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The Review of the OBS Alter 70W Pod Mod Kit – Over the last few months, we’ve started to put the term “pod mod” in quotation marks. The reason is the latest crop of devices doesn’t really fit the 2018/2019 description. With high wattage limits, full-blown replaceable coil setups, and a ton of other similarities, these all-in-one (AIO) mods are bridging the gap to high-end vape devices. But they’re NOT the old standard pod mods. And that my dear readers, is a very good thing.
The New Pod Mod
The all-new OBS Alter kit is the latest example. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s not good — it is! But if you’re in the market for a low-maintenance smoking experience like a JUUL or other simplified rig, this isn’t the kit
Here’s the specs to get started.
The newly designed OBS ALTER 70W Pod Kit incorporates a large pod capacity and a multitude of coil offerings and choices. It can be refilled from a sliding top fill system that makes refills simple and easy.
Zinc-Alloy Construction
Crafted from durable zinc-alloy and glass chassis, the OBS ALTER 70W Pod Kit is equipped with a proprietary chipset, raising the wattage output with a range of 5-70W. It can use of the various coils that are compatible with its 5mL e-juice pod.
Fast No-Mess Filling
Utilizing a sliding top fill system, the OBS ALTER Pod System can be refilled quickly with little to no mess. Featuring a 5mL refillable pod, the ALTER pod changes capacity depending on the coil option you choose. This makes the OBS ALTER Pod System one of the most versatile vaping pod mods available.
OBS ALTER 70W Pod Kit Features:
- Dimensions – 85mm by 43mm by 24mm
- Integrated 2500mAh Rechargeable Battery
- Wattage Output Range: 5-70W
- Voltage Output Range: 3.3-4.2V
- Resistance Range: 0.1-3.0ohm
- Zinc-Alloy & Glass Chassis Construction
- Intuitive Firing Button
- Two Adjustment Buttons
- LED Display Screen
- Refillable Pod – Replaceable Coil
- 5mL / 3.5mL Pod Capacity – Dependent on Coil
- Sliding Top Fill System – Single Fill Port
- OBS ALTER Coil Series
- 2ohm M1 Coil – rated for 50-70W
- 15ohm M3 Coil – rated for 50-70W
- 4ohm NX Coil – rated for 8-12W
- 15ohm SX Coil – rated for 20-25W
- Plug ‘n’ Play Coil Installation
- Threaded Coil Airflow Base
- 10S Auto Cut-Off Protection
- MicroUSB Type C Port
- Magnetic Snap In Pod Connection
- Available in Black, Original, Yellow, Red, Blue
OBS ALTER Includes:
- An OBS ALTER Reaches 70W
- Large ALTER Pod
- MicroUSB Type-C Cable
- User Manual
- Warranty Card
Aesthetics of the OBS Alter 70W Mod
Other than the pan flute-like Suorin pod mods the Alter is quite simply the biggest, bulkiest “pod mod” we’ve seen to date. Imagine a more traditional, box-style pod device, then add about 10mm to the length and width and you have a pretty good idea of what’s going on here. I have some low-wattage tank rigs that don’t take up as much real estate, so if you’re in the market for something slight and discreet, you might want to measure again.
Traditions
Putting aside traditional “pod mod” comparisons, the OBS Alter is still a compact vape device, and is built extremely well with zinc alloy and glass components. Of course, this also means it’s a HEAVY vape kit (in comparison anyway). It’s definitely not suitable for those looking for low-wattage, 2mL, tiny pod systems.
The OBS Alter has a standard OLED display, which allows for full mod control over this “pod” device, all the way to its 70-watt limit. While this would be an antiquated look and feel for traditional vape mods, it’s about as nice as we’ve seen in this new class of “pod mods.” What’s better is that it works extremely well, with firm buttons and near-instant firing, even at low wattages.
Improved Pods
Even the pod tanks themselves seem a step above the usual plastic-like assortment we’ve seen. Solid construction, smooth machining and top-tier materials result in a package that belies the “pod mod” designation.
Overall, the OBS Alter kit is a well-composed package from a vape company known for some of the best on the market.
Coil Replacements:
Check out the OBS Alter Pods
and the OBS Alter Coils
OBS ALTER Replacement Pods Features:
- Refillable Pod – Replaceable Coil
- 5mL / 3.5mL Pod Capacity – Dependent on Coil
- Sliding Top Fill System – Single Fill Port
- OBS ALTER Coil Series
- 0.2ohm M1 Coil – rated for 50-70W
- 0.15ohm M3 Coil – rated for 50-70W
- 1.4ohm NX Coil – rated for 8-12W
- 0.15ohm SX Coil – rated for 20-25W
- Plug ‘n’ Play Coil Installation
- Threaded Coil Airflow Base
The OBS ALTER Replacement Coils are a set of coils crafted for the OBS ALTER Pod Kit. Some feature nicotine salt and some feature regular e-juice coil options. The Pod/Coil setup allows for adjustable airflow control. The coils are a bottom plug ‘n’ play installation.
OBS ALTER Replacement Coils Features:
- OBS ALTER Coil Series
- 0.2ohm M1 Coil – rated for 50-70W
- 0.15ohm M3 Coil – rated for 50-70W
- 1.4ohm NX Coil – rated for 8-12W
- 0.15ohm SX Coil – rated for 20-25W
- Plug ‘n’ Play Coil Installation
Vaping the OBS Alter Kit
Further blurring the lines between entry-level and advanced vaping, OBS designed the Alter to be a true “all in one” mod for all types of vapers, including an amazing four coils in the box, along with two polycarbonate pod tanks. Three of the coils are low-resistance heads, two of which are rated for sub-ohm, higher-wattage vaping. The other two heads are designed for snugger, MTL-style vaping. (Even though one of those heads reads at 0.15 ohms — mysteries abound!)
Four Coil Heads
Of the four included heads, the two higher-wattage atomizers performed well, but nowhere near as flavorful as the MTL options. Like I’ve always believed, pod systems are best-suited for low-wattage usage, and the OBS Alter continues this pattern, with the long-lasting SX coil proving to be the most-flavorful and durable of the lot. Other users may differ in their opinion.
That said, we can’t deny that the OBS Alter can throw some clouds, too. While the vapor isn’t the most flavorful we’ve experienced, closing down the airflow can improve it. The M1 and M3 heads proved to be reliable, fast-heating and long-lasting atomizers. And even better, none of them swallowed juice like we expected them to. One tank lasted a full evening with an MTL head attached, thanks to the 5mL capacity in that configuration.
(Even in the sub-ohm setup, with a much wider coil attached, the capacity was still 3.5mL, which lasted a good chunk of our night out.)
If there are any complaints to be had with the OBS Alter kit, it’s that the sub-ohm heads simply don’t offer the same rich, nuanced flavor as the lower-wattage options. It’s definitely not the worst I’ve seen. But the muted, almost watered-down flavor definitely lessens the experience. After being so pleased with the MTL heads, I’m not surprised. If OBS intends the Alter to be a long-term platform series, then this is probably something they’ll need to address.
2500mAh isn’t enough
Another mild concern was the 2,500mAh integrated battery. For a traditional pod system, this capacity would be unreal. But since the Alter is basically a standard vape mod, the cell performance was a little lacking, giving me just a few hours of steady use before tapping out. Naturally, this performance dips further at higher wattages, making the Alter a less-than-perfect option for heavy sub-ohm users.
Separate Drip Tips?
But let’s end on a positive note. Perhaps most appreciated was the inclusion of separate drip tips for the Alter’s different types of vaping styles. These tips are nothing fancy, but definitely accentuate the experience.
Pros:
- Four included coils are a great value
- Tremendous construction and build quality
- Strong MTL performance and coil longevity
Cons:
- Sub-ohm coils lack flavor clarity
- Weak integrated battery
- Not a discreet device by any means
The OBS Alter Bottom Line
As a “pod mod” the OBS Alter is without comparison as I write this, giving ex-smokers and entry-level Vapers a tremendous value. This kit allows owners to find their ideal style of vaping. As a mid-wattage advanced vaping device, it’s just as valuable.
While the battery life and sub-ohm performance show that the Alter might be reaching a little too high, no one can deny that OBS has further blurred the lines with this kit. Worth checking out, especially if you’re looking to graduate from cheaper devices. Element Vape sells this Kit for just $49.95.
