Romio Aster R Pod Kit Review

The Romio Aster R is supplied with one pod. The pod that comes in the box is a 0.8 ohm mesh coil option, which is the right starting point for most users: it produces a cooler, tighter draw that most closely mimics the feel of a disposable bar. The 0.8 ohm coil runs at a lower wattage, is easier on battery life, and is a good match for 50/50 nic salt e-liquids at any strength.

The 0.6 ohm pod option delivers a warmer draw with slightly more vapour production. It is a better choice for vapers who find the 0.8 ohm draw slightly too restricted or who want a marginally more intense flavour hit. The 0.6 ohm option draws more power per puff, so battery life will be slightly shorter per charge. Both pods use mesh coil construction, which tends to produce more even heat distribution and better flavour clarity than standard wire coil designs.

Auto ohm detection means the device adjusts automatically when you swap pods: there is no manual wattage setting to change. Simply pull out the 0.8 ohm pod, insert the 0.6 ohm replacement, and the device adjusts to the appropriate power level. This is a practical feature for users who want to try both and see which suits their preferred draw style. Replacement pods are available as single packs or three-packs from VapeCity.

Setting up the Romio Aster R takes about ten minutes from unboxing to first puff. Remove the device from the pack, pull the pod out of the top of the battery body by gripping the mouthpiece section and pulling upward. Locate the fill port on the side of the pod (usually a rubber plug or silicone seal). Open the fill port, insert the nozzle tip of your 10ml e-liquid bottle, and fill to just below the maximum fill line. Close the fill port firmly. Give the coil five minutes to saturate before vaping for the first time. This priming step is important: taking a puff immediately after filling without priming can scorch the dry coil wicking material and reduce flavour quality or damage the coil.

Once primed, insert the pod back into the battery body until it clicks into position. Inhale from the mouthpiece to activate the device. The draw-activated mechanism fires automatically. You do not need to press any button. If the LED indicators flash in a specific pattern on activation, this is the low battery signal: connect to USB-C to charge before the device cuts out. A steady or solid LED on activation indicates normal operation.

Refill the pod when the flavour becomes noticeably weaker or the vapour production drops. Avoid vaping the pod completely dry as this can burn the coil wicking material. Typically, replace the pod when: flavour quality drops significantly despite a full charge; you see dark or discoloured residue in the pod; or a burnt note persists even on a freshly filled pod. Pod replacement frequency depends on e-liquid sweetness and daily usage, but typically runs from one to three weeks per pod.

The financial case for the Romio Aster R over bar disposables is clear. At £3.99 for the starter kit and approximately £15.99 for a pack of ten 10ml nic salt bottles (around £1.60 per bottle), the ongoing cost of e-liquid is a fraction of what disposable bars cost at £4 to £5 each. A 10ml bottle at 50/50 gives approximately 5,000 puffs compared to around 600 from a standard bar. The Aster R effectively converts a per-device expenditure into a per-litre e-liquid expenditure, which over a month of regular use represents a very significant saving.

The environmental case is equally direct. Bar disposables generate a sealed lithium battery and plastic casing per unit. No UK kerbside recycling scheme currently accepts bar disposables as a standard item, and the improper disposal rate is high. The Romio Aster R generates no single-use waste during normal operation: the refillable pod is replaced periodically, and the battery unit can last years. For users motivated by the environmental cost of disposable bars as well as the financial one, the Aster R addresses both simultaneously.