UWell Caliburn GK3 Review - A Legendary Vape Pod System
Matthew Ma
As a longtime vaping enthusiast who had yet to try the renowned Caliburn pod system, I finally got my hands on the new UWell Caliburn GK3 kit. With a fresh take on the Caliburn’s iconic design plus the latest generation pods, does the GK3 live up to the hype? Read on for my full review.
Right out of the box, the Caliburn GK3’s slim yet robust construction impressed me. Weighing just 52 grams, its plastic chassis with aluminum side panels feels surprisingly premium and fits perfectly in pockets.
While largely made of ABS plastic, the GK3 possesses no flimsy or creaky parts in hand - it seems built to last. Only the large lanyard attachment clip on top reveals actual metal.
The front sports a clever segmented LCD display that UWell claims only uses 1% of the power required by a standard color screen. Even constantly on, the GK3 could theoretically run for years without a charge. A side button lets you turn on/off the device, adjust settings via clicks, and activate the backlight.
Haptic feedback provides a handy vibrating alert for actions like turning on/off, pod insertion, and charging. This stood out as a unique extra touch.
Compared to prior Caliburn devices, the GK3 packs a 20% larger 900mAh battery. In my testing, it charged from empty to full in 55 minutes, hitting 852mAh capacity. The USB-C charging port handily provides a vibration buzz when finished.
The magnetic pod connection felt sturdy, easily passing my shake test. Auto draw comes from a sensor inside the pod recess, and it worked flawlessly. The GK3 utilizes the latest Caliburn G3 pods, which boast sizable 2.5ml capacity and a convenient side fill slot.
UWell ultrasonically welds the pods shut, making leakage a non-issue in my experience. The kit includes 0.6ohm and 0.9ohm resistances, both using FeCrAl coils compatible for those with nickel allergies like myself.
Rotating the pod provides a clever pseudo-airflow control, with the orientation changing draw tightness. Both pods deliver outstanding flavor rivaling my favorite pods. The 0.6Ω mesh pod provides a nice loose mouth-to-lung draw, though I preferred the tighter airflow setting.
With the 0.9Ω pod, I favored the looser airflow configuration. Vapers can't go wrong with either, but I'd recommend trying both to determine your perfect setup.
- Extremely lightweight and pocket-friendly design
- Leak-proof pods with excellent flavor
- Good battery life via 20% larger cell
- Handy always-on display and side button
- Very few cons - the Caliburn GK3 fires on all cylinders
Having finally tested the renowned Caliburn pod system, I can confirm it deserves its reputation as a top pod kit. The Caliburn GK3 takes an already fantastic formula and makes welcome improvements.
Its slim yet durable construction and intuitive controls pair perfectly with the stellar new Caliburn G3 pods. Leak-free performance and outstanding flavor production leave little to complain about.
In fact, I ended up gifting my test unit to a smoker looking to transition from cigarettes. If that doesn't speak to the Caliburn GK3's capabilities as an amazing starter kit, I don't know what does!
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