The Slimstick is a new prefilled cigalike pod kit from OXVA, and when compared to OXVA mainstays like the XLIM and SQ Pro device ranges you can quickly see it’s somewhat outside of their usual wheelhouse. But with pre-filled pod kits growing in popularity I was keen to get my hands on OXVA’s latest release and put it through its paces.
Without wishing to spoil my review, the OXVA Slimstick presents a remarkably elegant and unorthodox vape kit that’s unlike any of the devices which made OXVA an almost-overnight household name. But can it stand up as a rival to other prefilled vape kits, or have OXVA overplayed their hands this time? Read on to find out whether this kit is for you!
Other OXVA reviews:
MIST’s Verdict
Review Summary: I’d say that those who’ve already moved on to other kinds of vape kits may find it a bit of a step back, but those last holdouts in the Cigarette Smoker contingent may find this to be the device that finally undoes it.
👍 Good Fit For You If:
- You are a smoker looking for an ideal transition device, thanks to its cigarette-like feel and simple operation.
- You prioritize an extremely simple, hassle-free experience with a completely buttonless and screenless design.
- You appreciate a premium, durable feel from a metal (aluminum alloy) body rather than a flimsy plastic one.
- You want excellent flavour that is remarkably smooth, even at a high (20mg) nicotine strength.
- You need a long-lasting battery (1500mAh) for extended use between charges.
- You enjoy thoughtful, premium details like haptic feedback when inserting a pod.
❌ Look Elsewhere If:
- You are an existing vaper who enjoys customization, as this device lacks adjustable airflow, power settings, or any menus.
- You require fast charging, as the 1A charge speed is slower than many modern alternatives.
- You want the freedom to use your own bottled e-liquids, as this is a closed, prefilled pod system.
- You dislike devices that cannot stand upright while charging.
- You are looking for a device that produces large clouds of vapour.
Review Disclosure: OXVA has supplied me with the Slimstick device I’ve been using for this review, along with the majority of the available pods for the device. I appreciate this generosity; however, OXVA are aware that none of the thoughts and opinions I express in these reviews are up for debate or susceptible to influence. Whether I like the kit or not, you’ll know.
Video Review
Packaging and Labels
The OXVA Slimstick is packaged in a red and white cardboard box that strongly resembles the packaging of the recently released XLIM GO 2 Kit —perhaps this is OXVA’s current colour-scheme?
The front of the box’s top shows the OXVA Slimstick logo, with a plastic window in the middle displaying the device within. Beneath the window, text indicating which flavour of pod is included with this particular kit. At the bottom, of course, we can see a TPD health warning.
One side of the box lists features such as haptic feedback and the 1500mAh battery, while the other side features a QR code and contact info for OXVA.
The back of the box lists the contents, health warnings, and an ingredients list for the e-liquid stored inside the included pod.
Inside the box, we find the Slimstick device held securely in place by a plastic insert. The included pod is already inside the kit; however, a rubber seal on the base of the pod prevents an electrical connection until after purchase.
The Slimstick Kit does not include a USB-C charger, which is necessary for recharging. However, this is not uncommon, and these days it’s unusual not to have any USB-C cables at home.
Build Quality
Score: 4.8 out of 5
The Slimstick has a delightful hand feel to it! Unlike many other prefilled pod devices, the Slimstick has an entirely metal exterior made from a very lightweight aluminium alloy. The result is a device that is easy to carry but doesn’t feel flimsy or fragile when gripped tightly. The smoothed and rounded edges of the device also enhance grip comfort. A lot of time was invested in making the Slimstick enjoyable to hold.
One of the thin sides of the device features a battery indication LED at the base that illuminates when the device is in use and when a pod is inserted, indicating the charge level. The charging port is on the base of the kit. This does mean you can’t charge it standing up, but only extremely picky people like me take issue with that kind of thing.
The pod design is exciting. Clearly built to resemble cigarette filters, a sparkly colour indicates the flavour within; however, this colour is entirely hidden once you insert the pod, which leaves only the white (filter-esque) mouthpiece protruding from the device. Each pod comes with a rubber dust cap that I’d recommend you hang onto to prevent lint buildups, if you intend to juggle multiple pods at once.
Overall, a tremendously attractive machine that combines an understated elegance with intuitive comfort considerations.
Performance
Score: 4.5 out of 5
The Slimstick, in standard OXVA fashion, is extremely simple in terms of functionality. It’s a buttonless kit that fires entirely by draw activation. There’s a noticeable lack of airflow control; however, considering the cigalike aspects of the device, this isn’t unusual, as cigalikes ordinarily aim to have consistent draws and inhales.
The draw-activation is very fast and responsive, with no detectable delay between when you start puffing and when you begin to taste vapour.
A really nice touch is the addition of haptic feedback, or ‘rumble’ tech as someone of my age bracket might call it. When the pod is placed into the device, a brief tremor is felt throughout the kit to confirm that an electrical connection has been made. It’s a small thing that isn’t essential, but that kind of gentle indication is very unobtrusive, and you begin to miss it when using other devices!
Outside of these points, there isn’t much to say about the Slimstick’s performance, as it maintains its functionality very simply. In fact, that leads neatly to the next segment…
Ease of Use
Score: 5 out of 5
I honestly cannot imagine a situation in which someone finds the OXVA Slimstick too complex to use. The buttonless, screenless setup is inherently optimised, particularly without any extra features, modes or menus to navigate.
I would also suspect that this device would be particularly beneficial for anyone with moderate mobility issues, as the pods don’t require any unscrewing or complex movements. Remove them from the blister packs, drop them in, and start puffing.
Battery Life
Score: 4.5 out of 5
The Slimstick features a 1500mAh battery, which seems appropriate for a device of its relative size. I’ve found the battery to be long-lasting as well, and I don’t believe the kit uses too much power for each firing of the inserted pod.
On top of this, cigalike users tend, in my experience, to be less likely to engage in chain vaping, as they usually retain some muscle memory from smoking and tend to stop around the point a cigarette would be extinguished.
That 1500mAh battery is likely to go a decent distance. Sadly, the charge speed isn’t incredible at only 1A, but it’s a minor complaint about an otherwise excellent battery cell.
Flavour Output
Score: 4.9 out of 5
NOW we’re talking! The Slimstick pods by OXVA all contain 2ml of 20mg e-liquid in a wide variety of flavours. I’m not sure how they did it, but despite my generally finding 10mg to be my utmost maximum nic strength, I actually had zero issue inhaling these 20mg pods.
OXVA has clearly put just as much effort into making them smooth to inhale as it has into making them tasty, and it certainly pulled that off!
Of the flavours I’ve tried, my favourite three would have to be:
- Lychee Ice – A delectable ‘Asian grape’ flavour with a touch of perfume and a love balance of ice
- Lemon Lime – A great take on a classic combo, with sweet lemon juice clashing in ecstasy against sour and zesty lime rind flavouring.
- Cola Ice – I LOVE COLA VAPES, and this OXVA one is particularly nice. They did what every cola juice needs to get right: an additional note of ‘gassiness/carbonation’ that prevents it from tasting too much like a candy vape.
Summary
The OXVA Slimstick Prefilled Pod Kit is a marvellous little kit that’s perfect for anyone still finding it difficult to quit smoking. I’d say that those who’ve already moved on to other kinds of vape kits may find it a bit of a step back, but those last holdouts in the Cigarette Smoker contingent may find this to be the device that finally undoes it.
The MIST Favourite Feature:
- Ease of Use: It was a brilliant call by OXVA to ensure that the Slimstick is extremely user-friendly. A person can have never used a vape before and master this kit in seconds, which is going to help a lot of people quit smoking.