Mod Reviews

Eleaf iStick TC40

We test out the Eleaf iStick TC 40W, a bit of a classic old school banger

by Si Davies
Apr 24, 2023

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Supplied by MyVaporUSA for review
https://myvaporus.com/istick-tc40w-kit.html
Current sale price $23.86 with coupon code etc23

Eleaf have decided to slightly update the incredibly popular iStick TC40W which was originally released back in 2015, don’t expect any major upgrades though as the only difference is that it now has a USB-C port instead of the old USB Mini.

Old-School sums up the iStick TC40W perfectly, it literally is just that, but that’s not a bad thing in this case. The iStick range is never a flash in the pan and always stand the test of time, and the build quality is near bullet proof, in fact my oldest mod is a Pico Grand I bought back in 2017 and it’s still going strong.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W first look

We were sent the mod only to review but there are kit versions that either includes a GS Air tank or just the mod with an eGo adaptor and cable.

Size: 36.2mm*22.3mm*77.3mm
Colour: Black, blue, silver, grey, full black, brushed silver
Capacity: 2600mAh
Thread type: 510 thread
Rated output wattage: 1-40W
USB-C 5V/1A
Temperature range: 100－315℃/200－600℉
Ni200 TC Mode

Unboxing

Possibly as exciting as opening a tin of beans, the iStick TC40W battery comes in a very basic and not very well protected cardboard carton, mine arrived a bit battered but the contents were unharmed.

You simply get just the mod and a manual, there’s no extras at all, but as mentioned earlier; that will depend on which version/kit you choose.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W contents

First Impressions and Overview

Despite it being such an old design, I still very much love it. It looks classy, feels comfortable in the hand and, due to its classic design, it is easy to match most 22mm tanks on it.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W mod

The main body, top, and base plate are all metal, the body section is anodised aluminium while the top/bottom plates are chrome finished zinc alloy, and finally the control panel is plastic with metal buttons.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W all angles

You would think that with all this metal and a large 2600mAh battery it would be heavy but it only weighs 97g and that’s a big part of the appeal of this mod. The size, weight, and 22mm tank capacity make it a superb mod for MTL users as a no nonsense compact mod.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W USB-C

The only update is that USB-C port instead of micro USB, the charge rate is still the same 1 Amp though and will take at least a couple of hours to charge, so there’s little benefit other than more compatible cables.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W smooth

You can see its old-school origins as it still has base air inlets for older bottom air fed tanks and RDAs, I still have a couple of old base air fed tanks but to be honest I no longer use them as tanks have progressed into much better options these days, but it’s there for those that need it.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W vents

It also features a lanyard mount, which is actually pretty useful due to its weight, but I did find it an utter bitch to fit one. I ended up making a little wire hook to poke inside the gap and pull it through.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W lanyard

Controls

Unfortunately Eleaf decided to leave the chipset exactly the same as the 2015 model, it’s very basic and only has a single Ni200 TC mode (Temperature Control), I’m a TC fan but I’ve never bought Ni200 wire as I mostly use SS316L and Ni80 so I was unable to try out the TC mode.

The screen is small and is clear and easy to read, but it isn’t very bright with little to no chance to read it in sunlight. The battery icon is pretty basic, as is the charging screen which simply flashes a battery graphic.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W modes

So it only has two modes, VW (Variable Wattage) and TC Ni200. For such a basic chipset, it has an interesting button layout and navigation:

5 x Fire = Turns device On/Off
Middle Adjustment Button = Mode Switch VW/TC (press & hold to cycle through the two options)
Press & Hold Fire & Down = Stealth Mode On/Off (screen turns off during vaping with everything locked – quick click to preview the screen)
Press & Hold Up/Down = Locks/Unlocks adjustment buttons

With the device turned OFF:

Press & hold Up/Down buttons to flip the screen 180 degrees
Press & Hold Fire & Down to display the battery voltage

In TC mode it will round robin through Celsius or Fahrenheit but I could not find any way of adjusting the wattage which is set to the maximum 40 watts. You can lock the coils resistance though; press and hold Fire & Up until you see the ohms symbol change into a padlock.

The buttons are worth mentioning, they are all near perfect with a short travel and enough resistance to avoid accidentally adjusting anything and this makes it hard to pocket fire. The fire button feels intuitive and is easy to blind-find.

Tanks For The Memory

As previously mentioned, the iStick TC40W will accept up to 22mm tanks without overhang. Due to its style, it also accepts smaller tanks without looking silly. It is also one of those mods that tall tanks look good on, but I would mainly use 22mm RTAs on it personally. Here’s a few I tried:

Eleaf iStick TC 40W with 22mm tanks

I tried quite a few more 22mm tanks and they all seemed to suit it but a few left a small gap at the base. I don’t own a GS Air tank so I couldn’t try that.

Eleaf iStick TC 40W rinky dink

There’s not much point doing a ‘Performance’ section as it just performs as it should and I couldn’t test the TC mode, but knowing Eleaf, it should perform as intended.

Conclusion

It’s a toughie one to conclude, on the one hand it’s an old and basic mod with just a USB-C upgrade, but on the other hand it’s still a lovely little mod that remains timeless and still looks current. I thoroughly enjoyed using it as an MTL mod, and the 2600mAh battery lasted days at 11 watts.

It should appeal to users that prefer the old-school style and functionality, but the limited TC option of just NI200 might be off-putting. New users will appreciate its simplicity, but again the lack of auto-wattage that recent Eleaf mods feature could be a bit off-putting.

There’s one thing I really appreciate with Eleaf stuff, it lasts years and not only that, Eleaf continue to produce their models for years rather than releasing a new version every six months. Ethically I think that’s a good thing as it produces less waste on resources in developing new stuff just for the sake of it, you also have more trust in Eleaf’s stuff as a result.

Eleaf collection

Eleaf have produced some fantastic kits over their history, their iStick Pico Baby was an amazingly tiny kit but the coils were a bit meh, I really hope they ‘update’ that but with their latest coil development. They also produced one of my all-time favourite squonk mods, the Pico Squeeze 2, a few years old now but it still stands out from the crowd and I still use it regularly.

Pros

All metal chassis but only weighs 97g
2600 mAh battery
Compact and ergonomic
Classy and timeless styling
A solid and reliable workhorse
Now USB-C
Lanyard mount

Cons

Basic and only one TC wire compatibility

Final Thoughts and Score

This is a clear case of ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss’, but despite its aged design and basic chipset, the iStick TC40W is just a lovely mod for 22mm tanks. It doesn’t feel old and the lack of innovation doesn’t bother me in this case, in fact it will be one of my go-to mods for everyday use.

Score: 7/10 – Golden Oldie

Eleaf iStick TC 40W classic

Si Davies

Reviewer at POTV

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My background is Engineering and Professional Photography. Mostly from POTV users knowledge I learned so much about pretty much all styles of vaping and equipment, Cloud Chasing, Squonking, Mouth To Lung, Direct To Lung, Pods, Mechs, Rebuild-able tanks and atomisers etc, and have experience with many many devices and atomisers, it's become a hobby and enjoy trying out the latest gear. I like to think my reviews are plain speaking and informative without getting too technical, if I have to resort to reading the manual then I don't consider it user friendly!