The Big Brother of Nautilus — ZQ XTAL PRO Refillable Replaceable-Coil Device Review

Why is it called the brother of Nautilus? Because it is a device produced by the same factory as the popular Nautilus, and it had another version that came out before the Nautilus. I have seen many people consider it an upgraded version of the Nautilus.

Although it is launched by the same company as the Nautilus, the official statement does not claim it to be an upgrade. Let's first take a detailed look at its appearance and packaging.

Introduction and Operation

The packaging is a simple box, designed with user-friendliness in mind, featuring a hole at the top for easy access to the contents. The basic configuration includes 1 main device, 1 pod, one each of 0.6 ohm and 1.0 ohm coils, a Type-C charging cable, and a manual, available in four colors.

At first glance, its shape is indeed very similar to the Nautilus, with similar color schemes and design elements, both featuring a simple and elegant design. The matte metal material feels nice, but I find the ZQ's rounded edges make it more comfortable to hold than the Nautilus.

The ZQ has more comprehensive features, so it is not a stretch to consider it an upgraded version of the Nautilus. At the bottom is a screen, which differs from the Nautilus by being vertical and larger, displaying battery level, power, resistance, and puff duration. The charging port and airflow hole are on the side, with a button on the front. Pressing the button five times turns it on or off, three times adjusts the power, and four times allows mode adjustment. Mode A is for air switch, mode B is for button ignition, and AB mode allows both. We can switch to mode A when putting it in our pocket or bag to prevent accidental activation, which I think is a thoughtful feature that meets current device needs. However, I feel the button is not as comfortable as the Nautilus's. Both devices have a battery capacity of 1000mAh.

The connection between the pod and the device is magnetic and very secure. The filling hole is on the side, and the pod has a capacity of three milliliters. Unlike the Nautilus, it requires a coil replacement, while the Nautilus requires a pod replacement.

The airflow adjustment on the ZQ is similar to the K9, with one side of the pod featuring small holes recommended for mouth-to-lung (MTL) use, and the other side having a longer hole recommended for direct lung (DL) use. Of course, this can also be adjusted according to personal preference.

Personal Experience

For testing, I used the 1.0 ohm coil with the Yi Jia Te brand's (lemon green tea) e-liquid. Many devices have been performing well lately, and while this one is not particularly stunning, it offers a satisfactory flavor. After all, it is a product from the same factory as the Nautilus, so the flavor difference is not significant, and the vapor feel is quite delicate. Compared to other devices, this one controls sweetness very well, effectively reducing some sweetness, preventing it from feeling overwhelming. The draw resistance is tighter than the Nautilus but not excessively so, making mouth-to-lung draws completely fine.

Personal Summary

This device has almost no condensation issues; the inside of the rod and the bottom of the pod are nearly dry. However, after prolonged use, it still needs to be cleaned regularly. Overall, this is a fairly comprehensive device, with quality and aesthetics both on point. It has all the necessary features without being overly complicated, and it offers two different draw resistance coils to meet various needs, providing a really good experience.