Product intro and specs
It's been a pretty hot minute since I've kept up with VAPORESSO's most recent offerings. In this review, I will be looking at their latest duo: the VIBE, and its bigger brother, the VIBE NANO PRO. I’ve ditched my daily drivers, committing myself to using both VIBE devices exclusively for the past couple of weeks to see how they rank up. The transition was smoother than I had expected.
The VIBE series is geared towards beginners, much like the ECO NANO series. It also appears to be yet another attempt at marketing towards disposable users who have yet to indulge in the amazing world of refillables. Will the VIBE series finally cause them to have a change of heart?
Both the VIBE and VIBE NANO PRO utilize the same refillable dual mesh pods, available in 0.8 and 1.0-ohm. VAPORESSO has a stellar record in the pod system market, so let’s see how the VIBE series ranks up to all of the best pod vapes I have tested over the years.
Price: $19.99 (VIBE at Element Vape), $24.99 (VIBE NANO PRO at Element Vape)
Colors: Black, silver, sky blue, fresh green, cherry pink, berry purple, turbo blue, racing red
Build quality and design
Both devices have above average build quality, especially for the price. They are primarily constructed from a lightweight metal with a smooth matte finish. There are also some plastic components with a mirror-like finish that cheapens their aesthetic. However, this doesn't take away from their overall ruggedness. The branding can be a bit much on a few color options.
The VIBE is a bit more pocket-friendly, with the VIBE NANO PRO being a bit weightier and chunkier. By today's standards for pod vapes, it's nothing out of the norm. Both feel really nice in the hand. The VIBE has a pretty basic (yet easy-to-read) OLED screen. It gets the job done, while its "big bro" has a larger, brighter, and more colorful display–one of its defining factors.
The switch to adjust power modes feels perfect with just the right amount of tolerance and has sort of this neat vintage look to it. As you adjust the switch, the airflow automatically adjusts according to that mode. That’s literally the definition of “killing two birds with one stone.”
VIBE NANO PRO vs. VIBE
Despite sharing many features, let's briefly highlight all of the key differences between the two.
- Height: The VIBE is 31.6 mm taller, but the NANO PRO is 5.3 mm thicker and about double the width
- Weight: The VIBE NANO PRO is 44 grams heavier than the VIBE
- Battery: The VIBE NANO PRO has 400 mAh more battery capacity
- Screen: The VIBE NANO PRO has a larger TFT color display, the VIBE has a bright (non-color) OLED display.
Those are all of the major differences between them. Apart from that, they both have the same power/airflow adjustment switch and USB-C charging port. On the NANO PRO, it's located at the bottom, whereas on the VIBE, it's located on the side. They both come in the same color varieties, but the VIBE features a transparent plastic material with ridges on the very bottom, and very subtle line engravings down both sides.
For the record, my only issue with the branding is that it looks like something you would see in an advertisement, not the product itself. It's not atrocious or anything, but it's a bit too gaudy for my taste. Fortunately, half of the color choices feature a more subtle branding approach.
Let's say you could only choose between the VIBE or the NANO PRO. The decision for most people is going to come down to form factor, battery life, and whether or not you care about having a color display. After all, they utilize the same pods with the same two power modes.
Getting started
All you need to do to get started with the VIBE devices is to remove the pod and take off the sticker underneath it. These pods are a pleasure to fill. Pop open the black grommet on the arrow side of the pod. Insert the tip of your bottle into the fill hole and fill it up with e-juice.
Seal it up and give it at least five minutes to fully wick. VAPORESSO says that these mesh coils wick up two times faster, but I'm not taking any chances potentially ruining a perfectly good pod.
Pop the pod into the device and set your power mode and airflow by sliding the switch. Sliding it three times in succession unlocks a “hidden feature” to reset your puff counter. Pretty neat.
That's it, you're now ready to vape. The VIBE and VIBE NANO PRO are both puff-activated.
Performance
Both VIBE devices utilize the same pods. So again, their performance is essentially the same. The kits I received only came with one 0.8-ohm mesh pod, so I could not test the 1.0-ohm pods. An extra pod would have been nice, but it's hard to complain, considering the affordable price point.
I stress-tested two VIBE pods religiously for the past week. I filled one of them with some good ol' 6 mg e-juice, while the other was filled with 50 mg nic salt. I tested both pods in both devices for at least a full week, but the one I used in ECO mode got me a bit more mileage. That was primarily because using it with nic salt requires less power and smaller, less frequent puffs.
The only minor issue I ran into is that one of the two VIBE NANO PRO devices that I received gave me a couple of misfires. The screen lights up, but nothing comes out. This only happened a handful of times with only one device, and it's worth noting that they were all sample models.
ECO mode
ECO mode is best suited for thinner liquids. With that said, 50 mg juice on these 0.8-ohm mesh dual coils was a bit too intense for me! The airflow provides a legit MTL draw and a nice throat hit. The battery life lasts for literal days in this mode, especially on the VIBE NANO PRO.
I ended up refilling this pod every day and a half on average. So it took a week and a half, or over 24 mL worth of refills, to notice any change in flavor. Comparing it now to a freshly filled pod, it's hard to notice a difference. I estimate that I could squeeze at least 30 mL out of one.
PWR mode
PWR mode is suitable for thicker liquids. The airflow is more on the restrictive side but I am not complaining. It provides enough airflow and power in this mode to wick higher-VG juices. So, after a full week of filling it daily, I went through just about 30 mL worth of refills before noticing any decrease in pod performance.
The pods deliver solid flavor and a puff that really hits the spot. I didn't use 50 mg nic salts in PWR mode because that would be insane—even for me! But I bet there's that one dude out there right now doing exactly that while reading this review. More power to you—pun intended.
Battery life and charging
The VIBE internal battery capacity is rated at 1100 mAh, while the VIBE NANO PRO battery is rated at 1500 mAh. I ended up charging the VIBE every day and a half, whereas the NANO PRO got me closer to two full days of use. I’m going through about 6 mL of juice per charge with the VIBE, and nearly 9 mL with the NANO PRO using 50 mg nic salt in ECO mode.
In PWR mode, it puts out more wattage which will drain your battery quicker. If you plan to use this device in PWR mode with lower nic juices, the NANO PRO might be a better option for you due to the extra 400 mAh battery life. Both devices do pass-through charging and only take a few seconds to gain enough power to sneak in that last desperate puff we all love to take.
The VIBE NANO PRO charged up from 0% to 100% in about 53 minutes. The VIBE took just under an hour. That was a bit of a shocker to me. I even used the same USB-C cable into the built-in USB port on my desk, but the bigger device charged up faster! One thing to be aware of is that both devices dropped from 7% battery life to 0% within a few puffs—a very minor flaw.
Pros / Cons
Gallery
Verdict
The pros clearly outweigh the cons in this review. Most of the cons are either very minor or just subjective. They don’t take away from the overall value or build quality of these devices either. The only real con was the few misfires I had with the NANO PRO, but this only happened with one of the two devices that I had received.
With that said, the VIBE and VIBE NANO PRO are excellent beginner vapes. They share a similar aesthetic to modern disposables, but are more cost-effective and offer more flexibility. The pods deliver consistent flavor and hold enough juice to get me through a day and a half.
The battery life is especially good on the NANO PRO, but even the VIBE battery gets me through a full day. So, if I had to choose between the two, the VIBE better “fits my vibe”—but that’s mostly because it is more convenient to pocket. If I could, I would choose both. Both are easy to use, charge quickly, and are well constructed, which offers plenty of value. The VIBE series caters to beginners but performs well enough to satisfy a seasoned vaper like me.
Highly recommended.
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