Product intro and specs
Established in 2021, OXBAR quickly became a top player in the disposable market. Their popular products include the G8000, Magic Maze 2.0, and Magic Maze Pro, the last two of which are some of the best disposables we’ve ever reviewed. They began dabbling with refillable vapes in late 2022 with the release of the RRD, a refillable disposable with a non-removable tank. The natural next step in their evolving line of products is an open pod system, which is what we’ll be looking at today. Introducing the OXBAR Oxpod Elite!
The Elite fits perfectly into an emerging trend of pod vapes that I colloquially refer to as “disposalikes.” These are entry-level starter kits that are packaged, priced, and marketed like disposables, but with a twist: you can reuse them! I love this concept and hope we see more of it.
OXBAR, however, is raising the bar with this release. The specs may be the best I’ve ever seen for an open pod system of its size. It features 8 mL pods, a 1300 mAh battery, adjustable airflow, and adjustable wattage. More importantly, you’re getting all that for about the cost of a disposable.
The Oxpod Elite may be bursting with potential, but it’s not exactly flawless. Keep reading to find out if this little budget vape is worth picking up.
Price: $11.99 at Element Vape
Colors: Matte gunmetal, grey, black carbon, shadow blue, mech red, white crocodile, shadow brown, meteor shower, gold black, shadow green
Build quality and design
The Oxpod Elite is made of plastic (polycarbonate), but that’s not immediately obvious. I had to flick it with my finger a few times just to be certain it wasn’t metal. It looks and feels phenomenal. The leather panels, button, and airflow switch are also brilliantly executed. The screen is quite simple (wattage, battery bar, breathing light), but it’s bright, and the colors are sharp. All in all, the build quality and design are superb. Bravo, OXBAR; this may be an inexpensive kit, but you didn’t cut corners.
Because of the materials, the Elite is remarkably lightweight (59 grams). It’s certainly not the lightest pod on the market, but it may be the lightest pod with such a high-capacity battery (1300 mAh). It goes almost unnoticed in the pocket and feels great in the hand. When you factor in the large e-liquid and battery capacity, it’s an ideal choice for an all-day carry.
I suppose we should address the elephant in the room. The Oxpod Elite seems to have been heavily inspired by the VAPORESSO ECO NANO. Does that bother me? Not in the slightest. This isn’t a copy; OXBAR identified a promising concept and improved on it. And, yes, I do believe that the design of the Elite is superior to that of the ECO NANO. It has an airflow switch, an interactive screen, fully adjustable wattage, 25% more e-liquid capacity, and 23% more battery capacity.
Unfortunately, like many pod vapes in this class, the Oxpod Elite kit only includes one pod. I always feel guilty complaining about that when the price is low, but my position remains firm. Defective pods are not uncommon, so consumers should always be provided with a backup.
Getting started
Learning how to use the OXBAR Oxpod Elite is a breeze since there aren’t any advanced features. Simply take note of the following click counts:
- One click to wake up the screen
- Three clicks to enter wattage-adjustment mode
- Five clicks to power on or off
- Long press to lock or unlock the device
To fill the pod, remove it from the device and unplug the rubber tab on the bottom. Like the ECO NANO PRO, it has a rubber grommet inside the fill port to reduce the risk of leaking. As always, if it’s a new pod, allow the cotton to saturate with e-liquid for a few minutes before vaping. (Note: this device is draw-activated only.)
The airflow can be adjusted via the slider switch on the side of the device. It has excellent tension, so it’s unlikely to slip out of position when tossed in a pocket or purse. The pod tolerance, however, could use a little improvement. It wobbles slightly in both directions, but it’s an incredibly minor annoyance (I’ve experienced much worse).
Performance
The Oxpod Elite comes with a single 0.8-ohm pod with an integrated mesh coil, recommended for 18-22 watts. I filled it with a fruity menthol e-liquid (50/50), and the performance was fine at first. However, after about 11-12 mL, the flavor dropped off and the vape was no longer enjoyable.
I decided to start from scratch and cracked open another kit. This time, I opted to use my favorite tobacco e-liquid. At the time of writing, this pod has gone through about 16 mL without dropping in performance, which is a good sign. I think it’s fair to assume that the other pod was slightly faulty.
How about the flavor? It’s good, but not as good as many other pods I’ve used in 2024. Some of the notes and nuances I’m accustomed to from this e-liquid (it’s been in my rotation for seven years) were missing from the experience. I suspect these pods may perform better with sweeter, punchier flavors, which would make perfect sense since it’s targeted at disposable users.
Battery life and charging
The Oxpod Elite can be charged via the USB-C port on the bottom. I was surprised by the charging time: it only takes about 60 minutes to go from zero to 100%. Sure, some devices charge faster, but considering the price and the large 1300 mAh battery, an hour is perfectly acceptable. The button does get quite warm while charging, but the body stays cool.
Because the pods hold a whopping 8 mL of e-liquid, expect to be charging more often than filling. I’ve found that the pod is usually around 35% full when it’s time to plug in, so you’ll probably burn through 5-5.5 mL per charge.
Pros / Cons
Gallery
Verdict
The Oxpod Elite may be a simple pod vape, but collecting my final thoughts has been complicated. OXBAR did so many things right with this kit, but the overall experience was somewhat lacking. First, the airflow may be smooth in looser configurations, but it gets whistly and unpleasant when restricted. I also feel like the flavor needs improvement. It’s certainly above average, but it doesn’t compete with some of the bigger names in the pod game (subjective opinion).
On a positive note, the battery life and e-liquid capacity are beyond impressive, considering the size and weight. The specs almost seem too good to be true. I also love the clean and classy design, and the build quality is excellent.
There’s a lot of potential here. With just a little fine-tuning, the Oxpod Elite would become my top choice in the entry-level market. If OXBAR releases a V2, I’ll be first in line to buy one.
Recommended for beginners, disposable users, and budget vapers.
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