Commercial characteristics
- Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: The Little Vapoteur
- Price of the tested product: 46.90 Euros
- Product category according to its selling price: Entry level (from 1 to 40 euros)
- Mod type: Variable power electronics and temperature control
- Is the mod telescopic? No
- Maximum power: 80 watts
- Maximum voltage: Not applicable
- Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: Less than 0.1
Reviewer comments on business characteristics
Eleaf is embarking on a new line of boxes. After the iSticks, iJust and other Pico families, it's the iKuu's turn. For today, it will be the “little one” of this new family.
Indeed, the kit that I test contains a box iKuu i80, compact housing with an integrated battery of 3000mAh which can reach 80W.
It is accompanied by the Melo, fourth of the name, in its 25mm version. It is the flagship clearomizer of the Chinese firm.
At the very beginning of this review, I remain cautious. I wonder who this kit is for. In fact, I don't really see what concrete it brings or what problem it addresses. But let's still be curious and study this little set.
Physical characteristics and felt quality
- Width or Diameter of the product in mm: 27
- Product Length or Height in mm: 128
- Product weight in grams: 160
- Material composing the product: Aluminum, Delrin
- Form Factor type: Box mini - type IStick
- Decorative style: Classic
- Quality of decoration: Good
- Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? Yes
- All components of this mod seem well assembled? Yes
- Fire button position: Lateral near the top cap
- Fire button type: Mechanical plastic on contact rubber
- Number of buttons making up the interface, including touch zones if they are present: 2
- Type of user interface buttons: Mechanical plastic on contact rubber
- Quality of the interface button (s): Good, not the button is very responsive
- Number of parts in the product: 1
- Number of threads: 1
- Quality of the threads: Good
- Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? Yes
Rating of the vapelier as to feelings quality: 2.9 / 5 
Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality
For starters, let's talk about the box. It is quite compact, 79x27x38mm for its dimensions and very light, just 120g weighing, which makes it a flyweight.
Its design is of a modern type, more in a fun, light spirit, a bit “Power Ranger” if I had to be mean. But it's still rather pleasing to the eye.
It consists of a metal body (zamak type), which seems to be encased in a two-part plastic case. The facade, which is part of this sheath, is “mobile”. Indeed, it serves as a firing trigger as we have already seen at Wismec with the Predator and other Smoktech, for the record. In its center, the large oled screen is very readable. Just below, the two interface buttons materialized by two small plastic squares quite well adjusted. We end the walk through the essential micro USB port.
The other plastic part adopts a curved shape, it is intended to be housed in the palm. The handling is far from being unpleasant, on the other hand the plastic takes all the fingerprints and that, it is always harmful for the maniac geeks that we are.
As for the Melo 4, his physique is pretty manly, especially in this version 25 mm. A Pyrex tube, caught between two metal parts, the resistor serving as a vertebral column, a fairly classic configuration after all. An ingenious sliding top-cap reveals a fairly large bean opening for easy filling.
At the base, an air flow adjustment ring acts on the opening of two large slits.
The Melo is neither the most beautiful nor the ugliest, it leaves me with a feeling of peaceful neutrality to which I find nothing objective to oppose.
Functional features
- Type of chipset used: Owner
- Connection type: 510, Ego - via adapter
- Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through a spring.
- Lock system ? Electronic
- Quality of the locking system: Good, the function does what it is for
- Features offered by the mod: Switching to mechanical mode, Display of the charge of the batteries, Display of the resistance value, Protection against short circuits from the atomizer, Display of the current vape voltage, Display of the power of the current vape, Display of the vape time of each puff, Variable protection against overheating of the atomizer resistors, Temperature control of the atomizer resistors, Support the update of its firmware, Clear diagnostic messages
- Accu Compatibility: Proprietary Accus
- Does the mod support stacking? No
- Number of batteries supported: The batteries are proprietary / Not applicable
- Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Not applicable
- Does the mod offer a recharge feature? Charging function possible via Micro-USB
- Is the recharge function pass-through? Yes
- Does the mode offer a Power Bank function? No power bank function offered by the mod
- Does the mode offer other functions? No other function offered by the mod
- Presence of air flow regulation? Yes
- Maximum diameter in mms of compatibility with an atomizer: 26
- Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Good, there is a tiny difference between the requested power and the real power
- Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Good, there is a tiny difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage
Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 4.3 / 5 
Reviewer's comments on functional features
The iKuu i80 is an electronic box that embeds a home chipset that, following the good principle of the consortium Joyetech / Eleaf / Wismec, offers almost all possibilities.
We therefore find all possible vape modes: variable power, temperature control and Bypass to emulate the operation of a mechanical mod.
The “wattage” and Bypass modes work with resistors whose value must be between 0.10 and 3,5Ω, which covers a rather wide operating scale.
For temperature control, we can always use Ni200, SS316 and titanium. The resistance will have to see its value between 0,05 and 1,5Ω, of the classic sum all.
There is a mode of fine adjustment of the power over a period of time of 2s to awaken a somewhat diesel mounting or, conversely, clamp a little super responsive editing.
The display is easy to read and very comprehensive. It contains the battery level, the resistance value, the voltage, the power and the intensity in amperes. We can also choose to replace the latter by a puff counter, in number or in puff time.
The beautiful therefore embeds a fixed 3000mAh battery which is recharged via the micro USB port which can, according to the manufacturer's data, withstand a charging current of 2A. We are also told that it is designed to withstand external temperatures ranging from -5 ° C to 60 ° C.
Let's move on to the Melo 4, it is therefore a clearomizer, which uses proprietary EC2 type coils. For the moment, they are available in 0.3 and 0.5Ω.
The filling is done from the top and the capacity is 4,5 ml. We will of course find an air flow adjustment ring at the base of the atomizer. In short, a simple and fully functional clearo.
Evaluation of the packaging
- Presence of a box accompanying the product: Yes
- Would you say that the packaging is up to the price of the product? Yes
- Presence of a user manual? Yes
- Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? Yes
- Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes
Vapelier's note on packaging: 5 / 5 
Reviewer's comments on conditioning
We are not going to catch fire when we see the box of our iKuu i80.
Indeed, it is correct with regard to the price but, frankly, at the visual level, we saw more… inspired. Indeed, the box has a two-tone green and ocher background with a sort of “water drop” motif. We find a photo of our box, wearing its atomizer and the main commercial arguments. On the back of the box, the description of the content and the mandatory normative logos.
In the box, enthroned our kit, two resistors, a USB cable, and the manual which, as usual at Eleaf, is translated into French.
So it's not sexy, it's not original, but it's still at the price.
Appreciations in use
- Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for an inside jacket pocket (no deformations)
- Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Easy, even standing on the street, with a simple Kleenex
- Easy to change batteries: Not applicable, the battery is only rechargeable
- Did the mod heat up? No
- Has there been any erratic behavior after a day of use? No
- Description of situations in which the product has experienced erratic behavior
Vapelier's rating in terms of ease of use: 5/5
Reviewer's comments on the use of the product
On this item we can not fault much to our little Chinese. It is compact and light so you will easily invite it on all your outings. It is the kind of box made for everyday life, in nomadic and work mode.
Regarding the ergonomics of the settings, we can say that if you know other products of the brand, you will not be lost. It works according to the same principles as the electro boxes of the Chinese consortium Joyetech, Eleaf and Wismec. For others, you will find everything you need to know in the instructions. You will see, we tame it quickly.
In terms of vape, the box behaves well. It's not a DNA, a Yihi or even a Dicode, but it's very good.
Charging is done through the micro USB port. We are told that the box is compatible with a charging current of 2A. So I tested and found the port to heat up a lot. I didn't take the risk of leaving iKuu unattended. Charging on the port of my PC, no problem, however, the port does not heat up. I am not drawing any hasty conclusions about the long-term acceptance of 2A charging, but I still wanted to stress this point.
To conclude, this small box is rather simple and effective and it is perfectly cut for a nomadic use.
As for Melo, the EC2 resistors seem to me effective. They produce a good amount of steam and the restitution of the flavors is in the good average of the category. We will appreciate the good autonomy offered by the tank.
Recommendations for use
- Type of batteries used during the tests: The batteries are owners on this mod
- Number of batteries used during the tests: The batteries are proprietary / Not applicable
- With what type of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Dripper, Classic fiber, Sub-ohm assembly, Genesis-type rebuildable
- With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? A good RTA
- Description of the test configuration used: Melo equipped with 0.3 ohm resistor
- Description of the ideal configuration with this product: The kit as is working well
was the product liked by the reviewer: Bof, it's not the craze
Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 3.7 / 5 
Link to a video review or blog maintained by the reviewer author of the review
The mood ticket of the reviewer
Eleaf is undoubtedly one of the kings of the low cost vape. Its catalog is already well supplied, but that does not prevent the Chinese brand from continuing to expand it.
We therefore discover the iKuu i80 box, a box which ultimately brings few new features compared to the existing one, whether in the house catalog or those of the competition.
The chipset is a classic from Eleaf, it ultimately only brings a new screen and a fast charging function. 80W, TC, Bypass, variable power, it is true that everything is there, but we already found all this on most of the latest models of the brand.
The look is quite nice, we are on a more fun design than what Eleaf usually offers us. Too bad the plastic chosen for a good part of the body of the box is so unattractive and is so likely to take your prints like a sworn police officer.
The Melo 4 that accompanies it is a sober clearomizer and not very original in its look. Its sliding top-cap system is very practical and the new EC2 coils behave well.
The kit is cut for everyday life: good autonomy, lightness and compactness. The price is very good, you get what you pay for, but no more.
So do not trust the price or the fact that it is a kit to throw you on if you are new to the vape. This kit as it is intended for confirmed vapers. It is made to deliver a direct vape at powers greater than 25W.
In summary, although the quality of the product is not in question and the quality / price / compactness ratio makes it a good stand-alone kit to go out of the house, this kit does not overwhelm me. In the end, I find it of little interest compared to what already exists, including in the Eleaf brand. The same thing but in a different case and not a single innovation to decide. But, if you have to equip yourself and your budget is tight, this kit remains objectively a good choice.
Good Vape
Vince
(c) Copyright Le Vapelier SAS 2014 - Only full reproduction of this article is authorized - Any modification of any kind is totally prohibited and infringes the rights of this copyright.
