Innokin Ares MTL RTA Vape Review

 　　Mouth-to-lung devices seem to never go out of style; in fact, competition in the mouth-to-lung device market has become increasingly fierce recently. Today, Innokin brings us the latest Ares RTA, a tank designed specifically for mouth-to-lung players, smokers transitioning to vaping, and beginners. The Ares RTA is co-designed by Innokin and well-known YouTube reviewers Phil Busardo and Dimitris Agrafiotis.

  　　Busardo himself is a renowned mouth-to-lung device enthusiast, so expectations for the Ares are quite high among players. The atomizer has a base diameter of 24mm and an oil capacity of about 4ml (though it is labeled as 5ml). The Ares is designed specifically for single coils and incorporates some of the best features from current RTA products on the market.   　　If you appreciate a clean and simple aesthetic, the Ares will undoubtedly catch your eye. It boasts a clean appearance that won’t overwhelm you visually. What attracts me most is the bell-shaped inner chamber; aside from that, the Ares doesn’t differ much from other conventional RTA products.   　　Inside the atomizer packaging, users will find several green and clear O-rings, as well as a colored glass chamber to satisfy those who seek a personalized look. Personally, I prefer to use the green O-rings with the clear glass. The Ares reminds me of the older SMOK TCT atomizer, but the 24mm base diameter gives it a more modern appearance.       　　The bell-shaped inner chamber is engraved with the Ares logo, while Innokin's logo is cleverly etched on the edge, making it visually appealing. The atomizer includes two different black Delrin drip tips, one with a standard shape and the other reminiscent of the Nautilus's signature rounded drip tip. Of course, you can use any 510 drip tip on the Ares as well.   　　The Ares features an excellent top-fill design, reminiscent of Eleaf's Melo3 and Wismec's Gnome atomizers. The top cap of the atomizer opens via a ball bearing mechanism, and the fill port is surrounded by food-grade silicone material. The downside is that this silicone material is not removable, so if it gets damaged, it cannot be replaced. The fill port is large enough to accommodate most filling devices.   　　The atomizer's inner chamber uses a bell-shaped design to reduce the internal volume, and the rounded shape enhances airflow stability, making the inhalation experience smoother. According to the official statement, the bell-shaped top cap also allows e-liquid to flow more smoothly into the tank during filling.   　　The Ares consists of four parts: the base, inner chamber/top cap, glass chamber, and drip tip. The structural design is very simple, making it easy for players to clean the atomizer. The Ares is not a short and stout atomizer. Its O-rings appear to be quite thick, suggesting good durability, and the atomizer only has two O-rings, making them less likely to be lost during regular cleaning.   　　Considering that some users of the Ares are beginners, the packaging includes most of the basic tools: two sets of O-rings, two drip tips, an Allen wrench, two 26g Kanthal 1.0ohm coils, cotton, and two screwdrivers.   　　Players will also receive two wire rods, one for wrapping wire and the other for adjusting the coil. For beginners, it is recommended to first use the pre-made coils included in the package before attempting to make their own heating cores. Players can also scan a QR code to watch video tutorials.   　　Innokin refers to the Ares's electrode platform as the "Drop-in Sky Build Deck"; it is essentially a GTA-style platform — the electrode platform is higher than the atomizer base. The Ares's oil inlet holes are designed to be open, so players do not need to stuff cotton into a hole; when the top cap is installed, the cotton will be sealed. However, the only issue is that if the cotton gets caught on the threads, it can jam the top cap and affect normal rotation. Therefore, players must ensure that the cotton is entirely placed within the oil inlet holes without any protruding parts.     　　The upper lead operation of the electrode posts is quite easy, and players can secure the leads without any adjustments. The screws on the electrode posts are very sturdy, allowing for easy securing of Clapton or 28g heating wires, and even 30g heating wires are manageable. Of course, it is recommended to pair the Ares with 26g-28g heating wires.   　　The electrode platform also features a liquid barrier design to prevent flooding and leaking. Two barriers stand beside the oil inlet holes. However, the height of the barriers is not prominent, so they won’t interfere with the players' coil building.   　　Similar to Digiflavor's Siren V1, the lower part of the Ares's coil is a cylindrical airflow hole, equipped with honeycomb airflow. The atomizer's airflow adjustment ring has four different airflow hole sizes ranging from 0.5mm to 2mm, allowing players to choose to open multiple airflow holes simultaneously or just one at a time. The airflow adjustment ring does not have a notched design but cannot rotate freely 360 degrees.   　　In use, it can be found that even with the smallest airflow hole (0.05mm) open, the airflow of the Ares is not as tight as one might imagine. This airflow might feel a bit loose for some hardcore mouth-to-lung players.   　　The overall experience with the Ares can be described as solid and reliable, and it is recommended to use a 1.0ohm coil with an output of 15-20W. Of course, you can create a 0.5ohm atomizing core, but that is not the design intent of the Ares. Fortunately, a lung inhale version of the Ares RTA is currently in development.   　　During the experience with the Ares, I did not encounter dry hits or leaking issues. Even if the cotton ends are level with the electrode platform, it does not affect enjoying the last drop of e-liquid in the tank. The flavor performance of the atomizer is comparable to that of the Nautilus 2, and it can use e-liquids with a 75% VG content. When installing cotton, it is recommended not to use too much cotton.   　　When using the smallest two airflow holes, the atomizer produces a slight whistling sound; otherwise, the overall inhalation experience remains smooth and pleasant. The throat hit is quite noticeable, especially when using high-nicotine e-liquids. Although the Ares is not positioned as a high-resistance, high-throat-hit product, I believe it has found the best balance between draw resistance and throat hit.   　　The Ares is suitable for those who wish to make their own atomizing cores, especially Nautilus users. If you are a fan of Digiflavor Siren products, the Ares will also be a suitable choice for you. However, if you are looking for a tight high-resistance experience, the Kayfun Prime may be more suitable for you. While the Ares may not be a perfect product, its affordable price and stable quality make it well worth your investment.