Hi guys,
I made a new thread for this review of the newly released IPV4, as the main thread seems to be about availability/updates mostly, plus I didn't want it to be buried - please do merge if more appropriate!
I received my Pioneer4You IPV4 this morning. As I'm one of the first to receive it (I got one of only ten units sent to my favourite UK vendor, My ePack), and I've been wanting to get 'in' to YouTube, I thought I should combine these events!
So I made a video. It's long. If you want to see the IPV4 in huge detail, this is the video for you If not, I've put in some time links below to jump around, and a text summary as well.
It has a first unboxing, a long detailed look through the menus, a TC test, and also, sadly, some first HW problems that occurred to me live on camera. It's working fine now, but at least one the problems was a little concerning.
Apologies that the video is not quite the professional standard you may be used to from YouTube. I hope future ones will improve!
My TLDR, spoiler summary of what's in the video:
Since making the video I have been vaping on it exclusively, and I do want to emphasise that I like vaping on it. It feels good in the hand, I like the clear screen (as long as there's no direct sunlight) and the TC is good, probably better than I'm used to from DNA 40 devices. I do hate interacting with it, but I will get used to that more I'm sure. I was quite excited to get a device with memories, as I've long wanted that. It's spoilt somewhat by the fact that you can only use memory settings, you can't set a random wattage without editing one of your memories. So instead of five usable memories, you basically have four, because you need to reserve the fifth as your 'random' memory, for whenever you want to try a new wattage for some temporary purpose (you don't want to keep changing your memory settings else that defeats the object of having pre-saved settings you can rely on.)
Despite the downsides, and assuming the random HW problems I saw do not re-occur regularly, I think I will enjoy using it. It feels good in the hand, which I was surprised at - it's a better grip than my Smok M80; it's bigger than the iStick but that makes it feel more solid; it's clearly much uglier than my Vapor Flask DNA 40 clone, but because it's not solid metal and curved, it does seem to sit easier in the hand (though I do still love the VF.) And because it has a spring loaded 510, that immediately makes it easier to use day-to-day than my VF clone.
Anyway, it's still day one, who knows how things will pan out. But if you're considering the IPV4, I hope my lengthy discussions will give you some further guide to go on (at least until the professional reviewers take over )
YouTube video link:
Pioneer4You IPV4: Unboxing; detailed look and thoughts; TC test; HW problems
Shortcuts to video sections:
Unboxing (just the start of the video!)
Start of using the device
First sign of HW problems
TC vape
Embedded YouTube video:
I made a new thread for this review of the newly released IPV4, as the main thread seems to be about availability/updates mostly, plus I didn't want it to be buried - please do merge if more appropriate!
I received my Pioneer4You IPV4 this morning. As I'm one of the first to receive it (I got one of only ten units sent to my favourite UK vendor, My ePack), and I've been wanting to get 'in' to YouTube, I thought I should combine these events!
So I made a video. It's long. If you want to see the IPV4 in huge detail, this is the video for you If not, I've put in some time links below to jump around, and a text summary as well.
It has a first unboxing, a long detailed look through the menus, a TC test, and also, sadly, some first HW problems that occurred to me live on camera. It's working fine now, but at least one the problems was a little concerning.
Apologies that the video is not quite the professional standard you may be used to from YouTube. I hope future ones will improve!
My TLDR, spoiler summary of what's in the video:
- The form factor I like, it feels good in the hand while vaping
- Normal vaping works fine, of course
- TC works fine, and out of the box - the manual incorrectly states that you must apply a firmware update for TC; you do not, they already installed it.
- The screen is like a mirror and practically unreadable in sunlight / bright light
- I hate the UI
- It has loads of UI weirdness and inconsistencies and just plain stupid design choices
- It has five memory settings, which is great; but you can't set an arbitrary, non-saved wattage (or Joule) outside of the memory - you can only change watts by editing a memory (unlike the SX Mini M/J)
- It has no lock feature of any kind - either lock fire, or lock settings; it should do, and the manual tells you how to do it, but it doesn't work - I believe because the TC firmware update has hidden/removed the lock feature. This could be fixed in a future firmware update.
- I encountered two hardware problems, live on cam:
- It randomly said "Too hot!" at one point, even though I hadn't even fired it for about five minutes. This persisted for several minutes.
- I changed batteries twice, and both times the new set of (fully charged, brand new) batteries read only 50% on the battery meter. This went away after I pressed fire once.
Since making the video I have been vaping on it exclusively, and I do want to emphasise that I like vaping on it. It feels good in the hand, I like the clear screen (as long as there's no direct sunlight) and the TC is good, probably better than I'm used to from DNA 40 devices. I do hate interacting with it, but I will get used to that more I'm sure. I was quite excited to get a device with memories, as I've long wanted that. It's spoilt somewhat by the fact that you can only use memory settings, you can't set a random wattage without editing one of your memories. So instead of five usable memories, you basically have four, because you need to reserve the fifth as your 'random' memory, for whenever you want to try a new wattage for some temporary purpose (you don't want to keep changing your memory settings else that defeats the object of having pre-saved settings you can rely on.)
Despite the downsides, and assuming the random HW problems I saw do not re-occur regularly, I think I will enjoy using it. It feels good in the hand, which I was surprised at - it's a better grip than my Smok M80; it's bigger than the iStick but that makes it feel more solid; it's clearly much uglier than my Vapor Flask DNA 40 clone, but because it's not solid metal and curved, it does seem to sit easier in the hand (though I do still love the VF.) And because it has a spring loaded 510, that immediately makes it easier to use day-to-day than my VF clone.
Anyway, it's still day one, who knows how things will pan out. But if you're considering the IPV4, I hope my lengthy discussions will give you some further guide to go on (at least until the professional reviewers take over )
YouTube video link:
Pioneer4You IPV4: Unboxing; detailed look and thoughts; TC test; HW problems
Shortcuts to video sections:
Unboxing (just the start of the video!)
Start of using the device
First sign of HW problems
TC vape
Embedded YouTube video:
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