Uwell Caliburn G5 Review: Specs, Pods, and Price

The Uwell Caliburn G5 is the full featured version of Uwell's latest Caliburn pod kit, and at $48.00 it sits at the top of the G5 line. If you've used a Caliburn before, the shape and the refillable pod format will feel familiar. What's changed is under the shell: a colour screen, gesture control, two power modes, and a longer lasting pod. If you're new to refillable devices, our beginner's guide to pod systems covers the basics first, and our guide to nicotine salts explains the e-liquid side.

This is a plain look at what the Caliburn G5 actually does, who it suits, and where it sits next to the cheaper Caliburn G5 Lite and the Vaporesso XROS 6. VTW stocks the top fill version, and every spec below is from the kit we carry in Canada. Prices and stock can move, so check the product page for live availability before you buy.

Who the Caliburn G5 is for

The Caliburn G5 is aimed at vapers who already know they like pods and want more say over how the device behaves. The colour screen, Triple-Tap gesture control, and the choice between Waves Mode and Storm Mode give you control that simpler pods don't. The airflow slider moves with no fixed steps from a tight mouth to lung draw to a looser restricted lung draw, so one device covers more than one style.

It's less of a fit if you want the cheapest possible way to vape salt nic. The screen and the modes are more than a set and forget user needs, and you pay for them. If that's you, the Caliburn G5 Lite strips the kit back to a draw activated device with no screen for less money, and the Vaporesso XROS 6 Mini is another budget option. One honest limit worth naming: this is still a pod kit running at up to 35W, not a sub ohm mod, so it's built for flavour and a moderate draw, not big clouds.

Caliburn G5 specs at a glance

What's new on the Caliburn G5

If you're coming from an older Caliburn, here is what the G5 adds and whether it matters in daily use.

The GPP Alpha pod and AlphaCore longevity

The headline change is the pod. The G5 ships with three GPP Alpha cartridges built on Uwell's AlphaCore coil, rated for 17+ refills and over 50mL of e-liquid before the coil is spent. Standard pods usually last 5 to 10 refills, so the Alpha pod does the work of several ordinary ones. In practice that means buying replacement pods less often, which is the part that adds up on cost over a year. The mouthpiece is a soft touch TPU, easier on the lips than hard plastic over a long day.

Triple-Tap gesture control

Instead of clicking a button through a menu, the G5 uses a tap sensor on the body. Triple tapping switches between power modes, screen themes, and brightness. It works without looking at the device, which is the main practical benefit. It takes a few tries to get the rhythm, but once it clicks it's quicker than button cycling.

Two power modes: Waves and Storm

Waves Mode applies power gradually for a smoother, cooler, more flavour focused draw. Storm Mode hits harder and more immediately for a stronger pull. It's the same pod either way, just a different power curve, so you can match the device to your e-liquid or your mood without swapping anything. You switch between them with a Triple-Tap.

Stepless airflow

A slider on the side adjusts the draw across the full range, from a tight mouth to lung pull to a looser restricted lung draw. Because it moves smoothly rather than clicking into fixed positions, you can land on the exact resistance you want and leave it there.

Colour screen with matched themes

Each of the seven colours comes with its own screen theme set at the factory, so the display matches the device. Brightness and theme adjust through the same Triple-Tap. It's a small thing, but it keeps the battery and mode readout easy to check at a glance.

Pods, resistances, and what fits

The Caliburn G5 uses GPP top fill cartridges in four resistances: 0.4Ω for a looser, higher wattage draw, 0.6Ω (the included Alpha pod) as the versatile middle, and 0.9Ω and 1.2Ω for tighter mouth to lung vaping on salt nic. VTW stocks the top fill version of the device, so only GPP top fill pods fit it. Side fill GPP pods are a different part and won't work. All pods are 2mL in the Canadian version.

For e-liquid, the G5 is built for salt nicotine, usually 20mg/mL in a balanced 50/50 blend. High VG freebase juice doesn't wick well in pod coils and tends to cause dry hits, so stick to salt nic. Browse the salt e-liquid collection or ask in store for a pairing.

Setting up and refilling the Caliburn G5

Charge first. Top it up over USB-C until the screen shows a full battery.

Fill the pod. Remove it, open the top fill cap, add your salt nic e-liquid, then close the cap.

Prime a new pod. Let a freshly filled pod sit for 3 to 5 minutes before the first puff so the coil soaks up liquid. Skipping this is the most common cause of a burnt first puff.

Power on and dial it in. Five clicks turns the device on or off (it also locks it). Triple-Tap to choose Waves Mode or Storm Mode, then set the airflow with the side slider.

New to priming, or chasing a leak or a dry hit? Our guide to priming a vape coil and our vape troubleshooting guide walk through both.

Caliburn G5 vs Caliburn G5 Lite

The full G5 and the Caliburn G5 Lite share the same 1600mAh battery, 35W ceiling, and GPP pod platform, so the core vaping is the same. The split is about control and price.

If you want a device you can set once and forget, the Lite is the value pick and there's nothing wrong with it. If you want the screen, the modes, and the longer lasting Alpha pods, the full G5 is the upgrade. We compared the Lite against its sibling in Caliburn G5 Lite vs G5 Lite Koko.

Caliburn G5 vs Vaporesso XROS 6

The other obvious comparison at this price is Vaporesso's XROS 6 line. Here is how the three line up at VTW.

The Caliburn G5 leads this group on three things: the highest output at 35W, the most pods in the box at three, and AlphaCore rated pod life, which means fewer pod buys down the line. The XROS 6 and XROS 6 Mini counter with Vaporesso's VENTURI airflow and faster charging on the full size model. At $48.00 the G5 lines up almost exactly with the $48.50 XROS 6, so the call comes down to whether longer pod life and gesture control matter more to you than airflow tech and charge speed. The XROS 6 Mini is the budget pick at $29.00 if you don't need the extras.

— Nick, VTW

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