Vaporesso Armour GS, the 18650 model against the Armour G and G2
Three devices, one family of pods and spec sheets that match almost to the millimetre. Yet within the Armour G line, the Vaporesso Armour GS is the only one that asks you to supply your own battery. That detail matters far more than battery life. We compare it with the Armour G and the Armour G2 on four criteria, the power source, the wattage available, the coils it accepts and charging, to work out which vaper each model really suits.
Vaporesso Armour GS, what the removable cell really changes
The Vaporesso Armour GS is an Armour G whose built-in 3000 mAh battery gives way to a removable 18650 cell, sold separately. Vaporesso’s own Armour G series page gives both devices the same 5 to 80 W range, the same 0.96 inch TFT screen and the same G Series pod. The trade-off shows in the size, 126 mm tall for the GS against 113 mm for the G.
The real dividing line lies elsewhere, with the Armour G2. This model carries 3400 mAh built in, but its output stops at 60 W. The GS therefore remains the pick for anyone who wants the full 80 W of the platform and the freedom to swap cells, without giving up the shared pod.
Vaporesso has since released an Armour GS2, also running on an 18650 cell from 5 to 80 W, supplied with 0.3 and 0.15 ohm GTX dual mesh coils and fitted with the G2’s automatic lock. This comparison sticks to the original GS, but what follows on the cell applies to its successor too.
Three spec sheets side by side
All three share the pod mod format with a top-filled pod, but their sheets part ways on power source and wattage. The table only uses figures published by Vaporesso.
| Criterion | Armour GS | Armour G | Armour G2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power source | 1 x 18650, not included | built-in 3000 mAh | built-in 3400 mAh |
| Output | 5 to 80 W | 5 to 80 W | 5 to 60 W |
| Dimensions | 126 x 39 x 28 mm | 113 x 38 x 28 mm | 113 x 39 x 28 mm |
| USB-C charging | 5 V / 2 A | 5 V / 2 A | 5 V / 3 A or 9 V / 2 A |
| Coils supplied (DTL) | GTX 0.15 and 0.3 ohm | GTX 0.2 and 0.4 ohm | GTX 0.2 and 0.4 ohm dual mesh |
| MTL kit available | no | yes | yes |
Two points stand out. The GS is the only one of the three supplied with the 0.15 ohm GTX, the lowest value on the platform. It is also the only one with no MTL kit, which places it firmly on the direct-lung side.
Wattage and GTX coils on the Vaporesso Armour GS
The G Series pod takes the whole GTX coil range, but the wattage on tap decides which values are actually usable. This is where the three devices separate most clearly.
The GTX chart published for the pod
Vaporesso lists five mesh values as suggested for the series pod and two as simply compatible.
| GTX mesh coil | Manufacturer range | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 0.15 ohm | 60 to 75 W | suggested |
| 0.2 ohm | 45 to 60 W | suggested |
| 0.3 ohm | 32 to 45 W | suggested |
| 0.4 ohm | 26 to 32 W | suggested |
| 0.6 ohm | 20 to 26 W | suggested |
| 0.8 ohm | 12 to 16 W | compatible |
| 1.2 ohm | 8 to 12 W | compatible |
For every value, the two 1.2 ohm versions and the ordering traps, our guide to Vaporesso GTX coils covers the whole platform.
Why the 0.15 ohm rules out the Armour G2
The 0.15 ohm starts at 60 W and runs up to 75 W. On an Armour G2 capped at 60 W it would only ever see the bottom edge of its range, and the G2 page carries a note stating it is not compatible with that device. The GS and the G cover that whole range with 5 W to spare.
Between those two, the battery makes the difference. A coil that low, pushed towards 75 W, puts heavy demand on the power source, and on the GS that demand falls on the cell you fit, not on a battery sized by the manufacturer.
The 18650 cell, a choice you make yourself
A device with a removable cell hands part of the design over to its owner. Capacity, discharge current and the condition of the cell are the buyer’s call, which opens up options and brings a few rules with it.
Matching the cell to the wattage
The deciding figure is the cell’s continuous discharge current, given on its datasheet, not its capacity in mAh. The higher the wattage set, the more headroom that current needs. Our look at the Aegis Solo 3 and its 100 W sets out the full working, from coil to cell, on a single-cell mod that raises the same question.
A cell with a split wrap, a dent or a doubtful origin never goes in. Outside the device it travels in an insulated case, away from keys and coins.
Charging in the device or separately
The GS charges over USB-C at 5 V and 2 A, so 10 W at most on input, the same as the Armour G.
The Armour G2 accepts up to 15 W at 5 V and 3 A, or 18 W at 9 V and 2 A, and Vaporesso quotes a full charge in about an hour. Here the GS makes up for it differently. A second cell charged in a dedicated charger replaces the first in seconds, something neither built-in battery model allows.
Pod, modes and locking, the shared ground
Beyond power source and wattage, the Vaporesso Armour GS shares most of its operation with the rest of the family. Those common points matter when you are torn between two models.
The G Series pod fills from the top and draws air through the top, with four airflow levels. Vaporesso lists it at 5 ml and at 2 ml for the TPD version. In the UK, refillable tanks are capped at 2 ml, so the 2 ml TPD version is the one that meets that ceiling.
Several retailer listings agree on the GS interface. Three presses of the main button open the menu, which offers Smart, Eco and Pulse modes, the last one branded Neo Pulse by the manufacturer. A dedicated lock button freezes the device, useful before it goes into a pocket or bag. On the G2, Vaporesso adds an optional automatic lock after three minutes of inactivity.
Which Armour G suits which vaper
Each model targets a different vaper. The verdict hinges on two questions, whether you need more than 60 W and whether you want to manage your own cells.
The Vaporesso Armour GS suits a direct-lung vaper working at high wattage who already owns quality 18650 cells, or is happy to buy them. It is the only one of the three that combines 80 W, the supplied 0.15 ohm GTX and swappable cells.
The Armour G targets the same use without the cell management. Its 3000 mAh battery covers the full 5 to 80 W range and it comes in an MTL version too, but its battery cannot be replaced.
The Armour G2 is for anyone staying under 60 W, in moderate direct lung or a tighter draw. It brings the largest built-in battery and the fastest charging in the family, but closes the door on the 0.15 ohm.
FAQ
Questions that come up when choosing or setting up an Armour GS, alongside the comparison.
Which e-liquid suits the Armour GS?
Vaporesso publishes no recommended ratio for this model. In practice, the lower the coil and the higher the wattage, the better a liquid rich in vegetable glycerine keeps the cotton fed. In the UK, nicotine-containing e-liquid is capped at 20 mg/ml and sold in bottles of no more than 10 ml.
How long does the Armour GS battery last?
Vaporesso gives no figure, since the cell is not supplied. Running time depends on the capacity of the cell fitted and the wattage set. A 0.15 ohm GTX around 70 W drains a cell far faster than a 0.4 ohm set near 30 W.
Can the Armour GS do a tighter mouth-to-lung draw?
Yes, by swapping the DTL pod from the kit for the G Series MTL pod, sold separately. Vaporesso ships that pod in the Armour G MTL kit with 0.6 and 0.4 ohm GTX coils, and lists the 0.8 and 1.2 ohm among the compatible values for the series.
How do you prime a new GTX coil?
Put a few drops of liquid on the exposed cotton, fit the coil, fill the pod, then wait a few minutes before the first puff. Starting at the bottom of the range printed on the box avoids scorching a wick that is still dry.
Is the Armour GS waterproof?
Vaporesso publishes no IP rating for either the Armour G or the Armour GS. Without a stated rating, keep it away from water and dust like any pod mod, and keep the USB-C port clean and dry before each charge.
Vaporesso Armour GS, the pick for vapers who want control of the cell
Within the Armour G family, the difference lies neither in the screen nor in the pod, both shared by all three models. It comes down to wattage and power source, two criteria the G2 sheet caps and the GS sheet leaves open.
The Vaporesso Armour GS is therefore for the vaper who wants the platform’s 80 W and control over the cells. Comparing power sources before wattage figures is a useful habit for reading any pod mod spec sheet, as our Voopoo PnP coils breakdown shows from the coil side.
Editorial content for adult readers only. Vaping products can contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance, and vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK. This article is not a buying recommendation.
