VOOPOO ARGUS Multi-Ohm Cartridge Review: One Pod, Three Resistances

Design

Outwardly, VOOPOO’s multi-ohm pods don’t look that much different from any other pod or cartridge on the market today. They have a 3.5ml e-liquid capacity (2ml in TPD regions), a tall, slim shape with a narrow “duck-bill” style mouthpiece, and a filling port with a silicone cover on the side. Look a little closer, however, and you will start to see some differences.

For one, the coil chamber is tall and relatively wide compared to those seen in similarly-sized pods for other devices. This is where all of the new iCOSM Code technology is housed, including a copper e-liquid chamber, the thick “Mega-core” wicking layer of Golden Cotton, and a large curved heating element. Another fairly unique design feature inside these pods is the e-liquid flow holes. These are short and wide, and run around the very bottom of the coil chamber, rather than being narrow and tall and stretching up the side, as is seen in most other pods. Presumably, this helps to keep the air pressure inside the coil consistent.

One of the most easily overlooked design elements of the new Multi-ohm pods is their backward compatibility. While they were launched alongside the ARGUS G4, which is currently the only device that allows all three resistances to be used, they will fit perfectly into ANY vape in the ARGUS pod range. That’s around 30 different devices. And while these pods can only switch between 0.7Ω and 1.0Ω resistances in those older devices, that’s still a pretty cool feature.

The everyday, quality-of-life features in the Multi-ohm pods are great too. The mouthpiece is nicely tapered and comfortable to use, and the magnets that hold it in the device feel strong. The fill port cover is a little on the small side, especially if you have big fingers, and can be a bit fiddly to open, but it does a great job of securely sealing the fill hole.

One QoL feature I think could maybe improve the design of these pods is some sort of physical indicator to show which resistance is selected. Something as simple as a raised bump that lets you know which orientation the pod is currently in(which is how you change resistances). For example, if the bump is facing the front, 0.7Ω is selected. If it is facing the back, 1.0Ω is in play. This isn’t a problem on the ARGUS G4 or other devices with a screen, because the resistance is displayed when the pod is inserted, but it could be useful in ARGUS devices with no screen.

Multi-Ohm Pod: One Cartridge, Three Resistances 

Pods that can provide two different resistances in a single fixed-coil unit are not new. I have tested several different devices over the years that offer this feature. What is unique about VOOPOO’s Multi-ohm pods is the fact that they combine an extremely well-engineered coil with the potential for three different resistances in a single cartridge. To be clear, at the time of this review, only the ARGUS G4 offers that exact combination, but there’s little doubt the brand will carry this technology into future devices.

As mentioned earlier, the Multi-ohm pods work in all older ARGUS pod vapes, but they really shine in the ARGUS G4. It not only gives you access to the 0.7Ω and 1.0Ω resistances that all the other devices can use, but with a double-tap of the button, the G4 can also switch to 0.4Ω mode. The pods use a multi-core electrode system with three electrode contacts. These are arrayed in positive-negative-positive, and when the orientation of the pod is changed, the polarity changes, resulting in a change in resistance.

The reason that the ARGUS G4 has three resistance settings instead of two is that it also has a way to switch polarity digitally (the double button press). If all that sounds way too complicated, I get it. I’m not entirely sure I understand it all myself, and I’m the one who studied the documentation and wrote that last paragraph. All that really matters is whether it works, and it works extremely well.

Once you get your head around the idea of rotating the pod to change the resistance, the action feels very intuitive. As does the double button tap, which, it should be noted, can be done no matter if the pod is in 0.7Ω or 1.0Ω mode (you don’t have to rotate the pod to step down from 1.0Ω to 0.7Ω, and then from 0.7Ω to 0.4Ω). I haven’t tested how well the switching works on every ARGUS device, but on the G4 it all works flawlessly.

The whole system is perfect if you are someone, like me, who likes to change up throat hit, vapor density, or vaping style several times throughout the day depending on mood, need, or situation. It lets you hit a lot of MTL and RDL sweet spots in a single cartridge, without having to think about carrying alternative pods and coils, or having half-filled pods sitting around on your desk until they are needed.

E-liquid Pairing Performance

The flavors produced by the coils inside the Multi-ohm pods are generally very good. I found them to be rich, deep, and consistent, no matter if I was hitting blue razz ice, virginia tobacco, or something more complex. That said, and as is usually the case, the different resistances (and the wattage level that goes with them) tend to work better for different flavor profiles.

VOOPOO helpfully recommends which resistance setting to use for which flavor style. For example, 1.0Ω is better suited to tobacco, mint, or dessert flavors; 0.7Ω is better suited to subtle fruit or more complex flavor blends; and 0.4Ω brings out the best in bold fruit, slush, or soda blends. And while I didn’t have every flavor type to test, these suggestions seem pretty good to me.

Single-flavor tobacco and menthol juices, typical choices for MTL vapers, work well at the highest resistance setting. Bold, rich fruit or slush flavors that pack more of a punch are often preferred for RDL, and these work great at 0.4Ω but also pretty well at 0.7Ω. True flavor chasers would likely need something that can handle higher wattages, but considering that these pods are designed to work with 30-40W devices, the flavor production from almost every juice I tested was great.

Coil Life

Coil/pod lifespan has improved almost across the board in the last few years, particularly with those in the 0.4Ω to 1.2Ω range of resistances. Even relatively recently, I can remember being pleased if a coil lasted for more than a week before it started losing flavor, leaking, or simply burning out. These days, a 0.8Ω or 0.6Ω coil/pod not lasting a minimum of three weeks or more would seem unusual. Thankfully, VOOPOO has not bucked this trend with these Multi-ohm pods.

The suggested lifespan for these pods is 100ml, which is pretty impressive. If you go through 4ml a day, that would be a 25-day lifespan. During my tests, 100ml proved to be a reasonable benchmark. I had one pod last for four weeks of relatively light use, and another started to feel jaded after a couple of weeks of hitting it hard at 0.4Ω. The pod I have in at this very moment has been switched around many times and used daily for nearly two weeks, and it seems perfectly fine so far.

It should be noted that none of the pods or coils failed or stopped working; they simply started to lose flavor and consistency. This was very noticeable when I tested them against a new pod, but in isolation they were still perfectly usable, with the loss of flavor being very gradual.

Another thing that should be noted, particularly if you are an MTL vaper who is looking for something that gives you more vaping style options, is that the volume of e-liquid you burn through at 0.4Ω compared to 1.0Ω or even 0.7Ω noticeably increases. A full 3.5ml pod could keep me vaping all day at 1.0, but I needed at least one refill (usually around mid-afternoon) if I was hitting it at 0.4Ω. That will be obvious to vapers used to using low-resistance coils, but for those new to RDL, remember that both lifespan and how long a bottle of juice lasts will be shortened if you choose the lowest resistance.

The lifespan of any coil/pod will be affected by how you treat it, and these are no different. Lack of priming, overuse, and letting it run dry are going to shorten its life. But treat VOOPOO’s Multi-ohm pods well, and they will keep going for a pleasingly long time.

Reliability

The idea of a single pod replacing the need for several doesn’t really work if that single pod is terrible (or even pretty bad). Multiple resistances count for nothing if the pod leaks, gives spitback, suffers from flooding, or gives you the dreaded dry hits. Thankfully, these latest pods from VOOPOO are not only extremely well-engineered on paper, but they also seem to be truly reliable in everyday use.

They include several features, such as the liquid-seal shield copper chamber that helps maintain a consistent air pressure inside, which is specifically designed to prevent leaks. And that is exactly what they do. In well over a month of daily use, I have not experienced any leaking, even from pods that have been messed around and experimented with (in the course of my ARGUS G4 review) far more than they would likely be in normal use.

Spitback and flooding problems have been non-existent, and the only dry hit was from user error. The pods can hardly be blamed for me not paying attention to the fill level and drawing on empty. The switching is also very reliable, at least in the G4, with no delay between rotating the pod and being able to hit the vape.

Verdict

I have been using VOOPOO devices, particularly their pod vapes, for a long time. The Doric 20 was actually the first pod vape I found that I liked when I restarted vaping after a failed attempt years before with a very complex battery mod. While I have always liked their devices, the pods and coils have not been without their problems. The older ARGUS pods did a lot to fix the earlier issues, but this latest version may be the best they have ever produced.

VOOPOO’s Multi-ohm pods really are up there with some of the best I have ever used, from any brand. Not only do they produce good flavor, great consistency, and are almost entirely leak-free, but they also help to take some of the frustration and clutter out of vaping for those who want to experiment with vaping styles.

Switching resistances is easy and very quickly feels intuitive. The feature not only has the potential to save you from having to buy several different pods/coils for different situations, but it also increases the on-the-fly adjustability of your ARGUS vape (particularly the G4) in one fell swoop. You can have relaxed MTL vaping on the drive to work, more intense RDL draws while you de-stress at lunch, or something in between while you chill out at home, all from a single pod with none of the usual hassle that changing to a different setup entails.

If you are an existing ARGUS user, switching over to these pods is well worth considering. Even without the multi-ohm feature, the iCOSM Code 2.0 upgrades make for a very efficient, reliable, and consistent experience. The very best experience, however, is going to be had with the ARGUS G4 (which is a great device) and the extra adjustability that three resistances give you.