For this review, I’ll break convention again and lead with a conclusion: There’s nothing about the Council of Vapor XION 240W touchscreen mod I really don’t like. But there’s also nothing about it I love. In terms of sheer performance, the CoV XION hits all the marks. It’s also subtle, compact and attractive, with a beautiful screen. But after a week of steady use, I still walked away from this testing wanting more. Let me explain.

Visually, the CoV XION hits all the right notes. Its compact, slender form factor makes it extremely pocket-friendly, while the zinc alloy and carbon frame composition indicate the XION is both durable and “high-end.” Finally, the 1.45-inch touch-capable display is sharp, clear and easy to read.

But, on the flip side, the design is decidedly pedestrian, with nothing standing out from the legions of other compact, dual-18650 Mods flooding the market. The carbon is extremely nice, the metal is well-machined, and the construction is top-notch. But when put next to a SMOK ProColor or Wismec Sinuous, there’s too many similar elements to make the CoV XION a “must-have” device.

Now, I can already hear you – “But the Council of Vapor XION is a Touchscreen Mod!” Except that it really isn’t. And this is where my frustration with the XION’s marketing hits a peak. While the Mod was positioned as a Touchscreen Mod, in reality, the CoV XION only has two touch interfaces – the up and down control buttons. Everything else requires a convoluted collection of button presses.

Speaking of which, the XION includes both a large and small fire key, located adjacent to one another. On paper, this seemed like an interesting way to accommodate vapers of any preference. But once I learned the control scheme, I quickly realized it was just window dressing, with some minor functionality added along the way.

The TFT screen itself is a thing of beauty – sharp, bright and easily legible. And the screen layout certainly looks touch-ready. The vital information is framed by a geometric pattern that comes across like a set of arrows. Yet, when you touch them, nothing happens. The only interaction comes from the designated up/down buttons beneath the screen.

I should end this section on a positive, so I’ll say this – the CoV XION may be derivative in its design, but what’s here is presented very well, and vapers looking for their first advanced Mod will appreciate its sharp visuals and clean lines.

This is where I’m faced with a dilemma. In my reviews, I regularly call out manufacturers for not bringing “something new” to the table. But I also call them out for making things overly complicated and cumbersome. The latter is what troubles me with the CoV XION.

First off, the lack of extensive Touchscreen ability is an immediate red flag, because the screen format seems to have had loftier goals. I repeatedly found myself pressing the screen, before remembering I only had taptic touch buttons to play with. Whereas this system was well-implemented on devices like the Vaporesso Revenger X, that Mod wasn’t marketed as a “Touchscreen” device.

On the XION, users will have to memorize an entirely new set of button presses and controls – not just to accommodate this limited touch interface, but also to account for two different fire buttons. Five clicks on and off is expected, as is three clicks for menu activation. But on the CoV XION, different menus and functions are accessed by the two different fire keys. More often than not, I had to refer to the manual, since this interface was unlike anything I’ve done short of an ancient DNA Mod.

I’ve practically begged vape companies to start using “action/enter” buttons on new devices, but never has there been an interface that needed one more. Especially since the CoV XION isn’t actually a Touchscreen Mod.

Once everything is learned and calibrated, the XION works well. It ramps quickly, and offers accurate control over all functionalities. And once users find their way into the menus, all options are clearly laid out and adjustable. The trick is getting there (and fighting the instinct to touch the screen repeatedly).

The XION’s board is a strong one, with advanced protection including Reverse Battery Protection, Short Circuit Protection, Low Resistance Protection, Output Over Current Protection, Over Charging Protection, Over Time Protection. The XION is clearly aimed at experienced vapers, but with caveats in place for newcomers, as well.

The XION chipset also has support for full temperature control capabilities, including nickel (Ni200), titanium and stainless steel (SS316) coils, alongside the usual TCR adjustment options. The XION Touchscreen Mod will also feature a special “BOOST” Mode that is a nicely implemented preheat adjustment that works to create power bumps depending on how long you hold the fire key.

Our Council of Vapor XION test kit included the companion XILO sub-ohm tank, along with a pair of proprietary 0.4-ohm coils, rated for 20-80 watts. At first glance, the 23.5mm XILO is a perfect complement to the XION Mod – subtle and compact, with just enough capacity (3.1mL) to keep vapers content without needing to refill constantly.

Refilling isn’t a problem, though. The hinged top-cap opens easily with one hand, and has a wide fill port that accepts most bottles and droppers without spilling or overflow.

The bottom AFC ring is where I ran into some problems. For some reason, even half-full, the tank hemorrhaged e-liquid at a ridiculous rate. We checked the coils, the o-rings and the threading, and all checked out fine. Yet the XILO leaked constantly, even with our thickest, most-viscous juices in the tank.

This is a shame, because when the XILO wasn’t leaking, the vape quality was quite good. The included coils proved to be durable, flavorful and strong performers, even above the stated 80 watts.

As I questioned in the preview, the 20-80 watt gap made us wonder if the coils could be put to use as restricted lung or even MTL heads, but this wasn’t the case. Despite the rating, the XILO coils were only effective above 50 watts, and really hit their stride around 75. There, I enjoyed thick, flavor-heavy vapor that was long-lasting. And despite all the leaking, the coils didn’t gurgle or spit back, even at max wattage.

I’m hoping my XILO leak problems were a fluke, because the tank itself is more than capable, and a nice throw-in with the CoV XION kit. I only wish I got to enjoy it more.

Because so much of the CoV XION experience is locked up in the interface, this section won’t be too long. First things first, the 240-watt projection in accurate, even on just two 18650s. While battery life suffers at these levels, the XION proved to be a smooth, stutter-free Mod, which never gets hot to the touch, or throws random warnings.

In temperature control Modes, the XION was wonderful. With capability for nickel, titanium and stainless steel coils, along with TCR settings, preheat adjustments and power boosts, the entire experience can be customized to your liking. Of the available coil types, nickel proved to be the most reliable, as the XION ramped quickly to get to temperature. But all settings were spot on, free of random ohm-jumping.

In wattage Mode, the custom curve control allowed power to function similar to temp control. Though I was more than satisfied with the default settings, I can see TC vapers enjoying the level of control the XION gives them over Kanthal coils.

Finally, battery life proved to be a winner, even with the bright TFT screen active during most of my testing. I enjoyed 5-6 hours of continuous vaping at 70-90 watts before receiving a low-battery warning. I imagine I’d receive even more with less menu navigation and tinkering.

Like I said at the top of this review, there’s nothing about the Council of Vapor XION 240W Touchscreen Mod I don’t like. (Well, the leaky tank bothered me … a lot). But I can’t help but wonder if it could have been so much more.

For starters, the XION ISN’T a Touchscreen Mod, but rather a “touch-enhanced” Mod that frankly, isn’t better for having these controls. The beautiful screen is a highlight, but the lack of interaction with this large display left me wanting more.

Likewise, the over-complicated button presses and menu engagement could have been dramatically streamlined with the addition of an “action/enter” button. Instead, we get two fire keys with unclear purposes.

At the end of the day, I like the Council of Vapor XION 240W Touchscreen Mod. And I plan to keep using it to learn more about its quirks. But for once, I think progression may have actually made the CoV XION a more difficult experience for users to embrace.

Council of Vapor XION 240W Touchscreen Mod score: B-

XILO sub-ohm tank score: C

Overall kit score: C+

Council of Vapor XION 240W Touchscreen Mod specs:

• Dimensions: 85mm x 47.5mm x 29mm
• Dual High-Amp 18650 Batteries – Not Included
• Wattage Output Range: 5-240W
• Output Voltage Range: 0.5-9V
• Min Atomizer Resistance: 0.05ohm
• Temperature Range: 200-600F
• Supports Ni200 Nickel, Titanium, and Stainless Steel Heating Elements
• Three Work Mode: Soft, Standard, Powerful
• Customized BOOST Mode
• TCR Adjustments
• High-Quality Zinc Alloy Construction
• Beautiful Carbon Fiber Inlay
• Ergonomic Contour – Futuristic Design Elements
• Full-Colored 1.45″ TFT Touch Screen Display
• User-Friendly Interface – Ultra-Responsive
• Two Firing Mechanism – Small Firing Button & Large Firing Button
• Virtual Adjustment Buttons – Touch-Sensitive
• Bottom-Loaded Hinged Battery Door Cover
• Micro-USB Port
• Gold-Plated 510 Connection

Council of Vapor XILO Sub-Ohm Tank specs:

• 23.5mm Diameter
• 3.1mL Maximum Juice Capacity
• Superior Stainless Steel Construction
• High-Grade Glass Reinforcement
• Convenient Sliding Top-Fill Design
• Dual Adjustable Airflow Control at Base
• XILO Coil System – Large Single Vertical Structure
• 0.4ohm XILO Coil – rated for 20-80W
• 510 Delrin Widebore Drip Tip
• Stainless Steel 510 Connection

Council of Vapor XION 240W Touchscreen Mod kit contents:

• 1x XION 240W Box Mod
• 1x XILO Sub-Ohm Tank (kit only)
• 2x 0.4ohm XILO Coils (kit only)
• 1x Spare Glass Tube & Parts
• 1x Micro-USB Cable
• Instructional Manual