VOOPOO ARGUS G3 Review: A New Era of ARGUS Pods

Product intro and specs

Almost exactly one year following our review of the G2, we’re looking at the new and improved VOOPOO ARGUS G3! So, what’s different in this version? The most obvious changes are the design (less flashy, more classy), increased battery capacity, an upgraded menu, and the omission of button-firing (draw-activated only). 

I get it; maybe none of those upgrades seem terribly compelling. We’ve seen pod vapes with comparable designs and features, so what makes this one so special?

The real innovation is happening under the surface. The ARGUS G3 introduces a new series of iCOSM Code 2.0 pods (previous ARGUS pods remain compatible). VOOPOO claims this technology provides improved flavor, more efficient wicking, reduced leaking, and extended coil life. 

Do the pods live up to these lofty claims? Keep reading to find out.

Price: $23.99 (at Vape Sourcing)
Colors: Midnight black, space gray, aurora blue, aurora purple, snow blue, pearl white, moss green, diamond pink, diamond white

Build quality and design

The VOOPOO ARGUS G3 may lack the luxury feel of the Caliburn G3 Pro and the durability of the Geekvape Aegis Hero Q, but it’s a solid device with quality components. VOOPOO’s build quality is usually reliable, so there’s rarely anything to complain about. The button, however, is the exception. It’s loose and prone to rattling. That’s a minor annoyance, though.

The design is somewhat conventional; it’s as if VOOPOO took a generic pod vape template and dressed it up a bit. Of course, I could say the same about 90% of the devices on the market. The fact is, there’s not much untrodden territory when it comes to pod designs. You can go over the top and make something extra flashy, or stick with the classic look. The ARGUS G3 embraces the latter, and that’s fine by me.

The panels on both of my units look great, but the midnight black version is the standout. Rather than solid black, it has subtle “smokey” waves resembling the sheen of silk sheets. It’s classy and understated—I love it. Still, I’m not a fan of the high-polished accents; they may look nice in pictures, but they collect fingerprints too easily. 

The 0.96-inch color screen was one of the biggest highlights of the G2, and it remains so with the new G3. It’s a beautiful display that rivals some of the best pod vapes on the market. Although the size hasn’t changed, it’s been enhanced with new themes and animations, allowing for some customization. One peculiar design choice is the ornate bezel surrounding the screen, reminiscent of a fancy wristwatch. I suspect the style may be divisive among vapers, but I’m impartial.

Getting started

Stealing a page from OXVA’s playbook, VOOPOO includes a quick-start guide at the forefront of the G3 packaging. I don’t mean “stealing” in a negative sense either—I WANT this to become the norm. It makes learning how to operate the device quick and easy, benefiting vapers of all experience levels.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• One click to wake up the screen
• Two clicks to change themes (long press to confirm selection)
• Three clicks to enter wattage-adjustment mode
• Five clicks to enter the menu (power on/off, clear puffs, lock/unlock)
• Long press to enter stealth mode

The new iCOSM 2.0 pods function exactly like the previous “top-fill” versions (technically, they fill on the side). There’s no need to remove the pod from the device; simply lift the rubber tab and fill. Unfortunately, the large coil housing creates two chambers inside the pod, making it impossible to fill quickly. Squeeze, allow the air bubbles to escape, and repeat—that’s the process; patience is required.

One handy feature is that, after inserting a pod, a temporary display shows the resistance and recommended wattage range. Furthermore, the chip will prevent you from exceeding the pod’s power limit:

• 0.4-ohm pod range: 5-18 watts (recommended: 14-18 watts)
• 0.7-ohm pod range: 5-30 watts (recommended: 18-30 watts)

Lastly, you can use the airflow slider on the side of the device to dial in your preferred amount of restriction. It caters more to MTL users than many pods, which is a nice change of pace. Even halfway open is still a decent MTL draw; however, RDL is achievable with the slider fully open.

Performance

As mentioned, the included pods utilize VOOPOO’s new iCOSM Code 2.0 technology. I won’t invest much time into the details, but it basically consists of a large mesh coil, two layers of wicking (“golden cotton” and a “mega-core”), and a copper e-liquid shield. The idea (as I understand it) is to increase flavor, regulate the wicking speed, and prolong the life of the coil and cotton.

I find the golden cotton (aerospace-grade) the most interesting. Compared to traditional cotton, VOOPOO claims it’s 3x denser, has a 300% longer lifespan, and offers 73% more heat resistance. Of course, bold claims like this are common in the pod game, but the proof is in the pudding. So, how do these pods perform?

0.7-ohm pod (MTL): Within just a few minutes of using this pod, it was clear that iCOSM 2.0 wasn’t just a bunch of marketing mumbo jumbo. It’s legit! The flavor is top-notch, right up there with my favorites from OXVA and UWELL. I’ve been using a 50/50 blend and haven’t had any issues with leaking or gurgling, which is a good sign. At the time of writing, I’ve put 20 mL through it, and it’s still performing like a brand-new pod.

0.4-ohm pod (DTL): My expectations were high after trying the MTL pod, but this one didn’t quite reach the same heights. The draw is smooth, the wicking keeps up with 70VG e-liquid, and it’s a tasty vape. However, while I enjoy the flavor, I’d be reluctant to define it as “top-notch.” Realistically, I think the 0.7-ohm pod may have stolen its thunder.

Battery life and charging

Another significant upgrade is the 1500 mAh battery. It’s 1.5 times larger than the original, yet the dimensions are virtually identical. Even more impressive, the ARGUS G3 only takes 38 minutes to charge fully, which matches some of the best devices I’ve tested. Interestingly, VOOPOO claims it takes 45 minutes, so this is a rare case of a manufacturer underrepresenting a product’s capabilities.

In contrast, it seems likely that the battery capacity is somewhat overrated. I’ve been going through 6.5-7 mL per charge, slightly less than I’m accustomed to from 1500 mAh. However, some coils burn through e-liquid faster than others, so it wouldn’t be fair to make assumptions.

Another minor disappointment is that the charging display (which looks really slick!) disappears after a few seconds. To see the current status, you’ll need to click the button and wake the device. Logically, there should always be an indicator that the device is charging; an inactive display suggests the charge is complete.

Pros / Cons

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