OXVA NeXLIM 2 & NeXLIM 2 MINI Review: Which Should You Buy?

Design & Build Quality

OXVA hasn’t strayed too far from the design of the original NeXLIM device for the NeXLIM 2, retaining the familiar tall, slim form factor, the circular display, and the position of the controls. With the latest version coming in at just over 127mm tall and 28mm wide, even the dimensions are pretty much the same. The NeXLIM devices are all slightly chunkier than the XLIM series devices, only by a few mm here and there, but it gives them a more solid feel somehow.

The zinc alloy unibody and toughened plastic panels further enhance the solidity, giving the device a very robust feel overall. This doesn’t feel like a device that will break the first time you accidentally drop it onto a hard floor.

The front face of the NeXLIM 2 features a circular HD display, with the control button and airflow slider positioned adjacent to the screen on opposite edges. The beauty of this form factor is that when the device is held naturally in your hand, the button and slider sit perfectly within easy reach of your thumb and finger.

As the name suggests, the NeXLIM 2 Mini differs from its big brother in size, coming in at just under 114mm tall, 28.5mm wide, and 18mm thick. However, that isn’t the only difference.

The 2 Mini’s body is entirely metal, with no inset panels, no display (as is usually the case with “lite” or “mini” versions of flagship devices), and the button is touch-activated rather than depressed. It is also noticeably lighter, at just 59g compared to the 88g of the NeXLIM 2. You get much of the same performance, only in a smaller, lighter, and simpler package.

Both devices are available in nine different designs: eight standard designs and one special edition. For the NeXLIM 2, these range from Black Warrior with a carbon fiber effect to Bright Brown Leather with, you guessed it, a brown leather wrap. The NeXLIM 2 Mini doesn’t have any wrapped or textured versions, although all of the designs have some patterning. Colors range from Classic Black and Titanium Gray to Sakura Pink and Mint Green.

NeXLIM 2 Designs:

• Black Warrior
• Mocha Brown Leather
• Green Leather
• Pearly White
• Shiny Purple
• Shiny Pink
• Bright Brown Leather
• Black Leather
• Color Clash (Special Edition Soccer-Themed)

NeXLIM 2 Mini Designs:

• Classic Black
• Titanium Gray
• Navy Blue
• Solar Gold
• Mist Purple
• Sakura Pink
• Aurora Blue
• Mint Green
• Golden Hour (Special Edition Soccer-Themed)

I was lucky enough to be sent a World Cup/Soccer-themed gift set by OXVA, which contained the two special edition devices, along with a selection of pods, a collapsible drinking cup, and a flip-out phone stand.

While the gift set is sadly not available to buy, both of the special edition devices (which you can buy) look fantastic. The Color Clash version, which is as bright and vibrant as the name suggests, features a textured leather-effect wrap.

However, my favorite of the two, in terms of looks, is the Golden Hour NeXLIM 2 Mini. This has a gold-to-green gradient color and subtle patterning designed to look like the hexagons on a soccer ball.

Pods

One of the great things about the original NeXLIM was the 4ml top-fill pods, and I am pleased to say that they are also the standard for this new version (both for the NeXLIM 2 and 2 Mini), with 0.6Ω, 0.8Ω, and 1.2Ω versions available. Unless, of course, you are in a TPD region, where you’ll have to be happy with the mandated 2ml version of the pod. But while the e-liquid capacity is the same, the guts of the pods have had an upgrade.

You can use any NeXLIM pod with the latest devices, including both the original fixed-coil and replaceable coil versions. But while both of those use UniTech 2.0 coils, the new pods that come with the NeXLIM 2 and 2 Mini have been upgraded to UniTech 3.0.

If you’re not familiar with them, UniTech 2.0 pods incorporated several features designed to improve flavor, vapor production, lifespan, and performance. These include multi-layer cotton wicks, low-level dual-mesh coils, and 5-layer leak protection.

UniTech 3.0 pods are the latest version of this technology, with additions that include Super Pulse for finer vapor and a denser draw, and an expanded condensate chamber at the bottom of the pod to lock in excess liquid for even less leakage. OXVA suggests that UniTech 3.0 offers up to 200% more flavor and lifespan than a non-UniTech pod, lasting for up to an impressive 120ml of e-liquid (or 80ml if using Boost Mode).

While I have not yet put 120ml through the pods that came with the devices I am testing for this review, I can say that they are still going strong (almost like new) after two weeks of heavy use, and the flavors being produced are exceptional for a pod device.

This is particularly true in Boost Mode, but my favorite e-liquids taste amazing in Eco Mode, too. As if that wasn’t enough, there has been no leaking, even from a pod that I left unused for four days on my desk.

Features

While the NeXLIM 2 isn’t packed with features, it certainly has enough to warrant its label as the flagship device of the NeXLIM range. If you have used the older model, there isn’t much new stuff to be seen, with the power modes, adjustable wattage, airflow slider, and 0.85-inch HD display being almost identical to those in the original. That said, there have been a few changes, including to the themes, so let’s take a look anyway.

Starting with the display, which is a 0.85-inch circular full-color HD peephole into what is going on with the device. As would be expected, the screen shows wattage, mode, battery level, current resistance, and a puff count. The display, which is activated by pressing the button on the side, is bright, clear, and crisp, making it very easy to find the information you want.

There are three themes available out of the box, with a further seven themes that will unlock as you use the device. The first one unlocked is a soccer theme at 100 puffs, with further themes unlocked at intervals of between 500-1000 puffs.

All currently available themes are accessed by pressing the button four times. I’m not too bothered about themes usually, but this is a pretty unique idea, and I did find myself watching the puff count more than usual in anticipation of what would be unlocked next.

The device offers two modes to choose from: Eco and Boost, selected by tapping the button twice. These are fairly standard labels, but if you are not familiar with them, Eco is basically a low-power mode (less vapor, longer battery life, lighter throat hit), and Boost Mode is a high-power mode (extra flavor, shorter battery life, stronger throat hit).

What is interesting here is that the modes aren’t fixed to a certain wattage, but to a range. This means that you can tweak them individually to exactly how you want them.

The 3-position airflow is just about as good as you could hope for from a pod vape. Changing it between the three positions (low, medium, and high airflow) makes a noticeable difference in the draw. High airflow is easily loose enough for RDL vaping, while low airflow is tight enough for MTL.

Combined with the adjustable wattage and modes, it allows you to finely tweak the draw and throat hit to exactly how you want them. The slider itself moves smoothly and has enough resistance that it won’t likely be moved accidentally.

Battery Life & Charging

One of the things I like most about OXVA as a brand is that when they update an existing device, they tend to ensure that the upgrade is significant. Very rarely do you see devices launched with just minor tweaks over their predecessors.

That is true here with the additions of Super Pulse, the UniTech 3.0 pods, and also with the battery, which has a huge 500mAh more capacity than the original model had. If you have no Idea what battery was in the original NeXLIM, that 500mAh extra takes the total to 2000mAh. Who wouldn’t want a battery capacity in their pod device that has four figures and begins with a 2?

If it didn’t have such a large battery, this review might have been significantly less positive, because the NeXLIM 2 definitely needs the power. Super Pulse and Boost Mode can munch through the milliamps pretty quickly, and while this is the price we have to pay for great flavor and satisfying lungfuls of vapor, it’s good to know that the battery is up to the task.

During my tests, a full charge lasted for an average of just over three days in Eco Mode (around 18-22W), but closer to two days when Boost Mode (around 30-34W) was activated.

Lighter vapers, perhaps using the 1.2Ω pods and the significantly lower power that requires, should have no problem getting closer to four or even five days from the 2000mAh cell. I found the results to be fairly similar when using the NeXLIM 2 Mini. While the smaller device also has a smaller 1500mAh battery, the power range is lower, which evens things out.

OXVA has also upgraded the USB Type-C port on the larger of the two new devices, increasing it from a respectable 2A fast-charge port to a 3A Super-fast charge port. According to OXVA, that means if you are using the correct cable/plug, you can add 80% charge in just 20 minutes and a full charge in less than 30.

Luckily, I have a 3A-compatible cable (you get one in the box) and plug (you don’t get one of those…) and can confirm that those estimates are pretty much bang on. I also tested with a 2A cable and plug, and it still only took around 45 minutes to do 80%.

Sadly, the NeXLIM 2 Mini still has 2A, not the upgraded 3A, which means a full charge time of around 45 minutes. It would have been nice to see the 2 Mini also get a charging upgrade, but what do you expect from a device that only costs around 20 bucks?

Performance

The NeXLIM 2 is almost certainly aimed at both MTL and RDL vapers, although OXVA does not specify this anywhere that I can see. It could benefit from a 0.4Ω pod for a perfect RDL draw, but the 0.6Ω does a good enough job.

It’s how I have been using these vapes for most of the last two weeks, and they both perform great as an RDL device (but more so the NeXLIM 2 due to the extra power). I also spent a few days using both as MTL vapes with the 1.2Ω pods, and thanks to the tight airflow, that was also a great experience.

I tested both devices with a few different e-liquids in several strengths and PG/VG ratios, as I always do, and the newest members of the NeXLIM family handled everything perfectly. The flavor production is great for a pod vape, not quite up there with the clarity you get with wattages of 80W and up, but excellent nonetheless.

The lower power means the Mini 2 doesn’t quite produce the same level of flavor as the bigger device, but you would probably only notice the difference if trying them side by side (as I did). The 2 Mini and its UniTech 3.0 pods still produce flavors and vapor good enough to make other brands wonder where they are going wrong.

The Super Pulse tech in the pod, combined with Boost Mode, really seems to enhance both flavor and the smoothness of the vapor. I tested both of these new devices against the older NeXLIM GO, which I rated very highly when I reviewed it previously, and the difference was pretty amazing. While the older device does a sterling job, the newer pods are another level.

The airflow slider is responsive, and the changes you make to it are instantly noticeable when you take a puff. I had no problem finding the perfect draw, no matter what pod resistance and vaping style I was testing. The anti-leak system also seems to be fantastic, with no e-liquid visible inside the socket or on the bottom of the pod at any time in the two weeks I was putting these devices through their paces.

Verdict

While I never got a chance to review the first NeXlim device, I did get my hands on the NeXLIM GO, which I thought was an excellent, fuss-free, daily pod vape. Nevertheless, I was disappointed that I did not get to see how the two devices matched up and what else the flagship model in the range offered. Thankfully, with these latest updates, I got to do just that.

The NeXLIM 2 is the standout model for me, offering everything an RDL or MTL pod vaper could want in a solidly built, attractive package. The UniTech 3.0 pods are fantastic, easily some of the best pods I have used in terms of flavor, reliability, vapor smoothness, and capacity.

The two modes are easy to understand and make a real difference to the experience, while the ability to tweak the wattage in each means that the adjustability of the device is great. The airflow is precise and works as well as anyone could want, offering a good range of airflow levels and making it very easy to find the perfect draw for you.

The NeXLIM 2 Mini is also a very good, if simpler, pod vape. You still get the great flavor and vapor from the UniTech 3.0 pods, just in a smaller, lighter, more compact form. The smaller battery is a slight, though understandable, compromise, but the airflow slider is just as good as on its big brother, and the touch button works perfectly.

I make no secret of my admiration for OXVA and the devices they produce. I am rarely disappointed when I test them, and several are among my favorite vapes ever. The NeXLIM 2 and 2 Mini have now joined that list. If you are in the market for a new pod vape for either MTL or RDL vaping right now, the NeXLIM 2 devices should be at the top of your wish list.