Geek Vape Blade 235W Vape Mod Kit Review

I find it funny that my favorite Vape Mod of 2018 – in terms of appearance, anyway – is the stunning Geek Vape Blade. Why is it funny? Because I typically like my Mods to be more conservative and understated. But the Van Gogh-inspired resin swirl exterior has won me over in a big way.

The dual 21700-capable Blade is pretty attractive in performance terms, too. While it’s not perfect by any means, Geek Vape has done a nice job balancing aesthetics and power to make a pretty solid device that could appeal to a wide range of vapers – art enthusiasts or not.

Let’s take a closer look at the Geek Vape Blade to see if it’s a Vape Mod you’d want to hang on your wall (or at least put on your shelf).

Though we all agree that our “Starry Night” test model is highly reminiscent of the actual artwork, the Van Gogh estate can hold off on their lawsuits. The pattern is actually a nicely speckled, swirly resin design that gives off the classic art vibe without violating any copyrights.

More importantly, it just looks fantastic. In fact, other than the incomparable Asvape Michael, I can’t think of another Vape Mod in my collection that even comes close to matching the Blade’s unique looks.

The Blade also FEELS phenomenal in your hands. The entire frame has a velvety, soft coating that is smooth enough to sit comfortably in your palms, while remaining grippy enough to instill confidence when firing.

Unfortunately, this grip is necessary, since the 93mm tall Blade is shaped hexagonally, and has a front-facing fire button, leading to some awkward grips – especially when trying to use the Mod with one hand. It never becomes unwieldy, but I had to make some awkward reaches on more than one occasion.

Also, it should be noted how lightweight the Geek Vape Blade really is. In the box, it looks like a rock solid brick of a device, but in reality, the frame feels a little hollow – especially if you’re using 18650 cells, with the included tray adapter. As a result, the Blade doesn’t feel quite as sturdy as you’d expect from a device this tall and broad.

The battery options are a highlight of the Blade’s offerings, as the Mod can handle 21700, 20700 and 18650 cells, allowing everyone to enjoy the device. (Sorry 26650 holdouts – it’s time to choose a new format.) Though we didn’t see much difference in performance between the cell types, 21700 cells are the best way to experience the Blade. Not just because of the extra power, but also because the Mod feels the sturdiest with the large batteries in place.

Finally, while I liked the overall construction and build quality, I had a real problem with the 510 connection. It’s a perfectly stable, press-fit piece, but Geek Vape positioned it toward the front of the device, limiting the number of tanks and atomizers that can fit without overhang, and effectively wasting valuable real estate.

On a Mod this tall, I would have loved to use one of my larger diameter Aromamizers, but the positioning made for some awkward fits – a wasted opportunity, in my eyes.

Geek Vape armed the Blade with the proven AS chipset, which has some interesting features to go alongside the standard array of temperature control, TCR, bypass and draw power adjustments. There is also an interesting VPC mode, which allows users to set rudimentary timed power curves, directly on the device.

While accessing most of the standard modes is extremely easy and intuitive, thanks to the fantastic OLED display, I feel like the VPC mode could have been better explored via an app. On the device, I didn’t quite understand what each setting was doing – maybe it’s my own ignorance, but I didn’t find this to be much of an asset.

But the menus are linear and easily navigated, thanks to the beautiful monochrome screen that made the Blade an absolute pleasure to operate, with all pertinent information laid out in a legible, clear manner.

I would have preferred a different location for the fire button, since the more comfortable grip (for me) would have been for a side-fire function. It’s an odd layout, to be sure. But the button itself is fine (as are the control inputs).

The AS chipset offers a smart charging feature, which promises balanced charging for all installed cells. As far as onboard charging goes, it works well, but won’t make me forget about my Nitecore charger anytime soon. (REVIEW HERE)

Flavor is the name of the game with the included Geek Vape Aero Sub-Ohm Tank, which is a pretty damn good throw-in with this kit. While vapor-chasers might not find the Aero to be a go-to atomizer, those who value rich, nuanced flavor will find a lot to like here.

There’s nothing inherently unique or special about the makeup of the 25mm Aero, but all of the features it has work well. The effortless top-fill cap is one highlight, as this cap doesn’t retain moisture and condensation like so many others do. I’m not sure HOW this is possible, but it certainly works, and I appreciated not having to wipe down the cap every time I refilled.

Likewise, the dual-slotted bottom airflow control is hardly newsworthy in 2018 – but having a leak-free, butter-smooth AFC is another notch in the Aero’s belt.

The real selling point of the Aero Tank is the IM series coils, which are among the longest-lasting heads I’ve used in a long while. Both the 0.4-ohm iM1 Single Coil and the 0.15-ohm iM4 Quad Coil have been tremendously durable, and are both still in rotation, weeks after the Blade first arrived on my desk.

Of the two included coil heads, the 0.15-ohm iM4 offered better flavor and vapor production, which seemed odd at first, but I realize now it’s because these coils seem to want to go higher than their stated wattage limits. I can’t recommend doing so, because that would be irresponsible – but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of you enjoy the iM4 more near the upper limits of its capabilities. At 100 watts – a level I rarely hit when not testing – and found that flavors really began to pop with the warmer vape.

That said, no matter what type of vaper you are, these coils can be put to work to match your needs. I sincerely hope Geek Vape builds upon this coil series to create another sub-ohm contender on part with Uwell and SMOK’s leading products.

Though the visual appearance of the Geek Vape Blade is all about showy colors and flashy exteriors, the AS chipset is a solid, predictable performer. And as anyone who has had an erratic chipset can attest, this is not a bad thing.

Like so many recent Geek Vape Mods, the Blade is one of the fastest-ramping mods around, offering powerful, measured draws with no hiccups – even at the 235-watt limit. I should mention how HOT the Blade becomes at this level, but with so much battery power underneath the thin exterior, it’s not surprising, either.

Despite the heat, I was very happy with the results, as the mod produced warm, flavorful clouds throughout, with no warnings or misfires.

The comprehensive, hyper-accurate temperature control suite hit all the right marks, and my various test coils all worked as intended. Other than that, TC modes, TCR adjustments and bypass modes all worked extremely well. Like I mentioned in my first experience with the AS chipset on the GBOX squonker, the VPC mode seems a little awkward without a companion app to help out. It’s not impossible, but I’m not sure it’s an ideal setup, either.

Beyond the included Aero tank, I tested a handful of other tanks and RDAs, and all sat well on the stiff, gold-plated squonk pin, with no connection problems to be had. All were flush and high performing, with the SMOK Prince standing out as a good complement to the Blade’s loud, colorful looks.

Battery life in the Blade was pretty good, though once again, we fail to see much of a difference in 21700 battery life versus other formats. The included 18650 adapter works well and eliminates rattle, so don’t feel a need to purchase larger cells – the Blade works just fine without them.

Overall, I really liked the Geek Vape Blade. Though the 21700 performance doesn’t justify the extra size (and I would have loved to see a more compact 18650 version), it remains a comfortable, beautiful device to use, even with the awkward fire button location.

I also wish the Blade was a little more solid, and that the 510 connection was truly centered. But these are minor complaints in comparison to the number of things the Blade does right. And with the very good Aero tank included with the kit, the package only becomes more impressive.

Geek Vape Blade Mod Score: B

Geek Vape Aero Score: A-

Overall Kit Score: B+

The Geek Vape Blade is Available Now at Element Vape in Starry Night, Crystal Sand, and Matte Black