The Artery Nugget V2.0 kit is the successor to one of the pioneering devices of the mini vape mod scene.
While it may look similar to the original Nugget, the V2 has had some subtle design changes to improve its feel in the hand, while under the hood Artery have managed to cram in a bigger battery without increasing the size too much, and boy does it make a difference.
In The Box
- Nugget V2 Mod
- Trace Tank
- 1 x Pre-installed 0.5 Ohm Kanthal Coil
- 1 x Spare 0.8 Ohm SS Coil
- 1 x RBA Deck (not in the box came separately)
- 1 x USB Cable
- 2 x Manuals (Nugget V2 Mod, Trace tank)
Main Features / Specs
Nugget V2 Mod
- 60mm X 23mm X 34mm
- 1500mah Built-in Battery
- Wattage Range 5-50W
- Resistance Range 0.1-3Ω
- Temp Range 200-600°F
Trace Tank
- 2ml Capacity
- Top Fill
- 22mm
- 510 Thread
- 510 Drip Tip
Design and Build Quality
Size and Finish
When it comes to design, the Nugget V2 simply builds upon what was already a very unique mod.
Yes it’s increased in size a bit, but that certainly feels like a worthwhile decision to boost the battery capacity.
Other than that we have the same familiar boxy shape and sturdy build quality.
Despite its size the Nugget has a satisfying amount of weight to it, while the buttons are a joy to use and have a very positive action. There’s some slight button rattle if you really shake the mod, but it’s very minor.
Probably the best thing about this design is the centred 510 connector.
The Nugget isn’t the first to have one, but it feels important here due to the short height of the mod, and it means that even with a large tank on top it remains stable while sitting on a desk.
The Nugget comes in black, silver or white colour options, and overall looks like a more expensive mod than it is, with perhaps the only downside being the printed Nugget logo on the side.
The mod also has a fairly large screen for its size, which initially seemed to scratch quite easily.
However on further investigation it turns out that it has a thin layer of plastic covering it.
It’s not obvious that this can be peeled off, but it can be!
Design and Features
The Nugget V2 comes with some great options befitting its mini mod status, with menu settings that allow you to control the brightness of the screen and the amount of time before it auto-turns off.
The screen isn’t the brightest even at max brightness, however I can understand why Artery might have decided to limit this. For indoor use I set the Nugget to it’s lowest brightness and didn’t have a problem seeing it, however outdoors it can be difficult.
A word on battery life: I have to confess I wasn’t expecting much, however I decided to put the Nugget through my own version of a stress test.
I used it as my only mod while vaping at home at a steady 15w, and remarkably it lasted from 9am to 6pm before giving up.
Yes, that’s nine hours!
Now most people will likely use this out and about and often at higher wattages, but make no mistake, for a tiny mod it really packs a punch.
The Nugget will take tanks up to 23mm at a push, anything larger will work fine but will overhang the mod. I used it mainly with the Trace tank in the kit or with a Kanger Subtank Mini.
The Subtank is virtually as big as the mod itself but still felt very natural to use. If paired with something like the low profile Nautilus X or the Aspire nautilus 2 the Nugget V2 would be a pretty unbeatable stealth device.
Lastly, the Nugget features a side-mounted USB port for charging and updating, and some venting holes machined at the bottom.
Artery say that the Nugget features ‘quick charging’, and while it is fairly quick to charge, I didn’t notice too much difference from similar mini mods.
Trace Tank
For all the merits of the Nugget V2, there’s no getting away from the fact that the Trace tank just feel a bit cheap, a bit like an afterthought.
It comes in black to match the mod which is nice, but even there the finish just doesn’t seem up with the best sub ohm vape tanks on the market.
Artery certainly aren’t pushing any boundaries here, and it just feels like the Nugget needs a tank designed alongside it, rather than just having an existing tank thrown in with the kit.
How Does The Nugget V2 and Trace Tank Perform?
We will first take a look at the Nugget V2 mod functions and how they work.
- Lock/unlock – 5 clicks of the power button
- Menu select – Hold down the plus and minus buttons
- Press fire button to selected mode and then use plus and minus button to change additional parameters
The menu is fairly straight forward to use, but this is not a beginners device as far as I’m concerned, at least not with the current manual.
For the new vaper things could be explained much more clearly, where as Artery have just given the bare minimum of instructions.
Temp control performed well when I tested it with a Subtank Mini, and the mod features the usual options for Fahrenheit or Celsius, TCR, and additionally a temp power limit setting for the wattage which is nice.
Trace Tank
Where the Nugget V2 really falls short is with the Trace tank bundled alongside it. While it’s not terrible and ultimately performs OK, it just doesn’t match up to the quality of the mod.
Despite only having a 2ml capacity, it’s not particularly short, and something like the Nautilus X would be far more suited to this mod.
On the plus side it is easy to use and has top-fill. The tank comes with a 0.5ohm clapton coil pre-installed, and additionally a spare 0.8ohm SS coil in the box.
To return to the issue of the manuals again however, there’s absolutely no explanation of what these coils are or how to use them, and for a kit that will likely be targeted at new vapers that’s not a good thing.
In fact going on Artery’s website, there doesn’t seem to be any mention at all of the 0.8ohm SS coil. To be fair to Artery this charge could be levelled against lots of the big manufacturers, but with regulation looming it’s definitely something that needs some more work.
What I Like
The build quality is excellent, and the Nugget remains one of the most distinctive designs on the market.
Battery life is excellent for the size.
The centred 510 perfectly compliments the Nugget’s short stature, ensuring it remains rock solid even with a large tank on top.
The options for screen brightness and screen timeout mean you can precisely tailor the Nugget’s battery life to your own needs.
What I Didn’t Like
The Trace tank is average, unable to match the design chops of the mod itself. If there’s one thing Artery could do to improve this kit, it would be to design a low-profile tank in the mold of the Nautilus X perhaps. As it is, the tank feels like an afterthought.
This mod really isn’t for absolute beginners. Seasoned vapers won’t have an issue, but the instructions that come with it may leave new vapers wondering how on earth it all works.
Final Review Verdict
Pros
- Great build quality
- Vast array of useful menu options
- Upgradeable firmware
- Unique look
- Comfortable to use
- Centred 510
Cons
- Trace tank is average
- Battery life will struggle at its full 50w
- Screen brightness may be an issue for some
For Safety purposes,
I just got this new V2 nugget last month and was dissapointed that it no longer allows passthru vaping while charging. It comes up with “Charging No Output”. Kinda sucks when the battery dies in mid vape and you plug it in and it doesn’t allow it. The V1 of the Nugget allowed it. So, why not V2?
I’m a newbie to vaping and an struggling to understand how to set it up. Also I cant get the top off to fill it but my main gripe is the lack of clear instructions, like WTF’s TGA A BandC or whatever.