After contributing a few paragraphs about this device to the all-new “Top 10 Squonk Mods” article elsewhere on this site, I decided it would be a good idea to spend a little more time investigating the “interestingly uninteresting” Aleader Bhive squonk mod. And, guess what – my initial instincts were spot on. 

If you didn’t read that piece (and you really should), I basically explained that the Bhive squonk mod managed to worm its way into my subconscious… even if there was nothing “extraordinary” about its features. It’s just a straightforward, no-nonsense, strong-performing bottom-feed mod, with just enough visual appeal to make it jump when checking it out.

Why isn’t it a “standout?” Maybe it’s the specs, which are perfectly in line with today’s most well-known squonk devices. The Bhive gives you a solid 100-watt output, which isn’t bad for a single 18650 vape mod, to be honest. The side-positioned squonk bottle opening is nothing we haven’t seen. The 0.96-inch OLED screen and menu system is about as exciting as Sunday morning NPR. And the 24mm Beehive RDA isn’t really a world-beater in any capacity, either (but we’ll get to that in a bit).

But like I said in the squonk mod rundown, there’s just an intangible “something” about this mod that keeps me coming back, just a few weeks after getting it. The smooth, glossy and “resin-like” side panels have a subtle but attractive beehive pattern that helps soften the grip a bit, considering the rest of the frame is a standard, sharp-edged alloy.

While I wish it had smoother lines all around, I found that resting the Bhive in your crook of your palm helps keeps these edges at bay, simply by pressing your hand into the side panels instead. (Feel free to hashtag this one #vapehack.)

More important is that the Bhive is extremely well-constructed, with solid machining throughout. The 510 connection is held in place with two solid screws, and the operation buttons are firm and clicky, just how we like it. When the Bhive first arrived, the buttons seemed like they were a little sticky and mushy, but a little hard work and heavy use got them straightened out in no time.

The side-positioned squonk opening is a LITTLE on the small side, relegating most vapers to using their ring fingers when operating with one hand. Others will likely have to use their other hand when it’s time to refill the RDA deck, because it’s not the most ergonomic layout we’ve seen. But, like anything else in this crazy hobby of ours, once you get used to it, you probably won’t give it another thought.

The silicone squonk bottle is typically excellent, with a soft feel, but enough sturdiness to handle a little muscle when trying to remove it from the Bhive. At 7mL, it’s not going to win any awards for capacity, but it must have thinner walls than similarly sized bottles. Maybe it’s me, but it seems like the Bhive bottle holds more than competitor offerings.

Overall, it does its job well, and without any leaking, to boot. That’s something I KNOW squonk mod enthusiasts are going to appreciate.

Another highlight of the Aleader Bhive squonk mod kit is the included Beehive RDA. While I can’t figure out why they used a stylized “Bhive” name for the actual mod and kit, but the RDA gets the full spelling. Of course, if I tried to figure out how most vape companies name their products, I would probably lose my mind. Twice.

That said, the Beehive RDA is a solid, high-performing dripper – even though it probably shouldn’t be.  Let me explain. When I first got my kit, I immediately fired up the Bhive with my trusty TigerTek NADA {Review Here}(a shining point of the “Top 10 BF-RDAs” article we just posted, I might add). That’s because I needed to test it quickly.

Once the dust settled, and I had a chance to sit down with the Bhive kit for a bit, I checked out the RDA more closely. And what I found was alarming – a completely bent dual-terminal post. Mind you, the Beehive never left the box … it was just crooked.

Thankfully, it was an easy fix, and before long I had a pair of fused claptons installed into the dual-post/four-terminal build deck. I shouldn’t have HAD to do this, but it wasn’t that big a deal, and certainly wasn’t the first time something arrived in less-than-stellar condition. It wasn’t an ideal way to start a review, but I’m glad I put in a little elbow grease, because the Beehive is a pretty solid (and attractive) atomizer. Anyway, The Chinese concept of “Quality Control” needs to change.

For starters, the build deck is reminiscent of one of iJOY’s endless array of interchangeable options from a few years back. Each post has two terminals, which hold coils in place with two tremendous screws. It’s fantastically easy to build and experiment with this format, even if creativity isn’t my vaping forte.

It’s also refreshingly no-frills. No ramps. No weird airflow patterns. No unnecessary moving parts. It’s a bare-bones, bottom-feed RDA, and it works really well. In just a few minutes, I had the entire kit ready to go, filling my office with flavorful clouds. The 6mm deep juice well seems bigger than it actually is, but all the same, there was no flooding or overfill worries. Once again, it just worked.

If you’re an RDA aficionado, you’ll probably turn your nose up at the Beehive, because of its sheer simplicity and lack of “features.” But if you buy this kit, don’t feel the need to tack on another BF-RDA – the Beehive does everything you need.

In action, the Bhive shines, with error-free ramp-up and all the way to its 100-watt maximum. Even at higher wattages, I enjoyed a complete lack of pulsing or misfires. And again, there were no leaks to be found, even during more-aggressive squonk action.

Wattage mode is where 99% of vapers will live when using the Bhive, but I have to say, the temperature control modes – hardly a highlight of squonk mods – are surprisingly solid, with little variance in coil resistances, solid coil detection, and a reassuring TCR mode for when more complex builds aren’t reading correctly.

In the squonk mod rundown, I said it might just be the best TC performance we’ve seen on a squonk mod yet. And weeks later, I’m standing behind that statement. I may never go back to TC vaping, but it’s nice to know that Aleader didn’t throw these modes in for the sake of it – everything on the Bhive works as intended, an all too rare occurrence these days.

If there is anything the Bhive DOESN’T do particularly well it’s stay powered. No one expects much battery life from a single-18650 squonk mod – especially one that can be pushed to 100 watts. But the Bhive comes in well below the average. On a fresh, brand-new cell, I managed just 2.5 hours of steady vaping before I noticed some stuttering and lesser performance.

There is a USB charge port beneath the control buttons, and it charges reasonably well. But if you’re planning to spend a few hours away from home, have an extra battery handy before leaving the house. You’ll thank me later.

At the risk of redundancy, the Aleader Bhive kit is a perfect example of why new vape devices don’t necessarily have to introduce new bells, whistles, features and nonsense. They just need to do what they say they will and do it well. The Bhive does just that.

Is it the most powerful? The most capacious? The most feature-filled? No, no and no. Instead, the Bhive kit is refreshing in how familiar it is, and how well it works without any fuss. If you own a bunch of squonkers already, there’s no real reason for you to add the Bhive to your arsenal. But if you’re new to the squonk game, Aleader’s kit has everything you need to make a good first step into bottom-feed vaping.

Score: B+