XROS 4 vs XROS 5: What's Actually Different?

The XROS 5 is the newer of the two. Against the XROS 4, it brings:

• A bigger battery: 1500mAh against 1000mAh
• A higher charging current: 3A against 2A
• A 0.88 inch colour screen
• Wattage control with a 0.4Ω pod
• COREX 3.0 pods in the box

The XROS 4 is the lighter kit, at 51.5g against 73.7g. Both are refillable pod kits, and both take the same XROS pods.

If you have already decided, the Vaporesso XROS 5 pod kit page has the specs and colours. If not, read on for the full comparison.

Both sit in the Vaporesso XROS range, alongside the newer XROS 6 and XROS Pro 2.

Pods, coils and the rest of the brand are in our Vaporesso vapes range.

Jump to a section:

• Specs compared
• Battery and charging
• COREX 3.0 vs COREX 2.0 pods
• Screen and display
• Power modes and wattage
• Firing, lock and airflow
• Size and weight
• XROS 4 Mini vs XROS 5 Mini
• XROS 4 Nano vs XROS 5 Nano
• XROS 4 vs the XROS Pro
• Where the XROS Pro 2 fits
• Which to buy

XROS 4 vs XROS 5: Specs Compared

Every figure here is from Vaporesso's own product pages and manuals:

Spec	XROS 5 vs XROS 4
Battery	XROS 5: 1500mAh XROS 4: 1000mAh
Charging	XROS 5: USB-C, 5V/3A or 9V/2A XROS 4: USB-C, 2A
Vaporesso charge time	XROS 5: 80% in 20 minutes at 5V/3A (Vaporesso lab) XROS 4: full in 30 minutes
Display	XROS 5: 0.88 inch colour screen XROS 4: mode, power and lock indicators
Power	XROS 5: 15 to 30W with the 0.4Ω pod, or PWR, NOR and ECO XROS 4: three output modes
Pods in the UK kit	XROS 5: 0.6Ω and 0.8Ω, COREX 3.0 XROS 4: 0.4Ω and 0.8Ω
Pod size in the UK	Both: 2ml
Firing	Both: button or draw
Airflow	Both: toggle on the back
Weight	XROS 5: 73.7g XROS 4: 51.5g
Width and depth	XROS 5: 24.5 x 14.5mm XROS 4: 24 x 14mm
Colours	XROS 5: 14 XROS 4: 10

Every Difference

Battery and Charging

This is the biggest difference between the XROS 5 and XROS 4. The XROS 5 has a 1500mAh battery, half as much again as the XROS 4's 1000mAh. So it needs charging less often.

The 5 also charges at a higher current, 3A against 2A. Vaporesso's lab figure for the XROS 5 is 80% in 20 minutes on a 5V/3A charger. Its manual lists 9V/2A charging as well. For the XROS 4, Vaporesso say it charges fully in 30 minutes. One figure is to 80% and the other is to full. So they do not show which kit fills up first.

Vaporesso's own lab testing gives the XROS 5 5 days on a full charge. They do not say how much vaping that assumes. They give no battery life figure for the XROS 4. How long a charge lasts in practice depends on how much you vape and which pod you use.

COREX 3.0 vs COREX 2.0 Pods

Both kits take XROS pods. Vaporesso say the XROS 4 fits the entire XROS pod series. They list the XROS 5 as taking pods from 0.4Ω to 1.2Ω.

The difference is the pod technology in the box. Vaporesso say the XROS 4's 0.4Ω pod uses COREX 2.0. The XROS 5's 0.6Ω and 0.8Ω pods use COREX 3.0. According to Vaporesso, COREX 3.0 changes:

• The mesh. Hive Mesh replaces Morph Mesh, with a finer heating wire and more even heat.
• The wire. Changed from nickel chrome to iron chrome aluminium on the 0.6Ω and 0.8Ω pods.
• The airway. A new chimney design.
• The cotton. A finer nano-microfiber cotton.
• The materials. Aerospace grade, high temperature resistant materials.

Vaporesso say these materials greatly improve the pod's lifespan. They do not give a figure, or compare COREX 3.0 directly with COREX 2.0. They also do not say which generation the XROS 4's 0.8Ω pod is.

If you have an XROS 4 and mainly want the newer pods, you do not need a new kit. The XROS 4 fits the whole XROS pod series, including the Vaporesso XROS COREX 3.0 pods.

Screen and Display

The XROS 5 has a 0.88 inch colour screen with six themes. Its settings menus appear on the screen. A click, or refitting the pod, lights it up to show the battery.

The XROS 4 has nothing like the XROS 5's screen. Vaporesso's page calls its display a screen, but the manual lists it as three indicators: mode, power and lock. The battery shows as green, blue or red, from full down to low.

Power Modes and Wattage

Both kits change power with 3 clicks within 2 seconds, but they work differently.

XROS 5 power modes and wattages

With the 0.4Ω pod, you set the wattage yourself, from 15W to 30W in 0.5W steps. With a 0.6Ω to 1.2Ω pod, you choose between PWR, NOR and ECO instead. Our XROS 5 setup guide has every button step.

The UK XROS 5 kit comes with 0.6Ω and 0.8Ω pods. To use the wattage setting, you need to buy a 0.4Ω pod separately.

XROS 4 power modes and wattages

The XROS 4 has three output modes, which Vaporesso's page labels Strong, Stronger and Strongest. Click 3 times within 2 seconds, click to change the mode, then wait 3 seconds to save. Vaporesso do not publish a wattage for any of them. They also describe no wattage setting for the 0.4Ω pod on the XROS 4.

Vaporesso also say the XROS 4's Pulse mode keeps boosting power. They call it mighty power till the last puff. They make no such claim for the XROS 5.

Firing, Lock and Airflow

• Firing: both the XROS 5 and 4 fire when you press the button or when you draw on the mouthpiece.
• Lock: on the XROS 4, 4 clicks within 2 seconds lock the fire button. On the XROS 5, 4 clicks open a settings menu with SCREEN LOCK and BUTTON ON/OFF.
• Airflow: both have an airflow toggle on the back of the kit.

Size and Weight

The two kits are almost the same shape. The XROS 5 is a touch wider and thicker, at 24.5 x 14.5mm against 24 x 14mm.

The bigger change is weight. Vaporesso list the XROS 5 at 73.7g and the XROS 4 at 51.5g. That makes the XROS 5 about 22g heavier. Vaporesso do not say why, although it does have the bigger battery and a screen. They say the XROS 4 has an all-aluminium alloy unibody. They do not give a body material for the XROS 5.

The Minis, Nanos and XROS Pro

XROS 4 Mini vs XROS 5 Mini

The Minis are the simple versions: no screen, no button, and they fire when you draw. Here is how the XROS 5 Mini and XROS 4 Mini compare:

Spec	XROS 5 Mini vs 4 Mini
Battery	5 Mini: 1500mAh 4 Mini: 1000mAh
Charging	5 Mini: USB-C, 2A 4 Mini: USB-C, 1A
Battery display	5 Mini: 4 lights, the number lit shows the charge 4 Mini: 1 light, green, blue or red
Firing	Both: draw only
Pod in the box	5 Mini: one 0.6Ω pod (UK kit) 4 Mini: one 0.4Ω pod
Weight	5 Mini: 50.2g aluminium version, 65.2g SMT process version 4 Mini: 46.5g
Colours	5 Mini: 16 4 Mini: 10

The Vaporesso XROS 5 Mini pod kit has the bigger battery and twice the charging current.

The Vaporesso XROS 4 Mini pod kit is the lighter of the two.

XROS 4 Nano vs XROS 5 Nano

The Nanos are the short, wide versions, and here the XROS 5 changes more than the battery:

• XROS 4 Nano: 1350mAh, 2A charging, a 1.3 inch colour screen with 3 themes, and a button as well as draw firing. It sets the wattage in 0.5W steps with the 0.4Ω pod. The other pods use P, N and E modes. Airflow is on the side, and it weighs 90g.
• XROS 5 Nano: 1600mAh, up to 30W, and a 1.09 inch touchscreen. It fires on the draw only, is controlled from the touchscreen and a home button, and weighs 86g. Vaporesso say it charges fully in 45 minutes.

More about the Vaporesso XROS 5 Nano pod kit is on its product page.

XROS 4 vs the Original XROS Pro

Vaporesso call the original XROS Pro the first XROS with a screen. The XROS Pro 2 page calls it the first generation. Against the XROS 4, the XROS Pro has:

• A 1200mAh battery, against 1000mAh, with a 35 minute full charge in Vaporesso's figures.
• Wattage up to 30W with the 0.4Ω pod, and P, N and E modes with the others.
• A 0.42 inch OLED screen showing wattage, puff count and battery.
• A slide lock on the side for the fire button. Vaporesso say draw firing still works when it is locked.

It is also heavier, at 86g. Its successor is the XROS Pro 2, below.

Where the XROS Pro 2 Fits

If battery matters most, the Vaporesso XROS Pro 2 pod kit has the biggest battery in this guide, at 2000mAh.

• Weight: 70g in Vaporesso's spec table, in what they call a magnesium alloy body. Their flyer says 65g.
• Screen: 0.96 inch colour screen.
• Charging: 5V/2A over USB-C.
• Controls: the same 1 to 5 click layout as the XROS 5. It also has Super Pulse, which Vaporesso say keeps the output up from full to low battery.
• Puff history: shows your maximum and average puff counts over 1, 7 or 30 days.

Which Should You Buy?

For most people, the XROS 5 is worth it over the XROS 4. The bigger battery and the screen are the two changes you notice every day. Here is how we would choose:

• Upgrading from an XROS 4: The XROS 5 is worth it for the bigger battery, the higher charging current and the colour screen. If you mainly want the newer pods, try COREX 3.0 pods in your XROS 4 first. Vaporesso say they give a richer aroma and a more delicate flavour.
• First refillable pod kit: The XROS 5. It has the bigger battery, the colour screen and comes with COREX 3.0 pods.
• Lightest kit: The XROS 4 Mini, at 46.5g. Of the two main kits, the XROS 4 is lighter, at 51.5g against 73.7g.
• Biggest battery: The XROS Pro 2, at 2000mAh.
• No button and no screen: The XROS 5 Mini.

There is also a newer generation above both, the Vaporesso XROS 6. Our XROS 6 vs XROS 5 comparison explains whether it is worth going straight to it, and the XROS 6 review covers how it vapes.