Review: Wismec Reuleaux 2/3

On April 1st this year JayBo announced that he was "retiring" from vaping... which of course was just an Aprils fool. If you watch the video I linked, right after he exposes the joke, he says "I'm not slowing down". And he certainly have not. I've got the feeling that he has been stepping it up quite a bit lately, and there is all kinds of crazy stuff coming out from Wismec. By crazy I actually mean innovative. Just looking at the stuff that has come out lately I'd say JayBo is going through some kind of "transformers period". The devices can be set up in different ways, combined and work in different modes. The Neutron RDA can be set up with coils in serial or parallel, the tank of the Cylin RTA can be used on some of the other drippers from JayBo and the new Noisy Cricket II-25 can switch from parallel battery mode to serial batteries with constant voltage or direct output. A single mode of operation just isn't enough for JayBo these days it seems :) That also goes for the subject of this review, the Reuleaux RX2/3. Based on the very popular Reuleaux RX200S this mod can be used with either two or three 18650 batteries capable of 150W or 200W respectively ... unless you upgrade it that is.

In the box

• The Reuleaux RX2/3 
  
• Back cover for 2 cells
• Back cover for 3 cells (attached when you get it)
• USB Cable
• User Manual

Specifications 

• Replacable back cover for use with either 2 or 3 18650 batteries
• 150/200 Watt
• VW/TC-Ni/TC-Ti/TC-SS/TCR Mode
• 0.05-1.5ohm for TC modes
• 0.1-3.5ohm for VW mode
• 100-315°C/ 200-600°F (TC modes)
• Max 6 Volts (2 batteries) / 9 Volts (3 batteries)
• Reverse polarity protection
• Spring loaded 510 connector
• Upgradable firmware

Look and feel

When I first saw the Reuleaux RX200 (and DNA200 version for that matter) I thought it looked ... well kind of weird... and big and bulky. But then again, I wasn't really into box mods at all at that time. Now, however, I feel kind of different. I don't think the Reuleaux mods are the best looking mods out there, but after I got my RX200 the shape of it makes more sense and I guess that affects how I think it looks as well. The thing is that it's actually not that big. I guess it's about as big as it needs to be to fit three 18650 batteries, and it does fit very well into your hand. At least my hand, and I think I've got kind of average sized hands. When the Reuleaux first came it look very unusual I guess, but the shape has been copied by others, and there is a reason for that. The RX2/3 with three batteries installed looks pretty much exactly like an RX200S. I think the adjustment buttons are slightly different, and of course it's battery lid is different but that's about it. It feels pretty much the same. With only two batteries installed, it is of course lighter, but in my opinion this shape also feels very comfortable in your hand. The screen is also the same, quite big and easy to read, and you can even change the logo or install your own custom firmware with different fonts. I've only changed the logo, but changing fonts and so on doesn't seem to difficult either... there are quite a few tutorials online. All in all the RX2/3 feels like a solid device.

In use

Using the RX2/3 is pretty straight forward. I'm not going to go through all the
functions, it's all intuitive and all in the manual as well. 5 clicks to turn on and off, 3 to enter the menu and switch modes. Might be worth mentioning that you can adjust the watts in TC mode as well and you need to do 4 clicks to enter that menu, while in TC mode. Simple, intuitive and very easy to use.

The battery door is released from the mod by pushing a small button on the
bottom of the mod. Works very well if you ask me, the doors both click into the mod nicely and and pops right out once you push the button.

You can charge the batteries via the USB port below the screen, but it is recommended, and faster, to use an external charger. What you need to think about if you're switching "modes" from two to three batteries or visa versa is that you need to make sure the batteries are all evenly charged. That means, in practice, they should all be fully charged and all the same type. In fact you should have a set of three and a set of two that are charged together at all times. I've used it mostly with two batteries and I can pretty much get at least a day of vaping from those with my vaping style so I imagine I'll keep doing that most of the time. But if I know it's going to be a while until I can charge again, having the option to put three batteries in there is just great.

Upgrading the software is also quite easy to do on this device. You can find software for all the Reuleaux models on the Wismec website and if you have a windows computer it is pretty straight forward to do it. Just download, unzip the files and double click the program file and a self explanatory interface will pop up. You can also change your logo from this interface, just remember it needs to be exactly 64x48 pixels and saved as monochrome bitmap. This is where good old paint comes in. Pretty straight forward stuff and I guess you'll use the most time actually making or finding a cool logo. I've made a couple that you can download from the Vaping Giraffe facebook page (or just save the ones on the right) if you want to try it out.



Performance

The RX2/3 delivers far more power that I need on any of my atomizers or builds. I don't have any way of testing that it actually delivers the watts, other than comparing it to other devices. I've compared it to my Efusion DNA200 and to me it seems like it delivers about the same power at the same watt setting. Maybe slightly more actually. This is consistent with tests I've read on it as well. As I've said before, I seldom use temp. control, but I've tested the RX2/3 on an SS setup and it seems to work as intended.

Performance wise I'd say the RX2/3 delivers what it promises, and then some. When you upgrade the software to version 4.12 (latest one available from Wismec) it can manage 180W with two batteries and 250W with three (same as the RX200 and RX200S with upgraded firmware). I'd say that is a lot of bang for your buck.

Pros and cons

+ Lots of stable power
+ Easy and intuitive to use
+ Fits very nicely into the palm of your hand, both with two and three batteries
+ Upgradable firmware
- ... not much really.... well not really a con, but you need 5 batteries if you want to use both modes safely

Conclusion

If you like the RX200 and RX200S, you'll love the RX2/3. I know some people struggle with the looks of it, but if you don't, and you're looking for a high power device with plenty of battery time, this is one of the best options out there. And price wise... it's a bargain. The RX2/3 costs about the same as the RX200S (NOK 699,- at pgvg.no), maybe slightly more in some shops so I see no reason not to go for the RX2/3 if you want one of those anyway.

Thanks a lot to Michael at pgvg.no for sending me the device for review. He also provided a discount code for my readers: pgvg2016 (10% off)

Disclosure:

• All my reviews are my honest opinion even if I am affiliated with the company manufacturing or selling the product.
• This review does not contain affiliate links.

Review: ONE Mod by Hana Modz

Hana Modz have been around for a while now with their quite colorful regulated box-mods. I've never owned any of the classic Hana Modz boxes, but from what I've know they've all been made from aluminum and from what I've seen on the web it's been pretty solid boxes. Quite pricy boxes as well. But now they've come up with something quite different. Although it's still a regulated box mod powered by the DNA40 chip from Evolv like we're used too from Hana Modz there are some differences, pretty big ones actually. First of all... it's made from plastic (!). This, according to Hana Modz, makes it the smallest, lightest DNA40-mod on the market. Secondly, the batteries are put in a separate case that can be detached from the main unit, and the complete kit comes with two different cases, making it possible to run with either one or two 18650 batteries. The third difference is that, at least for now, the ONE Mod only comes in two different color combinations: Black with white face and white with gray face.

Looks and feel

I have to admit I was a bit of a skeptic, I mean... plastic? And from the pictures it looks kind of ... I don't know ... cheap. It looks a bit like the battery cases don't quite line up and that the gap is uneven. But I do think Hana Modz could have done a better job on the picture cause at least the mod I have lines up quite perfectly. In my opinion it looks a lot better in real life.

When Hana Modz say it's the smallest, lightest DNA40 mod on the market, I believe them. It is extremely light, even with a battery in it. With the one battery case attached it almost feels like it's empty, which makes it really pocket friendly.

There is kind of a rubberised coating on the mod, making it feel less plastic than it actually is. I suspect it might wear off if you keep the mod in your pockets like me. Honestly I don't really care if it does, cause even if it doesn't look bad, it's not a piece of art (like some mods really are). It's made for using, not for looking at :)

There are a couple of issues with the battery cases and the lid that goes on them though. The lids are held in place by some really small tabs that kind of clicks in place. Now these will probably get a bit rounded when you put the lid on and off. On my double battery case my lid kept popping off already on one of the sides. There is barely enough room in there for the batteries so they put pressure on the lid from the inside. I tried to fix this by cutting out just a little of the plastic on the inside, making a bit more room for the batteries and that fixed the problem. However I then encountered a new problem: the battery case doesn't "click in" on one of the sides. I suspect this is because there is now not enough pressure from the inside so I've probably cut out to much plastic. In other words, for it to work properly it needs to be a pretty tight fit, but if it's to tight the lid might start popping off. Hana recommends LG batteries, but I've used VTC4s, and that may (or may not) be causing the problem (maybe the LGs have slightly thinner wrapping or something like that).

I watched another review of this mod and it was suggested there that they could have made this lid out of aluminum instead. Not sure if that would solve the problem though as the case itself would still get worn. Still, even thought it's not clicked completely in it is kind of held in place on the other side, and my single battery case still clicks in perfectly ... for now. I guess it's not that big of an issue, and I'll do some more testing with different batteries, but contacted Hana Modz about it anyway and they offered to send me a replacement lid straight away.


In everyday use

I'm not going to go into detail about the DNA40 features here. This mod of course have all of them. The mod fires quite easily, just a slight touch of the fire button. It even fires if you press below the fire button squeezing the plastic inwards a bit. So it's quite important to remember to click 5 times to lock the device when you put it in your pocket. The adjustment buttons require a bit more force.

I've found myself charging the batteries externally, alternating between the double and single case. The built in charger is a bit on the slow side but it's good to have it there just in case. Also, charging through the USB-port you don't have to take the lid of the battery case so it will probably last longer. In any case I think Hana should add a couple of spare lids in the package.

Despite the issues I described above I've found myself using the mod a lot, and I really like the feel of it. As I said it's really light and small and it is actually the only device I have that I've found myself checking different pockets for.

Conclusion

The concepts and ideas implemented in this mod is great. I love it. And the price is just $109 for the full kit, and I'd say it's worth it. There are however some issues that I think Hana should try to fix. Being made out of plastic is what makes this mod so small and cheap I guess, but it also means it's not as durable as mods made out of metal. Still I think it is worth the money, and maybe Hana Modz will come up with some improvements to strengthen the weak points a bit, making it more durable. I couldn't resist sending them a couple of suggestions on improvements :) Also I would like to see the option of buying extra battery cases.

This has quickly become my most used mod. Recommended!

Use discount code "vapingiraffe" for 5% off

Disclosure:

• All my reviews are my honest opinion even if I am affiliated with the company manufacturing or selling the product. 
• The device was sent to me at a discounted price for the purpose of this review.
• This review does not contain affiliate links.