OXVA XLIM GO 2 Review: A Budget-Friendly Pod Vape That Just Works

Design & Build Quality

The latest addition to OXVA’s XLIM range does not stray from its family roots in terms of design, being almost exactly the same size and shape as every other model in the range (aside from the SQ versions, obviously). As befits the XLIM name, which I have to assume is pronounced as “slim”, the GO 2 is only 117mm tall, 26mm wide, and just 15mm deep. That makes it small enough to be comfortably held in your palm, while tall enough not to be awkward to raise to your mouth.

The body has nicely rounded edges, which add to the holding comfort, and two ridged strips along the full length of the two thinner sides for grip. Aside from a tiny bit of branding, the only other design feature is the LED indicator light on the front, which is hidden until you draw on the device or plug it in to charge. There’s no screen, no firing/mode button, and nothing to complicate your vape experience.

Unlike the previous model, there aren’t any textured or leather-look finishes to be seen among the range of GO 2 styles. There are some different patterns on show, but every device features a smooth plastic finish. That’s a bit of a shame in my opinion, as those material wraps gave buyers of the original device a lot more choice, and gave the device a slightly more unique and high-quality feel.

There are eight colors to choose from in all. I was sent the Metal Blue and Metal Silver versions, but the likes of Green Ripple, Black Carbon, and Light Brown Shadow are available if you prefer something a little more unique. The complete color list includes:

• Light Brown Shadow
• Black Shadow
• Metal Silver
• Metal Blue
• Green Ripple
• Blue Ripple
• Pink Ripple
• Carbon Black

Pods

The pods launched alongside the XLIM GO 2 are the first significant upgrade I noticed in the XLIM GO 2. They are 3ml instead of the standard 2ml, making them the largest capacity XLIM pods to date. As with all of the more recent XLIM pods, they are compatible with the entire range of current devices, just as pods from those other devices can be used in the GO 2. This is a state of affairs of which I wholly approve. For someone like me who tends to bulk-buy pods, it’s annoying when upgrading to a new device in the same vape family means my stockpile becomes obsolete.

A change from 2ml to 3ml might not sound like much, but that 50% increase has the potential to significantly reduce the number of times the average user will need to refill in a day. Sadly, if you are in a TPD country, you’ll be stuck with only having access to the 2ml version.

The pods are equipped with advanced dual mesh coils featuring OXVA’s UniTech 2.0 technology, a system that allows the device to operate in two modes: either firing both coil sections simultaneously for maximum performance or alternating between them to extend coil life.

UniTech 2.0 is a complete redesign of OXVA’s coil system, incorporating several key improvements. These include multi-layer cotton for better wicking, a repositioned coil within the cartridge for optimized performance, the dual coil structure, and a refined 5-point system for securing and sealing the coil in the pod. Together, these upgrades deliver a highly reliable and long-lasting pod that produces richer flavor, more efficient heating, and up to 45% more vapor per puff.

The pods are described as top-fill, but they are really side-fill, especially when compared to OXVA’s top-fill EZ pods. Luckily, the EZ pods are completely compatible with this device (as mentioned above), and besides, the side-fill pods appear to be exceedingly leak-free. There is a bit of side-to-side movement of the pod in the socket, but the magnets are good, and it doesn’t ever feel like it’s going to fall out unexpectedly.

Features

All of the “GO” versions of OXVA vapes are specifically designed to be easy to use and very beginner-friendly devices. As such, they tend not to have many features beyond the most basic. That is true of the original XLIM GO, the NeXLIM GO, and now the GO 2. There’s an adjustable airflow slider, a USB Type-C port, and an LED usage/battery indicator light, and that’s about it.

The airflow slider has good resistance while sliding smoothly and accurately. There is an airflow hole in both the bottom and the top sections of the slide, so even with it in the “closed” position, the draw never gets truly tight. This works fine, but if you like a tight MTL vape, you might have to cover the entire slider with your thumb to block the airflow completely.

The LED light, which is essentially invisible when the vape isn’t being used or charged, pulses in a pleasing way when you draw on the device. It’s relatively subtle and easy enough to cover with your thumb if you want to make your vaping more discreet.

The XLIM GO 2, like all of the GO devices, is draw-activated only. I quite like having the option of choosing between draw and button firing on a vape, but for a simple, beginner device, a single firing method makes sense. There are no modes to change (the other normal function of a button), so why bother installing one?

Battery Life & Charging

The only other feature, if it can be called a feature, is the USB charging port on the side of the device. This is another area where the GO 2 has been upgraded over the original model, offering full 2A fast charging instead of the 1A charging on its predecessor.

That extra charge power is needed for the final major upgrade on the XLIM GO 2: the 1500mAh battery. We are increasingly seeing bigger and more efficient batteries in this type of small, simple vape, and it’s great to see OXVA keeping up that trend. 1500mAh is a great size for a device with the relatively low power consumption of 30W (max), as it allows for multiple days of use from each charge.

OXVA suggests “up to” five days of use, but that’s likely only ever going to be achievable for light users, vaping with a 1.2Ω pod, with the airflow closed. During my testing, using the 0.8Ω pod supplied with the device I was sent, three full days was the maximum I achieved. I did notice that the battery indicator light seems to change to blue (denoting 60% remaining) quite quickly. But waiting for it to change from blue to red, which lets you know you have less than 20% battery left, takes days.

Recharging is pleasingly fast, thanks to that 2A USB port, at around 50 minutes from empty. If you want to give it a quick top-up as soon as the light turns blue, it will refill that 40% in as little as 15 minutes.

Performance

As might be expected from a device aimed at new vapers, the XLIM GO 2 is a no-fuss MTL/RDL device that just does the job. No bells, no whistles, it just works. What more could a vaping beginner want?

That lack of fuss extends to the vape juice that it will work with. I tested it with a few different e-liquids, both freebase and nic salt varieties, with PG/VG ratios of between 70/30 and 50/50, and it smashed through all of them with no issues. You might need to test out a few different coil resistances to find the perfect vape for you, but as far as choosing juice to go inside those pods, you don’t have to worry too much.

Despite the slightly larger pod size and relatively low max power, I felt like it seemed to burn through e-liquid faster than I am used to. I can’t decide if that is an effect of the more efficient UniTech 2.0 coils, which produce a very satisfying lungful of vapor with every puff, or if my brain was just expecting too much from a pod that was only 50% bigger.

The pods are easy to fill, despite the slightly small fill hole and the silicone bung being a bit fiddly for big fingers (luckily, I have the delicate fingers of a pianist), and are as leak-free as I have come to expect from OXVA pods. They also last really well, with the single pod that came with my device still producing great vapor and flavor after two weeks of pretty heavy use.

Verdict

OXVA is steadily climbing the ranks on my list of favorite vape brands. Their vapes might not be the most innovative around, but they are some of the most reliable, solid, and technically proficient devices on the market. And while the XLIM GO 2 is undoubtedly aimed at new vapers or those switching from disposables for the first time, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a solid little device.

It is extremely simple to use, works perfectly straight out of the box, and produces both good flavor and a satisfying throat hit. I would probably opt for the 0.4Ω or 0.6Ω pods for more of an RDL experience, but even with the 0.8Ω, I was able to get close to RDL thanks to the relatively loose draw.

The all-plastic construction does mean it doesn’t have the solidity and heft of something like the XLIM Pro or SQ Pro 2, but considering it only costs around $15, it doesn’t feel cheap. The socket admittedly feels a little flimsy, and there is some movement of the pods when they are inserted, but it’s unlikely to be a problem unless you drop it from height onto a hard surface and it happens to land socket-first.

I enjoyed using it as my “daily”, even as a vaper who has used devices that cost five or ten times as much, and would happily consider making it the vape I carry when out and about and don’t want my pocket weighed down with a bigger device. And for anyone looking for something low-cost and simple to dip their toe into the vaping waters, or something that will easily replace disposables, the OXVA XLIM GO 2 could very well be the perfect choice.