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The touchscreen resurgence continues! In a month that has already seen the SMOK G-Priv 2 and Hcigar Towis touchscreen mods fight for your vaping dollars, the ever-reliable Smoant is entering the fold with the large, but user-friendly Smoant Charon TS 218 watt box mod.
First off, for those of you expecting this to be a modified version of Smoant’s original Charon, put those thoughts to rest. The Charon TS is an entirely new entity, with a stocky, ample frame size, and considerable heft.
At a commanding 85mm tall and 29mm of width, the Charon isn’t the biggest touchscreen we’ve seen, but it’s far from the most svelte. With batteries installed, this is a substantial device. Of course, it might have to be, considering this box mod is capable of 218 watts of power and up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit in temp control mode.
I haven’t yet put the mod through a legitimate test, but my initial impressions tell me that this isn’t quite as pocket-friendly as the company seems to attest.
But don’t let this impression dissuade you from checking out this mod. What the Charon TS lacks in portability, it more than makes up for with features. Most notably, the absolutely gorgeous touchscreen interface. Whereas SMOK went for a classic Android/iOS feel with the G-Priv 2, the Charon TS is much more unique, yet no less intuitive.
Everything, from wattage and temperature, to wattage and TCR curves, is handled right on the ample 2.4-inch screen. And all functions worked well with the on-screen interface. We’re not sure if there is a software suite or app included in the box, but we’re not sure it needs one, either. We haven’t spent much time with the interface, but when testing is done we’ll break down the ups and downs (and swipes and presses).
One concern we have from our initial time with the Charon TS is the battery door, which features a nice magnetized hold, but still seems to jar loose when used in a pocket or purse. The cells themselves are nice and snug inside the chamber, but the battery door is definitely something we’ll put through some heavy use scenarios.
The remainder of the device looks extremely well-made, with a durable zinc alloy frame, and a solid, tempered glass screen. I don’t know if it’s quite Gorilla Glass-quality, but it certainly looks as if it’s ready for heavy use and the occasional drop. (Glass is still glass, though, so we likely won’t be pulling any heavy duty stunts as part of testing.)
The Charon’s offset 510 connection is press-fit, and seems to be slightly raised from the top of the mod. Though our atomizers have sat flush so far, time will tell if repeated swapping negatively affects the connection, or the structure of the frame. In contrast, the textured oval fire button feels phenomenal, with a fantastic feel and throw.
Our only concern with the Charon TS tactile interface is the location of the screen lock button, which sits directly above the fire key, making us cautious of accidentally unlocking the mod, and potentially changing wattage and temperature unintentionally.
Smoant Charon TS 218 TC Box Mod Features:
- Dual 18650 High-Amp Battery – Not Included
- Wattage Output Range: 1-218W
- Minimum Atomizer Resistance: 0.05ohm
- Temperature Range: 200-600F
- Versatile Temperature Control Module
- Supports Ni200 Nickel, Titanium, and Stainless Steel Heating Elements
- Temperature Coefficient of Relativity (TCR) Adjustments
- Three Memory Mode
- Superior Zinc Alloy Construction
- Leather Wrapped Battery Cover
- Large OLED Touch Screen – Ultra-Responsive
- User-Friendly Interface
- Oversized Firing Mechanism
- Low Resistance Protection
- Over-time Protection
- Reverse Polarity Protection
- Overheating Protection
- MicroUSB Port
- 510 Connection
Includes:
- 1 Charon TS 218 Mod
- 1 MicroUSB Cable
- Instructional Manual
Based on a few hours with the Charon TS, we’re excited about another quality touchscreen device making its way to the market, after several years of disappointing attempts. Though it’s not quite as streamlined or palm-friendly as other touchscreen entries, there is plenty to like about what we’ve seen so far.
Expect our full review soon!
