Sigelei SnowWolf VFENG-S 230W Durable Mod Preview

Here’s a sentence you’ll rarely hear – “I think that device would be better with more plastic!” But that’s exactly what Sigelei was thinking with the lighter, less-expensive, durable mod they’re calling the SnowWolf VFENG-S. And to the naked eye, you might not even notice the difference.

Indeed, Sigelei didn’t change much of anything from the previous VFENG, other than the chassis materials, and a few new color schemes. Let’s take a peek to see if the VFENG-S is worth your attention.

We were torn on the original Snow Wolf VFENG when we reviewed it last fall. While it received a respectable grade of B-, we found it to be an oddball device. It offered a ton of fast-ramping power, but the uncomfortable ergonomics and quirky temperature control performance made us wonder which market this mod was trying to serve.

Well, let me save some of you some trouble – if you didn’t like the looks of the VFENG, the VFENG-S is a near carbon-copy of that design, right down to the sharp edges, gaudy display and bold, contrasting colors. The only difference is that the VFENG-S incorporates plastic chassis elements, which helps keep both price and weight down to reasonable levels.

But from what we can gather after a few hours with the VFENG-S, durability isn’t going to be compromised by moving to plastic. This mod is still tough – like, “drop it on concrete without much concern tough.” The VFENG-S is also still weighty, and could probably double as a decent weapon if circumstances called for it.

Unfortunately, with this durability comes the same shape and profile. The VFENG-S has the same jutting, industrial-type design, which wasn’t something we loved on the original. If you liked the way its predecessor felt in your hands, then there’s certainly a lot to like here. But if you’re on the fence, know that Sigelei didn’t change anything of note in the comfort department.

The same goes for the display, which is another “love it or hate it” element of the VFENG-S. While the screen is certainly bright and colorful, it’s another gaudy, busy TFT display, and doesn’t necessarily mesh well with the overall design scheme. Sigelei is promising an updated experience with the VFENG-S, and we’ll certainly test to see if there have been some improvements made to the screen and menu systems.

One interesting note is that promo specifications for the VFENG-S are claiming the 1.3-inch display is actually a touchscreen interface. However, nothing in the instruction manual – nor our experience with the mod itself – indicates this is true. There seems to be a little more confusion than usual about this updated VFENG mod.

One item we’ll be testing for sure is the VFENG-S battery life, which was pretty damn good on the original, and an area that might improve, if the updated chipset is up to the task. Even on dual 18650s, the original gave us nearly six hours per charge, which was impressive, considering how fast-ramping and powerful this circuit board proved to be.

Diving deeper, the VFENG-S also promises the same 230 watts of power, a comprehensive temperature control offering, TCR adjustments, and a proprietary resistance adjustment feature. All on just a pair of 18650 cells.

Obviously, we’ll be pushing temp control the hardest, since our experiences were so erratic last year. Our fingers are crossed that Sigelei updated the chipset to make resistance lock and coil recognition a little more consistent, and a little more reliable.

Clearly, we’re going into this review with some skepticism. It’s not that we don’t trust the company, nor the brand. But the truth is, the original VFENG was a flawed device, and we’re hoping the VFENG-S helps rectify these issues right from the outset.

For starters, the jumpy, inconsistent temperature control is a must. Though the VFENG-S is focused on power-hungry users, companies should only include features if they work properly. I’d almost rather see Sigelei remove temp control entirely and beef up the power performance, rather than include another questionable TC suite.

Secondly, will the VFENG-S prove to be more comfortable with the addition of plastic accent pieces, rather than an entirely zinc alloy frame composition? Maybe it’s just preference, but the VFENG-S still seems to dig into my palms unnecessarily… especially when firing the center-mounted button. Maybe some smoothed over plastic is just what the VFENG-S needs to balance looks with ergonomics.

Despite any negativity, we’re going into this Sigelei Snow Wolf VFENG-S review with an open mind. Though we have concerns about this mod being too similar to its predecessor, we’d love to be proven wrong. You’ll know soon enough when our full review arrives in the next few weeks!

SnowWolf VFENG-S 230W Box Mod specs:

• Dual 18650 High-Amp Battery – Not Included
• Wattage Ouput Range: 10-230W
• Voltage Output Range: 1-7.5V
• Minimum Atomizer Resistance: 0.05ohm
• Ni200, Titanium, and Stainless Steel Compatibility
• Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) Adjustments
• High Quality Zinc Alloy and Plastic Construction
• Full-Color 1.3 Inch Touch-Screen OLED Display
• Intuitive User-Friendly Interface
• Colorful LED Logo Cutout – Fully Customizable
• Power Up Functionality
• Hexagon Firing Button
• Two Adjustment Buttons
• Hinged Battery Door Cover
• 510 Connection

SnowWolf VFENG-S 230W Box Mod contents:

• 1 SnowWolf VFENG-S 230W Mod
• 1 MicroUSB Cable
• 1 Set of Colorful O-Rings
• Instructional Manual