Last year, the Wismec Predator (reviewed here) launched to a lot of fanfare. Not only because it launched a ton of “Alien vs. Predator” jokes across vape forums, but also because it was a damn good mod. Fast forward a year, and the prolific company might have just made its best dual-18650 device to date, the Wismec Ravage230 mod.

Though it doesn’t seem all that different than the Predator, or the internal-battery Sinuous mod, the 230-watt Ravage230 is easily the best, most-compact mid-sized device I’ve used in quite some time. Although the pre-release sample boxes that arrived a few weeks ago sported just 200W, WISMEC released a firmware upgrade that pushed the maximum output to 230W.

Let’s dive a little deeper and see what makes the Ravage230 so much better than the Predator.

For the Ravage230, Wismec took the best elements of all its devices, smoothed them over, then added an absolutely stunning 1.4-inch display, just to add icing to the cake. More streamlined than the Predator, more compact than the Sinuous, and featuring more than a few design cues from the Reuleaux Mods (the Gen3 review here), the Ravage230 is a sharp little device.

But make no mistake, the Ravage230 is its own beast, with a nicely anodized aluminum frame, distinctive color contrasts, and a well laid-out control scheme. The side firing bar returns, and has a nice throw to it – not quite as satisfying and clicky as the recent SMOK Majesty Mods (reviewed here), but still highly responsive.

I didn’t love the “rocker-style” single up/down control button, because I always seem to have problems with them. But the Ravage230’s button was solid and responsive, as well.

One fantastic addition to the Ravage230 is the top-positioned “back” button, which not only serves to back users out of a menu tree, but also to quickly turn off the screen and turn off the button inputs. Though we only usually see these types of “lock” controls on touchscreen Mods, I was happy to see how Wismec implemented the same idea on the Ravage230, and hope other companies follow suit.

The center-mounted 510 connection is built into the aluminum top section of the Ravage230 frame, so there’s little worry of loose plates or misfires. In my time with the Ravage230, we experienced no issues with bad connectivity, even with older tanks and RDAs. Speaking of which, the Ravage230 is 30mm wide, which means nearly all your tanks and RDAs will sit flush. I noticed a LITTLE overhang with the Modfather tank, but it was largely negligible.

If there were any concerns with the Wismec Ravage230230 Mod, it came from the bottom battery door, which was a little loose on our test Model. I received two different Ravage230s for review, and the second had a much more secure hinge, so I’m willing to chalk the first up to a production error.

Overall, the Ravage230 operates like a dream, with an intuitive, all-new menu system that allows users to easily navigate between all Modes and settings, with options clearly laid out on the vibrant display. Entering the menus requires a standard “three-click” input, then the onscreen prompts take it from there.

As I mentioned earlier, the inclusion of a back button makes the Ravage230 operate very closely to a touchscreen Mod, without having to get fingerprints all over the display. It is different than most common vape device systems, but it became second nature in no time.

Under the hood, the Ravage230 offers 230 watts of power – apparently those last two watts were just too elusive for the Predator to handle last year. Additionally, users will enjoy a full complement of temperature control options for all types of coils, TCR memory slots, and the odd RTC (real time clock) Mode, which simply puts the time on the main screen, rather than the current wattage/temperature. I don’t QUITE understand why RTC is a “feature,” but it’s there if you want it.

Thanks to the simple menus, making TC adjustments is an absolute pleasure, including the setting of wattage, locking resistances, making quick temperature tweaks, and even adjusting the order in which info is displayed onscreen. Again, highly intuitive and user-friendly all around.

Included with the Wismec Ravage230 Mod kit is the all-new Gnome EVO tank. At first glance, this diminutive 2mL/4mL sub-ohm tank seems identical to its predecessor, but Wismec added one key function – a child lock system that should really be called an “adult-proof system” instead.

You see, the original Gnome was a strong, flavorful performer with two major drawbacks. The first was capacity, which we wish was larger. The second was the top cap, which was a little too easy to open, meaning more than a few milliliters of e-liquid leaked when users weren’t looking.

The Gnome EVO fixes this by requiring users to remove the drip tip in order to slide open the fill cap. It’s a BIT of a nuisance, but once you realize how dry and clean your pockets are, you’ll appreciate it.

Beyond this design alteration, this is the same Gnome we’ve come to love countless times over – the squat, compact design of the tank means rich, deep flavor and massive cloud production. Wismec claims the EVO coils are new and improved, but I’m not seeing any difference in vape quality so far. I still wish there was a taller 5-6mL version of the Gnome, but no one can argue with performance this strong.

Consistency and power is the name of the game with the Ravage230. For a Mod so compact and pocket-friendly, I was shocked at how effortlessly it hit its marks, both in power and TC Modes. First off, the 230-watt proclamation is no lie – not only does the Ravage230 hit this mark with ease, but it does it with noticeably less power consumption than any Mod I’ve seen in this category.

Now, before you start cranking it up to 230 all day, realize I’m speaking in relative terms. Vaping at that level consistently WILL drain your batteries like a sieve. But it should be noted that battery efficiency is fantastic on the Ravage230, from 5 watts to 230, and vapers who stay below 100 watts will enjoy extensive performance throughout a given day.

(I only wonder what the Ravage230 could put out with 21700 cell capability. Oh well, there’s always next year…)

In temperature control, I enjoyed predictable, powerful performance with all my varied test coils. There was a predictable amount of jumpiness before locking my resistance levels, but once dialed in, the temp control performance was flawless.

[Ed note: As it was pointed out to me by a recent reader comment, most Mods have jumpy resistance readings in TC Mode, until it’s locked in. While I actually knew this, I never properly conveyed my point in my reviews. In that instance, I found the ohm readings to be excessively skittish and inconsistent, which made me hesitant to vape in that Mode. All the same, I thank that reader for pointing out my communication error, and assure you I won’t make the same mistakes in future reviews.]

TCR settings came in very handy for my more complicated builds, and setting these parameters was effortless when using the onscreen prompts. However, I should note the built-in protection suite is extremely helpful, if not a little too cautious, since it started to throw low atomizer warnings at 0.1 ohm, when 0.05 was the limit for TC Modes. Since I don’t usually vape this low, I like the protection. But vapers who like to push their coils and Mods a little harder might find these protections annoying.

Bottom line? I am thrilled to own a Wismec Ravage230230 Mod. It’s that simple. Since I first received mine a few weeks back, the Ravage230 has become my go-to device whenever I leave the house, thanks to its compact size and excellent battery life. And I find myself using it a lot at my desk, thanks to its dynamite performance and true power.

On its own, the Wismec Ravage230230 Mod is a fantastic buy. It’s not QUITE perfect, but its performance, especially when paired with the high-performing Gnome EVO tank makes this decision a no-brainer. The Ravage230 comes VERY highly recommended.

Wismec Ravage230 Mod score: A

Gnome EVO tank score: A-

Overall Starter Kit Score: A

Wismec Ravage230 Mod Specs:

• Size: 43.6×30.0x83.4mm
• Thread Type: 510 spring loaded connector
• Output Mode: VW/TC-Ni/TC-Ti/TC-SS/TCR Mode
• Output Wattage: 1-200W
• Resistance Range: 0.05-1.5ohm for TC Modes
• 0.1-3.5ohm for VW Mode
• Temperature Range: 100-315°C/200-600°F (TC Modes)
• Maximum Charging Current: 2A
• Maximum Output Current: 50A
• Output Voltage Range: 0.5-9V

Wismec Ravage230 Mod Kit Contents:

• 1x SINUOUS RAVAGE230230 Mod(NO CELLS)
• 1x GNOME EVO
• 2x WM01 Single 0.4ohm head
• 1x QC usb cable
• 1x User Manual
• 1x Warning card