Product intro and specs
The XLIM Pro 2 DNA is OXVA’s latest pod system, and it has a big trick up its sleeve. The highlight of this one is that it’s powered by a custom-made Evolv DNA chip, which was designed in collaboration with OXVA specifically for this device.
OXVA is a relatively new company, but they have made quite a name for themselves by making lots of solid products. They’ve been focusing on pod systems lately, and the XLIM line features some of the best in the category. Evolv has been the gold standard in temp control vaping for well over a decade, and one of my favorite chipset manufacturers. I own several DNA-powered mods (both mass-produced and custom-made), and you just can’t beat them when it comes to TC.
The XLIM Pro 2 DNA features a 1300 mAh rated battery, 2 mL pod capacity, 2A charging, a 0.56-inch HD color screen, out-of-the-box dry hit protection, and an option for a carbon fiber body.
It’s been a while since we last saw a DNA-powered pod vape; Evolv’s own Reflex came out in 2021, and the DNA GO-powered Wismec Preva and Lost Vape Orion GO are even older. These devices were pretty innovative but had their quirks, so let’s see if Evolv’s technology is a better fit for the XLIM Pro 2 DNA.
Price: $51.99 (at Element Vape)
Colors: Luminous forged carbon fiber, frost titanium blue, Nebula gray, silk white, silk brown
Build quality and design
Out of the five color options, I received the luminous forged carbon fiber one. It’s the most premium of the color options as it’s made with real carbon fiber. They even sent a small piece of carbon fiber along with the review kit! Carbon fiber is well known for its durability and low weight, so it should come as no surprise that this device is light, weighing only 67 grams. Yet, it feels solid and high-quality. The carbon fiber is called “luminous” because it has some dark specks on it that charge up with light and glow green in the dark.
The XLIM Pro 2 DNA comes in a standard size for a pen-style vape pod, measuring 114.5 mm x 25 mm x 15 mm, making it very easy to pocket. The color screen is fantastic too. Large (over half an inch), bright, colorful, and sharp. The right side features a smooth and easy-to-adjust airflow control slider, while the left side includes two buttons: the fire button and a button with a heart, which serves as the Replay button (more on that later). At the bottom, there is a standard USB-C port for charging and connecting to the software.
All the color options look pretty good to me, but the carbon fiber is the Belle of the ball in my opinion. Really stands out as a great-looking device that combines comfort with elegance.
Getting started
Using the XLIM Pro 2 DNA can be an out-of-the-box experience, or you can get really into detail by using the software to customize your vape. The chip pairs with a version of the EScribe software made for this device, which can be downloaded from the OXVA site and can be used to customize the XLIM Pro 2 DNA. In this review, I'm going to focus on usage out of the box, because it’s really good as it is.
Let's start with the basics. The pod itself has the standard rubber plug on the side and can be filled without removing the pod. The pod is tinted dark, which makes it hard to see juice levels; I really wish we would just get clear pods on all devices. But unlike other devices with tinted pods, due to the DNA chip, it won’t fire when the pod is empty. It will flash “fill pod” on the screen, so no worries about dry hits.
The air slider on the right side is easy to adjust and allows you to go from a solid MTL vape to a restricted DL vape. Low-wattage DL vapers can find a setting that works, but it's best suited for MTL vaping due to the coil’s wattage settings and the device’s 30-watt limit.
Now let's get into the more advanced stuff. There are two buttons on this device, the fire button and the Replay button (the one with the heart on it). Here’s a walkthrough of basic operations:
- Hold the Replace button for two seconds to see button functions.
- Press and hold both buttons to turn the device on/off.
- Press the Replay button once to turn on the Replay feature.
- Press the Replay button twice to turn off the Replay feature.
- Press the fire button two times to change the LED color (three options).
- Press the fire button three times to change the power setting.
- Press the fire button four times to turn the fire button on/off.
- Press the fire button six times to change the language.
- Press the fire button seven times to reset the puff counter.
The Replay feature allows you to pick a puff you enjoyed, and the device will then replicate that puff every time you fire it. It’s a huge feature on the DNA chip for pods.
So, what does all this mean? It sounds like a lot, right? Well, it really isn’t. Right out of the box, just set your wattage, take a puff, and if you like it, press the Replay button and you're done. It’s very intuitive and simple to get a great, consistent vape from start to finish. Note that if you take the pod out, the replay will be reset. But since the pod is side fill, you don’t really have to take it out until you change it anyway.
Overall, the device can be much more advanced if you want, but this shouldn’t scare beginners off because it can be very easy to use. The built-in dry hit protection actually protects beginners from mistakes, like vaping on an empty pod.
Performance
So, how does this vape? In short, like a dream. There are quite a few coil options, but if you want to get the most out of the XLIM Pro 2 DNA, you should stick to the stainless steel (SS) ones specifically made for this device—that’s what allows it to prevent dry hits and keep the vape consistent. No need to get into the depths about temperature control in this review, but note that stainless steel is compatible with TC, unlike Kanthal (which is the most common coil material).
There are currently three TC-compatible coil options for the XLIM Pro 2 DNA. A 0.6-ohm, a 0.8-ohm, and a 1.2-ohm pod. They also list a 0.4-ohm pod as coming soon. The kit comes with the 0.6-ohm and the 0.8-ohm pods.
I got to use this device quite a bit for this review, so I was able to vape each of them for two weeks, and the coils were still good. They last a really long time, and that's thanks to the chip's ability to provide a consistent vape. Both taste great as well. Since the device has so much control over your vape, there isn’t much of a difference between the two coils. I was able to set them up easily to vape the same. That's the beauty of a device like this. Overall, the performance both in vape quality and longevity is unmatched, thanks to the DNA chip.
Battery life and charging
The listed battery specifications for the XLIM 2 Pro DNA are 2A charging and 1300 mAh capacity. Since companies round up and the actual usable mAh is about 80% of the listed rate (I’ve tested this out of hundreds of devices, and it’s a rule of thumb across the board), I’d expect to get a charge rate of at least 1.8A and a usable capacity of at least 1040 mAh.
In my testing, the max charging rate was 1.92A, with a majority between 1.87A and 1.92A. The device shows the real-time percentage when it’s plugged in. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the 100% mark, which corresponds to 1005 mAh. Then it’ll slow charge between 0.1-0.3A for another 17 minutes and finish at 1038 mAh. So, basically, at 30 minutes, the device is nearly full (97%), and at 47 minutes, you reach the full 100%.
The specs lined up where I expected them to, so great job there.
Pros / Cons
Gallery
Verdict
I have reviewed so many pods, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for any of them to stand out to me. Mostly it’s a mix of just ok and pretty good, but most of the good ones don’t really do much to stand out from the pack. The XLIM Pro 2 DNA does that with its DNA chip. It is one of the (if not the) most advanced pod systems on the market. Sure, I would have preferred clear pods and maybe a bit larger juice capacity, but you can’t compete with that DNA consistent vape that always hits great and makes coils last longer.
This device is well worth the buy if you are looking for a new pod, and this recommendation goes to both beginner and advanced vapers.
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