I'm gonna go on a posting spree...
a review!
My thoughts on the new eleaf pico... I've only been using my pink one for about a week now, just getting started with the silver one. Overall I would give it 4/5 on that scale, based on my early impressions.
What I like about the pico:
It makes pretty good quality vape with the CDA and lots of it quickly (im using 20w @ TCR 245, 380-400F) although I'd still give the evic mini and cuboid a slight but noticeable edge on overall vape quality
It looks pretty good and feels good in my hand despite the tiny size. (although not the buttons) The sparkly-ness on apparently all the colors is cool, but it would be nice if they offered more real colors rather than shades of gray
As mentioned, it allows TCR, has the standard Ni, Ti, SS modes we'd expect these days, plus firmware upgradeability. Although based on eleaf's track record, I wouldn't expect them to fulfill those possibilities?
Another plus is the 510 connector and metal area around it. It's rugged, and won't scratch or scuff easily if you remove and install alot of attys. Alot of mods have weak connector areas that wear quickly. I think this one will hold up with use better
What I don't like:
As hinted, the buttons. The main trigger feels flimsy and doesn't have much "travel" or "depression room", or.. it is very thin. My finger has slipped off the side of it many times in the middle of 10-second hits. Kind of annoying. It's too small. The + / - adjustment buttons are even worse, they are on the bottom of the mod. Not like those are as important as the trigger, but it feels awkward making those adjustments. I understand these are likely trade-offs made with the goal of maximum compactness, but these are some of the costs.
Also, the battery cylinder top, sticking out like a hump next to the 510 is kinda awkward as well. There's enough room to twist in a v2.5 base, just enough space for the DC herb atomizer, but for potentially larger threads (like, theoretically, the upcoming v3.0
) you may not be able to screw in these attachments, or you may have to remove the battery first to give yourself space to twist in, then replace batteries. Annoying.
I also don't like the screen. It's tiny, sideways, and doesn't emphasize the best info. It measures base resistance pretty accurately (lower than my joyetechs usually) but it would be really nice and useful to see resistance change in real time during a puff. It does not, always shows base ohms.
It's annoying when it hits "protection" too because it hogs the whole screen. Can I at least see the watts flutter in real time while it tells me my coil is hotter than I want?
The temp is the biggest number in the display too, but I'd rather see watts and ohms taking up more space, since that's a more reliable, "real" number.
On balance, the pico is a good mod, maybe not great. It's inexpensive, and to it's credit, alot of the downsides are due to the ever-decreasing size, which is an overall trend I like, so I give eleaf credit for making a pretty damn functional, adjustable 18650 TC mod with all the bells and whistles in an ever-smaller package.
And yo... OF...I'm sorry to hear you've had some of those stange issues with your Pico. I haven't had anything like that happen to my 2 picos so far. If it keeps up, or if you can't flash the software or fix it anyways, it's probably a defect you should send back?
good luck with that man!