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Vandy Vape Gaur-18 Mod Review: A Lightweight Dual 18650 Mod

Vandy Vape Gaur-18

4.6/5

9.2

Vandy Vape Gaur-18 4
Design — 9.0
Build Quality — 9.5
Features — 10.0
Functions — 10.0
Performance — 10.0
TC Performance — 6.5

PROS

CONS

Our Verdict

The Gaur-18 is the little brother to the Gaur-21. It is nearly identical in design, but smaller and lighter which are pluses for this mod. The design is also slightly revised but whether or not you think it looks nicer with the new panels and knurled grip is totally subjective. However, I think it’s a nice mod and the design is attractive overall.

As for the performance aspect, the Gaur-18 is good for anyone but temperature control mode vapers. Wattage and voltage mode performance are great and deliver performance that is just as good as other top wattage mods out there. The battery life isn’t as good as the Gaur-21, but that’s to be expected from a dual 18650 mod vs a dual 21700 mod.

Overall the Gaur-18 is a good mod that any wattage mode vaper will be happy with.

Check Price

The Gaur-18 is a new mod from Vandy Vape made in collaboration with Matt from SMM. Keen vapers will notice that it’s not entirely new though. In fact, the Gaur-18 is nearly identical to the Gaur-21 but with one big difference: it takes two 18650 batteries instead of two 21700 batteries, hence the name Gaur-18.

It also looks like Vandy Vape has done away with controlling the mod from your phone so there’s some lost functionality here but I don’t think that this will be a big deal to most, if any, vapers. 

The Gaur-18 can fire at up to 200W and features Vandy Vapes waterproofed, proprietary chipset. Like the Gaur-21, the Gaur-18 is made from lightweight materials.

If you’re looking for a new dual 18650 mod, should you consider the Gaur-18?


Box Contents

  • 1 x Gaur-18 Mod
  • 1 x Type-C Cable
  • 1 x Instruction Manuals

Specifications

 

 

  • Size: 91.3mm x 27mm x 52.5mm
  • Weight: 115g
  • Power Range: 5-200W
  • Dual 18650 Batteries
  • Power, TC, TCR, Bypass, VPC Modes
  • Waterproof Chipset
  • Full Color 0.96” Display

Design & Build Quality

  • Vandy Vape Gaur-18 1

The Gaur-18 is a dual 18650 battery mod. It’s nearly identical to the Gaur-21 but there are a few design changes that make it different. First off, the Gaur-18 is smaller. It’s about the same size as other dual 18650 battery mods out there. It’s 91.3mm tall, 27mm wide, and 52.5mm deep which is a good size for a dual battery mod. Next to the Gaur-21, the Gaur-18 is noticeably smaller.

It’s also a very light mod. Vandy Vape used the same lightweight materials for the Gaur-18 as they used for the Gaur-21 and because it’s smaller, it’s even lighter. This mod weighs only 115g without batteries and 204g with batteries installed. For comparison, the Aegis Legend 2 (which is a pretty light mod) weighs 143.3g without batteries. The Drag 3, another very light mod, weighs around 120g without batteries. The point is that the Gaur-18 is a very light mod and definitely one of the lightest available.

There are 5 color options available. Each color comes with a different panel design but with the same knurled grip on the back. They also all come with a black body/frame. The panel choices are nice, with my personal favorites being the holographic “Blue Art” and “Red Art” panels. There’s also red wood grain (no idea if this is real wood but I’m thinking probably not), carbon fiber, and black gold colors/panels.

A complaint that I had about the Gaur-21 was that the leather grip started to peel. Well, Vandy Vape has done away with that here and instead made the grip by adding knurling to the plastic. I suppose that’s one way to solve the issue.

This grip and the panels are actually the battery door on this mod. There are small rubber grips and plastic tabs that hold the door securely to the mod. Simply pulling away from the mod is how you remove the door. The door doesn’t move or rattle at all and feels very firm and secure. 

Vandy Vape Gaur-18 8

Inside the battery compartment there is a sticker warning you not to reverse the batteries, as well as clearly labeled positive and negative terminals. The bottom terminals are spring loaded. Batteries fit snugly but not too tightly so there’s no worry about damaging your wraps. On the bottom of the mod there are venting holes.

The 510 plate is silver and features a gold plated, spring loaded pin. The plate is flush with the top of the mod so there’s no gap when you install a tank. The Gaur-18 flares out a little around the 510 plate so, despite being 27mm wide at the body, it can fit atomizers up to 28mm without overhang.

The buttons are very similar to the Gaur-21 but not identical. The fire button is large, square, and slightly concave. The edges are rounded a bit more than they were on the Gaur-21, a small difference that you have to look close to notice. Similarly, the adjustment buttons are less rounded than the ones on the Gaur-21. They are also smaller. 

All of the buttons are made of plastic but they don’t feel cheap. They are all firm and make a satisfying ‘click’ when you press them.

The screen is a 0.69” inch full color display that is exactly like the one on the Pulse V2 and Gaur-21. The UI is also identical. It’s clean, neat, and bright. The brightness can also be adjusted in the settings menu.

Last but not least, there is a Type-C port just below the adjustment buttons. This can be used to charge your batteries if you find yourself with no other choice, but you should always use a dedicated battery charger if at all possible.


Features & Functions

Vandy Vape Gaur-18 Screen

Aside from taking 18650 batteries, the Gaur-18 has basically the same features and functions as the Gaur-21. One feature that it’s missing is the ability to control it through the Vandy app on your phone. While the app was cool, it’s certainly not necessary. The ‘Find my Device’ feature was useful though.

The screen on the Gaur displays your mode, a battery life indicator for each battery, wattage, coil resistance, voltage, a puff counter, and puff time. 

For modes you get  Power mode, Voltage mode, Bypass, and Temperature Control modes. There isn’t a separate TCR mode but you can adjust the TCR of each material by going into the menu settings. Wattage in TC mode can be adjusted by pressing the power button 4 times. 

To enter the menu, hold both adjustment buttons. The first option in the menu lets you toggle modes on or off. For instance, if you turn off the toggle for “TC” it wont show up when you scroll through to change modes. To change modes, press the fire button 3 times in quick succession. 

Some other toggles worth mentioning in this section are “ARR” and “FIR”. If “ARR” is toggled off the device will automatically set the wattage (in wattage mode) when you connect an atomizer. “FIR” lets you toggle if the fire button locks when you lock the adjustment buttons. If the toggle is turned on then the fire button will not lock with the adjustment buttons.

Other menu options allow you to change the time before the device goes into hibernation, adjust the screen brightness, reset the puff counter, or change the color of the UI. If you’re in TC mode, this menu will also have options to set your coil resistance and adjust the TCR value.

Like the Pulse V2 and Gaur-21, the Gaur-18 has a waterproof board but it is not a waterproof mod so it doesn’t have an IP rating like other truly waterproof devices like the Jackaroo Dual. This waterproof board means that while it should survive minor ejuice leaks and water spills, you shouldn’t go jumping into a pool with it.


Gaur-18 Button Combinations

  • Turn the Gaur-18 On or Off: Press the fire button 5 times.
  • Change Modes: Press the fire button 3 times and then use the adjustment buttons to select your mode. Press the fire button to confirm your mode.
  • Adjust settings in your current mode (e.g wattage in TC mode): Press the fire button 4 times.
  • Enter the Menu: Hold the up and down adjustment buttons.
  • Lock the mod: Hold the + adjustment button and fire button together.
  • Flip the Screen: Hold the – adjustment button and fire button together.
  • Stealth Mode: Hold both adjustment buttons and the fire button together.

Performance

Vandy Vape Gaur-18 7

The Gaur-18 performs well for an 18650 battery mod. While you won’t get the same battery life as you would out of a pair of 21700 batteries with the Gaur-21, battery life isn’t any worse than using any other dual 18650 battery mod.

Wattage mode performance is this mod’s strong point. It fires instantly and delivers consistent power, no matter how high you set the wattage. Voltage mode performance is also good and can be set at up to 8V. 

Temperature control mode performance is the same as the Gaur-21; it isn’t the worst that I’ve used but it’s not the best either. It feels inconsistent and does not behave as predictably as you would expect. If you’re an avid TC mode vaper I would use another mod for this purpose.


Verdict

The Gaur-18 is the little brother to the Gaur-21. It is nearly identical in design, but smaller and lighter which are pluses for this mod. The design is also slightly revised but whether or not you think it looks nicer with the new panels and knurled grip is totally subjective. However, I think it’s a nice mod and the design is attractive overall.

As for the performance aspect, the Gaur-18 is good for anyone but temperature control mode vapers. Wattage and voltage mode performance are great and deliver performance that is just as good as other top wattage mods out there. The battery life isn’t as good as the Gaur-21, but that’s to be expected from a dual 18650 mod vs a dual 21700 mod.

Overall the Gaur-18 is a good mod that any wattage mode vaper will be happy with.

CHECK PRICE

Adam Alhiraki Author Picture 1

Adam Alhiraki

Adam is the founder and Editor-In-Chief of Versed Vaper. Originally a smoker, he started vaping in 2013 and has been completely smoke-free since 2015. With over a decade of personal experience and more than five years of professional experience in testing and reviewing vaping products, his oversight ensures that Versed Vaper provides genuine, honest, and accurate information that you can rely on. Adam loves trying as many different tanks, mods, and ejuices as he can get his hands on and he has tested and/or tried the vast majority of vaping products to hit the market since 2018. When he's not reviewing, researching, or writing, you can find him watching tennis, PC gaming, or playing with his three mischievous cats.

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