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Aster RT by Eleaf
Aster RT by Eleaf

Aster RT by Eleaf

 

Commercial characteristics

  • Sponsor who has loaned the product for the magazine: Do not wish to be named.
  • Price of the tested product: 46 Euros
  • Product category according to its selling price: Mid-range (from 41 to 80 euros)
  • Mod type: Variable power electronics and temperature control
  • Is the mod telescopic? No
  • Maximum power: 100 watts
  • Maximum voltage: Not applicable
  • Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: Less than 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

In the small world of entry-level or mid-range boxes, Eleaf has managed to forge a lasting path that can be summed up in a few words: low prices and good performance. 

From Istick to Pico through the first, second or umpteenth generation Aster, the manufacturer has established itself as a formidable competitor, each time offering equipment adapted to the market, reliable, efficient and always offered at non-discriminatory prices. . Thus, sales are linked happily, both for the brand and for the consumer. A good deal that continues to work.

Today, the manufacturer offers us a different vision of a box. With the Aster RT, we have in fact a box combining a 4400mAh LiPo battery and an “inclusion” of your atomizer. Even if this principle has existed for a long time, the "old" will remember the Innokin VTR, it is, to my knowledge, the first time that the manufacturer has ventured to market this type of object. The aim is to keep the entire set-up really compact and to impose a new aesthetic signature. 

Big battery equals big autonomy, the 100W offered at an output intensity limited to 25A will therefore allow you to have fun and pair the Aster RT with any type of atomizer as long as they have a smaller or strictly equal diameter. at 22mm and that their height is compatible with the proposed location (approximately 35mm offline). Dripper excluded therefore ...

All the technologies currently in fashion have been implemented and Eleaf has been able to take advantage of the knowledge in the matter of Joyetech or Wismec to do this, the three companies having a common base.

Let's see all this more closely.

Physical characteristics and felt quality

  • Width or Diameter of the product in mm: 40
  • Product Length or Height in mm: 79.8
  • Product weight in grams: 228
  • Material composing the product: Aluminum
  • Form Factor Type: Classic Box - VaporShark type
  • Decorative style: Classic
  • Quality of decoration: Excellent, it is a work of art
  • Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? No
  • 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: 4 / 5 4 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

The first shock is aesthetic. We can say that the designers of Eleaf have not been idle and their work deserves frank and massive recognition. The Aster RT is indeed very beautiful. The aesthetic work, however complex, to obtain an autonomous box and integrating an atomizer within it was perfectly successful. From my point of view, this is the most beautiful box of the type that I have ever had in my hand. 

Alternating voluptuous curves and tighter lines, the RT imposes a massiveness helping the perception of a high quality and simultaneously, even if it seems paradoxical, a graceful silhouette which inevitably seduces. Particular care has been taken in the part which allows you to embed your atomizer in the box, the result is final, perfect.

The finish is up to the task and completely new at this price level. Nothing sticks out or seems incongruous. The use of a zinc / aluminum alloy allows the work by casting and a very rewarding finish. The colors offered are numerous (see photo below) and the sometimes different finishes are all at the top. Even if, personally, I admit that the so-called “silver” version, imitating brushed steel, totally won me over.

The control panel is efficient and perfectly integrated. The various buttons, switches and controls are operational, pleasant to handle and nothing is out of place, both in terms of aesthetics and neat finish. The [+] and [-] buttons are one above the other and overhang a small hole used to reset the box in the event of a problem using a toothpick or other sharp object and a micro-USB port used for charging the integrated LiPo battery as well as upgrading the chipset.

The size is limited, the weight too and the general shape calls for an all-encompassing grip, a bit like a Reuleaux. And it is here, alas, that a major design problem resides which, if it does not ruin the efforts of the brand, may be a major drag for some hands.

Indeed, whether you want to activate the switch by the index finger or the thumb, the position of the atomizer that you will integrate will have a good chance of putting the airholes in front of your fingers and therefore of heavily penalizing the contribution of air to the atomizer. It will then be necessary to abandon any idea of ​​an encompassing position of the hand and find an unnatural digital position in all cases which will allow your ato to breathe. A major downside because it means that ergonomics have been sacrificed on the altar of aesthetics. In the end, the RT is bad in hand and it will be necessary to fight against the old gripping habits to find others. Pity, very pity.

Another problem related to the design of the ring: atomizers with a diameter greater than 22mm will be prohibited. Even a Kayfun V5, which corresponds to this dimension, will not pass because its airflow ring is of a larger diameter. You must also take into account several facts: your atomizer must be of a height greater than 35mm offline if you want to use it without gene. Atomizers taking their airflow by the top-cap may also be blocked by the presence of the arch which will interfere with the air intake. Be careful therefore to document yourself well before proceeding with the purchase so as not to run into a dead end in the end.

The Aster RT has been designed to work perfectly with the Melo 3 from the same brand. A kit already exists for sale comprising these two elements. This is good but an additional and less “corporate” design effort would have been, in my opinion, beneficial for the sale of this box.

The bottom cap is equipped with six vents allowing the cooling of the chipset as well as a possible degassing following a problem. 

An assessment that would have been very positive if it had not been altered by what remains a serious design fault.

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, 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, Display of the vape time of each puff, Temperature control of the atomizer coils, Support the update of its firmware, Support the customization of its behavior by external software, Clear diagnostic messages
  • Compatibility accus: LiPo
  • 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 mm of compatibility with an atomizer: 22
  • 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 4.3 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on functional features

The chipset owner is complete and has many features and interesting: 

Variable Power mode (VW): 

This traditional mode therefore allows you to go from 1 to 100W, on a resistance scale between 0.1 and 3.5Ω.

Temperature control mode (TC):

With resistances between 0.05 and 1.5Ω, you can navigate between 100 and 315 ° C using resistive Ni200, titanium or SS. 

By-Pass mode:

It makes it possible to refrain from any regulation and therefore to rely solely on the residual voltage of the battery, like a mechanical mod while taking advantage of the protections integrated into the chipset.

Smart mode: 

It allows a simplified operation because it stores on ten memory allocations a resistance / power tandem that you have set. So, if you change the ato to another that you have already set before, Smart mode will directly send the required and pre-programmed power.

TCR mode:

Well known, it therefore makes it possible to implement other types of resistive than the three residents by entering under three memory allocations the heating coefficients of wires not automatically implemented. Kanthal, NiFe, Ni60, Nichrome…. everything becomes possible in temperature control.

The pre-heat:

Working in concert with VW mode, it allows you to influence the start of the signal curve by adjusting the power and time parameters. So, if you want to boost a particularly slow editing a little, you can, for example, add an additional 10W during the first second of the signal. The maximum delay is two seconds.

The instructions in French provided are particularly explicit on the operation of the box, I will therefore refrain from developing here the necessary operations. However, it should be noted that the ergonomics have been particularly neat and that, if you are used to that of the Joyetech, Eleaf or Wismec boxes, you will not be at all disoriented.

It remains to go around the built-in protections: cut-off 10s, protection against short circuits, against a low voltage and overheating of the chipset. Everything has been thought to vape in all serenity. 

The chipset can be upgraded and the home screen personalized using the available utility here for Windows et here for Mac

The Oled screen is clear and readable but its low contrast will handicap its reading outdoors.

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 5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

The packaging is very much in the tradition of the house, which is robust, solid, beautiful and complete. 

The box and a USB / micro USB cable take place there, properly protected during the long journeys that they will take to reach you.

Appreciations in use

  • Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for a Jean side pocket (no discomfort)
  • 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? Slightly. 
  • 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 5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

Once the physical limits of the box to accommodate atomizers have been well integrated and after having done a little gymnastics for the grip without blocking the air intakes, there is nothing to reproach the Aster RT.

In use, it behaves royally, ultimately very close to the rendering of a single or dual Pico. The mod heats up very slightly but this is only due to the proximity of the atomizer to the body. Moreover, in 48 hours of use, the chipset has never reached a stall temperature which would have been indicated by the appropriate protection.

The rendering is therefore very straight, stable and reliable and develops a powerful and homogeneous vape, very Joyetech in the spirit. 

The autonomy is quite important, lower however than a double 18650 battery box but quite realistic in the context of use throughout the day. At high power, it decreases, naturally, but remains usable over a fairly long period of time.

No issues to report on safety or reliability. To be verified of course over a longer period of time but this bodes well. 

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? Classic fiber, Sub-ohm assembly, Genesis-type rebuildable
  • With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? A 22mm diameter ato in the strict sense. The ato must have a length greater than 35mm.
  • Description of the test configuration used: Joyetech Ultimo
  • Description of the ideal configuration with this product: Melo 3, Ultimo and all rebuildable ato of 22mm.

was the product liked by the reviewer: Bof, it's not the craze

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4 / 5 4 5 out of stars

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

The mood ticket of the reviewer

It is death in my soul that I resolve to conclude on a mixed note.

Indeed, if the Aster RT is beautiful to die for and if its behavior and performance are advantageous, there is nevertheless this design flaw which makes it unusable with certain atomizers, even when they are 22mm, either because of their height or because of the locations of the air intakes. 

This is however very often the case in mods of this type which can only work optimally with a small panel of atomizers. 

More annoying, the grip is thwarted by inadvertently blocking the air intakes and requires a specific position of the fingers.

And all this is a shame because because we look at this box, we have only one desire, that of being 100% seduced. But if the most beautiful woman in the world can only give what she has, we have to believe that the same is true for a box.

 

(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.

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About the Author

59 years old, 32 years of cigarettes, 12 years of vaping and happier than ever! I live in Gironde, I have four children of whom I am gaga and I like roast chicken, Pessac-Léognan, good e-liquids and I am a vape geek who takes responsibility!