Vaporesso Xros Pro v. Innokin Trine
The new Innokin Trine is out, and with one colleague raving about it, I was keen to test it out - particularly as it features an innovative vape battery feature that makes it quite unique in the world of vape kits.
Batteries aren’t everything though, so I decided to compare it against the Vaporess Xros Pro to see how it performs.
If you’re a regular reader, you may notice this is the third time I’ve compared a new vape kit to an Xros. This is for a good reason - the quality of Xros devices is so good we often use them as a benchmark.
So how does the Trine measure up? I’ve been trying it side by side with the Xros Pro for the last week as well as getting feedback from colleagues. Here’s what we found out…
At a glance
Battery
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the Xros Pro comes with a perfectly acceptable 1200mAh battery which will provide most vapers with a day of life. It also lasts a bit longer than the Trine’s 1000mAh battery. I’ve also mentioned the Pro’s very impressive charging speed before, and it certainly charges faster than the Trine.
However, the Innokin Trine really comes into its own with its removable battery functionality, which more than makes up for the shorter battery life.
This is pretty unique for a device the size of Trine, as these devices simply aren’t large enough to use standard replaceable vape batteries. Handily, the Trine battery charges in the device, so you don’t need an external battery charger.
Even better, the Trine kit comes with a spare battery included, so there’s no need to add to your order to get the full benefit. When the batteries come to the end of their lives, you’ll be able to carry on using your device by buying a new battery - which is much cheaper than buying a whole new kit.
However, my colleague Corey had a strange experience with his Trine - when he put the device down on its base, it would sometimes turn off. I didn’t experience that with mine, so it could be a fault with Corey’s device - but we do have to knock a point off for that, putting the Trine and Xros Pro back to even.
Functionality
The Xros Pro delivers up to 30 watts of power, while the Trine delivers a maximum of 25 watts (although this may be limited to 15 watts depending on the pod you use it with). On the other hand, the Trine automatically sets the best wattage for the coil you are using.
This is a great feature for less experienced users, as it reduces the chance of using a high wattage that might burn out the coil. If you want more control over the device, you can override this by setting the wattage yourself.
Both devices come with easy-to-use airflow controls, although the Trine’s airflow is set on the front rather than on the side.
The Xros Pro does come with more menu options. If you click twice you can turn the light indicator on the bottom of the device on or off, while if you click four times (not twice, as the instructions say) you can choose to clear the puff counter.
The Trine doesn’t have these options, and the screen simply displays wattage level, battery level, coil resistance and voltage. To be honest, I think that’s all the average vaper needs. However, I think that the Xros Pro has a slight edge over the Trine by showing the battery level percentage rather than an indicator line.
The Trine does have one extra interesting feature - EcoDrain (Self-Discharging) mode. This is NOT for normal, everyday use - instead, when you have finished using the battery, you can use this function to completely drain it.
While I don’t completely understand this, Innokin tells me it should minimise environmental harm and/or make the battery easier to recycle.
Ease of use
Both the Xros Pro and the Trine are filled in exactly the same way - you pop the cap off, insert the e-liquid bottle into the filling hole and squeeze the bottle.
This is great news for the Trine, because Xros devices have always been the easiest pod vapes to fill. It’s certainly much better than the bungs used by devices like the Oxva Xlim Pro (much as I love it) or even worse, those that have special filling bottles!
Both come with an easy-to-use airflow adjustment and allow you to adjust power by first clicking the power button and then holding it down to cycle through wattage. The Trine allows you to choose the exact wattage level, while Xros Pro allows you to cycle through three power modes (unless using the 0.4ohm pod). Both are good options, depending on whether you prefer exact control over wattage or the simplicity of three choices.
With both devices, the device will briefly fire as you click the button to select power adjustment mode. I find this annoying, but it’s not a major issue.
As mentioned, the Trine does come with a removable battery, and it’s very easy to replace once you know how. Just squeeze the sides and pull it out. (I say ‘once you know how’ - I obviously tried this first without reading the instructions, and struggled to pull the battery out.)
I do like that the Trine’s charging port is on the side. This allows you to stand the device up when you charge it, which ensures the coil remains saturated with e-liquid.
On the other hand, the Trine pod sits deep in the device. This is a clear negative, as it is harder to see when you have run out of e-liquid, increasing the chance of a burnt coil. In contrast, the Xros Pro only has the very base of the pod set in the device, making it easier to see how much e-liquid remains.
Another negative for the Trine is its firing button. The Xros Pro button has a bit more resistance, so it doesn’t tend to fire when it is in your pocket. However, the Trine fires too easily, which means it frequently fires up when it is in your pocket.
Style and comfort
I’m not particularly keen on the protruding front panel of the Xros Pro. However, apart from that I really like its solid feel and polished finish. The screen is also fantastic, as it is invisible until it is needed, then magically lights up when you press the power button. In fact, the whole device has grown on me since I first used it and rated it a three out of five for style and comfort - I now think it deserves an extra star.
The Trine is a bit more of a traditional pod design which lacks the protruding front of the Xros Pro. It’s also lighter than the Pro, with less of a glossy finish. It doesn’t look cheap, and despite being lighter doesn’t feel flimsy, but it also doesn’t look and feel as premium as the Xros Pro.
The Trine display is clear, but the text is a little bit chunky and old-fashioned looking compared to the Pro. However, I do really like the fact that when charging, the Trine button lights up with a colour that indicates battery level.
Flavour and airflow
There’s nothing wrong with the Trine’s flavour, but the Xros Pro’s flavour is better, delivering a deeper, richer taste with the same e-liquid. (For reference, we tested it with Halo Menthol Blast, Ohm Brew Salts Loco as well as a secret, under-development Halo fruit flavour ;).)
That said, I do prefer the closed airflow on the Trine. When the Xros Pro is fully closed off, it’s pretty much unvapable, whereas the Trine delivers a proper Mouth-to-Lung vape. Still, flavour is the most important thing here, and this gives the Xros Pro the edge.
Price point
Price point is always a difficult one to handle as prices change so often in the vape industry! That said, at the time of writing the Vaporesso Xros Pro is £26.99. The Pro is a great device, and you can feel the quality in your hand - but at the same time, the Innokin Trine is remarkable value at £14.89 - more than £10.00 cheaper.
Wrapping up
While I love the Trine’s removable battery, overall I prefer the Xros Pro. However, as always it does depend on personal preference - and I have one colleague who absolutely loves the Trine.
If you would benefit from having a spare battery, prefer a lighter device and like the option of a restricted Mouth-to-Lung vape, the Trine might be the right choice for you. With everything from recyclable packaging to replaceable batteries, it’s a great choice for the eco-friendly vaper, and it’s also at a very reasonable price.
On the other hand, if you want a single, long-lasting charge from your battery, a little more power and extra flavour, I’d suggest choosing the Vaporesso Xros Pro. It is more expensive, but, in this case, I think the extra quality justifies the expense.
Tech specs compared
Compatible products
