VooPoo Drag Max Review
VooPoo is such a popular brand these days that it’s hard to believe it’s only been around for less than four years. I reviewed their first product, the original Drag 157W back in May 2017, not knowing that it would eventually become one of the most, if not the most, popular vape mods ever. Today, VooPoo is still going strong and releasing some of the most innovative, sleek and durable products in the industry. Let’s take a look at one of the Chinese manufacturer’s crowning achievements, the new VooPoo Drag Max:
Drag Max Packaging and Presentation
The Drag Max is being sold in two different packaging options: the standard kit and a limited edition kit. I was fortunate enough to receive the latter, but as far as I know only 1,000 of them were put on sale and they’ve already been taken off the VooPoo website. Hopefully the company restocks, because this is definitely one of the nicest kits I have ever seen.
The standard Drag Max kit comes in the usual rectangular cardboard box with a picture of the device on the front, and a list of contents, manufacturer contact information, the usual age and nicotine warnings, and a scratch-and-check authenticity sticker.
Inside the box, we have the Drag Max vape mod complete with a magnetically attached PnP pod (the same one as on the Drag X and Drag S pod mods), two different PnP coil-heads, a Type-C charging cable, and a user manual.
The Limited Edition packaging is much nicer. It comes in this large, square cardboard box and contains a sealed standard kit, as well as three extra PnP pods (an MTL version, the standard 4.5ml version, as well as a nice RTA pod), and a selection of eight PnP coil-heads, including an RBA head. It’s basically a complete package, and if you love VooPoo’s PnP line, you have to get this!
Drag Max Design and Build Quality
VooPoo has been killing it in terms of design and build quality lately. Its latest products, including the above mentioned Drag X and S pod mods and the stellar VooPoo Argus GT, all feature this high quality leatherette that both looks and feels nice in the hand. The Drag Max is no exception. If anything, VooPoo’s newest device actually features even more of this leatherette, and borrows the sleek design of the Argus GT.
The Drag Max measures 122mm x 50mm x 25mm, is made primarily of zinc alloy, and comes in a variety of colors, from the classic black and vintage brown, to bolder choices like blue and Marsala (burgundy). Oh, and don’t let, the 122mm height of the mod scare you; that included the attached PnP pod, the mod itself is actually compact for a dual-battery device.
Starting at at the top, we have the same magnetic port situation as on the company’s previous PnP devices (Drag X/S). It uses the exact same refillable pods, so you can use your older pods with this mod, if you so desire. All you have to do is plug in an included PnP coil head through the bottom, fill the pod with e-liquid, attach it to the mod and you’re good to go.
The Drag Max has the same airflow control system as the Drag X and S – a metal knob that lets you open and close to fairly large airflow slots on both sides of the device. It’s not my favorite system ever, mainly because I find it too airy for MTL vaping, but if you prefer DL vaping, you’re probably going to love it.
The C-frame body of the Drag Max is mostly covered in that lovely leatherette I mentioned above, making it really comfortable in the hand. It also has these decorative pieces that appear to be made out of polycarbonate and really complement the leatherette.
The front panel of the Drag Max reminds me a lot of the VooPoo Navi pod system. It has the same recessed metallic fire button, same rectangular display and the USB-C charging port in the same location. The only thing that’s different is the design of the + and – buttons. It’s a very clean and inspired design that I for one love!
On the bottom, we have a slick hinged battery door with clear polarity markings on the inside. The battery compartment doesn’t have polarity signs on the bottom, but the two battery bays are insulated with plastic, which lowers the risk of short-circuit issues, in case the battery wrapping is damaged.
All in all, the VooPoo Drag Max is one of the nicest looking vape mods the Chinese manufacturer has ever made. It’s sleek for a dual-battery device, the leatherette looks and feel great, and the PnP pod compatibility, while restrictive for some, is actually really convenient for most vapers.
Drag Max Menu System and Navigation
The VooPoo Drag Max doesn’t have a proper menu system as we usually find on advanced vape mods, but unless you’re one of the very few vapers who actually use modes like temperature control, custom curves or bypass, you’re not missing out on much.
Instead of multiple vape modes, the Drag Max presents users with a choice between two types of variable wattage. The device boots up in Smart Mode, the same advanced mode we’ve seen recurrently on VooPoo devices since the original Vinci pod mod hit the market. It reads the resistance of the PnP coil-head you are using and automatically adjusts the power output accordingly. This prevents unfortunate accidents like firing a high-resistance coil-head at over 100W and basically frying it. It’s a clever safety mechanism, and one that beginners and casual users will certainly appreciate.
By pressing the fire button three times in rapid succession, you will notice the color of the user interface on the display switch from yellow to blue, signaling that you’re now in RBA Mode, where there are no constraints in terms of power output. If in Smart Mode you could only up the power to 40W, in RBA Mode you can crank it up to the full 177W the Drag Max is capable of outputting.
You also have the option to change the layout of the interface, by keeping both the + and – buttons pressed down for a couple of seconds. You can choose between a vertical and a landscape layout, depending on personal preference, but the information displayed is identical.
By pressing the fire button and the + button for a couple of seconds you can lock all the buttons, while the fire button and – button combination clears the puff counter.
That’s about all there is to the menu of the Drag Max, but, again, it’s more than enough for the average user.
Drag Max Battery Life
The Drag Max is powered by two 18650 batteries, which can be recharged on board using the USB-C charging port, which supports 2A charging. I don’t recommend it, though, as an external charger is a much safer option. Not only does it eliminate the risk of battery malfunction, but it also charges them uniformly, prolonging their life cycle.
I’ve been using the Drag Max with two Sony VTC5A batteries, and I’ve been getting more than a full day of use, vaping at around 65W. That’s more than I expected to get, to be honest, but I can’t say if it’s the Gene Fan chip, or if I’ve just been vaping less than I used to.
There are just too many variables to consider with these external battery devices, so there’s no way to accurately estimate what battery life will be like for each user.
Drag Max MTL Pod and RBA Pod
I won’t spend too much time on these two accessories, because they don’t come in the standard kit, but I will give you a brief a brief presentation and my two cents about each of them.
The PnP MTL pod is a bit stubbier than the standard one, but has a longer, narrower Delrin drip tip. It looks a bit funky, but if you’re familiar with mouth-to-lung atomizers, you won’t find the look that bizarre. Anyway, the pod holds up to 2ml of e-liquid and works with all PnP coil-heads, but is designed for use with the MTL specific ones (higher resistance).
The reduced juice capacity is not an issue, considering that vaping at low wattage consumes far less e-liquid than sub-ohm vaping, but the thing I was disappointed by was the super-airy draw. Even with the 1.2Ω coil-head and the airflow fully closed, I couldn’t do a proper MTL draw. If you prefer a loose MTL, it’s perfectly fine, but it’s not suitable for a tight, cigarette-like draw.
As for the RBA pod, all I can tell you is that it is definitely worth paying extra for! Don’t get me wrong, VooPoo’s PnP coil line is brilliant, in both practicality and performance, but if you’re like me and like building your your coils and wicking them your way, this is one accessory you must have in your arsenal.
The RBA has a very cool design, in my opinion, the metallic cover of the atomization chamber practically encased in transparent plastic. The build deck offers plenty of space for virtually any type of coil, but, sadly, the wire holes on the two posts are on the small side, so you won’t be able to fit any thick wire in them.
The RBA has the same e-liquid capacity as the MTL pod (2ml), and to be honest it’s really not enough, especially if you manage to fit a lower resistance build between those posts. Still, it is a single-coil deck, so it’s not like you’ll burn through e-juice, although a 4ml capacity would have been much better.
How Does the Drag Max Vape?
The VooPoo Drag Max uses the same style PnP pods as the Drag X and S, as well as the Argus GT, as well as the exact same PnP coil-heads. The mod itself also has the same “infinite” airflow system and is powered by the Gene Fan chip we’ve seen in the above mentioned devices, so it only makes sense that the performance is comparable.
There’s no sense regurgitating everything I’ve written in my previous review of VooPoo devices, if you’re curious about details, you can check those out. The bottom line is that the Drag Max is just as solid as VooPoo’s other PnP pod devices, with the only difference being the power output of the mod.
This is one of the strengths of VooPoo’s PnP line, to be honest. Both the pods and the coil-heads are interchangeable, so you only have to own one of its PnP compatible devices and you can enjoy the entire line of coils and pods. There is no other brand on the market right now that offers that, but companies like Vaporesso and SMOK seem to be adopting the same strategy, and that’s great news for us consumers.
Conclusion
The VooPoo Drag Max is another big hit for the Chinese manufacturer, and a solid contender for best vape kit of the year. The build quality is top notch, the design is elegant, and there is no beating the PnP line in terms of options and vaping performance. Plus, the new RBA and MTL pods only make it better. We already had an RBA base, but it was on the small side, so the RBA pod is a really welcome addition to the PnP family.
Do I recommend spending your money on the Drag Max kit? Yes, but only if you don’t already own one of VooPoo’s other PnP pod devices, as they are all compatible with the same pods. If you already have one, I suggest only getting the RBA pod.
Pros
- great build quality and design
- high quality leatherette
- fast battery activation
- excellent DL performance
Cons
- lackluster MTL vaping options
