OXVA XLIM Pro 2 Review: Striking a Perfect Balance

Product intro and specs

OXVA made their first splash in the vape scene in 2020 with the Origin—an all-in-one kit with a removable battery. Following its success, they continued expanding their range of AIO devices, creating kits for beginners and hobbyists alike. This ultimately led to the release of their first pod system in 2021: the award-winning XLIM Pod. Its popularity inspired multiple sequels, and the series soon emerged as a top name in the pod market. Today, we’ll be looking at the latest in this ever-evolving series: the OXVA XLIM Pro 2.

Despite multiple facelifts over the years, the XLIM Pro 2 stays true to its roots. It’s a compact pod vape with a screen, adjustable airflow and wattage, and XLIM pod compatibility. However, several refinements and upgrades give this version an edge over its predecessors. The most significant of these are the large 1300 mAh battery and the HD color screen.

While it may be the latest and greatest in the series, the Pro 2 is not without its shortcomings. Let’s explore the good, the bad, and the upgrades, and determine if this little pod vape is worth seeking out.

Price: TBA
Colors: Black carbon, silver carbon, dream purple, platinum gray, coral pink, green python, blue python, brown python

Build quality and design

It’s hard to fault the build quality of the OXVA XLIM Pro 2. It may not be on par with the Caliburn G3 Pro or XROS PRO, but it outmatches several pod vapes in its class. The hand feel is great, the airflow switch is firm, and the button has a perfect click. It is slightly on the heavier side (67 grams), but that adds to its charm. If a pod is too light, it feels cheap; if it’s too heavy, it feels like a burden. This is an ideal compromise.

The Pro 2 is also aesthetically versatile, offering different finishes to suit very different tastes. There are three distinct panel styles: carbon fiber, artificial leather, and a wavy brushstroke pattern (that’s the best way I can describe it!). While all of these were executed well, the brushstroke versions (dream purple and platinum gray) are on another level. They’re gorgeous! However, I will admit that I’m not a fan of the glossy zinc alloy chassis. Not only does it attract fingerprints, but (subjectively) it’s a bit gaudy.

One of the key upgrades with the XLIM Pro 2 is the 0.56-inch HD color screen. (It’s important to note that one of my devices had a dead screen on arrival, which is a bit concerning. However, the other three worked just fine). The screen may be on the smaller side (this is a compact pod vape, after all!), but it’s an absolute delight. It’s bright, the fonts are sharp, and the colors are crisp.

The screen layout is also commendable. It clearly displays the wattage, resistance, battery percentage (and bar), and a five-digit puff counter. In my opinion, that’s the gold standard for a pod display. You can even change the theme: one is basic, and the other two are animated.

Regardless of which theme is selected, a light bar along the bottom of the screen illuminates whenever the device is activated or charging. It essentially acts as a battery indicator, shifting between green, blue, orange, and red. Unfortunately, the light bar cannot be disabled, which may limit the device's stealth potential.

Getting started

OXVA went above and beyond to make the XLIM Pro 2 easy to learn and use. I wish all manufacturers were this thorough (specifically with entry-level kits). Along with a user manual, they also integrated a quick start guide into the packaging—it’s the first thing you see when opening the box. And if that Isn’t enough, a long press of the button will display the guide on the screen. Here’s the basic rundown:

• One click to wake up the screen
• Two clicks to switch the display theme
• Three clicks to enter wattage-adjustment mode
• Five clicks to power on or off
• Seven clicks to clear the puff count
• Long press to view the operating guide

The pod can be filled via the rubber tab on the side (it can be tricky to unplug if you have trimmed nails). After waiting five minutes for the cotton to saturate, insert the pod into the device. You can then adjust the wattage (start low) and inhale to vape. The airflow can also be fine-tuned using the slider switch on the side of the device.

Every XLIM series pod has a unique wattage limit that is moderated by the chipset. So, even though the XLIM Pro 2 is capable of 30 watts, you’re unable to max it out with the included pods.

• 0.6-ohm pod (RDL): 5-25 watts; recommended: 20-25 watts
• 0.8-ohm pod (MTL): 5-18 watts; recommended: 12-16 watts

Note: there seems to be a discrepancy in the wattage range for the 0.8-ohm pod. The pod itself states 12-16 watts, whereas the device allows it to max out at 18 watts.

Owners of the original XLIM Pro may notice two functionality changes in the Pro 2. Firstly, it’s inhale-activated only (no button activation). While that’s preferable for me, it may seem like a downgrade to some users. Secondly, the wattage adjusts in one-watt increments rather than 0.5-watt increments.

My only major criticism regarding usage is the wattage adjustment speed. It scrolls WAY too fast when holding the button down (it’ll jump 5-8 watts in a split second!). You’ll likely need to adjust in single clicks to avoid overshooting the mark.

Performance

This is my first foray into the OXVA XLIM ecosystem, and I’m kicking myself for not getting on board sooner. To say I’m impressed would be an understatement; these pods are incredible! They’re right up there with some of the best I’ve used all year. However, I do wish the pods were more secure when installed. The magnets may be strong, but the pods wobble quite a bit.

The kit includes 0.8- and 0.6-ohm pods. They look almost identical, except for the wicking cutout sizes (smaller on the 0.8-ohm pod). Here’s my experience with each:

0.8-ohm pod (MTL): I filled this pod with my go-to testing e-liquid (50/50, freebase nicotine). I usually take a few dry puffs just to get the cotton saturated, but this pod had a slight gurgle right out of the gate. That’s certainly not a bad thing, as it disappeared when I started vaping (and is unlikely to occur with thicker e-liquids). Since it wasn't accompanied by leaking/flooding, it just indicates efficient wicking.

The flavor on this pod is close to perfection. Again, I’ve used this e-liquid in countless vapes, so I know it inside and out. Every note and subtlety in its profile was accurately represented with these pods. This is top-tier stuff. At the time of this review, I’ve gone through 22 mL of e-liquid, and the performance has yet to drop.

0.6-ohm pod (RDL): Given the larger wicking ports and higher wattage range, I opted to test this pod in RDL. Admittedly, I had my fingers crossed since pods in this range (0.5 to 0.7 ohms) tend to be hit or miss for RDL. Often, the wicking can’t keep up, or the performance is underwhelming. That was certainly not the case with this one! The 0.6-ohm pod maintained perfect saturation—no dry hits and no leaking (using 70VG e-liquid).

To avoid this turning into a gush fest, I’ll just say that the flavor is right up there with the 0.8-ohm pod. Surprisingly, I ultimately reached for this one more often, despite being partial to MTL. I’ve burned through 30 mL of e-liquid, and the flavor is still top-notch.

Battery life and charging

Despite its compact design, the XLIM Pro 2 houses a sizable 1300 mAh battery. That’s 300 mAh more than the original, yet there’s only a nominal increase in weight (67 vs. 66 grams). How did they manage that? Magic (obviously).

To charge, simply plug into the USB-C port on the bottom of the device. The light bar flashes while charging and stops when complete. Although it may be easy to overlook, switching to one of the animation themes enables a full-screen display of the battery percentage while charging. I liked this feature so much that I stopped using the basic (non-animated) theme altogether.

The device is equipped with 2-amp charging, so it only takes about 45 minutes to bring a dead battery back to 100%. That’s a huge pro in my book; I’ve tested devices with much smaller batteries that take over an hour to charge. While I’m more than happy with the charging time, I should note that it’s not quite as fast as advertised. OXVA claims it only takes 25 minutes to get an 80% charge; for me, 25 minutes only yielded 48%.

Pros / Cons

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