Voopoo DRAG S2 and DRAG X2 Review

The Voopoo DRAG range of vape kits has seen many iterations in the manufacturer’s 8 years of operation! Initially abiding by the design bulky box mod styles of yesteryear, the DRAG range transitioned into sub-ohm pod kits and became one of the primary companies popularising the shift toward acrylic pod builds.

Today, Voopoo pod kits are seen as some of the most reliable and innovative sub-ohm devices available, and I’m in the enviable position of reviewing two of the latest iterations in the range: the DRAG S2 and the DRAG X2. While sub-ohm vaping isn’t normally my thing, I’m going to try them both and let you know how I rate them.

Speaking of ratings, as the kits are extremely similar, I’ll give a shared rating rather than two separate score lists.

Review Disclosure: I’d like to mention that Voopoo supplied me with the two kits for this review. However, the thoughts and opinions you see here are my own and impartial.

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Packaging and Labels 

The packaging for the two kits is very similar, which is unsurprising as they’ve been released in tandem. 

The front of the boxes show a picture of the kit with the name printed above. One side of the box shows barcodes and authenticity QR codes, while the other side lists features such as coil compatibility, pod features and the maximum wattage output for both respective kits.

The back of the boxes list the contents of the kits, as well as contact information for Voopoo and health warnings and safety certifications. The boxes I have listed ‘Sample’ on the back and do not feature TPD warnings, as they’ve been sent directly from China for review and aren’t intended for sale.

Removing the sleeves from both boxes reveals a cardboard box within containing user manuals, charging USB-C cables and spare coils, along with a standard-issue silica gel desiccant packet, not intended for human consumption.

Removing that box reveals the kits, fully assembled with the PNP-X Pod Tank already fitted into the battery unit on both kits. A sticker on the base of the coil prevents electrical connection between the coil and the battery until it’s removed, preventing any accidental activation in the box.

Build Quality

Score: 4/5

The kits feel very durable in my hand. The S2 has a more lightweight build than the X2 when the second kit has an 18650 loaded, though neither are frustratingly heavy.

Both are built from zinc alloy, with a soft grip panel wrapping around the battery section which Voopoo’s website informs me is made from “vegan leather.” I’m plant-based myself, and found this to be a pleasant surprise as it’s not a feature many vape manufacturers would consider important.

Some attention has been paid to the steel sections you’ll be gripping, with raised-yet-rounded corners fitting snugly in the palm without digging in uncomfortably. Voopoo always put quite a lot of emphasis on ergonomic designs, and the DRAG S2 and X2 are no exceptions.

The PnP-X Pod Tank is a remarkable piece of gear, combining the acrylic tube and base of a refillable pod with the steel top and airflow adjustable slider of a traditional vape tank. 

The pod tank is held in place with four sturdy magnets, making the pod tank easy to remove but never wobbly. You aren’t likely to find the PnP-X falling out of its own volition.

The PnP-X Pod Tanks included with both kits are the DTL version, coming with a wide-bore, low-profile mouthpiece attached. Another version of the kit is available in France, Germany and Italy that includes the MTL version of the pod tank, though the only clear difference is a longer, thinner mouthpiece and different coils included that have higher resistances.

Performance

Score: 5/5

The X2 and S2 are very simple in terms of use-function. I was a bit surprised by the lack of draw-activation, but this may be because I’m used to MTL vapes that have a tighter draw. I can imagine draw-firing being a bit superfluous on a sub-ohm kit, so I’ll let that go.

The vapes fire very quickly once the firing button is pressed, with no noticeable time passing between the press and the ignition of the coil.

This may be due to the onboard Gene.TT 2.0 chipset, which handles power processes, modes and electronic safety responsibilities in the kits. Voopoo is very proud of its Gene chipsets, and rightly so.

I really liked being able to access the menu by pressing the up and down buttons, rather than the usual process of rapidly tapping the firing button, which can result in dry firings and wasted coil life if your kit is set at a high wattage.

The menu gives me the choice of mode selection, which opens a sub-menu from which I can select:

• Smart mode (automatically assigns the optimal wattage for your installed coil)
• RBA mode (allows you to manually set the power anywhere you like without intervention from the Gene chip)
• Eco mode (uses less power, dims the screen, a bit similar to a ‘battery saving mode’ on a smart phone).

The menu also lets you clear the puff counter – great for if you’re tracking your intake over a week. There’s also an info option that lists the ID codes for the kit and onboard chipset, which is likely very useful for tech-support reasons.

Changing coils in the PnP-X Pod Tank is easily done through a standard push-to-fit mechanism, and top-based airflow all but eliminates the likelihood of leaks. These aren’t new features in vaping, but great additions to the overall kit.

Battery Life

Score: 5/5

Both kits’ battery approaches are great for different kinds of vape users. 2500mAh is very ample and likely to get even heavy sub-ohm sessioners through a full day, though users used to super-intensive use are more likely to be attracted to the X2 kit’s removable battery method.

Eco mode is a great power-saving feature, particularly if you’ve forgotten to charge your device before heading out. X2 users, of course, have the added benefit of being able to swap their 18650 batteries out, though some convenience-seeking vape users are a little intimidated by removable-battery vapes.

Flavour Output

Score: 4/5

The flavour from both kits is excellent, and it’s entirely due to the use of the PnP-X Coil series. An advancement on the PnP Coil range, the PnP-X Coils use thermo-stable cotton for greater longevity, meaning it takes longer for the flavour to begin diminishing.

The PnP-X Coils state that each coil is capable of atomising up to 100ml of e-liquid before needing to be replaced, a bold statement but one I’m confident Voopoo can back up. 

A honeycombed mesh heating element also ensures rapid e-liquid atomisation, meaning less likelihood of dry spots and burnouts, a common cause of bad taste from your vape kit.

While the PnP-X Coils can’t quite match up to DIY coils that you’d use in an RDA, they do a brilliant job of conveying vape tastes without imparting impurities on the vape juice you’ve used.

Summary

The S2 and X2 kits are very worthy heirs to the Voopoo DRAG legacy, continuing to provide sub-ohm vapers with pocket-friendly, convenient kits that fly in the face of bulky traditional designs while still providing the same – and at times greater – functionality and satisfaction.

As I stated earlier on, I’m not a sub-ohmer most of the time, but I can see myself reaching for the X2 in front of me for a good long while yet.

The MIST Favourite Feature: 

Eco Mode: Frankly I’m surprised that more vape kit manufacturers aren’t including this mode in all their devices. Sacrificing a tiny bit of screen brightness and ignition speed for an extended battery charge lifespan is a no-brainer, and it’s great to be able to switch it on whenever I want, rather than when the battery passes an arbitrary low bar of charge capacity.