What’s best – built-in or removable batteries? That’s a long-running debate and both sides have some good arguments. Now Innokin have tried to combine the nest features of both in a single package, with the Disrupter mod and the InnokinCell battery system.
It’s been popular enough that there’s now a second-generation Disrupter with temperature control and more power, but the original 50W VV/VW model is still widely available and makes a very nice, affordable mod.
PACKAGING & DESIGN
The Disruptor mod and battery can be bought separately or as a kit. Both components come in individual cardboard boxes, which have windows in the front to show off the products; if you buy the kit the two boxes are held in an outer sleeve.
Tucked into the bottom of the sleeve is another small box holding a USB cable. It’s not the fanciest packaging, but then who cares? It’s a box. If using a simple package knocks a couple of pounds off the price, why not?
This is a very unusual two-part device. The control unit has the screen, buttons and 510 connector; down the back edges are rails, which the external battery pack slides onto, and a two-pin connector.
A magnet on a battery, and a concealed metal plate on the mod, hold the two parts firmly together. When assembled it’s a simple box shape; it isn’t quite as nice to hold as Innokin’s Cool Fire IV, but the edges of the battery are rounded off so it’s comfortable enough.
Like most mods these days the screen and controls are all on the front of the device. The fire button is at the top. It’s a bit different from most Innokin fire buttons, in that it doesn’t light up with colored LEDs to show the battery charge, but you can see the charge on the screen anyway.
What’s slightly unusual is that the up and down buttons come next, with the screen at the bottom; I’m used to the two small buttons being below the screen, but it’s not a big deal.
Although the design’s simple it’s well put together. The 510 connector has steel threads and a spring-loaded brass center pin; the buttons are all metal and have a good tactile feel.
The only niggle I have is the top and bottom panels of both units. These are very thick and solid metal castings, held into the body with four screws each. It’s neatly done but looks a bit industrial.
KIT CONTENTS
- 1 x Disrupter Box Mod
- 1 x 2000mAh Innocell Battery
- 1 x USB Charger
SPECIFICATIONS
- 510 Threaded
- Pass Through Charging
- Dimensions: 3-1/2″L x 1-7/8″W x 7/8″D (Disrupter Body and Innocell together)
- Operating Voltage: 3.0V-7.5V
- Operating Wattage: 6.0W – 50W
- Clearomizer Resistance: 0.2Ohm (minimum)
- Charging: Micro USB DC5V/1A
- Large Bright OLED Screen
- Left/Right Screen Flip
- Large Durable buttons
- InnokinCell Slide n’ Lock System
- 15 second cutoff
- Remembers last Voltage or Wattage setting Ohms Meter & Battery Level Indicator & Puff Counter
FUNCTIONALITY
If you’ve used other Innokin box mods there won’t be any surprises here. The Disruptor is a VV/VW mode, capable of putting out from 3 to 7.5 volts or 6 to 50 watts. Powering it on or off is the usual five fast clicks on the fire button.
To switch to VV mode, hold the fire and down buttons for a couple of seconds; for VW hold fire and up. Once you’re in the mode you want the up and down buttons will adjust in increments of 0.1V or 0.5W. The Disruptor will save your settings even if you remove the battery.
Compared to a TC mod the Disruptor is fairly light on features, but if you’re not worried about temperature control it should do everything you need. The power output is very stable thanks to the battery’s 20A continuous output, so it delivers a nice consistent vape.
OLED DISPLAY
The front of the Disrupter has more free space than the Cool Fire IV, and Innokin have sensibly decided to use some of it to fit a larger screen. It’s also clear and bright; you won’t have any trouble reading the plentiful information it displays.
As usual about half its real estate is taken up with the current voltage or power setting; to the left of that you get resistance and power (in VV mode) or voltage (in VW). On the right is a battery charge indicator.
The screen is slightly recessed, but not enough to get in the way if you’re looking at it from a slight angle. It doesn’t flip automatically if you turn the mod over, but you can flip it manually by holding the up and down buttons together for three seconds.
BATTERY DETAILS
Instead of the usual standard-sized Li-Ion batteries housed in an internal compartment this mod uses the InnokinCell, an external LiPo battery pack that can be charged with a USB cable. It can be removed for charging, but it doesn’t need to be – the micro USB port is on the back, so you can plug it in and keep using it while it charges.
An LED above the port shows the charge status, changing from red to yellow to green as charge increases. The power pack is in an aluminium case with the same brushed finish as the mod, and it comes in an assortment of colors; you can get creative here, and mix and match your mod and batteries.
Most InnokinCells have a 2,000mAh capacity, which isn’t massive for a powerful modern device, but if you have a spare it’s incredibly easy to swap them. Weirdly, however, it lasts for about twice as long as the 2,000mAh Cool Fire IV at the same settings.
So although the capacity sounds limited it’s a lot more impressive in actual use. Anyway there’s now a 3,300mAh version available as well.
The InnokinCell packs are safer to carry around than a standard 18650, because you’d really have to work to short-circuit one. The battery’s terminals are two female connectors at the bottom of a recess that slips over the male connectors on the mod.
You can safely carry the pack loose in your pocket with no danger of a coin or key shorting it. With the recent bad publicity about battery fires, this is a Very Good Thing.
DISLIKES
- No TC mode
- Clunky top and bottom plates
LIKES
- Innovative battery pack system
- Surprisingly good battery life
- Large, clear screen
- Unique style, two-tone color options
- Simple controls
SHOULD YOU GET THE DISRUPTER?
The Disruptor is a very distinctive mod with a lot going for it. I don’t use TC much, so I find it suits me pretty well. Its 50W power output is easily adequate for most of the vaping I do and I was very pleasantly surprised by the battery life.
Currently the kit, with the mod and one battery, costs about £25-35 and that’s very good value for a device of this quality. If the battery stops taking a charge, or you want a spare, they can be picked up for £12 to £15.
That’s not too much more than a good 18650, and of course you don’t need an external charger for it. Overall this is a very nice box mod that’s perfect for anyone who wants a simple, reliable device.