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Mirage V3 EVO by AB1
Mirage V3 EVO by AB1

Mirage V3 EVO by AB1

Commercial characteristics

  • Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: MyFree-Cig
  • Price of the tested product: 105 Euros
  • Product category according to its selling price: Luxury (over 100 euros)
  • Atomizer type: Multi-tank dripper
  • Number of resistances allowed: 2
  • Resistance Type: Classic Reconstructible, Rebuildable Micro Coil, Reconstructible Classic Temperature Controlled, Rebuildable Micro Coil with Temperature Control
  • Type of wicks supported: Silica, Cotton, Ekowool
  • Quantity in milliliters announced by the manufacturer: 0.5

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

And a Filipino dripper, one!

This ato is a typical dual coil dripper equipped with two small 2.5mm deep tanks. So far, nothing new under the sun but the quality of the Mirage third of the name lies in its rather interesting concept which includes an airflow intake leading right to the bottom of the resistors as well as a fairly innovative system of metal valve adjustable which allows to modulate the vapor and the flavor by simply unscrewing the drip-tip (and therefore the top cap). Hence its name of EVO for “Enhanced Valve Output”. There are not enough real innovations in dripper to appreciate this improvement which, on paper, promises us precise and controllable flavors and a fairly consistent vapor all the same. Will he join the Magma on the podium fairly clear of taste-typed drippers?

At 105 € the dripper, I clearly hope so!

AB1 Mirage Solo

Physical characteristics and felt quality

  • Width or Diameter of the product in mms: 22
  • Length or height of the product in mms as it is sold, but without its drip tip if it is present, and regardless of the length of the connection: 37.45
  • Weight in grams of the product as sold, with its drip tip if it is present: 42
  • Material composing the product: Stainless steel, Gold
  • Form Factor Type: Trident
  • Number of component parts without screws and washers: 5
  • Number of threads: 2
  • Quality of the threads: Average
  • Number of O-rings, Dript-Tip excluded: 3
  • Quality of O-rings present: Very good
  • O-Ring Positions: Bottom Cap - Tank, Other
  • Capacity in milliliters actually usable: 0.5
  • Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? No

Rating of the vapelier as to feelings quality: 3.5 / 5 3.5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

Aesthetically, the Mirage is beautiful, all in curves. It weighs its weight and the manufacturer has not skimped on the material. The delrin drip-top is well integrated into the set and seems to own it, a way for me to tell you that, despite efforts that even the Hulk would be hard pressed to produce, I was unable to remove it. It does not hold a joint and seems to be stamped with force. However, there is an 510 adapter in the package so I suspect something must be possible. Yes but what ? This damn thing does not unscrew, does not unclip, does not tear, in short, it does not want to flinch a millimeter! I of course stopped my investigations to avoid breakage. I remind you that the material is loaned to the Vapelier and not given. However, if all Mirages 3 are identical, this is indeed a construction fault.

There are other mistakes. Unless I came across the ugly duckling of the gang and hoping that the whole series is not like that, I notice an additional flaw in the product that I have in my hands.

The screw thread allowing to fix the top cap on the tank is a “pain in the ass” as our friends from across the Atlantic say. Translation: “that hurts in the ass!”. Indeed, it squeaks, it squeaks like a distorted Vivi Nova, it screws into the greatest pain… I screwed / unscrewed a good ten times just to take the step, nothing helped. Tired of war, I re-cleaned the ato from top to bottom, knowing that the Filipinos do not always deliver their gear in a perfect state of cleanliness but nib ... Finally, I greased the step and if the result obtained is not transcendent, at least the squeals do not twist my ears any more… I will be satisfied with that.

On the other hand, there is a gap of about 1mm between the tank and the bottom cap which goes around the ato symmetrically. This is in fact the air intake to feed the resistors from below. Knowing that there are two other air intakes above as we will see below. So the concept is good, but we must admit that this “gap”, however compulsory, is not necessarily aesthetic. But let's forget that ...

AB1 Mirage Gap

In the balance sheet and compared to the price of the atomizer, I find the machining quality low and the finish leaves something to be desired. I note all the same that the thread of the 510 connector is correct if not exceptional. As for the black coating that covers the dripper, only time will be able to tell if it will hold up or if it will peel like a banana for dessert.

From a strict quality point of view, the Mirage V3 does not keep its promises, far from it. It is always possible that I came across the wrong number by chance, but all of this does not bode well for exemplary reliability over time.

AB1 Mirage Bas

Functional features

  • Connection type: 510
  • Adjustable positive plot? No, a flush mount can only be guaranteed through an adjustment of the positive pad of the battery or the mod on which it will be installed
  • Presence of air flow regulation? Yes, and variable
  • Diameter in mms maximum of the air regulation possible: 10
  • Minimum diameter in mms of the air regulation possible: 1
  • Positioning of the air regulation: From below and benefiting the resistances
  • Atomization chamber type: Bell type
  • Heat dissipation of the product: Excellent

Reviewer's comments on functional features

Well, this is where we are going to discuss the concept of “valve”, dear to the manufacturer.

The Mirage V3 EVO works on a simple principle:

The bottom cap is in two parts. One which serves as a mounting plate and which also accommodates the 510 connection. And a smaller one which clips onto the other and which surrounds the 510 connection. This part therefore serves as a possible e-liquid collector but also to accommodate the air that we suck when we pull on the drip-tip and which comes from the famous “gap” and to dispatcher it through two holes located under the plate, at the level of the resistors. And it works well! Of course, the draw is mid-air but greatly favors the flavors.

On the bottom cap, there is the detachable assembly made up of the top-cap and the tank. And, inside this set, you will find a steel piece with a hole that serves as a fireplace. This is the famous “valve”. When you vape in the low position, i.e. without loosening the tank from the top cap, this valve makes the atomization chamber very small and does not move. But when you loosen the top cap, the valve becomes movable, from bottom to top. Under the effect of the air suction combined with the air which rises from the bottom, it lifts and releases the two airholes above which supply the vape with air for a much more aerial draft. And the tightening / loosening is of course adjustable by screwing or unscrewing, the greater the distance traveled by the valve, the more aerial the pull. But the ultimate concept lies in this trio:

The resistance heats up, the vapor spreads in the evaporation chamber compressed by the valve. Which makes the flavors concentrate.
We suck in, the steam and the valve rise, releasing the upper airholes which introduce air into the mixture AND into the chamber, which accentuates the steam without destabilizing the flavor.
We release the suction, the valve goes back down.

Here for the operating principle. It was necessary to break the head to find such a system. And for that, hat! We will see later if this promising concept on paper holds in reality.

AB1 Mirage Eclate

Drip-Tip Features

  • Type of drip-tip attachment: Owner but passage to 510 through a supplied adapter
  • Presence of a Drip-Tip? Yes, the vaper can immediately use the product
  • Length and type of drip-tip present: Medium
  • Quality of the drip-tip present: Very good

Reviewer's comments on the Drip-Tip

Nothing that I have not already mentioned above.

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? We make fun of us!
  • Presence of a user manual? No
  • Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? No
  • Does the manual explain ALL features? No

Vapelier's note on packaging: 0.5 / 5 0.5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

Laughable.

A hard plastic box, ugly and whose lid holds (or not) by the operation of the Holy Spirit. A layer of mousse with a fine bottom like a Mac Do mince. The full foot! Ugly, moron and useless than that, you have to rack your brains for a long time to find. Once again, some will argue that we do not vape with the box. When you have put 105 € (680 Francs!) In this dripper, we'll talk about it again ...

No instructions, well, it stays in the same mood ... Just a sticker stuck torn off at the bottom of the cover that we would not have missed if it had not been.

Pure fuck-up!

AB1 Mirage Pack

Appreciations in use

  • Transport facilities with the mod of the test configuration: Ok for a side pocket of Jean (no discomfort)
  • Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
  • Filling facilities: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
  • Facilities for changing resistances: Easy, even standing in the street
  • Is it possible to use this product throughout the day with several vials of EJuice? Yes perfectly
  • Was there leak after one day of use? No
  • In the event of leaks during tests, descriptions of the situations in which they occurred

Vapelier's note on ease of use: 5 / 5 5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

Diabolical! Simply diabolical!

Objectivity is a difficult duty. And whatever you may think, it is always tricky to put your finger on the negative aspects of a material or a juice. And it's much easier to praise yourself to make sure you don't make enemies or just for the sake of being nice. But beyond all these ethical questions, there is one that largely prevails, it is that of telling the truth. So, no one is perfect and the columnist can sometimes make mistakes and this often plays out very little. But there are also obvious truths.

And the truth is, the Mirage V3 EVO is the best damn dual-coil dripper I've been able to test. Let's understand each other well. I'm more of a fan of flavors than steam at all costs. If I like to go crazy from time to time making clouds of 10 meters (or 3, that's already not bad!), My absolute trip goes to flavors. And that's why I always carry my old Igo-L in single coil, pierced by Zed whom I greet in passing, an AFC Cyclone which has a crazy precision and a little Hobbit which gives prevalence to tastes. But there, I must admit that the slap was hard. As a double-coil dripper, the Magma has found its master and the Mirage could well become the yardstick for a new generation of drippers that send “big” in flavors without sacrificing steam.

The system developed by AB1 is formidable. The sensation of saturation of the flavors is very strong despite a draw that ranges from “open” to “very open”. And if you choose to unscrew the top-cap almost completely to catch the greatest possible ventilation, you lose NOTHING in flavor. Better: even at a fairly nice power of 80W, the dripper does not heat up or so little! Even better: no leaks to report over 24 hours of intensive use! Want even better? Okay ! The valve system, which in my opinion is more of a valve system, works like the fire of God and the Mirage is of a consistency in flavor rarely achieved before.

For me, we would be the dripper of the year here! Tested in 0.30Ω in a power range between 40 and 80W, it delivers a full taste, very close to the reality of the liquid and operates in a great subtlety the junction between flavor and vapor that many expected.

AB1 Mirage Deck

Recommendations for use

  • With which type of mod is it advisable to use this product? Electronics AND Mechanics
  • With which mod model is it advisable to use this product? All
  • With which type of EJuice is it advisable to use this product? All liquids without problem
  • Description of the test configuration used: Smy Kung Fu, Vaporshark rDNA40, Giant Vapor mini
  • Description of the ideal configuration with this product: Excellent mechanics and resistance between 0.2 and 0.4Ω

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

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

If you can stand average machining quality.
If you can handle being taken for an idiot by ridiculous packaging.
If you can afford to pay 105 € by being aware of the two previous things.

Then you will discover a great dripper that marries with equal happiness a near perfection in the restoration of flavors and an abundant and dense vapor. The Mirage V3, despite its flaws, is largely up to the promises made on paper and comes to play the dog in the bowling game well arranged drippers-stars of the moment!

A small miracle of ingenuity!

(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!