iStick 100 Watt Review
iStick 100 Watt
$44.95
Pros
- Great price
- 100 Watts
- Comprehensive OLED display
Cons
- Batteries not included
- USB port on bottom of device
The vaping industry seems to be taking a cue from Hollywood, with all of these sequels. One of the latest is the newest addition to Eleaf’s popular iStick line. Back at Christmas 2014 the very first iStick, and you can tell it was the first because it was simply called “iStick,” was one of the hottest selling mods in stores and online.
That first iStick, with a maximum output of 20 watts, was quickly followed by a 10 watt iStick mini. And then there was the iStick 30 Watt, the iStick 50 Watt, an iStick 20 Watt mini, an iStick 40 Watt with temperature control. And now the iStick 100 Watt. Let’s see, that makes seven distinct models in Eleaf’s iStick line.
This newest entry, the iStick 100 Watt, is definitely an iStick, and it maintains quite a few of the characteristics of the rest of the line. But, largely due to the size needed to accommodate those two 18650 batteries, looks the least like the rest of the iSticks, and there are other differences, besides its maximum power output, that set this model apart.
The iStick 100 Watt is powered by two external 18650 batteries, not included in the package. This is the first iStick that doesn’t have an internal, integral battery. You can charge the batteries while they’re still in the unit with the included micro USB cable, but Eleaf didn’t include a 1A wall adapter with this model. And Eleaf gave the iStick 100 Watt pass through charging capability, which means you can continue to vape while the batteries are charging inside the mod.
Like the other models in the iStick line, the 100 Watt is variable voltage (VV) and variable wattage (VW) with a voltage range of 2 – 10 volts and a wattage range of 5 – 100 watts. It will fire coils from 0.15 – 5.0 ohm. Switching between VV and VW mode is fairly simple, just press the fire button three times. You increase or decrease the power via the “+” and “-” buttons below the OLED display.
That display will show you remaining battery power, ohms of your attached tank down to two decimal places, wattage and voltage, with the power mode you’ve selected displayed on the far right hand of the screen in larger font. With the fire button pressed the display changes to show a vape timer and the selected power mode and output.
You can lock the “+” and “-” buttons to prevent inadvertent changes to your settings by holding them in simultaneously for two seconds with the mod turned on. And you can change the orientation of the display by 180º by holding in the “+” and “-” buttons simultaneously for two seconds with the unit turned off.
Eleaf offers the iStick 100 Watt in black or silver. It’s 510 threaded and comes with an eGo thread adapter. Eleaf has included all of the standard safety features, including a 10 second vape cut off, short-circuit, low voltage and temperature protection.
What’s In The Box
- 1 X iStick 100 Watt mod
- 1 X Micro USB cable
- 1 X eGo thread connector
- 1 X User’s manual
Performance: Like all of the iSticks before it, the 100 Watt is a pretty solid performer, it fires when you hit the fire button. The wattage output is impressive, especially for a mod of this size and in this price range. Battery life is going to be determined to some degree by the quality of the batteries you use and at how high a wattage you vape. My wife and I have been getting better than a full day of vaping out of a fully charged set of batteries and vaping in the 45- 60 watt range.
Features: This mod maintains most of the features of prior versions of the iStick, but it’s lacking a couple that may have been omitted to keep the price point competitive. Let’s look first at what it does include. 100 watts of maximum output. The OLED display, with it’s two decimal point ohm reader and all the information you need on the main screen. The ability to lock the settings and flip the display are nice too. And while it does include a vape timer, I find that this is a feature I don’t miss on mods that don’t include it.
What this iStick doesn’t have that the others include aren’t deal breakers, but they are worth noting. Some people will like the fact that it’s powered by two external 18650 batteries, but that does add to the final price of this model. And the omission of a 1A wall adapter to charge the batteries while they’re still in the mod means you have to either settle for charging via a computer, purchase a separate adapter or charge the batteries on an external charger, which, if you don’t already have one, is one more expense to make the iStick 100 Watt functional.
Quality: So far so good, at least for the amount of time that I and my wife have been using this unit. It fires when you push the button and the ohm reader seems to be as accurate as any on a box mod that I’ve used. The unit itself is solid enough, if a little light. It doesn’t have quite the same presence in my hand as the 50 watt iStick, doesn’t feel quite as substantial.
The buttons have a little rattle to them. Not much, but it’s noticeable. And those buttons don’t seem quite as solid as those on previous versions of the iStick or other models in this class that I’ve used. The one other little issue I have with this mod may be more design than quality related. It’s the placement of the micro USB charging port on the bottom of the device, making it difficult to stand the unit upright while it’s charging.
With any product line that’s as popular and extended as the iStick line, there are going to be naysayers and horror stories. I’ve heard a few about the iSticks. But I’ve heard some about other product lines as well. So far the iStick 100 Watt has done everything I’ve asked it to do.
Looks: Beauty is a very subjective thing. I’ve been impressed with the look of previous iSticks, and I think part of that appeal has been their compact size. The iStick 100 Watt, while bearing some family resemblance, doesn’t manage to pull off the same lines and svelte good looks of its predecessors. There’s little contrasting colors on this model, save the fire and settings buttons. The rest of the mod is a single color and that may hide any elegance of design. It’s not a bad looking device, but its looks don’t knock me out either.
Price/Value: Here is where the iStick 100 Watt really shines. Eleaf lists the price of this model on their website as $49.99. That’s $20 less than what they have the iStick 50 Watt listed at. For twice the power! And you can find it for less. One of our advertisers, DirectVapor.com, has it listed at $44.95. Even with the price of two 18650 batteries you’re going to spend less on the 100 watt than the iStick 50 watt, or many other comparable mods with a maximum output of 100 watts.
Given its performance, the few questions about the quality and the need to purchase external batteries, the Eleaf iStick 100 watt mod is still quite a deal.
My wife purchased the iStick 100 Watt I used in this review, and graciously allowed me to use it long enough to gather the information needed for the review. I tested it with a Kangertech Subtank Plus tank and a Youde (UD) Zephyrus tank.
Order the Eleaf iStick 100 Watt from DirectVapor.
(For details on Seven Report review methodology click here.)
