Freemax is continuing to add to its ever-growing product range and has introduced two new pod kits called the Galex Kit and the Galex Nano Kit. We were fortunate enough to have received both variants to review and at first, we thought we would write a combined review covering both these devices.
As we unpacked them it became obvious that while they utilize the same pod and yes they have similar functions, the appearance of the two devices is completely different as the photo below shows. Each of these pod kits will appeal to a different audience so we decided to write two separate reviews, this one on the Freemax Galex Pod kit and another review on the Freemax Galex Nano Pod kit.
There will be some duplication between these two reviews, especially in the pod section, but for clarity and ease of reading, two reviews are the path we’ve chosen. We will place links between each of the two reviews so that whatever Freemax Galex kit takes your fancy, you can switch to that particular device review.
Overview of the Galex Pod Kit
The Freemax Galex Pod kit is a stick-style device with an adaptive power level of 11W-16W and although it’s non-adjustable, the wattage is dependent on the resistance of the coil (0.8ohm or 1.0ohm) you have fitted in the pod. It’s an auto-draw activated Mouth to Lung (MTL) / Restrictive Direct to Lung (RDL) pod device powered by an internal 800mAh rechargeable battery.
Charging the Galex Pod is carried out via the Type-C USB port on the bottom of the device. We couldn’t determine the charging current of the port but a full charge is achieved within approximately 40 minutes.
Airflow control is restricted to 2 fixed air intake pin holes, one on each side of the Galex Pod battery casing which provides an MTL and RDL vaping style, depending on the coil type fitted.
The Galex pod has an e-liquid capacity of 2ml and is refillable via the top fill port that’s concealed under the duckbill-style mouthpiece. It accepts the replaceable GX Mesh coils (0.8ohm/1.0ohm) which are cross-compatible with the Galex Nano kit.
Both these coils, which are included in the kit, are SS904L with 50% increased Tea Fibre Cotton and utilize Freemax’s FM SaltCoilTech 4.0 technology so the flavor and performance are what we now come to expect from Freemax…second to none.
There is a small tri-color changing LED towards the bottom center of the front panel that illuminates when you draw on the pod. This LED changes color to indicate the current discharge status of the battery. It also illuminates while the Galex Pod is being charged and extinguishes when full charge is achieved.
Freemax has included their “Full Spectrum Vaping” lighting effects which we’re seeing more and more on their later releases. These effects can be switched on or off and shine through a large oval-shaped smoked screen in the center of the Galex casing.
The Galex Pod kit comes in 5 different colors and is constructed out of zinc alloy and PCTG making this very lightweight and well-made with the added advantage of being very simple and straightforward to use.
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Review
Contents
Overview of the Galex Pod Kit
Features and Specifications
What’s in the Box?
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Design and Appearance
– Galex Battery/Body
– Galex Pod
Galex Pod Kit Functionality
Galex Pod Kit Performance
Galex Pod Battery Performance
How do I Fill the Galex Pod?
How do I Change the Coil in the Galex Pod?
How do I Charge the Galex Pod Kit?
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Verdict
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Summary
Features and Specifications
Dimensions: 107.47mm x 23.5mm x 16.5mm
Weight: 45 grams (37 grams minus pod)
Construction: Zinc Alloy
Pod Material: PCTG
Charging: Type-C USB (figures not specified)
Charging Time: Approx 40 minutes
Output Wattage: Adaptive 11W-16W max
Output Voltage: 3.3V/3.5V – 4.2V
E-liquid Capacity: 2.0ml Pod
Pod Type: Refillable and Replaceable 0.8ohm/1.0ohm Coils
Coil Material: SS904L Mesh
Filling Method: Childproof Top Fill Port
Battery Specification: Internal 800mAh
Display: Tri-color LED + Multi-Spectrum
Airflow: 2 fixed side case intake holes
Firing: Auto draw activation
Mouthpiece: Removable Duckbill
FM Leak-Resistance Tech
What’s in the box?
Freemax Galex Pod Kit
GX Mesh Coil – 0.8 ohm
GX Mesh Coil – 1.0 ohm (pre-installed)
Type-C to USB Charging Cable
User Manual
Warning Card
Warranty Card
The packaging is pretty standard across Freemax products; an outer black colored sleeve with a slide-out cardboard box. This outer sleeve includes a colored photo of the included device on the front together with the name of the device and the written color.
On the sides and reverse of the outer sleeve are the basic specifications of the Galex Pod together with the kit contents. Inside the box is a foam tray housing the device and underneath this tray is a further package that contains the spare coil, charging cable, and manual/cards.
I will point out, for all you eagle-eyed readers, the package we received was a sample (pre-sales) model and didn’t include a User Manual. This manual will be included in all sales models.
Freemax Galex Pod Design and Appearance
The Galex Pod Body/Battery
The Freemax Galex Pod is a compact and stylish auto-draw-activated vape pod constructed out of zinc alloy. Its shape is a slim rectangular design with slightly curved angled edges measuring 84mm tall (107.47mm including the pod), 23.5mm wide by 16.5mm deep and weighs in at a lightweight 45 grams.
There are no menu controls, no on/off button, or variable wattage adjustments, it’s a very simple no fuss easy to operate pod kit. The Galex Pod has a fixed 11W – 16W max adaptive power output which is auto-set from the type (resistance) of the replaceable coils that are fitted in the pod.
The Galex Pod incorporates an internal 800mAh internal battery and is charged, using the supplied charging cable, via the Type-C USB port on the bottom of the Galex Pod body.
We couldn’t find out the specification of the charging circuit but verified that it will fully charge from a 1A power source in under 40 minutes.
There is a small tri-colored oval LED positioned centrally just above the bottom of the Galex Pod on the front face that illuminates when you draw on the pod and while it’s being charged. It will also highlight the levels of protection by different flashing sequences (see functionality section). Strangely enough, the LED doesn’t illuminate when the pod is inserted.
This tri-colored LED will also display the included safety features and protection, such as:
- Overtime Protection
- Low Battery Protection
- Over Charge Protection
- Atomizer Short-Circuit Protection
As we mentioned earlier in the Overview, Freemax has included their “Full Spectrum Vaping” lighting effects on the Galex Pod. In the center of the front face, just above the tri-colored LED, is a large (48mm x 13mm) oval-shaped smoked black panel that illuminates in different lighting sequences.
These lighting effects can be selected by quickly inserting and removing the pod twice within 3 seconds to display a multi-color strobe effect, a single-color sequence effect, or switched off. When switched on, the lighting will illuminate when the pod is inserted or when you draw on the pod.
Airflow control is not adjustable but includes two fixed small airflow intake holes (approx. 2mm in diameter), one on each side of the casing. They sit just above the bottom of the pod recess which you can see through the casing when the pod is removed.
The airflow restriction provides a reasonably tight MTL draw or an RDL draw (coil dependent) but if you wish you can place your thumb/finger over one or both of the airflow pin holes to further restrict the airflow.
On the base of the Galex Pod are the usual printed “CE” and “Do Not Dispose” markings with “Made in China” and “800mAh” plus “2.96Wh” together with the Type-C charging port. The bottom of the Galex Pod is flat so it does stand upright on a flat surface.
The top of the Galex Pod has a deep (13mm) oval recessed opening which is symmetrical so the pod can be inserted either way round.
This recess houses the two gold-plated spring-loaded coil contact pins, two outer diagonally opposed round magnets that connect and secure the pod when it’s fitted, and two auto-draw sensor ports.
There are 5 different color options available in the Freemax Galex Pod Kit range. The one we received was Blue and can be seen in the photos throughout this review:
Gunmetal
Blue
Cyan Purple
Pink Gold
Black
Branding is not overpowering and limited to the words “GALEX” screen printed on the front of the black smoked panel and “FREEMAX” on the reverse face in smaller lettering towards the bottom of the device.
The surface of the Galex Pod battery/body is a single-color semi-matte finish which does appear to be hard-wearing and doesn’t show any finger marks.
Overall it’s a really nice looking pod body, looks smart, feels nice in the hand, is lightweight, discrete (with the lights switched off), simple to use, and well built.
The Galex Pod
Before I start, Freemax is claiming the pod incorporates their FM Leak-Resistance Tech which prevents e-liquid leaking from the pod. As we all know, the majority of pods, unfortunately, do suffer from leaking issues to varying degrees.
We have answered this question, after we put it to the test of course, in the Galex Coil/Pod Performance Summary under Galex Pod Performance. You can jump to this section by clicking on the hyperlink if your eagerness to find out the answer gets the better of you.
Yellow and Red Peel Sticker over the base of the Galex Pod
When you first receive your new Galex Pod kit, the bottom of the pod housing will have a “Peel” sticker over the base of the coil. This is used during transit to isolate the coil from connecting to the coil contact pins in the pod recess.
Do ensure you remove this label prior to using it.
The Freemax Galex pod is refillable with a 2ml e-liquid capacity and accepts the push-fit replaceable GX Mesh 0.8 ohm and 1.0ohm coils.
Manufactured out of clear opaque PCTG material, you can clearly see the level of e-liquid through it. The pod has a removable duck bill-type mouthpiece that tapers down to an oval opening with a circular 3.5mm center section leading down onto the coil. This provides an ideal MTL/RDL vape style.
The pod is a top fill design with the fill port opening concealed under the duck bill style mouthpiece. To gain access to the fill port, the duckbill mouthpiece has to be removed from the pod body. This can be done with the pod left inserted into the Galex Pod body but I’d recommend removing the pod first.
Simply grasp the duckbill mouthpiece while holding the pod body, lever the flat side of the mouthpiece to one side and it will release from its locking lugs. Once released, pull the mouthpiece away from the pod body. Bear in mind the mouthpiece is a tight fit against the locking lugs so it does take a bit of pressure to remove it.
When the mouthpiece is removed there are two circular holes in the top of the pod body. The center hole is the top of the coil, do NOT put e-liquid down this hole. The filling port is the second hole located to one side with the red silicone rubber membrane.
There is also a smaller hole on the opposite side of the filling port, this is the air release hole which helps prevent e-liquid from spilling back out of the fill port while you are filling.
The filling hole is only about 4mm in diameter so take care when using short stubby e-liquid tips, we found a needle tip easier to use. When filling with e-liquid, lightly press the bottle tip against the red silicone rubber membrane. It will slightly flex and the e-liquid will enter the pod. Once the pod has been filled with your e-liquid, replace the duckbill-style mouthpiece ensuring it snaps into place.
Branding is limited to a “GALEX” screen printed on one side of the pod with the words “Made In China” below and a “Min” e-liquid level line on the reverse side, both of which are only visible when the pod is removed from the Galex Pod body.
Do ensure you don’t let your e-liquid level fall below this “Min” mark otherwise you’re at risk of the coil drying out and you will damage the coil. The wicking ports need to be kept saturated with e-liquid.
When fitting either of the two coils into the coil recess in the base of the pod, ensure the two flat sides on the base plate of the coil align with the two flat sides in the coil recess. When fitted correctly, the base of the coil should fit perfectly level with the base of the pod.
On the underside of the pod is the opening for the GX Mesh coil, two circular diagonally opposed magnets, and two small air intake ports that activate the auto draw. The pod can be fitted either way round and simply slides into the recessed opening of the Galex Pod body and is secured and held in place by the magnetic contacts.
On the base of each coil is written the coil type “GX Mesh” and the resistance of that coil together with its min and max recommended wattage levels:
0.8 ohm – 13W – 18W
1.0 ohm – 12W – 16W
Inserting or removing the pod into the Galex Pod body will NOT illuminate the small oval LED but if the full spectrum lighting is activated, this will illuminate and cycle on and off for 15 seconds.
During the time I’ve been using the Galex Pod kit, NO leaks or condensation on the base of the pod or around the recessed contact pins were observed. This is achieved by the leak-resistance tech design with a maze chimney on either side of the pod. The pod also fits securely and doesn’t rattle or wobble.
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Functionality
The Freemax Galex Pod kit is very simple and straightforward to use. There is no variable airflow control to worry about, no on/off button and the wattage is auto-selected depending on the type of GX coil you’re using. Just ensure your battery is charged, the coil is fitted and in working order and the pod has sufficient e-liquid in it.
A visual indication of the operation and function of the Galex Pod is displayed by the tri-colored LED and in part the full spectrum lighting. The tri-color LED will illuminate while you draw on the pod and while it’s on charge display one of three colors that correspond to the remaining charge left in the battery:
Red – <35%
Blue – 35% – 70%
Green – >70%
To activate or disable the Full Spectrum Vaping lighting effects, remove and insert the pod twice within 3 seconds. Each time this is carried out, the lighting effects will change as follows:
Uni-color sequence (cycles each color individually)
Multi-color sequence
Off (no lighting effects)
We’ve tried to capture the different lighting effects but the photos really don’t do them justice. 5 different uni-color and 5 multi-color patterns can be displayed. These will cycle over a 15-second period after each draw.
Each function/prompt is highlighted as a sequence of flashes on the tri-colored LED as follows:
Charging: – LED will slowly cycle on and off
Full charge: – LED extinguishes
Pod removed: – LED flashes 3 times (Note 1)
Low battery (<3.3V): – LED flashes red 15 times (Note 2)
Low resistance or short circuit: – No data available
Overtime protection (10S): – LED flashes 8 times
Full spectrum vaping: – Off / Uni-color / Multi-color
The Galex Pod does have a pass-through so you can vape and charge at the same time.
The composition of both the included 0.8ohm and 1.0ohm coils are quenched SS904L Mesh with a 50% increase in the Tea Fibre Cotton and uses the FM SaltCoilTech 4.0 technology. You can see from the photo above that each coil has 4 O-Rings and these do a really good job of sealing the coil in the pod to help prevent e-liquid seepage.
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Performance
GX Mesh Coil 1.0ohm (pre-installed)
Freemax specifies the optimum wattage range for this coil is 12W – 16W.
After my initially priming the coil and leaving it to sit for 15 minutes, I was ready to go. I used my favorite Tropical Ice Mango with 6mg freebase nicotine strength at a PG/VG ratio of 50/50.
Straight away the flavor came through on the first draw. A couple more draws and the crisp tones of the Mango filled my mouth with a nice coolness on the intake from the ice additive. As I’ve always found with Freemax coils, they produce great flavor from their coils and this one is no exception.
The vapor was pretty dense, more than I expected from these little coils. I did change my e-liquid to a 70VG/30PG and yes the vapor increased and yes the coil did vape faultlessly with the thicker e-liquid. Chain vaping for 15 minutes didn’t cause any dry hits so the wicking ports worked really well.
The auto draw worked effortlessly each time, even the slightest of draws fired the Galex Pod. I would say the draw is not tight, more an airy MTL draw. Restricting the airflow by placing a thumb over one of the airflow holes on the Galex Pod side casing does tighten the draw. You can if you wish to close off both airflow holes to achieve an even tighter draw.
No gurgling or spitting was evident and the draw is very smooth.
GX Mesh Coil 0.8ohm
Freemax specifies the optimum wattage range for this coil is 13W – 18W.
Swapping the 1.0ohm coil out for this 0.8ohm coil wasn’t a problem and I didn’t lose any e-liquid.
Using the same Tropical Mango Ice e-liquid as the previous coil, I have to be honest and say I didn’t really notice any significant change in terms of flavor or vapor between the two different coils. I also felt the power level was very similar too.
Saying this, the flavor and vapor from this 0.8ohm coil are still as impressive as the 1.0ohm coil and I would be more than happy vaping on either coil all day.
Coil/Performance Summary
On the Freemax website, they state that the pod is good for 10 fills before you notice a drop in performance from the coils. Certainly, the two coils I’ve been using have far exceeded this.
Both coils are equally as impressive and each produced really good flavor and vapor. I cycled around 30ml of e-liquid through each coil (15 fills) and neither coil appeared to deteriorate. The performance remained the same and both coils are still going strong.
By the time I completed writing this review, I was up to around 25 fills with the 1.0ohm coil and it’s still working well.
Now the big question is…Do the pods leak? Freemax claims that the pods utilize their FM Leak-Resistance Tech. They state that the Maze chimney on either side of the pod extends the path of the excess e-liquid flowing through the chimney which effectively prevents leaking issues. Together with this, a cotton pad in the base of the pod absorbs any additional e-liquid providing further protection.
Well, I can definitely say that throughout the time I’ve been using both the two supplied coils, NO e-liquid seepage, and NO condensation was visible. Even after vaping approx. 80ml of e-liquid through the pod, the bottom of the coil, and the pod recess were completely dry.
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Battery Performance
The Freemax Galex Pod kit is powered by an internal 800mAh battery. Charging time is pretty impressive, taking approximately 40 minutes to fully charge via the Type-C USB charger/cable.
I was achieving around 5 – 6 hours of quite heavy vaping while using the 0.8ohm coil from a fully charged battery. These times are a little ambiguous as they are dependent on your vaping style i.e. length and frequency of your draw.
Surprisingly I didn’t really notice any difference in vaping time when I had the full spectrum lighting effects on.
The small color-changing LED towards the base of the Galex Pod gave a really good indication of the remaining battery status during each draw and on the whole, followed the specified voltage level changes. It was nice to see that once the LED displays red, you still have plenty of vaping time left.
Once the Galex Pod reaches its low battery cut-off, the LED will flash red 15 times and you will no longer be able to vape. At this point, you will have to recharge the battery.
I did monitor the period of time it took for each color change of the small LED to switch color during vaping:
Green to Blue: 1.5 – 2 hours
Blue to Red: 2.5 – 3 hours
Red to flashing Red: 1 hour
The Galex Pod does have a pass-through so you can vape while it’s being charged.
How Do I Fill The Galex Pod?
The Freemax Galex Pod is a concealed top-fill design. To gain access to the filling port, you have to remove the duck bill-styled mouthpiece from the top of the pod in order to fill it with e-liquid. You can remove the mouthpiece with the pod still attached to the Galex Pod body but I would recommend removing the pod first so as not to overstress the pod recess.
With the pod removed, hold the pod body with one hand and grasp the mouthpiece with your other hand. Prize the mouthpiece to one side and it will release from the pod body. This is a pretty tight fit so it does take a little force.
The fill port is located on the top of the pod. There are two holes; the center hole leads down onto the coil/chimney, do NOT fill this hole with e-liquid. The filling port is the other off-center hole that’s marked with the red silicone membrane surrounding its opening.
Gently press your e-liquid bottle tip against this membrane and fill the pod up with your e-liquid. We did find that short stubby e-liquid bottle tips were a little fiddly and had to be pressed firmly against the fill port hole for no e-liquid spillage to occur.
Do NOT overfill the pod. Once filled, replace the duckbill-styled mouthpiece ensuring it snaps into place and is securely fitted. Then reconnect the pod to the Galex Pod body.
How do I Change the Coil in the Galex Pod?
If the coil in your pod is showing signs of failing with a loss of flavor or vapor, or worst case the e-liquid tastes burnt then it’s time to change your coil.
The pod will have to be removed from the Galex Pod body first to gain access to the bottom of the pod.
Once the pod has been detached, simply pull the coil out from the bottom of the pod. If you have e-liquid in the pod, turn the pod upside down and place your thumb or finger over the mouthpiece opening before you remove the coil. This will help keep e-liquid spillages to a minimum.
Following the warning above, slowly push your new coil into the opening in the base of the pod and press it fully home. Make sure the top of the coil sits in the chimney housing below the mouthpiece. The base of the coil will sit flush with the base of the pod. If the base of the coil is sitting proud of the pod base, turn the coil around so the flat sides align.
Do ensure that your new coil is primed by dripping a few drops of e-liquid in the wicking ports. Fill the pod with your e-liquid and leave it to stand for 15 minutes so the e-liquid fully saturates the wick.
Before reinserting the pod, take a few draws on the mouthpiece to help draw the e-liquid through the wicking ports in the coil. Once done, refit the pod in the Galex Pod body recess.
We have written a guide on Prolonging the Life of your Coil. You may find this useful so do take a look as this may help you in getting the most out of your coil in terms of its lifespan.
How Do I Charge The Galex Pod Kit?
When you draw on the Galex Pod and the LED flashes red 10 times, this indicates the battery has run out of charge. At this point, your Galex Pod will require recharging. Plug the supplied cable into the Type-C USB port on the bottom of the device and connect the other end to a suitable power source (typically 5V/1A or higher).
As you connect the charging cable, the small color-changing LED will illuminate and slowly cycle on and off. The LED will initially cycle red in color and as the charge and charging time increases, the LED will change color from red to blue and then to green. The specification of the color change is:
Red – <35%
Blue – 35% – 70%
Green – >70%
The LED will continually cycle on and off in the relevant color throughout the charging cycle so you always know it’s still being charged.
Once fully charged, the LED will initially turn static green, and shortly afterward the LED will extinguish indicating the charge cycle has been completed. Charging time takes on average approximately 40 minutes to fully charge the battery.
The Galex Pod does have a “pass-through” so you can vape and charge it at the same time.
For reference, I monitored the length of time the LED took to change between each of the colors and then achieve its full charge:
Flashing Red – 2 minutes
Flashing Blue – 18 minutes
Flashing Green – 13 minutes
Static Green – 2 minutes
Full Charge – LED extinguished – Total time = 35 minutes
One point worth mentioning is during the charging cycle the device does get warm to the touch. I would always recommend charging your device on a non-flammable surface.
As always, NEVER leave your vape device unattended while on charge.
If you’re after a no-fuss-hassle-free pod kit BUT want the benefit of being able to refill the pod with your own e-liquid and replace the coils rather than disposing of the pod after its finished, the Freemax Galex Pod kit ticks all the boxes.
The performance is up to Freemax’s usual high standard and the real plus point is the pod does NOT leak. The minimal cost of the kit makes this a really good purchase.
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Verdict
Pros
FM Leak-Resistance Tech
Great design and build quality
Simple to use
Very good flavor and vapor
Refillable and replaceable coils
Concealed Top-Fill design
Clear pod so e-liquid is visible
Auto draw activation responsive
Impressive GX Mesh coils
Quick 40-minute charge (Type-C)
MTL and RDL
Extremely lightweight
Accurate remaining battery charge LED
Full Spectrum Vaping Display
Both coils included in the kit
Pass-through vaping
Freemax Galex Pod Kit Summary
The Freemax Galex Pod kit really did meet all our expectations. It’s sleek, looks good, feels solid, and is both lightweight and comfortable to hold. Its 800mAh capacity internal battery is about average for this size of pod kit and did a great job of powering the device for an average of 5-6 hours of vaping time.
Charging time was good at less than 40 minutes from the Type-C charging port with the added benefit of having a pass-through, so you can vape at the same time as you’re charging.
Flavor and vapor, including the throat, hit from the refillable pod with both the 0.8/1.0ohm replaceable GX mesh coils was very good and the auto draw activation was always responsive. The really big plus for me was the leakproof coils and pod and as already stated, they DON’T leak.
The small multi-color LED gives a great indication of the remaining battery charge status and it was so nice to know that once the LED turns red you still have approx. 1 hr of vaping time left.
For those folk that like the glitzy lighting effects, the Galex Pod does just that but for the more subdued out there, you can switch the lights off, so a plus for both camps.
I do feel the Galex Pod kit, because of its simplicity would suit the beginners market, but because the pod accepts the replaceable GX coils and is also refillable, the more experienced vapers amongst us would be equally at home with this kit.
I would most definitely recommend this kit to anyone, be that a new or experienced vaper.
