OXVA VPRIME 2 Review: Bigger Battery, Better Pods, Better Vape

Design & Build Quality

The overall design of the VPRIME 2 seems very similar to its predecessor. While it is comparable in height (around 113mm) to many traditionally designed pod vapes, it is far wider across the front, at 41mm. This gives the device a chunky look, with the rounded corners and edges giving it a lozenge shape overall. The majority of vapes I use and review follow the standard tall and slim form factor, so I always find it interesting to try out something that doesn’t conform to that shape.

Both the size and the rounded design make it very comfortable to hold. It will feel big if you are used to the likes of the OXVA XLIM series, but it in no way feels too big or too bulky. It is a few millimeters bigger than the original VPRIME, but not so much as to be noticeable in your hand.

The placement of the buttons, slider, and screen is fairly standard and sensible, with the screen and firing/control button on the front, and the airflow and lock button on opposite sides. Everything is within easy reach of a thumb or finger when the device is held naturally in your palm. The base hides the USB Type-C charging port, which is also pretty standard.

The main body material is metal (zinc alloy to be precise), with hardened plastic panels front and rear. These panels feature the patterns that give each available color option its distinct look. The patterning is all fairly subtle and varies between carbon fiber, a sort of camo pattern called Shard, and something called Mirage that looks like a stone texture. Again, these are all pretty subtle, and the main style choice is color, of which there are 6 to choose from. These are:

• Mirage Blue
• Mirage Purple
• Mirage Pink
• Black Carbon
• Shard Black
• Shard Gold

Not the biggest range of options, but probably enough to allow users to find something that they like or which suits their style. While I appreciate that having color choices is normal, I can’t be the only one who barely gives the color of my vape a second thought. As long as it works as it should, who cares if it is pink, gold, or blue with orange stripes?

Pods

Just like the body, the pods that come with the VPRIME 2 have also been made bigger, jumping from 5ml to 6ml (although not for those in TPD regions, where they are stuck at 2ml). Extra capacity in a pod is always welcome, because who doesn’t want the chore of refilling to be less frequent?

You get two pods with the kit: 0.4Ω and 0.6Ω. As far as I am aware, these are the only resistances available at launch, unlike the original model, which also had 0.2Ω and 0.8Ω pods. The reason for this is that the new pods have a dual-resistance system. The 0.4Ω pod, for example, performs at 0.4Ω as standard, but when in Boost Mode, performs like a 0.2Ω pod. I’ll go into that more in a moment, but suffice it to say that it’s a pretty neat way to do things.

It is worth noting that, despite the volume change, you can use the pods for the original version in the new one, because the pod socket and contacts are the same in both models.

An even more welcome change is the switch from UniTech 2.0 to UniTech 3.0. If you are unfamiliar, UniTech is OXVA’s pod/coil technology, and it includes several features designed to improve flavor, vapor consistency, lifespan, and leak-proofing. These features include layered wicks, an expanded condensation chamber, and dual mesh coils. UniTech 2.0 was and is fantastic at all of those things, but UniTech 3.0 is on a different level. I have already experienced it in the NeXLIM 2 and other devices, but the extra power and associated flavor boost of the VPRIME 2 make the switch to 3.0 an even bigger selling point.

The pods are filled from the top (well, the side really, but I won’t argue my point again here), which means you can refill without removing the pod from the socket. The socket itself is deep, and the magnets that hold the pod in place feel very strong. There is a bit of side-to-side movement of the pod in the socket, but not enough to make it feel insecure. The mouthpiece is fairly narrow and nicely rounded, making it very good for the sort of RDL/DL vaping this device is designed to serve.

Features

While the VPRIME 2 is designed as an RDL/DL vape, it isn’t packed with features. At least, not compared to the number of features you might find on a battery mod or other devices DL vapers might gravitate towards. That could be a pro or a con, depending on what type of DL vaper you are, but what I can say is that the features it does have are well implemented, make sense, and add to the overall vaping experience.

Let’s start with modes, of which there are two: Eco and Boost, changed by pressing the button four times. These modes switch the device between using one coil and dual coils, and this feeds into the resistance change I mentioned earlier, with the lower-resistance pod switching between 0.4Ω and 0.2Ω, and the higher-resistance pod switching between 0.6Ω and 0.3Ω. Changing modes also changes wattage, as would be expected, but this can then be adjusted as needed.

Wattage adjustment is accessed by pressing the button three times, and is smartly limited within a range based on both the mode you are in and the pod you are using. For example, in Boost Mode with the 0.4Ω pod, you can adjust power between 40W and 60W, and in Eco Mode, between 10W and 40W.

The button can be used to fire the vape. But in a fairly unique (for DL vapes) twist, the button can be locked using the slider on the side, and draw-to-fire can be used instead (you can also draw-to-fire when the button is unlocked). Before the original VPRIME introduced this, almost all vapes designed for DL vaping were button-fire only. This is yet another feature that points to the fact that this is more of a DL-Lite vape than a full DL device. Again, this fact could either be a pro or a con, depending on how determined you are to have complete control over every facet of your draw.

Opposite the lock button is the airflow slider, which really does an excellent job. Like many DL vapes, the amount of air you can allow through the device is VERY adjustable. There are three basic settings: closed, tight, and loose, but loose gives you a lot of leeway. When fully open, a significant volume of air can be drawn, plenty enough to produce big lungfuls of vapor that is cool enough to handle easily.

There is not a huge amount to say about the display. It’s a fairly standard size, measuring 0.98 inches, and includes all of the information you might expect. This includes battery level, wattage, resistance of the pod, puff count, and lock status. It’s bright, clear, and has a few themes. What more do you want?

Battery Life & Charging

The battery is really where the VPRIME 2 has taken a big step above its older sibling. I remember the 2600mAh cell in the older device feeling a bit small for something that can output 60W through a 0.2Ω coil, so I am very happy to see that OXVA has boosted that by 800 milliamps in the latest model. That’s right, the VPRIME 2 features a very respectable 3400mAh battery, which is much more suited to DL vaping, and very generous for RDL.

DL vaping requires much more power than MTL and even RDL, so despite having 3400mAh to play with, don’t be expecting four or five days of use if you are running it at high wattage on Boost Mode. During my tests, using it at 55-60W in the more powerful mode with the 0.4Ω pod had me reaching for the charger in about a day and a half, at most. Treating it more like an RDL vape, with the 0.6Ω pod and wattage of 25-35W, battery life stretched to around three days. I hit these vapes pretty hard when I am reviewing them, so if you are a lighter user, you could almost certainly add a day of use to those timings.

A big battery calls for, in my opinion and presumably in the opinion of every sensible person, fast charging at the very least. Thankfully, OXVA has not scrimped with the USB port in this device, giving us 3A-rated super-fast charging (assuming you have a USB block that supports it. If not, get one!) Still, charging 3400mAh is not going to happen in a handful of minutes. Luckily, I have a 3A-rated plug and cable, so the maximum a full charge took was around 50 minutes. I also tested it with a 2A-rated plug/cable, and it still only took 65 minutes or so.

One thing I will say, and this might just be my personal preference, is that I wish the USB port was on the side and not the bottom. I prefer keeping my vape upright on my desk when charging, and with a vape like this that has no problem standing firm on a flat surface, a side port seems to make sense. There might be a technical reason why it is easier or safer to have the port on the base, but I said what I said, and I’m not taking it back.

Performance

As should be clear if you have read the rest of this review, the VPRIME 2 is designed as an RDL/DL vape, and that is how I have used it over the past couple of weeks. Nothing about it says MTL, so I did not use it as such. There are some great MTL devices out there, including several from OXVA, but this is not the device for low-wattage, tight airflow, high-resistance vaping.

Using the device as an RDL vape, with lower (30-35W) power, Eco Mode, and mid airflow, was an excellent experience. It really suited my vaping style, and I enjoyed everything about it. The UniTech 3.0 pods produced crisp, defined flavors, consistent vapor, and a satisfying throat hit. Pumping things up more into the DL range was also great, particularly the flavors that the higher wattage can wring from your favorite vape juice.

If you are a long-time, experienced DL vaper, you might find it a bit lacking in some ways. I am not, and I did not. Vaping in the less restricted direct-lung style was much less of a strain on my lungs here than I have found elsewhere, and while I probably won’t be switching to DL vaping full time, the VPRIME 2 offers a really good introduction to that style.

Vapor being too hot is one of my main problems with DL vaping, but the airflow on this device is more than good enough to cool vapor at 60W. The slider has plenty of movement, and it’s easy to find your airflow sweet spot. Indeed, everything about using this vape is easy, from changing the mode or wattage to filling the pods.

OXVA suggests that the VPRIME 2 can be used with both freebase and nic salts e-liquids, and so I tested it with both, in a variety of strengths and PG/VG ratios. The experience was good with both e-liquid types. If you are going to be using it mainly for DL, you will likely want to stick with freebase, but because this is a relatively low-wattage DL device, nic salts are fine too. Having the option is great, and ultimately it’s going to be down to your preference in terms of throat hit, clouds, etc.

As I have come to expect, the UniTech 3.0 pods last extremely well and are, so far, entirely leak-free. I have been switching between the two pods that came with the kit, often using the 0.4 pod at 60W, and neither is showing any signs of failing after two weeks. Flavor has perhaps dropped off a bit in the pod I have used most, but it still tastes great.

Verdict

As I have mentioned throughout the review of the VPRIME 2, it is more DL-Lite than a full DL device. And that is no bad thing. There are lots of excellent full-on DL devices available if you really want to go headlong into that style, but voltage control, multiple manual modes, and 0.15Ω coils can often make it feel like having a degree in electrical engineering is a prerequisite to manage that type of vape.

This device takes the complication out of DL vaping while still providing a satisfying direct-lung experience. On top of that, if you simply want a great RDL vape with a massive battery, you can have that too. No matter which style you choose, there are still plenty of ways to tweak this device to your liking.

The flavors produced by the UniTech 3.0 coils/pods are really, really good, particularly at anything above 50W. At that sort of power level, you can really start to notice flavor notes in your e-liquid that you won’t get at 25W or 30W. Vapor production is consistent, and it feels very easy to get a full lungful at a comfortable temperature thanks to the ample airflow.

The 3400mAh battery is sufficient for full-time DL vaping and very generous if you’re using the VPRIME 2 for RDL, and charging won’t tie you to a power socket for half the day thanks to that 3A USB Type-C port. The pods are very leak-resistant, the airflow slider has a good range of movement, and the ability to switch between button fire and draw-to-fire is a nice bonus.

While experienced DL vapers might find it a bit lacking in power and control options, the VPRIME 2 is a great choice for any pod vaper who just wants a bit more flavor and vapor at their fingertips, or for any RDL vapers wanting to experiment with DL without the complexity of a full-DL device such as a battery mod.