Kanger TOPBOX Mini Platinum Edition Review
TOPBOX Mini Platinum
From $54.95
Pros
- TC mode with almost any coil
- Top filling tank
- Three types of coils included
- Mini RBA Plus deck
Cons
- Temperature increments not in single degree
No one can accuse Kangertech of leaving well enough alone. They continue to innovate, revise, update and tweak. From the adjustable air flow control systems on their tanks to the temperature control technology in their mods, Kangertech keeps tweaking, seeking to improve with each new release.
The most recent products from Kangertech embody that philosophy, the KBOX 200 temperature control mod (reviewed here) and the TOPBOX Mini Platinum Edition. It wasn’t that long ago that Kanger released the first version of the TOPBOX, the Nano. That kit included a 60 watt temperature control KBOX Nano and Kanger’s then brand new 3.2 ml, top filling Toptank Nano (our First Look is here).
Now they’ve released the TOPTANK Mini Platinum (it’s also available in black, white and red). This kit includes the 75 watt temperature control KBOX Mini and 4 ml, top filling Toptank Mini. The biggest difference between the Nano and Mini versions of the temperature control KBOX (besides their maximum wattage) is the temperature control technology employed on the KBOX Mini. Like the KBOX 200 and 120, the KBOX Mini TC can operate in temperature control mode with Ni 200, Titanium, Stainless Steel, Nichrome and Kanthal coils. Kangertech refers to this as Kanger Universal-TC Technology.
There is a good deal to cover with the TOPBOX Mini Platinum. I’ll be reviewing both the mod and the tank, since they come packaged together as a unit. Let’s begin by looking at each individually and then come back and the rate kit as a unit.
The KBOX Mini Platinum TC
The KBOX Mini Platinum is a variable wattage mod with a range of 7 – 75 watts in 0.1 watt increments. In temperature control mode it has a range of 100° – 300°C in 5° increments and 200° – 600°F in 10° increments.
An external 18650 battery (not included) powers the KBOX Mini. You can charge the battery while it’s in the mod via the micro USB port and the included micro USB charging cable. The KBOX Mini Platinum also has pass through charging capability, meaning you can continue to vape while the battery is charging. It’s capable of firing coils with a resistance as low as 0.1 ohm. The KBOX Mini has a spring loaded 510 connector.
There are three buttons on the KBOX Mini, the fire button and the “+” and “-” buttons. To turn the mod on or off you press the fire button five times. To set the KBOX Mini mode, press the fire button three times to enter the selection menu. This will give you opportunity to select the type of coil you have attached to the mod. The first option is Ni 200. Press the fire button three more times to cycle to the next option, Titanium. Continue pressing the fire button three times to cycle through each of the remaining options, Stainless Steel and Nichrome (which is also used for Kanthal). Another three taps of the fire button will put you in variable wattage mode.
Once you’ve selected the mode you can increase or decrease temperature or wattage by using the “+” and “-” buttons. When you’re happy with your settings you can lock the power change buttons by holding in all three buttons simultaneously. The OLED display will flash off and on to let you know that it’s locked. To unlock the mod press in all three buttons again. And you can flip the orientation of the display by 180° by holding in the “+” and “-” buttons at the same time.
In temperature control mode the OLED displays a battery meter, resistance of the attached coil, the maximum wattage setting (75 watts) and your selected temperature and coil material. In variable wattage mode the OLED displays the battery meter, resistance of the attached coil, voltage and your selected wattage setting.
Kanger has included all of the basic safety features in the KBOX Mini TC, including short circuit, open circuit and over time usage protection.
The TOPTANK Mini Platinum
The Toptank Mini is similar to Kangertech’s Subtank, but it’s a top filler. To fill the tank simply unscrew the top cover. This is much more convenient, and less messy, than the bottom filling Subtanks. The Toptank Mini is 22 mm in diameter and has a 4 ml ejuice capacity.
The Toptank also has an adjustable air flow system, much like the one on the Subtank, with openings on two sides of the tank. There are three settings to choose from.
Kangertech packages the TOPBOX Mini Platinum with a 0.5 ohm Ni 200 coil, a 0.5 ohm Stainless Steel coil, a 0.5 ohm Clapton coil and an RBA Mini Plus deck.
What’s In The Box
- 1 X KBOX Mini Platinum 75W TC
- 1 X TOPTANK Mini Platinum
- 1 X 0.15 ohm Ni200 coil
- 1 X 0.5 ohm SS coil
- 1 X 0.5 ohm Clapton coil
- 1 X RBA Mini Plus deck
- 1 X RBA accessory pack
- 1 X Micro USB cable
- 1 X User manual
Performance: Each element of the TOPBOX Mini Platinum Edition performs extremely well, and as a unit that’s equally true. The Toptank provides loads of billowy vapor, thanks in large part to Kanger’s latest SSOCC coils (stainless steel organic cotton coil). Each coil has two large and one smaller ejuice port so that cotton can easily wick up enough ejuice to keep up with your vaping.
The 4 ml capacity of the Toptank is sufficient for hours of vaping, especially in temperature control mode. The KBOX Mini fires consistently, and in temperature control mode the maximum wattage setting is set by default at the mod’s upper limit of 75 watts, so there’s no discernible delay between pressing the fire button and vapor production, as has been the case with lower wattage settings in some of Kanger’s earlier TC devices.
Features: This is where the TOPBOX Mini Platinum really shines, with one slight exception. But first, the positives. The most impressive feature is the Kanger Universal-TC Technology, allowing the KBOX Mini to operate in temperature control mode with virtually any kind of coil.
Then there’s the top fill feature on the Toptank, which is much more convenient, and less messy, than bottom fill tanks. Add to that the inclusion of three types of coils and the Mini RBA Plus deck and the Toptank is one of the most feature rich tanks available.
Now here’s the one small negative I’ve found with the TOPBOX Mini Platinum Edition, the change increments in temperature control mode. In Celsius it’s 5 and Fahrenheit it’s 10. That’s a pretty wide range and I’d like to have seen it in single degree increments, like Kanger gave the KBOX 200, to allow vapers to get the most out of temperature control mode.
Quality: For the two weeks that I’ve been using the Kangertech TOPBOX Mini Platinum Edition it’s proven to be one of the highest quality products Kanger has released. The Toptank doesn’t suffer from any of the ejuice seepage issues that I’ve experienced with other Kanger tanks. The threading on all of the pieces of the tank is smooth and the whole unit comes apart easily for cleaning and goes back together just as easily.
The KBOX Mini is solid and well machined. The buttons feel like they’re made of metal and they don’t wiggle around or rattle. The OLED is sharp, crisp and easy to read. And most importantly it fires every time I press that button.
And those SSOCC coils put out lots of billowy vapor and they last a good while. I’m still using the original Ni200 coil after two weeks with no sign of wear.
Looks: Each of the components of the TOPBOX Mini Platinum are really good looking in their own right, and they’d look good no matter what other device you paired them with. And you could slap another tank on the KBOX Mini Platinum or use the Toptank Mini Platinum on another mod, each is available individually, but why would you want to? Together they are a thing of beauty.
All that stainless steel, even the buttons, and the slim lines of both the mod and the tank. This is one of the best looking devices Kangertech or anyone else had brought to market in a long time.
Price/Value: Kangertech lists the MSRP on the TOPBOX Mini Platinum at $92.90. The listed MSRP on the other versions of the TOPBOX Mini TC kit, in white, black or red, at $76.90. Neither of those prices are out of line for this kit. But DirectVapor, a Seven Report advertiser lists all of the TOPBOX Mini TC Kits at $54.95, including the Platinum Edition. And that makes it a true bargain.
For what Kangertech has provided with the TOPBOX Mini Platinum Edition, the top filling Toptank, three coils and the Mini RBA Plus, and the Kanger Universal-TC Technology that allows you to vape in temperature control mode with just about any type of coil, you might expect to pay a lot more. You could pay much more for other products that do a lot less than the TOPBOX Mini Platinum.
If you’ve been waiting for your first temperature control device, I think we have found it for you. And if you’re ready for the newest TC technology, again, for the moment at least, we’ve found it.
Order the Kangertech TOPBOX Mini Platinum Edition from DirectVapor.
(For details on Seven Report review methodology click here.)
