VAPORESSO XROS 3 MINI Review: How Does It Compare?

With the massive success of VAPORESSO’s XROS devices, it’s no surprise that the company is continuing to release new iterations each year. I recently reviewed the XROS 3, which is the latest in VAPORESSO’s “full-sized” XROS devices. Today, I’ll be reviewing its little brother, the XROS 3 MINI.

The XROS 3 MINI is a lot like the XROS 3, only smaller and more compact. It’s a simple pod device that, unlike the XROS 3, does not feature adjustable airflow so it’s straightforward to operate and use.

If you’re thinking to yourself that you can’t remember what the XROS 2 MINI looked like, you’re not going crazy. That’s because VAPORESSO never released a XROS 2 MINI and instead have gone straight from the original XROS MINI to the XROS 3 MINI. 

The reason for this (at least as far as I understand) is that VAPORESSO never released a XROS 2 MINI when they released the XROS 2, and they didn’t want to release a XROS 2 MINI alongside the XROS 3. I suppose that it’s easier for marketing when both devices are the “3”. 

The XROS 3 MINI packs a 1000mAh battery that recharges with Type-C charging. It’s compatible with the same pods as the XROS 3, as well as with all pods from previous XROS devices. The XROS 3 MINI comes with one pod in the box: a 0.6Ω MESH pod.

In this review, I’ll go over the design, build quality, performance, and battery life of the XROS 3 MINI. I’ll also compare the XROS 3 MINI (which is really the XROS 2 MINI) to the original XROS MINI.

Box Contents

• 1 x XROS 3 MINI
• 1 x XROS 3 0.6Ω MESH Pod
• 1 x Type-C Charging Cable
• 1 x User Manual & Warranty Card
• 1 x Reminder Card

Specifications

• Size: 99.2mm x 23.6mm x 13.8mm
• Pod Capacity: 2ml
• Uses XROS series Pods
• Draw Activated
• MTL to RDL draw
• Battery Size: 1000mAh
• Charging: 1A Type- C

Design & Build Quality

Like the XROS 3 that I reviewed, the XROS 3 MINI has a premium look and feel. The XROS 3 MINI is technically the XROS 2 MINI, because VAPORESSO never released a XROS 2 MINI. For that reason, there’s only the original XROS MINI to compare with, so don’t be confused when I’m making these comparisons.

Compared with the original XROS MINI it’s still the same size and shape, but there are little differences that add up which make it apparent that this is the next generation of the series. It’s sort of like with cars; you can still tell it’s the same model, but the little changes look fresh and tell you with just a glance that this is the newer version.

The XROS 3 MINI is very compact. It’s 99.2mm tall, 23.6mm wide, and 13.8mm deep. It’s a fair bit shorter than the XROS 3, and as a result it’s just that much more portable. It’s nice and light too, but still feels solid and well-made. 

The rounded corners and edges on the XROS 3 MINI feel great in my hand. Each side has an indent that runs from top to bottom, and this further adds to the nice hand feel.

The diamond pattern on the front of the XROS 3 MINI looks particularly high-end. It has a nice feel to it and also adds a little bit of extra grip to the device. Six of the eight colors have this diamond pattern, while two feature a different pattern with a large VAPORESSO logo. In all, there are 8 colors available: 5 gradient colors and 3 solid colors.

The paint is shiny on the patterned side of the device, and matte/satin everywhere else. I really like the Navy Blue color that I’ve been using for this review, but all of the other colors are very attractive too. On the patterned side, there is a small rounded panel with the VAPORESSO logo, and on the other side of the device there is the new VAPORESSO logo. 

You’ll notice from the pictures that there are no buttons on the XROS 3 MINI and that’s because it’s draw-activated-only. It also does not feature adjustable airflow. This keeps it simple to use, and also maintains a clean look that is free of buttons or airflow adjustment sliders.

At the bottom of the XROS 3 MINI there is a small metal bezel, which is black, gunmetal, or silver, depending on which color you get. Just above this bezel is an LED indicator strip.  This LED bar lights up each time that you take a draw, allowing you to know your battery life at a glance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t light up in neon colors like on the XROS 3, but it looks very modern and clean.

Pods

The XROS 3 MINI has a lot of pod options available and that’s because it’s compatible with all XROS pods. This means that you can use pods from the original XROS MINI, the original XROS, the XROS 2, or the XROS 3. 

These pods have the coil built into the pod, so you don’t have to worry about changing the coils. Once the pod starts to taste off or you’re no longer getting the same flavor that you used to, you simply swap the old pod out for a new one.

While the original XROS MINI included two pods, you only get one with the XROS 3 MINI: a 0.6Ω XROS 3 pod. This pod uses VAPORESSO’s patented “COREX Heating Tech” and “Morph-Mesh” coil structure, which VAPORESSO states improves the vaporization efficiency by 50%, provides extreme flavor accuracy, and extends the pod lifespan by 50%.

There are a total of give pods available for the XROS 3 MINI and they come in a range of resistances. The available pods are:

• 0.6Ω Mesh
• 0.7Ω Mesh
• 0.8Ω Mesh
• 1.0Ω Mesh
• 1.2Ω Mesh

Compared to the pods for the original XROS MINI, the pods for the XROS 3 MINI have a shape that is more rounded and less squared off. The mouthpiece is also slimmer and feels more natural to vape with. Of the available pods, only the 0.6Ω and 1.0Ω pods feature this new mouthpiece design.

These pods attach to the battery magnetically. The magnets are very strong and hold the pod securely in its place. The pods are clear and sit in the battery in a way that leaves the entire pod contents visible. This makes it easy to check your remaining ejuice level without removing the pod from the battery.

Filling the pods is simple and secure. The black plastic mouthpiece has to be removed to access the fill port and it comes off most easily by pushing it to the back. The fill port is covered by a silicone membrane which has an “X” cut into it. The membrane opens when you insert your bottle tip, and self-closes when you remove it.

Battery & Charging

The battery capacity of the XROS 3 MINI is still the same as the original at 1000mAh. This is also the same capacity as the XROS 3, so having the same battery capacity in a smaller device is great.

Battery life for the XROS 3 MINI is good, especially considering the small size. The strength and warmth of the draw are also excellent. Using the 0.6Ω pod that comes with the XROS 3 MINI, you can expect to vape about two and a half pods before the battery dies. 

The LED indicator bar serves as the battery life indicator and it will light up each time that you take a draw. The colors and corresponding battery life are:

• Green: 70-100%
• Blue: 30-70%
• Red: 0-30%

The XROS 3 MINI features Type-C charging just like the original XROS MINI. The charging port is located on the bottom of the device, so you do have to lay it down to charge. Charging takes only about an hour, which is expected for the 1A charge speed. A charge time of an hour or less is good in my books, and considering how much usage time you get out of a full charge, this isn’t bad at all. 

The XROS MINI features pass-thru charging so you can still vape while it recharges.

Performance

The XROS 3 MINI, like the XROS 3, is advertised as being for both MTL and RDL vaping. To test it, I used both regular nicotine and nicotine salt ejuices. I also used the 1.0Ω XROS 3 pod (not included), and the 0.6Ω pod that comes included in the box. The nicotine salt ejuices I used are 25mg strength, while the freebase nicotine ejuices are 6mg.

The 0.6Ω pod is one that you can use for freebase or nic salt ejuices, but I found it delivered quite a strong draw with 25mg nic salts. I wouldn’t vape any higher strength nicotine salt ejuices with this pod, as it delivers a very strong throat hit and a powerful vape. This pod was perfect for freebase ejuices though, and the level of satisfaction is just right. This pod delivers excellent flavor, warm vapor, and an all-around great vaping experience. 

I get a loose MTL draw with this 0.6Ω pod, and since there’s no adjustable airflow, that’s pretty much how you have to vape with it. Keeping my lips loosely parsed around the mouthpiece allows me to get a RDL draw, but it’s not my favorite way to RDL vape by a long shot. 

Although not included in the box, the 1.0Ω pod is another new XROS 3 pod that I had on hand from my review on the XROS 3. Paired with the XROS 3 MINI, you get a tight MTL draw that vapes great with nic salts. The flavor and warmth of the draw are perfect, and the throat hit is also great. If you’re getting the XROS 3 MINI for MTL vaping, picking up the 1.0Ω pod is a good idea.

These pods have good longevity and last a while. I’ve refilled each of them more than 8 times and they’re still performing the same as the first refill. VAPORESSO says that you can get 20 days of usage time out of each pod and that seems accurate based on my experience with them.

Verdict

The XROS 3 MINI is like a smaller, more simple XROS 3. The size is great if you’re after something that is as portable as can be, and the design and build quality are top-notch. It’s just a really nicely designed and well-built device and I can see it lasting for a long time if you take care of it.

The new XROS 3 pods deliver an excellent vaping experience that is great for MTL vaping. The included 0.6Ω pod is excellent for a loose MTL vape, so if that’s what you like then you can use the XROS 3 MINI right out of the box and get awesome flavor and performance. It’s not the best for RDL vaping because you have to loosen your lips around the mouthpiece to achieve a RDL vape, so I wouldn’t purchase it for RDL vaping.

If you want a tighter MTL draw then you’ll have to purchase the 1.0Ω XROS 3 pods separately, so make sure that you pick those up if you like a tight MTL vape. This pod also works better for higher strength nicotine salt ejuices, so it’s a necessity if you’re going to be vaping 25mg+ nic salts.

To top it all off, the pods last a very long time which is great for your wallet. Being able to use a pod for over 15 refills is incredible and definitely a huge pro for the XROS 3 MINI.

All around, the XROS 3 MINI is a solid simple pod device that easily gets my recommendation.