Geekvape Sonder Q2 Review

Geekvape’s original Sonder Q was an impressive release last year. Its low price combined with its new Q-Cartridges generated rich flavour. It was so popular and user-friendly that Geekvape partnered with Elf Bar to bundle a bottle of ELFLIQ bar salts with the device.

Geekvape has now released the follow-up kit, the Sonder Q2, which has a less ‘budget’ design. This week, I’ve tested the Sonder Q2 to see whether it’s a solid successor to the original Sonder Q.

Review Disclosure: Geekvape sent MIST a sample unit of the Sonder Q2, which I’ve used for this review. Despite this, the opinions below reflect my uninfluenced opinion and are informed only by my experiences as a vaper with over ten years of experience.

The sample unit I’ve been sent is not for sale in the UK and, therefore, is not TPD-compliant. It comes with a 3ml pod, while the TPD edition uses a 2ml pod. This is the only difference.

Video Review

Packaging and Labels 

The Sonder Q2 comes in minimal packaging, arriving in a silver and orange cardboard box that will look familiar to anyone who has used Geekvape products.

The front of the box shows a picture of the kit below the brand name “SONDER.” Below is the full Sonder Q2 title. One side of the box showcases the VPU and Q-Pod technology, while the other displays health warning and quality inspection certificates, along with an authenticity QR code.

The back of the box lists the kit contents, the device’s features, and Geekvape’s contact information. Presumably, the TPD edition also has an ample monochrome health warning printed on the base of the box.

The kit, pod, and user manual are sealed in a tearable plastic wrapper inside the box. Once you remove the device from the plastic wrapper, it’s ready to fill and vape.

Build Quality

Score: 4 out of 5

The Sonder Q2 is noticeably different visually from the original Sonder Q Kit. Gone is the ‘fluted’ grip design and central silver light-up panel, replaced with a smooth, matte zinc alloy casing. It has more weight than expected, though this is likely due to the decent battery we’ll get onto in a moment.

The ‘SONDER’ logo printed on the face of the kit has a slightly rough print effect, which acts as a decent grip. This pleased me, as I was fond of the ‘ribbed’ build of the original device.

The ‘O’ in SONDER lights up when the device is used or a pod is inserted, flashing different colours to indicate power charge levels. Instinct tells you this is a firing button, but you’d be wrong. The Sonder Q2, much like the original kit, is entirely draw-activated.

The Q-Pods are still excellent, producing great flavour thanks to the VPU design ethos that Geekvape put into all their Q-Pods.

Overall, the Sonder Q2 feels more robust and durable than the original Sonder Q unit. My only misgiving is that it’s a little too visually bland, particularly in the wake of the original vape’s fluted elegance.

Performance

Score: 4 out of 5

Functionally, the Sonder Q2 operates like the original Sonder Q. The kit is intended for both new vapers and experienced vapers seeking a no-fuss device with a fair amount of power potential.

The kit’s maximum output is 30W, which opens the doors to some restricted direct-lung inhalations and blows the 20W max of the original Sonder Q entirely out of the water. The Q Pods are compatible with the new Sonder Q2, though the new 0.4ohm unit can only be used in the Q2 and Sonder Pro devices.

This is because only these Sonder kits have the power potential to make a 0.4ohm pod really sing, and when it does, I found it produces a marvellous amount of vapour.

I personally would have liked a bit of manual power adjustment, with a Smart Mode installed as the default mode of operation, but that isn’t necessarily the kind of vaper this kit was built for.

Ease of Use

Score: 5 out of 5

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with the Sonder Q2. The aforementioned draw-activation and automatic power settings make it entirely user-friendly. The only thing you can get wrong is accidentally burning the coils by trying to puff from the Q Pods immediately after filling, which—with over ten years of experience vaping—I’m ashamed to admit I did.

Besides that, there’s nothing to mess up or use incorrectly with the kit. Easy to fill and puff from, no fuss and no mess.

Battery Life

Score: 4.5 out of 5

This was a lovely surprise! The original Sonder Q’s 1000mAh battery is often the standard you expect from a vape kit of this size and dimension, so learning that it instead houses a 1350mAh battery was fantastic news. An increase in power capacity by a third over the previous device is a significant advancement and makes up for the slightly too-heavy build.

Flavour Output

Score: 5 out of 5

I cannot fault the Q Pods, as they continue to pump out incredibly clear and pure flavours. Geekvape is keen to emphasise that the Q Pods still abide by their ‘VPU’ coil design ethos, which focuses on higher-quality meshes with wider surface areas for equal heat distribution and top-shelf wicks that last longer than the cotton in most coils.

Summary

The Sonder Q2 isn’t laden with exciting bells and whistles, but neither was its ancestor. Like the original Sonder Q, it is a no-fuss vape kit that provides vapers with straightforward, satisfying, and tasty vapour. Its battery can easily last a couple of days without the need for a recharge.

The MIST Favourite Feature: 

• 1350mAh: A battery of this size is very rare in a vape this pocket-friendly. You can be assured that a fully charged Sonder Q2 will be able to keep up with you in the morning, noon, and wherever the night takes you.