Freemax Maxpod 3
Si looks at the new Freemax Maxpod 3 Kit, a great starter kit which could help new vapers ditch the disposables
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by Si Davies
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Supplied by Freemax for review
https://www.freemaxvape.com
Price TBC (Expected to be under £20)
I’ve long been a fan of Freemax for DL vaping but up until receiving the Maxpod 3, I hadn’t tried any MTL/Pod devices so I was keen to see if this produced the same flavour quality, spoiler alert...it certainly does!
At a glance
- 480mAh battery
- 2ml MD Mesh Pod
- 0.8ohm and 1.2ohm replaceable pods available
- Auto-draw
- USB-C rechargeable
- Top-fill via flip top mouthpiece
- Weight 39g
- Height: 10cm (3.9") Width: 2.7cm (1.1") Depth: 1.8cm (0.7")
Unboxing
The Maxpod 3 kit appears to be an affordable entry level starter kit so there’s not a whole lot going on with the packaging and contents, it comes in a simple box with the device held in a blown plastic tray.
Underneath that is the manual and a 0.8ohm pod sealed in a blister pack for freshness, the manual is quite informative for such a simple device but I doubt most users will need to read it as it’s all intuitive. There’s no charging cable but it has a standard USB-C port (same as most non apple phones and tablets).
Overview
Basically the Maxpod 3 is a ‘plastic fantastic’ construction with no controls/screen or buttons, this makes it a very viable alternative for new users and better still; a much better option for disposable users.
The main coloured plastic body is textured to give it a stylish, rippled pattern, a clear ‘crystal’ coating makes it all smooth and glossy, and the shape is all rounded off to give a comfortable grip. There’s a single colour LED light on one face and two air inlets on the sides.
The charging port is on the bottom and it’s USB-C. As previously mentioned, the kit doesn’t come with a charging cable but I would be surprised if you don’t already have a stack of them lying around, I’m all for this choice as it keeps the costs down and produces less planet killing waste.
The pod is a magnetic fit and simply pulls out and pushes back in with ease, the fit is excellent and there’s no play or wobble. It also appears to be quite airtight so that the air only comes in through the side holes.
You get a 0.8ohm mesh pod included which is suitable for a warmer MTL vape or a very restrictive DL vape at a push, it uses Freemax’s FM SaltCoilTech 4.0 coils inside the pod which, as its name suggests, is suitable for nic salts or thinner 50/50 freebase e-liquids, those that are moving away from disposables should start with nic-salts for a similar experience.
To fill up the pod, you need to pry the top cap off, the simplest way is to flip it over with you thumb. It feels fiddly at first but becomes second nature after that.
You will see a black silicone hole which easily accepts standard 10ml bottle tips and seals the tip to prevent mess, there’s a little ventilation hole which prevents airlocks and allows an even fill.
*Note: DO NOT fill through the centre hole
Once you have filled the pod, replace the mouthpiece and you should leave it to stand for around ten minutes which allows the e-liquid to fully saturate the coil.
Though the above might sound long winded, it only takes a couple of minutes to open it up and fill the pod. The battery has a partial charge out of the box so all you need is a 10ml bottle of e-liquid to get going.
Performance
Freemax certainly know what they are doing when it comes to delivering flavour, the Maxus 3’s vape quality is outstanding. You get a warm, smooth, and very flavourful draw from it. The airflow isn’t adjustable but it is a decent MTL draw similar to a cigarette or disposables.
The mouthpiece is a little larger than I’m used to but it is still comfortable, actually the size is beneficial to get a lip seal easier than a narrow tip. I was really pleased with the vape I was getting from the Maxus 3, all that was left to test was the battery life and the pods lifespan….
The battery life wasn’t all that good using the 0.8ohm pod, it lasted around 1.5ml of e-liquid and there was no LED colour warning as it just stops vaping with the LED flashing. At least recharging didn’t take too long, around 50 minutes from empty, but this benefitted from top-up charging if you want it to last you longer. A couple of minutes charging gave me 15 minutes of use.
Coil lifespan has been excellent, I’m well into 20ml of quite sweet nic salts and there’s not a hint of flavour loss or any burnt taste so far.
Leak-resistance, I almost forgot to mention that I experienced zero issues with leaking or condensation throughout the pods use, hopefully leaking pods will become a thing of the past and Freemax have certainly nailed it.
Things got better using the 1.2ohm pod though, you can use simple mathematics as it uses about a third less power. The vape quality was just as good and I actually preferred the 1.2ohm pod for a couple of reasons; the battery life lasted me most of the day and my juice consumption was lower.
For those switching from disposables, I would say the 1.2ohm pod is more suitable, you will get a more intense vape from it with more flavour and clouds if that’s your thing. The 0.8ohm gives a much more intense vape which disposables users might find too great a leap.
Conclusion
For such a basic device, The Maxpod 3 delivers a faultless MTL vape. The flavour is up there with the very best, it’s that good that I have carried on using it beyond the normal review period (even pushing my DRAG Nano into the neglect pile).
Ditch-sposables
Whether it is intentional or not, I think Freemax have produced a very strong contender to sway disposable users away, the device is similar in style, as simple to use but with the added benefits of it being rechargeable AND refillable. Not only is it environmentally better, it will also save users a small fortune.
Pros
- Flavour is remarkable
- Affordable
- Perfect alternative to disposables
- Lightweight and durable plastic
- Top-fill
- Leak-resistant
- Ergonomic
Cons
- Single colour LED (no low warnings)
Final Thoughts
My introduction into Freemax’s MTL offerings has been a good one. While there’s no innovation and little in the way of styling, it just delivers a fantastic vape that more than satisfies my fussy MTL needs. The Maxpod 3 is without a doubt my No 1 choice to recommend to disposable users to get them away to a more sustainable way to vape.
Score: 8.5/10 – Maxpod 3 = Max-Flavour
Si Davies
Reviewer at POTVMy background is Engineering and Professional Photography. Mostly from POTV users knowledge I learned so much about pretty much all styles of vaping and equipment, Cloud Chasing, Squonking, Mouth To Lung, Direct To Lung, Pods, Mechs, Rebuild-able tanks and atomisers etc, and have experience with many many devices and atomisers, it's become a hobby and enjoy trying out the latest gear. I like to think my reviews are plain speaking and informative without getting too technical, if I have to resort to reading the manual then I don't consider it user friendly!
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