Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro Pod Kit 18W Review: Specs, Price and Who It Suits
The Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro Pod Kit 18W is a compact, refillable pod system wrapped in a nostalgic retro shell, currently listed at £6.99 at Vapesourcing.uk via our VapeBargains deal page. As with all our reviews, this is a specifications-based assessment drawn from manufacturer and retailer information — nobody at VapeBargains has handled or tested this device, so judge it here on paper rather than on any claimed real-world performance.
What it is
The XROS Mini Retro is a small, draw-activated pod kit built around Vaporesso’s established XROS pod platform, housed in a compact retro-styled casing designed for pocket portability. It uses a built-in rechargeable battery (no separate cell to swap) and takes refillable XROS Mini pods, meaning you fill them yourself with your choice of e-liquid rather than buying prefilled replacements. There are no buttons or wattage settings to fiddle with — it is purely inhale-to-fire, which keeps the device simple for newcomers while still appealing to experienced vapers who want a fuss-free backup kit.
As with all nicotine-containing e-liquids sold in the UK, any liquid used in this device must stay within the legal limits: maximum 20mg/ml nicotine strength, maximum 10ml bottle size, and a maximum 2ml pod or tank capacity. Always check pod capacity and liquid strength before filling.
Key specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Refillable pod kit, integrated battery |
| Output | 18W maximum |
| Design | Retro form factor, compact and pocket-friendly |
| Pod compatibility | Vaporesso XROS Mini pods |
| E-liquid compatibility | Nic salt and freebase e-liquids |
| Activation | Draw-activated (auto-firing) |
| Battery | Built-in rechargeable cell (capacity not stated) |
Note that exact battery capacity, coil resistance options and charging specifics are not stated in the available information, so we haven’t included figures we can’t verify.
Who it suits and who it does not
On paper, the XROS Mini Retro looks best suited to:
- Smokers transitioning to vaping who want a simple, no-settings device for MTL-style vaping.
- Vapers who want an ultra-portable backup kit to carry alongside a main device.
- Anyone who prefers refillable pods over prefilled systems, for cost-per-ml savings and liquid choice over time.
- Vapers drawn to retro styling who want something that looks distinctive rather than generic black plastic.
It’s likely less suited to:
- Cloud-chasers or sub-ohm fans, since 18W is firmly in MTL/restricted DL territory, not the 20–50W dual-coil range.
- Vapers who want adjustable wattage or custom settings — this is a draw-activated device with no controls.
- Anyone wanting the largest possible battery capacity in a pocket device, since battery figures aren’t specified and the compact form factor suggests this isn’t a long-haul, all-day device without top-ups.
How it compares on paper
Within our range, the step-up option is the Vaporesso XROS 6 Pod Kit 30W at £14.49, which offers a higher 30W ceiling and presumably more battery capacity and features for those who want extra headroom, at roughly double the price.
If refilling your own pods isn’t appealing, the Vaporesso Dojo Blast 7K Fresh Prefilled Pod Kit sits at the same £6.99 price point but takes the opposite approach — prefilled convenience rather than refillable flexibility. The choice between the two comes down to whether you value control over your own e-liquid and nicotine strength (XROS Mini Retro) or ready-to-go simplicity (Dojo Blast).
For e-liquid to fill the XROS Mini Retro’s pods, the Vaporesso Deliciu V2 Nicotine Salt E-liquid 10ml at £1.89 is a budget-friendly nic salt option that fits within UK legal limits, and would pair naturally with this device’s MTL-oriented 18W output. We also stock the Vaporesso Luxe X Corex 2.0 XL Replacement Pods (2 Pack) at £5.99, though note these are for the Luxe X range rather than the XROS Mini — not interchangeable with this kit.
Against larger mod-based kits generally, the XROS Mini Retro trades maximum wattage and battery capacity for genuine pocket size and one-touch operation — a reasonable trade for anyone prioritising portability and simplicity over raw power.
Price and value
At £6.99, the XROS Mini Retro undercuts most pod kits on sheer entry cost, making it one of the cheapest ways into refillable pod vaping currently listed on our deal page. Because it’s refillable rather than prefilled, ongoing running costs should work out lower over time than disposable-style prefilled pods, provided you’re buying e-liquid separately — something worth factoring in given the Vaping Products Duty of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid, which began on 1 October 2026 and now applies to bottled e-liquid purchases.
Compared with the £14.49 XROS 6 kit, this is roughly half the price for a lower wattage ceiling and presumably a smaller battery — a sensible trade if you want a genuinely compact device rather than a feature-rich main kit.
Verdict on paper
Based purely on its published specifications, the Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro Pod Kit 18W looks like a solid, low-cost entry into refillable pod vaping, particularly for smokers switching to vaping or anyone wanting a compact, simple-to-use backup device. Its retro styling adds a point of difference over generic pod kits at a similar price, and the refillable format should offer better long-term value than prefilled alternatives once ongoing e-liquid duty is factored in. It won’t suit anyone chasing higher wattage or adjustable settings, but as an affordable, no-fuss MTL pod kit, it’s worth a look at £6.99 via our deal page.
This is a specifications-based review. We have not tested this device ourselves; the details come from manufacturer and retailer information, checked on 7 October 2026. Prices change, so see the deal page for the current price.
