VOOPOO ARGUS Z3 Review: Simple, Cheap & Surprisingly Good

Design & Build Quality

The Argus Z3 follows the standard tall and slim form factor favored by almost every pod device in the range, but stands out for being one of the smallest and lightest devices of its type that VOOPOO has ever made. Weighing in at under 42g, it is around half as heavy as the Argus G4, as well as being shorter and slimmer. It is even lighter than its immediate predecessor, the Argus Z2, by almost 10g.

The body is made from impact-resistant plastic with large panels of leather-like material on the front and back. This combination of materials, along with the relatively simple internals, is what allows the device to weigh so little. I tend to prefer a vape that has a bit of heft in my hand, probably due to an ingrained assumption that weight equals strength and quality in small electronics, but I can definitely see the appeal of using one that is so light.

You hardly feel it when you’re holding it, and can barely notice it if carrying it in your trouser pocket. While it doesn’t exactly feel premium, which shouldn’t even be expected in all fairness, it feels surprisingly solid and robust despite the lack of heft.

There are six colors/designs to choose from, running from Pearl White to Blazing Orange. All combine those textured leather-like panels inset into a single-color plastic body, which gives the Z3 range a fairly distinctive look. The available colors are:

• Pearl White
• Cyber Black
• Blazing Orange
• Denim Blue
• Grass Green
• Coral Pink

Pods

The Argus Z3 comes with a single pod in the box, which is pretty standard for this type of low-cost device. What is less standard is that the pod is one of VOOPOO’s 3.5ml multi-ohm cartridges, incorporating the latest ICOSM 2.0 coil and anti-leak technology. You can use any Argus pod when replacement time comes, but if you have never used one of the new cartridges, my guess is that once you try one, you will want to stick with them.

I have covered the new multi-ohm cartridges extensively, but they continue to impress every time I use one. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of a multi-ohm pod, it is a cartridge that gives you access to two different resistances in a single unit: 0.7Ω and 1.0Ω. You don’t need to swap out the coil or even fiddle with settings; you simply pull out the pod, rotate it, and slot it back in. It takes about a second and adds adjustability to an otherwise simple device.

As mentioned, these cartridges use the latest version of VOOPOO’s ICOSM coil and leak-proofing tech. ICOSM 2.0 comprises a whole range of features, from a large coil chamber filled with aerospace-grade heat-resistant Golden Cotton to a liquid-seal shield that allows e-liquid to form a film over 99% of the cotton. In combination, these features provide consistent flavor and vapor production, prevent leaks, and extend the lifespan of each pod.

The pods have a 3.5ml capacity (2ml if you are in a TPD region) and are filled from the top. That means you can top up the liquid without having to take the pod out of the device. Not an essential feature, but having the fill port and silicone bung at the top also helps prevent leaking.

I wish VOOPOO had added something more obvious to the pod to show you which way round the pod needs to be inserted to provide the required resistance. Something tactile like raised lettering or even a simple bump. The resistances are very lightly etched onto the base of the pods, but it can be pretty hard to see unless you tilt the pod exactly the right way and squint. Of course, the LEDs change color to show you which resistance is selected (blue for 0.7 and green for 1.0), but until you know which color matches which resistance, even that isn’t very intuitive in the beginning.

Features

The Z3 is best described as a casual vape and is clearly not designed for hardcore pod vapers. This description, and the crazily low price of around ten bucks, should make it clear that it isn’t going to be packed with complex settings and features. It has everything that a casual MTL vape needs, but if you are looking for bells, whistles, and shiny things, you might want to look elsewhere.

If you take away the multi-ohm feature that is added through the pods, the only obvious feature externally is the airflow slider. This allows for a good range of draw tightness adjustment for MTL vaping, but even when fully open, it doesn’t really suit RDL (and definitely not DL) vaping.

There is no digital display screen on this device, but there is a row of LEDs in the front that show battery life (more on that in a moment) and which resistance setting is active. Blue lights mean 0.7Ω is active, and green lights mean 1.0Ω is active.

The other features of the Z3 worth talking about are all internal, hidden away as part of the core control chip. While not the most exciting features, these are important, as they keep the device safe and working as expected. The usual safety features, such as overtime protection and short-circuit protection, are there, as well as less obvious ones like max power protection, output over-current protection, and poor connection protection.

While these might not be the sexiest features a vape can have and might be considered essential for any device, not all have such a wide array of protections, particularly vapes that cost just $10.

Battery Life & Charging

The 1100mAh battery isn’t the biggest you’ll find, but it’s perfectly suitable for what it needs to do here. The Z3 only needs to output a maximum of 20W, which is pretty low in the grand scheme of things. Because of that, even a relatively small 1100mAh battery is plenty enough to provide multi-day vaping between charges.

During my tests, a full charge lasted well over two days at 0.7Ω with airflow open, and around three days if I was using the 1.0Ω resistance and more restricted airflow. Nothing groundbreaking, but perfectly acceptable. It’s worth noting, in case it isn’t obvious, that changing the resistance mode also automatically changes wattage, which is why doing so will affect how long the battery lasts.

Battery level is shown simply by the series of four LEDs on the front of the device. Four LEDs lit means you have 76-100% left, three means 51-75%, two means 26-50%, and one LED means you have less than 25% battery life remaining.

Charging is done through a USB Type-C port on the side of the device. Sadly, this is only a 1A-rated port, but that is hardly unusual in a device in this price range. A full charge took, on average, around 50 minutes during my testing period, while a top-up from when it dropped down to two LEDs often seemed to take only 15 minutes or so.

Performance

Let’s not beat around the bush: the Argus Z3 is an MTL device aimed at casual vapers. Everything about it, from the resistance options to the low power output, should tell you that. It doesn’t really try or pretend to be anything else, and that’s just fine by me. In all but a few rare cases, I think a vape is better off just doing what it does well, rather than trying to please a wide variety of uses by attempting to be more than it is.

As an MTL vape, the Z3 works really nicely. The draw is pretty tight with the airflow in the closed position, but still lets enough air through (thanks to a small hole) to be usable. Even with the airflow fully or partially open, the draw remains tight enough to be appropriate for that style of vaping.

I tested the device with my usual variety of juices, in different flavors, strengths, PG/VG ratios, and nic salt/freebase formulations. While it did a pretty good job with all, the lack of power and relatively high resistance seemed to favor bold fruit flavors rather than more subtle mixes.

That is something I have found with many vapes if used at this sort of power level, even much more expensive and complex devices. It isn’t so much a device limitation; it is a power limitation, and as long as you are expecting it, it shouldn’t be a disappointment. Throat hit is okay, but never truly intense. It can be tweaked a bit by choosing your vape juice carefully, but it will never be able to give a strong hit at only 18-20W.

The pods work as well as I now expect them to (which is very well indeed), providing consistent flavor and vapor, zero leaks in two weeks of use, and an impressive lifespan. I have been using the single supplied pod since the device arrived around 14 days ago, and it tastes as good, fires as quickly, and feels as consistent as it did on day 1. I have no doubt it could go on for another 14 days, even with the slightly abnormal use I subject review devices to on a daily basis.

Verdict

VOOPOO has always been one of my favorite vape brands, but they have really upped their game over the past couple of years. This is particularly true with the Argus range, and more specifically with the Argus G4, a device that quickly cemented itself as one of my most-liked pod vapes of recent years. While the Z3 doesn’t fit my vaping style as well as the G4, it is undoubtedly a great addition to the range, and a great example of a casual MTL device.

Without the multi-ohm cartridges, this might not have hit the mark quite so accurately, but the option to switch resistances on the fly is a real plus point. The flavor production is good, if not mind-blowing, and it would be hard to argue that the experience it offers is not consistent. The same could almost be said about the battery life: not mind-blowing, but perfectly acceptable for this type of vape.

Your own appreciation for the Z3 will really come down to what you are expecting from a vape. If you are looking for an RDL draw in a device that offers almost infinite adjustability, this isn’t the device for you. But it what you desire is a simple, low-cost, fuss-free MTL pod device, the Z3 will almost certainly hit the sweet spot. It does all of those things, while still offering some adjustability and flexibility as and when you require it.