Here comes true my long-standing (as much as two years!) vaping dream of a normal human device in the form of a pipe!
Good Zen, dear comrades! Smok Guardian Pipe III is not an EGO-format pipe, not a mechanical mod, but rather on a fully functional board, and in the form of an electronic pipe. In this review, I will try to write only about the device itself, because the tank can be replaced, so it will be mentioned only in passing.
Everything in the package turned out to be very ergonomically laid out on several levels, the box itself is made of very hard cardboard, inside is microporous foam, and a pseudo-velvet coating with recesses for parts and the device itself.
Having opened the box, we find:
the Smok Guardian Pipe III device itself;
two silicone cases in black and white (one ordered separately);
two maintenance-free heads – for TC and BB (one of them was already in the tank);
Smok TFV 4 Micro tank;
a kit for increasing the tank capacity: glass and air duct extension. In an erect (enlarged) state, the capacity becomes 5.5 ml, in a normal (flaccid) state – 3.5 ml;
a manual in English, and all sorts of warranty and testing waste paper;
USB cable for firmware;
EGO (!) format charger (charging via connector), because the USB connector is under the battery, and serves only for reflashing the handset, and for some reason it turned out to be impossible to charge the battery, having previously removed it.
The Smok TFV4 Micro tank itself turned out to be quite good, except for the only drawback that I could not overcome – it leaked heavily after each refill, closing the air ducts did not help. smok vape canada The only thing that saved me from this unpleasant phenomenon was a denser packing of cotton wool, but in this situation you need to be very careful when adjusting the power – burning is possible. But, as I think, this is the result of my clumsiness, rather than a defect or a design flaw in the tank.
SMOK Guardian III specifications:
Power: 1 – 75 W
Voltage: 0.7 – 9 V
Resistance support:
thermocontrol: 0.06 – 2 Ohm
variable wattage: 0.1 – 3 Ohm
Temperature in TC mode: 100-315 ° C or 200-600 ° F
Metals for the coil on TC: titanium, nickel 200, stainless steel. Also supports manual TCR adjustment
Dimensions: 102 x 59 x 46 mm
Weight: 119 g
One-button control of the electronic tube is intuitive from the first time, except for a couple of specific functions, which you should read about in the manual… or in this review. In general, at first acquaintance the device creates a very good impression due to its rather solid appearance and solid packaging. I was especially pleased with the two silicone cases – if you buy the same tube, be sure to buy the same cases! The device itself is glossy, sparkling and streamlined, but for some reason it seems to me that it will be very easy to scratch, the weight is comfortably heavy.
Smok Guardian Pipe III has a standard set of protections that really work (tested):
from battery polarity reversal;
from output short circuit;
from overexposure of the fire button;
from internal overheating of the device itself above 90°C (not tested);
from battery overdischarge below 3.4 V.
These menu items are entered after waiting 2.5 seconds, or after pressing and holding the button.
Now let’s dwell on the subjective advantages and disadvantages of the device. Let’s start with the disadvantages, I will describe them in particular detail, because praising is, after all, not scolding:
In bright sunlight, the information on the Smok Guardian Pipe III screen is barely visible or not visible at all even at maximum brightness.
After two weeks of use, the screen glass itself and the glossy metal ring around it acquired a slightly worn appearance.
Quite a short autonomy on one battery, but this is the cost of dimensions – if you make a pipe for two batteries, it will turn out to be very gigantic. On a dual-coil Smok TFV4 Micro with a 0.52 Ohm resistance at 25-30 W, the battery is enough for 3 tanks of 5.5 ml or about 5-6 hours of vaping. Roughly speaking, if I only use this device all day, then by night the third battery is used up.
Turning on Bluetooth also noticeably affects the battery capacity, and, in some incomprehensible magical way, heats up the screen to a noticeably high temperature – perhaps this is the work of the processor with frequent exchange of information about the number and duration of puffs, the set power, the dynamics of heating the coil, the political views of the vaper, etc.
Due to the shape of the device, it is advisable to use it only with a strongly curved drip tip, otherwise the tank will constantly be in an almost horizontal position, because of which it will experience “juice starvation” or “dry mouth” (if the tank is not filled to the brim). Therefore, it is advisable to keep the tube in a stand or, at worst, in an empty mug, so that in between steaming, the liquid can still wet the cotton wool. Quickly stretchable silicone cases, because the tube has a rather complex uneven shape and surface, due to which the case has to be stretched quite a lot when putting it on. And it needs to be removed/put on every time the battery is changed, that is, often.
Now the advantages:
Relatively healthy dimensions and weight of the device, at least in a man’s hand.
A good and simple set of settings that allows you to make them almost without looking at the tube screen.
Of course, a stylish appearance without gypsyism, and all sorts of flashing and highlighting whistles.
A very good, although sometimes after filling and very snotty, TFV4 mini tank.
Oddly enough, one-button control turned out to be very, very convenient.
The tube honestly works out its 75W, which was verified by the Griffin RTA tank, wound with some fierce porn coils. However, with such use, the battery lasted me for an hour and a half.
An interesting feature of the device is the connection with the phone/tablet via Bluetooth using the proprietary Vaping Tour software – you can adjust the power, temperature, build graphs of the frequency and length of puffs, and other useful and not so useful bells and whistles. The software is a hellish combine – a kind of mixture of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and setup software. With the help of this program, you can post messages and photos to a certain vape blog, and watch similar posts from other brothers around the world. This mod is flashed only via a USB cable, which is logical.
In general, the entire electronic tube creates a very pleasant impression, while being an exclusively male attribute. My advice to those who doubt whether to buy or not is to buy definitely, without hesitation!
All of the above reflects exclusively my personal point of view, and may not correspond to the truth and your views.