Innokin Trine SE Review

As you already know, most pod vapes have a built-in, non-removable battery. Once the battery fails or is unable to hold charge, you are forced to get a new kit. But that’s not the case with the Trine SE, Innokin’s latest model in the Trine range. 

Similar to other models in the Trine range, the Trine SE has a removable battery, giving you the freedom to swap the battery. Innokin markets it as “your gateway to the Trine series,” and true enough, it’s just a stripped-back, budget-friendly version of the original Trine. The question now is, will it convince vapers to make the switch? Let’s find out!

Review Disclosure: Innokin has provided MIST with the Trine SE. The brand’s generosity, however, did not influence our review.

Video Review

Packaging and Labels 

The Innokin Trine SE arrives in a cardboard box. The front shows a picture of the kit, with the battery and pod ‘detached’ from the pod mod. There’s also Innokin’s logo, device name, and a TPD-compliant health warning.

Some features of the kit, such as draw-activation and max power, are listed on the side, while the back displays a contents list, Innokin’s contact info, and an authenticity hologram.

Watch the unboxing:

Inside the box is the black plastic insert that holds the kit and two VCAP pod cartridges in 0.6ohm and 0.8ohm. The removable battery is already inserted into the pod mod’s base. 

The user manual is tucked into the underside of the plastic insert.

Build Quality

Score: 3/5

The Trine SE is made from aluminium alloy and, surprisingly, is 2g lighter than the original Trine, which clocked in at 52g. 

The Trine SE definitely feels a bit ‘sleeker’ in the hand because of its glossy metallic finish (the original Trine had a brushed steel matte effect.) The gloss certainly makes the Trine SE more eye-catching, though it’s now a magnet for thumbprints and provides less grip support, so it loses a point there. 

The 1000mAh removable battery is exactly the same as the type used in the original Trine, though the SE only comes with one battery instead of two out of the box. 

The battery clicks in easily, though it can be fiddly to remove, and occasionally, with some units, it does become loose enough to cause a loss of power.

Maybe this is just an occurrence with a couple of kits I’ve used, but it’s frustrating that the main selling point of the kit can run into issues like this. So, I’m taking two points off of build quality for the Trine SE.

Performance

Score: 4.5/5

The device is buttonless and only requires draw activation to fire up. Since it is buttonless, it removes the ability to change power settings, something the original Trine and Trine Mecha were able to provide. However, the device will automatically detect the ohmage of the VCAP pod and set the wattage to an appropriate level.

And while the battery-health display screen is also unavailable in the Trine SE, it has an LED power indicator that lets you know when your Trine battery needs recharging or – for prudent vapers who plan – swapping out with a pre-charged spare battery.

Ease of Use

Score: 5/5

Nothing bad to say in this category! While there are definitely some (like myself!) who will gripe about the Trine SE removing the screen and power adjustment functions, other vapers may well prefer the more streamlined and effortless functionality it provides.

With concerns of power setting and button pressing taken off the table, the Trine SE quickly becomes a very attractive device for fans of disposable vapes. Beyond refilling the pods (the pods are top fill; you’ll need to remove the mouthpiece) and recharging the battery, it’s used in the exact same way as a disposable.

Battery Life

Score: 5/5

Ahhh battery life, the real meat and potatoes of the Trine and Trine SE (though not the Trine Mecha, for reasons that will never make sense to me). The 1000mAh batteries contain ample charge potential for most vapers, with reasonable capacity and moderate outputs resulting in a kit that usually lasts a solid day for most vapers.

And, of course, with a Trine SE, you can acquire a spare battery to swap out when your inserted one gets into red LED territory! The charge speed is only 1A, which is a bit of a shame, but replaceable battery units are a great enough feature for me to ignore that one little issue and award full marks.

By the way, the charging port is Type C and is on the side of the device. Innokin also sells Trine Power Hub, which allows you to charge two batteries simultaneously.

Flavour Output

Score: 4.5/5

The VCAP pod cartridges with pre-installed coils do a great job of atomising both freebase vape juice and nic salts. The VCAP pods use meshed heating elements, which provide a nice even distribution of heat and atomisation, resulting in a clearer flavour and pods that taste better for longer. Overall, I can say that Trine SE’s flavour performance is exceptional.  

Summary

The Innokin Trine SE is a neat little vape kit boasting the excellent battery replacement system that the original Trine had. I have a few misgivings, such as the occasionally wobbly nature of the battery and a lack of customisation options, but for vapers seeking a compact pod vape with a removable and replaceable battery that is not a 18650, the Trine SE is an excellent choice. 

The MIST Favourite Feature: 

• Replaceable Battery: It’s the obvious feature, right? Being able to replace a drained or outright dead battery with a spare doesn’t just give you instant charging options; it also means that you don’t have to throw your vape away when the battery dies.