Check out the following blog post after the video for additional thoughts not included in the video review.
Why I Bought the iStick 50w
Right now I only own the 20w iStick and the Aspire CF VV. I wanted another box mod that was more powerful and something that could fire sub-ohm atomizers.
I looked at a few other popular devices, such as the Seigeli 100w and 150w, the 70w iPV mini II, the 150w ipv3, and the ipv4 (which wasn’t out yet when I recorded my video review).
I went with the iStick 50w mostly because it’s so consumer-friendly. It has a built-in battery, has all of the safety protections I might need, and 50 watts is plenty for me right now. I’ll probably upgrade to something a little more advanced a few months down the road.
I’ve also been so happy with my 20w iStick that I figured I’d be just as happy with the 50w version.
What’s In the Box?
- Nice clamshell box
- The device itself
- 510 to ego thread adapter
- User manual
- USB charging cable and wall adaptor
Product Specs and Features
The 50w iStick is the latest version in the iStick series from eLeaf and as of right now, the most powerful, but a 40 watt Temperature Control version has just been released.
Available Colors: Black, Blue, Stainless, Red
The output voltage range is 2v to 10v and 5w to 50w
It has a 4400 mAh battery (both the 20w and 30w models have a 2,200 mAh battery. My 20w iStick lasts me few days without charging, so this new 4400 mAh battery will probably go a week or two between charges)
The 50w iStick can fire atomizers from 0.2 ohms to 5 ohms. (the 20w can fire no less than 1 ohm and the 30w can fire no less than 0.4 ohms)
The OLED screen is the same as previous models. It has a crisp clear screen and displays voltage, wattage, atomizer resistance, and it has a puff timer.
It has a 510 spring connector where the atomizer connects to the devices and has wear-resistant stainless steel threading.
Batteries
The batteries inside the iStick 50w are lithium and cannot be removed. The device charges with a mini USB cable using the charging port on the side of the iStick. It takes about 5 hours to fully charge a dead battery.
The 50w iStick also has passthrough functionality, which means if your battery dies, you can plug it in and keep on vaping. Some mods can’t be used while charging, so this is a handy feature.
Safety Features
Temperature alarm – If the device is over 158 degrees fahrenheit (or 70 celsius) it will stop working and the screen will say “Temp Protection” for 5 seconds. Then you can vape again.
Over 10s protection – You can’t vape for longer than 10s. This is a nice feature to protect your batteries from overheating. It won’t protect your cotton from drying up and burning though, so if accidentally set it off in your pocket or purse, watch out!
Atomizer short circuit protection – If your atomizer is out of range for the resistance limits of the device, it will not fire.
Low voltage protection – If the voltage of the battery is below 3.3 volts, the screen will display the word “Lock”. A fully charged battery is about 4.2 volts which drops as you use the device. Lithium batteries are destroyed when they are over-drained, so this protection prevents you from depleting the battery too much. For the iStick 50w to work again, you need to charge it until it gets to 3.65 volts.
Low power alert – If the battery power is less than 10%, the power symbol on the screen will flash
Using in extreme temperatures – The iStick 50w manual mentions some climate precautions in regards to charging and using the device. It should not be used in climates of less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 celsius) while charging or less than 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 celsius) while using. It should also not be used in temperatures above 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 celsius) while charging or 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 celsius) while using.
Operating The iStick 50W
- Press the fire button five times to turn on and off the device
- Press the square button to fire
- Press the triangle buttons to increase or decrease the voltage or wattage. Hold the buttons down to go faster. Starts slow then goes fast
- Press the fire button three times to switch between voltage and wattage modes
- Hold both of the triangle buttons at the same time for three seconds to lock or unlock the settings (prevents accidental changes or firing)
- Turn off the battery and hold triangle buttons for 2 seconds to rotate the screen
Final Thoughts
The 50w iStick feels really good in my hand. It has nice round edges and it’s not too big and not too small. I thought the 20w was perfect, but the 50w feels a lot more comfortable now that I’m familiar with it. The fire button feels ergonomic and in a good place. The screen is a bit hard to see while taking a hit, but that’s not really that important anyway. The screen location is just fine when you’re not taking a hit.
For about a month, I was afraid to take the 50w iStick with me when I would go out because I didn’t want to break it or risk it being stolen. I would only use it at home. But eventually the 20w version just couldn’t cut it anymore. I wanted all of the power that the 50w version offered, I love the way it looks, and I like being able to use a sub-tank. I love this device and highly recommend it.
If you’re looking for one, here are a couple of good vendors selling it.
- 50w iStick from MyFreedomSmokes.com ($44.95)
- 50w iStick from VaporDNA.com ($49.99)
- 50w iStick from eCig.com ($52.72)