VAPORESSO XROS 3 Review: The New Best Pod Vape?

The VAPORESSO XROS 3 is the latest pod vape in the XROS series. Like its predecessor, the XROS 2, this is a MTL/RDL device that can be used with either regular nicotine or nicotine salt ejuices and there are a number of pods available. 

Compared with the original XROS and XROS 2, the XROS 3 is similar, but brings a number of refinements and improvements that should make for an even better device.

The XROS 3 features an adjustable airflow slider and a 1000mAh built-in battery that recharges with Type-C charging. It comes with two, 2ml pods in the box: a new 0.6Ω mesh pod and a 1.0Ω mesh pod. 

In this review, I’ll explore the design, build quality, features, performance, and battery life of the XROS 3. I’ll also compare the XROS 3 to the XROS 2, so you can understand what’s changed between the two. 

If you already own the XROS 2, is the XROS 3 worth upgrading for? If you don’t own a XROS device, should you get the XROS 3? By the end of this review, you’ll have all of the information that you need to decide.

Box Contents

• 1 x XROS 3 Device
• 1 x 0.6Ω Mesh Pod
• 1 x 1.0Ω Mesh Pod
• 1 x Type-C Charging Cable
• 1 x User Manual & Warranty Card
• 1 x Reminder Card

Specifications

• Size: 115.1mm x 23.6mm x 13.7mm
• Pod Capacity: 2ml
• Uses XROS series Pods
• Button/Draw Activated
• Adjustable Airflow Slider
• MTL to RDL draw
• Battery Size: 1000mAh
• Charging: 1A Type- C

Design & Build Quality

The XROS 3 is a very nice device. It’s apparent from the time that you take it out of the box that a lot of time, thought, and effort has been put into the design. Although it’s not too much different from the original XROS and XROS 2, there are small design changes and little refinements to the shape that give the XROS 3 a premium look and feel.

But before I get into that, let’s talk about the size. While the XROS and XROS 2 were identical to each other in size, the XROS 3 is slightly taller at 115.1mm (compared to the 112mm height of the XROS 2). It’s a small difference, but I immediately noticed that the XROS 3 looked and felt larger. It’s still around the same width and depth at 23.6mm and 13.7mm, but the added height is noticeable.

Even with the slightly larger size, the XROS 3 feels perfect in the hand. It’s nice to hold, feels natural to vape with, and it’s still perfectly portable. You’re not going to have any trouble with putting it into a pocket, purse or bag, so the portability remains unaffected.

The XROS 3 is still a tall rectangular shape like the XROS and XROS 2 and it features rounded corners and edges. Each side has a dip that runs from the top to the bottom, which makes it look more modern and feel more comfortable to hold.

The button has also changed on the XROS 3. While it’s still circular, it features a smaller depressed circle in the middle, which gives it a cool and modern look. The chrome edge around the button further adds to the premium appearance.

The XROS 3 is available in eight colors: Sky Blue, Royal Gold, Mint Green, Rose Pink, Icy Silver, Black, Grey, and Navy Blue. The first five colors are gradient colors that start off solid at the top, and gradually get lighter towards the bottom. The last three colors are solid colors.

I received the Sky Blue and Rose Pink colors for this review and both are awesome. The paint is a matte-metallic that really suits the design of the device. The paint is also high-quality and holds up well through day-to-day use. I haven’t been particularly gentle with it (even dropping it a few times) and it’s still looking good.

Branding is subtle, which suits the look of the XROS 3. There’s the new VAPORESSO logo on the back, and VAPORESSO printed on the front. These are both printed in the same color as the device, but in a font that is shiny, so it’s only visible on the matte-metallic body in the right lighting.

The base of the XROS 3 has a chrome bezel. Just above this bezel is an LED lighting bar, which lights up in neon colors as you draw on the device. It’s a small but cool addition that makes me like the XROS 3 even more.

Features

The XROS 3 retains all of the features that made the original XROS and XROS 2 so great. It uses VAPORESSO’s latest AXON chipset for consistent performance and also features ‘Pulse Mode’, a mode first seen on their GEN line of vape mods.

Pulse mode rapidly pulses the wattage while you draw. This isn’t noticeable when you’re vaping, but VAPORESSO states that this boosts the power and flavor for the XROS 3 and delivers a better vaping experience. 

VAPORESSO has made some tweaks to the adjustable airflow slider on the XROS 3. It’s still a horizontal slider with a small metal knob, but the airflow hole is no longer shaped like a teardrop. Instead, there’s one large airflow hole and one smaller airflow hole. 

The slider is firm and stays where it is set, but easy enough to adjust without too much effort. This airflow slider, combined with the pods, allows you to adjust the XROS 3 for anywhere from a restricted direct lung draw, down to a MTL draw.

Pods

The pods for the XROS 3 are compatible with previous XROS devices. The pods from previous XROS devices are also compatible with the XROS 3. These pods have the coil built into the pod, so there’s no need to hassle with changing the coils. Once the pod starts to taste off or the performance drops off, you simply swap out the old pod for a new one.

You get two pods included in the box: 

• 1 x 0.6Ω Mesh Pod (MTL & RDL)
• 1 x 1.0Ω mesh Pod (MTL)

These pods that come with the XROS 3 use 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%.

While you only get two pods in the box, there are a total of five pods available for the XROS 3 and they come in a range of resistances. The pods available are:

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

Compared to the XROS 2 pods, the pods for the XROS 3 have a shape that is less square and more rounded. The mouthpiece is also slimmer. Comparing the two pods, the XROS 3 pod definitely feels more comfortable and natural to vape with. Of the pods available for the XROS 3, only the 0.6Ω and 1.0Ω pods feature this new mouthpiece design (both are included in the box).

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 XROS 3 has a 1000mAh battery, which is the same capacity as the XROS 2. Battery life is good on this device, especially considering the strength and warmth of the draw. With the 0.6Ω pod you can expect to vape about two and a half pods before the battery dies, while with the 1.0Ω pod you can expect to vape three full pods of ejuice per charge.

The gradient LED bar serves as the battery life indicator. It will light up in a gradient while you draw, but  at the end of your draw it will switch to a solid color to indicate your battery life:

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

The XROS 3 has 1A Type-C charging and charges through the Type-C port located on the bottom of the device. This means that you have to lay it down to charge. I timed a charge at just around an hour, which is what you would expect for the 1A charge speed. For the usage times that you get out of a full charge, an hour is not bad at all. It also features pass-thru charging, so you can vape while it charges.

Performance

VAPORESSO advertises the XROS 3 as a device for both MTL and RDL vaping. As such, it was only fair that I put it through its paces with both styles of airflow, and with a variety of ejuices. For my testing, I used a 6mg regular nicotine ejuice as well as a 25mg nicotine salt ejuice with the 0.6Ω pod, and a 25mg nicotine salt ejuice with the 1.0Ω pod.

Since it comes pre-installed on the XROS 3 we’ll start with the 0.6Ω pod. This pod is the one that VAPORESSO advertises as being for MTL and RDL. When used with a 25mg nicotine salt ejuice it delivers great flavor and a draw that is very strong. Even if I wanted to, I don’t think that I could use a higher strength nicotine salt ejuice with this pod as it’s already a very powerful draw with 25mg. 

Using a 6mg freebase nicotine ejuice felt much better with the 0.6Ω pod. It’s the perfect mix of a strong draw, warm vapor, and nicotine satisfaction. 

With the airflow wide open, this pod delivers a passable RDL draw. It’s not my preferred device for RDL vaping, but you can do it if you open your lips a little around the mouthpiece while you draw. I had to use the button when trying to RDL vape, as the draw-activation just isn’t sensitive enough. 

Closing the airflow down takes the draw down to a loose MTL vape. The draw activation works fine like this, so you can vape it either with or without the button.

The 1.0Ω pod is purely meant for MTL vaping and it excels at it. I get a loose MTL draw with the airflow wide open, and a tight MTL draw with the airflow closed off. My 25mg nicotine salt ejuice vapes just right with this pod. The flavor is right, the warmth is perfect, and the throat hit is right where I want it to be. The draw-activation works perfectly fine with this pod, no matter how the airflow is set.

After running 15ml of ejuice through each pod, the performance and flavor are still the same as when I first started using them. VAPORESSO states 20 days of usage time out of each pod, and that seems accurate from my experience with them.

Verdict

The VAPORESSO XROS 3 may just be my new favorite pod vape. It has a premium feel to it that screams “well-made”, and the design is attractive and modern. It remains a simple device to use, but the small changes add up to deliver an even better experience than its predecessors. 

VAPORESSO’s “Corex Tech” seems to make a positive difference to the vaping experience, as the flavor from both of these pods is some of the best that I’ve gotten from a pod device. There really aren’t many other pod vapes that can compete, and with so many options out there, that’s saying a lot.

While it’s not my favorite device for RDL vaping, the MTL vaping experience is top-notch. The 0.6Ω pod works best for a loose MTL vape with freebase ejuices, while the 1.0Ω pod shines for MTL and nicotine salt ejuices.

Pod life is also a point that I can’t forget to mention. Getting 15ml+ out of a pod is impressive and another huge positive point for the XROS 3.

For anyone looking for great flavor, long pod life, and great battery life, you can’t go wrong with the XROS 3.

UPDATE: Vaporesso has informed me that the issue with the draw activation is due to my unit being a sample and that production sales versions do not have this issue.

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