Vandy Vape and designer Tony B helped bring squonk mods to the masses in 2017 with the original Pulse mech.
Since then, squonking has become a staple of enthusiast vaping and the Pulse 2 is Vandy Vape’s latest offering in a long series of devices. How does it stack up?
Let’s take a look at the specs:
Dimensions: 82.3mm*54.7mm*28.4mm
Materials: ABS, stainless steel, silicone
Power output: 5W-95W
Battery capacity: 1x eternal 21700, 20700 or 18650 cell
E-liquid capacity: 7ml silicone squonk bottle
Charging: 1A USB-C charging
Construction, fit and finish of the Pulse 2 are good. The chassis is primarily composed of ABS plastic, with some stainless-steel hardware and side panels materials including resin and G10.
Whichever version you opt for, the result is a lightweight mod that still feels robust. Tolerances are precise on our review unit, although the front panel has a very small amount of flex when pressure is applied. This isn’t ideal but it’s not hugely noticeable, either.
Our review unit features the black G10 “obsidian” panels, which give the mod a sleek all-black look and add some texture to the side grips, which is a nice touch. The Pulse 2 is slightly more rounded than its predecessors and is even a little smaller. This is quite impressive for a 21700 regulated squonker.
In terms of user experience, Vandy Vape have attempted to innovate with the Pulse 2. The landmark feature is a new bottom filling bottle system. Dovpo have been the top dog in mainstream squonking for some time now, due to their convenient Topside series, which features a top-filling bottle design. The Pulse 2 flips that concept on its head, with a fill cap on the bottom of the mod.
The Topside configuration adds significant height to the mod and also calls for internal tubing, which can fail over time. The Pulse 2 avoids these things with its bottom fill solution, and I find it to be just as convenient. The result is a compact squonker that can be re-filled without removing the bottle, which is excellent.
A Chip off the Old Block
The updated Vandy chip is a welcome addition to the Pulse family. It’s an extremely simple chip that only offers wattage mode out of the box. Four clicks of the power button allow you to choose from a range of pre-defined power curves, including the option to not use one at all. Holding + and – opens the main menu. From here, you can access all of the more advanced settings, including temperature control, bypass mode, variable voltage, UI customisation and app connectivity.
The Vandy chip allows you to disable or enable any of these main features, which leads to a UI experience tailored to your needs. At the time of writing, the Vandy app, which can control the Pulse 2 via Bluetooth, has been removed from the iOS and Google Play Store, so unfortunately I was unable to test this feature. As seen with the last iteration of the Vandy Chip, the new Vandy Chip has an IP67 waterproof rating, which is great for clumsy vapers.
When it comes to performance, the Pulse 2 doesn’t disappoint. Power delivery is very snappy across the board and 21700 compatibility allows you to comfortably push mid-high wattages for extended periods of time. I found temperature control to be serviceable, if a little conservative, when using a stainless steel build with factory settings. However, TCR can be adjusted and I think TC fans will be pleased with the performance overall.
Battery management seems to be good, too. I was able to consistently get a full day’s vaping from a 4000mAh 21700 at 45W on a single coil. This was cut down to about three hours when using a dual coil build at 75W. The Pulse 2 features 1A USB-C charging, which is on the slow side but external chargers should always be used where possible.
The Wrap
In summary, I am thoroughly impressed with the Pulse 2. The bottom filling bottle design delivers convenience, without sacrificing on size. The updated Vandy chip is solid, offering plenty of functionality, with the option to disable unnecessary features.
While 21700 compatibility is nothing new. it is great to have, especially in such a compact chassis. This mod is now my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants to give squonking a try.
Pros:
- Convenient bottom-fill design
- Reliable chipset
- Compact for a 21700 squonker
Cons:
- Slight flex to the faceplate
