Istick Pico Mega by Eleaf

Commercial characteristics

• Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: The Little Vapoteur
• Price of the tested product: 43.90 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: 80 watts
• Maximum voltage: Not applicable
• Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: Less than 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

Eleaf, which is no longer to present, offers us a larger and more powerful version of its Istick Pico, sailing in the fashion of the 26650 on-board batteries. Two types of battery to choose from, 18650 or 26650 for a little more autonomy.
Another novelty if your choice is the kit with the Melo 3, you will find a NotchCoil resistance for high reactivity in terms of heating.
This box is available in three colors, Black, Silver or Anthracite Gray. The price of the kit is 58,90 euros.

Physical characteristics and felt quality

• Width or Diameter of the product in mms: 31.5
• Product Length or Height in mms: 73.5
• Product weight in grams: 202 with 1 26650 battery
• Material composing the product: Aluminum
• Form Factor Type: Classic Box - VaporShark type
• Decorative style: Classic
• Quality of decoration: Good
• 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: 1
• 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: 2
• 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: 3.6 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

To my surprise, this Pico Mega is not all about it. Let me explain, its very ergonomic shape helps the box to blend into the hand. No problem to be able to access your switch because it is well positioned and relatively wide. On the other hand, for the [+] or [-] buttons it gets a little complicated because they are located below the box. So you have to turn it over to see what you're doing.

Its pin spring and thread appear good quality and thanks to this catch-up function, you will be flush with most clearomizers or drippers on the market.

Another feature of the box is that you can embed a 26650 battery and thus enjoy more autonomy and a maximum power of 80 W. Another option: thanks to its adapter an 18650 battery can be accommodated, but the maximum power will be reduced to 75 W maximum and a reduced autonomy.

The batteries are housed from the top by unscrewing a cap on the bottom-cap which seems fragile and risks deforming in the event of a fall. The positive pole of the battery is directed towards the bottom of the box.

Functional features

• Type of chipset used: Owner
• Connection type: 510, Ego - via adapter
• Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through an adjustment by thread.
• Lock system ? Electronic
• Quality of the locking system: Good, the function does what it is for
• Features offered by the mod: None / Mech mod, Switch to mechanical mode, Battery charge display, Resistance value display, Protection against short circuits from the atomizer, Protection against reverse polarity of the accumulators, Display of the vape time of each puff, Variable protection against overheating of the atomizer coils, Temperature control of the atomizer coils, BlueTooth connection, TCP / IP connection, Support the update of its firmware, Supports customization of its behavior by external software, Display brightness adjustment, Clear diagnostic messages, Diagnostic messages by alphanumeric codes
• Accusability: 18650, 26650
• 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: 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 box offers six modes of operation:
-Wattage mode (VW) usable from 1 W to 80 W with the 26650 battery and up to 75 W with the 18650.
-Temperature Control (TC) mode supporting the, NI, TI, SS able to vape with resistors ranging from 0,05 Ω to 1,5 Ω.
-Bypass mode which will automatically regulate the power in W according to the resistance used and the charge remaining in the battery. It works like a mechanical mod, protected by the electronic security of the box.
-Smart mode which will have the effect of memorizing your favorite vape power adapted to six different resistances maximum.
- Temperature control memory mode (TCR: NI, TI, SS) to allow you to use the powers chosen up to three different clearomizers.
To change mode, nothing could be simpler, three presses on the switch and with the [+] button navigate to the desired mode and validate by pressing the switch.

In the temperature control mode everything is adjustable, power and degree of 100 ° to 315 ° C, and by pressing the switch four times in succession, you can set W from 1 W to 80 W.

Another strong point, using the micro USB port you can perform updates to be able to take advantage of the improvements made by Eleaf and thus not make your box obsolete in 2 months ^^. The batteries can be recharged through the same port, but it is better to recharge them via a conventional battery charger so that they are recharged in optimal conditions. The same goes for recharging in the car, it is not good because the current is not stable and the electronics of your box, as well as your batteries, may suffer.

We can see on this plan the eight holes provided for heat dissipation. If the battery is degassed, this will prevent the heat from stagnating and the compressed gases causing the box or the battery to explode.

Like the first of the name, we remain blocked to install an ato of more than 22mm, on a top-cap diameter of 22 mm 🙁 because of the positioning of the battery housing cap. Too bad for a box that calls itself mega.

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

It is very complete and well protected, like a trademark, the box is delivered in a rather rigid cardboard box and it is placed in a pro-formed foam to protect it from shocks. When the kit is chosen, above the box is the Melo 3 clearomiser and its spares with:
-2 pairs of spare seals
-1 resistance in 0,3Ω
-1 resistance in 0,5Ω
-and a notchcoil in 0,25Ω
Its manual is in 6 languages, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Italian, that is a strong point. Finally a manual understandable by many people !!!!

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 the batteries: Easy, even standing in the street
• 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

For a good use of the product, make sure to have selected the correct mode of use ^^. Take the time to read the manual carefully or ask for the different operating modes in your store. Although the box is capable of shooting at 0,10 ohm, try to be more in the 0,25 / 0,30 ohm in order to enjoy perfect use and autonomy. Below this value you have to go higher in power, and your box may heat up despite the heat dissipation holes located on the underside.
Obviously, do not leave your box in the car in direct sunlight or even near a heat source.

Recommendations for use

• Type of batteries used during the tests: 26650
• 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? Melo 3 clearomizer, dripper, rebuildable. It's up to you ^^
• Description of the test configuration used: Conqueror
• Description of the ideal configuration with this product: can we speak of ideal when we can not put what we want?

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.5 / 5

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

The mood ticket of the reviewer

It is a versatile mega box (for battery types) and at rikiki prices. It's very complete, all the operating modes are on board in this box, ranging from classic wattage, through the different TC modes, not to mention the bypass mode which is super practical if you don't want to bother with the power settings.
Eleaf hits hard again by presenting us with a scalable model because the chipset can be updated, and by having the choice of two types of batteries. You can even personalize the screen with small drawings. My little finger tells me that some of you will be delighted.
One of my regrets is that at the time of 24 or 25 mm clearomizers, we could not put them on this Pico “Mega”. The box remains restricted to 22 mm models and that's a shame, at least in my opinion.

Good vape, Fredo

(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.