iJoy Shogun Jr. 126W TC Vape Mod Kit Review

Oh, it’s good to be back to normal. After a few weeks of “best of” trips down (recent) memory lane, it’s nice to get back to what we do best – reviewing the latest vape gear. And, aside from one (maybe two) notable flaws, the iJoy Shogun Jr. Vape Kit was a great way to dive back into the review waters.

Overall, we liked the Shogun Jr. vape kit – so much so, that I took a big risk making it the only vape gear I brought on an extended weekend road trip. And it delivered for me in all ways but one. Let’s take a deeper look…

The Official Tease…

The iJoy SHOGUN JR Resin 126W Starter Kit delivers a high-quality, mid-wattage vape mod system, inheriting an impressive 4500mAh rechargeable battery, advanced UNIV chipset, sporting interchangeable resin panels with visually striking impression, and is paired with the iJoy Vape SHOGUN Mesh Sub-Ohm Tank.

The SHOGUN JR 126W combines integrated dual battery cells within the sturdy zinc-alloy and resin chassis construction and can change the resin panels with ease. Engineered to be ergonomic, the iJoy SHOGUN JR sits neatly in the palm of the hand, operating the intuitive firing button with ease.

Shogun Jr. Classic, Yet New

iJoy’s full-sized Shoguns were awesome, marrying the classic box mod design with some seriously nice resin accents. The Shogun Jr. continues this trend and might even IMPROVE on the look by making the resin a little thicker and more substantial. That, coupled with an overall more-compact, heftier feel, makes the Shogun Jr. a perfect fit for power vapers and newcomers alike.

What’s More…

The exterior zinc alloy chassis is about as durable as integrated-battery mods get. Though I’m not happy to admit it, I dropped this mod several times – once from a good height – and the Shogun Jr. barely even registered a scuff, much less struggled with performance. I always get nervous with integrated cells, because there’s no way to fix or adjust them without dismantling the device (which we don’t recommend, ever).

With the Shogun Jr. the weight made drops more of a concern. While it proved to be extremely durable, one could just imagine this hefty little mod exploding into 100 pieces when the 4,500mAh battery hits a hard surface. But it never happened, and we couldn’t be happier.

That aside, the resin plates are a definite highlight. No matter which color palette you prefer, you’ll be rewarded with a striking, but still mature contrast between loud swirls and subtle metal framing. If a lime green mod could actually come across as “understated” this is the way to do it – classy and well-designed, through and through.

The only slight disappointment with the appearance is the slightly boring 0.96-inch display, which does its job just fine, but seems a little low-key given the awesome exterior appearance of the mod.

Standout Features of the Shogun Jr.

Whether or not you like the flavor and vapor produced by the included companion Shogun tank, it automatically qualifies as a “standout” feature, because thanks to the ridiculous noise produced by this thing, you’re GOING to stand out.

Think we’re exaggerating? Bring one to a quiet tea party, fire it, and wait to see people duck in fear of a plane landing atop their heads. Though the pair of 0.2-ohm mesh coil heads were solid performers for flavor and vapor, the way the airflow rips through this otherwise attractive sub-ohm tank is unreal. No matter if the airflow control ring was wide open or barely ajar, the Shogun Tank rattled throughout.

That aside, the Shogun Tank is a solid, if unspectacular sub-ohm offering, with decent coil life and better-than-average flavor. Certainly nothing worth complaining about, especially as a nicely matched kit. But with so many strong sub-ohm tanks out there, I likely wouldn’t recommend buying this one separately.

Vaping the iJoy Shogun Jr. Kit

First, the good stuff. For a compact 126-watt mod with an integrated battery, the Shogun Jr. fires UNBELIEVABLY quickly. Like, instant gratification with every press of the clicky round fire key. You see, the Shogun Jr. uses the same UNIV chipset as its bigger brother, which means it’s efficient, responsive and powerful – more than one could ever expect at this price point. But this firing speed is something you’d expect on a MUCH more powerful device, and I loved every minute of it.

Temperature control – no guarantee on a mod like this – was equally responsive and precise, with accurate coil readings and jumpiness-free resistance locking. Not my favorite way to vape, to be sure. But it’s always nicer to vape TC when it’s this reliable.

But then I noticed the Shogun Jr.’s most-pressing problem – battery life. You see, not all batteries, internal or external, are created equal. And even though we were absolutely THRILLED to see a 4,500mAh cell included in the specs, there’s no way this dual-internal battery pack was anywhere near that total.

Vaping moderately at roughly 60-70 watts on average, the Shogun Jr. barely gave us three hours of steady performance before draws began getting weaker. And it’s a precipitous dropoff, with the battery meter jumping from 50% to 20% in record time. This is really disappointing, considering the modest specs and power output this kit provides.

Even when not switching modes and testing features, three hours seemed to be the standard “tapping out” point – well below what a 4,500mAh cell should be kicking forward. And when you factor in a longer-than-usual USB recharging time (~3 hours from empty to full) this isn’t the kind of device you can bring out for a long day out without having a backup ready.

Looking past this serious shortcoming, the Shogun Jr. is an otherwise versatile and high-performing mod, delivering smooth ramping all the way to its 126-watt limit. If only the experience lasted longer.

Pros:

– Compact, well-constructed frame

– Gorgeous resin plates

– UNIV chipset is a winner

Cons:

– Battery life is awful

– Screen is underwhelming

– Tank is loud and mediocre

Spinfuel VAPE Recommendation and Score

There’s two schools of thought about the Shogun Jr. Kit. On one hand, most integrated battery mods are low-power, low-wattage affairs, more apt for MTL vaping than true sub-ohm endeavors. So, having a contained device in this category is a big win for those who don’t want to carry extra cells. Plus, the Shogun Jr. is amazingly solid and well-built, so it passes the durability test, as well.

On the other hand, who needs a high-power mod that doesn’t last beyond a few hours of moderate use? Sure, most people don’t vape as heavily as we do. But what if you’re at an outdoor concert and puff a little more than usual? Well, you’ll be hunting for USB cords often throughout the day, that’s for sure.

We like the Shogun Jr. Kit quite a bit, and the vape quality is top-tier while it lasts. But questionable battery performance and a middling tank leave this one a little shy of a top score.