UWELL Caliburn G3 Lite Review: Disposable Destroyer?

Product intro and specs

UWELL changed the game when they released the original Caliburn back in 2019. It certainly wasn’t the first refillable pod vape on the market, but it was far ahead of the competition. They raised the bar, setting a new standard for pod performance. Since then, UWELL has spoiled us with a steady stream of upgraded versions, many of which have been equally impressive. Can the new Caliburn G3 Lite live up to these lofty standards?

Before we dive into the details, let’s preface with what the G3 Lite is all about. This is not an advanced device with a high-end feel, loaded with all the modern bells and whistles. Quite the opposite—the Caliburn G3 Lite is as basic as it gets. One might even call it “strategic simplicity,” as it seems directly aimed at a specific subset of vapers: beginners and disposable users. It’s even packaged like a disposable: sealed in a tearaway bag and lacking any extras, such as a USB cable or a spare pod. And it's no coincidence that UWELL decided to debut their pre-filled pod line alongside the G3 Lite, making it an even more appealing option for disposable users.

Regardless of who the target audience may be, the UWELL Caliburn G3 Lite is a device that vapers of any experience level could appreciate. It is much more than the sum of its parts. Keep reading to learn why.

Price: TBD (at Element Vape)
Colors: Space black, basalt gray, chili red, pearl white, pastel pink, ice blue, pale purple, mint green

Build quality and design

The Caliburn G3 Lite certainly deserves its name. It’s incredibly light, weighing just 46 grams, which is impressive considering it packs a 1200 mAh battery. The entire body is made of durable plastic (PCTG and PC) except for a thin metal band near the top. Every edge is perfectly rounded, so it feels comfortable in both the hand and pocket. The subtle texture on the front and back also adds to the hand feel.

When holding it for the first time, the UWELL Popreel N1 immediately came to mind. The N1 was mostly made of textured plastic and had minimal features, but it was extremely light and affordable. The Caliburn G3 Lite seems to fit into the same family, despite being a much larger device.

Although it could be overlooked, the e-liquid viewing window at the top of the G3 Lite is a great feature. It contours the wide body of the device to the much narrower pod, which might have looked awkward otherwise. It also allows the entire pod to remain visible, making it easy to see the e-liquid level (despite being lightly tinted). It could, however, be a weak point if the device is dropped onto a hard surface. The plastic body feels resilient enough, but the viewing window seems more likely to crack or chip.

Caliburn G3 pods (GPP)

Many are already familiar with the Caliburn G3 pods (GPP) since they are used in the GK3, GK3 Tenet, G3, and G3 ECO. If you haven’t owned any of those devices, here’s a quick rundown.

Most GPP pods have a side-fill plug and hold 2.5 mL of e-liquid, whereas the TPD versions are top-fill with 2 mL capacity. Like most Caliburn pods, the GPP pods utilize PRO-FOCS coil technology. They also have an anti-leak design: ultrasonic welding to seal the pods and a U-shaped channel at the bottom to collect condensation. This seems accurate from my experience—I’ve seen zero signs of leaking or weeping from the bottom.

Getting started

With the UWELL Caliburn G3 Lite, operating couldn’t be any easier. Simply unplug the tab on the side of the pod to fill it (if it’s a new pod, allow the coil to saturate for five minutes). After that, just pop the pod into the device and inhale to vape. Note that the pods don’t always perfectly snap into place, but a slight press will get them firmly seated.

While there is no airflow control switch on the device itself, airflow can be adjusted via pod orientation. Flip the pod one way to get a tighter draw, or the other way to loosen it up.

Performance

The airflow restriction on the G3 Lite ranges from medium MTL to tight RDL, which is mostly standard for the Caliburn series. It is perfectly smooth in either orientation. The auto-draw mechanism isn’t quite as snappy as others on the market, but it’s hard to fault it since it’s never let me down. Those who utilize a less assertive inhale may experience a bit of auto-draw stuttering.

Included in the kit is a single 0.6-ohm G3 pod, which I filled with one of my favorite MTL e-liquids (50VG). Those who own other G3 devices already know where this is going—these pods rock! Fantastic flavor. I was stuck on the Caliburn A2 for years, but the G3 pods perform even better and seem less prone to leaking. UWELL is a master in coil and pod manufacturing, and they just keep improving. As for longevity, I noticed a slight flavor drop after about 19 mL of e-liquid, but it wasn’t significant enough to toss the pod. I intend on riding it out for a bit longer.

G3 prefilled pods

This is where things get interesting. Along with the refillable pods, UWELL is also introducing a range of prefilled pods for the Caliburn G3 devices. Some may recall them utilizing this strategy with the Yearn a few years ago. It’s a smart move, especially since the G3 Lite seems aimed at the disposable market. It allows users to choose what they’re most comfortable with—refillable or prefilled. They won’t be available in every market (due to regulations), but it’ll be a great option for some.

The G3 prefilled pods are equipped with 0.9-ohm coils, 20 mg nicotine salt e-liquid, and are sold in packs of two. Currently, there are ten flavors available:

• Blue Razz Lemonade
• Blueberry Sour Raspberry
• Cherry Cola
• Cherry Ice
• Lemon & Lime
• Pineapple Ice
• Pink Lemonade
• Strawberry Ice
• Watermelon Ice
• Watermelon Strawberry Bubble Gum

I’ll admit I didn’t have particularly high hopes for these flavors; however, my preconceived notions were VERY wrong. These prefilled pods are impressive. Bravo! My personal favorites were Pineapple Ice, Watermelon Ice, and Pink Lemonade. They’re definitely on the sweet side, but I think most disposable users will appreciate that.

While the flavors are great, there are a couple of drawbacks. Firstly, the pods only contain 2.5 mL of e-liquid, making it difficult for them to compete with modern disposables—although the 2 mL TPD versions may give 2 mL disposables a run for their money in the EU. Secondly, the pods have no transparency; it is impossible to see how much e-liquid is remaining. Paying close attention to the dryness of your hit is the only way to avoid a burnt hit. Clear pods (like the refillable ones) would be a massive improvement.

Battery life and charging

One of the surprising features of the UWELL Caliburn G3 Lite is the 1200 mAh battery. To my knowledge, that’s the highest capacity of any Caliburn yet. I went through roughly 6.5 mL of e-liquid per charge, which isn’t bad. I suspect that could last some users a day or more, but it all depends on how much you vape.

The Caliburn G3 Lite charges through a side-mounted USB-C port. UWELL does not currently have the rate listed, but it’s definitely on the slower side. Using a 2A charger, it took 101 minutes to bring the dead battery back to 100%.

A small LED indicator displays the charging status; it breathes while charging and stays lit when complete. This light also displays the current battery level when vaping.

• Green: 60-100%
• Blue: 30-60%
• Red: 0-30%

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