The Mythical Cigstar Greek Temple Mod Preview

A full six days after first receiving my Cigstar Greek Temple 230W Box Mod, I’m still not 100% sure why they gave it this name. Because, without using a ton of imagination, I can’t make out one Greek-influenced design choice on this thing!

But we’re not here for a culture lesson, we’re here to take a first look at an exciting (and somewhat pricey) new vape mod. And on that level, we’re liking what we see so far! So, history education be damned – let’s take a closer look at the Cigstar Greek Temple to see if it’s worth your time or destined to become ancient ruins.

Despite the oddball name, my gunmetal gray Greek Temple test model was wrapped in a leather-like snake skin, which feels surprisingly authentic, and comfortably grippy, to boot. Maybe this Greek Temple was based in Athens, Georgia, and not the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Jokes aside, the dual-18650 Greek Temple makes a strong first impression – not just from the snake skin wrapper, but also for its decidedly retro design. Now, 2015 wasn’t that long ago, but in the vaping industry, it’s a veritable lifetime ago. So, when the Greek Temple Mod arrived on my desk looking like an updated Sigelei Fuchai 213, I was a little underwhelmed.

Then I powered it up and saw one of the better full-color TFT displays I’ve seen in a while. It might not be as glossy or pristine as some of SMOK’s recent offerings, but the bright, legible display made things easy to operate.

The default screen is a little cluttered, but I was able to read and operate the Greek Temple without much concern. I DO wish there were more theme and wallpaper options, as the stock display is a little gaudy. It’s hardly a deal-breaker, but my fingers are crossed that firmware updating will also allow for new wallpaper options, font choices, and – dare I dream – custom photo uploading.

(Again, this is a $100+ Mod– make this happen, Cigstar.)

Another retro feature is the two-button control scheme, which is still common, to be sure. But on a Vape Mod retailing for around $100+, this is one area I didn’t want to be reminded of the old days. We haven’t spent a ton of time fiddling with the menus so far, but my fingers are crossed that the buttons are the only “ancient” element on the device.

The rest of the Greek Temple’s look is fairly standard, including a press-fit, offset 510-connection, zinc alloy frame, and a alarmingly loose bottom-hinged battery door. I won’t pass judgment yet, but I’ll definitely be testing these parts to see if they work better than their first impressions would imply.

Finally, add the Cigstar Greek Temple to the growing list of mods with LED light displays. Apparently, this one was inspired by Greek architectural columns …  in that they’re long and narrow. Again, I’m simply not seeing the connection to the old country.

Despite some weird aesthetics, the Greek Temple is sporting some Trojan horsepower, with 230-watt capability, full temperature control suite, TCR adjustments, custom curve settings, and more, all powered by a proprietary V80 chipset. In our short time testing the mod, we found the operations to be snappy and responsive, with quick firing and ramp-up time. It’s early, but we’re enthused about this end of things.

There’s also 2-amp onboard charging, which isn’t newsworthy in itself. But the Greek Temple Mod charges quickly with no noticeable heat coming from the frame. It seems the industry has finally nailed down this feature, and we’re happy for that.

I won’t lie, the Cigstar Greek Temple isn’t “wowing” me right out of the gate. Maybe I’m jaded because of the price and would look at the Mod more favorably if it wasn’t so cost-prohibitive. But on the other hand, maybe I’m right, and the Greek Temple is simply an overpriced update of a dated, old design.

Another concern I have is with Cigstar itself. While many vaping manufacturers have questionable websites, Cigstar hasn’t updated its site in years, with eGo Clearomizers dominating the front page, and the Greek Temple nowhere to be found. If this is a flagship device advertising firmware upgrades, where am I supposed to find them?

It’s rare that a Vape Mod arrives with more questions than answers, but this strange device is going to get a rigorous look over the next few weeks, to see if there’s a reason for all the weirdness… and a justification for the price.

Check back soon!