So the Perl Pod Mod has arrived. This tidy looking, pocket friendly pod kit is sure to attract window shoppers with its clean lines and creative aesthetics. But how will this newby stack up against more established pod mod kits in their second and sometimes third versions?
For the past 2 weeks I’ve test driven this kit. Let’s find out if it truly is a pearl and not just a grain of sand.
Disclaimer: I received the Perl vape kit for the purpose of this review. All opinions are based on my own experience and testing.
In the box
- 1 x PERL Device
- 1 x Refillable Ceramic Pod (2ml)
- 1 x Silicone Mouthpiece
- 1 x Micro USB Charging Cable
- 1 x Quick User Guide
Features and specs
- Size: 100 x 49 x 19mm
- Battery: Internal 1150mAh
- Charge time: 60 minutes
- Run time: 2+ days of non-stop usage
- Standby: 90+ days
- Coil: Vertically mounted MTL (unknown resistance)
- Mouthpiece: Silicone
- Activation: Inhale
- Pod capacity: 2ml
- Weight: 70g
- Colours available: Black/Silver, White/Gold
- Interface: Touch sensor
Design and Build Quality
Holding the Perl pod mod in my hand was love at first sight. The elegant shape spoke to my need for shiny, pretty things and I loved the creative idea of giving users a window to see the metered tank inside.
I was intrigued by the touch sensitive interface which honestly works quite well. I wasn’t so fond of the silicone mouthpiece, however, as it just felt disposable and very like testers at vape shows.
Using polycarbonate for the body is a great way to save weight and, with the extra electronics needed for the touch interface circuitry, I can see why Perl have chosen to use this as a weight saving method. However, the feel of the device doesn’t match what it’s trying to emulate.
The Perl wants to be a device to be seen with, to sit next to your phone outside an independent coffee shop in a cosmopolitan city, but I just wanted to keep it shoved deep in my pocket. Although on face value it looks the part, it needs the addition of aluminium accents in key places before it feels the part too.
Breaking the device down, I found the 2ml pod fit snugly into the body of the Perl and has a confidence inspiring “click” when removed and replaced. The tank has ample capacity for nic-salt liquids and being 2ml it’s TPD compliant.
Refilling is easy: remove the mouthpiece (that doubles as a stopper) and fill through one of the round holes at the back of the tank.
How Does The Perl Pod Mod Perform?
Touch sensor
Three taps of the touch sensor and we’re on. The Perl pod mod has 3 strength setting accessible by sequentially pressing tapping the sensor.
This works quite well however, I did find myself mis-pressing a few times and knocking the setting up or down.
Strength Settings
The different settings appear to work by increasing the power to the coil therefore creating more vapour for a more intense flavour.
I tried all of the settings for at least an hour each and found myself settling for the highest setting for the remainder of my testing.
Draw
The draw is hard and by hard, I mean difficult, not powerful. I looked all around the Perl for the air flow holes and honestly couldn’t find any. There are 2 holes at the base of the device but with their proximity to the charging port I can only assume they are battery vents.
On the Perl website we are told to “just breathe”, erm more like suck like you’re trying to get the last bit of flavour from a slushy! To get anywhere near a decent draw you have to go direct to lung and even that takes uncomfortable strain. Vapour production from all of this effort is lacklustre. I mean there’s a cloud, but the effort it takes to get a decent hit is not proportionate to the other pod kits I’ve used in terms of satisfaction and output.
To me it felt like the ceramic coil took a little too long to heat up and unless you wanted to sit and chain vape nic-salts the draw wasn’t going to be very satisfying.
Battery Life
Out of the box the Perls battery output was showing a yellow light, meaning it was a 25-50% charged and in the 2 weeks I was testing it I have only had to charge it twice.
Although I was using the Perl on a daily basis in honestly it wasn’t being used all day every day so I was quite impressed by the battery life
The display shows the user 3 different coloured lights, indicating 3 different battery levels:
- Green = 50-100%
- Yellow = 25-50%
- Red = Battery low
Pods
The pods on this type of kit don’t come cheap. However, if you take into account the need to include a new tank each time the cost gets a little easier to stomach.
Perl state that each tank can be refilled 15 times. This is a bold statement and with its Scrooge-like consumption I’m sure you’d lose count of how many times you refill each one. It would have been nice to have an extra pod included in the kit.
Perl make a point of how easy it is to swap out flavours on their website but if you want to experience this for yourself it’ll cost you an extra £13/$15.99 on top of the £40/$59.99 kit price for the luxury.
Pros
- Good looks
- Pod window to check level
- Good battery life
Cons
- Difficult draw
- Materials are easily worn down
- Expense of extra pods
Final Verdict
If you want your mod to look good next to your phone and be a talking point then by all means give the Perl Pod mod a try. However, if you’re looking for a pod kit that gives a satisfying vaping experience then there are better devices out there.
