Picking a Geekvape box mod ought to be easy, because almost the entire range lives under one family name, Aegis. That is exactly where the difficulty starts. The Legend, Solo and Mini look alike on a product page, older generations are still listed next to current ones, and the specifications pile up watts and IP ratings without saying who each model is for. This guide sorts the current line-up by the criteria that matter, then makes a call for each type of vaper.
Which Geekvape box mod should you buy first?
For most buyers the right Geekvape box mod is a 100 watt, single battery model, either the Aegis Solo 3 or the newer Aegis Solo 5. Anyone avoiding removable batteries should take the Aegis Mini 5 and its built in cell. The Aegis Legend 5, with two batteries and 200 watts, only makes sense if you want genuine power headroom or more stored energy between charges.
The Geekvape box mod line-up, model by model
Geekvape currently puts four recent box mods forward. Older names such as the Legend 3 and the L200 are still on sale at UK retailers, which is where most mix-ups begin.
Aegis Legend 5, two batteries and 200 watts
The Legend 5 runs on two external 18650 batteries, not included, and fires from 5 to 200 watts. Wired in series, the pair delivers 7.4 volts, which is how it climbs past the 100 watt ceiling of the single battery models in the range. It adds a 1.08 inch colour screen and an A-Lock switch. Its listing notes that the batteries need flat ends for the door to close.
Aegis Solo 3 and Solo 5, one battery and 100 watts
The Solo 3 comes either with a bay for an external 18650 or with a built in 3000 mAh cell. Both versions reach 100 watts, carry an IP68 rating and offer six modes, including a Memory mode that stores up to five settings.
The Solo 5 keeps the same output and rating but takes either an 18650 or a larger 21700, thanks to an adapter supplied in the kit. Its screen grows to 1.08 inches. It is still on pre-order at Geekvape's official store, which leaves the Solo 3 easier to find.
Aegis Mini 5, the built in battery
The Mini 5 relies on a built in 3200 mAh cell, charged over USB-C, and also tops out at 100 watts. Its rating is IP67 rather than IP68, a distinction some UK listings blur by giving the whole Aegis family a single rating.
Built in battery, one cell or two
A built in battery charges like a phone, with nothing extra to buy or look after. The trade-off is that the whole device ages with its cell.
An external battery can be swapped when it tires, without replacing the mod. Size matters too. An 18650 cell measures 18 mm across and 65 mm long, a 21700 measures 21 mm by 70 mm, and the extra volume generally holds more capacity. Two identical cells carry twice the energy of one, at the cost of a wider body, 56 mm for the Legend 5 against 42.55 mm for the Solo 5.
Batteries, never included, should come from a reputable retailer and go on a suitable charger. Our guide to buying a vape in Paris places the box mod among the device families with the steepest learning curve.
Does a Geekvape box mod need 200 watts?
Maximum output only means something next to the coils you use. Geekvape publishes recommended ranges for its Z series, the coils of the tanks supplied with the Legend 5 and the Solos. The hungriest, the Z0.15, runs between 80 and 90 watts, so none of them goes past 90 watts.
A 100 watt Geekvape box mod therefore covers every Z coil in the catalogue, and the Mini 5 does the same with its B coils, rated between 25 and 58 watts. The 200 watts of the Legend 5 are headroom for more demanding atomisers, not a requirement of its stock tank.
Power also costs battery life. At 80 watts a mod draws twice as much energy per second of firing as at 40 watts. Choose the coil first and the mod second.
IP67 and IP68, what the standard actually covers
Geekvape groups three protections under its Tri-Proof label, against water, dust and impact. Only the first two belong to the IP code defined by the IEC 60529 standard. A first digit of 6 means the enclosure is fully dust-tight.
The second digit deals with water. An IP67 device is tested by temporary immersion down to 1 metre for 30 minutes. A rating of 8 goes beyond 1 metre, under depth and duration conditions set by the manufacturer itself. Two IP68 devices from different brands can only be compared by reading those conditions.
Impact resistance sits under a separate scheme, the IK code of EN 62262, which none of the listings we checked quotes. Shock resistance therefore remains an unquantified manufacturer claim.
Which tank to fit, and the UK 2 ml rule
All of these mods take a tank with a standard 510 thread. In the kits, the Legend 5, Solo 3 and Solo 5 come with a Z Sub-Ohm Tank and its sub-ohm Z coils, designed for direct lung vaping, while the Mini 5 ships with the Z Nano 3 and its B coils. The two coil families are not interchangeable.
Capacity is where the UK rules come in. Geekvape quotes 5.5 ml for the Z Sub-Ohm Tank and 5 ml for the Z Nano 3, but also lists a TPD version at 2 ml. That is the version sold in the UK, where refillable tanks are capped at 2 ml and nicotine e-liquid at 20 mg/ml, in refill bottles of no more than 10 ml.
Mod only or full kit
Each model is sold as a mod only, for anyone who already owns a 510 tank they like, or as a kit with the house tank and two coils, one fitted and one spare. The Legend 5 kit, for instance, includes a Z0.15 XM coil rated 70 to 85 watts and a Z0.4 XM rated 50 to 60 watts.
Our pick for each type of vaper
The table starts from how you vape, not from the spec sheet.
| Profile | Recommended mod | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| First box mod, no batteries to manage | Aegis Mini 5 | Built in 3200 mAh cell, USB-C, IP67 |
| Swappable battery, compact body | Aegis Solo 3 | One 18650, 100 W, IP68 |
| Choice of 18650 or 21700 | Aegis Solo 5 | Adapter supplied, 100 W, IP68 |
| Power headroom | Aegis Legend 5 | Two 18650s, 200 W, IP68 |
Our preference is the Solo 3 for a first battery mod, because it is easy to find, covers every Z coil and carries IP68. The Solo 5 will take over once it is widely stocked. The Legend 5 is a deliberate choice of power, not a natural next step.
If a box mod feels like too much hardware, an open pod such as the OXVA NeXLIM stays far more compact.
FAQ
These questions come up at the point of purchase. They add to the criteria covered above rather than repeating them.
Can a Geekvape box mod be used for mouth to lung vaping? Yes, with a different tank. The kit tanks are built for direct lung vaping on sub-ohm coils, but the 510 connection accepts a tighter mouth to lung tank, and some retailers sell the Solo 3 in an MTL kit.
How long does the Aegis Mini 5 take to charge? Geekvape quotes 80 per cent in 40 minutes on a 5 V, 3 A USB-C charger. A 2 A charger is also supported according to the specification sheet, but charging then takes longer.
What do the Smart, Memory and ECO modes do? Smart mode automatically selects a power range suited to the fitted coil. Memory mode on the Solo 3 stores up to five settings, and ECO mode manages battery consumption to stretch the time between charges.
Is the Geekvape L200 an Aegis Legend? Yes. Geekvape's own site presents the L200 as the Aegis Legend 2 and the L200 Classic as a new version of that Legend 2, so both belong to an earlier generation than the Legend 5.
Can the batteries be charged inside the mod? Yes, the Legend 5, Solo 3 and Solo 5 all have a USB-C port for charging the batteries in place. Because the cells are removable, a suitable external charger is another option.
What to remember before buying a Geekvape box mod
A Geekvape box mod is chosen by its power supply first, its output second and its IP rating last. With the brand's own tanks, 100 watts is enough, which puts the Solo 3, Solo 5 and Mini 5 at the centre of the range.
An IP68 rating describes a test whose conditions the manufacturer sets, no displayed rating measures impact, and tanks sold in the UK hold 2 ml. With those points in mind, choosing a Geekvape box mod comes down to how you want to manage the energy of your kit, a logic that applies to all vaping hardware.
Related reading
- Buying a vape in Lyon, what to check first, for the battery, coil and airflow checks to run at the counter.
- Buying a vape in Nantes, the practical guide, for refill supply and how to judge the advice you get.
Editorial content for information only, intended for adults aged 18 and over. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and nicotine vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK. This article is not a purchase recommendation.