Voopoo Drag 5 Review

While Voopoo is primarily known for its pod devices, like the Argus range, it was big and bold dual-battery sub-ohm mod kits, like the DRAG line, that initially brought them to public attention. Now, Voopoo is prepped to release the DRAG 5, which appears to be a return to its mod and tank roots. 

I’m going to get a good feel for the kit and see whether Voopoo still has the massive mod magic or should stick to the pod side of the tracks.

Review Disclosure: Voopoo have supplied MIST with the DRAG 5 unit that I’ve used for this review. Despite this, my thoughts and feelings about the vape kit are impartial and informed solely by over ten years both vaping and working within the vape industry.

Video Review

Packaging and Labels 

My DRAG 5 kit arrived in a golden cardboard box with a design that’s slightly fancier than other Voopoo kits I’ve looked at. 

The front of the box shows a diagram of the assembled device next to the company logo and device name, and the branding of the Gene TT chip within. One side of the box showed a colour photo of the device within, and the other side of the box was featureless besides a QR code which leads to information about Voopoo.

The back of the box showed a contents list and contact information for Voopoo and a holographic scratch-off QR code for authenticity checking. I imagine that the TPD version of the kit will feature the usual big white health warnings on the front and back, but this sample unit did not.

The box opens in an interesting hinged way that somewhat resembles the battery bay door design on the mod, which we’ll describe further in the Build Quality segment.

Inside, a delicate frosted paper square with the DRAG 5 logo rests over a plastic interior that holds the DRAG 5 mod and the Uforce-X Tank. 

My sample unit also contains a spare bubble glass, but as tanks with more than a 2ml capacity are forbidden by TPD legislation in the UK, it’s unlikely this will feature in the British version of the kit.

And beneath the plastic holder, you’ll find the spares box which contains a Type-C charging cable, a pack of rubber rings that you can use if your tank’s rubbers perish, a user manual, and two PnP-X coils (0.15ohms and 0.3ohms).

Build Quality

Score: 4.5/5

The DRAG 5 is very much a love letter to an almost bygone era of vape-build designs. The chunky mod is a big zinc-alloy slab with semi-rounded edges to make it comfortable to grip, with the mod weighing in at a hefty 156g.

The ‘front’ of the mod features a full-colour display screen with a vast amount of info carefully placed so as not to overwhelm you. 

Wattage settings, user mode, battery health, puff count, voltage, ohmage, and a timer of your last puff’s duration are all clearly displayed above the lock switch, which you can use to prevent pocket fires from occurring.

Beneath the lock, you have the ‘up’ and ‘down’ buttons you’ll use to adjust wattage and navigate menus, while above the screen, you’ll find the more prominent firing button.

The battery bay door is very interesting, with flexible corners that allow you to ‘unfold’ the leather battery cover rather than grappling with a chunky steel cover like in previous units. The bar cover is attached to the mod with magnets, so it’s pretty easy to remove entirely if you wish to replace it or do some deep cleaning.

Internally, there’s a fabric ribbon that makes it easier to get your 18650 batteries out, rather than having to pull them roughly against the connectors and risk a fault.

The Uforce-X is a tank that I’m already familiar with, and it’s as great to use as I remember it being. The tank is refilled through a sliding top-fill port that has a very satisfying ‘snap’ when opened and closed. I’m pleased that the Uforce-X Tank doesn’t adopt a button-release mechanism because while these are visually impressive, they just add more breakable aspects to the tank.

The dual airflow inlets are placed at the top of the tank, which prevents e-liquid leaks from occurring. They can also be adjusted to be as open as you prefer, allowing you to add a further level of customisation over the volume of vapour you produce. 

Lastly, the PnP-X coils are inserted into the tank the old-fashioned way, by unscrewing the base and placing the coil within.

Overall, the DRAG 5 looks much like the earlier dual-battery DRAG units, but with a touch of streamlining and a much better battery bay door.

Performance

Score: 5/5

Regarding performance, I found the Voopoo DRAG 5 to be a treasure trove of functionality.

Straight out of the box the mod is set in Smart mode by default, which detects your chosen coil’s ohmage and, thanks to the Gene T.T chip, prevents you from exceeding the optimal power output, an act that might put the coil’s wicks at risk of burning and ruination.

• RBA mode allows you to set the wattage anywhere you like, a great choice for both seasoned sub-ohmers who like to take the training wheels off and DIY coil fans who still prefer simple wattage settings to the intricacies of temperature control. With a max output of 177W, you’ll be able to generate some incredibly large clouds.

• Eco mode, a mode which a number of Voopoo devices have started including, lowers the amount of battery drain when using the kit. While it might result in a slightly reduced amount of output, it’s essential when you’re nowhere near a charging station and don’t have any spare pre-charged 18650 batteries on you.

• Finally, TC mode is put in place to satisfy the hardest of the hardcore DIY coil builders, allowing you to gauge the power output in terms of heat and coil steel material rather than wattage.

Pressing both the up and down buttons at the same time presented me with an easily navigated menu displaying options that allowed me to select the mode I wanted to use, switch the kit off, lock it, and change the colour of the UI (I went with purple).

There’s also an option to reset the puff counter, check the ID code of the onboard Gene T.T chip and, interestingly, an option to evaluate the health of your batteries, allowing you to ensure that they’re both still firing at full potential.

Being a mod of this variety, there’s no draw-activation option, so you’ll have to press the firing button to begin vaping, but this isn’t something I’ve ever heard a sub-ohm complain about, so no marks lost for that.

Ease of Use

Score: 3/5

This is the one place where I’ll have to dock a couple of points from the DRAG 5, but to be fair, it should be expected. One look at the DRAG 5, and you can tell this isn’t a starter kit, beginner kit, or any kind of kit that falls into the category of ‘My First Vape.’

While aspects like Smart mode are great for preventing easily overlooked issues like having the wattage set too high, they aren’t exactly a tutorial on how to use the kit adequately.

A beginner vaper may run the risk of accidentally ending up in a mode they don’t understand or know how to get out of; this issue used to occur frequently when I worked in a vape shop, and overconfident first-timers with dual-battery mods would come in to complain.

With that said, the DRAG 5 isn’t an expert-only device, and someone who’s been using a refillable kit for a little while shouldn’t have too much difficulty trying out the different modes. But I would strongly advise a new vaper seeking big clouds to try a more down-to-earth pod kit first.

Battery Life

Score: 5/5

In terms of battery life, the DRAG 5 not only delivers longevity and power but also provides you with a rare way of checking in on the overall health of your batteries.

Two 18650s tend to last a good while, even when you’re using the device at a higher power output than usual. It’s one of the many benefits of having two battery cells in place! One massive advantage of removable battery kits is the option of having spare pre-charged cells in your bag ready to swap out in the event of depleted power.

The Eco mode is always a welcome addition, allowing you to stretch out the power for a little while longer when the cells are getting low, and there aren’t any plug points nearby. I didn’t notice an especially lessened effect from Eco mode when I used it.

The Battery Evaluation feature is excellent. It uses a colour display to let you know whether it may be worth retiring one of your batteries and finding a replacement, something I’ve not encountered in a vape kit before.

Flavour Output

Score: 4/5

I’m familiar with the PnP-X Coils, and their flavour continues to please my palate! They use a vertical honeycomb mesh to provide a wider surface area of even heat distribution across the wicks, which are made from thermo-stable cotton to last as long as possible.

Voopoo goes so far as to claim these coils can handle 100ml of high VG vape juice before needing to be replaced and having used them a fair few times now; I’m inclined to agree with their prediction.

While the coils may not feature any especially flavour-promoting aspects, these longevity-providing elements ensure a pure flavour that lasts for a very long time, ultimately resulting in a vape kit that retains great flavour.

Summary

The Voopoo DRAG 5 isn’t too dissimilar from previous DRAG units, but the advances it features make the maintenance of 18650 batteries easier than ever before.

If you were hoping for a beginner-friendly sub-ohm behemoth, then sadly, you’ll be disappointed, but experienced vapers looking for a powerful cloud engine laden with modes, functions, and tricks will love every minute spent with the DRAG 5!

The MIST Favourite Feature: 

Battery Evaluation: Honestly I think any device built hereon out with replaceable batteries needs to include this excellent feature. Previously you simply had to rely on a gut feeling that your 18650 cells might not be charging and firing the way they used to, which may have resulted in you continuing to use unsafe battery cells. But now, with just a quick glance at the Battery Evaluator, you get a quick readout of whether or not your batteries are fine to keep using or in need of a replacement.