XIWU S1 Vaping Device Review, with Recommended Pod Flavors You Won’t Regret

XIWU is a new tobacco brand co-founded by Dr. Xing Chenyue, one of the inventors of Juul nicotine salts, along with Chen Min, Liu Yu, and others, dedicated to providing low-risk products for people around the world and those around them. The R&D headquarters is located in Silicon Valley, USA, and has established a vape juice R&D laboratory, Myst Labs. In 2019, XIWU launched the world's first pull-and-hide mouthpiece design vaping device, the P1, among other products, and currently has over 3,000 retail outlets in China, covering more than 200 cities, and is gradually expanding sales in international markets such as the UK, USA, Canada, and Malaysia.

At the launch conference, Dr. Xing Chenyue announced the development of a new nicotine formula called Nicotine X, and stated that future XIWU products will only use a nicotine content of 1.7%. Currently, most pod products on the market have nicotine contents of 3% and 5%. Dr. Xing explained that Nicotine X employs a three-dimensional molecular Lego-style formula that cannot be replicated. In simple terms, it means reducing the amount without reducing the experience, achieving the effect of previously higher nicotine levels with less nicotine.

The current product line of XIWU is as follows:

P Series: P stands for Premium, targeting mature business users; the P1 launched last year is the first pull-and-hide mouthpiece design;

G Series: G stands for Go, such as the disposable small vape G1 made of food-grade materials;

S Series: Compared to the mature business style of P, the S series has a more approachable and fashionable style, representing supreme, smart, sunny, simple, and sexy.

(The above is excerpted from Blue Hole New Consumption)

1. Packaging

XIWU features a comprehensive packaging design that is very aesthetically pleasing, with a comfortable level of resistance. The single device with a charging cable is priced at 169 yuan, which is quite affordable.

2. Device Body

The XIWU S1 is also a vaping device that emphasizes aesthetics, available in four minimalist colors that look great, although unfortunately, the upper part of the device is made of plastic, which feels good to the touch. The S1 has a moderate length and is lightweight, with the air intake cleverly integrated with the pod design. The breathing light has four LEDs arranged in a row at the bottom of the device, and the charging port is type-C. The pod can be inserted either way, and the fixing method is magnetic. The battery capacity is 350mAh, and while the pod can be inserted either way, the fit between the pod and the device is not very good. The device's chip uses proprietary MEMS differential pressure sensing technology, but it seems that it does not employ voltage stabilization technology, as the vapor volume decreases when the battery is low.

Official explanation of MEMS differential pressure sensing technology: The XIWU S1 is the first to apply MEMS differential pressure sensing chip technology (typically used in smart safety control systems), replacing traditional airflow switches to monitor the strength of inhalation airflow in real-time, i.e., the negative pressure generated within the airway, and to control the battery's output power in real-time, thereby personalizing and stabilizing the heating power of the vape juice. This means that the S1 can intelligently adjust the vapor volume according to the user's inhalation habits, providing a more realistic vaping experience. Its technical features include:

1. Extreme power consumption: 0.025mA ultra-low power consumption

2. 10,000P: Wide airflow sensing

3. 100 milliseconds: No perceptible delay in vapor production.

3. Pods

The official price of S1 pods is 49.9 yuan/box (two pieces), with flavor number 3 priced at 69.9 yuan/box. Each pod contains 1.3ml of liquid and uses a cotton-wrapped ceramic structure for the atomization core, generating a significant amount of heat, making the device feel hot after a few puffs. A 1.3ml pod lasts about 1 to 1.25 days of use.

There is a significant amount of condensation liquid produced, requiring frequent cleaning of the pod. In the later stages of use, there may be occurrences of burnt taste and off-flavors, but these are relatively well controlled. The low nicotine content does not satisfy cravings effectively. Some flavors do not replicate the intended taste well.

Flavor details (personal subjective judgment):

[Flavor 3] I am not very interested in tobacco flavors; according to official promotion, it tastes like "soft Zhong" and is the only flavor that uses Nicotine X technology.

[Polar Ice] Mint flavor, not too cool on the back of the head, quite good.

[Caramel Iced Latte] Does not highlight the milky flavor of latte, only sweetness and coffee flavor, and is not particularly cool; the flavor changes in the later stages and can easily develop a burnt taste.

[Lemon Oolong Tea] This flavor is relatively well replicated, but the tea aroma is more like black tea, and burnt taste can also appear in the later stages.

[Mojito Party] A mediocre mojito flavor with a rubbery taste; I found it uncomfortable at first, but surprisingly accepted it after trying the second and third pods...

[Northeast Big Board] Highlights the milk flavor of Northeast Big Board, although it is enjoyable, it only remains cool after using 2/3 of the pod.

[Frosted Grape] A pod that only has a flavor of essence, and it is quite harsh on the throat.

[Icy Lychee] Another pod that only has a flavor of essence (perhaps I just don't like lychee flavor in small vapes), harsh on the throat.

Other flavors have not been tried.

Personal recommendation: If you like a tobacco flavor, you can try [Flavor 3]; I do not recommend any others.

Overall evaluation (out of 5 points) [as objective as possible, pod flavor is subjective, after all, everyone has different tastes]:

Appearance: 5 points, feels good and looks stylish.

Color: 5 points, who doesn't love minimalist colors?

Workmanship: 4 points, strongly request to replace the plastic material on the upper part of the device with metal.

Flavor: 1 point, poor.

Air resistance: 3 points, air resistance is empty; manually blocking one air intake is better.

Leakage prevention: 4 points, how can it leak with glue? One point deducted for safety.

Condensation liquid: 3 points, too much condensation liquid.

Recommendation index: 1 point.

The materials of the device, pod heating, pod flavoring, pod taste, pod carbon buildup, and burnt taste of the pod all need improvement; otherwise, it will end up being called the "iPhone" of vaping... will XIWU be "focused on design but careless with flavoring"?