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Voopoo DRAG Max Review: In a League of Its Own
Product intro and specs
I was about to introduce the DRAG Max as the latest installment of the DRAG line of mods, but that wouldn’t have been 100% accurate. Yes, the DRAG Max has a lot in common with the DRAG and the DRAG 2, and its overall design is very reminiscent of a standard dual-18650 vape mod. But look closer, and you’ll realize that it is actually a heavy-duty pod mod. Think of it as a dual-18650 platform for the PnP pods, or in other words, a large DRAG X with more battery life and a higher wattage rating.
That’s the second dual-battery vape that Voopoo paired with the PnP coils after the Argus GT, but these are two very different devices—the Argus came with a 510-to-PnP adapter, while the Max has no 510 connection to begin with. If you find Voopoo’s ecosystem approach interesting but the different product lines are starting to confuse you, keep reading and I will try to break it down for you.
This kit was sent to me by Voopoo for the purposes of this review.Voopoo was kind enough to send me the impressive limited-edition box for this review. Unfortunately, the LE was limited to 1,000 units that were only available through Voopoo’s website, and they seem to have been sold out already. But I will devote one section to the contents of the big box, as all the included accessories are available separately.
Specifications
- Material: Leather + zinc alloy
- Output power: 5-177 watts
- Output voltage: 6.4-8.4 volts
- Resistance: 0.1-3.0 ohm
- Battery: Dual 18650 (not included)
- Pod capacity: 4.5 mL (TPD: 2 mL)
- Pod material: PCTG
- Resistance: 0.2-ohm (PnP-VM5) / 0.15-ohm (PnP-VM6)
Kit contents
- 1 x DRAG Max device
- 1 x PnP pod 4.5 mL
- 1 x PnP-VM5 (0.2 ohm)
- 1 x PnP-VM6 (0.15-ohm)
- 1 x Type-C cable
- 1 x User manual
Build quality and design
The first thing I noticed when I opened the box is that the Max mod really looks like an evolution of the DRAG series. It is very similar in shape to the original DRAG (albeit a bit smaller), but the corners are now rounded and there is a 4 mm raised platform for the PnP pod to sit on. As far as form factor goes, I’d say that the Max sits right between the original DRAG and the Argus GT mod.
But, as I explained in the intro, a more fitting description would be that the DRAG Max is a beefed-up version of the DRAG X. After all, it is a dual-battery mod that houses airflow control and comes without a 510 connection, but with the proprietary magnetic connection of the PnP platform instead. With that in mind, I’ll provide some more comparisons to its dual-battery siblings, as I am pretty sure that many of the people reading this already own a DRAG mod.
A big change over the original DRAG mod is the placement of the screen, which is now on the opposite side of where the tank sits. I find using my thumb to fire a lot more natural, so this is a welcomed change. The screen also got a major overhaul and looks a lot like the screens of the DRAG S and X. It is colored, bright, and very easy to read. All the important info is there too. You can see a battery meter at the top, watts, mode, resistance, volts, as well as a puff counter and puff duration.
As for construction, the DRAG Max is significantly different from the previous heavy DRAGs. It is an impressively lightweight mod that comes in a variety of options, all with gorgeous leather backings in between the metallic frame and shiny accents at both sides of the mod. The branding is also much more discreet now, with dark pressed text on top of dark leather. I received the Galaxy Blue edition, and I was very impressed when I took it out of the box. I have my reservations with black Voopoo mods (my black original DRAG is practically black and white now), but the paint seems to hold much better on the Max.
I’d put it like this: the DRAG Max is both an evolution of the DRAG mods and a dual-18650 DRAG X at the same time. It is super stylish, very well-built, and blends characteristics of two product categories smoothly.
The Voopoo DRAG Max mod
With the DRAG Max belonging in a category of its own, it is kinda hard to assess this mod’s performance. It is a high-powered pod vape dressed in mod clothes, but it can easily turn into a standard mod with the use of the 510 adapter. You just need to push the adapter in, screw a tank on, and voila, you have yourself a vape mod. Unfortunately, there is no 510 adapter included in the package—and that’s true for the Limited Edition as well. In fact, from what I understand Voopoo does not produce an adapter and the ones on the market are made by third parties—which is a bit weird since they were teasing an adapter on the pages of the DRAG S and X pod mods. In any case, for this review I’ll stick to what I have in hand.
The DRAG Max performs seamlessly with the PnP pods, and I am happy to be able to go out with a PnP-based device without having to carry an extra battery. The mod fires rapidly and seems to be efficient with battery drain. Loading it with two freshly charged 18650s, I can go through around two and a half pods (appx. 10 mL) on the 0.15-ohm coil at 65 watts. These are the most power-hungry PnP coils, so using it with any of the other coils will get it to last even longer. But note that your mileage may vary depending on the specs of your 18650 batteries.
The Max is powered by the GENE.FAN 2.0 chipset and it is rated for 177 watts. It is important to note that Anthony found the company’s latest dual-battery mod (the Argus GT) to be overrated as far as specs go. While I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the Max when it comes to higher wattages, it does feel very accurate up to 80 watts—which is the max you can currently go on a PnP coil. If you are planning on using it as a standard dual-18650 mod and enjoy vaping above that wattage, I suggest keeping an eye out for reviewers that do in-depth testing of the specs before buying.
As far as navigation goes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an easier to use dual-18650 device on the market:
- Five clicks to turn the mod on/off
- Three clicks to change mode (S for smart, R for RBA)
- Press fire + up to lock the device (doesn’t fire when locked)
- Press fire + down to clear the puff counter
- Press up + down to change the theme (press fire to pick)
The modes work the same way as they did on the DRAG S and X. RBA mode gives you full control of the wattage, while Smart mode will automatically detect your coil, set the wattage, and prevent you from going higher than the max rating of the coil.
The Drag Max has two theme options, with the default one (“iron”) being very similar to the theme of the DRAG X, and the “core” theme turning the screen in landscape orientation and adding some futuristic graphic touches. I found the “iron” theme a lot easier to read but “core” does look good.
As you can see, the options and modes of the DRAG Max are limited. That’s a thing to keep in mind if you are planning on using it as a standard mod, but pod mod users should feel right at home with that user interface.
Finally, the mod charges through a Type-C port. That’s always good news, but I’d still advise using an external charger for 18650s.
The Limited Edition
The LE of the Drag Max comes with what seems to be the full collection of PnP coils (including the RBA head,) a second PnP tank, and two additional pod options; a PnP MTL pod and a PnP RTA pod.
You can find detailed information on the standard PnP pods and the included coils in my review of the DRAG S and X, as well as in Anthony’s review of the Argus GT kit. With that in mind, I’ll use this space to briefly discuss the contents of the (impressive!) limited edition I received.
As far as the MTL PnP tank is concerned, I’m not a huge fan. You can use it with some of the coils that are listed as MTL, but the dual-sided airflow of the tank doesn’t offer a very satisfying MTL experience. It is loose even with the airflow almost fully closed, lacks throat hit, and doesn’t provide a lot of flavor. The only way to get a tight MTL out of it is to close the airflow completely, but at that point, it gets too tight and the flavor suffers. Your mileage may vary, but I wouldn’t recommend this tank as a standalone purchase. If you just want to vape a tank here and there, it’s passable, I guess.
The PnP RTA on the other hand was a pleasant surprise. It is a single coil 24 mm tank with lots of airflow, a deck that’s easy to work with, and enough space to easily fit a 3.5 mm coil in it. It also looks sexy as hell on the Max mod and its low height makes it a great fit for an otherwise tall device. But there are two glaring cons. It only fits up to 2 mL of juice and the bottom fill is not as practical as a top push-to-fill design, or even a traditional threaded top cap. But all in all, it is a great performer; if you are fine with the low capacity and the filling method, I’d even suggest buying it on its own.
Finally, if you want to read more about the PnP RBA head then take a look at Dave’s review of the Argus Air pod. I’ve used it myself and wasn’t a huge fan of the fiddling I had to go through, but Dave goes into more detail and I agree with his assessment.
All things considered, the LE edition has its highs and lows, but I really like the fact that it includes a lot of options and the full collection of PnP coils. Voopoo’s ecosystem approach is something that other companies should take a hard look at. This edition has something for everyone, and I am happy that Voopoo sent it to me, otherwise I’d probably go out and buy it myself.
Pros / Cons
- (+) Very lightweight
- (+) Great design
- (+) Very well built
- (+) Lightweight
- (+) Paint seems to last (unlike previous black DRAG mods)
- (+) Versatile (pod vape and dual-18650 mod)
- (+) Very easy to operate
- (+) The LE comes with a huge variety of options
- (+) RTA pod is a great performer
- (+) Wide coil compatibility
- (+) Fires rapidly
- (+) Strong magnets
- (+) Practical airflow control (same as DRAG X and S)
- (+) The 0.15 and 0.2-ohm coils are great
- (-) A bit too large (even for a standard mod in 2020)
- (-) No 510 adapter available from Voopoo
- (-) The RBA deck is too fiddly
- (-) Limited functions and modes
- (-) RTA pod holds 2 mL of juice and fills from the bottom
- (-) Not a great fit for MTL coils (dual-sided airflow slot)
Gallery
Verdict
So who is the DRAG Max kit for? For the most part, it is a kit that aims to please those who enjoy the low-resistance PnP coils and are willing to carry a larger device as an exchange for more battery life. If you belong in this category, and especially if you want a pod vape that can double up as a dual-battery mod, then I can easily recommend the DRAG Max. It is a true all-in-one vape that’s easy to use, stylish, and very well built.
In fact, the only vapers I would hesitate to recommend it to, are those who plan on using it with a 510 adapter and enjoy vaping in triple-digit wattages—mainly due to the inflated ratings of the Argus GT. If you are a number-crunching vaper who enjoys pushing the wattage limits, make sure you check for an in-depth review that tackles specs before adding it to your card. But for everyone else, the DRAG Max gets an easy recommendation.
What do you think of the DRAG Max kit? Let me know in the comments section.
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Article Author: Spyros Papamichail
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