Steve K's Vaping World

Innokin recently announced its latest electronic cigarette, the Leo PRO. This new electronic cigarette features a tank atomizer system, long battery life, and better compatibility.  Throw in a few more handy features and it looks like the Innokin Leo Pro might be a viable contender in the space normally dominated by the Joye eGo. Read the rest of the Innokin Leo PRO review to find out if this e-cigarette has what it takes.

What’s in the e-cigarette kit

The Leo PRO comes in a blue display box the features a swoopy design and an Asian-inspired lion.  Inside that box you’ll find the following:

• 1 Leo Battery (1000mAh)
• 1 tank atomizer
• 1 pen-style cap
• 5 additional tank cartridges
• 1 retractable USB cable
• 1 AC to USB adapter
• Illustrated color user manual

Leo PRO Features and design

The Leo packs quite a few neat features beyond a standard e-cigarette.  For starters, the Leo has a nifty pen cap to keep your atomizer protected while not in use.  Unlike the Innokin Lea I reviewed several months ago, the cap attaches to the body of the e-cigarette independently.  That means you can use the cap with third party atomizers and some cartomizers.  Oversized and XL cartomizers (with a drip tip attached) are too big to allow the cap to close.

The battery on the Leo PRO has 1000mAh of capacity and USB pass-through charging.  This should be able to get just about anyone through a whole day of vaping and then some.

Interestingly, the battery isn’t as large as you might imagine.  The Leo PRO’s battery is about the same length as a standard 650mAh eGo battery, but a tad fatter.

As you deplete the battery charge the Leo will keep you informed.  The large-ish plastic switch lights up in either green, yellow or red to indicate how much charge is left.  It shows the same lights in reverse when attached via USB to illustrate charging progress.  When the light shuts off the device is fully charged.

There is also an on/off feature built into the battery.  Simply click the button three times and the light flashes then turns the unit off.  Click it three more times in a row to turn it back on.  Personally I prefer a 5-click shut off as I sometimes accidentally shut these things off when I’m chain vaping like a fiend.

The atomizer on Innokin’s latest e-cigarette is of the tank variety.  This heavy steel part is a fairly large affair. It adds to the overall solid feeling of the Leo PRO.

The Leo’s tank cartridges are fairly typical with a capacity around 1ml. Unlike regular tank cartridges, the tip that peeks out past the atomizer is a solid black flat-tipped deal.  While this gives a huge boost in the looks department, you lose the ability to see how much liquid you have in the tank.

This leads to one of the other shortcomings of the Leo. Whenever I removed the tank to refill (or just check on it) there’s always a thin layer of liquid on the outside of the tank.  The Leo doesn’t really leak, it’s just that condensation builds up on the outside of the tank.  This isn’t a huge issue, but it can be annoying at times.

The final feature of the Leo PRO is what sets it apart from the regular Leo aside from the larger button. The PRO is fully 510 compatible.  The regular Leo has a funky connector that requires a special adapter to use regular 510 gear.  The PRO can take pretty much any 510 threaded equipment.  I was able to use my favorite cartomizer tank without any trouble.

Leo PRO’s Performance

Using the carto tank on the Leo worked pretty well (other than it looking silly).  That’s because unlike a lot of devices in this class of e-Cigarettes like the eGo, the Leo  puts out decent power.  The Leo puts out a regulated and constant 3.7 volts as opposed to the typical eGo e-cigarette’s anemic 3.2 volts.

I have to admit, the consistant output of the Leo along with the decent ergonomics and firing button may give some of my 3.7 volt mods some competition.

Of course the real measure of performance is how the thing works with the atomizer tank system it came with. The atomizer metered in at 2.4Ω which coupled with the battery should make for some decent vapor.

While the vapor was a touch on the cool side for the amount of wattage going through it, performance was certainly respectable.  The e-cigarette produced a healthy amount of vapor.  The accompanying throat hit was also good, especially for a atomizer tank system.

Vapor production is usually excellent in tank systems, but many fall short in the flavor department.  I still don’t know what tanks do to mute e-liquid flavor.  The Leo is also guilty of this to some degree.  It’s not nearly as weak as some of the other tanks I’ve looked at.  There is still a little flavor loss when compared to regular cartomizers.

I would certainly call the Leo Pro respectable in regard to performance and construction.

Too Long; Didn’t Read

The Innokin Leo PRO is Innokin’s latest foray into the mid-range class of e-cigarettes long dominated by the Joye eGo (and it’s many clones).  The Leo PRO offers solid construction, good performance and ergonomics.  The issues I do have with this device are fairly minor, and mostly relate to the atomizer tank system.  The feature list is impressive and it appears Innokin put some thought into this design.

Performance Profile

Vapor Production: Good to very good
Vapor Temperature: Cool to moderate
Throat Hit: Good
Flavor Reproduction: Slightly muted

Pros:

• Nifty pen cap add to good looks
• USB pass-through
• Regulated 3.7v output
• Very pocketable thanks to cap and on/off feature
• Solid construction and ergonomics

Cons:

• Low capacity tanks
• Unable to see liquid levels without removing tank
• Condensation build-up on outside of tank
• Lacks the adapter kit included with the Lea Kross

Details:

Product: Innokin Leo PRO
Threading: 510
Battery capacity: 1000mAh
Power output: 3.7v
Availability and Pricing: TBD should be available in February after the Lunar New Year.  White Stag Vapor already has a product page, but no pricing information.

Disclosure: Innokin Technology sent me this device at no charge for review purposes.