OXVA VPrime or VPrime 2, tell them apart and care

On shop listings, OXVA VPrime can mean the first model or the VPrime 2, which looks similar from a distance but not up close. The two generations differ in their stock cartridge, their controls and their size, even though the maker announces cross-compatibility. Mix them up and you end up following the wrong instructions. Once you know which one you have, the task is to make the parts that actually wear last longer, meaning the cartridge and its coil.

OXVA VPrime or VPrime 2, how to tell them apart

The quickest check is the controls. The first VPrime has a fire button plus two power keys, plus and minus. On the VPrime 2, only one button remains, handling everything through multiple presses, backed by a sliding lock switch on the side.

Size settles it too. The VPrime stands 105.5 mm tall and weighs 116 g, while the VPrime 2 reaches 113.12 mm and 150 g. In the TPD version, the one sold in the UK where refillable cartridges are capped at 2 ml, both cartridges hold 2 ml, so capacity will not tell them apart here. The cartridges in the box will. According to OXVA, the VPrime comes with VPRIME cartridges in 0.2 and 0.6 ohm, the VPrime 2 with Dual Mesh cartridges in 0.4 and 0.6 ohm.

The two generations on the maker’s figures

The figures below come from the maker’s product pages and manuals. The power range is the same across both generations, and every other row of the table changes.

Feature	VPrime	VPrime 2
Dimensions	105.5 × 37.8 × 23.45 mm	113.12 × 41.2 × 27.7 mm
Weight	116 g	150 g
Battery	2600 mAh	3400 mAh
Charging	USB-C, 5 V and 2 A	USB-C, 5 V and 3 A
Screen	colour, 0.96 inch	colour, 0.98 inch
Power	5 to 60 W	5 to 60 W
Kit cartridge	VPRIME Cartridge 0.2 and 0.6 ohm, 5 ml (2 ml in TPD)	VPRIME Dual Mesh Cartridge 0.4 and 0.6 ohm, 6 ml (2 ml in TPD)
Stated technology	Unitech 2.0	Dual Mesh and Unitech 3.0
Controls	fire button and power keys	single button and lock switch
Modes	variable wattage	BOOST and ECO modes

In the pocket comparator on our home page, the VPrime takes up 93.5 cm³ and the VPrime 2 129.1 cm³. The first one therefore takes 27.6% less room and weighs 34 g less, which makes it the more discreet of the two in terms of volume. For reference, the Pixo Max, the largest of the Aspire Pixo range, comes to 75.3 cm³ and takes 19.4% less room than the VPrime.

Which cartridge fits which OXVA VPrime

OXVA announces cross-compatibility between the two generations. The original VPRIME cartridges fit the VPrime 2, and the VPrime 2’s Dual Mesh cartridges fit the first VPrime. What remains is to run each one at the right power.

The original VPRIME cartridges

They come in 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 ohm. The maker suggests 45 to 60 W for the 0.2 ohm, 28 to 35 W for the 0.4 ohm, 20 to 25 W for the 0.6 ohm and 12 to 18 W for the 0.8 ohm. It also gives an airflow position for each, fully open at 0.2 ohm, three quarters at 0.4 ohm, half open at 0.6 ohm and barely open at 0.8 ohm.

The Dual Mesh cartridge and BOOST mode

The VPrime 2’s Dual Mesh cartridge runs in single or dual mesh. At 0.4 ohm, OXVA quotes 10 to 40 W in single mode and around 0.2 ohm for 40 to 60 W in BOOST. At 0.6 ohm, the range runs from 10 to 35 W, then around 0.3 ohm for 35 to 50 W in BOOST. ECO mode is there to spare the battery and the cartridge. OXVA only documents these two modes for the VPrime 2.

The empty cartridge and its coils

VPRIME and Dual Mesh cartridges are replaced whole. OXVA does, however, sell a 2 ml empty cartridge, filled from the top, that takes replacement coils in 0.4 and 0.6 ohm, from RDL to MTL. It is the maker’s way of changing the coil alone without throwing the cartridge away.

A care plan for the OXVA VPrime

The device itself needs little attention. The cartridge and its coil are what wear, and four moments matter if you want them to last.

When filling

Fill from the top, then close the port straight away, as the manual asks, to avoid leaks. On a new cartridge, wait at least five to eight minutes before the first puff, so the wick can soak and does not burn dry.

When setting the power

Stay within the suggested range for the coil fitted, and open the airflow to match. A 0.8 ohm set to the power suggested for a 0.2 ohm would be far outside its 12 to 18 W window, and that is the shortest route to a burnt coil.

Once a week

OXVA recommends cleaning the cartridge weekly to stop residue building up. Take it out, wipe the condensation from its base and from the device contacts with dry kitchen paper, and never run the device under water. While you are at it, look for signs of wear or a crack, which mean the cartridge should be replaced to avoid leaks.

When replacing and storing

A burnt taste or a clear drop in vapour means it is time for a new cartridge. Between uses, keep the device and its cartridges somewhere cool and dry, as the maker recommends to limit leaks.

What the screen messages mean

The screen shows short messages that are worth reading before assuming a fault.

NO ATOMIZER on the VPrime and NO POD on the VPrime 2 mean the cartridge is not detected, so refit it after wiping the contacts. SHORT means a short circuit has been detected, and the first thing to check is the cartridge. TIMEOUT appears after more than 8 seconds of continuous firing, and TEMP HIGH when the circuit board gets too hot.

The VPrime 2 adds protection against accidental firing. After three unintended presses, it locks itself and must be unlocked before use. According to the manual, the PLEASE VAPE message belongs to the same protection against accidental firing.

FAQ

Five practical questions that are not about care, answered from OXVA’s documentation.

How do I set the power on the VPrime 2?

Three presses of the button within 2 seconds open the wattage setting. Two presses change the theme, four switch between single and dual mode, and five turn the device on or off.

How do I lock the fire button?

On the VPrime, by holding the plus and minus keys together for 1.5 seconds. On the VPrime 2, by pushing the side switch up or down.

How long does the VPrime 2 take to charge?

OXVA quotes 50% in 20 minutes and 70% in 30 minutes, at 5 V and 3 A, for a 3400 mAh battery. The first VPrime charges at 5 V and 2 A.

Does the VPrime take nic salt e-liquid?

Yes, the maker lists nic salts as well as freebase nicotine. In the UK, nicotine e-liquid is capped at 20 mg/ml, whatever the type of nicotine.

How do I reset the puff counter?

On the VPrime, two presses of the fire button open a secondary menu with a reset option. On the VPrime 2, it takes seven presses within 2.5 seconds.

OXVA VPrime, know your generation to make cartridges last

The first VPrime and the VPrime 2 share a 5 to 60 W range and cartridges that fit either model, but not their controls or their size. To tell them apart, count the buttons or look for the lock switch on the side.

Care comes down to four steps, waiting after the first fill, staying within the range, cleaning once a week and replacing at the first burnt taste. Applied to an OXVA VPrime as much as to a VPrime 2, they help each cartridge last longer.

In the same pocket

Perle Glacée writes for adult readers only. Vaping products usually contain nicotine, which is addictive, and nicotine vaping products cannot be sold to anyone under 18 in the UK. This feature describes devices and is not a buying recommendation.