Aspire Zelos 3 review, what the published tests agree and disagree on

Written by The Vape Avis desk28 October 20268 min read

The Aspire Zelos 3 still carries a flattering reputation, and stockist listings sum it up in almost identical terms, 3200 mAh, 80 W and the Nautilus 3 tank. The published reviews tell a less tidy story. One British test finds it heavy and slippery, one French blog finds no fault at all, another sees a few drops escape during a coil change. We set those tests against Aspire's spec sheet and the kit's leaflet to separate what reviewers agree on from what divides them.

Is the Aspire Zelos 3 worth buying?

Yes, if you want a sturdy box mod for a tight to slightly looser draw, with a 3200 mAh built-in battery and a tank that fills from the top. The Aspire Zelos 3 kit pairs the Zelos 3 mod, adjustable from 1 to 80 W, with the 24 mm Nautilus 3 tank.

Published reviews agree on the build, the simple menus and the ability to swap coils without emptying the tank. They part ways on leaks and button noise, and two of them contradict the leaflet on vaping while charging.

It suits you less if you want something light to slip into a pocket, or a genuinely airy vape. Even wide open with the mesh coil, the Nautilus 3 stays on the tight side according to the most detailed review.

What comes in the box, and the version sold in the UK

Aspire's official page lists four versions, a 4 ml standard kit, a 2 ml TPD kit and two CRC versions with a safety cap, in 4 ml and 2 ml. Every version includes the mod, the Nautilus 3, two coils, a USB-C cable, a spare drip tip, an O-ring pack and the user manual.

The two coils cover two styles of draw. The 1.8 ohm BVC runs at 10 to 14 W for mouth-to-lung vaping (MTL, where vapour is held in the mouth before you inhale), and the pre-fitted 0.7 ohm 2S Mesh runs at 20 to 25 W for a looser draw.

The difference between versions lies in the tank tube. The 4 ml versions add a spare tube, the 2 ml versions do not.

UK rules cap refillable tanks at 2 ml and nicotine e-liquid at 20 mg/ml in bottles of up to 10 ml, so the 2 ml version is the one built for British shelves. A listing that quotes 4 ml describes the standard kit sold elsewhere, and the capacity printed on the box is the figure to trust.

What reviewers praise about the Zelos 3 kit

The three reviews used here are a British test published in April 2021, which gives the kit an overall score of 8.9 out of 10, and two French retailer blogs, one of them published in May 2021. None of them publishes a measured battery figure, so their praise reflects impressions of use.

Build quality and handling

The British test awards 9.5 out of 10 for build quality and ease of use, and reaches for the word "solid" to sum the kit up. The mod, made from zinc and aluminium alloy according to Aspire, is run from three buttons and a menu described as responsive.

Both French blogs point the same way, one praising an intuitive interface and a proper power switch, the other a perfect feel in the hand.

Filling and coil changes

The Nautilus 3 fills by sliding its top cap aside, a step all three reviews find easy. Its coil push-fits without a thread, and a valve closes off the liquid during the swap, so the coil can be changed with a full tank.

That feature comes back as the main strength of the Nautilus 3, even if one of the blogs qualifies the result, as we will see further down.

The screen

The 0.96-inch colour screen wins everyone over. The May 2021 blog calls it readable in full sun, and the British test likes it too, all the more since its colour and brightness can be adjusted.

How reviewers rate the two Zelos 3 coils

Reviewers do not rate the two supplied coils equally, and the preference goes clearly to the mesh.

The British test scores the flavour of the 2S Mesh at 9.5 out of 10, against 7.5 for the BVC. On the BVC at 13 W the taste struck that reviewer as fine but lacking depth, and it drops noticeably with the airflow wide open. The 2S Mesh, used at 23 W, gave flavour rated as very good.

The May 2021 blog makes the same choice and describes the mesh as rounder and airier, without calling the BVC poor. For a very tight draw the BVC still earns its place, but reviewers chasing flavour move to the mesh quickly.

The Nautilus 3 accepts every coil in the Nautilus series, which leaves other values to try if neither of the two suits you.

Where Aspire Zelos 3 reviews disagree

On three subjects the sources contradict each other, which is reason enough not to buy the Aspire Zelos 3 on the strength of a single review.

Leaks during a coil change

The British test and the May 2021 blog report no leaks. The other blog, though, calls the swap system clever but imperfect, since a few drops run onto your fingers, and suggests turning the tank upside down during the change. It also advises against liquids above 50 per cent vegetable glycerine, which it finds too thick.

Button noise

The British test finds the buttons very clicky. The May 2021 blog describes them instead as pleasant to the touch and quiet, a matter of taste more than a flaw.

Vaping while charging

Both French blogs present vaping while charging as possible. The leaflet for the TPD version advises against it, and states that pressing the fire button during charging stops the charge for safety. The manufacturer's instruction comes first, so it is better to let the mod charge undisturbed.

The flaws reviewers found

Only the British test lists flaws, and they concern comfort rather than performance.

The kit is heavy, to the point that this reviewer sees it as a desk device more than something to carry in a rucksack. Its paint is slippery, and the mod nearly slipped from their hands several times. The power switch, placed on the base, is not obvious to find the first time.

The most concrete flaw concerns the airflow ring. The reviewer found that turning it to close the airflow can loosen the tank on the mod. They call it an annoyance rather than a real problem, and screwing the tank back down after each adjustment is enough to stop it working loose.

Our view, depending on your draw

The kit is aimed first at vapers who like a tight draw and want a simple, solid box mod with a strong battery. The 1.8 ohm BVC serves the tightest draw, while the mesh brings more flavour between 20 and 25 W.

It suits you less if you want a pocket device. Our Voopoo Drag Q review covers a more compact MTL pod, and our six checks for vape beginners help you decide between a box mod and a pod.

FAQ

Five practical questions about this kit, beyond the published reviews.

How do you unlock the Zelos 3? Three quick presses of the fire button lock or unlock the adjustment buttons. While the mod is locked only the fire button responds, which prevents the wattage changing by accident in a bag.

Does the Nautilus 3 whistle when you close the airflow? The British test noticed no whistling on any airflow setting. The ring has seven holes, from 0.8 to 3.0 mm, plus in-between positions across two holes.

How do you replace the tank tube? Unscrew the top section of the tank, remove the old tube, fit the new one and screw the top back on. The 2 ml versions ship without a spare tube, so plan for a 2 ml replacement, the maximum allowed for refillable tanks in the UK.

Can you change the drip tip on the Nautilus 3? Yes. The drip tip uses the common 510 fitting, and a spare comes in every version of the kit. Another 510 drip tip will fit, ideally a narrow one to keep the draw tight.

How do you switch the Zelos 3 off completely? A power switch on the base cuts the current, and the screen then shows "SHUT DOWN". Moving it back to ON restarts the device. Switching the mod off before putting it in a pocket avoids any accidental firing.

Our verdict on the Aspire Zelos 3

The Aspire Zelos 3 deserves its reputation on the essentials, solid build, simple menus, a comfortable battery and a tank that is easy to fill. Reviews disagree on leaks, and agree in preferring the mesh coil.

Its flaws come down to weight, slippery paint and an airflow ring that can loosen the tank, reservations about comfort that weigh little for a fan of the tight draw. The Aspire Zelos 3 is best weighed against other box mods and pod kits before you settle on the format that suits the way you vape.

Voopoo Drag Q review, a dial-driven MTL pod for UK vapers.
Luxe XR Max 2 review, Vaporesso's 80 W pod with two pods in the box.
Vape for beginners, the six checks behind our reviews.

Editorial content for adults. Vaping products can contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK. This article is not a purchase recommendation.

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