohm coils are the best coil heads I’ve ever used in an MTL tank, and last a fair bit longer than the 0.8 and 1.6-ohm coils. There are more and more high-performing affordable MTL RTAs coming out lately, with the vast majority of them coming with convenient top-filling mechanisms. We have an upcoming review of the Vandy Vape Berserker 1.5 coming out soon, I think you might… Read more »
Over the last six years I have tried ’em all ,nearly. My problem is flooding with more juice mopped up than puffed. Chain vape here who clutches the kit constantly so it gets warm. Always thought that Nautilus could not be beaten until I got this Zenith ( Zee-nith in the USA it seems ) not a drop spilled to date, no more oily mod, great, good flavor and easy fill, would recommend highly.
I agree, the Zenith solved all the issues I had with the Nautilus 2 in the past. It is an awesome tank and still the one I recommend to smokers and MTL vapers who don’t want to get into rebuildables.
I love my Zenith tank. Decent flavor, easy handling. It’s perfect for my daily use. However I do have problems with the coils keeping up wit 70% VG Vape juice (at least I think that tho is the reason). Two times a coil burnt out completely after only two days of use (0.8 and Plexus coil 0.5 ohms, at 15 and 17 watts!). I have the tendency to chain vape and for those if you who are like me this tank has to be used with great care. In winter (minus 2 degrees over here in Austria), vaping a 70%… Read more »
Thanks Ruana!|| This is the first review I have found, which explains why I am having problems. || Just bought a Zenith a few days ago, I am also a chain vaper using 1.6, and I replaced the coil on Day 1 because I thought I had burnt it out, as it was tasting horribly burned, yet I seen that the cotton was white, so I will use it next time. || With the new coil in, I keep getting that taste, and try to fix the problem. || It’s happening again, lol, but based on what you said, I… Read more »
I’ve found exactly the same as you. For me, this is a fatal flaw in an otherwise perfect product. I like to chainvape in my breaks at work since I can’t use it again for another couple of hours, but for me the Zenith coils just can’t handle that sort of usage.
Thanks for your comment Ruana, and happy new year!
I never had any issues with 70% VG regardless of the coil – and I do chain vape a lot. I think low ambient temperature is the culprit here. I did review this tank during the winter, but winter here (Greece) is much warmer. For what it’s worth, I have been using my Zenith with 60% VG juice – I enjoy the extra throat hit I get from it.