Innokin iTaste MVP20W Review

Innokin iTaste MVP20W Video & Written Review

If you had any doubt left that there is a big shift in the shape of APV’s you just might be convinced when you see the new Innokin iTaste MVP20W. Sleeker, boxier, and more powerful, the MVP20W is Innokin’s answer to the venerable favorite, the eLeaf iStick. With the eLeaf iStick laid next to the new MVP20W, it would be difficult at first glance to know which was which, if you didn’t own either one.

UPDATE* – Video of the Innokin iTaste MVP20W at the bottom of this review

Both the iStick and MVP20W are available now at MyVaporStore, the official supplier of review products for Spinfuel eMagazine, with a price differential of a tad more than $20. The iStick is $38.55 while the MVP20W is $59.99.

The Innokin iTaste MVP20W packs 20Watts of power into its newly compact size. It sports a 510 connection, made of stainless steel threading. The spring-loaded positive pin and ego adaptor make the MVP20W the most compatible MVP yet. The advent of seeing adjustable pins in more APV’s this year is an important point to consider. In the past who among us hasn’t complained of buying an APV and finding out later that our favorite tank or glassomizer doesn’t fire because of a tiny difference in the size of the contact? With adjustable pins that problem is no longer an issue because for the 99.9999% of the tanks and glasso’s the pin will form a solid contact with the APV.

Variable Voltage and Wattage

The Innokin iTaste MVP20W variable voltage range is 3.3 – 7.5 volts, adjustable in .1-volt increments, and variable wattage from 6.0 – 20.0 Watts, adjustable in .5 watts increments. The MVP20W uses RMS-VDC to deliver exacting, accurate, unfailing power and, like previous MVPs it also can be used as a portable charger for a whole slew of other electronic gear.

Ω Reader | Puff Counter

The integrated Ω reader displays the resistance of any attached tank or glassomizer, while the puff counter keeps track of the amount you vape, providing of course that you use the MVP and nothing but the MVP on any given day.

Right now the iTaste MVP20W is available in 4 colors: Black, White, Silver and Lime Green, there is also a large number of personalized “wraps” you can use to make the MVP20W ‘yours’, if you know what I mean.

The MVP20W is a powerful upgrade from the previous model, and its affordable as well.

Competition

There is no getting around the fact that the eLeaf iStick and the MVP20W are direct competitors. That being the case I must consider both in head to head real world usage in order to offer up a valid opinion.

So, let’s look at the MVP20W and iStick features and specs keeping in mind the $20 differential in the cost of the iStick.

Features and Specs:

Dimensions:

MVP20W – 4.21″L x 1.61″W x 0.86″D 

iStick – Dimensions: 3″ x 1-5/16″ x 13/16″

iStick is smaller

Variable Voltage: 

MVP20W – Voltage can be adjusted from 3.3 – 7.5 volts in .1-volt increments.

iStick – Voltage can be adjusted from 3.0v to 5.5v in increments by 0.1 – if you press the button again it will increment by 0.2 and one more time to increment automatically by 0.5.

Winner – MVP20W (voltage spread)

Variable Wattage: 

MVP20W – Wattage can be adjusted from 6.0 – 20.0 Watts in .5 watts increments.

iStick – Wattage can be adjusted from 2w-20w in .5 increments

Winner – iStick (minimum 2W)

Battery capacity:

MVP20W – built-in 2600 mAh polymer Li-Ion rechargeable battery.

iStick – built in – 2200 mAh Li-ion cells

Winner – MVP20W

Ohms meter:
MVP20W – Yes

iStick – Yes

Winner – Tie

Puff Counter:

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – No

Winner – MVP20W

eGo Thread Adapter

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – Yes

 Winner – Tie

SAFETY:

10 second Cutoff:

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – YES

Winner – Tie

Low Voltage Warning:

MVP20W – Yes (lower than 3.3v)

iStick – Yes (lower than 3.3v)

Winner – Tie

Short Circuit/Atomizer Protection:

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – Yes

Winner – Tie

Over-Discharge Protection:

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – Yes

Winner – Tie

Pass-through Technology:

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – Yes

Winner – Tie

Remembers last Voltage or Wattage setting:

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – Yes

Winner – Tie

Built-in 3-digit display:

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – Yes

Winner – Tie

Portable power source for electronic products

MVP20W – Yes

iStick – No

Winner – MVP20W

Other Specs

Clearomizer Resistance:

MVP20W -1.0 Ohm (minimum)

iStick – 1.0 Ohm (minimum)

Winner – Tie

Charging: Micro USB DC5V/1000mA

OUTPUT port ：DC5V /1000mA

MVP20W – Yes (White cable)

iStick – Yes (Black cable)

Winner Overall – Hard To Say

 That’s an honest assessment, hard to say. Are you looking for ‘smaller’, then the iStick is the way to go. What about battery life? Well, the mAh rating is 400mAh higher with the MVP20W. You see, it all depends on what is right for you. Both are good devices.Real World Usage

 

Because I’ve had the iStick a lot longer than I have the MVP20W I definitely have a feel for it, and I like it. However, the battery life is very important to me when it comes to a pocket/box mod. The Innokin iTaste MVP20W is also a bit heavier, which I like. Neither one feels cheap, but I give a slight nod to the MVP20W because the finish is, to me, nicer.

 

The MVP20W is available in four colors, black, silver, white and lime green. The iStick is available is 5 colors, black, silver, pink, red, and blue. Personal preference here is the black, white, and pink. I have a pink(ish) iStick and a blue one, the MVP20W’s I have are a black one and a white one. Keira has a blue and a red iStick… I’m sticking to my preferences for color, although I may pick up a Lime Green one because from the photos it looks really cool.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a pocket mod, or box mod, and price is a big factor then there is no real choice, right now. MyVaporStore’s price of $38.85 for the iStick is substantially less than the $59.99 price of the MVP20W. In a couple of months, who knows? They could be the same price. Or there could always remain a difference of $20.

If that $20 were a small factor for you then I would have to lean toward the Innokin MVP20W. Why? Bigger battery life mostly, and the MVP line is well developed so stability and long life would also have to go to the MVP.

One other thing I need to mention is this; the eGo thread adapter for both devices has the same issue. If you over tighten your clearomizer then more likely than not you’ll attempt to unscrew from the clearomizer from the adapter and you’ll wind up unscrewing the adapter from the 510 connector. The reason I bring it up is that it is a complaint I here from vapers I know about using clearomizers with their iStick. The problem is not unique to the iStick, so don’t choose the MVP over this one issue.

Whichever one you choose I think you’ll be happy with it. In most ways they are very much the same. Still, I find myself drawn to the MVP20W more so than the iStick. Whether that’s because of the newness factor of the device I can’t say, but I am very happy with the performance.

I’ve asked John Manzione to do a short video going over the major points of the MVP20W for his next Cold Open Video. I present that video below.

Julia Hartley-Barnes

John Manzione – Video