Aspire PockeX: the guide to a good start

Few devices are recommended to newcomers as often, and explained as badly, as the Aspire PockeX. Most British pages that cover it reprint a spec list and stop there, when everything actually turns on two decisions: which coil value you fit, and what goes in the tank. Here is what this device really does, what it does not do, and how to set it up without killing the first coil.

Aspire PockeX: which model are we talking about

This article covers the PockeX Pocket AIO, the tube shaped version, the one sold as the PockeX kit by most British retailers. It is the original of the range and by a wide margin the most widely stocked.

Aspire has since extended the line, notably with a PockeX Box in a boxy format, carrying a 2000 mAh battery and a USB-C port. Its figures do not transfer to the Pocket AIO, so do not mix the two spec sheets when comparing.

Be equally careful with listings written for markets outside Europe, where stated tank capacities sometimes differ. In Britain a refillable tank is capped at 2 ml, and that is the capacity you will receive whatever the photograph shows.

What the Pocket AIO actually holds

The PockeX is an all in one: the battery and the tank do not separate, and there is no atomiser to screw on or choose. That single design decision explains both its simplicity and its limits.

The device carries a built in 1500 mAh cell, a comfortable capacity for a tube of this size. Charging happens through the port in the base, micro USB on the earlier production runs and USB-C on later ones. Check that detail on the retailer listing before ordering, particularly if you plan to travel with one cable, because stock still in circulation is not uniform.

Capacity is 2 ml, in line with British rules. Filling is done from the top by removing the upper section, so the device never has to be turned upside down. A Max line is marked on the tank, and going past it is the leading cause of flooding: the excess comes back out as soon as the coil is seated and pools in the central chimney.

The tube measures roughly 117.7 mm long by 19.7 mm across and weighs about 86 g. It is a slim object that lives in a shirt pocket, with a single fire button, no screen, no menu and no power adjustment. You press, it heats, and the device delivers whatever the cell can supply at that moment.

Choosing between the 0.6 and 1.2 ohm Aspire PockeX coil

The PockeX takes U-Tech coils, derived from those of the Aspire Nautilus X. Two values sit in the catalogue: 0.6 ohm in stainless steel and 1.2 ohm in kanthal. This is the only genuine technical decision you will make, and it shapes the entire experience.

The 1.2 ohm gives a tighter draw, close to a mouth to lung inhale, with less vapour and lower liquid consumption. It pairs with higher labelled nicotine figures and with bottles that are not heavy on vegetable glycerine.

The 0.6 ohm runs hotter, produces a considerably larger volume of vapour and empties the tank faster. It wants a slightly thicker bottle and a lower labelled figure, since the same figure that felt comfortable on the 1.2 ohm will feel harsh here.

One thing is often left unsaid: the airflow on the Pocket AIO is not adjustable. The character of the draw therefore depends entirely on the coil fitted, which is what makes this choice decisive rather than cosmetic. If you are still unsure which style suits you, the logic in our guide on how to choose a vape will save you a wasted purchase.

The bottle that goes with an Aspire PockeX

A 50/50 ratio is the sensible starting point, and it suits the 1.2 ohm coil particularly well. It wicks quickly and limits the risk of a dry hit on a device that offers you no way to compensate.

With the 0.6 ohm, the glycerine share can climb, which brings more vapour and a rounder mouthfeel. In exchange, the thicker liquid takes longer to travel up through the cotton, so you must never draw on a tank that is nearly empty.

Nicotine works inversely to power. The lower the coil, the lower the labelled figure needs to sit for the same sensation, because each puff carries far more vapour. Judge it over two or three days on the actual coil rather than copying a number from a chart, and the full reasoning is set out in our guide to choosing an e-liquid.

The five minutes that decide the first week

A new coil comes out of its packet dry. Put a few drops of liquid directly onto the cotton visible through the side ports before fitting it. That single gesture prevents the majority of disappointments with this kit.

Then fill the tank without passing the Max line, close it up, and leave it alone for five to ten minutes. That pause lets the cotton saturate completely, including the parts hand priming never reaches.

Follow with two or three draws without pressing the button, to pull liquid towards the wick. The first proper puffs are then taken as short presses, never long ones, while everything settles.

Finally, keep the tank above a quarter full. Being an all in one with no power control, the PockeX compensates for nothing: an underfed cotton bed fires dry and carbonises in a single puff.

What the Aspire PockeX does not do

It does not adjust. No variable wattage, no adjustable airflow, no custom curve. That is a deliberate design choice, which delights anyone wanting a simple object and frustrates anyone who likes to tinker.

The device warms noticeably under sustained use, especially with the low resistance coil. Chaining long draws accentuates it and tires the wick faster than the spec sheet would suggest.

The drip tip is proprietary, and the top section cannot be swapped for an off the shelf mouthpiece. The 2 ml tank also means several refills a day once your use is regular, which is worth knowing before you commit.

Longevity, finally, rests mainly on coil availability. It remains good, since the range is long established and stocked by most British retailers, but that is the criterion to watch before buying any hardware of this type.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a PockeX coil last?

No fixed duration holds up. It depends on the bottle, the sweetness of the flavourings and how much you vape. The reliable signal is flavour loss on a full tank, not a number of days.

Can I vape while it is charging?

Yes, the device allows it. It is still better to let the charge finish, since the heat from vaping adds to the heat of the cell at the end of a cycle.

Why does liquid collect in the central chimney?

Usually because the Max line was passed when filling, or because the device was left lying on its side. Wiping the chimney with a rolled tissue clears it.

Are the 0.6 and 1.2 ohm coils interchangeable?

Both fit the same tank. You simply adapt the bottle to suit, and accept that the character of the draw changes completely.

Is it suitable for someone who has never vaped?

The absence of settings makes it very approachable. The trade off is that the coil has to be chosen correctly from the outset, since nothing can be corrected afterwards through the controls.

The last word on the Aspire PockeX

The Aspire PockeX remains a coherent entry point provided you take it for what it is: a 1500 mAh all in one, a 2 ml tank, two coil values and no adjustment whatsoever. Its success rests on two decisions taken before the first puff, the coil value and the bottle that goes with it.

Take the 1.2 ohm with a 50/50 if you want a tight, discreet draw, and the 0.6 ohm with a glycerine heavier bottle if you want volume. Prime it, wait, stay under the fill line, and the Aspire PockeX behaves exactly as expected. After that it is a matter of watching coil wear, a subject covered in our guide on when to change a vape coil.

Editorial content for adult readers only. Vaping products usually contain nicotine, a substance that causes addiction. Not for sale to under-18s in the United Kingdom. This article is not a buying recommendation.