Just when I thought starter devices couldn’t get any more basic and simple along comes the ZIGGIYS Apollo pod kit to prove me wrong!
The ZIGGIYS Apollo pod kit is manufactured by Zun Yi Pin Technology Co in Shenzhen, China. Since the product is TPD compliant it’s readily available in Europe and the UK.
The manufacturer’s philosophy is to enhance a user’s life with small but meaningful detail. They’re producing devices that offer reliability and practicality.
I hadn’t heard of ZIGGIYS before now. For some reason David Bowie springs to mind but the Apollo pod kit does indeed include one small yet meaningful feature that we’ll get on to next.
What Can We Expect From the ZIGGIYS Apollo Pod Kit?
A device that takes all the hard work out of vaping – that’s the best way to describe the Apollo pod kit. No power or airflow adjustment, no screen display and no replaceable coils.
You don’t even need to fill the pod. That’s already been done too.
So the 2ml pods are pre-filled with a choice of seven different flavours. Apple Cinnamon, Grape Ice, Kiwi Passionfruit, Minty Ice, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Watermelon and Blueberry Burst (under review).
One pod comes with the kit and replacements are available in blister packs of two. In case you’re wondering, they all contain 20mg salt nicotine making them ideal for new and seasoned vapers alike.
Sealed deep inside the pod is a 1.2ohm mesh coil, designed to enhance flavour and vapour production. A fixed power output to the coil is determined by the 420mAh integrated battery, designed to last for anything up to 500 puffs.
Don’t throw the device away when the pod is empty! The battery section can be recharged again and again via the included type C USB cable.
You’ll recall I mentioned a small yet meaningful detail. Well that originates from the single White LED. Expect it to flash once after every 15 puffs – about the same time it takes to smoke a cigarette.
So now you can keep a tab on how many smokes you’ve avoided while vaping on the kit.
Dunno about you but I think that’s a meaningful feature and also shows a bit of innovation. Fair play, ZIGGIYS.
Finally, the device is available in three different battery colours: Black, Green and Grey.
Inside the Box
- Apollo battery section
- Apollo pre-filled pod
- Type C USB charging cable
- User manual
By the way! The award for the world’s shortest USB C charging cable goes to…
ZIGGIYS Apollo Pod Kit – Specifications
- Dimensions: 91.8 x 19.8 x 11.5mm
- Weight: 28g
- Material: Zinc alloy / PCTG
- Pod capacity: 2ml
- Coil: 1.2ohm mesh
- E-liquid: 20mg salt nicotine / 50VG/50PG
- Battery capacity: 420mAh
- Charge current: 5V/0.5A
- Output power: 7.5 – 10.2W
- Display: Single White LED
- Number of puffs: 500 (per charge)
- Activation: Auto draw
Design and Build Quality
The Battery Section
The main battery section is made of a strong Zinc Alloy material with two oval sides. It’s designed to fit comfortably in the hand – and it does.
The spray coat colour has a nice matt finish with a single LED indicator and company logo on the front.
The rear is devoid of any print and there are two small pin hole slots on either side designed to produce a MTL effect from the installed pod.
USB connectivity for charging is via the underside of the battery section.
The base is curved which is just as well because you won’t be charging the Apollo pod kit in a vertical position anyway.
.. Or far away from a suitable USB outlet if using the supplied cable!
Inside the battery, two spring loaded coil/battery contacts are visible as well as twin magnets for pod retention.
In both cases they line up perfectly with connections on the base of the pod.
The Pod Section
The pod is made from a tough PCTG plastic and every drop of E-liquid is visible through the clear viewing window.
However, half of this is lost when dropped inside the battery section. You’re likely to be removing the pod to check levels at regular intervals.
But since the pod is so heavily recessed within the battery there’s very little chance of separation if accidently dropped.
I ‘accidentally dropped’ it a few times and it wasn’t budging. All good stuff.
The opening on the mouthpiece is suitably restrictive for a MTL vape although I did feel its thickness was slightly more than necessary.
I’ve vaped more comfortable mouthpiece’s than this, put it that way.
The pod is reversible and we get haptic feedback from the battery whenever a connection is established. Always a nice, reassuring touch.
Quick Start Guide – ZIGGIYS Apollo Pod Kit
How To Use the Device
It really couldn’t be any easier and you’ll be up and running in seconds.
First, remove the Silicone sleeve and mouthpiece stopper from the pod.
Drop the pod into the battery section – the magnets will snap it into place and you’re good to go!
It doesn’t matter which way you insert the pod. A single White LED will flash twice and the device will vibrate to let you know everything is functioning as it should.
Then it’s just a case of using auto draw functionality to vape. The ZIGGIYS Apollo pod kit is factory pre-charged and the E-liquid ready to use.
.. but sometimes things can go wrong. How do we spot a potential safety issue?
Safety Features
- Low battery – White LED flashes 10 times
- Over vape time of 8 seconds – White LED flashes twice
- Short circuit/low resistance – White LED flashes twice
In each potential scenario the device will temporarily cease functioning.
How To Charge the ZIGGIYS Apollo Pod Kit
The charging current is specified as 5V/0.5A
- Using the (rather short) type C USB cable, connect the small end into the base of the battery section.
- Connect the larger end of the cable into a suitable USB outlet
- During charge, the White LED will continuously blink. Once charging is complete the LED will remain a solid White. It’s now OK to remove the cable.
So it will take around 75 minutes to recharge the battery. During this period it is possible to vape on the device. Because it has to be charged in a horizontal position I suggest removing the pod.
Stand it in an upright position. This will ensure the cotton doesn’t dry on one side – a common cause of nasty, dry hits.
How Does the ZIGGIYS Apollo Pod Kit Perform?
Blueberry Burst
There’s more of a floral, almost scented flavour to this E-liquid and it dominates more than the actual taste of Blueberry.
It’s not too sweet so that does help and the Menthol properties are on point. You’ll get a nice soothing, ice cold inhale with every vape.
But it’s not quite the Blueberry I was expecting and I think that’s because it seems to be lacking earthy, woody qualities to round out the flavour.
It’s not over concentrated either so that clearly differentiates it from the experience of a disposable vape, for example.
I just think it’s lacking that certain ‘oomph’ to keep me interested enough.
Vapour Production
Absolutely no issues whatsoever. It’s thin and wispy, perfectly emulating the draw from a cigarette. New vapers will feel very much at home with the production.
Airflow restriction
Again, bang on! In fact I’d go as far as to suggest a nigh on perfect MTL vaping experience. It’s not so tight as to pull on the neck muscles or too loose which often prevents drawing vapour back into the mouth.
Impressive airflow restriction.
Battery Performance and Number of Puffs
The battery held out for a staggering ten and a half hours. The way I vape (quite regularly) this equates to around 750 puffs. A lot more than suggested. So I can’t knock that.
On top of that there was still E-liquid remaining in the 2ml pod.
It’s time to discuss the 15 puff alert feature. It works a dream. After every fifteenth puff the battery vibrates twice accompanied by a flashing white LED.
And the great thing is it never becomes an annoyance – you get used to it. It’s a great way of encouraging new vapers on their journey with ditching the cigs.
In my case a single charge cycle is the equivalent of 50 cigs!
.. I’m so glad I switched to vaping.
Pros
- Lightweight and pocket friendly
- Incredibly easy to use
- No messing around with replaceable coils or refilling
- Ability to gauge the equivalent number of cigs
- Excellent MTL vape
Cons
- Average flavour properties (Blueberry Blast)
- Pod feels loose inside the battery section. Subjective
- Not the most comfortable mouthpiece
- Tiny USB cable (did I mention that?). Subjective
- Only one flavour pod in the kit. Subjective
- Slow charging rate – only 0.5A – a lot of pod kits have 1A or even 2A faster charging.
Final Review Verdict
I have to be honest.
I feel somewhat underwhelmed by the overall performance of the ZIGGIYS Apollo pod kit. Not so much in terms of functionality, because there’s really nothing to find fault with – no, it’s more about flavour replication and the power the device outputs.
Everything is pretty groovy for the first few hours running under a steady 10W but as the battery depletes, so does flavour performance. It’s inevitable that this should be the case but I was left with the feeling I wasn’t getting the best out of the provided 2ml of E-liquid.
In fact flavour degraded to the point that I was reaching for my nearest disposable to revitalise the ‘ole taste buds. Never a great sign.
So in terms of longevity and despite the battery putting a really decent shift in, power constraints take effect far too soon – stifling flavour quality.
And that ultimately ruins what is otherwise a perfectly good little starter kit.
.. Still. At least I know how many cigs I haven’t smoked during my time with the ZIGGIYS Apollo pod kit.
