The Caliburn name has been royalty in UK pod kits since 2019. The original converted a generation of smokers. The G3 made cross-compatible pods a thing. The G4 refined the formula. But somewhere along the way, the competition caught up — and in 2026, "good Caliburn" stopped being an automatic assumption.
The Uwell Caliburn G5 has to earn it back. It arrives with a 1600mAh battery, a 0.85-inch colour screen, up to 35W of power, and the new GPP Alpha pod platform. On paper, it's the most complete Caliburn yet.
I've spent the past few weeks using it as my only kit — not unboxing it for an afternoon and writing a spec summary. This review is written from daily use, including the parts that frustrated me.
💡 The Short Answer
The Caliburn G5 is one of the best all-round pod kits in the UK right now — and at £14.99, it's exceptional value. You get a 1600mAh battery, a genuine colour screen, adjustable airflow, and three pods in the box. Flavour from the GPP Alpha pods is clean and consistent, and the soft-touch TPU mouthpiece is genuinely comfortable. The trade-offs are real: the tap sensor can be over-sensitive, the juice window is small, and 20mg nic salt feels harsh on the 0.4Ω pod. But for most vapers, this is a better daily driver than kits costing twice as much.
Uwell Caliburn G5 — Key Specifications at a Glance
| Uwell Caliburn G5 — Technical Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 1600mAh built-in |
| Charging | USB-C, 5V/2A, approximately 45–60 minutes |
| Output Power | 5–35W, adjustable |
| Pods Included | 3 pods: 0.6Ω GPP Alpha, 0.6Ω GPP, 0.4Ω GPP (all 2ml TPD) |
| Pod Compatibility | GPP and GPP Alpha pods (0.4Ω, 0.6Ω, 0.9Ω, 1.2Ω) — also G3/G4 series pods |
| Display | 0.85-inch colour screen, multiple themes |
| Modes | Smart VW, Storm Mode, Waves Mode |
| Activation | Draw-activated + tap sensor |
| Airflow | Adjustable side slider |
| Dimensions | 116 × 28.9 × 16.8mm |
| Weight | 65g |
| Colours | 7 options including Black Carbon, Navy Ripples, Aurora Feathers |
| Price | £14.99 at Vape Online Store (RRP £22.99) |
| Compliance | UK TPD compliant, MHRA registered |
Design and Build Quality — Aluminium, Matte, and Genuinely Premium
Pick up the Caliburn G5 and the first thing you notice is the weight. At 65g, it's heavier than the XROS 5 Mini (around 45g) but lighter than a full mod. It feels deliberate rather than heavy — the aluminium alloy chassis doesn't flex, doesn't creak, and doesn't feel hollow.
The matte finish is the standout. It's smooth without being slippery, and it resists fingerprints better than glossy pod kits. Uwell has released seven colourways, and each one gets its own colour-matched theme on the screen — a small detail that makes the device feel considered rather than mass-produced.
The 0.85-inch colour screen is genuinely useful. It shows battery percentage, wattage, coil resistance, and puff count. You navigate it with tap gestures rather than button combinations, which is either intuitive or fiddly depending on your patience.
🔍 One Design Note
The Caliburn G5 has a tap sensor that can be programmed to a single function of your choice. It's a clever idea, but reviewers on Planet of the Vapes and Vaping101 have both flagged that it can be over-sensitive and trigger unintentionally. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's worth knowing before you buy.
Battery Life and Charging — A Full Day, Realistically
The 1600mAh battery is one of the larger cells in the Caliburn range. In real-world use, a moderate MTL vaper (300–400 puffs a day) gets roughly one full day from a charge. Light vapers can stretch it to two days. Heavy vapers will need a top-up by late afternoon.
Charging is USB-C at 5V/2A. Flat to full takes approximately 45–60 minutes. That's slower than the XROS 6's 3A fast charging (50% in 10 minutes), but for a device this size, it's more than adequate.
✅ Real-World Battery Test
I ran the Caliburn G5 on the 0.6Ω GPP Alpha pod in Smart Mode for six days. It needed charging daily with moderate-to-heavy use, and twice on the heaviest day. The screen gives clear battery warnings well before it dies — no sudden cut-outs.
Pods and Flavour — GPP Alpha Is the Real Upgrade
The Caliburn G5 ships with three pods in the box: a 0.6Ω GPP Alpha, a 0.6Ω GPP, and a 0.4Ω GPP. That's genuinely rare at this price point — most kits include one pod, sometimes two. Three is exceptional value.
The GPP Alpha pods are the headline upgrade. Uwell claims a 200% longer lifespan than previous generations, and reviewers on Planet of the Vapes have confirmed that flavour stays consistent for longer. In practice, that means you're replacing pods less often, which saves money over time.
Flavour quality is clean and consistent from first puff to last. The PRO-FOCS 4.0 technology (Uwell's flavour reproduction system) does genuinely make a difference — reviewers consistently rate the G5's flavour above the XROS 5 in side-by-side testing.
| Pod Resistance | Draw Style | Best Nicotine Strength | In the Box? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4Ω GPP | RDL / open MTL | 10mg nic salt or 3–6mg freebase | ✅ Included |
| 0.6Ω GPP Alpha | Tight-to-medium MTL | 20mg nic salt (drop to 10mg if harsh) | ✅ Included |
| 0.6Ω GPP | Tight MTL | 20mg nic salt | ✅ Included |
| 0.9Ω GPP | Tight MTL | 20mg nic salt | Sold separately |
| 1.2Ω GPP | Tightest MTL | 20mg nic salt, longer battery life | Sold separately |
MTL, RDL, and Who It's Actually For
The Caliburn G5 is a mouth-to-lung and restricted-direct-lung device. The adjustable airflow slider plus reversible pod orientation lets you move from a genuinely tight, cigarette-like draw to a looser RDL inhale.
This flexibility is what separates it from simpler pod kits. If you're switching from disposables and want a tight MTL draw, the 1.2Ω pod (sold separately) delivers that. If you want more vapour and a warmer hit, the 0.4Ω pod included in the box does that too.
It's draw-activated with no fire button. You fill the pod, wait for it to prime, and inhale. The tap sensor handles menus and modes, but you never need it to vape.
Common Uwell Caliburn G5 Problems — And How to Fix Them
This is where most reviews stop. They tell you the device is great and leave you to figure out the problems yourself. I'd rather tell you what actually goes wrong and how to sort it.
1. Muted Flavour on the 1.2Ω Pod
This is the most commonly reported issue on UK forums. Users on Planet of the Vapes describe "completely muted flavor" and "vapor production is low" with the 1.2Ω pod.
Fix: The 1.2Ω pod runs at very low wattage, which mutes flavour by design. If flavour matters more than battery life, step down to the 0.9Ω or 0.6Ω pod. If you need the tightest draw, accept that flavour will be subtler.
2. Harsh Throat Hit on Lower-Resistance Pods
The flip side of the same problem: the 0.4Ω pod with 20mg nic salt produces a throat hit that many users find too harsh.
Fix: Match your nicotine strength to the pod. Use 20mg nic salt with 0.6Ω–1.2Ω pods. Use 10mg nic salt or 3–6mg freebase with the 0.4Ω pod.
3. Gurgling or Spitback
Flooding — the coil has too much e-liquid. Usually caused by overfilling, leaving the filler plug open, or drawing too hard.
Fix: Remove the pod, hold a tissue near the airflow vents, and blow gently through the mouthpiece to clear excess juice. Don't fill above the MAX line. Close the filler plug immediately after filling.
4. Leaking Around the Pod Connection
Less common on the G5 than previous Caliburns (the self-sealing pods are genuinely leak-resistant), but it can happen if the pod isn't seated properly or the device is stored on its side.
Fix: Reseat the pod firmly until it clicks. Store the device upright. If the pod has been dropped and cracked, replace it.
5. Tap Sensor Triggering Unintentionally
The tap sensor can be over-sensitive and activate menus or modes in your pocket.
Fix: Disable or reassign the tap sensor function in the settings menu. The device still works fully without it.
How to Set Up the Caliburn G5 — Step by Step
- Unbox: Remove the device and the three included pods from the packaging.
- Remove the insulating film: Peel the film from the bottom of the pod before doing anything else. Skipping this means the pod won't make proper contact with the device.
- Fill the pod: Open the filler plug, insert your e-liquid bottle tip, and fill — but don't go above the MAX line. Close the plug immediately after filling.
- Prime: Let the pod stand upright for 10 minutes so the coil fully saturates. Skipping this is the main cause of burnt taste.
- Insert the pod: Push it firmly into the device until it clicks.
- Power on: The device should power on automatically when you draw. If not, check the screen for instructions.
- Adjust settings: Use the screen to set your wattage, airflow, and mode (Smart VW, Storm, or Waves).
⚠️ Priming Is Not Optional
The 10-minute wait is the single most important step. Uwell's own documentation and independent reviewers both confirm that skipping it is the number one cause of early burnt hits. If you rush it, the coil is permanently damaged — and no amount of waiting afterwards will fix it.
Running Cost vs Disposables
This is the part that actually matters for your wallet.
At £14.99 for the kit, with replacement GPP pods at £9.99 for a pack of four (around £2.50 per pod), and a 10ml bottle of nic salt at around £2.50–£3, the Caliburn G5 works out to roughly £0.83 per 1,000 puffs — plus the pod cost, which works out to pennies per day.
Compare that with disposables at roughly £5 for 600 puffs — around £8.33 per 1,000 puffs. The Caliburn G5 is roughly ten times cheaper per puff.
✅ The Real Saving
A moderate vaper using the Caliburn G5 spends around £3–4 a week on e-liquid and pods. The same vaper on disposables spends £15–25 a week. The Caliburn G5 pays for itself in the first week — and the three included pods mean you don't need to buy replacements for a month.
Uwell Caliburn G5 Pod Vape Kit
1600mAh USB-C battery · 5–35W output · 0.85-inch colour screen · 3 pods included · GPP & GPP Alpha compatible · MTL & RDL
- ✅ Three pods in the box — exceptional value
- ✅ GPP Alpha pods with 200% longer lifespan
- ✅ Adjustable airflow — MTL to RDL
- ✅ 0.85-inch colour screen with themes
- ✅ UK TPD compliant
Free next-day delivery on orders over £40 · 4.6/5 Trustpilot (8,348+ reviews)
Uwell Caliburn G5 vs the Competition
| Feature | Uwell Caliburn G5 | Vaporesso XROS 5 | OXVA Xlim Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | 1600mAh | 1500mAh | 1500mAh |
| Output | 5–35W | 5–30W | 5–30W |
| Screen | 0.85-inch colour | Button screen | 0.88-inch colour |
| Pods in Box | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Pod Compatibility | GPP, GPP Alpha, G3/G4 pods | Full XROS range | OXVA Xlim pods |
| Best For | Flavour + value + pod life | Battery + fast charging | Flavour + build quality |
| Price | £14.99 | £22.99 | £24.99 |
Reviewers on Vape Green and Vape Club consistently rank the Caliburn G5 alongside the XROS 5 as the two best pod kits of 2026. The XROS 5 has the edge on fast charging and battery size; the Caliburn G5 has the edge on flavour, pod life, and value (three pods in the box). If flavour and feel matter most to you, the G5 wins.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Three pods in the box — exceptional value
- GPP Alpha pods last significantly longer
- Clean, consistent flavour across pod life
- Adjustable airflow — genuine MTL to RDL
- 0.85-inch colour screen with themes
- Soft-touch TPU mouthpiece is genuinely comfortable
- Aluminium build feels premium
- £14.99 — one of the best value kits in the UK
❌ Cons
- Tap sensor can be over-sensitive
- Muted flavour on the 1.2Ω pod
- Harsh throat hit on 0.4Ω pod with 20mg salt
- Small juice-viewing window
- USB-C cable not included
- Slower charging than XROS 6 (2A vs 3A)
Who Should Buy the Uwell Caliburn G5?
Buy it if:
- You want a pod kit with a screen, adjustable power, and genuinely good flavour
- You're switching from disposables and want a tight MTL draw option
- You want exceptional value — three pods in the box at £14.99
- You care about pod longevity — GPP Alpha pods last longer
- You already own G3 or G4 pods (they're compatible)
Skip it if:
- You want the fastest possible charging (XROS 6 wins there)
- You want a touchscreen rather than tap gestures
- You vape high-wattage DTL — 35W is the ceiling
- You want the absolute lightest pod kit (XROS 5 Mini is lighter)
Ready to Try the Uwell Caliburn G5?
1600mAh battery, 35W, colour screen, three pods in the box — and £14.99.
Shop Uwell Caliburn G5 →Free next-day delivery over £40 · 4.6/5 Trustpilot (7,300+ reviews)
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the Uwell Caliburn G5 worth it in 2026?
Yes. At £14.99, you get a 1600mAh battery, a colour screen, adjustable airflow, and three pods in the box. Reviewers consistently rank it alongside the XROS 5 as one of the best pod kits of the year. For most vapers, it's a better daily driver than kits costing twice as much.
Q. How long does the Caliburn G5 battery last?
Roughly one full day for a moderate MTL vaper (300–400 puffs). Light vapers can stretch it to two days. Heavy vapers will need a top-up by late afternoon. USB-C charging takes 45–60 minutes.
Q. What pods fit the Uwell Caliburn G5?
The G5 works with GPP and GPP Alpha pods (0.4Ω, 0.6Ω, 0.9Ω, 1.2Ω). It's also compatible with G3 and G4 series pods, so if you have a stash from an older Caliburn, they'll work.
Q. Why does my Caliburn G5 taste muted?
Almost always the 1.2Ω pod. It runs at very low wattage, which mutes flavour by design. Step down to the 0.9Ω or 0.6Ω pod if flavour matters more than battery life. If the muted taste started suddenly on a pod you've been using, the coil has reached the end of its life.
Q. Why is my Caliburn G5 harsh on the throat?
You're using too high a nicotine strength for the pod. 20mg nic salt works well on the 0.6Ω–1.2Ω pods but feels harsh on the 0.4Ω pod. Drop to 10mg nic salt or 3–6mg freebase for the 0.4Ω pod.
Q. Can I use any e-liquid in the Caliburn G5?
Any 50/50 VG/PG nicotine salt or freebase e-liquid works. Higher-VG juices can be used but wick more slowly and shorten coil life. Very thin high-PG liquids are more likely to leak.
Q. Does the Caliburn G5 have a touchscreen?
No — it has a 0.85-inch colour screen controlled by tap gestures, not a full touchscreen. If you want a genuine touchscreen, look at the Vaporesso XROS 5 Nano.
Q. Why does my Caliburn G5 gurgle or spit?
The coil has flooded. Remove the pod, hold a tissue near the airflow vents, and blow gently through the mouthpiece to clear excess juice. Don't fill above the MAX line, and close the filler plug immediately after filling.
Q. Is the Caliburn G5 TPD compliant?
Yes. The 2ml pods and 20mg/ml nicotine limit are both within UK legal limits. Every kit sold at Vape Online Store is fully UK TPD compliant and MHRA registered.
Q. What's the difference between GPP and GPP Alpha pods?
GPP Alpha pods are the upgraded version. Uwell claims a 200% longer lifespan, better flavour stability, and improved leak resistance. They cost slightly more but last longer, so the cost per puff is similar or lower.
Final Verdict — Is the Uwell Caliburn G5 Worth Your Money?
After weeks of daily use, the Caliburn G5 has earned its place as one of the best pod kits on the UK market. It does the things that matter — clean flavour, reliable battery, adjustable airflow, and a genuinely useful screen — without asking you to compromise on value.
It's not perfect. The tap sensor can be annoying, the 1.2Ω pod mutes flavour, and the juice window is small. But none of those are dealbreakers for the audience this kit is aimed at.
If you want a pod kit that delivers flavour, flexibility, and value in equal measure, the Caliburn G5 is one of the strongest choices in the UK right now. At £14.99 with three pods in the box, it's almost impossible to argue with.
Verdict: 4.7/5 — Highly recommended for vapers who prioritise flavour and value.
