Eleaf iStick Pico Review – I choose you Pico-chu!

Updated: October 6, 2023

E-Leaf has been in the vape game for some time now and we have enjoyed previous offering from the company like the iStick 60W which provided users with a convenient top fill tank and provided great flavor and even better vapor. Today we will be looking at a new generation of iStick, the iStick Pico, a smaller more compact vape that offers users a whopping 75W of power. If you are new to vaping be sure to check out our buyers guide to learn more about what to look for when purchasing your first vape.

Review: iStick Pico

Eleaf Istick Pico Vape

Manufacturing Quality Of Eleaf Istick Pico Vape

Manufacturing Quality

Just like we’ve experienced with other E-Leaf units the Pico is constructed with the highest attention to detail. You can feel the quality of the iStick Pico the minute you remove it from the box. The parts are nicely machined, the Melo 3 Mini tank screws nicely into the mod and sits flush against it. This tank is a top fill tank which is a personal favourite because it means you can easily fill your liquid on the go without removing the entire tank from the mod.

The display is large, bright and easy to read. All  the buttons are response and operate without issue. The mod takes an 18650 battery which is sold separately. To install an 18650 simply unscrew the cap that is beside the tank to expose the battery chamber and insert your 18650 of choice. If you are looking for a reliable 18650 you can pick up the LG HE2 22A directly from us.

What we love about the way that the battery bay has been designed it has been moved away from the tank and atomizer. A lot of mods have the battery located directly below the tank, which makes sense from a manufacturers standpoint to save space, but it also puts your battery in the direct path of the heat coming from your tank. Heating your battery is never a good thing and can lead to quicker degradation of battery life and in extreme circumstances the battery failing all together.

With the iStick Pico’s setup this issue is avoided by shifting the battery over so it is not directly below the tank and thus not as effected by travelling heat. After a good 10 minute vape session with this unit we even removed the battery to feel the temperature and to our delight we found it to be still at room temperature. What this ultimately means is the iStick Pico will do a better job at preserving the life of your 18650, which means more sessions and less battery changes, which is always a plus. People who use 510 cartridges tend to prefer the Tronian Tautron.

Flavor Quality Of Eleaf Istick Pico Vape

Flavor Quality

 Another area that always shines for E-Leaf units is the vapor quality and once again the Pico is no exception. The Melo 3 Mini tank and included atomizers do an amazing job at producing smooth, tasty, satisfying vapor from start to finish.

The unit has the option of temperature control if you are using coils that are setup for that mode. Temperature control is great because it allows you to set the unit at a temperature you prefer to vape at and the mod controls the wattage to keep the unit at that temperature.

It also helps with the dreaded dry hit, which happens when a coil is heated with little to no juice left in the tank. Without temperature control you will burn the cotton wick and it will result in a harsh, nasty tasting draw. With temperature control the unit senses the coil is exceeding its set temperature and cuts the power, saving your coil.

However you do not need temperature control to achieve great hits with the iStick Pico. Even in basic wattage modes the vapor produced was extremely smooth. There is no influences on the flavor of your liquid from the tank and we have to say this is one of the best tasting units we have used. If you are someone who also uses 510 oil cartridges and other vapers have reported PCKT One Plus is a good place to start.

Power Flexibility Of Eleaf Istick Pico VapePower Flexibility

 This unit offers users an impressive 75 watts of power, which is amazing for a unit this compact. Because of the power range this unit is great for beginners and cloud chasers alike.

Personally we found ourselves using the unit at about 25 watts, but for those who really want to chase clouds you can pump up the wattage to get the production you want to achieve. And for those who prefer thinner vapor you can simply turn the wattage down and vape in a range that you find more comfortable.

As we previously mentioned this device does offer a temperature control mode as well which gives users more flexibility with how they wish to enjoy their vapor. The setups on this unit are endless and it will take some trial and error to find a wattage setting that works for you.

Ease Of Use Eleaf Istick Pico VapeEase of Use

The iStick Pico is a fairly straight forward unit to use. The first thing you will have to do with the unit is install a new coil. Simply unscrew the bottom of the tank and screw in the primed atomizer of your choice. Once the atomizer is in place, screw the bottom back onto the unit and you are ready to fill the tank.

The Melo 3 Mini is a top fill tank which is always welcome addition as it makes filling your e-liquid infinitely easier. Just screw off the top part of the Melo 3 Mini tank to expose the filling chamber and load it with your favourite e-liquid. Be sure to check out our wide selection of e-juice for some of the tastiest flavors available.

Once your tank is filled just screw the lid back on and you are ready to vape. Controlling the mod is also very easy; when you first receive your unit it will be set to wattage mode, to adjust your watts simply use the + or – button which is located on the bottom of the unit.

To switch between modes press the power button 3 times and then use the + and – buttons to cycle through the various settings. When you find the mode you want, press the power button once to select it. The iStick Pico also offers the ability upgrade the on-board firmware via USB and a computer. This was you can always make sure your Pico is operating with the latest firmware from E-Leaf. All in all, once you learn the devices quirks it is a super easy device to use.

We highly recommend updating your unit because it unlocks the “Smart Mode” which is great for those who use multiple tanks. Smart mode remembers the set wattage for specific coil resistances. This means if you use a 1.2 ohm coil at 15 watts and then use .5 ohm at 30 watts, whenever you switch between the 2 tanks the mod will automatically adjust your wattage setting to your personal preference. This is a unique feature which can actually be quite useful when put into practice. Just make sure your iStick Pico is upgraded in order to use this mode.

 

Portability Of Eleaf Istick Pico VapePortability

For a mod vape, we definitely consider the iStick Pico portable. Sure it is not as small as a pen unit like the EGO one, but if you want to achieve larger clouds and control over your vapor quality you will want a unit with a mod.

Some mods are quite large and heavy making them uncomfortable to carry around in your pocket. The Pico on the other hand is almost a perfect size for a mod vape, its small enough that it fits easily in your pocket and it sits nicely in the palm of your hand but large enough to give that quality feel and provide ample power for large clouds.

The topfill tank increases the portability allowing you to easily fill juice on the go and the removable 18650 battery allows you to carry multiple batteries for extended use. Needless to say the Pico has been my go to portable vape for the past week and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.

  

Overall Experience Of Eleaf Istick Pico VapeOverall Experience

If you are in the market for a portable mod vaporizer that can still keep up with the big boys it’s hard for us to not recommend the iStick Pico. The device is compact, sleek and sexy and outputs amazing vapor.

The Melo 3 Mini tank is the MVP of this unit offering a user friendly construction and filling experience while outputting some of the best tasting vapor we have experienced. The mod of the Pico is cleverly constructed with safety in mind by shifting the battery away from the heat of the included tank which will help preserve the life of your batteries.

The display and menu interface is intuitive, fluent and easy to use making it great for those who want to make the step from pen vapes to mod units. We can’t say enough good things about this vape, but don’t take our word for it, get one yourself and let us know how you like it.

We hope you enjoyed reading our iStick Pico review! We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment in the section below, you can do so anonymously 😉 Thanks for reading and as always, keep vapin’! 😉
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About Author
Avatar for Alex Karakatsanis

Alex is a cannabis enthusiast, long time vaporizer lover, writer and filmmaker. He is also a board and video game nerd with a penchant for hosting a weekly board game night. Partygoers have been heard saying things like “is anyone else going to show up?” and “I don’t think I can make it next week”. He strives to make people laugh at every opportunity and sees cannabis as a helpful tool in doing so.

The reviews and ratings are based on personal and decade-plus of industry experience. Such content is based on the opinion of the Editor/Author. They are solely provided as a basis for research and should be used only as guidance. We encourage thorough research by all visitors to attain the most objective viewpoint before purchasing.