Today I’m looking at a device from a high end vape manufacturer with a low end price point. It’s the new SX Mini Vi Class pod kit.
Please note: This product is not available in the UK as it doesn’t meet TPD regulations. So only available for readers outside TPD regulated countries.
Yihi introduced the SX Mini brand to the world back in 2014, the year I quit smoking. They were, and still are known for high end vaping devices such as the SX Mini G Class and SX Mini SL Class series of single and dual battery mods.
Powered by the Yihi circuit board, the screen menus are often convoluted yet remain competitive with the popular Voopoo GENE and EVOLV DNA chips for their stability and reliability.
‘If you can think of it, we will make it’. That’s the Yihi philosophy and the chip has been adapted in many forms to suit pod kits and even disposable vapes.
Having won various awards with an enthusiastic team devoted to innovation and development, Yihi now export to more than 90 countries from their headquarters in Dongguan City in China.
Just like this prolific manufacturer, the Vi Class AIO pod kit has a story of its own.
.. Let’s turn the page.
What Can We Expect From the SX Mini Vi Class Pod Kit?
The Vi Class uses a single 18650 battery and utilises the latest SX505J Yihi chipset. It very much takes on the style of a Billet Box device. Instead of a shorter Boro tank we get a cartridge (or pod) with a non-replaceable 0.4ohm sealed mesh coil.
But that’s just the start of the story.
Not only are there proprietary pods, the kit is compatible with tanks such as the BP Mods TMD Dot, Veepon Tita RBA and Yachtvape Pandora DOT RBA.
How cool is that?
It’s all made possible with an adaptor kit (sold separately). It literally bridges the gap in height with those tanks and uses a plate for connection with the battery section.
So if you’re a DIY enthusiast wondering what to do with your warn out DOT AIO device look no further.
The SX Mini Vi Class is also a cheaper option but it doesn’t end there.
Yihi have also manufactured a Vi tank that’s capable of using replaceable stock coils. It’s available in 4ml but there’s also a 2ml tank for those in Europe and the UK.
It currently uses three proprietary coils. The VT40 and VT60 mesh coils are designed for a DL (direct lung) vape and the VT20 caters more towards MTL (mouth to lung) enthusiasts. We tell you what these terms mean in our Guide To Vape Styles.
Once again, the Vi tank is sold separately.
For a pod kit I’d say that’s a whole lotta versatility!
The SX Mini Vi Class is available in 8 colour schemes. Pick from Pink Pearl White, Fire Yellow White, Blue Pearl White, Blue White, Purple Coral White, Red White, Aqua Yellow White or Black White.
Because of the versatility there’s lots to unpack. We’ll delve further as we go along.
Kit Contents
The device sits comfortably on a foam cut out inside the slip case. The accessories are packed beneath a cardboard tray.
- Vi Class Device
- Cartridge / Pod (0.4ohm fixed mesh coil)
- 1 x MTL mouthpiece 1 x DTL mouthpiece
- Type C USB charging cable
- User manual
- Warranty card
SX Mini Vi Class Pod Kit Specifications
Mod
- Dimensions: 82.2 x 48 x 22mm
- Weight: 62.2g
- Material: Aluminium Alloy, plastic
- Chip: Yihi SX505J
- User modes: VW, TC, Pure, Curve
- Wattage: 1-60W
- Voltage: 0-8V
- Resistance range: 0.15 – 3.0ohm
- Max charge: 5V/1A
- Battery: Single 18650 (not included)
- Charging: Type C USB
- Replaceable outer sleeve
Cartridge
- Dimensions: 36 x 20mm
- Material: PCTG
- Capacity: 4ml
- Sealed coil: P40 0.4ohm SS316L mesh
- Drip tip: Mouth to lung and Direct lung types included
- Filling: Side fill
- Adjustable airflow slider on pod base
SX Mini Vi Class Pod Kit – Design and Build Quality
Battery Section – Outer Sleeve
The outer sleeve is made from Aluminium alloy which really helps to keep the overall weight down. It has a spray coat finish and the Purple Coral White gradient colour scheme looks very effective.
Both sides have smooth, curved edges and the device feels comfortable when grabbed by my fat fingers.
You can swap the outer shells and buy a replacement, ideal if you want to change colour or yours is looking a bit tatty.
Starting at the top. The frosted DTL mouthpiece is installed and has two built in O-rings. It’s not the tightest fit and is proprietary because it serves another purpose.
Two lugs on either side grab the threading of the retaining nut. Turning the mouthpiece and screwing down clockwise will help lock the installed cartridge into place.
The fire button and screen display is placed on one side of the battery section.
I’m not a lover of thumb firing because it means constantly shifting fingers to find it. Although responsive it feels rather mushy when pressed.
The tiny screen deserves a special mention. It’s bright and pin sharp. Even with my failing eyesight it was easy to read all the information.
The underside of the Vi Class plays host to the type C USB charging port. It’s suitably recessed against potential damage.
I always endorse the use of a dedicated external charger when using 18650 batteries. I just feel it’s a safer and more efficient way of dealing with them.
A USB to PC adaptor cable is available for updating the chip firmware. You guessed it. An optional extra.
Flipping the battery section over reveals the cartridge viewing window.
Below this there’s a 12mm wide airflow slot.
Battery Section – Inner
It’s very easy to remove the outer shell of the SX Mini Vi Class AIO. Simply push on the base of the battery section to slide it off.
The inner section houses the adjustment buttons so you will need to remove the outer shell to make adjustments.
The sleeve is held in place by tiny ball bearings on either side. So you’ll hear a reassuring click as it slides back into position.
The plastic inner frame exposes the 18650 battery tray. Negative and positive terminals are clearly marked with a + or – symbol with positive end facing down.
Tip! Push the negative end of the battery up against the spring loaded negative terminal to allow clearance when installing.
And of course there’s the cartridge housing area. Complete with Gold plated spring loaded battery and coil contact points.
Cartridge Section
The 4ml cartridge comes with a P40 0.4ohm stainless steel mesh coil sealed inside.
I must say it’s solidly built.
It’s quite sizeable too and for this reason I’m happy to refer to it as a cartridge over a pod. Made from a toughened PCTG material, it’s crystal clear allowing for total E-liquid visibility.
A rather flimsy Silicone stopper is mounted onto the side but the plug is thick enough to adequately seal juice inside.
The opening will accommodate bottle nozzles of various sizes so filling shouldn’t be an issue.
There’s a heavily camouflaged adjustable airflow slider built into the base of the cartridge. It slides open around 5mm, encouraging a few direct to lung tugs.
Quick Start Guide
How To Operate the Vi Class Pod Kit
NB: The device does not automatically switch on once a battery is installed.
The adjustment buttons are located on the inner section with the outer shell removed.
- Press the fire button five times to turn the device on
- Press the fire button three times to lock or unlock the device
- While the device is on, press the fire button five times to enter mode select screen
- Use the adjustment buttons to select ‘mode’ and press the fire button once
- Choose between Watts and Pure mode by pressing the fire button once
In variable wattage mode use the adjustment buttons to increase or decrease power. Holding the button down will speed up the process. Once the maximum of 60W is reached the device reads ‘Max Output’.
While in wattage mode, pressing the fire button rapidly five times will bring up other options. You’re now able to access temperature control mode (between C or F) as well as returning to Pure mode.
‘Custom Curve‘ mode is also available. Choose between neutral, soft or hard, four other built in curves or up to three of your own creation.
‘Pure’ mode is really a standalone function. When you install a cartridge for the first time, use the ‘Lock New’ function to lock the resistance of the coil.
It works very much like temperature control mode. The chip detects when the cartridge has run out of E-liquid by sensing the temperature of the coil.
It then reduces power to the battery which in turn prevents cotton overheating and scorching – known in vaping as a dry hit.
.. I’m very much looking forwards to testing this mode!
How To Fill the Cartridge
- Gently remove the silicone plug from the side of the cartridge
- Locate the fill port and squeeze E-liquid into the cartridge chamber
Push the silicone plug back into the cartridge ensuring a firm seal
Push the silicone plug back into the cartridge ensuring a firm sealLet the E-liquid soak into the cotton wicking for around five minutes before vaping.
How to Install the Cartridge
If this is the first time of use, unscrew the mouthpiece together with the retaining screw counter clockwise.
NB: The cartridge is designed to fit one way. Look for the lug at the top and make sure it’s facing outwards.
- Push the cartridge up and in at a slight angle
There will be a gap between the cartridge and the connecting pins.
- Tighten the retaining screw and mouthpiece back down (clockwise) onto the top of the battery section
It takes around seven or eight full turns. Once complete the cartridge will make full contact with the connecting pins.
Install an 18650 battery in the way previously described and slip the sleeve back over the battery section.
How Does The SX Mini Vi Class Kit Perform?
I used Digbys Inca e-liquid to test the P40 cartridge. It’s a 70VG/30PG ratio with 3mg freebase nicotine included.
I made a bee line for Pure Mode and set the power to 40W. The airflow slider on the base of the cartridge was wide open.
The coil was feisty and crackly from the very first press of the fire button. What’s more, power was instant. Don’t expect any ramp up time.
The flavour was absolutely phenomenal!
All the rich, nutty Tobacco notes cascaded from the exhale and the Caramel tasted milky and creamy. Those blended Tobacco notes hung around the palate long after the vape. That proved the effectiveness of the stainless steel mesh coil.
I must admit, vapour production knocked me for six, too. I wasn’t expecting clouds of this magnitude. All part of an effective semi restrictive lung hit.
Protracted inhales didn’t result in stinging of the lips – that’s how I knew I was vaping semi restrictively and not too tightly.
I noticed no turbulence during inhale and it felt like the coil was easily handling the 70VG/30PG juice ratio.
Other Airflow Restrictions
There’s a significant difference when the airflow slider is closed half way. It now becomes a restricted lung vape. Yet the mouthpiece still doesn’t heat up. Impressive.
For me, personally the flavour isn’t quite as good.
It’s still more than acceptable but the flavour notes seem more squished together on this setting. I couldn’t separate nutty tones from sweet Tobacco and the Caramel was pushed further back than usual.
Vapour production was as awesome as before and that goes for the inhale too – silky smooth.
When reducing airflow back to the bare minimum I reverted to the MTL mouthpiece and dropped power to 35W.
Fantastic!
I was getting the mouth to lung equivalent of the direct lung vape in terms of flavour. All the individual notes pulled through and the tongue reaped all the benefits.
It’s a classic MTL vape too. Just the tiniest amount of airflow was allowed to enter via the slider. I got the restriction right – first time.
Vapour production instantly reverts to a more discreet volume and the inhale is at its quietest.
Pure Mode
What can I say?
I’m blown away by its efficiency. It works an absolute dream. Yihi have placed a lot of importance on Pure mode. So much so that it’ll be featuring in all future devices.
Having taken 7 years of research and development, I’m here to tell you it’s time well spent.
As soon as the cartridge ran out of E-liquid I received an onscreen message and power to the battery ceased. All I needed to do was refill and I was back in business, vaping again.
At this point the battery was at about 50% charge.
It’s no secret I’m no fan of temperature control but Pure mode pretty much does the same thing. It’s an amazing feat on Yihi’s part.
All I needed to do was calibrate the coil as either new or old when inserting and that was it.
18650 Battery Performance
I got around 7 hours use from the external battery while semi restrictive chain vaping.
The 4ml cartridge was filled twice and by the close of business, I’d amassed 219 puffs.
There’s no real degradation to flavour as the battery depletes, either. I certainly didn’t notice any change in vapour production.
That coil was hitting hard right up to the last minute.
Pros
- Amazing flavour and vapour production from 0.4ohm P40 cartridge
- Power to the coil is instant
- Pure mode works brilliantly
- Lightweight and pocket friendly
- Pin sharp screen visible in direct sunlight
- All remaining E-liquid is viewable
Cons
- Direct lung mouthpiece is a bit on the short side (subjective)
- Having to remove sleeve to make adjustments to power, modes, airflow, etc
- The fire button feels a little mushy (subjective)
- Awkward to fill cartridge while sleeve is attached
- Only one cartridge included
- Need a Type C USB adaptor to update firmware (sold separately)
Final Review Verdict
The SX Mini Vi Class is an AIO I’m going to be using for a long, long time. It’s just a shame they’ve only included one cartridge. The same can be said of the firmware update cable which is also missing.
I guess Yihi left these out to keep the price competitive. And compete the Vi Class surely does. I’d go as far as to say the flavour surpasses that of some sub ohm tanks I’m in possession of.
It really is that good.
Vi is for versatility. It’s compatible with other manufacturers tanks, there’s a Vi cartridge that uses stock coils and future proofing is assured with a firmware upgrade cable.
But what makes the SX Mini Vi Class AIO really stand out is that Pure mode.
It’s no stretch to suggest that coil life will be significantly extended, given the way the Yihi SX505J chip continuously calculates its temperature. Adapting power to the battery accordingly.
So toxins from a dry coil no longer evaporate, medical grade SS316L is an allergy friendly material while every puff remains as flavoursome as the last.
Is this the end of the dry hit? I think so.
Now even a newer vaper gets all the perks of temperature control.
Yihi have played a blinder with their SX Mini Vi Class AIO pod kit and I thoroughly recommend it.
