Titan PWM V1.5 Box Mod by Steam Crave – Full Review!

The Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5 Box Mod in this review was provided by our friends over at Fasttech (thank you!). They’re currently selling it for $57.59 with Worldwide Free Shipping.

Introduction

It was recently brought to my attention that most of our hardware reviews seem to be aimed at low to mid-wattage vaping.  Hoping to tip the scales, I went for the biggest box mod I could find—the Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5!  I figured it’d be right up my alley anyway, as I’ve always been a person of extremes (I’m just as likely to be vaping at 14W as I am 100W).  And if there’s one company that knows something about extremes, it’s Steam Crave.

Let’s make one thing clear right out of the gate: this device is not for everyone.  As the name would imply, the Titan is absolutely massive.  It provides more power than most vapers would ever need, it weighs as much as a small hammer, and it supports atomizers that are comparable to a can of Red Bull (slight exaggeration, but not too far off!).  Much like the one-pound Reese’s Cup, the Titan PWM has completely abandoned practicality; it simply exists to push the limits.  For whatever reason, I find this endearing…others will not.

[Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5 Features / Specs]

• Dimensions: 108 x 45 x 45mm
• Weight: 363g w/ Batteries | 188g w/o Batteries
• Colorways: Black, Silver, and Gunmetal
• Max Power Output: 300W
• Uses 2x or 4x High Amp 18650 Batteries (not included)
• Para-Series Device
• Variable Voltage Adjustment Range: 0.1 – 8.4V
  • Rotate Firing Button to Adjust Voltage
• Max Output Current: 60A
• Large 510 Platform (45mm)
• Bottom Battery Venting
• Multiple Protections Features: Low Voltage, Short Circuit, Over Time, Over Current, Over-Discharge, Over-Temperature, and Reverse Battery

Titan PWM & PWM V1.5 Differences

I assume some of you are only reading this review to gain insight into the differences between the 2 versions, so I’m just going to get that out of the way and save you any unnecessary reading.  I never owned the original Steam Crave Titan PWM, but these are the changes that I’m aware of:

• • Improved battery door (or so they say)
  • New firing button design
  • Updated chipset
  • Significantly larger 510 connector
  • Improved ergonomics (they added corner cutouts for a better grip)

Packaging & Presentation

It amazes me that Steam Crave has been using the same packaging style since the original Aromamizer was released 5 years ago.  Most of you know it well: a plain black box with a bit of branding and a simplified picture of the product.  Some might describe it as boring, and I totally agree…but that’s also why I’m fond of it.  It doesn’t look exciting or fun, and there is nothing that could be misconstrued as appealing to children.  This is a product for adults and they’ve made that brutally obvious.  Thank you, Steam Crave!

My only gripe here is the text at the bottom of the box, which reads: Powerful | Safe | Easy to Use.  While I wholeheartedly agree with 2 of those things, the word “Safe” rubs me the wrong way.  I realize they’re trying to reassure users that this mod has protection features, making it safer than mechanical devices (such as the comparable Hammer of God).  But I also feel like manufacturers should avoid words like “safe,” “healthy,” etc.  Everything in this industry comes with inherent risks, we shouldn’t be fostering the notion that nothing could possibly go wrong.

[In the Box]

• Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5 Box Mod
• User Manual
• Steam Crave Sticker

Build Quality

The build quality is exactly what you’d expect from a Steam Crave product, as they tend to be in the upper echelon of Chinese manufacturers.  I wouldn’t say that it feels like a high-end device or anything, but it feels solid and it was hard for me to find anything to complain about.  My only minor con was with the top plate.  Mine was slightly offset, meaning it wasn’t perfectly aligned with the rest of the mod.  Most people probably won’t have this issue, but I thought it was worth mentioning.  It doesn’t really matter anyway, as there’s an easy fix for it: just loosen the top 3 screws, re-align the panel, and tighten it back down.

Design

[Size]

While I was aware of the dimensions of the Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5 before it arrived, I still think it’s unnecessarily tall.  “Unnecessarily” is the keyword here.  Sure, it’s tall…but does it need to be?  The excessive height is due to the chipset occupying the top 32% of the mod.  I’m only speculating, but it seems like they might be able to put the chipset along the side-corner of the device in place of one of the batteries; now you’ve got a 3-battery mod (which still has plenty of power) and it doesn’t look quite as ridiculous.  The centered 510 connection would still require some extra space at the top, but it would be a noticeable improvement to the dimensions.  Of course, knowing Steam Crave and their love of extremes, it’s more likely that they’d release a 6-battery version as opposed to 3 😄

[Ergonomics]

Based on the size and shape of the Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5, you’d probably expect it to feel awkward in the hand.  Well, you’d be both right and wrong there.  As previously mentioned, one of the improvements that Steam Crave made was adding cutouts along the backside of the mod for your fingers to rest.  Surprisingly, they make a HUGE difference.  When thumb-firing this device, your fingers naturally find their way into those grooves…and it feels great!  Unfortunately, when you reverse the position and try to trigger the mod, it’s about as ergonomic as a brick.  With that in mind, just consider this a thumb-firing mod only and you won’t be disappointed.  I honestly think Steam Crave did the best they possibly could with the dimensions they were working with.

[The Button]

This topic involves both subjective and objective opinions.  Subjective #1: I think the button is ugly.  I’d probably be ok with it if not for the device that it’s on.  The Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5 has a minimalist design, so the elaborate button style looks out of place.  Subjective #2: there is a significant gap (about 3mm) between the back of the button and the device, which is totally unnecessary.  Again, it looks out of place, as if they just said, “Good enough,” rather than making a slight modification.  Objective #1: the deep engravings make it somewhat uncomfortable to press…but only with frequent use.  Objective #2 (this is a good one!): the tolerances are perfect.  It has a nice firm (but not too firm) click when firing, and the dial doesn’t rotate easily on its own.

[The Battery Door]

This is where things almost got ugly.  When I first received the Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5 and inserted 4 brand new Samsung batteries, the mod only read 2 of them.  If I gave the door a push, all 4 batteries would register on the display; if I let go, it would go back to 2.  Keep in mind that it’s capable of running on 2 or 4 batteries, so I was still able to use the device…just not to its full potential.

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending.  I contacted Steam Crave directly about this issue and they responded within 2 hours!  That’s impressive service, especially since they’re not even sponsoring this review.  They said it was a known issue and they’d already developed a remedy.  Apparently, due to the door design, some batteries fit perfectly, while others are too short.  Going forward, they will be including a gasket to take up the gap left with shorter batteries.  They sent me a gasket (and a new door) and everything worked perfectly after that.

I’ll be honest, this was destined to be a negative review from day 1, but their customer service was on point and they quickly fixed the issue.  Not only am I happy to recommend the device now, but I also have an immense amount of respect for Steam Crave as a company.  If you experience any issues with your mod, don’t hesitate to send them a message.

Performance & Functionality

No complaints whatsoever in this department.  This mod has a purpose (power and simplicity), and it does not disappoint.  As some of you know, I have an affinity for simple chipsets.  All I need is battery feedback, coil resistance, and some type of power adjustability; everything else is just noise to me.  The Titan PWM V1.5 does all that I require…and it does it well.  Here’s how it works:

• Turn On/Off: 5 Clicks
• Adjust Voltage: Rotate Firing Button
• Lock Voltage Setting: 3 Clicks

It doesn’t get much simpler than that!  I should mention that the power adjusts in 0.1V increments, which is perfect when working with voltage.  Also, the firing time is incredibly fast, the 8.4V output is enough to satisfy even the most power-hungry vapers, and (of course) the battery life is phenomenal.

Pros & Cons

[Pros]

• • Extremely powerful.
  • Works with dual or quad 18650 batteries.
  • Accommodates atomizers up to 45mm.
  • Simple chipset.
  • Plenty of battery venting on the top and bottom.
  • Clean design without too much branding.
  • Super-fast firing.
  • Ergonomic for both left and righthanded users (thumb-firing only)

[Cons]

• • It’s a tall device (108mm).
  • Huge stainless steel 510 connection. While this does help eliminate scratches, it also means the connector will be visible if you’re using an atomizer under 35mm.
  • There is a 3mm gap between the firing button and the device.
  • The word “SAFE” is printed on the box.
  • Battery rattle (double-wrapping my batteries eliminated this issue).
  • The texture of the button makes it uncomfortable with frequent use.
  • Mine arrived with a misaligned top plate.

[Subjective]

These are things that don’t bother me but might be an issue for some people…

• • One of the biggest box mods on the market.
  • Atomizers under 30mm look awkward on top.
  • No VW, TC, Power Curves, or other advanced options.
  • It is only ergonomic when used for thumb-firing (trigger-firing feels awkward).
  • Small, non-color screen.
  • No hinge on the battery door.
  • No USB port
  • Because it’s such a large device, it would have been nice if they’d included a matching beauty ring for 30mm attys.

Steam Crave Titan PWM V1.5 – Final Thoughts

I feel like I could describe the Titan PWM V1.5 the same way I did with the Aspire Mixx in my last review: it’s exactly what’s advertised.  Steam Crave has been very clear about the intentions of this device—it’s a big brick of a mod designed to accommodate the largest atomizers money can buy.  I gotta give them props for that.  There has been a hole in the market for several years; people might want to buy a 30mm – 40mm atty, but they can’t find a fitting device to pair it with.  Problem solved.

As much as I love the novelty of the Titan, I do feel like there’s room for improvement.  First of all, even though they remedied the battery door tolerances, it’s still an imperfect design.  Secondly, the button is uncomfortable and looks out of place.  What’s interesting is that it can be easily removed, so I’d really like to see them offer replacements in different styles.  Lastly, I think it’s unnecessarily tall.  Find a way to shave about 15mm off the top and I think it would appeal to a much broader audience.

Despite those cons, I absolutely adore this device and plan on keeping it in my regular rotation.  Just to give you some perspective, my favorite high-powered box mod of all time is the HexOhm V3.  The Titan certainly seems part of the same family.  No bells and whistles, just pure muscle.  If that’s what you need, this is the one to get.  You’d be hard-pressed to find a better option in this price range.

Jeremy V.

My name is Jeremy and I’ve been writing for VAPE.DEALS since early 2016.  Digging for deals is what I do!  I’m a former 15-year smoker and will always be grateful that I found vaping when I did.  This site played a key role in my journey.  It kept me interested and excited about vaping during those first crucial months away from cigarettes.  Now, my ambition is to pass along that excitement to others; to help people make the switch and never return to combustible cigarettes.  This industry is important and I feel truly blessed to be a part of it.  Please feel free to reach out to me if you ever have any questions: [email protected]