Jessica Tyson
15/05/2025 • 5 min read
If you’re looking for a compact pod vape kit, two standout options come from industry leaders Vaporesso and Uwell. The Vaporesso XROS Mini and the Uwell Caliburn G3 Lite are designed for vapers who want a small but reliable, no-fuss experience with excellent flavour and portability.
But with both devices being as great as they are, we understand that it can be challenging to make a choice between the two. In this article, we’ll compare the two pod vape kits, breaking down everything from design to performance, helping you decide which one you should go for.
Opening the boxes of the Vaporesso XROS Mini and Uwell Caliburn G3 Lite, you'll find everything you need to start vaping. The unboxing process is similar, with the main differences being in the devices’ feel and functionality.
Inside the box, you’ll find:
Holding the XROS Mini, its solid construction becomes immediately apparent. The textured surface, with its subtle diamond pattern, provides a premium feel. Its compact size is also noticeable, fitting comfortably in the hand. It's clear that Vaporesso aimed for a balance of durability and ergonomic comfort.
Unboxing the Caliburn G3 Lite reveals:
Upon lifting the G3 Lite, the most prominent feature is undeniably its remarkably light weight, a testament to its focus on portability. The smooth, slender profile is not only visually appealing but also thoughtfully designed for effortless pocketability, making it an ideal companion for those on the move. It’s also worth noting that no charging cable comes with the device in an effort to keep costs down. We don’t see this as too much of an issue, as we’re fairly confident that most of us have one (or many!) lying about at home anyway.
Both devices aim to provide a straightforward and satisfying vaping experience, but they have unique strengths that cater to different types of vape users.
The XROS Mini stands out with its larger battery and leak-resistant design, making it a great choice for vapers who prioritise reliability. Meanwhile, the Caliburn G3 Lite focuses on ultra-lightweight portability and enhanced flavour technology, making it ideal for flavour chasers on the go.
Both the Vaporesso XROS Mini and the Uwell Caliburn G3 Lite prioritise simplicity and ease of use, making them great choices for beginners. While the XROS Mini leans into Vaporesso’s reputation for durability and refined airflow, the Caliburn G3 Lite focuses on ultra-lightweight portability without sacrificing performance.
The Vaporesso XROS Mini feels sturdy and well-constructed. It has a compact and robust build, featuring a textured, anti-slip design that enhances grip. The luxury diamond pattern on the surface gives it a prestigious look, while the refined 150° curved base (achieved through a high-gloss cutting process) adds to its ergonomic comfort. It has no buttons, reinforcing its simplicity, and its compact size makes it easy to carry without feeling flimsy.
The Caliburn G3 Lite, on the other hand, is even lighter and slimmer, making it one of the most portable devices in its class. The minimalist design keeps things straightforward, making it an excellent choice for vapers who don’t want to carry around a bulkier vape all day. Unlike the standard Caliburn G3, the Lite version removes the OLED screen and adjustable wattage, focusing on a more streamlined experience. Despite its stripped-back, yet premium design, it offers a practical advantage with a transparent e-liquid chamber, providing a complete 360-degree view of your e-liquid level—eliminating the need to remove the pod to check. The matte finish prevents fingerprints, and the overall build feels solid despite its feather-light weight.
Available in a wide range of colours, including Black, Space Grey, Silver, Lime Green, Orange Red, Sakura Pink, Forest Green, Midnight Blue, Grape Purple, Cherry Red, Aurora, Neon, Vitality, Violet, Sierra Blue, Gold, Ancient Silver, and Bronze Gold, there’s a Vaporesso XROS Mini design to suit every style. The Caliburn G3 Lite also has its fair share of colour options, coming in Space Black, Chili Red, Basalt Grey, Ice Blue, Pastel Pink, Mint Green, Pale Purple, and Pearl White.
Both the XROS Mini and the Caliburn G3 Lite use integrated coil pods, making them beginner-friendly and reducing the need for frequent coil changes.
The XROS pods feature Vaporesso’s SSS Leak-Resistant Technology, which helps keep e-liquid where it belongs. The mesh coil design ensures consistent heating, delivering smooth and flavourful vapour. The top-fill system makes refilling easy, with a simple snap-off mouthpiece for access.
Filling is a little different with the Caliburn G3 Lite, however. It introduces a refined side-fill system, meaning that you are able to refill without removing the pod from the device. Like the XROS Mini, its pods use mesh coil technology, but Uwell’s PRO-FOCS flavour system enhances vapour saturation for a bolder taste.
Unlike devices with adjustable airflow sliders, the Caliburn G3 Lite uses an innovative pod-based airflow control. The base of the pod features two distinct airflow holes—one round and one oval. Aligning either hole with the small vent on the device side allows users to switch between a tighter MTL draw (round hole) and a slightly airier vape (oval hole), providing flexibility without extra controls. This pod-based airflow system adds a layer of customisation to the Caliburn G3 Lite, allowing users to fine-tune their vaping experience simply by rotating the pod.
While both devices offer impressive battery performance, the Uwell Caliburn G3 Lite takes the lead with its 1200mAh battery, providing up to three days of use on a single charge - 20% more than many comparable pod vapes. The Vaporesso XROS Mini, on the other hand, features a 1000mAh battery, which still delivers solid all-day vaping for most users.
Both devices support USB-C fast charging, ensuring minimal downtime. The XROS Mini fully charges in under 60 minutes, while the Caliburn G3 Lite offers even faster recharging, reaching full capacity in around 35 minutes. While it supports Type-C charging for quick top-ups, remember that Uwell does not include a USB-C cable in the box, so you will need to use an existing one.
The XROS Mini is designed for a smooth and refined MTL (mouth-to-lung) vaping experience. Its airflow is slightly tighter than the Caliburn G3 Lite, making it ideal for those who prefer a draw that is more similar to smoking a traditional cigarette. The COREX heating technology within the XROS Mini employs a specialised mesh coil structure and cotton material, ensuring rapid and even heating, leading to consistent flavour delivery and vapour production throughout the pod's lifespan.
It operates up to 16W, making it an ideal choice for a smooth, refined MTL vape with nic salts or 50/50 e-liquids. While primarily optimised for nic salts, it can also handle some freebase e-liquids.
The Caliburn G3 Lite leans more towards flavour intensity. Thanks to PRO-FOCS flavour technology, vapour is recirculated before inhalation, producing richer, more pronounced flavour notes. It has a slightly looser draw compared to the XROS Mini, making it appealing to vapers who enjoy a balance between MTL and RDL (restricted direct lung) vaping. The Caliburn G3 Lite’s “Smart Mode” automatically detects the resistance of the inserted pod and sets the optimal wattage, simplifying the user experience and preventing potential coil burn from incorrect power settings. This ensures consistent flavour and vapour output, regardless of the pod used.
It boasts a higher maximum output of 25W, allowing for a warmer, more flavour-intense vape. It is capable of handling both nic salts and freebase e-liquids, making it a versatile option for vapers who enjoy richer vapour production and slightly looser airflow.
Find out more about the different vaping inhalation styles and which e-liquid to use in our guide: Exploring RDL, DTL, and MTL Vaping.
Both the XROS Mini and the Caliburn G3 Lite prioritise user-friendliness with their auto-draw activation and simple pod systems.
The XROS Mini is the ultimate plug-and-play device - no buttons, no screens, just inhale and vape. The pods click into place effortlessly, and the leak-resistant design ensures minimal maintenance.
The Caliburn G3 Lite follows the same philosophy but adds a side-fill pod system that some users may find more convenient than top-filling. While it lacks the OLED screen and wattage adjustments of the standard Caliburn G3, it retains the essential features needed for a great vaping experience.
Both the Vaporesso XROS Mini and Uwell Caliburn G3 Lite are outstanding pod systems, each excelling in its own right. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual vaping preferences.
Both devices deliver exceptional performance and represent the pinnacle of their pod vape category. Whether you prioritise robust reliability or feather-light portability and intense flavour, you can't go wrong with either the XROS Mini or the Caliburn G3 Lite.
Explore the Vaporesso range at FREESMO today with free delivery on all UK orders. Spoilt for choice?
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