VAPORESSO VIBE NANO & VIBE SE Review: One Pod, Two Personalities

Design & Build Quality

The Vibe SE and Vibe Nano feature very similar styling if you ignore the fact that they are shaped completely differently. The entire body of each device is constructed from hardened, polished plastic, with rounded edges and pod placement at the top. Each has a single control switch, an airflow hole, a viewport, and a USB charging port. Despite a bit of branding, both devices are simple, sleek, and not unattractive. 

The Vibe SE follows the common tall, slim form factor seen in the vast majority of modern pod vapes. At 115mm tall, it’s approximately the same height as most devices in this category, although perhaps a bit chubbier than the likes of the OXVA XLIM and even VAPORESSO’s own XROS series. The 50g weight is almost certainly lighter than most similar devices, but neither the SE nor the Nano (at 61g) feel overly cheap or low-quality because of it. 

As the name suggests, the Vibe Nano uses the now well-established short, square “nano” form factor, being just 88mm tall to the top of the pod and 44mm across. I prefer the standard shape, but if you’re used to the nano style, the Vibe Nano will feel very familiar. The other main difference between the two newest Vibe devices is that the Nano features a panel that displays both the selected mode and battery level (as opposed to the simple LED indicator light on the SE). 

Both devices look, to my eye at least, a bit like disposables. This is partly due to their simple, almost featureless design and plastic construction, but isn’t helped by some of the very bright colors they are available in. That said, colors range from bright greens, blues, and pinks (with most featuring distinct color gradients) to much more subtle and discreet black, silver, and coffee versions, so there is something for all tastes. 

Pods

The Vibe Series dual mesh pods are undoubtedly one of the most interesting features of the Vibe SE and Vibe Nano. The pods, first introduced with the Vibe and Vibe Pro, offer variable resistance levels depending on the selected mode (Eco or Power). That means the single pod provided with the kit can be either 1.0Ω or 0.6Ω at the flick of a switch. The Vibe Series of pods also includes a 0.8Ω pod that can switch to 0.4Ω. 

A change in power level and airflow supports the resistance change of the pods. For example, the 1.0Ω pod in Eco mode uses 12W and reduced airflow, but in Power mode, the resistance switches to 0.6Ω, power ramps up to 20W, and airflow is increased. This allows for two significantly different vaping experiences just by flipping the switch one way or the other. 

This obviously means that pod lifespan, flavor production, and vapor volume are also variable, which I will look at in more detail shortly.

It is, however, worth mentioning here that the pods are rated for 30+ refills, which equates to around 50,000 puffs when the devices are used in ECO mode. That’s an impressive potential lifespan for any pod these days, even considering the overall improvements that pods have seen over the last few years.

The pods, which hold 4.5ml of vape liquid, are tall and slim. They sit almost completely inside the body of the device, which makes them feel very secure but means that you’ll need to pop it out to check the e-liquid level.

There is a small viewport cut into the side of the SE and Nano, but as this only offers a view into the top of the pod, I didn’t find it very useful for judging how much vape juice I had left. 

The duckbill-style mouthpiece is relatively small and slim, and I found it very comfortable to use. Two small lips cut into the side of the pod help to make it easier to pull the pod out with a fingernail, either to check the juice level or access the fill port on the side.

The fill port is reasonably sized, and the silicone plug feels secure. Almost more importantly (for anyone who doesn’t have delicate pianist fingers), the tab used to pull open the fill port isn’t so small that a magnifying glass and tweezers are needed every time you want to top up. 

Features

Both the Vibe SE and Vibe Nano are simple, very reasonably priced “beginner” devices. Just as the fifteen-dollar price tag suggests that they won’t have aluminum bodies and brushed leather inserts, it also suggests that they won’t have advanced features like half-inch LCD animated displays. And indeed, neither of them does. 

But in fact, the simplicity of the new Vibe devices is something of a feature in itself. As previously noted, there is just one control switch that toggles between Eco and Power modes. This single switch changes the pod resistance, power level, and airflow, negating the need to adjust each element individually.

This simplicity might not appeal to more experienced vapers or those who like to have the option of MTL and DL in a single device, but for the likely target audience (i.e., beginner MTL vapers), it makes the whole experience of using and adjusting the Vibe SE or Nano completely frictionless. 

The Vibe SE has a simple LED to tell you which mode is selected and the current battery level. The Nano also has an LED mode indicator located behind a black panel at the bottom of the device. The Nano indicator is slightly more detailed, in that it displays the words “ECO” or “PWR” (rather than just a colored light, which it also has) both when the mode is changed and each time you take a puff. 

Battery Life & Charging

Both the Vibe SE and the Nano feature a 1100mAh cell. That’s less capacity than the 1500mAh offered in the Vibe Pro, but equal to that of the Vibe. It would have been nice to see slightly bigger batteries in both of these devices, but you can’t expect too much when neither has a suggested retail price of more than seventeen bucks. 

The battery lasts well in Eco mode, but the time between charges dips considerably if you are constantly in Power mode. I tested both devices for a couple of days only in Eco mode, a couple of days only in Power mode, and then a few days where I switched between modes as it suited me.

On average, a full charge lasted for around 200 puffs at the lower power/resistance level and dropped by around 30% in Power mode (140-150 puffs). It is worth noting that although the number of puffs changed, my length of use remained constant at about a day. This is almost certainly because I used the vapes less often when in Power mode due to each puff providing me with more vapor, nicotine, and satisfaction. 

Charging of the 1100mAh battery is not especially fast as the USB Type-C port is only rated at 1A (unlike the Vibe Pro, which offers 2A charging), but it falls within an acceptable range for this type of device. On average, a full change of either the SE or Nano takes around 55 minutes from dead, but charging from when the LED first turns red takes around 40 minutes.

The LED battery level indicator uses the fairly standard green, blue, and red to provide an approximate measure of how much power remains: 

• Green: 100%-70%
• Blue: 69%-30%
• Red: Under 30%

Performance

The key selling points of the Vibe SE and Vibe Nano are their price and simplicity, but cheap and simple doesn’t have to mean poor performance. That said, these devices perform as well or even better than pod vapes that cost two or three times as much. 

The simple mode/resistance switching feature, which is currently unique among pod vapes, works really well and provides two distinctly different experiences. After a few days of experimentation and the sort of testing needed to write this review, I settled into a very pleasing routine with the Vibe SE. Power mode in the morning when I needed a few deep, satisfying lungfuls of vapor, then Eco mode throughout the day. If I felt the need for a stronger hit at any point, a flick of the switch gave it to me instantly. 

The flavor production from the dual mesh and hyperflow wick is consistently great in both modes, but in Power mode, it really hits due to the significant increase in vapor. Both of these devices are designed for MTL vaping, but you could certainly use the 0.8Ω pod in power mode (i.e., at 0.4Ω resistance and higher airflow) for loose MTL/tight RDL.

If you want true RDL vaping, there are certainly better options than the Vibe vapes, but for those looking for a bit more than basic MTL from their vape, these devices make great sense. 

During my tests with different vape juices, I found that Eco mode works really well for either freebase or nic salts, but Power mode probably suits freebase better. If you’re not using high-strength nic salts, Power mode is probably going to be fine, but if your e-liquid is 30mg/ml or stronger, it could be a bit harsh on the throat. 

The pods seem to last very well (for around 30 refills in Eco mode, according to VAPORESSO), and over the two weeks I have been using them, flavor and vapor production have been consistent. I’m still very happy with the very first pod I slotted in, even after some pretty heavy use during this test process.

Importantly (certainly for me and likely many other vapers who want an easy life), the pods have not leaked at all. All pods leak eventually, usually as they reach end of life and the coil materials fail, but more than 14 days after my first puff, the Vibe series pods are still bone dry.

Vibe Series Devices Compared

The four Vibe series devices that are currently available are all pretty similar, so it can be confusing to know which one is right for you. Luckily, VAPORESSO has a handy little comparison chart for reference (click to enlarge):

Verdict

I have been through many phases of vaping, from cig-alikes to box mods to disposables, but I’m now at a point where I’m just looking for a reliable, leak-free vape with good battery life and consistently good flavor production. Well, VAPORESSO’s Vibe SE and Nano devices just crashed headfirst into my shortlist. 

After being initially skeptical due to my impression that they would be too simple and offer too little adaptability, two weeks of use have completely changed my mind. The innovative dual-resistance coils work brilliantly well, and the distinct difference in vaping experiences that the Eco and Power modes provide prove that it’s not just a gimmick. 

The flavors produced in both modes are great, and with the right e-liquid in the pod, the throat hit provided in Power mode can be extremely satisfying. The 4.5ml e-liquid capacity means most vapers won’t have to refill more than once a day. Luckily, this is also approximately how long a full battery charge lasts. 

The slightly disposable-like styling might not be 100% to my taste, but when a vape feels both light and somehow solid, how the device looks isn’t a deal-breaker. The Vibe SE is available for less than fifteen bucks if you shop around, so it’s hardly fair to expect aluminum, leather, and bespoke styling at this price.

If you want a low-priced, simple-to-use but adaptable MTL vape with a decent vape liquid capacity and an all-day battery, the VAPORESSO Vibe SE and Vibe Nano are well worth trying.

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