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Calendar year 2020 is going to be one we all want to forget. But we never thought the vaping industry would give up on innovating so quickly into the year. The all-new Vaporesso Degree is a perfect example of this. Despite it being a solid, strong-performing mini-AIO setup, fans of this format are going to wonder if they’ve done this dance before.
But don’t let that stop you from proceeding with this review. Let’s start with the specs and see where it takes us.
Presenting the Vaporesso DEGREE 30W Pod System, encapsulating a 950mAh rechargeable battery, automatic adjusting 5-30W output range, and can utilize two pods of a 0.6ohm Mesh Coil Pod or a 1.3ohm CCELL coil to help extract flavor or create delicious clouds. Constructed from durable zinc-alloy, the chassis of the Vaporesso DEGREE can withstand light to moderate falls and drops that would otherwise incapacitate lesser box mods or starter kits. In addition, the DEGREE Pod System can utilize between a selection of two pods, featuring a 0.6ohm Mesh Coil Pod unit and 1.4ohm CCELL Coil Pod to help uncover hidden flavors or to create large dense clouds of vapor. The included refillable pod contains up to 2mL of eJuice or nicotine salts and can be refilled in a push to fill system.
Vaporesso DEGREE 30W Pod System Features:
- Axon Chipset
- Dimensions – 90.5mm by 41.5mm by 16.5mm
- Integrated 950mAh Rechargeable Battery
- Wattage Output Range: 5-30W
- Automatic Wattage Detection and Adjustment
- Pulse Mode
- Zinc-Alloy Chassis Construction
- Single Firing Button
- Two Adjustment Buttons
- 69″” OLED Display Screen
- Adjustable Airflow Control Ring
- Magnetic Pod Chassis Panel
- 2mL Refillable Pod – Replaceable Cartridge
- Push To Fill System
- Vaporesso DEGREE Pod Series
- 6ohm MESHED Pod
- 3ohm CCELL Pod
- Slide In Pod Connection
- Dry Hit Protection
- 510 Drip Tip
- MicroUSB Cable
- Available in Marble, Lava, Red, Blue, Silver Carbon Fiber, Grey Carbon Fiber
Vaporesso Degree Includes:
- Vaporesso DEGREE Pod System
- 0.6ohm Degree MESHED Pod
- 1.3ohm Degree CCELL Pod
- 10mL Refill Bottle
- USB Cable
- Warranty Card
- User Guide
- Reminder Card
Aesthetics of the Vaporesso Degree
Putting aside the “familiarity” of the proceedings, let’s talk about some highlights. Right from the jump, I was happy with how solid and well-made the Degree is. Just like its spiritual mini-box brothers from SMOK and Lost Vape, the Degree is extremely durable and compact, fitting discreetly in the palm of the hand while still offering notable heft for a device of this size.
The color options are unspectacular, but solid. The DEGREE is aimed at vapers seeking a more mature vape device, it should come as no surprise that the color palettes are fairly limited, with the carbon and resin side panels serving as the primary design focus. I imagine most users will find one they like.
The design is impressive, overall. Though I’ve come to expect loose pod connections and button rattle, my two test models demonstrated none of the usual problems, and performed as advertised. The same goes for the pod build quality, which snaps onto the device with a satisfying click, and is about as easy to fill as any pod on the market thanks to the push-to-fill setup.
The only thing I noticed that might be an annoyance (and one we’ve seen on similar mods) is that the pod’s adjustable airflow is very difficult to move out of the box. Either make it right from the beginning, or don’t have it as a feature. Period.
Vaping the Vaporesso Degree Pod Mod
Because it’s a 30-watt device the Degree benefits from the integrated 950mAh battery. I managed a day of moderate MTL vaping on one charge, and the only depreciation in vape quality came during the last gasps of the battery’s charge, when we were within seconds of the end, anyway.
Charging the Degree was a quick affair, even with the larger cell capacity. I managed to go from near-empty to fully charged in a matter of 90 minutes. A small price to pay for a (mostly) full day’s worth of quality vaping. I don’t know if the Axon chipset made any difference to performance or vape quality, but it’s definitely an efficient board.
The pods are another highlight – once you break them in properly, that is. Users will have to let them soak for a while when first filling. But once they do, they’re bright, flavorful and high-performing. Perhaps more impressive is how durable these pods are. Unlike the lion’s share of the competition, the Degree pods are good for a large number of refills before disposal.
I enjoyed one using nic salt liquids for nearly two straight weeks before the coil gave up the ghost. My second (which was loaded with more traditional 50/50 e-liquids) lasted a touch longer, but the throat hit wasn’t as potent as time wore on. All in all, very impressive, but definitely better suited for nic salt juices.
MTL or Mouth to Lung
Because most of my vaping is done in the “direct lung” style, it was difficult to adjust to a more-restrictive experience like the Degree. But once I locked into a pattern, I was satisfied. Both MTL and restricted lung vapers will find something to like here, depending on the airflow control setting. Personally? I found it worked properly right out of the box, with no adjustments needed to make this an enjoyable vape.
I was also impressed by the Degree’s durability. Mine has survived an alarming number of drops from varying heights throughout testing. (There’s something about these mini-box mods that just makes me clumsy.) And the pods are firmly locked in when attached properly, staying connected during these mishaps, without any cracking or leaking.
In short, the Degree works well. And our only real complaint is one we have WAY too often with pod mod and AIO devices. We’ve seen this all before, in less-expensive offerings from SMOK, or DNA-enabled mini-boxes by Lost Vape. In an industry riddled with copycat devices, this is to be expected. But it’s also an industry that is screaming for innovation, and there’s simply none to be had here.
Pros:
- Very durable and reliable
- Strong mesh coil longevity
- Excellent flavor with a wide range of liquids
Cons:
- A little TOO similar to Lost Vape and SMOK AIOs
- Long coil break-in time
- More of the same, in an industry crying for something new
Bottom Line
If you were intrigued by these types of devices then the Degree is as good as any of them. But is that enough to get you to buy one in 2020? I don’t know. The Degree does plenty of things right, but if you’re already invested in these types of devices, there’s nothing here that warrants a new kit purchase.
