Okino C100 Pod Kit Review – OK For You!

Today I’m taking a look at the Okino C100 open pod kit that very much reminds me of a cross between a pod kit and a disposable vape on steroids!

Ever heard of Okino? Me, neither. But take a closer look at those letters. Look familiar?

Those letters also make up the word Innokin. Minus one ‘N’ obviously. Yes – that’s right. This is the popular manufacturers new sub brand.

The C100 pod kit was launched in the Autumn of 2022 in Indonesia, driven by a young team of developers keen for vapers to find their own ‘ok’ way around vaping products.

With youth comes fresh ideas and an ability to think outside the vaping box.

So are we getting anything original or noteworthy with the Okino C100 pod kit?

Time to find out.

Visit the Okino website for more details!

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What Can We Expect From the Okino C100 Pod Kit?

This is a no thrills pod kit. There’s no screen display and we don’t get any adjustable wattage – although that’s something Okino promises in the near future.

The C100 is powered by an integrated 800mAh battery and can be rejuvenated via fast type C USB charging.

The pod is capable of holding a TPD Friendly 2ml of E-liquid (4ml for those outside the UK and EU) and to go with a brand new device we get two brand new coils.

They’re known as the ‘OK – coil’ and designed to showcase premium materials and cutting edge tech. Both will offer a DTL (Direct To Lung) vaping experience.

So they’ve been developed from the ground up to produce exceptional flavour. Achieved through a direct airflow path, large surface area and short travel distance to the mouth piece. In other words, they’re mesh built.

.. We’re already ticking a few boxes, methinks.

The Okino C100 automatically detects the best setting for an installed coil. Output varies between 18 – 22.5W depending on which one is being used.

Pod kits very often come under scrutiny for leaking when in fact condensation is generally the culprit. This is the first time I’ve come across a pod kit with condensation pads built in.

We’ll see how that pans out but I must admit this is innovation. At the same time, it’s such a simple idea I’m wondering why it’s never been thought of before now.

The Okino C100 pod kit comes in a choice of eleven different colours, Red, Pink, Yellow, Lime, Green, Turquoise, Sky Blue, Navy Blue, Purple, Grey and Black (under review).

Inside the Box

• Okino C100 battery section
• Cartridge / pod section (OK – R2 0.4ohm coil – installed)
• 5 x spare condensation pads
• Vape band
• Instruction manual

Specifications

Battery Section

• Dimensions: 98 x 25mm (including pod)
• Material: Plastic
• Weight: 48g (including pod)
• Capacity: 800mAh
• Voltage range: 3.3V – 4.2V
• Resistance range: 0.3ohm – 3.5ohm
• Charging: Type C USB 5V/1A
• Display: Multi colour LED ring
• Airflow: Fixed
• Activation: Manual / Auto draw

Pod Section

• Material: PCTG + Silicone
• Capacity: 2ml /4ml
• Filling: Side / Refillable
• Replaceable coils
• Coil resistance: 0.4ohm (OK – R2) / 0.6ohm (OK – R1)

Okino C100 Pod Kit – Design and Build Quality

Battery Section

If I’m being totally honest the device looks very cheap and tacky, being comprised entirely of a tough plastic material. I guess looks ain’t everything – performance and quality is what counts and we’ll find out about that soon enough.

Being 25mm cylindrical it’s quite short and stubby. It’s also incredibly light and most certainly trouser or shirt pocket friendly.

The Black spray coated paint of the battery section has a matt finish which tends to hide finger prints quite nicely and we have references to both the manufacturer and the coils printed on either side.

A recessed type C USB charging port has been sensibly placed on the side and in a position that allows vertical charging. Good stuff!

We have the fire or manual activation button on the other side. This feels reassuringly clicky and there’s no rattling from within its housing.

Around the circumference of the base there’s an LED ring – illuminating to inform of various changes to battery status during use or when recharging. It also reacts to any potential safety issues the device may encounter.

And of course we have the area inside the battery section, complete with that nugget of innovation – the condensation pad.

There’s also an air inlet tube, two Gold plated and spring loaded coil/battery contacts and dual connecting magnets for the pod.

Pod Section

It’s made from the industry standard tough PCTG material. I’ve got the 2ml TPD compliant version complete with rubber insert – boo!!

We get the classic “Duck Bill” style mouth piece which does feel very comfortable in use. The opening is around 5mm so there’s plenty of scope for those restrictive or direct lung tugs.

I am curious as to why the viewing area around the fill port has been frosted over. That may make gauging fill levels difficult, but we’ll see.

I do like the way the pod sinks into the battery section. Combined with dual locking magnets it’s secure enough to withstand a few drops from height when tested.

So the coils are of the “push in pull out” variety, which always makes life easier – or it should. Read on to find out more.

Quick Start Guide – Okino C100 Pod Kit

How To Remove and Replace the Coil

• Remove the pod from the battery section
• Turn the pod upside down to reveal the bottom of the coil
• Using a finger nail, gently pull the used coil out of the pod chamber
• Push a replacement coil up inside the pod chamber ensuring a firm seal

Please pay close attention to the position of the coil in the picture. This is the correct way to install it.

You’ll get an inadequate seal if attempted any other way. It’s important the coil is pushed firmly into place and totally flush with the underside of the pod.

Not to state the obvious but vape as much of the E-liquid as possible before replacing a coil. It’s less messy that way!

How To Fill the Pod

Now that the coil is firmly in place, we can go ahead and fill the pod.

• Locate the silicone bung on the side of the pod
• Using the direction of the arrow, gently lift up the bung to reveal the fill port

• Push a suitably sized E-liquid bottle nozzle into the fill opening
• Gently squeeze E-liquid into the fill chamber making sure not to overfill the pod

• Replace the silicone bung ensuring a firm seal
• Snap the pod back into the battery section

Take your sweet time while filling. I found it best to hold the pod in a horizontal position to begin with and then slowly tilt as the pod chamber fills up.

Remember to let the E-liquid soak into the cotton for around five minutes before vaping for the first time.

How To Replace the Condensation Pad

This can be a little tricky if you don’t use a suitable tool. I found tweezers to be the best option for taking the pad out.

IMPORTANT! Please switch the device off before attempting this procedure.

• Remove the pod from the battery section to expose the condensation pad
• With a suitable tool gently lift the used pad out of the battery section
• Carefully insert a new pad using the cut outs as a guide
• Press down on the pad to make sure it’s firmly in position
• Snap the pod back into the battery section

How To Operate the Okino C100 Pod Kit

• Press the fire / activation button 3 times to switch the device on or off

When the device is switched on the LED ring on the base will illuminate Red, Green and Blue. The current battery status LED indicator blinks twice when switching off.

You have the option of using either the fire / activation button or Auto draw when vaping.

If you’re in the groove it’s possible to set up the Okino C100 to join in on the fun.

With the device on, press the fire / activation button twice for a flashing multi coloured light show ala disco stylee! If you’re a killjoy like me, pressing it a further two times will stop all that tomfoolery..

The LED will change colour according to battery charge remaining:

• Red = less than 10% charge
• Yellow = 10-30%
• Blue = over 30%

It’s time to get serious, anyway. Battery safety.

Okino C100 Pod Kit – Inbuilt Safety Features

The coloured LED’s will also alert to any issues the battery may be encountering.

• Over vaping – LED flashes 10 times. Wait five seconds then try again
• Short circuit – Red LED for 5 seconds. Check the pod and/or replace the coil
• Overheating – Red LED flashes 3 times x 3. Let the device cool down for a short while
• Low/High coil resistance – Solid Red LED for 5 seconds followed by flashing Blue LED x 5. Check or replace the coil

How To Charge the Okino C100 Pod Kit

Note: The Okino C100 pod kit does not come with a charging cable.

• Connect the smaller end of a type C USB charging cable into the side of the battery section

• Connect the larger end of the cable into a suitable USB outlet

What happens during the charge cycle is very basic. A Red LED illuminates around the base of the battery for 70 minutes to indicate charging between 0 – 90%. When the LED turns Blue it takes a further 30 minutes to complete the last 10%.

So it takes 1 hour 40 minutes to get the device up and running again.

Okino C100 Pod Kit – How Does It Perform?

Since the coil is suited to thicker E-liquid ratios I opted to use Naughty Juice Butterscotch Yum Yum, a 70VG/30PG mix with 3mg freebase nicotine applied.

Power to the coil is instant – that impressed me straight out of the vaping gate. The OK coil is very responsive and actually has a bit of clout behind it.

As for flavour? It’s truly exceptional. I’d even go as far as to say it’s on par with a decent sub ohm tank. I don’t write that about many pod kits, let me tell you!

What strikes me is how well the sweet pastry notes are delivered. Very rich and very flavoursome – exactly what I was hoping for. I will admit the Butterscotch is slightly underplayed but that’s due to the restrictions of the coil itself.

You’ll only get so much warmth from a coil that pumps out 22.5W max. Not enough to bring out all the spicier elements of the vape.

Having said that, performance is incredible. The RDL vape is perfectly pitched (especially to an RDL fanatic, like me!) and airflow restrictions are bob on. If 0% is totally unrestricted, this coil sits around the 60% region. Ideal for me.

I was able to get prolonged inhales without feeling any tightness on the neck muscles and turbulence is non-existent. The coil is about as quiet as I could expect and vapour production is improved with longer tugs.

The mouthpiece does warm up with excessive vaping (hands up!) but never to the point of becoming uncomfortable to use. Great stuff!

Auto Draw vaping

Now this was the icing on this particular vaping cake!

Practically no difference in power output between this and a manual draw. So many times there’s usually a distinct separation in performance between the two. Not so with the Okino C100 pod kit.

The only difference I noted was a slight decrease in sweetness. I can live with that. Think of the sweetness from a disposable vape and that of a decent starter vape pen and you’ll understand what I mean.

So the auto draw side of the Okino C100 is definitely one of the better performers when it comes to this kind of dual activation arrangement.

Battery performance

It takes a bit of time to get used to seeing a Blue Led replace Green with a fully charged battery. The method Okino have used certainly isn’t the industry standard of Green – Blue – Red for a discharging battery.

But it is what it is, I guess. It’s been done before. I just prefer the traditional ways, personally.

I’d still have preferred the ring around the fire / activation button to have been used instead. It’s just more visible and saves having to tilt the device every time to check.

So I got 2 hours use before the Blue Led switched to Yellow. One hour before Yellow turned Red and a further one and a half hours before the LED flashed Red. When the LED flashed Red eight times it was vape over.

Four and a half hours isn’t spectacular but given the impressive performance I think it’s forgivable. Lest we forget the Okino C100 is only sporting an 800mAh battery.

There also wasn’t any degradation to flavour output during this time. I was happily vaping, blissfully, unaware until the last second.

The coil is also something of a juice guzzler because I’d gone through around 5ml of E-liquid in one charge.

Pros

• Lightweight and pocket friendly
• Exceptional flavour and vapour production. Faultless
• Ability to charge in a vertical position
• Auto draw is just as effective as manual activation
• Innovative condensation pad takes care of any weeping from the coil

Cons

• No charging cable supplied. It’s a rechargeable device!
• Only one coil supplied (OK-R2 0.4ohm)
• Difficult to view E-liquid inside the pod
• Positioning of LED ring may not be suitable for some (subjective)
• Omission of an LED around the fire / activation button
• Average battery life at best

Final Review Verdict

In many ways, the fact there’s no airflow adjustability means the Okino C100 is that little more accessible. I know I suffer OCD when it comes to adjustability, tweaking airflow for an eternity before finding my absolute sweet spot.

You don’t get the option here so that does at least spare valuable vaping time.

I honestly don’t think it’s needed here, anyway. I was able to plug in the coil, fill up the pod and vape in a very seamless manner. The airflow restriction created by the 0.4ohm mesh coil was about as good as it gets if you’re an RDL vaper.

And flavour properties really knocked me out. Consistent and rich tasting with every single vape.

So I’ve come away from this review quite gobsmacked. Never judge a vape device by aesthetics alone! I say this because the appearance of the Okino C100 doesn’t match its exceptional performance.

.. I’m leaving this review with my tail between my legs. Okino 1 0 Neil.

Visit the Okino website for more details!

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