Eleaf iStick Melo Kit
Eleaf and the iStick have been around for as long as I can remember. Now they have just upgraded the iStick again, this time it has a 4400mAh internal battery and a new board.
It’s called the iStick Melo, and it comes paired with the Melo 4 tank (22mm version), which has a 2 ml capacity.
The iStick Melo has all the usual functions of variable wattage, temperature control, and by-pass mode – with a maximum output of 60W.
It comes in Silver, Black, Red, Rose Gold and Green
The Good
Slim, good features, good battery life, and very good sub tank included.
The Bad
Fire button broke after 2 days……enough said!
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is our device broke after 2 days, so we cannot recommend this device. However it was a pre-release version, so it’s worth checking forums and other reviews if you’re really interested in it. Our issues aside it could be another decent starter kit with good battery capacity.
Disclosure: This product was sent to us by Eleaf for the purpose of this review.
The iStick Melo has that unmistakable iStick family look about it. It’s
a slender and sleek device with a really clean appearance that iStick fans are going to love it.
As with most of their models, the Melo fits just beautifully in your hand and is incredibly comfortable to use.
The mod is painted in that matt/pearl silver that we’ve seen on all previous iSticks, with a stainless steel base and trim along the top and charge port. Eleaf like to keep the branding subtle and unobtrusive, which is great, and there’s only a simple Eleaf logo on the bottom section of the device. On the base of the device, there are 4 small holes for battery venting.
The iStick Melo has a gold plated and spring loaded 510, which has smooth threading. The included Melo 4 atomizer sits nice and flush, with no overhang. The Melo can only accommodate 22mm atomizers being such a slender device.
The one design change from the usual iSticks that you will immediately notice is that the screen and control buttons are on the top side of the mod. The screen is of the basic kind and is very small at .49 inches, and on our device extremely dim. It’s not a deal breaker, but I wish they had updated the screen a little or at least made it brighter.
One good thing about the screens position is it’s easy to see while having a vape and shows basic information such as your battery life, wattage, temperature, resistance, and volts.
Located next to the miniature display are the up and down buttons. They are together on one long rocker switch and are clearly marked. They are nice and clicky and have no issues with them when adjusting settings. There is a little movement on them, but no rattle whatsoever.
The fire button, however, is a different story…….and not a good one.
The button is a long oval shape, which protrudes slightly from the mod. First thoughts were this is a good size button, in the perfect position for this device. I was a little concerned with the slight movement and rattle, but it wasn’t too bad. It was however not a clicky button, more on the spongy side. That wasn’t all, after only two days of use the button completely stopped functioning. It couldn’t even be pressed in!!
That’s right…the fire button broke after only 2 days!
I guess that makes my review a damn sight easier now……do not buy the Eleaf iStick Melo.
However, I do need to consider that we were sent a pre-sell sample device for review. So I’m hoping they will make improvements for general release, and based on that I will continue as best as I can with my experience over the 2 days.
The Melo 4 Tank
The Melo 4 sub ohm tank included is the D22, which is the 22mm version and has a 2ml capacity.
It features an easy slide to fill system on the top and comes with a 510 Delrin drip tip. The slide to fill system works well, and when pushed open reveals a fairly decent size fill port, that should accommodate most fill tips.
The tank breaks down into three main pieces; a top cap, glass tube, and the base, so it should be fairly easy to clean if required. The coils screw into the base and chimney which then holds the tank together. It does have two really thick o-rings to help hold it and keep the tank leak-free.
The airflow control ring is easy to turn and stops when fully open, and you have quite large dual airflow slots. All threading on the tank is smooth as well, and the build quality is very good.
In all it’s a slim, sleek, good looking tank, that only has a small Melo 4 engraved in the top cap for branding, and goes together really well with the iStick.
The Coils
The Melo 4 tank comes with two of Eleaf’s new EC coils:
- EC2 0.3ohm Head rated 30 – 80 watts, Kanthal (pre-installed)
- EC2 0.5ohm Head rated 30 – 100 watts, Kanthal
It is also backward compatible with other EC coils, which is great because there is a huge selection. Both coils perform excellently, produce really good flavor and decent clouds.
It is a very good sub-tank to have included as part of the kit.
The Board
The Eleaf Melo has an upgraded board compared to other older iSticks and has a maximum power output of 60W.
It has a full temperature control suite that includes and Ni, Ti, and SS. It also has a TCR and Bypass mode. It has a minimum resistance of 0.1 Ohm in power mode, and 0.5 in TC mode.
A 4400 mAh internal battery powers the Melo, and because it’s only a 60w device that means battery life is really good. In fact, I nearly made it through 2 days of use before it needed a charge (and obviously before the fire button broke).
It also features 2 amp charging, so will re-charge very quickly.
Eleaf iStick Melo Features and Specs:
- Size: 42mmx22mmx132.5mm (including tank)
- Weight: 182g
- Battery capacity: 4400mAh
- Maximum charging current: 2A
- Thread type: 510 thread
- Output wattage: 1-60W
- Output mode: VW/Bypass/TC(Ni/Ti/SS/TCR)
- Resistance range: 0.05-1.5ohm (TC modes)
- 0.1-3.5ohm (VW/Bypass mode)
- Colours: Black, Greenery, Silver, Rose Gold and Red
- E-liquid capacity: 2ml
- Tank diameter: 22mm
- Height: 52.5mm
What’s In The Box:
- Eleaf iStick Melo mod
- Eleaf Melo 4 tank
- EC2 0.3ohm Head (pre-installed)
- EC2 0.5ohm Head
- Quick charge USB cable
- User Manuals
- Spare Parts
I’m a bit disappointed that I can’t go into more detail in the section, but we always use a device for at least a week before reviewing it.
Unfortunately, that couldn’t be the case with the iStick Melo, as it broke after two days, so all I can give you is my experience on the performance in that time.
Firstly the Melo tank is very good; it produces very good flavor from both of the included coils. It’s a cinch to refill and in my eyes is the best part of this kit.
The Melo mod itself, obviously I’m less impressed with. But this is not just due to the build quality, but also part of its performance.
In power mode, it works well and seems to give out the power you are setting it to with no issues whatsoever. But again with Eleaf, it has Temp Control difficulties.
I tried my Serpent SMM with a fused SS Clapton, and the iStick Melo didn’t have it, it just popped out of TC mode. The Eleaf boards just don’t seem to like exotic coils, which is a shame because I thought a new board might have brought improved TC functionality.
However this, unfortunately, was the only chance I got to try TC before the device broke. So I can’t give you an opinion on whether simple round coils are any better.
I suspect most that would be interested in this device would stick to variable wattage mode, and as I said the Elaf iStick Melo does perform fine here.
Likes
- Slim & pocket-friendly
- Accurate in power mode
- Good tank
- Good battery life
- Easy menu system
- Good features for a basic Kit
- Fast charging
- Subtle branding
- Affordable
Dislikes
- Fire button broke after 2 days!!
- Useless at TC
- Screen is small and basic
- Screen is too dim
- Not firmware upgradeable
As reviewers, we have to say it as we see it and with the Eleaf iStick Melo, it was good for only one thing – putting in the bin.
That may be a little harsh because the included Melo 4 tank was and still is very good. But I can’t really recommend a device that broke after two days use, even if it was a pre-release sample.
All I can say is check out some other reviews, or comments in forums and see if others have had the same issues before parting with any money.
If Eleaf has ironed out the fire button issues, and other vapers are happy with their devices, then this could be a good device. It’s slender, with a big capacity internal battery and fast charging.
But for now, I’d recommend you look for something else.
