Uwell Caliburn G3 Review: A Pro-Level Upgrade

Uwell just released the next model in the Caliburn G series: the Caliburn G3. Featuring adjustable wattage on an OLED screen, this sturdy vape is a detour from previous G series vapes with an upgraded battery. Let’s dive into my impressions!

Pod kit users will be familiar with the Uwell Caliburn: the most popular pod vape series in the world since its release. The original Caliburn popularised the pod kit as we know it today, and with each iteration—more than a dozen at this point—the Caliburn gets sleeker and more refined.

The Caliburn G3 is no exception. An addition to the G series, which is known for its more intermediate-level features (as opposed to the A series, which is geared more toward beginners), the Caliburn G3 adds some pro-level features while taking a step back with others to make operation of the device more unobtrusive.

I was so thrilled that I got to try this vape after using the Caliburn X for months and loving every minute of it. I was excited to see how Uwell took user feedback on board and implemented some of what customers have been asking for.

Without further preamble, let’s get into it!

Uwell Caliburn G3 Pod Kit Overview

The Uwell Caliburn G3 is the next in the Uwell Caliburn G series, offering a pro-level upgrade to previous models while taking a step back on some of the more complex features the G series is known for—namely, changeable coils and adjustable airflow. Instead, the device uses pods with built-in mesh coils with 2 static airflow options each.

With its small OLED screen and adjustable wattage, plus a larger battery than any previous models, the Caliburn G3 is certainly an upgrade in some respects—but what about the features it’s lost?

I was really eager to see how this vape held up to scrutiny, especially after my experience writing the review of the Caliburn X and using that device as my daily driver for several months.

With all that out of the way, I’ve got quite a bit to say about the G3. So, let’s dive in!

Design & Appearance

I received the black finish, so there’s not much I can say about the colour. The device has a really solid, sturdy build, and the edges are more squared off than previous models, I’ve noticed. The G3 has a smooth, matte finish all the way around, and the metal casing feels very solid. 

On the front of the device, you’ll find the OLED screen below the Caliburn G3 logo, plus the fire button, which is square-shaped with a textured surface. On the back of the device, you’ll find the Uwell logo, and on top, there’s a transparent E-Liquid sight window which helps you keep an eye on your E-Liquid levels. 

The USB-C port is located on the bottom, and on either side of the device, you’ll find a small airflow inlet hole.

I don’t have much to say about the design of the Caliburn G3, other than it feels quite durable and has a nice weight to it. It does the job and feels very premium.

Interface & Features

The Caliburn G3 features dual activation modes—button-firing and automatic inhale activation—plus a handy OLED display screen for adjusting your wattage and keeping an eye on your puff count and battery levels. The screen also shows you the current resistance of the pod you’re using.

OLED Screen

The OLED screen does exactly what it promises, displaying all the relevant information on a screen less than a square centimetre in size. It’s a bit cramped, but my lens prescription is up to date, so I could see everything just fine. 

The screen shows the wattage, the puff count, the current pod resistance, the battery level, and the current activation mode—and while vaping, the interface counts the length of your puffs. 

You can adjust the wattage by pressing the fire button 3 times quickly then pressing the button to cycle through the wattage options. You also can clear the puff counter by pressing the button 4 times. 

Of course, there’s only one button to operate everything on the screen, so it’s not super intuitive. You have to fiddle with it quite a lot (or study the manual) to learn how to access each function.

The device offers both button and auto-draw activation in tandem, but you can also lock the button (my preference)—and for some reason, you can also lock the auto-inhale activation. I can’t see how this would be handy except in the case where the device has auto-firing issues (as some Caliburn models have had issues with in the past), but that would be planning for failure, which I think is unlikely.

Haptic Feedback

The device also has haptic feedback—a vibration feature—which seems a little extraneous, to be honest. It vibrates when you insert a pod, plug the device in to charge, and when it’s finished charging. It also vibrates when there’s an error, like an atomiser short or when the battery runs out. But truthfully, the haptic feedback doesn’t seem to serve much of a purpose. 

I would love to see a vape kit geared toward people with a visual impairment with this feature (which is more vapers than you’d think, especially given the number of older people taking up vaping). It could vibrate when the E-Liquid runs low and when the button is pressed. Otherwise, I don’t see why the vape needs to have haptic feedback. All it does is drain the battery (albeit a very small amount).

It’s good that it vibrates when the battery runs out, but that’s really the only useful function for the haptic feedback. 

Battery Life & Performance

Unlike other new vape models I’ve used recently, the Caliburn G3 didn’t come fully charged. It had about 40% battery capacity out of the box.

Overall, I’m really pleased to see Uwell getting away from the small battery sizes of previous Caliburn models, with a number offering only 520mAh of battery while the most expensive model, the Caliburn X, has 850mAh. 

I never understood why Uwell opted for such small battery sizes in their premium kits when there are cheap vape kits available for only £9.99 with 1000mAh batteries, like the GeekVape Sonder U. 

Regardless, it was refreshing to see a Caliburn model with a 900mAh battery. I still think they could take this further, especially given the price of the device. For £24.99, you should be getting at least 1000mAh.

Charging the Caliburn G3 was quick and easy, and took only about 40 minutes to reach full charge. Plus, the vape holds a charge for a long time, so you don’t have to recharge as often.

Caliburn G3 Pods

The Caliburn G3, unlike other models in the G series, uses pods with built-in coils as opposed to replaceable vape coils. I know some vapers will take issue with this, especially because replaceable coils tend to last longer than built-in coils.

Plus, replaceable coils are definitely a more intermediate feature, and given that this vape offers adjustable wattage, it’s strange that Uwell didn’t go all-in with the customisation features. I personally don’t mind using pods with built-in coils since there’s less maintenance, but I know this will be a point of contention for fans of the Caliburn G series.

The G3 comes with one of each of the Uwell Caliburn G3 pods: a 0.6Ω (ohm) mesh pod for RDTL vaping and a 0.9Ω (ohm) mesh pod for MTL vaping. Each pod offers two static airflow options, which you can swap between by rotating the pod 180° inside the battery. 

I really loved the mouthpieces on the Caliburn G3 pods. Plus, the flavour was really excellent. I really can’t fault the taste in these pods, even after a week of use. They’re still going strong.

Airflow

If you’re curious to learn more about what I mean by RDTL, check out our in-depth guide to the RDL vaping style.

Given that this vape is designed to be customisable, it baffles me that it doesn’t have adjustable airflow. The Caliburn G3 model, at times, feels like one step forward (wattage adjustment), two steps back (loss of replaceable coils and adjustable airflow) for the Caliburn series.

Filling the Caliburn G3 Pods

I thought  the fill port was broken at first, I won’t lie. This pod isn’t like previous Caliburn pods, where you snap the cap off, insert the nozzle of your E-Liquid bottle into the red port, and fill. 

Instead, the Caliburn G3 pod (the 2ml UK version, at least) has a sort of resistance to it—a hydraulic mechanism that you have to push down on while squeezing your E-Liquid bottle to fill. As a result, refills are a bit more time consuming and are more tedious. 

I timed it, and compared to filling my OXVA Xlim pod, it takes twice as long to fill from opening the pod to closing it up (4 seconds on the Xlim versus nearly 10 seconds on the Caliburn G3). I didn’t have a fun time filling this pod with the Elfliq juice I chose given how the bottle is already a tough one to squeeze.

The upside to this refill port is that the pod only lets in the exact amount of air needed to maintain the vacuum inside the pod—which, for the less pod savvy, means less leakage and E-Liquid condensation around the bottom of the pod. So, while functionality and leaking is definitely better, it’s a tedious job to refill at times.

Like with other top-fill Caliburn pods, the mouthpiece can be quite difficult to snap off, especially when it’s brand new. It feels like you’re breaking it every time you want to access the fill port. That can’t be good for the connectors beneath the pod.

I haven’t had a single droplet of leakage since I started using this vape over a week ago now. That’s definitely something. I just wish it didn’t come at the expense of easier refills.

Pairing the Caliburn G3 with E-Liquids

When it comes to pairing the Caliburn G3 with E-Liquids, you’ll want to ensure you’re choosing a high-PG E-Liquid with a PG content of at least 50% or more. This includes 50/50 freebase 10ml liquids and nicotine salts. 

You should avoid using any high-VG E-Liquids like shortfills in your Caliburn G3, as the coils won’t be able to wick these thicker E-Liquids properly. If you’re confused about which E-Liquid to buy, check out our beginner’s guide to vape juice for a closer look at the different E-Liquid types and which devices they pair best with.

Vaping the Uwell Caliburn G3

Vaping the Caliburn G3 is easy as pie. Once you’ve set your wattage—though you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, as the vape sets it automatically—just vape from the mouthpiece. The device offers both activation modes by default, but if you want to lock either the button or the auto-draw, simply press the button twice in quick succession.

I use the device with the button locked, and operation is a total breeze. The flavour is excellent from both pods; the 0.6Ω pod is my favourite, chucking out large clouds with dense, flavourful vapour. The 0.9Ω pod is good for a tight MTL vape with a more discreet vapour production while also delivering really flavourful puffs. 

I know the 0.6Ω is catered more toward freebase nicotine while the 0.9Ω is more for nic salts, but I used nic salts in both pods and found that both resistances handled them really well. 

Caliburn G3 vs. Caliburn X

I’ve used both the Caliburn X and the G3 now, and while I prefer the customisation options on the Caliburn X, the G3 is definitely more beginner-friendly overall.

The biggest upside to the G3 over the Caliburn X is that the G3 has a slightly larger battery, with a 900mAh capacity compared to the X’s 850mAh.

The Caliburn X offers adjustable airflow while the G3 only has a few static airflow options. Funny enough, I found myself using the loosest airflow setting on the Caliburn X (it’s strictly an MTL vape, after all) and not really adjusting the airflow, so there’s not much of an upside to the Caliburn X’s airflow compared to the G3 if you’re an RDTL vaper. At least with the G3, you have the option. 

When it comes to pods and coils, the Caliburn X uses replaceable Caliburn G coils while the G3 has pods with built-in coils. Vapers who prefer the longevity of replaceable coils will prefer the Caliburn X, while those who like a little less maintenance will be better off with the G3.

And with regard to the screen, I’d say that the G3 has a much clearer interface overall compared to the Caliburn X. While I found the interface on both to be seamless, the G3’s screen is just slightly more legible for the average person. 

Check out my review of the Caliburn X for a closer look at the other device.

Who should get the Caliburn G3?

The Caliburn G3 is a great step-up for MTL and RDTL vapers who are looking for a bit more customisation without the added maintenance of replaceable coils. It’s great for those who want a pocket-friendly travel companion, and it’s a particularly good introductory kit for those looking to try fiddling with wattage settings.

This kit may not satisfy those who want a truly customisable experience; this vape is on the easier end of the intermediate spectrum, for sure. I’d call it “vaper’s first adjustable wattage kit.” It’s not the kind of device I’d recommend if you’re already familiar with adjustable wattage and greater customisation options, as this device may not sate your appetite.

Uwell Caliburn G3 Accessibility

I always try to cover accessibility in my hardware reviews, and the Caliburn G3 in particular is worth talking about. While it does feature haptic feedback in certain situations, I don’t think this would be beneficial for users who have a visual impairment. Furthermore, while the button on this vape is quite large and visible, the screen is really small and wouldn’t be suitable for users who have trouble reading small text.

In addition, filling the vape could be difficult for vapers who have dexterity problems. Snapping off the mouthpiece is one hurdle, and the refill mechanism on the pods would be difficult for someone who has problems with their hands. I can’t imagine that someone with arthritis, for example, would be able to fill the pod on this vape.

As an alternative, I’d recommend checking out the Uwell Caliburn A3 if you’re looking for a more accessible large-button option without the screen. However, the A3 has that pesky snap-off mouthpiece as well. For those who might struggle with removing the mouthpiece, I’d suggest checking out a pod vape with a rubber fill port, like the OXVA Xlim SE or the GeekVape Sonder U.

Uwell Caliburn G3 FAQs

Conclusion: A Caliburn Evolution

The Caliburn G3 is a step up and a step down for the Caliburn G series, offering adjustable wattage on a clear, detailed screen plus a decent 900mAh battery—but it also removes the replaceable coils and adjustable wattage features seen on previous models in the G series. 

Some vapers won’t mind these changes, while others might take issue—that’s for you to decide. I personally didn’t mind the built-in coils, but the lack of airflow adjustment options outside of the 2 static configurations per pod really irked me.

Aside from this, the Caliburn G3 was really unobtrusive and flavourful. I really enjoyed not having to check the pod for leakage and condensation, and despite how long refills took, using the vape was really easy for me. I’m going to keep it on hand as my back-up when my trusty Xlim Pro dies.

If you need help finding a new vape or you’re confused about any features of the Caliburn G3, feel free to contact us for some expert advice.