Innokin have been making mods for a while, and most of them have been very popular.
The Cool Fire IV might be their biggest hit yet, though. A stylish and very well made box mod, it’s become a solid favorite.
The original Cool Fire IV was a VV/VW mod, but current models are TC devices.
There are plenty originals still on the market though, and if you don’t use TC or need very high power it’s worth taking a serious look at them.
You’ll get decent performance and top quality, without paying for features you don’t need.
PACKAGING & DESIGN
Innokin have packed the Cool Fire IV in a clear, hard plastic case.
Inside this the mod, charging cable and a 510 t eGo adapter sit in cut-outs; pull the foam out and the user manual is in the bottom of the case along with a couple of Innokin stickers.
Previous Cool Fires have had some… unusual design ideas. The Cool Fire 1 looked like a cut-down version of the SVD tube mod, without a screen.
The Cool Fire 2 looked like a hand grenade, and had at least as many critics as it did fans. For the 4, Innokin have taken a different approach – and they’ve got it exactly right.
The Cool Fire IV is a box mod, but it isn’t a simple box. The back is rounded, where the body wraps around the battery, then it narrows towards the front.
This makes for a very comfortable shape; you can hold it with your thumb on the fire button and the round back rests snugly in your palm, with no edges to bother you.
In fact Innokin have eliminated edges wherever they could; another strip of metal forms the top and front panel, and it also has a nicely curved shape. The separate but non-detachable base curves up to join the front panel. It looks as good as it feels, too.
On the front you’ll find a lanyard loop cut into the sides of the case. Moving down there’s one of Innokin’s trademark illuminated fire buttons, with the screen below it.
Under the screen are the up and down buttons, then the micro USB port. The buttons are all metal apart from the surround on the fire button, and they click nicely when pressed.
Build quality on the Cool Fire IV is excellent. The edges of the case are all nicely chamfered, gaps between parts are minimal and the metalwork has a brushed finish that gives a decent grip.
It also looks excellent and isn’t be a fingerprint magnet. The 510 connector has steel threads and a spring-loaded center pin.
KIT CONTENTS
- 1 x Innokin Cool Fire IV 40W Box Mod
- 1 x USB Cable
- 1 x Ego Adaptor
SPECIFICATIONS
- 40W of power
- Spring-loaded stainless steel 510 threading connection
- On / Off Switch on the base
- 3 Clicks lock / unlock feature
- OLED Display
- Vrms power regulation
- Micro USB charging port “Vape while Charging”
- Heat dissipation vents
- Battery level indicator
- Flip OLED orientation
- 15 second cutoff timer
- Lanyard hole
- Operating Voltage: 3.0V~7.5V
- Operating Wattage: 6.0W~40.0W
- Built-in 2000mAh battery
- Standby current: 100uA maximum
- Maximum output wattage: 40W
- Maximum output Current: 12A
- Maximum output Voltage: 7.5V
- Clearomizer Resistance: 0.3 Ohm (minimum)
- Charging: Micro USB DC 5V / 1A
FUNCTIONALITY
Using the Cool Fire IV is pretty simple but it does have one unusual feature. There’s an on/off switch on the bottom of the case that will turn the device completely off.
That’s a change from most mods, which have the usual five-click on and off function.
This is really more like putting it into standby; the Innokin’s switch turns it right off, which is a nice feature if you’re getting on a plane or not planning on using it for a few hours.
One thing to note is that if you turn it off it won’t save your settings.
The fire button is classic Innokin. When you press it the clear plastic surround lights up to show how much battery charge is left.
If it’s green you have more than 50%; yellow means it’s below 50% but still good for a while. Red means you need to start looking for a charger.
If the battery voltage falls too low it will automatically turn itself off to avoid damage.
The controls are very simple.
Three fast clicks of the fire button will put it in standby, or bring it back to life. It defaults to VV mode but you can select VW by holding the fire and + buttons together for a second; the fire and – buttons together will put it back in VV.
Once you’ve selected a mode use the + and – buttons to choose your settings. Increments are 0.1 volt in VV and 0.5 watt in VW.
A strong point is the very accurate and stable Vrms power output. This improves battery life – which is just as well – and gives a very consistent vape.
Compared to newer TC mods the Cool Fire IV is slightly light on features, but if you prefer VW mode it has everything you need and some nice refinements, like the power switch.
It’s ideal if you want something that’s simple to use without missing out on performance.
OLED DISPLAY
There’s nothing special about the Cool Fire IV’s display, but then there’s nothing wrong with it either. It’s quite small, but clear and bright enough to be read easily.
It shows all the information you need – power or voltage setting, resistance and battery charge. The screen’s recessed behind its cover, but not as deeply as on some mods I’ve seen, so it’s pretty easy to see even from a slight angle.
Unlike some mods the display won’t flip automatically if you turn the device over, but it’s simple enough to do it manually. Just hold the + and – buttons together for three seconds and it will flip.
BATTERY DETAILS
The standard version of the Cool Fire IV has a built-in 2,000mAh battery. The battery itself is an 18650 but there’s no way to remove it. I’d have preferred either a removable battery or at least one with a larger capacity.
For a mod that can put out 40 watts, 2,000mAh isn’t a huge amount of storage. If this is your main device and you’re vaping fairly steadily it’s not going to last a full day.
On the positive side, the micro USB port is on the front of the mod, so you can plug it in and keep using it while it charges. It takes around two hours to fully charge, which isn’t too bad.
The battery is one place where the Cool Fire IV definitely loses out though. Innokin seem to have worked this out for themselves, because later versions have higher capacities.
DISLIKES
- Limited battery capacity
- No temperature control mode
LIKES
- Outstanding design
- Very comfortable to hold
- Simple controls
- Attractive finish
SHOULD YOU GET THE COOL FIRE IV?
You can pick up an original, non-TC for about £30 without looking too hard, and at that price it’s excellent value.
I like the look of it and it delivers enough power for pretty much anyone unless you’re a cloud chaser.
Innokin have a solid reputation for reliability.
Its battery capacity isn’t that great, but it’s easy to recharge – and the built-in battery does make it an economical option if you don’t want the extra cost of an external charger.
If temperature control is important to you, or you want more power, the latest versions of the Cool Fire IV might be a better bet – but for most vapers this model will do all you need, and do it in style.