Aster by Eleaf

Commercial characteristics

• Sponsor who has loaned the product for the magazine: Do not wish to be named.
• Price of the tested product: 39.90 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: 75 watts
• Maximum voltage: Not applicable
• Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: Less than 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

Eleaf, Joyetech's low-cost branch, has long established itself in this segment as a serious, hyper-competitive and long-lasting player. The criticism that could have been made to the brand's previous creations on reliability and a construction that could be improved seems to be a thing of the past. Being able to dig with joy in the organ bank of the parent company, Eleaf has therefore decided to move up a gear and offers us a new box: the Aster.

The Aster is therefore presented in an unusual, beautiful and more daring form than previous creations. In a very “Starkien” register, that throws some for those who like modern objects.

It sends 75W in variable power but also in temperature control where it will natively support resistives such as NI200, titanium, SS316 as well as a TCR mode which will allow you to implement the heating coefficients of the resistive that you use if it is not one of those four. It also has a bypass mode which emulates the operation of a mechanical mode as well as a “Smart” mode which chooses for you the best mode according to the type of resistance with which your atomizer is provided. Good, already, it starts well.

I add to that a cladding of protections to make Fort Knox security drool and a simplified operation that allows everyone to appropriate it in an hour watch in hand.

And all this for less than 40 €…. If there's one thing Eleaf hasn't changed, it's their pricing policy and we can be the first to be happy. So let's see if the beauty also has a brain.

Physical characteristics and felt quality

• Width or Diameter of the product in mms: 23
• Product Length or Height in mms: 91
• Product weight in grams: 152.2
• Material composing the product: Aluminum
• Form Factor Type: New
• Decorative style: Classic
• Quality of decoration: Excellent, it is a work of art
• Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? Yes
• All components of this mod seem well assembled? Yes
• Fire button position: On 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: 2
• Number of threads: 1
• Quality of the threads: Very 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: 3.5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

Bodied like a Vogue model, the Aster presents an innovative aesthetic in a segment where it was thought that everything had already been tried. This approach is largely supported by efficient aluminum construction and a simply perfect finish. A type of finish that some high-end mods could almost be inspired by. 

The control buttons are plastic, but they do not differ in the general aesthetic. By shaking the mod a little 2cm from the ear, we hear a rather muffled clicking which shows that the buttons are a little comfortable in their housing but nothing comparable with the metallic cabasa noises typical of some mods from entry level.

Here in brushed aluminum finish (splendid), the box is also available in colors: black, white, gray and pink to date. 

The switch reacts quickly. The cover for access to the battery is firmly secured by two neodymium magnets and offers a dedicated location for its extraction on the bottom.

Inside, it's functional and well-appointed. The cradle is well thought out with a spring-loaded stud for the negative which facilitates the insertion of the battery and avoids a degradation of a metal leg over time. Be careful, during the first changes, the spring of the stud is a little tight and putting the battery is a bit sporty. But I assure you, after a few manipulations, it has taken its cruising speed and becomes efficient.

No degassing or aeration vent. But tested at 75W for an hour with a wild assembly and a good battery, I did not notice any heating. Neither the battery nor the mod. 

The particular shape, juggling between box and tube, may not be suitable for all hands. The mod is compact, of course, but high enough and the position of the switch may be disconcerting at first. Having bear paws instead of normal hands, I found my marks in a few hours but it is possible that smaller hands have problems.We can switch either with the thumb or forefinger, the habit comes quickly.

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: Excellent, the chosen approach is very practical
• Features offered by the mod: Switching to mechanical mode, Battery charge display, Resistance value display, Protection against short circuits from the atomizer, Protection against reverse polarity of batteries, Display of the current vape voltage, Display of the power of the current vape, Temperature control of the atomizer coils, Support the update of its firmware, Clear diagnostic messages
• Accusability: 18650
• Does the mod support stacking? No
• Number of batteries supported: 1
• Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Yes
• 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: 22
• Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested power and the real power
• Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on functional features

Rather than telling you what the mod does, I would have been much quicker to tell you what it doesn't… But let's do the exercise with good grace all the same.

The Aster can work according to several modes:

Variable power mode: In this mode, it will accept resistances between 0.1 and 3.5Ω, which leaves plenty to explore, including users of high resistance genesis (there are still some!). the incrementation and decrementation, traditionally reserved for the [+] and [-] buttons, takes place in steps of one tenth with an acceleration if you keep the button pressed. Nothing but very classic.

Temperature control mode: It accepts the resistances between 0.05 and 1.5Ω. Here, therefore, we have a classic “Joyetech” diagram. By pressing the switch three successively, you enter the modes menu and you can choose between SS, Titanium, Ni200 which are therefore available natively. A TCR menu also exists and allows you to store three additional heating coefficients according to the AC resistive you want to use (NiFe for example). To do this, turn off the box, simultaneously press [-] and the switch and after a few seconds the M1 position appears on the screen, the coefficient of which can be adjusted. And the same for M2 and M3. As soon as its settings are configured by you, they will be directly available in the menu.

By-Pass mode: This mode interrupts the chipset's calculation possibilities and is based solely on the residual voltage of the battery to power the atomizer. It is therefore a mechanical type of operation. But, for all that, the protections do not disconnect.

Smart Mode: For newbies or slackers, Eleaf has implemented this mode which chooses for you which mode to use to feed your atomizer as much as possible, according to the requested power and the type of resistance. It can therefore, at any time, call the variable power mode or the temperature control mode. Apparently gadget, this mode is still useful for hesitant beginners yet and very effective. (Attention, to benefit from this mode, it is imperative to upgrade the firmware to the latest version available HERE)

By pressing [+] and [-] simultaneously, you lock or unlock the chosen setting, whether it is in watts or in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.  

With the box off, pressing the [+] and switch for a long time simultaneously will display the remaining voltage in the battery.

The protections are comprehensive and well thought out. Thus, you are protected against a possible overvoltage of the software or hardware, against excessive discharge of the battery, against reverse polarity, against short circuits and against an increase in local taxes.

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? No
• Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes

Vapelier's note on packaging: 4 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

If we except a manual only in English, I will spare my fingers and your eyes by simply telling you that nothing is missing for immediate operation, apart from the battery of course. 

Appreciations in use

• Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for a Jean side pocket (no discomfort)
• Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
• Easy to change the batteries: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
• 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

Does the mod heat up? Does he ask to do his business too often? Does he cry in front of the Disney movies? No.

In use, it is a real pleasure. Reliable and autonomous, it is establishing itself as the new benchmark for entry level. An entry level which is eyeing squarely on the higher range if we judge by the quality of the rendering which is imperial. Negligible latency, smooth and round vape typical of the operation of Joyetech chipsets, sufficient and available power, only superlatives for a mod at 40 €! 

Compared with an EVIC VTC Mini (not crazy the wasp!), We quickly realize that the renderings are identical and that, if the Aster will not give you the time, your watch or your cell phone will do it as well!

The chipset is magic, we already knew that but its reliability over time is recognized today. The Aster therefore does not make up the figuration and, at the crucial moment of the choice, it stands out as a sexy outsider in a segment which begins to count a lot of references. 

Its fairly long and narrow shape is quickly made in your hand and the contact is made pleasant by a quality material and the practical roundness of the battery cover.

Recommendations for use

• Type of batteries used during the tests: 18650
• Number of batteries used during the tests: 1
• 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? Any atomizer in 22mm or less in diameter
• Description of the test configuration used: Vapor Giant Mini V3, Narda, Theorem
• Description of the ideal configuration with this product: It's to your taste. Avoid atos larger than 22mm in diameter for aesthetic reasons

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.6 / 5

Link to a video review or blog maintained by the reviewer author of the review

The mood ticket of the reviewer

“But what is left for the big girls”? The most venerable of us remember this advertising slogan which was all the rage in the last century. 

This is exactly the question that we can ask ourselves after having toured the Aster. Much more beautiful than the Istick, better built, perfectly finished, equipped with all the popular features and having a very powerful rendering, it flies over the category with elegance and joy. 

Just avoid dropping it because, as Baudelaire says so nicely:

“Exiled on the ground amid boos,
His giant wings prevent him from walking."

(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.