Honest review time: The Pico X from Eleaf

One of my favorite all time designs for a mod is the iStick Pico. Its simple layout off-setting the battery from the atomizer helped to shorten it and make it one of the more compact single battery devices on the market. Since its original release back in 2016 Eleaf has come out with several versions of it with all of them conforming to that original layout and I’ve been a fan ever since. Here’s a look at the most recent, the iStick Pico X from Eleaf.

Package contents:

Listed features and specs:

Packaging and contents:

The kit comes packed in a nice white cardboard box with an image of the device on the front and details of the kit on the back. Inside it comes packed with the Pico X mod, the Melo 4 atomizer, two EC-M 0.15ohm coil heads, a quick charge micro USB cable, two user manuals and a bag of spare o-rings. They don’t include many extras in the box and noticeably absent is any kind of replacement glass for the tank but you do get everything you’d need to get started and it’s all nicely presented in the kit.

The mod:

The iStick Pico X sort of returns to its roots by supporting the most common battery type used in the vaping industry the 18650. The past few versions have mostly been bigger or smaller supporting 21700 batteries like the Pico S or having internal batteries like the Pico Baby. The original Pico was actually my favorite of the bunch so the Pico X was a very pleasant surprise. Unlike previous versions the entire body of the Pico X is made of plastic. It’s got a smooth matte finish that feels a bit grippy and super comfortable on the hands. They’ve also added a little bit of flair to the shape of it with the body having some ergonomic curves to it that really make it a pleasure to hold. However aside from the material and shape of the body almost everything about the Pico X remains the same as the original.

The offset battery is easily accessible through the cap which sits beside the stainless steel 510 connection up top. I found the threads on the cap have been slightly improved from past iterations and it’s easier than ever to access the 18650 battery. However the placement of the cap still means atomizers will be limited to 22mm in diamter. It’s got onboard charging via the micro USB port located on the front and also supports firmware updates. It charges at a max of 1A and allows for pass-through vaping meaning you can still vape on it while it charges. Also located on the face of the device are the fire button and the black and white OLED screen while the adjustment buttons are located on the bottom. The information on the screen is well laid out and familiar showing the current resistance, Puffs/Time/Amps, Wattage or Temp and a basic battery bar. The buttons are all plastic but have a decent clicky feel to them and none of them have any kind of rattle or play to them.

Using the device is fairly intuitive with five clicks to turn it on and off and three clicks to enter the mode menu. In the menu you’ve got options for Wattage, Bypass, Temp NI, Temp Ti, Temp SS and Temp M1-M3(TCR). Pressing and holding Fire and + will bring up the sub menu where you can chose which sub parameter is displayed on screen Puffs, Time or Amps, set a preheat value, turn stealth mode on and off, set the screen timeout value, check the version and also check the actual remaining voltage of your battery. If you’re in TC mode you’ll also see an option to lock resistance in the sub menu. To set the wattage for TC mode you click the fire button four times and it will flip from temp to watts. In essence it acts and works just like previous versions of the iStick Pico but I did notice one new feature I don’t believe I’ve seen on previous models. When attaching a new atomizer it asks the usual new/old coil question but if you select new coil it will automatically try and set a recommended wattage based on the resistance of the coil. Details are pretty limited but with one of the included coils which read as 0.15ohms it preset the wattage to 55w which I found was quite comfortable for the coils the kit comes with. One thing I noted is occasionally it would ask the new coil question after being left idle for a while, not sure if it’s just a read issue with the coil but it was a minor annoyance I encountered. This would trigger it to reset the wattage to its preset if you press +  which if you’ve made an adjustment can be a pain.

The tank:

The tank that comes with the kit is the Melo 4, the fourth generation in the Melo series of tanks. It’s come a long way and still manages to stay true to the look of the original but now comes equipped with some more modern features. It’s still a 22mm diameter tank made of stainless steel and bottom airflow but now comes with the convenience of top fill. One thing to note about the top fill is the coil inside the tank blocks off a bit of the top fill hole so if any juice builds up there it can clog it up when re-filling leading to a bit of a mess. I find if you jam your bottle tip in to the side you can usually avoid it. The tank holds just 2ml of juice which paired with a thirsty mesh coil means you’ll be topping up frequently. They could have included a bubble tank since the base of the Melo 4 sits higher than the offset battery cap of the Pico X so a wider tank likely would have fit just fine. Airflow comes in from two cyclops style slots on the base and is adjustable by turning the airflow control ring, it’s firm but smooth with stops at either end and can easily be adjusted to your preference. I’ve been leaving it wide open for a slightly restricted direct lung hit.

It’s the coils that come with the Melo 4 that are the real star of the show. The kit includes two 0.15 EC-M coils rated from 30-75W. They’re mesh coils and some really great ones at that. I’ve been running them around 55W which is what the Pico X suggested and they’ve been incredible. They produce some really thick clouds and the flavour I’ve been getting from them has been amazing. They’re smaller than average mesh coils but aren’t quite meant for mouth to lung more like a restricted direct lung vape which I really enjoy. Longevity of the coils will always depend on juices used, personal vaping habits and QC on the coils themselves but based on my experience with them they should last just as long as other mesh coils currently on the market.

Overall:

Another solid entry in the Pico lineup and a perfect little kit for both new vapers and folks looking for a compact, stylish and solid performing subohm kit. The new mesh coils in the Melo 4 are among my new favorites and the Pico X has been going everywhere with me!! If you were a fan of the original Pico you’ll probably appreciate what the Pico X brings to the table. Great job Eleaf!!