VooPoo Argus GT Mod & PnP Tank Kit
VooPoo have stepped up a gear recently and the new ARGUS range has its own styling which looks quite different to their earlier products. But is the change only skin deep? We take a closer look to find out
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by Si Davies
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Supplied by SourceMore for review purposes.
https://www.sourcemore.com/voopoo-argus-gt-kit.html
Coupon code for customers:
$34.99 VOOPOO Argus GT Kit
Code: ARGT
VooPoo have stepped up a gear recently and the new ARGUS range has its own styling which looks quite different to their earlier products. I owned a DRAG but wasn’t too keen on its over the branding. I also have the ALPHA ZIP kit which I loved the look of but wasn’t too keen on the coils. I’ve paid little attention to VooPoo since then but the ARGUS GT really caught my eye, so when Sourcemore offered the kit up for review, I jumped at the chance.
I was even allowed to choose the colour so I opted for the Dark Blue but I think I would have been happy with most options.
Specs
- Size: 51.3 x 26.1 x 132.1mm
- Mod Material: Leather + Zinc Alloy
- Battery: Dual 18650(not included)
- Max Output: 160W
- Output Voltage: 6.4-8.4V
- Resistance: 0.1-3.0Ω
- Pod Tank Material: Stainless Steel+PCTG
- E-juice Capacity: 4.5ml
- Coil: 0.2Ω (PnP-VM5) 0.15Ω (PnP-VM6)
- Colours: Vintage Grey, Dark Blue, Black Red, Carbon Fiber, Black Blue
Unboxing and First Impressions
Mr Postman looked like he had fun kicking the package around, as you can see in the photo the outer sleeve was creased but fortunately VooPoo included a rather cool hard plastic clip case inside. It might sound daft, but this feature was really impressive. It’s just a box right? Well that may be the ‘case’ but I do enjoy a nice box ;)
The package of Argus GT Kit Comes With:
- 1 x Argus GT Device
- 1 x 4.5ml PnP Pod Tank
- 1 x 0.2Ω PnP-VM5
- 1 x 0.15Ω PnP-VM6
- 1 x Type-C Cable
- 1 x User Manual
In the vaping world, most of us seem to be obsessed with size. Even 5mm here and there makes a difference to some mods appeal. VooPoo went to town on the Argus GT and also applied this to the box, the size is absolutely perfect with no space wasted. I found myself unusually admiring the packaging. That might sound odd, but it all adds to the experience.
But the best part of unboxing is when you first pick up the mod and tank. The Argus GT kit is so frikkin light! This really stands out and you can’t help but be impressed by this, then the size gets your attention. Boy, is this thing compact and feels so damn good in your hand.
I was fortunate enough to choose the colour so I went for the Dark Blue which features a Denim style cloth wrap. I was half expecting a leather texture with denim colouring but no; the wrap looks and feels like denim but you can tell it is made from something more durable and shouldn’t get grotty with time. The stitching accents appear to be proper stitching which all feel good.
VOOPOO Argus GT Vape Kit Details
- Features compact, light and durable
- Powered by dual 18650 batteries with 160W max output
- Comes with 510 base and transformable PnP Pod Tank
- Compatible with all PnP Coils
- Monitored by GENE.TT Chip
- Provides intelligent functions such as SMART and TC mode
- Adopts innovative infinite airflow system
- Supports type-C fast charging
- Equipped with two dedicated coils: PnP-VM5 0.2Ω and PnP-VM6 0.15Ω
- 4.5ml large PnP pod tank with bottom filling design
- 8 safety protections: Overtime Protection, Short-circuit Protection, Overcharge Protection, Output Over-current Protection, Over Discharge Protection, Over-temperature Protection, Battery Reverse Protection, Balance Charge with Different Brand Battery
The above claims are pretty accurate apart from two things, the airflow which I will go into later in the tank section, and the 160 Watt max output. Now I have no way of accurately checking this, but my most trusted YouTube reviewer, DJLSB, has all the gear to test wattage etc. and he found that it could not reach a true 160 watts, not that it matters for the majority of vapers, most won’t go above 100 Watts, and the included coils are rated well under 80 Watts. This claim didn’t bother me in the slightest, but if you really do need 160 watts then you would be best off checking DJLSB’s video before you buy.
Looks and ergonomics
The styling of the Argus GT mod really appeals to my taste, there’s something really classy about it and every face and edge has been sculpted to look interesting but not too busy. The actual body is pretty minimal in design but finished off with a metallic frame (pretty sure the frame is plastic by tapping it with my fingernail) and wrapped with the option of your choice (cloth, leather or carbon fibre effect).
The Black chassis is finished off with a wet look spatter effect which I really like, it’s very subtle and gives a nice textured grippy feel to it. The buttons are plastic and feel just right, the fire button has a dimple and feels comfortable for finger or thumb firing. The button action is nice and clicky which is firm enough to make pocket firing difficult (though I recommend turning it off when stowed).
The ergonomics are excellent, VooPoo have shaved the size down as much as they possibly could resulting in a very comfortable, lightweight and ergonomic mod which feels natural to hold in either thumb or index finger firing. The smooth wrapped surface rests nicely into your chosen grip, and there are no hard edges that stick into your hand so it feels really good in your hand.
Branding isn’t too bad, in fact I think it adds to the aesthetics which surprised me as I prefer minimal to no branding. The subtle embossed ‘ARGUS’ around the contour looks good, the small ‘VOOPOO’ on the side is more prominent on the Denim option but the other colours are more faded into the texture. The ‘Gene’ chipset logo is pretty pointless but I actually prefer it to nothing on that face, I tried to visualise it without and it would look a little odd so I’m happy with it. In photos they look larger than they really are, it’s only when you hold it that you appreciate how compact it is.
The top face is all plain with a silver 510 threaded adaptor. It will take any 510 tank up to 25mm without noticeable overhang, the bevel underneath helps blend in a 25mm tank but ideally 24mm looks best. There is a slight gap under the tank when using the PnP tank which is actually part of the PnP tanks design as there’s a small lip on the base of the tank. I prefer this to the tank being flush and causing atty rash (scuffing on the mod), other tanks generally sit closer though.
The battery door is spot on, it slides to open and locks perfectly when you fit your 2 x 18650 batteries in. I have seen some other reviews complaining that the door doesn’t fully open 90 degrees on the hinge. True, it is a couple of degrees from fully open but this doesn’t affect a thing so I have no issue with that.
The screen is super bright which I really like, one of the best I have used in fact, and it’s nice to be able to read it in bright light and outdoors. There’s just enough info on it and a little extra ‘Puff Duration’ bar which expands the longer your draw, childish I know but I found myself trying to max it out (not easy).
The usb-C port is discretely tucked away on the side of the mod and has a silicone bung to protect it. It’s good to see a manufacturer using usb-C for charging or upgrading the firmware, though I still feel safer charging the batteries in a dedicated charger.
So far so good and there’s only one niggle which is the lack of battery ventilation holes. That said, the mod is not airtight at the base so venting is still possible. To prove this, I looked rather silly fitting the base of the mod into my mouth and blowing, air did pass through the mod via the battery door.
Some reviewers have likened the style to Lost Vape products. This is not a bad thing as such, there are similarities to the Therion, but not enough to be anything like a clone. VooPoo have created something rather classy and managed to pack it into an amazingly compact chassis.
PnP tank
Before I begin, it's best that I come up front in saying I didn’t like the look of the tank one bit prior to receiving it, but to keep the review fair I felt I should try and put aside my bias. This didn’t prove too difficult, as it turned out as I ended up really liking it.
VooPoo have dared to be different, the tank is traditional in the sense that it has a 510 threaded connection with interchangeable coils. Where it differs is in the construction, it almost has a pod design to it by adopting the least amount of parts used and the magnetic tank/coil connection. This has been done really well and is one of the easiest tanks out there. The coil fitting is super easy, PnP – Plug & Play really works well and has no fiddly edges to line up, you simply push it into the tank and pop it onto the base. It’s a little difficult to describe unless you get one in your hands, the whole thing assembles perfectly and I couldn’t help but to be impressed with it.
VooPoo describe it as a PnP pod styled tank, perhaps that’s true in the way the top section fits which is very pod-like, but for me I would say it’s more like a a normal tank than a pod, top section, changeable coils, base 510 threaded connection with adjustable airflow, just a different take on it with the assembly of it, a refreshing take on it in fact.
I primed up one of the coils with some eliquid and popped in a coil ready to fill the tank. Filling was easy and mess free. There’s a silicone bung on the base of the plastic tank section which revealed a decent size juice port. With the tank being clear, I found it very easy to top up the juice without overfilling, and the bung fits back into the port with ease. The 4.5ml (standard edition) capacity is decent and I chose one of my favourite (and flavourite) juices, Prime Vapes Apple Crumble Custard, as I knew how the flavour should be in a decent tank.
So where have all my negative thoughts gone?
My main one was the bulging look to the plastic tank, I didn’t like the way it flared out from the base. My perception changed once I saw it in real life, it actually doesn’t stick out that much at all, no less than a typical bubble glass section does. Looks are deceptive as when it’s on the mod and you use it, then it really doesn’t look or feel wrong at all. I thought I wouldn’t like the mouthpiece and prefer the option of adding your own 810 drip tip, but for me the mouthpiece is one of the most comfortable DTL I have tried, being moulded to a curve feels far more natural. The quirky magnetic assembly works well, and I found myself liking this method a lot. The fit was firm and there was no way I could shake it loose.
There’s only one slight niggle I have, and that’s not actually anything to do with the tank itself, it’s more with VooPoo’s claim “Adopts innovative infinite airflow system” eeeerm…. Just no! There is nothing innovative or infinite about it, basically the airflow ring doesn’t have any stops on it and there are two air slots as we’ve seen on hundreds of previous tanks. Niggle over, the airflow does work really well and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it for DTL vaping. If someone wants to be pedantic about it then yes, sure you can sit there turning the airflow ring around infinitely – go for it if that’s your thing (but your airflow option won’t change any after one rotation).
Operation and navigation
The Argus GT is pretty much aimed at new users as it is very easy to use, no deep menus with complex settings to stuff up. Instead the options are fairly limited but enough to keep most needs satisfied. That's not to say that it doesn’t also cater for experienced users, it has basic TC (Temperature Control) options and ‘R’ mode if you want to stray outside of the Smart Wattage range.
By default you will be in Smart mode, this reads the coils resistance (Ohms) and sets the wattage to the recommended setting. You can increase or decrease the wattage within a set range which are broad enough for most users. If you wish to take the wattage out of the set range, you will need to go into ‘R’ mode (RTA).
- 3 x FIRE = R Mode.
- 3 x Fire = Temperature Control Mode.
- Up / Down to select the wire material, Press & hold FIRE to confirm.
- Press & hold UP/DOWN to enter TC Tuning (Wattage TCR & Ohms).
- UP/DOWN to navigate and adjust FIRE to enter or confirm.
- Up / Down to select the wire material, Press & hold FIRE to confirm.
- 3 x FIRE = back to S (Smart) Mode.
- 5 x FIRE = Turns the device On/Off.
- Hold down FIRE & DOWN = Resets Puff Counter.
- Hold down FIRE & UP = Locks the device (Repeat to unlock).
- Press FIRE – I will let you work that one out :p
That’s your lot, it’s one of the simplest and most logical menus I used, nothing you can’t figure out without a manual. As mentioned previously, there’s no bloated features to confuse you and everything is designed to make the user experience easy and quick. I really liked it for that, I would have liked to see BYPASS mode but the SMART mode makes up for that.
Only one niggle with the operation, after a minute or so the device sleeps so you have to press and release the fire button to wake it up. This can be a little irritating when you are used to other mods that wake and fire in the same click. Generally the sleep time won’t kick in during a normal vape session or chain vaping.
Performance
My previous doubts about the PnP tank were blown away immediately with the first vape on the 0.15Ω coil. At the auto smart wattage of 65 Watts, the flavour burst through in a nice warm smooth vape. The airflow came through just right without any irritating noises. I’ve tested so many tanks and pods that it’s rare I get that ‘Whoa’ moment, so I was taken aback by how damn well the Argus GT performed. The flavour is right up there with the best I have tried, and the whole feel of the mod and the comfort of the tank simply brought a smile to my face. From that first moment, I knew that the Argus GT had jumped into my "Best Of 2020" list, only the coil lifespan could possibly knock it back down.
Even if the coils only lasted a couple of weeks, I wouldn’t be upset as I would be left with a superb mod, so I went on to give the coils a real hammering, chain vaping and the only DTL device I would use until the coil gave up.
Tanks a lot
So how does the Argus GT look with some other tanks on top? Not too bad as it happens, but you can see just how compact the mod really is. I did try the new Vandy Vape MATO RDTA on it and it looked a bit silly due to its height.
Coils
The included 0.2Ω (PnP-VM5) and 0.15Ω (PnP-VM6) coils that were included are clearly aimed at DTL users. I opted to go for the 0.15Ω VM6 first, the Smart mode set the wattage to 65 Watts and I couldn’t have set it better myself, not too warm or cool and the flavour bursts out, no spitback or hints of dry hitting. I closed the airflow off a little to suit my favoured draw, and I was happy. There appeared to be no break in for the coil as it just performed straight away (as long as you prime it properly), vapour production was good and the coil kept up with chain vaping.
The 0.2Ω VM5 coil was also pretty good though I preferred a more intense vape so soon found myself swapping back to the higher wattage VM6. With 2 x 18650 batteries, there’s no need to worry about it not lasting the day
For such a compact coil, I was surprised how well it vaped. It reminded me of the wow factor I got from the PM80 GTX coils so I could only hope that they lasted as long. My gut told me that they wouldn’t as the wicking ports were restricted leaving very little cotton exposed on the outer diameter. All I could do was carry on giving it the beans and seeing how long it would last. Like a dick, I accidentally reset the Puff Counter while I was needlessly fiddling around so I can only estimate where I think it was or by juice consumption, so far it has lasted me over 30ml of sweet Apple Crumble Custard so I’m pretty happy with that. The coil is still performing well and is showing no signs of it giving up yet. I will post in the forum as and when it finally packs in.
Conclusion
I will kick off with the Argus GT being clearly in the running for the best affordable mod and tank kit of 2020 in my book, the mod alone is worth the money and whether you like the tank or not, it’s a bonus and certainly worth a try. It proved me wrong and even though I fully intended on putting another tank onto the mod, after the review period I have ended up ordering more VM6 coils for the PnP Tank.
VooPoo have come up with a cracking bit of kit and managed to offer something new to the market. They have gone back to the core of vaping with a traditional mod/tank combo. Yes the tank has ‘pod’ elements, but there’s no way you could class this as a pod kit. I can’t see much innovation in the mod itself, but who cares when you end up with something that looks and feels this good.
Pros
- So Purdy
- Compact and lightweight
- Value for money
- PnP tank works well
- Flavour is outstanding
- Ergonomic
- Looks and feels classy
- Pocket friendly dual 18650 mod
- It aint no piece of poo!
Cons
- Tank shape might be off-putting to some
- Sleep to Vape extra step can be irritating
- It has the word ‘Poo’ on it
Final thoughts and rating
The cons are very minor and nothing close to a deal breaker, the tank is worth a punt despite how you feel it looks in pictures, and even if you end up not using the tank you are left with a gorgeous looking dual 18650 mod. For the price, I doubt anyone would feel cheated, a bargain if I ever saw one.
(I almost managed to complete the review without talking about ‘poo’).
Score: 9/10 – One of 2020’s best buys
Leaning towards a 9.5/10 but the tank shape dipped it a little.
A genuine thank you to SourceMore for sending the Argus GT to review, one of my review highlights of the year.
Si Davies
Reviewer at POTVMy 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!
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