“We finally meet.” It was only a matter of time before the pod mod-style that’s dominating vape shop shelves was matched by the burgeoning all-in-one vape mod contingent. And thanks to the Aspire Spryte AIO pod mod kit, it feels like there’s about to be a shootout in front of a dusty saloon.

Okay, maybe that’s a little much – after all, it’s not like we haven’t seen AIO mods before. But even though the Penguins (REVIEWED HERE) and Laans (REVIEWED HERE)of the world hit the streets first, the Aspire Spryte might be the best mashup of the two formats yet. From size and discretion, to flat out performance, I was really surprised by how well this little pod/AIO/thing satisfies.

When you remove the Spryte from the packaging, be careful – the extra coils WILL come flying out of the package. They’re loose, they’re tiny and they’re not even secured by a snug piece of the plastic tray. So don’t lose one – you only get two in the box!

Sadly, it wasn’t a great first impression after that, because the protective cap that goes over the integrated mouthpiece ALSO flew out of the box. And putting it back on was a temporary solution, since it doesn’t have a satisfying “snap” when you put it in place. I don’t think many users will care THAT much, but if it’s going to be included, Aspire, make sure it’s up to the quality standards we expect from your brand.

Thankfully, that’s where the physical complaints end. After dealing with loose components, I got a kick out of the Spryte’s oddball design, which allows it to sit flat while appearing to lean sideways. This probably makes it a major risk on anything but the steadiest surfaces, but I appreciate seeing something  new every now and then.

The squared off exterior of the Spryte is covered with a smooth, polished exterior, broken up only by some welcome venting slots, and a few layered design elements near the bottom of the device. In short, it’s really comfortable in the hand, and stays cool even after chain vaping.

The Spryte’s removable top piece is also nicely integrated (and thankfully much more secure than the protective cap). Though it takes a little wiggling to free it from the mod, once out, it’s easy to swap coils and fill the tank reservoir. I would have preferred a top-fill method, more akin to a traditional vape tank, but considering the 3mL capacity and the pod mod alternatives out there, I’ll deal with the minor inconvenience here.

As a tank, the Spryte’s top section is admirable – clean, efficient and leak-free. As a mouthpiece, it’s not AS impressive. While the (surprisingly adjustable) airflow falls right in line with the Spryte’s mouth-to-lung target user base, it’s still a little too restrictive for most. This is a shame, because on lower-wattage draws (when the higher resistance, 1.8-ohm coil is installed) the mod’s flavor is strong, nuanced and bright.

However, using the lower-resistance (1.2-ohm) coil, designed for nic salts, the Spryte pumps out warmer vapor, and the tight draw becomes more uncomfortable than I liked. The flavor was still there, and the vapor production was more than adequate for a device of this type, but a HAIR more airflow control would have made a world of difference.

Interestingly, even with the simplistic, direct wattage format, the Spryte’s fire button is impressive. For starters, it’s phenomenally clicky and responsive, unlike so many mushy pod mods and AIOs with shoddy construction. It might be all in my head, but I found the button to be a reason for much of my enjoyment of the Spryte – and I’m not sure you’ll disagree.

More importantly, the Spryte’s fire button has a nice LARGE LED indicator. In other words, the days of struggling to see (and decipher) a tiny, faint LED light are over. Now, the flashes are clear and easy to read, so you know when battery is low, and when problems occur, ending tons of guesswork on the part of many beginner vapers.

We’ve touched on it already, but the Aspire Spryte is a solid performer, and light years ahead of most AIOs and pods in this category. It’s got just enough versatility to keep advanced vapers content, and enough simplicity to be accessible to newcomers. And oh yeah, it’s got flavor for days.

The Aspire BVC coils are the same ones we used in those awesome clearomizers we used all those years ago. Maybe the internals have changed, but these are nearly identical to the ones in my growing vape museum – so if you have some relics lying around, you might be able to put them to good use with the Spryte.

You know what else? They still kick as much ass as they did back then. While no one will confuse your Spryte for a cloud-chucker, as a portable, satisfying, discreet vape mod, you’re likely to get much more enjoyment from the Spryte’s long-lasting BVC coils than from a “two-fills-and-done” pod mod.

Another major improvement over most pod mods and AIOs is the flavor – especially when using a quality nic salt juice. These time-honored coils still know how to bring the rich, bright notes out of virtually any flavor profile, and I found myself noticing things with the Spryte that I missed in much higher-end vape technology.

Finally, I have to say, the 650mAh battery outperformed its specs, with nearly three hours of steady test vaping before having to plug in with the included micro-USB cable. It charges quickly and is ready to go again before long.

I’m floored by how much I enjoyed the Aspire Spryte AIO kit, and think it’s right for anyone looking for something better than a throwaway pod mod or cheap low-wattage kit. Does it have some flaws? Of course. But when compared to its peers, the Spryte performs well above its paygrade, without taking a chunk out of yours. Highly recommended.

Score: A