VAPORESSO LUXE X2 Review: An Efficient MTL/RDL Vape

Design & Build Quality

The VAPORESSO LUXE X2 has been classed (by me at least) as a palm-sized vape, being shorter and fatter than the more commonly used pod vape form factor seen in the likes of the XROS, Geekvape Wenax, or Innokin Trine. Measuring in at just over 100mm tall and 30mm at the widest point, it should fit easily and comfortably in most hands.

Although the device feels pretty solid and durable, there has been a lot of plastic used in the design alongside the aluminum alloy. This has perhaps been used to offset the weight of the 2000mAh battery, but I always prefer the look and feel of a metal unibody design. The main plastic section is semi-transparent, providing a window into some of the internal parts of the device. Not very interesting parts, but the overall effect isn’t unattractive.

A front panel, also plastic but textured like leather, contains a simple display and activation button. An airflow slider, thoughtfully placed within easy reach of your thumb, sits near the top of the side of the device. Disappointingly, the USB Type-C charge port is positioned on the base, so the vape has to be laid down while charging.

There are eight color options to choose from, and each is somewhat two-tone due to the mix of materials used. This is most obvious in the Wasp Yellow and Rudy White versions, the latter of which was the one I got to test. The complete list of color choices are:

• Avocado Green
• Light Pink
• Wasp Yellow
• Night Black
• Ruby White
• White Silver
• Light Purple
• Navy Blue

Pods

When I started vaping, almost all of the mainstream devices had a cylindrical mouthpiece or drip-tip. For a long time that was what I preferred, not least because it felt the most like smoking a cigarette. Nowadays, of course, most pod vapes feature a flat mouthpiece and over time I have come around to their appeal.

The mouthpiece on the X2 series pods is particularly narrow, and it’s a shape that works really well for how I vape, which is a mix of MTL and RDL, depending on my mood. It’s thinner than the previous pods for the LUXE devices and slightly narrower at the tip, making it perfect for getting either a tight lip seal or a natural-feeling loose seal.

The new design pods are currently only available in 0.6Ω and 0.8Ω resistances, but the older LUXE pods can also be used. That includes the removable coil versions along with the fixed, with resistances between 0.3 and 1.2Ω. As with most of VAPORESSO’s newer devices, the new pods feature COREX 2.0 coil technology.

COREX 2.0 coils incorporate Morph Mesh and COREX Cotton, which “are designed to enhance the intensity and consistency of flavor while extending the lifespan of the pods.” Basically, Morph Mesh is designed to evenly spread heat across the whole coil, and COREX Cotton has a looser structure to let e-liquid flow through it more easily. Both features work, in my experience, extremely well.

The pods hold 5ml of e-liquid (unless you’re in a TPD country where it will be limited to 2ml) and attach to the battery with secure magnets. Like all LUXE X pods, they are filled from the bottom. That’s a slight downside for me because I find top-fill pods much more leak-free in general. However, the silicone bung seems to do a fine job of keeping the vape juice inside, where it’s supposed to be.

Features

The LUXE X2 is both button and draw-activated, allowing you to choose the firing method you prefer. The button stands slightly proud from the body making it easy to locate without having to look. I did find it could get stuck in every once in a while, but only for half a second or so and it never caused a problem.

The display is more of a simple LED battery indicator than any sort of digital information display. It only shows an admittedly quite cool light based on the VAPORESSO logo, no other data. That said, there’s not much else that needs to be displayed. Things like puff count and activation timer are nice, but not features I miss when they aren’t present.

The LUXE X2 does feature variable wattage, up to 40W, but it can’t be manually changed. Instead, it’s set by the internal AXON chip based on the pod resistance being used. That could be a minus point for some users, but it isn’t entirely unexpected in what is designed to be an MTL/Loose MTL device.

The final thing, as far as core features go, is the adjustable airflow. As mentioned earlier, this is sensibly positioned at the top of one side, within easy reach of your thumb. The slider itself is relatively large, so I wasn’t fumbling around to find it, as I find myself doing with some vapes. It slides smoothly, with good resistance, which makes it accurate to use.

Battery Life & Charging

The battery in the LUXE X2 is one of the standout features; you don’t often find 2000mAh in devices this small and compact. It beats the 1500mAh battery in the VAPORESSO LUXE X PRO and isn’t far behind the huge cell in the LUXE XR MAX pod mod.

The pleasing size-to-battery ratio is likely thanks to the advanced ultra-high-density battery cell technology used, something I’m hoping to see used in more and more devices. The manufacturer suggests up to 4 days of vaping from a single charge, but that’s in lab tests. In the real world, only very light vapers are going to achieve results that good.

And of course, it depends on the pod and airflow setting you prefer to use. During my week or more of testing, I averaged two and a half days when using the 0.6Ω pod with fully open airflow, and easily over three days with the higher-resistance pod and less air. I consider either of those a great battery life in a 40W vape this small.

Charging isn’t perhaps as quick as might be desirable because it only has a 1.5A USB port. Combined with that high-density 2000mAh battery (which might be the reason why 2A charging couldn’t be used,) it means a full charge takes about an hour. The remaining battery level is shown by the normal light colors:

• Green – 100%-70% remaining
• Blue – 70%-30% remaining 
• Red – 30%-0% remaining

Performance

VAPORESSO clearly states that the LUXE X2 is an MTL vape, but I have also been able to enjoy a satisfying RDL vape with this powerful little device. I would maybe like to see a slightly lower-resistance pod become available before saying it is perfect for RDL, but it does an admirable impression of a vape that is suitable for more than MTL, even if it isn’t perfect.

The makers don’t specify what sort of e-liquid the LUXE X2 is designed for, so I tested it with a variety of freebase and nic salts juices. Pleasingly, it handled everything I threw at it with ease. As was expected, my freebase liquids provided a stronger throat hit and more intense flavor, while the nic salts were as smooth as I could want. The COREX coils really do an amazing job of producing accurate flavor notes from my go-to liquid.

Despite being relatively high-powered for an MTL vape, I found that the 5ml pods lasted me a full day between refills. Even with the 0.6Ω pod and maximum airflow, I averaged 2.5 pods per charge. Yep, that’s an impressive 12.5ml of e-liquid vaporized before it needed to be plugged in.

The pods seem to last as well as any I have used up until now. I have been using the 0.6Ω pod for nearly two weeks off and on, and it is still producing great flavor and there’s been no sign of flooding, wicking, or anything else that tells me it’s time to change it.

Verdict

A palm-sized MTL/RDL vape with a 2000mAh battery, efficient and long-lasting 5ml pods, accurate airflow adjustment, enough power to provide a decent throat hit, and a well-designed mouthpiece, what’s not to like?

Ok, so true fast charging would have been nice, but when the battery lasts three days, an hour of charging shouldn’t be too much of a chore. Personally, I would have also preferred slightly more metal and a bit less plastic in the body. But the LUXE X2 isn’t an unattractive little device, and it feels solid despite not having a metal unibody design.

These slight disappointments should not detract from what is, in my opinion, one of the best new pod devices to hit the shelves in the last several months. It won’t suit those who like to be able to tinker with every possible variable of their devices, but then I doubt those vapers will be looking for an MTL vape anyway.

If you’re looking for a vape that is simple to use, will fit into the palm of your hand, and has a long-lasting battery and big pods that pack in the flavor, the VAPORESSO LUXE X2 is heartily recommended by this new-found fan.