We’ve received 4 OXBAR RRD pods to review from the guys and girls over at OXVA/OXBAR and to be honest, from its description we weren’t quite sure what to expect. We were unclear if this was a disposable or if it was a pod.
For us here at Vapinghardware this really is a first! “Refillable” and “Disposable” don’t go together; it’s either one or the other. The OXBAR RRD seems to throw this theory up in the air.
Traditionally, a disposable comes pre-filled with e-liquid and when that’s exhausted it’s disposed of. The exception to this rule is pre-filled pods that fit in a rechargeable body, but again, once the e-liquid is exhausted, the pod is disposed of and replaced.
Where our confusion arose is the OXBAR RRD doesn’t seem to fit into any of these categories. Because it’s refillable we then assumed it’s a pod device.
From our understanding and experience, OXVA are an up and coming vape manufacturer that specialize in Pods, Mods and Rebuildable Atomizers. We reviewed their Arbiter RTA back in 2021 and found it to be a terrific RTA.
OXBAR on the other hand are a subsidiary of OXVA who focus purely on the disposable market. Because the device we received to review is the OXBAR RRD then this led us to believe it was a disposable.
Well I’m sure you’re as confused now as we were, so to put you out of your misery we’ll give an overview of what the device actually is and then jump into the review.
Overview
The OXBAR RRD gets its name from…Refillable, Rechargeable and Disposable. The RRD comes with an empty pod with an integrated non-replaceable 1.0 ohm mesh coil. The pod IS refillable having an e-liquid capacity of 5.5ml (2ml for us poor TPD users) BUT does NOT detach from the body. So it’s Refillable.
An internal 550mAh capacity battery powers the OXBAR RRD and IS rechargeable via the bottom Type-C USB port specified as 5V/1A. So yes it’s Rechargeable.
Where the disposable part comes into play is the pod cannot be removed from the battery/body. So once the non-replaceable coil degrades or fails after approximately 4 refills, the OXBAR RRD becomes unusable and you will have to dispose of the whole device. So that’s a definite yes, it’s Disposable.
A closer look on OXBAR’s website states their RRD is the world’s first refillable disposable which we have to agree with as we’ve never come across a disposable of this type.
The OXBAR RRD is being sold in two different options and depending on your location comes in TPD (2ml) and Non-TPD (5.5ml) versions. If you purchase the RRD you receive the device and an included separate bottle of flavored e-liquid (10ml TPD / 15ml non-TPD). If you purchase the RRD Pod then you will receive just the device itself with no e-liquid. Again depending on your location, the RRD will have an e-liquid capacity of 2ml for TPD regions and 5.5ml for non-TPD regions.
OXBAR specify that the TPD version (2ml) is good for up to 5000 puffs before the coil starts to degrade, whereas the non-TPD version (5.5ml) is good for up to 8000 puffs. We have received the non-TPD version so will try and see if this claim is accurate. Unfortunately my mechanical puff clicker only goes up to 999 so I will try and gauge it as best I can.
On one hand I feel that OXBAR could have made the pod section removable so when the coil reaches its end of life you simply replace it with a new pod, pretty much like a lot of non-replaceable coil pods in the market today.
Yet if you look at it as a disposable, which it is, then it’s taking on another level over the many 6000 and 8000 puff disposables around with the added bonus the coil could last longer than the specified puff count AND you fill it with your own choice of e-liquid. On this fact alone it could be seen as a stroke of genius on the part of OXBAR!
I would like to thank Lina at Oxbar for sending us 4 of the OXBAR RRD Pods for the purpose of this review. As always this review is completely unbiased and is my honest opinion based on my findings while using the supplied OXBAR RRD pods.
Read on and find out what we thought of the OXBAR RRD Pod. For reference, we didn’t receive the e-liquid variation of the RRD so can’t comment on the e-liquid flavors.
OXBAR RRD Pod Kit Review
Contents
- Overview
- Features and Specifications
- What’s in the Box?
- OXBAR RRD Pod Design and Appearance
- OXBAR RRD Pod Functionality
- OXBAR RRD Pod Performance
- OXBAR RRD Pod Battery Performance
- How do I Fill the RRD Pod?
- How do I Charge the OXBAR RRD?
- OXBAR RRD Pod Price
- OXBAR RRD Pod Verdict
- OXBAR RRD Pod Summary
Features and Specifications
- Dimensions: 76.5mm (72.5mm TPD) x 34mm x 13.5mm
- Weight: 34 grams
- Construction: Aluminium Alloy + PCTG
- Charging: Type-C USB 5V/1A
- Output Wattage: Not Specified
- Output Voltage: 3.3V – 4.2V
- E-liquid Capacity: 5.5ml (2ml TPD)
- Pod: Refillable and Non-replaceable
- Coil: 1.0 ohm Mesh Coil Non-replaceable
- Puff Count: 8000 (5000 TPD)
- Filling Method: Side Fill Port
- Battery Specification: Internal 550mAh
- Display: White Cross LED
- Airflow: Fixed Bottom Hole Air Intake
- Firing: Draw Activation
- Cut-Off: 10 Seconds
- Small Red On Button
- 10 Color Finishes
What’s in the Box?
- OXBAR RRD Pod
- User Manual
If you purchase the OXBAR RRD kit, you also get a separate bottle of e-liquid (10ml TPD, 15ml non-TPD) in the kit. There are currently 8 different flavors to choose from, with more to follow soon.
The OXBAR RRD comes in a blue and white cardboard box measuring 90mm tall x 55mm wide x 20mm deep. Each color variant uses the same box with the exception of a small triangle on the bottom left of the box showing and describing the color.
When you open the box, the OXBAR RRD comes in a sealed clear sachet. When removed from the sachet, the mouthpiece has a small clear silicone bung and the base of the RRD has a red “Activate After Filling” sticker stuck across the Type-C charging port.
Once filled with your favorite e-liquid, remove the silicone rubber mouthpiece bung, peel off the red sticker, press the little red button to activate the device and you’re good to go.
The OXBAR RRD doesn’t come with a charging cable so you will have to use your own Type-C to USB cable in order to charge the device. Any standard phone or tablet cable will suffice as long as it’s a Type-C.
OXBAR RRD Pod Design and Appearance
The OXBAR RRD is a very small and compact fixed wattage auto-draw activated disposable, but has a refillable vape pod with a non-replaceable 1.0 ohm mesh coil. It’s constructed out of aluminium alloy with the pod section being a slightly tinted PCTG material.
As we’ve already explained, the pod section is fixed to the colored body/battery so it doesn’t detach. It’s referred to as a pod because it’s refillable, but in fact it’s a disposable.
Its shape is a slim rectangular design with its outer edges slightly curved. It measures 76.5mm tall, 34mm wide by 13.5mm deep and weighs in at 34 grams making it a very compact and lightweight device. The 2ml TPD version is slightly smaller in height measuring 72.5mm.
Branding is quite discreet with “OXBAR RRD” screen printed in white lettering on the bottom right of one side of the RRD casing. The only other visible branding is etched into the base of the RRD which is “550mAh” and the usual “CE” markings.
The OXBAR RRD incorporates an internal 550mAh internal rechargeable battery and is charged via the Type-C USB port in the center of the base of the RRD body, specified as 5V/1A. Charging time will take approximately 35 minutes to fully charge the internal battery and it does have ‘pass-through’ so you can vape while it’s being charged.
There is no information regarding the output power (wattage) that the RRD works at or the levels of protection and safety features that it covers, but from our findings, we’ve worked out it has the following features:
- Overtime Protection (10 seconds)
- Low Battery Protection
- Over Discharge Protection
- Over Charge Protection
There are 10 colors available in the RRD Pod range:
- Sakura Gradient
- Blue Gradient
- Luxe Gold
- Peri Blue
- Light Green
- Cherry Pink
- Purple
- Barbie Pink
- Black
- Silver
The four devices we received for review were Purple, Light Green, Peri Blue and Black. The color surfaces on the RRD bodies are a smooth matte finish which was nice to see as they didn’t show any finger marks.
On the base of the RRD body are where things get interesting. The base is flat so the RRD does stand upright. The Type-C charging port is centralized in the center of the base. To the left of this charging port is a small red circular button that you have to press when first using the OXBAR RRD to activate it. It’s NOT an On/Off button and once it’s activated it stays on.
Further left of this red button is an “X” shaped LED that illuminates when you draw on the mouthpiece and illuminates while it’s being charged to show the limited levels of protection.
To the righthand side of the charging port are two small circular holes. The centralized one is the auto draw sensor. Blocking this hole off will deactivate the draw and you won’t be able to draw on the pod mouthpiece. The slightly larger hole above the auto draw sensor is the airflow intake. Placing your finger over this hole will tighten the draw by restricting the airflow.
I’ve left the best bit till last! The RRD pod is refillable, with an e-liquid capacity of 5.5ml (2ml TPD) and uses a non-replaceable 1.0 ohm mesh coil. The pod is fixed to the battery/body so doesn’t detach.
Manufactured out of tinted PCTG material, it’s smoked in color but is transparent so you can clearly see your e-liquid through it. The pod has a duck bill style mouthpiece which attaches directly to the top of the integrated coil but does appear to splay out towards the tip of the mouthpiece providing an airy or semi-restricted MTL vape style.
The RRD pod is a side filling design with the opening concealed behind a semi-flush fitting black silicone rubber plug which is always visible because the pod is not removable. This plug doesn’t have any arrow indent on it, but the top half of the plug is the part that opens.
When the plug is opened the other end of the silicone rubber flap will remain attached to the pod so it won’t get lost. This plug can be rotated out of the way when you are filling. The fill port hole is oval in shape and a pretty decent size (5mm) allowing for most e-liquid tip bottles to be used.
I would recommend tilting the pod on its side when filling so you can get the maximum amount of e-liquid inside. Once filled, make sure you resecure the rubber fill bung so e-liquid doesn’t escape.
OXBAR state that each pod is good for 4 refills so when using the 5.5ml pod this equates to approximately 20ml of e-liquid (8000 puffs) before the coil will start to show signs of degrading. Depending on the PG/VG ratio and sweetness of your e-liquid, you may well achieve more than the stated 4 refills.
OXBAR RRD Pod Functionality
The OXBAR RRD pod is as simple to use as you can get. There are no controls, no adjustments, the only actions needed are to charge the RRD and make sure the pod is kept filled with e-liquid. Letting the e-liquid level fall below the wicking ports of the coil will cause dry hits and cause the coil to fail.
Before first using your new OXBAR RRD, once you’ve filled it with e-liquid, you will have to press the little red button at the base of the RRD to activate it. It’s not an on/off button; just the initial press will turn it on and remain on.
The onboard chip that controls the OXBAR RRD maintains a constant output power throughout the discharge cycle of the battery, providing a responsive auto draw activated vape. This chip also controls the included safety features and provides the visual indication via the small white “X” LED on the base of the OXBAR RRD.
- Drawing on the pod: – LED illuminates
- Charging: – LED remains illuminated
- Full charge: – LED extinguishes
- Low battery: – LED flashes 10 times
- Overtime protection (10s): – LED flashes 2 times
There is no early warning that the battery is reaching its low voltage cut-off. Once the LED starts to flash you will have approximately 5 or so draws left before the OXBAR RRD cuts off.
Battery Charging Status
When the RRD is placed on charge, the white “X” LED will Illuminate and extinguish when charging has been completed. Full charge is reached in approximately 35 minutes. The RRD does have ‘pass-through’ so you can vape on the pod while it’s being charged.
Overtime Protection
When your draw on the RRD pod for longer than 10 seconds, the white LED will flash 2 times and the vape will cut off.
OXBAR RRD Pod Performance
As with most MTL vape pods, freebase or nicotine salts with a PG/VG ratio of 50/50 is recommended because of the smaller wicking ports and lower power. Using high VG e-liquid is likely to clog up the wicking ports in the coil leading to dry hits which will destroy the coil.
When first using a new RRD, I would recommend filling the pod with your e-liquid and leaving it to stand for 10-15 minutes to allow the e-liquid to saturate into the wick before vaping. This will improve the longevity of the device before it needs replacing.
Because we received 4 of the OXBAR RRD pods, I decided to run one with Watermelon at 50PG/50VG 6mg freebase nicotine and another one with Malaysian Mango at 30PG/70VG 6mg freebase nicotine. I could then do a comparison between the two to see if the thicker e-liquid would cause any issues with the wicking ports.
Both pods produced a crisp and clean flavor, although it did take around 10-20 or so draws for the flavor to come through fully. The coil gave a pretty decent throat hit while the vapor was much denser than I expected from such a small coil. All in all the RRD performed very well.
The draw was not tight or restrictive, more of a semi-restrictive MTL vape. Auto draw was responsive and worked every time. Even the slightest of draws activated the RRD pod. I’ve had no gurgling or spitting and the draw was very smooth and quiet.
I was expecting the pod filled with 30PG/70VG to struggle with dry hits but in all honesty it kept up really well. I also observed that the e-liquid between fills lasted a long time so that’s good on both points.
The two pods I’ve been using over the last two weeks have performed very well and are still producing great flavor and vapor. They do not appear to be showing any signs of slowing down. I gave up trying to gauge the amount of puffs but I’m currently on the 5th refill on the 50/50 e-liquid pod and I’m still enjoying the flavor.
OXBAR RRD Pod Battery Performance
The OXBAR RRD pod is powered by an internal 550mAh battery. Charging time is pretty impressive, taking approximately 35 minutes to fully charge via the on board 1 amp Type-C USB charging port.
On average I was achieving around 6 hours of pretty heavy vaping from a fully charged battery. As the battery approaches its low voltage cut-out, the vape intensity did reduce slightly but not enough for it to be a problem.
There is no visual indication of the battery charge status from the LED. It remains white up to the point it flashes 10 times and cuts out. This is common on disposables so not really a problem. Also because the LED is positioned on the base of the OXBAR RRD, you wouldn’t see it while you’re vaping.
I was pleased to see it does have ‘pass-through’ so you can vape while it’s being charged.
How Do I Fill The RRD Pod?
The OXBAR RRD pod is a side fill design with the fill port concealed behind the black silicone rubber bung/plug. The end that is removable is the slightly raised part pointing towards the top of the pod. This silicone rubber flap is attached to the pod so there’s no chance of it getting lost.
Pull open the flap and insert your e-liquid drip tip into the opening. Tilt the pod on its side to aid filling and to get the maximum amount of e-liquid into the pod. Once filled, reinsert the silicon rubber flap making sure the fill port is securely sealed.
Quick Tip: If you are filling the pod for the first time, once filled, leave to stand for approx. 10-15 minutes before you start to vape. This will help saturate the wick fully in e-liquid and help prolong the life of the coil/device.
How Do I Charge The OXBAR RRD?
The OXBAR RRD doesn’t come supplied with a charging cable so you will have to use your own Type-C USB charging cable. Plug the cable into the USB port on the base of the RRD body and connect the other end into a suitable power source (typically 5V/1A).
When placed on charge, the small white “X” LED on the base of the RRD will illuminate and remain constantly illuminated during the charging cycle. Once fully charged, the white “X” LED will extinguish indicating the charge cycle has completed.
Charging time takes approximately 35 minutes to fully charge the battery. While the device is being charged, it does remain cool to the touch. The RRD pod does have a “pass-through” function therefore you can vape while it’s being charged.
Always observe safe charging practices i.e. always charge on a non-flammable surface and NEVER leave your device unattended whilst charging.
OXBAR RRD Pod Price
We are struggling to locate a site that currently have these in stock so cannot include a direct buy button of the OXBAR RRD pods. However, we understand they should be retailing for around the £15 / $15 price mark.
OXBAR RRD Pod Verdict
Pros
- First refillable disposable
- Good design and build quality
- Very lightweight and robust
- Very simple to use
- Great flavor and vapor
- Refillable 5.5ml / 2ml pod
- E-liquid is visible through pod
- Impressive inbuilt 1.0 ohm mesh coil
- Very good battery performance
- Pass through function
Cons
- It’s a disposable
- No battery status indication
OXBAR RRD Pod Summary
The OXBAR RRD pod is a strange device in that it’s like a pod, performs like a pod yet it’s a disposable. Everything about it looks good and works really well. The flavor and vapor are better than average, the battery life is decent, has a quick charge cycle and the pod is refillable.
Coil life is impressive and does exceed the recommended refill count. Auto draw was faultless and the wicking ports handled the higher VG e-liquid with no problems.
Compare this against any disposable and the OXBAR RRD wins hands down. I love the fact it’s refillable and you can use any e-liquid you desire so are not limited to the few flavors that a disposable has.
Where I struggle with this is the fact that it is disposable. It just seems too good to throw away once the coil has degraded. I can understand why OXBAR made it refillable as it makes this device unique on that front, but I do wonder if this would appeal to disposable users.
If only OXBAR had made the 2ml/5.5ml pod replaceable, would this then have a greater audience?
Hope you enjoyed this review and found it useful. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave us a comment below. Good and bad comments are always welcome.
If you do decide to purchase one, please let us know how you’re getting on with it.