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QZI Megatron

This morning’s vape mail may just fall into the “epic” category: our new toy today was the QZI Megatron Battery Mod #18.

The QZI Megatron Battery Mod

QZI Megatron Battery Mod and Atomizer

The Megatron is a beauty. Constructed of thick, solid stainless steel with brass contacts, we probably should have been warned before taking it out into the sunlight. The Megatron is polished to a mirror finish so reflective that there was a moment just after unwrapping it from the packing materials that the sunlight flashing off its surface was literally blinding. The Megatron is not a mod for those who are obsessive-compulsive about fingerprints: it is, unabashedly, a beautifully highly-polished mod that is going to attract fingerprints like donuts attract cops.

The QZI Megatron is a bottom-fired mod, with an adjustable-throw button that is wonderfully designed. A few twists of the button will lock it into a position flush with the mod, preventing it from firing, and it can be twisted back out to a position comfortable for firing. An adjustable mechanism on the inside of the switch allows the internal throw to be adjusted as well, to account for variances in battery sizes.  Between these internal and external throw adjustments, we were able to make the button on our Megatron work exactly how we wanted it, with exactly the amount of distance between the “on” and “off” positions that was comfortable for us.  The switch, while very easy to manipulate, has a large spring more than sturdy enough to allow standing the Megatron mod on end without it firing, even under the weight of what is a rather hefty amount of metal.

The QZI has all the hallmarks of a quality mod: the finish is flawless, the threading is smooth as silk, and the laser-etched engraving is deep and crisp.  Optional tubes are available to handle a range of battery sizes from 18350 up to 18800, meaning this mod can be used with a Kick even with an 18650 battery, something we’ve found to be relatively rare.

A Hybrid… or Not

QZI Megatron Genesis Atomizer

With the QZI Megatron Rebuildable Atomizer or the QZI Megatron Genesis, the mod goes into a Hybrid mode. Rather than use a 510 connector, these atomizer screw directly onto the tube’s threading. This provides a very clean, integrated hybrid-type look, as well as the kind of performance you would expect from a hybrid. While these atomizers cannot be used with other mods, as they lack any kind of standard connector, this tight integration with the Megatron Battery Mod provides excellent conductivity, with negligible voltage loss. Voltage drop was so low, in fact, that even under load our multimeter was barely detecting any loss at the contacts of the Megatron Rebuildable Atomizer — it was registering around .01 volts, if it registered at all.  We suspect we would find similar performance with the Megatron Genesis, but due to what we’re chalking up to an astonishing lack of foresight on our part, we didn’t order one.  We’re kicking ourselves over that right now.

The QZI also comes with a separate top cap with a 510 connector so that it can be used with non-QZI atomizers, giving the best of both worlds: the performance of a hybrid when used with QZI atomizers without giving up the ability to use any other 510-compatible atomizer.

The QZI Megatron Rebuildable Atomizer

The atomizer we ordered, the Megatron Rebuildable Atomizer, is designed as a silica-based dripper.  Setup is about as simple as it gets with a rebuildable: large, generously-slotted screws make it easy to attach coil ends, and we were even sent an instructional video with setup tips and hints in the days just before our Megatron arrived. We had our Megatron up and running in minutes with very little effort, and it’s cranking out huge clouds of vapor with excellent flavor.  Generous amounts of wire and wicking material were provided with the atomizer; certainly enough that we could have botched the job a few times over and still had extra left over.

The Scores

Build Quality: 9/10

The QZI Megatron is solid, the threads are smooth as can be, and there is almost nothing to complain about.  The only thing we can find to complain about, really, is a very slight wobble in the switch, though on close inspection its clear that this is really just a side effect of the switch’s very versatile design.

Looks: 9/10

Looks are, of course, subjective, but we find the QZI Megatron to be a stunning mod, particularly when used with a Megatron atomizer.  The hybrid nature of the Megatron/Megatron combo gives ultra-clean lines and a very integrated look that’s simply gorgeous.

Flexibility: 9/10

There are extremely few mods out there capable of matching the QZI Megatron on flexibility. Battery tubes are available to fit anything from an 18350 to an 18800, for a wide variety of battery (or battery + Kick) options. In addition, the 510 top cap allows the QZI Megatron to be used as dripping or tanked hybrid with a Megatron atomizer, or as a standard 510 battery mod.

Performance: 9/10

The brass contacts, high-quality materials and hybrid nature of the QZI Megatron add up to a mod that can really conduct electricity. We found only very negligible voltage drop and have been extremely pleased with the vapor production and flavor when using the QZI Megatron Rebuildable Atomizer.

Price: 7/10

All of this performance, quality and flexibility doesn’t come cheap. The QZI Megatron Battery Mod is sold by E-Six, QZI’s authorized U.S. reseller, for $234.99 in a package with the QZI Genesis. However, similar price points seem to be relatively common for other high-end mods, particularly hybrids. Frankly, we find that the QZI has many similarly-priced hybrid mods beat on quality, finish and performance, even if it may not have legions of fanboys whipping up the same kind of hype over it.