Sophisticated Eleaf iJust 3 Vape Pen Kit – Full Review

The last few months has seen a huge resurgence in the vape pen market, each one more and more focused on offering a simplified, no-fuss experience – but also on providing a powerful vape. And for the most part, they’ve been good. However, the Eleaf iJust 3 kit might just be the best one yet.

This compact pen/tube mod makes a strong first impression, with a nicely patterned engraving on the tube body that is pretty enough to draw attention, but not to the point where it’s gaudy. The unique “Celtic/steampunk/biomechanical’ hybrid continues throughout the kit, except (strangely enough) on the included Ello sub-ohm tank.

It’s hardly a big deal, but a little extra continuity would have made this striking visual design even more impressive. It’s still attractive, but having the overall mod “theme” suddenly end in favor of bare metal and patterned resin seems a little jarring for these eyes.

The rest of the iJust 3 is extremely smooth and well-machined. Even with a ton of edges and engraving, there are no rough spots or occasional burring. It’s an extremely well-composed little mod, and one that could match any personal style.

Moving beyond the looks, the iJust 3 is also well-built. This diminutive pen-style mod has a nice heft, thanks in part to the integrated 3,000 mAh battery. But it’s stout enough to feel like a compact device – it could even pass as a stealth mod with the right tank attached. (No, the Ello Duro isn’t it.)

As a single-button, direct-wattage mod, the iJust 3 isn’t adorned with many “features” but the hexagonal fire button is a highlight, with a nice clicky throw, and a subtle LED that responds well to appropriate button presses. Likewise, the bomb-proof 510 connection looks like it could survive a small war.

That said, since the kit was designed for use with the Ello Duro tank and HW-series coils, I did not try any other atomizers on the iJust 3 – even those designed for direct-wattage use. Safety first, kids. Safety first…

My only complaint about the exterior of the iJust 3? The button has a little too much rattle and play for my liking. It’s not bad at first, but quickly loosens after some regular use, and now doesn’t feel like it would survive a direct hit if dropped. Something for buyers to consider in an increasingly crowded vape pen marketplace.

As is usually the case with modern pen vapes, the iJust 3 makes simplicity a priority. That means no operation buttons, no dials, no screens and no adjustments to be made. Instead, just attached the tank and fire away. For newcomers, this might feel good, but experienced vapers might be turned off by the lack of control features.

That said, the iJust 3 is stupidly easy to use. The clearly defined button presses and bright LED make it simple for anyone to see what’s going on with warnings and power levels, while the actual firing is smooth and responsive.

But perhaps the best possible feature is the safety protection measures included on this tiny mod’s circuit board. Even though this is about as simple as vaping gets, adding overcharging, overcurrent and over discharge protection is a nice touch by Eleaf. And it’s a perfect addition for newcomers, who might not yet understand safe battery and charging practices.

My only concern? It’s not clear if the iJust 3 offers protections beyond these. I would just hate to see devices shorting and dying because unaware users tried to use inappropriate atomizers on this direct wattage mod. Remember what I said about safety earlier.

Finally, there’s the Ello Duro tank, which is included alongside a pair of HW Kanthal mesh coils. Though I expected this to be another “me too” sub-ohm tank, the Ello Duro surprised me with rich flavor, and thick vapor, despite the iJust 3 only having an 80-watt maximum output.

Even my most complex juices (the ones I usually save for my squonkers) tasted wonderful in this versatile little tank. It  proved to be a thirsty monster, blowing through its 6.5mL capacity in no time, but I enjoyed never having to deal with dry hits or foul flavors while using with the companion mod. Though the Ello is available to use with any mod, these two devices seem “made” for one another.

My only concern about the Ello Duro is that the coil longevity leaves a lot to be desired. Both of the included coils were done in just a few days of moderate use, making me wonder how well-made the mesh coils are. Compared to other coils available for use with the Ello Duro, the HW-series heads just don’t have the durability to compete.

But man was it tasty while it lasted…

Speaking of longevity, the iJust 3’s internal 3,000mAh battery is an outright winner. The mod arrived fully charged at 9am, and I went until 3pm before the LED indicator turned red, asking to be recharged. It wasn’t the only device I was using during that six hour stretch, but it was the one I used the most – a big plus for such a compact device.

(Plus, this thing charges in a flash, so don’t worry about lengthy waits before vaping again.)

Vape mods have improved their ramping considerably these past few months, and the iJust 3 continues this industry-wide trend in style. In fact, this might be the fastest-ramping pen-style mod I’ve used yet. From the moment you press fire, the iJust 3 responds with a near-immediate flood of powerful, potent vapor. It never gets too hot, but the mouthfeel is warmer than most lower-wattage pen/tank combos I’ve tried – sometimes even feeling stronger than its stated 80 watts.

I found that closing off the Ello’s airflow brought out even more flavor from the mesh coils. No one will confuse the Ello Duro for an MTL tank, but there was a decent amount of restrictiveness to appeal to more than just the cloud fiends.

Again, this is a single-button, direct-wattage vape mod, so there isn’t much to report beyond the fact that the iJust 3 does a tremendous job applying the right amount of power to its companion tank, resulting in some surprisingly powerful vaping for such a compact mod.

Perhaps the most-telling statement I can make about the iJust 3? I don’t generally like pen-style tube mods. And I rarely use them outside of testing for this site. Yet, I found myself returning to this potent little pen long after I was done putting it through its paces for this review.

Sure, it’s limited, and the coils need a redesign to last longer. But in terms of pure, simple vape quality, this kit is a big performer, and an even bigger surprise.

Score: A-