In collaboration with Sinuous Designs, WISMEC has released a very nice box mod and sub-ohm tank “kit” officially called the Predator 228 Kit. Both devices are good performers, and the Kit model is affordable for most Vapers looking for a 200+ Watt mod and compatible and equally high performance sub-ohm tank. At $59.95 at Element Vape, there is a lot to like about the new Kit. But after a good 2 weeks of heavy usage, there is not a lot to get super excited about. In the end, the most I could muster about the Kit was, “Been there, done that, nothing special.”

When it comes to buying a new mod and/or sub-ohm tank I want to be excited about it. I want to track the shipping from the moment it leaves the vendor to the moment the USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL is knocking at my door.

I guess the last time I was excited about spending money on new vape gear was when I bought the HCigar VT250 DNA250 box mod, and the latest sub-ohm tank from SMOK, the TFV12 Cloud Beast King in Black. I couldn’t wait to insert 3 freshly charged Nitecore 3000mAh 35a 18650 batteries (new from Nitecore), and filled my new tank with 6mL of Cinnamon Roll from Kilo’s White Series.

Everybody has their own desires, passions, and wants, and for some perhaps buying the new WISMEC Predator 228 and/or the Elabo Sub-Ohm tank will be every bit as exciting as my experience with the HCigar and Cloud Beast King. I can only speak from my point of view, and seeing new vape gear daily, for more than half a decade, the Predator 228 is certainly nice enough, performs well enough, but it’s just…boring. (No offense)

The Predator 228 is available in Black, Silver, White, Red, and Gold. The Elabo Sub-Ohm seems to be available only in silver, or rather stainless steel. As you can see in the photos, the Predator 228 has black side panels, with one of the panels doubling as the firing panel. Side by side, the Predator 228 is roughly the size of the SMOK Alien 220W, just not as stylish.

I don’t mean to say that the Predator 228 is unattractive, it is attractive… in a conservative way, with minimal style. Having said that, the internals, the electronics, is state-of-the-art.

The Internals of the Predator 228

Manufactured by WISMEC, the Predator 228 is powered by dual (and replaceable) 18650 hi-amp batteries, with wattage range of 1W to 228W, and 50A of output.

The Predator 228 Kit comes with the Elabo Sub-Ohm tank. More on the Sub-Ohm Tank below, but for now I’ll stick with the Predator 228 features and specs.

The WISMEC Predator 228 features a dual-use USB port (cable included) that can charge the dual batteries at 2Amp, which can recharge in under an hour. We recently replaced every 18650 battery with Nitecore batteries, using both the 2500mAh 35a and new 3000mAh 35a. Despite the ability of a quick charge in the body of the Predator, we still recommend external charging with a Nitecore charger, like the newest version of the Nitecore i4.

What I’m about to say is not an insult, it’s a compliment. The Predator 228 and Elabo Sub-Ohm are very much WISMEC products. All the standard features of a modern WISMEC box mod is present in the Predator 228.

The standard set of safety features is so standard now I’m beginning to believe it’s not worth repeating in every review. What would be ‘news worthy’ is telling our readers when these safety features are NOT part of a new mod. In addition to the standard safety features however, WISMEC has included all the newest features found in their modern releases.

Reverse Charging – With an adapter (sold separately) the Predator 228 can become a battery pack that the user can adapt to powering up a smartphone or tablet, or any electronic device that uses a micro-USB port for power. With a micro-USB to Lightning adapter the Predator 228 can even recharge an Apple iPhone or iPad.

I see Reverse Charging a worthy feature, but obviously in a dual 18650 setup there isn’t a lot of power to transfer to another device. With the WISMEC RX300 Reuleaux it’s a different story. The RX300 is a Quad 18650 box mod, packing a lot more battery power to transfer.

To test the Reverse Charging feature, I picked up the adapter on eBay (I have no idea where these adapters can be purchased officially) and used it to recharge my iPhone 6 mophie Juice Pack (the mophie uses a micro-USB port, not an Apple Lightning port).

The mophie Juice Pack for the iPhone 6s+ packs 2600mAh of power is a super thin layer surrounded by a tough iPhone case. I allowed my mophie to deplete to the point that my phone had to switch to its own power and at that point I hooked up the Predator 228 to recharge the Juice Pack. I left the Predator 228 attached to the mophie Juice Pack for about an hour, and when I detached it the powers in the Predator were nearly depleted and the mophie Juice Pack was roughly half charged.

I’m no engineer, but I believe the efficiency of the Reverse Charging isn’t what I would have expected. Two 3000mAh 18650’s fully charged should have been able to fully recharge the 2600mAh Juice Pack easily. (I probably have the math all wrong) Will more than a few Vapers take advantage of the Reverse Charging technology? I doubt it.

Performance of the WISMEC Predator 228

Forget the conservative design, the performance of the Predator 228, with the Elabo and several other Sub-Ohm tanks was superb in my testing. There is a nice click-sound when pressing the Firing Panel, moving up and down the wattage scale was fast, changing various modes was a snap, and although the Predator 228 is heavier than most devices of this size, the overall experience of using it was delightful. And the OLED display was crisp and information rich. Separate icons for each battery is a nice touch, but again, nothing that isn’t seen in other WISMEC devices, and SMOK or Joyetech devices.

For most of the review period I kept switching back and forth between the Predator 228 and the SMOK Alien 220. While I might use the HCigar VT250 a lot more than the Alien 220, I love the Alien quite a bit, and felt it was a better match to compare to; size, power, Firing Panel, and feature set.

One of the funnier notes I made was on a particularly cold morning last week the Predator 228 body was ice cold when I picked it up, while the SMOK Alien was room temperature. The Predator has a metal chassis, while the Alien 220 has a heat resistant, smooth, painted metal and carbon fiber finish that kept the Alien from absorbing the cold morning air.

The SMOK Alien 220W Kit includes the SMOK Baby Beast, a great little tank but the juice capacity is just 3mL. The Elabo Sub-Ohm holds a full 4.6mL, about the same as the SMOK Big Baby tank, with its 5mL. Still, you have to consider that the SMOK Alien 220W box mod is $49.95 and the Big Baby from SMOK is $21.95 for a total of $71.90, and the Predator 228 Kit is $59.95, just $12 or so less. Admittedly, in my mind, the Alien 220W mod and SMOK Big Baby Tank is the better setup. Read our Alien Kit Review.

The Elabo Sub-Ohm Tank

The Elabo has a retractable top filling system, which I like very much. There is an extra step involved that I find to be a minor annoyance, and that’s the removal of the short, wide-bore, metal Drip Tip before retracting the top cap to refill the tank. This is not optional; the top cap will not retract without removing the Drip Tip. Other than that, it’s a very decent tank.

As of now, the coils in the Elabo Sub-Ohm are Kanthal. I’m not surprised. I hear the Death Knell of Temperature Control technology in future mods, so it makes sense to go with the best “flavor” heating element for a good variable wattage vape experience.

WISMEC has designed a new “non-threaded” replacement coil that makes replacing coils easier than ever. The WISMEC NS Triple Replacement Coils support high wattage, 120W maximum, and the coil head can be replaced simply by popping the old out and the new one in, without losing eliquid. Recommended Wattage is 40-120W, with a resistance of 0.25Ω Replacement Coil packs include 5x replacement coils and will run about $10 or $11.

The performance of the Elabo Sub-Ohm is excellent. Great taste, tons of clouds, and in all the time I’ve used it the Drip Tip stayed cool to warm. For more specs on the Elabo, see below. My one compliant of the tank is the short metal wide-bore drip tip. It’s just a tad too short for me, but it’s not a deal-breaker.

Conclusion

The job of a reviewer is tough, and getting tougher. Performance of modern box mods and sub-ohm tanks are becoming harder to distinguish. It reminds me of the new Sprint commercials where the old Verizon “Can you hear me now” guy talks about that 1% difference in all the cell carriers. It’s becoming similar with advanced box mods, and the better sub-ohm tanks.

Objectively, the WISMEC Predator 228 Kit deserves a Spinfuel VAPE Grade of “A”. But, honestly, if someone asked me which of the two should he or she buy, the Predator 228 Kit or the SMOK Alien 220W Kit, I would say the Alien Kit every time. That’s not objective, but it would be my choice, and my recommendation. Both, by the way, are available at Element Vape, Vapor Authority, and MyVaporStore.

Final Grade: A

“A perfectly fine box mod and sub-ohm tank. Nicely priced, with solid WISEMC quality. However good the performance is, I find the design lackluster, and a bit boring. There are similar priced and similar performing box mod and sub-ohms tanks on the market, the Predator 228 and Elabo sub-ohm wouldn’t be my first choice.”

Specs and Features of the WISMEC Predator 228 and Elabo Sub-Ohm Kit

Quick Stats

• Compact Dual 18650 Mod with 228W Max Output
• Quick Charge System with 2A Max Charging Current
• Upgradeable Firmware with Identifiable Separate Battery Power
• Retractable Top Filling Solution & Innovative Childproof Lock System.

PREDATOR 228 ELABO KIT IS NOW AVAILABLE AT ELEMENT VAPE FOR $59.95 

Features and Specs for WISMEC Predator 228 Mod:

• Designed by Sinuous Designs
• Dimensions: 86.7mm x 43.6mm x 29mm
• Spring Loaded 510 Contact Pin
• Operating Wattage: 1 – 228 W
• Maximum Output Current: 50A
• Temperature Control: Nickel 200 (Ni200), Titanium (Ti), Stainless Steel 316 (SS316), TCR Modes
• Temperature Control: 100 – 315C / 200 – 600 F
• Resistance: 0.1 – 3.5 ohm in Variable Wattage
• Resistance: 0.05 – 1.5 ohm in Temperature Control mode
• Hidden Side Fire Button
• OLED Display Screen
• Ventilation Holes for Improved Heat Dissipation
• Firmware Upgradeable
• Micro USB Charging Port (QC USB Cable included)
• Plated USB Ports for Increased Charging Speeds
• New Balanced Charge Technology
• Maximum Charging Current: 2A
• Requires (2) High Amp 18650 Batteries (Sold separately)
• *External charger recommended for Optimal Charging*
• Dual Circuit Protection
• Reverse Polarity Protection

Elabo Sub-Ohm Tank Features & Specs:

Length: 52.8mm

Diameter: 25mm

Capacity: 4.9ml (with Triple 0.20ohm Head: 40-80W)

4.6ml (NS Triple 0.25 Head: 40-120W)

Elabo Sub-Ohm Tank Includes:

 1 x Elabo

1 x Triple 0.2ohm Head

1 x NS Triple 0.25ohm Head

1 x User Manual

WISMEC Predator and Elabo Kit Includes

 1*Predator 228 (no cells)

1*Elabo

1*Triple 0.2ohm Head

1*NS Triple 0.25ohm Head

1*QC USB Cable

2*User Manual (Predator 228 & Elabo)

1*Warning Card