Introducing the iQ One from Hangsen

The iQ One is the hybrid pod system vaporizer released by the popular e-liquid manufacturer Hangsen under their iQ brand and the device ranks in our three best e cig vape devices. Hangsen have also brought out the successful ultra-thin vape pod, the iQ Air. Hangsen have been operating in the e-liquid industry since 2009 and are very well known so I was interested to see how their attempt at a crossover into hardware would turn out. Hangsen produce e-liquid for many companies who then re-brand it with their own label.

iQ One pod and coil features

This vape pen or vaporizer is referred to as a hybrid pod system because it can be used for vaping a variety of e liquids, both traditional e-liquid, nicotine salts and CBD vape oil. You simply select the appropriate coil. The tank or pod is magnetically connected to the iQ One so there is no fiddling around with screw threads which also helps to ensure leaking is minimised.

The iQ also has comes with two coil types which screw into the bottom of the pod and can be replaced. The refill port in the pod is large enough to be filled with ease and while refilling slowly you should encounter no issues, however if you fill it too quickly you might encounter an airlock problem. Once filled, the pod tank is sealed by a rubber plug, this is secured so don’t worry about it getting lost. Looking into the transparent pod allows you to easily see how much e-liquid you have. However once it is inserted into the iQ one body there is no viewing window so you need to be aware of how much e liquid you have, simply pop the tank out and look! When you start out you will need to make sure to check on the pod frequently, you soon get a feel for how long it takes to use up 2 ml of your favourite vape juice.

With this vaporizer you have two coil options, 0.6 and 0.8 ohms, which are both very similar looking but are marked accordingly to avoid confusion. They both have an integrated airflow control ring at their base which allows you to adjust the amount of airflow to your exact requirement. How much airflow you will like is a personal preference as it affects flavour and vapour thickness. The 0.6 ohm coil is ideal for your regular e liquids whilst the 0.8 ohm coil works extremely well with both CBD vape oil and nic salts.

iQ size and ergonomics

Like most hybrid pod systems this vaporizer is intended to be highly portable; it weighs around 112 grams and feels substantial in the hand but it is still comfortable in a pocket, and is not as chunky and as heavy as a vape mod or box mod si it wont be an annoyance to carry around. However you will know that you’ve got it on you due to its weight and size. Part of the weight of this vaporizer comes from its polished zinc alloy main chassis which gives it a solid body and premium feel. In combination with the various finishes (resin, leather, plastic, silver charcoal, gold charcoal) it makes for a visually pleasing vaporizer.

There is the main function button in the centre of the vaporizer which activates the product and the iQ logo is embedded into the body of the vaporizer, both these looked solid in my opinion and the placement of the button fits in the hand nicely. On the left of the vaporizer there is both a small LED and a micro USB port that is used for charging. The LED is used to display the battery life of the vaporizer, red is less than 30%, blue is 30% – 70%, and green is anything above 70%, this light is also used to show different error messages. Visually the whole product looks solid, slick and has a really good build quality to it, there are the usual safety signs and “Hybrid Vapor System” written in large letters which I do not particularly like but assume much of it has to be included so is something that you will get with any other vaporizer.

iQ One battery life

The IQ One vaporizer has a relatively solid 1100 mAh battery life which is very good for a portable vaporizer, however it is slightly heavier than some of the competition in the field of portable vaporizers. You cant have 1100 mAh of battery life and a feather-light vape. The weight adds to the presence of the device and if you don’t mind that extra weight this is an excellent choice, as the battery will last for a long time and the pods are a sufficient for extended use without refills. If you spend a lot of time on the go and, despite its large battery, still worry about the iQ One vaporizer running out of battery, you can always just carry the included micro USB charging cable which is really convenient as it can plug into laptops, computers, USB hubs, in fact virtually any device. The combination of having a large battery and a convenient charging solution ensures that wherever you go, you’ll never be without battery. Another good factor is that vaping while the device is charging is supported ie “pass-through”. To achieve a full charge, it takes around one and a half hours which is good if you are on the go and stopping off In a café or hotel room. However, most of the time people charge their vaporizers over night so this is not a major factor.

So to sum up, this device has an impressive battery life for a small portable vape and the pass through facilitates all day (and night) vaping and at £29.99 it is impressive.

The iQ One vape kit contents and accessories

Out of the box, the iQ One will include the iQ One itself, the charging cable I mentioned, the pod along with a pre-installed coil, the two coils and the micro USB to USB charging cable. There are no replacement mouth-tips which is disappointing, but they are not usually included in products under £50.

• 1 x Hangsen iQ battery pod device
• 1 X iQ pod refill tank
• 1 x Mini USB charger
• 1 x 0.6 ohm coil
• 1 X 0.8 ohm coil
• 1 x iQ One user manual
• 1 X iQ One drip tip mouth piece

The iQ One performance

The most important part of the product is how it performs; the iQ pod device delivers an excellent flavour and with the sub ohm coils you get considerable vapour which really helps in nicotine absorption. Other pod devices simply will not compete, you would need a larger scale (read awkward) vape mod to get this level of vapour and flavour.

The custom air flow controls allows for a range of air flows so you can customise your experience to match your preferences, however if you are someone who enjoys a super tight MTL draw this might not be the product for you. Part of the performance is also the experience of the product; its excellent build quality and classy finishes allows for a premium look and comfortable user experience.

Things to bear in mind

The iQ One is not like your average pod. This device gives you freedom to choose your e liquid, nic salts or CBD brand and with its sub ohm functionality is more a kin to a new-gen small scale vape mod, a pod-mod perhaps – but with an all day battery!  Your standard pod device uses sealed non-refillable e liquid pods and will not give this level of vapour, typically requiring a recharge 2 -4 times a day – not the iQ One though. But before buying the iQ One be aware that you will have to buy additional packs of coils and you might have to buy a replacement e liquid pod if you lose or break your previous one. This will save you money compared to buying a pod device that is prefilled. The iQ accessories are reasonably priced (the coils are £3.99 for a pack of three and the pods are available at £4.99 and include a 0.8 ohm coil) the drip tip is not available to buy which is a shame as it could become damaged through extended use.

Hangsen iQ One maintenance

I would also point out here that some people have said they’ve struggled with slight condensation under the drip tip so to prevent this I would suggest that you clean everything with a paper towel before and after refilling the pod. Ensure the red rubber stopper is securely pressed into place.

The iQ One conclusion

The iQ One is a solid product, it has a premium look and feel, good battery life and a decent number of accessories. It is an excellent all-round vaporiser, there is always a slight trade of between battery life and weight and the iQ One balances that perfectly.

Is the iQ One worth buying?

It does no one thing spectacularly but performs extremely well overall. For its £29.99 price point it visually looks and feels like it’s worth a lot more. There is no device currently, apart from the iQ One, that has successfully bridged the gap between the cumbersome but effective sub ohm box mod or vape mod and a pod device and that is why you want to buy the iQ One. I would recommend this for anyone who doesn’t already have a vaporizer as it does everything you need well and is excellent value for money.

iQ One features and technical specification