The team at Vape Distribution kindly sent me out the Ijoy SOLO Mini free of charge for the purpose of this review.
About IJOY.
IJOYGROUP CO. LTD is a high-tech enterprise which is dedicated to the development, production, and sales of electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, and accessories. We own the brands of "IJOY" and "CIGPET" and the E-liquid "VCOSE". Mainly, we produce high-end and fashionable electronic cigarette products which can be recycled. As a creative company, IJOY promote the new ideas of healthy smoking, and always ahead the electronic cigarettes innovation.
The IJOY Solo Mini is described on the IJOY Group website as follows:
Updates temperature control to taste control, its the first and only one burn protection mod, based on the Asolo design, it can support almost all coil materials in the market, Ti, Ni, NI-Cr, Ti-Cr, Kanthal A1 and Stainless Steel, etc. This device is powered by IW200TC-VO1 mini processor, featuring the coolest graphical user interface.
Presentation.
The Solo Mini arrived in a stylish back presentation box, with a gloss photo of the Solo Mini in black and white on the front. Solo Mini written on the side. On the rear of the box it indicates the colour of your device. (white)
The outter box sleeve slides off, to reveal the inner black box, which has IJOY, FOR YOUE JOY written down the side. the side of the box pulls out as a little draw, revealing the SOLO Mini packaged in a foam cut out.
The mod can be lifted out, and the foam tray removed, to access the rest of the kit.
The kit includes the following items:
1 x Solo Mini Device
1 x Warranty Card
1 x Manual
1 x Silicone Sleeve
1 x USB Cable
The only thing the kit doesn't include is the battery, so you will need to purchase a suitable 18650 battery, to power the device.
Solo Mini Specification.
Model Name : SOLO Mini 75w
Manufacturer: IJOY
Main Material : High-temperature zinc alloy with teflon coating
Type : VW/TC with Taste Control
Atomiser Connection: 510
Display : OLED
Battery: Single 18650
Charging : USB
Battery Cover : Magnetic
Output Wattage: 5watts - 75watts
Temperature Range: (Ti/Ni):300 - 600°F/ 150 - 315℃
Atomizer resistance:
TC mode Ni /Ti : 0.1ohm - 1.5ohm.
TC mode Resistance Range: 0.08ohm - 3.0ohm.
TC mode on Kanthal : 0.5ohm - 2.5ohm.
Wattage control mode wire : 0.1ohm - 3.0ohm
Size : (L x W x H) : 84x540.4x23.4mm
The SOLO mini has the following safety and protection features:
Time out protection: when the button is pressed for over10 seconds, the output will shut off and the OLED screen will display “TIME OUT”.
Atomizer short-circuit protection: When atomizer shortcircuit occurs, the OLED screen will display “SHORTED”.
Low resistance protection: When the resistance is lower than 0.08ohm, the OLED screen will display “OHMS TOO LOW”.When the resistance is higher than 3ohm, the OLED screen will display “OHMS TOO HIGH
Low power alert: When battery voltage is below 3.2V the device shows “ LOW BATTERY”.
PCB temperature overheat protection: When the temperature of device is too high, the output will shut off automatically and the screen will display “PCB TOO HOT”.
Reverse polarity protection: will protect your device if you insert the battery the wrong way round.
The SOLO mini comes in a wide choice of colours.
The Solo Mini body has been machined out of High-temperature zinc alloy which has then been painted with a hard wearing teflon coating, which so far seems to have been quite chip resistant.
Been ultra picky, on the paint finish the battery cover, seems to be a slighty different shade of white to the body of the device, that may just be mine.
The SOLO Mini has a unique body shape, which definately makes this little mod stand out from the crowd.
One side of the edge of the device, has been flattened off, to give the device a distint surface to mount the deisplay and controls on, and produces and very ergonomic feel in the hand, (for right handed vapors), and puts the fire button directly under the trigger finger.
The top of the device is unclutter, with a recessed 510 connect.
There is no capping around the 510 connection, which may over time lead to marking of the teflon coating, due to the atomiser screwing directly down onto the surface of the device, they may have wanted to fit a raised stainless steel plate to screw down onto.
The base of the device is smooth and plain, with no distinct markings, which may detract from the overall design.
The rear edge of the device, houses the 18650 battery, which is accessed through the magnetic battery cover.
The OLED and control buttons are locoted, on the flattened off edge oppisite the battery cover.
The SOLO mini features a stainless steel square fire button, which has a great positive click to it, Pressing the fire button 5 times in quick succession to turn the device on After switch on , OLED display”IJOY Solo Mini” at stand by mode. Pressing the fire button 5 times in quick succession to turn the device off.
Below the screen is the T shaped controls buttons and the mirco USB charging port.
The T control button allows you to access and control the functions of the SOLO mini.
The SOLO mini has three main modes, VW mode, Temp Mode and Taste control.
Wattage Mode
In VW mode the screen will display the current wattage that the device is running at,
Along with the Atomizer resistance (top left), Voltage (middle left) and current (Bottom Left). just above the remaining battery charge. Whilst vaping it will also display the Working time/vape time.
The wattage can then be adjusted using the plus and minus buttons located either end of the top of the T.
Temp Mode
Press the bottom of the T 3 times will enter into the Temp mode. and will allow you to choose your coil type. NI or Ti, which can then be alternated between using the + & - buttons, after a couple of seconds the chosen coil type will be selected.
Once in Temp Mode, you can then increase or decrease then temp, using the +- buttons.
To change back to wattage mode, you simple press the T button again.
Taste Control Mode.
Taste control allows you to tune the performance of your device to suit you vaping style and flavour.
Simple take a few normal puffs to find your desired vaping taste before switching to TC mode. This gives the device time to learn your draw lenghts, Coil Temp, etc.
pressing"T" button will engage the Taste Control.
When in Taste Control the screen will switch to display the following information.
- E-Liquid Indicator
- Temp Percentage
- Thermometer.
Managing the taste control.
Norm Mode: Calibrate your favorite taste at a wattage firstly, then setting to TC mode,temp percentage shows 100%, that's is your favorite wattage chosen before.
Hard Mode: Press up button to increase temp percentage 100% to 101%-102%-...-110%, means the working wattage is increased by percent too.
Soft Mode: Press down button, temp percentage will decrease from 100% to 99%-98%-...-80%, working wattage decrease by percent.
When you switch to TC mode on maximum wattage, the temp percentage
maximum only can reach 100%.. When switching to 100%, the screen will
display “MAX WATTAGE “.
Resetting, after changing the tank or RDA, I would recommend that you reset your SOLO mini, the clear out its memory, to allow for easier set up. this is done by simply powering off the device. and then when turned off, simply press down the Fire button and the T button at the same time, the screen will then display "Reset OK". When you connect your new atomizer it will then state, new atomizer, and go straight into wattage mode. you will then need to vape on the device for a short time before you can go into Taste control.
E-liquid Indicator
When you are in Taste Control mode, you will see a little eliquid symbol, this will flash in the following situations,
1. The Atomiser does not have enough e-liquid. The indicator will flash and the device will stop working 15 seconds. Refill the e-liquid and go back to wattage mode to learn again.
2. If there is plenty of E-liquid but it keeps flashing that means the learning time was not enough and the device needs to go back to wattage mode to learn again.
3. If the device overheats, wait a while until it can be used again.
Atheistic's and Build Quality
The SOLO mini, has great design ques, I love the way they have off set the display and control panel off to one side, it is designed to fit perfectly in the hand, with the fire button located neatly under the first finger, it has a really natural layout.
The T function button, allows for easy control of the device, with short cuts to each menu when required. The device has a high quality paint finish, although I do think the top will get a bit messed up, from screwing and unscrewing atomisers, due to the flush mounted 510 connection.
The devices overall finish and build is slightly let down by the alignment and fitted of the magnetic battery door, which feels a bit loose and ill fitting, with detracting gaps around the door when fitted.
These floors are overcome by the fitted of the silicone sleeve that comes with the device, which I feel improves the overall look and feel of the device.
Performance & Real World Experiences
It took me a little while to get used to using the taste control function. The fact that you have to go through the calibration process, before the taste control function will kick in. But once you get used to it, and find your way a round the menus and functions, it performs really well. And defiantly seems to add to the overall vaping experience, allowing you to fine tune your vaping experience, and maintain the level you are vaping at. Not sure I would necessarily call it Taste Control, it's more a kind of vapor management allowing you to set and maintain the level of vapour coming off the coils, sort of smooth out the hot and cold spots of the vape. Delivering a more constant experience.
Conclusion.
I have really enjoyed using and reviewing the SOLO mini, and found it to be a great little mod, with bags of functionality, and plenty of power when needed. For the vapor looking for a more controllable and consistent vape, then the iJoy SOLO mini should definitely be added to your vaping wish list.
Supplied by : www.vapedistribution.co.uk
