Vaporesso’s XROS Mini Retro is the smallest, most design-led pod kit in the entire XROS family — and at just £12.99 it’s also one of the cheapest ways into proper refillable vaping. It strips the XROS formula back to the essentials: no buttons, no screen, no settings. Fill the pod, click it in, and inhale.
But does cutting back on features mean cutting back on flavour? We’ve spent time with the XROS Mini Retro here at The E-Cig Store to find out who it’s really for — and whether it deserves a place in your pocket or your top drawer. Here’s our full review.
Quick Verdict
The XROS Mini Retro is the best sub-£13 compact pod kit you can buy in 2026. It runs the same COREX 3.0 coil as the rest of the XROS Mini range, so flavour is excellent for the size, and the draw-to-vape simplicity makes it ideal for beginners, ex-disposable users and anyone who wants a tiny, stylish backup device. The trade-offs are a smaller 1000mAh battery and no screen — if you want more power and longer runtime, step up to the XROS 6 Mini.
Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro
Tiny, stylish and dead simple. COREX 3.0 flavour, 8 colours, draw-activated. The ideal first refillable vape or pocket backup.
Shop XROS Mini Retro →Vaporesso XROS 6 Mini
Bigger 1600mAh battery, 30W output, VENTURI airflow and 60s Smart Prime — if you want more power and runtime in the same simple, screenless format.
Shop XROS 6 Mini →What Is the Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro?
The XROS Mini Retro is a compact, draw-activated refillable pod kit — the entry point to Vaporesso’s hugely popular XROS range. There are no buttons and no screen; it fires automatically when you inhale and shows battery level via a single LED that pulses on each draw. You fill a 2ml top-fill pod with your favourite nic salt or 50/50 e-liquid, click it into the magnetic connection, and you’re vaping.
The “Retro” name is about the design language: soft, rounded, pared-back styling in a palette of pastels and neutrals, rather than the screens and slider airflow of pricier kits. At 98.9 × 23.7 × 13.7mm it’s shorter than a biro and slimmer than most pens — genuinely one of the smallest refillable vapes on the UK market.
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro |
|---|---|
| Price | £12.99 |
| Battery | 1000mAh built-in |
| Max Output | 18W |
| Dimensions | 98.9 × 23.7 × 13.7mm |
| Charging | USB-C 5V/1A (~60–75 min) · cable included |
| Firing | Draw-activated (no buttons) |
| Display | LED battery indicator (no screen) |
| Coil Tech | COREX 3.0 Hive Mesh |
| Leak Protection | Anti-Leaking Anti-Messing 2.0 |
| Pod | 2ml top-fill, 0.6Ω included (UK TPD) |
| Pod Compatibility | Full XROS Series range |
| Draw Style | MTL & RDL |
| Colours | 8 (pastel & neutral) |
Flavour: COREX 3.0 Does the Heavy Lifting
The most common worry with a tiny pod kit is that a smaller battery means weaker flavour. It doesn’t — flavour comes from the coil, not the battery, and the XROS Mini Retro uses the same COREX 3.0 generation found across the wider XROS Mini line-up.
COREX 3.0 uses a Hive Mesh honeycomb coil that spreads heat evenly across a wider surface, paired with Nano-Microfiber and Aerospace-Grade cotton to keep the wick saturated. The result is sharper, cleaner flavour, a cooler vape, and around 30% longer coil life than the previous generation. The kit includes a 0.6Ω pod, and the entire range of COREX 3.0 replacement pods drops straight in. For the size and the price, the flavour genuinely punches above its weight.
Battery & Charging: A Full Day for Most Vapers
The 1000mAh battery comfortably covers a full day for light-to-moderate vapers. Heavier users will want to top up before the evening, but USB-C charging (5V/1A) gets you from empty to full in roughly 60–75 minutes — and unlike some rivals, a USB-C cable is included in the box. The LED pulses on each draw to show charge level, so even without a screen you always know where you stand.
If all-day-and-then-some battery is your priority, this is the main reason to consider the step-up XROS 6 Mini with its 1600mAh cell instead.
Design & Colours: Style Is the Point
This is where the Retro earns its name. It comes in 8 colours across two moods: a soft pastel range — Spring Green, Baby Blue, Baby Pink and Baby Purple — and a understated neutral range — Dark Indigo, Matte Silver, Space Grey and Space Black. The finish is clean and tactile, and the tiny footprint means it disappears into a pocket or bag.
Simplicity: No Buttons, No Menus, No Fuss
There’s a lot to be said for a vape you don’t have to think about. With no wattage modes or screen to navigate, the Retro removes every barrier for someone coming off disposables. Fill, click, inhale — that’s the entire learning curve. The only tip worth knowing: after refilling a fresh pod, wait 2–3 minutes before your first draw so the coil cotton fully saturates and you avoid a dry hit.
Leak Protection & Pod Compatibility
The Retro uses Vaporesso’s Anti-Leaking Anti-Messing 2.0 system — structural sealing at the pod connection plus thermal leak prevention — which keeps the device and your pocket clean during daily carry. And because the XROS magnetic pod connection has stayed consistent since 2020, every XROS Series pod fits, including older COREX 2.0 pods. If you’re already in the XROS ecosystem, your pod stash carries straight over.
E-Liquid Guide: What to Pair It With
At 18W, the Retro is built for nic salts and bar salts in 10mg or 20mg. The included 0.6Ω pod gives a slightly looser RDL draw and suits 10mg salts or a 50/50 freebase; for a tighter, more cigarette-like MTL draw, pop in an 0.8Ω–1.2Ω pod with 20mg salt. That flexibility across the pod range is a big part of what makes XROS so beginner-friendly.
XROS Mini Retro vs XROS 6 Mini
The Retro and the XROS 6 Mini share the same simple, screenless, draw-to-vape format and the same COREX 3.0 pods — so flavour quality is identical. The differences come down to power, battery and price.
| Feature | XROS Mini Retro | XROS 6 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £12.99 | £16.99 |
| Battery | 1000mAh | 1600mAh |
| Max Output | 18W | 30W |
| Airflow | Fixed | VENTURI |
| Smart Prime | Manual (2–3 min) | 60s Smart Prime |
| Size | 98.9mm (smaller) | 110.7mm |
| USB-C cable | Included | Not included |
| Coil & Pods | COREX 3.0 | COREX 3.0 |
In short: choose the Retro for the smallest, cheapest, most pocketable option; choose the XROS 6 Mini if you want more battery, more power and the smoother VENTURI airflow.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent COREX 3.0 flavour for the size
- Tiny, pocketable 98.9mm body
- Dead-simple draw-to-vape — ideal for beginners
- 8 stylish pastel and neutral colours
- USB-C cable included in the box
- Works with every XROS pod you already own
- Just £12.99
Cons
- Smaller 1000mAh battery — heavy vapers will charge daily
- 18W max, so no high-power vaping
- No screen and no adjustable airflow
- 2ml UK TPD pod (same across all XROS kits)
Who Should Buy the XROS Mini Retro?
Buy the XROS Mini Retro if you…
- Are new to vaping or switching from disposables and want something effortless
- Want the smallest, most pocketable refillable kit possible
- Care about how your device looks
- Need an affordable backup to a bigger kit
- Already own XROS pods and want a cheap second device
Consider the XROS 6 Mini instead if you…
- Vape heavily and need a bigger battery
- Want more power and the smoother VENTURI airflow
- Refill often and want 60-second Smart Prime
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro good for beginners?
Yes — it’s one of the easiest refillable kits to start with. It’s draw-activated with no buttons, no screen and no wattage settings. You just fill the 2ml pod, click it in and inhale, with a forgiving MTL draw that suits nic salts.
How long does the XROS Mini Retro battery last?
The 1000mAh battery lasts a full day for most light-to-moderate vapers. Heavy users will likely charge once a day. A full charge takes around 60–75 minutes over USB-C, and the included cable means you can top up anywhere.
What pods fit the XROS Mini Retro?
Every Vaporesso XROS Series pod made since 2020 fits, including COREX 3.0 (recommended) and older COREX 2.0 pods. Available resistances are 0.6Ω (included), 0.8Ω, 1.0Ω and 1.2Ω.
Does the XROS Mini Retro have a screen?
No. It uses a single LED that pulses on each draw to show battery level. There are no menus or wattage modes — it’s designed to be as simple as possible.
XROS Mini Retro vs XROS 6 Mini — which should I buy?
Both share the same COREX 3.0 pods and simple screenless format, so flavour is the same. The Retro (£12.99) is smaller, cheaper and includes a USB-C cable. The XROS 6 Mini (£16.99) has a bigger 1600mAh battery, 30W output, VENTURI airflow and 60s Smart Prime. Choose the Retro for size and value; the 6 Mini for power and runtime.
What e-liquid should I use with the XROS Mini Retro?
Use nic salts or bar salts in 10mg or 20mg. The included 0.6Ω pod suits 10mg salt or 50/50 freebase for a looser RDL draw; for a tighter MTL draw, use an 0.8Ω–1.2Ω pod with 20mg salt.
How much is the Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro in the UK?
It’s £12.99 at The E-Cig Store, making it one of the most affordable refillable pod kits available, with a free e-liquid included on the bundle.
The Verdict
The Vaporesso XROS Mini Retro nails its brief. It takes the proven XROS formula — COREX 3.0 flavour, full pod compatibility, reliable leak protection — and shrinks it into the smallest, simplest, most affordable package in the range. It won’t replace a high-power kit for heavy all-day users, but as a first vape, a style piece, or a pocket backup, it’s hard to beat at £12.99.
Ready to Try It?
The XROS Mini Retro comes with a free e-liquid included, in 8 colours, with fast UK delivery.
Shop XROS Mini Retro — £12.99 Compare XROS 6 MiniNot sure which kit is right for you? Browse our full refillable vape kits range at The E-Cig Store.
