Eleaf’s iStick brand gained popularity when the company released the iStick Mini, a small box mod that had variable wattage capabilities.
Its size and features made the Mini such a hit, turning the iStick into a household name among vapers, that Eleaf had to follow it up with something equally amazing.
After a few hits and misses, Eleaf released the iStick Pico. Is this an improved new follow up to the Mini? Or will it fall flat against its peers?
Here we’ll take a good look at it…
PACKAGING & DESIGN
Available as mod only or as a kit, the iStick Pico caters to both advanced users and newbies looking for a starter mod.
The box is a simple, standard, cardboard affair with the image of the Pico emblazoned all over the front.
Inside, you get the mod, a USB cable, and an instruction manual. For the kit, you get the mod, USB cable, a Melo III Mini Atomizer, one 0.3 ohm head, one 0.5 ohm head, and four extra seal rings.
The Pico is a beautiful piece of engineering. Its size is just a little bit larger than the iStick Mini measuring a diminutive 45mm x 23mm x 70.5mm.
For a mod that accepts 18650 batteries, this makes the Pico one of the smallest replaceable 18650 mods on the market.
By utilising an extended battery cap instead of lengthening the size of the device itself, Eleaf managed to keep the overall dimensions at a minimum.
However, because of the odd placement of the cap, removing and replacing it while an atomizer is connected can be tricky. I found that I often got a loose connection with the battery and mod itself, which became very frustrating at times.
The fire button is situated just above the OLED screen, though the adjustment buttons can be found under the device. While this may seem odd, its placement helps in keeping the mod a portable size.
The adjustment buttons are rather small, which can be difficult to manipulate especially if you have large fingers. However, the size also helps minimise accidental presses.
The charging port is located below the OLED and is an improvement over past Eleaf mods (where the charging port is located underneath the device).
This allows charging while keeping the mod upright, instead of on its side – something I’m a big fan of. There are some air hole vents under the mod to keep batteries from building up too much pressure for your added safety.
The Pico’s come in various colors: white, silver, grey, pink, and black. However, Eleaf recently introduced two more variants: all black and brushed silver. Personally I prefer the black finish.
KIT CONTENTS
- 1 x iStick Pico 75W TC
- 1 x Melo 3 Mini Sub-Ohm Tank
- 1 x 0.3 ohm Kanthal Coil
- 1 x 0.5 ohm Kanthal Coil
- 1 x Micro USB Charging Cable
- 1 x User Manual
MOD SPECIFICATIONS
- 1 to 75W Power Output
- to 3.5 ohm Atomizer Resistance Range
- Bypass Mode Feature
- Firmware Upgrade-able
- Full Temperature Control Output
- Ni200 Nickel Support
- Titanium Support
- Stainless Steel Support
- Three Memory TCR Mode
- Set Own Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
- Fine Tune Output
- 05 to 1.5 ohm Atomizer Resistance Range
- 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit Range
- Ultra Compact Form Factor
- 45mm by 23mm by 70.5mm
- Two Line OLED Screen
- Battery Life Indicator
- Output Wattage/Temperature
- Atomizer Resistance
- 18650 Powered
- Top Loaded
- Battery Not Included
- Three Button Operation
- Bottom Button Adjustment
- Spring Loaded 510 Connection
- Micro USB Charge Port
MELO III MINI TANK SPECIFICATIONS
- 22mm Diameter
- 2ml Tank Capacity
- Top Fill System
- Melo Mini 3 Coil System
- 3 ohm Kanthal Coil
- 30 to 80W
- 5 ohm Kanthal Coil
- 30 to 100W
- Compatible with Atlantis, Triton and cCell Coil Structures
- Invisible Airflow Control
- Discreetly Throttled Up and Down
- Heat Insulated Drip Tip
FUNCTIONALITY
Capable of hitting up to 75 watts, the Pico is one of the smallest 18650-powered, variable wattage, and temperature control devices on the market today.
Aside from variable wattage and temperature control (with nichrome, titanium, and SS coils), the Pico also has a bypass mode. This mode essentially turns your Pico into a mechanical mod with all the safety features of regulated devices
To switch between modes, simply click the fire button three times, then cycle through the modes with the +/- buttons, using the fire button to dial in your selection.
What also sets the Pico apart from other “budget” mods is the ability to upgrade the software.
You download the necessary firmware updates on your PC or Mac, connect your mod, then follow the onscreen instructions.
However, I would like to point out that it took me several tries before my Mac detected my mod, which I did get really annoyed about. Once it did eventually connect everything worked smoothly.
DISPLAY
Despite the budget price of the mod, the display is of a high quality – its size is more than you would expect and is bright enough to see in most lighting conditions.
With a glance, you can see how much battery life is left, the ohms reading, voltage reading, as well as the wattage. In temperature mode, the wattage is replaced by the temperature reading.
When the fire button is pressed, a running time is displayed to show how long you have been pressing the button, as well as the wattage and temperature setting.
You can also black out the screen for stealth vaping so no light will come from the mod whenever you use it.
Overall, the display is more than what you would expect from a mod at this price range. It shows the important data, is bright enough, and looks tough enough to withstand minor falls and rough handling.
BATTERY DETAILS
No battery is included with the mod; However, it uses the popular 18650 sized batteries.
Capacity and amp limits depend on what kind of 18650 battery you’re using.
MELO III MINI TANK
If you opt to purchase the IStick Pico Kit, you will also receive a Melo III Mini. The “mini” monicker is used because the tank can only accommodate two millilitres of eliquid.
But being a successor to the highly successful Melo tanks, the Melo III Mini lives up to its name and gives you great flavor and performance.
The tank has a permanent drip tip attached, and the top cap can be screwed off for top filling. There is also an airflow control ring at the bottom of the tank, which enables you to do straight-to-lung hits or mouth-to-lung vaping.
The kit comes with extra o-rings, as well as two coil heads. The coil heads that come with the kit produces great flavor and fantastic vapor, more than other kit heads of other mods.
If you prefer to build your own coils, there is an option to purchase a rebuildable deck. However, the pre-built ones included are every bit as good as any coil out there.
DISLIKES
- Battery cap fit – The cap sometimes fits, sometimes not depending on the battery used. There will be times you might have a loose connection. If a tank or atty leaks, a loose cap can cause major damage on the internals and battery itself
- Firmware updates can be hard to initialise – While the update itself is a breeze, sometimes having your computer detect the Pico can be a chore.
- +/- buttons – Located at the bottom of the mod, these are tiny and are not prone to accidental adjustments, but when you do want to adjust your settings, it can get tricky
LIKES
- Beautiful finish – available in various colors with a matte finish that is nice to hold, the iStick Pico looks more expensive than it really is
- Portable size – Whether you are a stealth vaper or just want a mod that fits nicely in your pocket or bag without taking too much space, this is it
- More than enough power – Unless you’re into competitive vaping, the 75 watts of the Pico is more than enough for even advanced vapers
- More features than you can shake an iStick at – Replaceable battery, variable wattage, temperature control for SS, ni200, Ti coils, safety features, and many more, you might think Eleaf went overboard with the features here, but the more the merrier in this case
- Affordable! – A slew of features, great performance, and good looks all for a price that’s really affordable
SHOULD YOU GET THE PICO?
The iStick Pico is a well-thought out device that will suit the needs of both beginners and advanced vapers alike.
The easy to use interface and simple design won’t leave newbies scratching their heads, while the glut of features will satisfy even the most advanced vaper.
This also gives newbies something to grow into, unlike other starter kits where they are easily outgrown.
There may be issues regarding the battery cap, updating of firmware, and the size of the buttons, but these are small niggles that are easily overshadowed by the sheer power and efficiency of a mod of this size.