GTRS GT150 150W TC Starter Kit Review

I have yet to experience a 100+ watt internal battery device that lives up to expectations. So when the GTRS GT150 Box Mod Kit ($89.95 Element Vape) arrived on my desk, I approached it with a fair amount of skepticism. But the thing was so unique and off-kilter, I put those feelings aside and dove in.

And I was rewarded with one of the most surprising devices I’ve used in some time. The GTRS GT150 is a fantastic high-wattage mod, with only a few nicks in its well-machined armor. Let’s dive in…

I certainly hope GTRS has a good lawyer on retainer. Okay, maybe that’s a BIT of a stretch, but there were some odd, slightly derivative first impressions.

In looking at the long, slender packaging, you’ll notice the GTRS logo font – you’ll notice it, because it’s MORE than reminiscent of a certain vape market leader, SMOK, right down to the extended letter tail. I know this is an industry that shares and borrows at will, so it’s unlikely we’ll see any flak from this oversight.

However, Intel might not be as forgiving. Limou, the GTRS GT150’s proprietary chipset, apes the Intel Pentium logo so precisely, I could practically hear the chime-y music from those ‘90s commercials. The included description card claims “LIMUO [sp] create a miracle.” If by “miracle” they mean “copyright infringement suit” I couldn’t agree more.

The rest of the package is extremely thorough. In addition to the GT150 mod, you’ll also get a matching sub-ohm tank without a name or any branding, two Kanthal coils (0.2 and 0.4 ohm), a user manual, USB cable and a wall charger with 2-amp quick charge ability.

After getting past the packaging, what’s INSIDE the box is impressive. The GT150 device itself is striking – not only for its smooth, polished stainless exterior, but also for its extremely squat, insanely sturdy design.

At just 78mm tall at its tallest point, with a recessed 510 section, the GT150 is unbelievably compact and comfortable in the hand, with a nice, weighty feel throughout. The 4,000mAh internal lithium battery certainly adds to the heft, but overall, it never feels heavy or unbalanced.

The next element that caught my eye was the rock-solid 510 connection, which is held in place by three large hex screws, and has airflow channels throughout. I threw every atomizer I own at it, and there wasn’t one issue to be had. Though there is a raised lip section – similar to those that have caused me some trouble on other mods, there was no reduction in airflow here.

Another noteworthy item is the absolutely massive metal firing button which take up roughly 40% of the tall side of the mod. It is similarly solid, with no rattle, and a very solid click/throw when engaging.

The GT150’s bright OLED screen isn’t particularly large, considering its location next to the large up/down control buttons, but it is clear, easy to decipher, and manages to get a lot of information on the screen without becoming overbearing.

Plus, for the first time since seeing screensavers introduced on vape mods, GTRS finally introduced one that works. It’s the little things that matter, kids.

By now, most vapers are familiar with the “5-click” on and off scheme, alongside the “3-click” menu entry, so I won’t belabor those points. But the Limou chipset does a good job replicating a tried and true menu system that simply works.

I could go on about innovation and the addition of an “entry” button, but manufacturers continue to feel the fire button makes the most sense for engagement, and I’m hardly in a position to argue.

One item worth noting is the relative mushiness of the up/down buttons, especially when compared to the ultra-clicky fire button. It’s not a dealbreaker, but on more than one occasion, I removed the GT150 mod from my pocket and found my wattage levels way off. I could lock the device and solve this problem, but that proved to be a nuisance.

In the past, I’ve criticized companies for creating mods to sell new tanks and coils. After all, this is largely a consumption-based business, and the real money comes from coils. GTRS didn’t get the memo, since the GT150 kit’s included tank not only doesn’t have a branded name, but neither do the included coils.

In fact, the tank is even compatible with SMOK Baby Beast coils – perhaps as a tradeoff for borrowing that company’s logo font?

That said, the GT150 tank was a pleasant surprise. The 25mm sub-ohm tank perfectly matches the zinc alloy look and feel of the mod, and extremely well machined. With a unique top-fill system that requires the user to unscrew the 510 drip tip before lifting the cap, the entire device feels like a higher-end tank than the generic treatment it gets here.

(For the record, you can use any 510 drip tip with this tank, but you will need to use the included tip to properly open and close the top-fill cap.)

Unfortunately, both of the GT150’s included Kanthal coils are disappointing. Though they closely resemble SMOK’s Beast offerings, they perform like clones, since that’s what they probably are. Even with proper priming and soaking, these coils never quite got up to speed, and were only comfortable use WELL below the listed target wattages.

Plus, even with the low wattage use, each of the GT150 coils lasted me no longer than two days. In removing the coils from the tank, each was scorched beyond recognition, with an “off” burnt smell that pervaded the remaining liquid in the tank both times.

However, when using the SMOK Baby Beast coils, the GT150 tank really perked up. The tank itself stayed cool, even at 100+ watts, as did the knurled metal mouthpiece. The 4mL capacity lasted me an entire afternoon before refilling, though I would have appreciated a larger glass and an extender. In fact, I would have appreciated ANY replacement glass, which I have come to expect in these kits. Get those vape bands ready.

Flavor and vapor production were above-average, and the bottom-mounted airflow worked well, with firm but easily adjusted rotation throughout. Though I have an arsenal of OEM SMOK products in my collection, I’ve found myself turning to this tank more often than expected, even on other mods.

After using the included USB cable to top off the GTRS GT150, I attached the included tank and started puffing. My first draw was underwhelming. In fact, so were the next four. On its default power settings, the GT150 simply takes too long to heat the included low-ohm coils.

But, in perusing the manual and the menus, I quickly discovered the GT150 has a number of modes to help offset the weak ramp time. First, there’s the “POWERFUL” mode which gives the mod a 10% boost at the moment of firing, and let me tell you, it’s more than enough for this straight wattage vaper.

The GT150 also offers both Power Curve and TC Curve modes that allow you to further customize the overall heating profile. Though I would have loved an app to make this process easier, the GT150 menus make it as easy as possible to set once and let it be.

Of course, for the more traditional vapers, there is the standard inclusion of wattage and bypass modes, alongside a full TC suite, complete with custom TCR settings. And a full slate of protection warnings are built in, and worked well when I “stress tested” the GT150 with some seriously low builds. Don’t try this at home, kids.

After finally getting my settings right, I’m happy to report the GT150 proved to be a very enjoyable mod to vape. With the POWERFUL setting, all tested tanks and RDAs fired quickly and smoothly, even when pushed to the device’s 150-watt maximum.

Thankfully, I didn’t experience any misfires, even when tweaking the custom curves numerous times, which is a problem I’ve faced on devices priced well-above this retail value.

The GT150’s battery life was impressive, especially considering its compact internal setup. Using the included tank with a SMOK Baby Beast coil, I managed to eke out 7 hours of fairly steady vaping. One thing to note, however – the display’s battery meter is highly inaccurate, dropping nearly 20 percent within minutes of first using it, while remaining between 50-60% for most of the afternoon. It eventually straightens out as the battery depletes, but its best to have a backup device handy in case you’re not near USB power.

I have to say, first impressions don’t have to be lasting impressions. The GTRS GT150 kinda threw me with its internal battery setup, derivative packaging, and overall odd aesthetics. But it really won me over with its array of options and top-tier performance.

The included, anonymous tank was also a nice surprise, and once outfitted with better coils, will be a fixture in my regular rotation. It’s a thorough, well-thought-out package that can appeal to a wide range of vapers.

GTRS GT150 Mod Score: B+

GTRS GT150 Tank Score: B-

Overall Kit Score: B

GTRS GT150 Mod Specs:

• Dimensions: 46mm x 78mm x 32mm
• Minimum resistance: 0.05Ω
• Power output range: 5W to 150W
• Ouput voltage range: 6.6V to 8.4V
• Internal 2 x 3.7V/28A Lithium RC batteries
• Temperature control range: 100°C to 300°C or 200°F to 600°F
• Temperature control compatible with Ni200, Ti1 and SS

GTRS GT150 Kit Contents:

• 1 x GT150 Box Mod
• 1 x Extra Screen, 1 x US Standard Adapter
• 1 x USB Cable
• 1 x English User Manual
• 1 x Screen Clean Cloth
• GTRS GT150 Review