SXmini have released the successor to the outstanding Puremax refillable pod system, with the aptly named SXmini Puremax 2!
From a personal perspective, the SXmini Puremax has been one of my favourite refillable pod systems of all time – thanks to the absolutely superb flavour it delivers! I’ve been using the ones that I own on an almost daily basis since I first got my hands on it early in 2024.
So naturally, I was extremely excited to try out the Puremax 2!
As well as the original Puremax, SXmini have released a couple of other pod kits in the past. Notably the SXmini Mi Class Pod Kit and the SXmini Vi Class Pod kit, both of which we’ve been lucky to review.
What Can We Expect From The SXmini Puremax 2?
SXmini changed the pod system game with the release of the Puremax and have now released the Puremax 2 boasting a whole suite of significant upgrades!
Of course, a new SXmini device means a new SXmini chipset. The Puremax 2 boasts the latest SX304J one, featuring the latest version of PURE anti-dry hit technology.
PURE is a temperature control-based vaping technology that prevents dry hits and overheating, providing a cleaner and safer vape. You get a consistent vape each time and by modulating temperature in precise curves, a whole range of flavours can be unlocked.
PURE also extends the battery life and the life of your pod by keeping your cotton unscorched and dry-hit free. PURE technology runs automatically on the Puremax 2 with no set up required!
Not only does it guard against dry hits, but the Low Liquid Pre-Alert gives off a short vibration to let you know that your e-liquid is running low in your pod. Saving you from having to remove your pod to check.
PX Cartridge pods receive a boost with the PX Cartridge Pro 2. Boasting a juice flow control system to guard against leaks.
There is a new 0.4ohm version to go alongside the 0.6ohm, 0.8ohm and 1.2ohm pods.
Like to fine tune your vape? Well the Puremax 2 boasts a variable wattage power output range of 5-35W, adjustable in increments of 0.5W.
And the redesigned airflow control offers mouth to lung and restricted direct lung vaping options. We tell you what these terms mean in our Guide To Vaping Styles.
Plus two different drip tips (Mouthpieces) are provided – a Wide bore drip tip (for Restricted Direct to Lung vaping) and a Narrow bore drip tip (for Mouth to Lung Vaping). Of course with it having a standard 510 drip tip connection – you can also use your own drip tips!
Battery life receives a bump over the original, with the Puremax 2 boasting a built in 1300mAh battery. This can be recharged in no time at all thanks to 5V/2A fast charging.
A large 0.96″ colour screen gives you information on output power and battery life. Customisation options are available to really personalise the look of your Puremax 2.
You can choose from 5 colour options: Blue, Gunmetal, Black, Red and Silver Grey.
Thanks to SXmini for sending the Puremax 2 in for review!
Let’s dive in and see what improvements they’ve made over the original Puremax! As always, all views are my own…
Kit Contents
- SXmini Puremax 2
- PX Pro 2 Cartridge
- Wide bore drip tip (for Restricted Direct Lung vaping)
- Narrow bore drip tip (for Mouth to Lung Vaping)
- Type-C USB cable
- User Manual
- Warranty Card
Specifications
- 104mm x 27.5mm x 19.8mm dimensions
- YiHi SX304J chipset
- PURE anti-dry hit technology
- Low Liquid Alert
- Auto-draw or push-to-vape option
- Restricted direct to lung and mouth to lung vaping options
- 0.96″ TFT colour screen
- Customisable screen themes
- 5-35W wattage output
- 1-6V voltage output
- 1300mAh built in battery
- PX, PX Pro, PX Pro 2 Cartridge pods compatible
- Juice flow control
- Compatible with 510 drip tips
- Leak-free pods
- 5V/2A fast charging
Design & Build Quality
After unboxing the Puremax 2 the first thing I noticed about it was just how much bigger this is compared to the original Puremax.
You can see from the photo that I have taken that the Puremax 2 is somewhat larger!
This isn’t really something that concerns me at all and I don’t feel that the Puremax 2 is an ungainly size. Yes the top of it pops out above my hand but I hardly notice the device in my pocket when carrying it around.
Another noticeable addition is the large 0.96″ TFT colour screen, which offers up some theme customisation options.
You can choose from preset backgrounds present on the device. Or by using the SX-Link (sold separately) and a computer, you can take advantage of the SXi Tools software to upload your own wallpapers and store up to four on the Puremax 2!
It’s a nice little touch that allows you to personalise your device.
Above the screen is a good-sized power button, which I find my thumb rests naturally on when in use. This is used for navigating the menu and for firing the device, though you can switch that function off if you aren’t a fan of it.
Much like the original Puremax, the PX Cartridge Pro 2 pods connect via prongs present at the top of the device and stay locked in place. No rattling around here!
Overall, I feel that the build quality of the Puremax 2 is absolutely top-notch and a cut above the original Puremax, which was a solidly built device itself.
It feels like a real robust vape kit in the hand.
It just oozes absolute class, right down to the swirled finish on the opposite side to the screen.
The Puremax 2 looks like a high end premium vaping kit, testament to the design team behind it.
Quick Start Guide
Filling the PX Cartridge Pro 2 Pod
A complaint with the original SXmini Puremax pods was that these had a tendency to leak especially when the Puremax had not been used for a while.
SXmini acknowledged that, and redesigned the pods a couple of times to eliminate leaking. The latest edition being the PX Cartridge Pro 2 pod and you get one of these included with the Puremax 2 kit.
These feature a juice flow control system, so before filling/refilling the pod you need to twist the drip tip to ‘lock’ the flow of e-liquid to the cotton in the coil.
- Slide up the filling port cover on the side of the pod
- Fill the pod with your e-liquid of choice.
- Slide the filling port cover back down and rotate the juice flow control to allow e-liquid to flow to the cotton in the coil.
If you are filling up a new pod for the first time, SXmini recommend that you fill the pod to the brim to ensure the cotton expands and creates a seal. Make sure to leave it for 2-3 minutes before vaping.
You can also lock the juice flow control before flying to avoid leaks caused by pressure change. It is also advisable to lock it if you aren’t intending on using the Puremax 2 for a prolonged period of time to avoid over-saturation of the cotton in the coil!
Also, when changing your pod, don’t forget to retain the drip tip when disposing of the old pod. Replacement packs of pods don’t include a new drip tip!
Menu Options
For a pod system, this device boasts a suite of different options!
- Firstly, to lock and unlock the device just press the fire button three times.
- To change the power output, press the fire button four times. Then just press the fire button to keep adjusting the wattage in 0.5W increments. When you are done either wait a couple of seconds to lock in your selection or take a puff.
To access the menu, press the fire button five times in quick succession. Then press the fire button to scroll through the options or hold the fire button to make a selection. The menu options are:
- Turn off – pretty self explanatory there
- Auto Draw – this allows you to set the device to auto draw only (take a puff to fire), fire button only to vape or dual mode to use both auto draw or fire button interchangeably to vape. I personally leave this on auto draw only as I can’t stand fire buttons on pod systems.
- Pre-Alert – this allows you to change whether low e-liquid level pre-alert vibration is on or off, it is set to on as standard.
- Themes – choose from different wallpapers and themes for your device, you can also upload your own using the SX Link USB dongle.
- Exit – takes you back out of the menu
Weirdly, charging the device resets the puff counter entirely. I couldn’t find a way to switch this off either.
It’s not something that bothers me as I don’t keep a tab on my puffs, but it will irk people that do.
Charging
On the base of the Puremax 2 is the charging port and a charging cable is included in the box.
When the device is charging, a battery percentage is displayed on screen so you know exactly how far along the charging process is.
The SXmini Puremax 2 is compatible with 5V/2A fast charging, which makes for some pretty rapid fire charging times. I’ve found I can charge this from flat to full in under 40 minutes!
How Does The SXmini Puremax V2 Perform?
With the Puremax V2, you get a 0.6ohm PX Cartridge Pro 2 included within the kit. However going off the box it seems like you can also purchase a Puremax 2 kit that also includes either a 0.4ohm, 0.8ohm or 1.2ohm PX Cartridge Pro 2.
I can’t see any of those options available with some UK retailers that I’ve checked out however, only the 0.6ohm version. So perhaps the UK is limited to the 0.6ohm kit only, but I might be wrong!
You can purchase the 0.4ohm, 0.8ohm and 1.2ohm pods separately in packs of two, but do remember to keep hold of those drip tips when throwing away a used pod!
SXmini very kindly sent over all four variations of the PX Cartridge Pro 2, so I’m going to talk a little bit about the pods and how I got on with each of them…
PX Cartridge Pro 2
PX Cartridge Pro 2 pods feature a SS316L mesh coil system wrapped in organic cotton, to provide a pure tasting flavour experience.
As mentioned above in the ‘Filling the Pod’ section, SXmini have made some improvements to the PX Cartridge to eliminate leaking, such as the inclusion of the juice flow control present on the Pro 2 version included with the Puremax 2.
These adjustments have made for a truly leak free experience with this device. I’ve not even had so much as a drop of condensation to wipe off in the couple of weeks that I have spent with the Puremax 2.
PX Cartridge Pro 2 pods are compatible with the original Puremax, aside from the new 0.4ohm one.
Older PX cartridges are compatible with the Puremax 2. Handy if you own the original Puremax and have some of those lying around. But with the improvements that SXmini have made with the Pro 2 versions I couldn’t recommend using the older versions over these!
The lifespan with these pods is exceptional. I haven’t got through a single one yet and they still taste as good as they did on the day I began vaping them.
Thanks to the PURE anti-dry hit technology, I can vape my pods to near-dry, which is handy when it comes to switching flavours. I’ve gone from sweet fruit blends to a custard in the same pod for example and not had any issues with the flavour.
I’ve been running a lot of different e-liquids through these pods, from fruit blends packing a lot of sweetener to deep, rich NET tobaccos and they have handled these with ease. I have even tested out up to 70% VG based e-liquid and had no issues with wicking!
I could average around a month with the older PX Cartridges in the original Puremax and I’ve no doubt that the PX Cartridge Pro 2 will be in the same ballpark. Especially given that I am a couple of weeks into using the pods with no sign of flavour degradation at all.
0.4ohm Pod
SXmini recommend that the 0.4ohm pod is used in the 25-35W range for optimal performance. So this is the pod to use if you want to take full advantage of the maximum power output of the Puremax V2.
It is actually the only pod that you can vape over 25W with the Puremax 2 as the device will not allow the others to go past that!
It is also not compatible with the original Puremax device however the 0.6ohm, 0.8ohm and 1.2ohm PX Cartridge Pro 2 pods are.
This is purely a pod for restricted lung vaping, if you vape mouth to lung you’ll want to consider the 0.8ohm or 1.2ohm pods.
Honestly, right from the first puff this pod just blew me away with how good the flavour is. My favourite complex dessert and tobacco e-liquids were absolutely singing in this!
I was getting all the undertones and flavour notes from my e-liquids, delivered smoothly and consistently. I really can’t fault the flavour at all. This has to be the most flavoursome vape from a pod system that I have had yet.
I have to say that this was my favourite pod out of them all, in fact this is my favourite pod to date!
0.6ohm Pod
The 0.6ohm pod is the one that comes with the Puremax 2 and this is recommended for use in the 18-25W range.
It gives you the opportunity to vape restricted direct lung (at the higher end of the above power range) and mouth to lung as long as you are vaping at under 20W, otherwise it starts to get a bit too warm and intense above that.
I prefer to vape restricted direct lung and found myself using this more in the 23-25W range.
Flavour wise, again this is a fantastic experience. The vape is a touch cooler than the 0.4ohm pod, but this still makes my e-liquids really shine and gives me an incredibly tasty vape.
It’s a great pod to start your Puremax 2 experience off with and means that mouth to lung and restricted direct lung vapers are catered to right out of the box.
0.8ohm Pod
With the 0.8ohm pod, you are looking at a power output range of 15-20W.
This pod vapes similarly to the 0.6ohm one, though I feel that it is better suited to mouth to lung vaping. I found I got the best results from this one at 18W and with the airflow set to around a third open.
Again absolutely no complaints with the flavour here, it’s spot on!
If you prefer a looser mouth to lung draw then this will be the pod for you.
1.2ohm Pod
SXmini’s recommended power range for this pod is the 12-15W range, putting this squarely in mouth to lung territory.
You are going to want to close the airflow right down with this pod to get the best flavour results from it, an airier draw really doesn’t suit it.
This is the pod you’ll want to use if you like a tight, cigarette-styled mouth to lung vape.
PURE Anti-Dry Hit Protection
PURE Anti-Dry hit protection was a feature that made its debut on the original Puremax and really helped to set this device apart from the others.
It’s a form of automatic temperature control technology that is actually able to detect when the cotton in the pod is dry, preventing you from getting a nasty dry or burnt hit.
Genuinely, it is a game changer!
The technology is present on the Puremax V2 and is as good as it has ever been, accurately detecting when the pod is empty and preventing the device from firing.
SXmini have actually improved this even further, as you now get a Low E-Liquid Pre-Alert.
Basically, if your pod is starting to run low on e-liquid, the Puremax 2 will give off a short vibration to let you know that it you are getting close to needing to refill the pod.
This is pretty consistent, but there have been a couple of instances where the vibration hasn’t kicked in. Maybe it did and I didn’t notice it!
Power
Right here is one of the more powerful refillable pod systems on the market. The Puremax 2 outputs from 5-35W, adjustable in increments of 0.5W. A big change from the preset power outputs present on the original Puremax device.
This gives more flexibility in fine tuning your vape, you can really dial in a setting or mix things up.
It’s incredibly consistent as well. I couldn’t detect any fluctuations in power from the first puff on a fully charged battery right down to the last puff on a near-empty one.
Airflow
Airflow can be adjusted using the airflow adjustment slider located on the side of the device.
This feels smoother and even more responsive than the original airflow control did on the original Puremax. I haven’t had any issues with the airflow becoming accidentally adjusted in my pocket.
You have the option to vape with a nice airy restricted lung hit, if you like to blow some clouds. Or you can dial this right down to a tight mouth to lung hit, with everything in-between!
I feel that the airflow adjustment on the Puremax 2 is massively improved over the original, you can really finely adjust the airflow here if you so wish.
Battery Life
Compared to the original 1050mAh battery found within the Puremax, you get a bit of a capacity bump here up to 1300mAh. Probably to accommodate all of the new features found within the Puremax 2!
Much like the original however, this does struggle to last me through a full day’s worth of vaping, meaning I’ll carry a second device out and about with me.
The 0.4ohm pod is the worst offender when it comes to battery life. I’ll get an average of about six hours out of this at 30-35W, with the 0.6ohm and 0.8ohm pods getting a couple more hours.
No issues with the 1.2ohm pod though as the lower power output would have me sailing through a whole day and then some!
Thankfully, the fast charging present within the Puremax 2 mitigates this somewhat as the device gets charged back up in no time at all.
Pros
- Market leading flavour
- Mouth to lung and restricted lung vaping options
- Consistently dry-hit free
- No leaks or condensation either!
- PX Cartridge Pro 2 pods last absolutely ages
- Comes with a choice of two drip tips, or you can use your own
- Premium build quality
- Full of features and customisation options
Cons
- This is pretty large for a refillable pod kit!
- Low e-liquid refill alert doesn’t always kick in
- Battery will struggle to get you through the day when vaping heavily
- Charging the device resets the puff counter
Final Verdict
I waxed lyrical about the original SXmini Puremax when I reviewed it a year ago and boldly declared that refillable pod systems were starting to catch up to more feature-rich vaping kits.
Well, SXmini have taken this up a notch with the Puremax V2…
I’ve been vaping for over ten years now and I can happily say that a device like this stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the more ‘premium’ (in terms of price anyway) gear that is on the market.
There’s a lot to be said about the convenience of a refillable pod system like this one. You can get rebuildable atomiser level of performance with none of the fuss of having to build your own coils for the device.
You can also adjust the vape how you see fit. There’s variable wattage and adjustable airflow, plus the PURE dry-hit protection makes your vaping experience virtually worry-free. Not to mention the nice touches to personalise your device such as being able to add your own wallpaper to the screen!
The Puremax 2 even also lets you know when your e-liquid is about to run out, so you don’t even need to pull the pod to check. That is convenience right there.
Finally, the most important aspect for a device is the flavour that it provides. With the PX Cartridge Pro 2, I get some of the most, if not THE most, flavourful experiences that I’ve had from a refillable pod system.
Seriously, the flavour is absolutely next level!!
We are just at the start of 2025 and already we have a refillable pod system that is setting the standard for others to follow!
A big thank you goes to SXmini for sending the Puremax 2 over for review, this is available to purchase in the UK now!
Did you use the original Puremax and if so, does the Puremax 2 interest you? Let us know in the comments below…
