Which of these vaping titans will come out on top?
The Wismec Tinker 2 and GeekVape Aegis X are locking horns for this head-to-head.
With both devices offering a similar set of features, we aim to separate the wheat from the chaff, to find our vaping champion!
1 – Appearance
Tinker 2
Let’s get this out of the way…The Tinker 2 is a looker. Sporting a futuristic design, which extends all the way from the button to the tactile leather grip and striking colour screen, every aspect has been carefully considered.
The metal body lends a weighty, high quality feel, without being too heavy or cumbersome, plus the rounded edges and flush USB port cover also add a nice touch, keeping everything neat and tidy.
Another thing noted is how robust the Tinker 2 is, there is no button rattle and everything feels like it could withstand a lot of abuse without missing a beat.
Aegis X
GeekVape has been honing it’s Aegis models with each release, and it goes without saying that the Aegis X is by far the best looking model yet.
Everything about the Aegis X has been thought of, from the protective rubberised body housing, well positioned buttons and huge colour screen, no stone has been left unturned.
The Aegis X is perhaps not as heavy as the Tinker 2, but as soon as you power up the screen and see it in all it’s glory, it’s difficult to deny just how good this e-cig looks.
The screen, whilst one of the best features is arguably its biggest weakness. If the device had any significant impact to the screen, there is a chance that it may not be quite as robust as the Tinker 2.
Score: Tinker 2 – 0 | Aegis X – 1
This was a tough one, but since we’re judging these e-cigs on appearance, the round had to go to the Aegis X, mostly due to that stunning screen.
2 – Performance
As ever, performance is always the most crucial aspect when it comes to e-cigs. there’s no point having a stunningly designed product if it doesn’t have performance to match!
Tinker 2
The Reuleaux range has always sported serious performance credentials, from the use of DNA chips through to the current high-tech Avatar board, we always expected good performance, but we ended up with outstanding performance!
We used a 0.2ohm coil for this test and cranked the wattage up to 70W to see what kind of vape experience the Tinker 2 could give.
The Avatar chip can apparently fire up coils in just 0.001s, and to give credit where it is due, the coil certainly did heat up to optimal temperature almost instantly, with no noticeable ramp up time.
The buttons are responsive, there is no menu lag and everything works exactly as it should do.
Also it is worth mentioning that the 510 connection is solid and the ohm detection had very little variance. Wismec have come a long way in this department and the Tinker 2 is proof of that.
The Tinker 2 is dust, water and shock resistant, and after taking a dip in some water, there was no water ingress and everything carried on working as normal.
It was dropped from around 4-5ft and once again, continued to work regardless. The seals present will certainly repel dust, although the screen can tend to collect it around the edges which might sound picky, but it was still noticed.
Aegis X
There is a certain expectation when using an e-cig from the Aegis range. Virtually all of them have been consistently great, but that always raises expectations as a result!
Expectations aside, the Aegis X performed admirably with the same 0.2ohm coil used on the Tinker 2. The AS 2.0 chip inside didn’t miss a beat when in use, with no noticeable ramp up time, and the menus had no lag, which is impressive considering the large screen.
Speaking of the screen, you are able to change the ‘theme’ to suit your own personal style, with three striking options to choose from (at the time of writing). This has no effect on performance, but is useful if you want to see the information displayed in a different way.
Just like the Tinker 2, being dropped from height or into water seemed to have no effect at all, and more importantly there was no water ingress, keeping the batteries inside safe.
The 510 connection is firm and has smooth threading, plus the coil resistance is read accurately, as this is important to ensure the correct amount of power is being delivered.
Score: Tinker 2 – 1 | Aegis X – 1This was an incredibly close one to decide. The Aegis X performed well and honestly didn’t miss a beat, but the Tinker 2 just about claims the top spot here thanks to the sheer speed of operation from that Avatar chip
3 – Ease Of Use
From menu navigation, charging and everything in-between, this section looks at how easy these two contenders are to use.
Tinker 2
One thing about the Avatar chip is that it helps to create an incredibly user-friendly experience.
Like the original model, navigating the menus is really easy on the Tinker 2, which takes away the frustration sometimes found with other e-cigs. Changing modes is hassle-free, because you can do this by clicking the power button three times and use the ‘up’ and ‘down’ buttons to navigate to the preferred setting.
Replacing the batteries was really quick and easy; you simply remove your cells by unlocking the battery door at the bottom of the mod and replace with a fresh set!
Button placement has always been something of a Wismec speciality. The device is a joy to vape with both the thumb or finger, and never once felt awkward or uncomfortable.
Obviously the overall ease of use will be dictated somewhat by which tank you have attached, but from a hardware point of view, the Tinker 2 is about as easy to use as they come.
Aegis X
Like its competitor, the Aegis X is very easy to use, and if your eyesight isn’t what it used to be, then the large screen will undoubtedly help you to see more clearly!
Navigating the menus was fluid and never felt like a hassle. There are multiple themes to choose from, but we found that any of these offered a good, clear view of current settings, so it solely depends on your personal preference.
Changing modes is similar, by using the power button and ‘up’ / ‘down’ keys, you can quickly select the mode best suited to your e-cig tank.
There were no issues replacing batteries at all, they simply pop out the bottom door and can be swapped in a jiffy.
The button placement is better on the Aegis X than its predecessor, but it’s just edged out by the Tinker 2’s more ergonomic button placement in our opinion.
Score: Tinker 2 – 2 | Aegis X – 2 (DRAW)To be clear, both of these e-cigs are very easy to use. When it comes down to it we think most vapers would find any differences to be subjective, so this round is a draw!
4 – Price
The bottom line…
Tinker 2
The Tinker 2 mod retails for £59.99, but this does include 2 x 18650 batteries (worth £21.98!) which makes for a great value product, one that can handle virtually anything you throw at it (literally!)
Aegis X
The Aegis X retails for £57.99, but does not come with batteries supplied. Despite this, it remains a great value for money e-cig, one which stands tall amongst its predecessors.
Score: Tinker 2 – 3 | Aegis X – 2Both of these e-cigs offer great value for money, especially if you’re looking for a robust upgrade to something more powerful. The Tinker 2 does however win this one thanks to the inclusion of batteries!
Verdict
This was always going to be an exciting head-to-head. Both the Tinker 2 and the Aegis X offer vapers great performance wrapped in a durable, well-priced package.
Figuring out which of these titans would win was never going to be easy, but the Tinker 2 is the well-deserved champion, closely edging out it’s competitor by a fine margin.
Like What You’ve Read?
If you want to learn more about the products featured in this head-to-head, click the links below, and don’t forget to share this blog with your friends!
Wismec Reuleaux Tinker 2 E-cig Mod
GeekVape Aegis X E-cig Mod
