Product intro and specs
Some reviews just feel like work: testing, evaluating, writing, and then forgetting about the product when the job is done. However, on occasion, opening a review package makes me feel like a kid on Christmas. “It’s exactly what I wanted! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” That’s precisely how I felt when I found the OXVA XLIM SQ Pro 2 in my mailbox. It was a good day.
So, why would someone with an excessive collection get excited about yet another pod vape? Because it’s not just another pod vape; it’s an XLIM! Although I never owned the original SQ Pro, I reviewed the Pro 2 almost exactly one year ago, and the performance blew me away. Pairing those magical pods with a 1600 mAh battery and a 1.09-inch touchscreen seemed like a big step forward.
I think it’s fair to say that expectations were high going into this review, and OXVA certainly didn’t let me down. But, finding faults is what I do best (am I really bragging about that?), and this device has a few. If you’re an XLIM fan, keep reading to find out if it’s worth upgrading. If you’re not familiar with the series, stop reading right now and buy one.
Price: $34.99 (at Element Vape)
Colors: Frost marble, celadon marble, dream pink, dream purple, blue shadow, brown leather, black leather, black carbon, brown wood, gunmetal wood
Build quality and design
If you appreciate the styling of the Pro 2 or NeXLIM, you’ll equally love the XLIM SQ Pro 2. It’s undeniably part of the same family, a familiar aesthetic embodied by a much different design. Even if OXVA didn’t brand their products, I’d be able to pick them out of a lineup. They always have a distinct character and a hint of luxury, and the build quality leaves little room for complaint.
The SQ Pro 2 features a zinc alloy chassis that seamlessly swoops into the middle of the device, serving as a bezel for the screen. The accenting panels are available in five styles: marble, dream (a wavy pattern), faux wood, carbon fiber, and artificial leather. The wood panels certainly feel the most “plasticky,” but they look great. Regardless of which style you choose, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
Despite being on the heavier side (114 grams), it’s sleek, pocket-friendly, and comfortable in the hand, remaining true to the XLIM concept. The side-mounted button is framed off by the chassis, making the slight protrusion feel natural. The airflow slider (opposing side) sits alongside the USB port in a small trench to minimize accidental adjustments.
Aside from the slick design and large battery, one of the most appealing features of the SQ Pro 2 is the 1.09-inch circular touchscreen. OXVA’s color screens are usually excellent, but they tend to be on the smaller side. This one is on another level. The screen is large, gorgeous, and full of customization options, with superb touchscreen functionality. I recently claimed that the Freemax REXA PRO and SMART displays were “a few steps ahead of the competition,” but it seems OXVA has already caught up.
Getting started
There are several simple, no-nonsense XLIM devices, but the SQ Pro 2 is not one of them. It’s the most complex device in the series, even more so than the groundbreaking DNA version. Thankfully, the interface is incredibly user-friendly. It’s operated primarily via swipes, which I find more intuitive than trying to remember a series of click counts. Here’s a basic rundown:
- One click to wake up the screen (or return to the homescreen when navigating the menu)
- Five clicks to power on/off
- Swipe the lower third of the screen to the right to unlock the touchscreen
- Touch the screen for two seconds to change the theme
- Swipe right to enter wattage adjustment mode (if on a secondary menu, swiping right takes you back one level)
- Swipe left to view puff records
- Swipe down to access the main menu
- Swipe up to access the full app directory
Features and settings
- Changeable themes, wallpapers, and animations
- Adjustable brightness and screen timeout
- Multiple languages
- Time and date
- Regular and Eco modes
- Day, week, and month puff logs
- Flashlight
- Stopwatch
- Calendar
Spend three minutes familiarizing yourself with the menu, and you’ll understand it completely. It’s not nearly as daunting as it appears. The real challenge, however, may be finding specific settings. The display brightness and wallpaper settings, for example, are buried within two submenus (main menu, screen, display). OXVA seems to have been aware of this complexity, so they provided helpful shortcuts for certain features. They also created a bubble menu resembling a smart watch, displaying every app icon on a single screen.
To get started, fill the pod via the rubber plug on the side. Unfortunately, this system has yet to be revised, so my previous complaint still stands: the tiny tab is difficult to access. I often find myself relying on tweezers to open. After waiting 5-10 minutes for the liquid to saturate, insert the pod into the device, adjust the power (swipe right) and airflow settings (side-mounted slider), and inhale to vape. Note that the OXVA XLIM SQ Pro 2 is draw-activated only.
Performance
I previously tested these exact pods in my XLIM Pro 2 review, and they were phenomenal. But a lot of time has passed, and other manufacturers have released amazing pods this year, so I was curious to see if they still held up. Spoiler: they do!
Sticking with MTL-only for this review, I used a 50/50 nic salt e-liquid in both pods (the 0.6-ohm pod is also great for RDL). The flavor is just as good as I remember, maybe even better! These are still some of the best pods on the market, right up there with the latest Caliburn and XROS pods (don’t ask me to pick a winner!). I could go on and on; suffice it to say that flavor chasers will be delighted with the performance.
The pod longevity is also impressive, which is something OXVA has earned a reputation for. One of my pods lasted 40 mL before the flavor started to drop; the other is still going strong at around 30 mL. It’s just another reason why the XLIM ecosystem is a smart investment: the pods can go the distance.
Battery life and charging
The 1600 mAh battery in the OXVA XLIM SQ Pro 2 is the largest in the series, even if you include the NeXLIM (1500 mAh). It requires about 50 minutes to obtain a full charge, which is what I would expect given the capacity and 2-amp charging.
The runtime, however, was less than anticipated. I’ve been going through about 5.7 mL per charge, whereas the NeXLIM delivers 7.5 mL (or more). I initially suspected that the battery was highly overrated, but that wasn’t the case. Testing revealed 1363 mAh of usable capacity, which is more than acceptable. My only remaining suspicion is that the advanced interface may be accelerating the battery drain.
Pros / Cons
Gallery
Verdict
The XLIM SQ Pro 2 isn’t just another solid offering from OXVA; it’s one of their best! The design is classy, the rectangular shape is a perfect fit for both pockets and hands, and the touchscreen display is remarkable. But, realistically, the magic ingredient in every XLIM kit is the pod technology; it always steals the spotlight. And as much as I love the device, I love the performance even more.
For me, the biggest con is battery life, as I was expecting more from the 1600 mAh. Additionally, the battery size contributes to the device’s weight. So, it seems like a lose-lose scenario: you get the weight of a large battery without the extra runtime.
The pod design is also lacking in a couple of ways. The fill plug can be a nightmare to get a grip on, and 2 mL capacity seems inadequate for a hefty device like this. The newer XLIM EZ pods feature an XROS-style top-fill system and 3 mL capacity, so including those would have been a considerable improvement. I’m not sure why they opted for the older version.
Minor complaints aside, OXVA knocked this one out of the park. The XLIM SQ Pro 2 quickly found its way into my top three pod vapes of 2025, which required surpassing some steep competition. It’s probably not for everyone, though, due to its weight and advanced menu system. But if you’re comfortable with those things, investing in this kit is a no-brainer.
Highly recommended.
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