Uwell Caliburn A3S Vape Pod Kit

TL;DR: The Uwell Caliburn A3S is a refillable MTL pod kit (MTL means mouth to lung, a tight, cigarette-style draw) with a 520mAh battery, 2ml side-fill pods and draw activation, £12.99 on the current sale. Best for ex-smokers and disposable switchers; not ideal for cloud chasers or very heavy vapers.

Key Facts

• The Uwell Caliburn A3S has a 520mAh built-in battery with a maximum output of 16W.
• The Caliburn A3S uses 2ml side-fill pods with built-in 0.8 ohm and 1.0 ohm mesh coils.
• The Caliburn A3S accepts both Caliburn A3S pods and original Caliburn A3 pods.
• The Caliburn A3S costs £12.99 at Vape Online Store and comes in six colours.

The Uwell Caliburn A3S Pod Kit is the simplest device in the Caliburn family: fill the pod from the side, inhale, and it fires. It is a dedicated MTL vape kit built for nic salts and 50/50 e-liquid. Several national UK retailers have delisted the A3S in 2026, while it stays in stock here in all six colours. Versus the Caliburn A3, the A3S swaps the snap-off top-fill mouthpiece for a cleaner side-fill port at a lower price.

Key Specs Customers Check

• Battery: 520mAh built in. Around five hours of steady vaping, a full day for lighter MTL users.
• Output: 16W maximum, fixed. Power matches the pod automatically, nothing to set.
• Pod capacity: 2ml, the UK TPD limit. Roughly a day of e-liquid for a typical MTL vaper.
• Coils: built-in 0.8 ohm and 1.0 ohm mesh. One pod of each comes in the box.
• Fill method: side fill with a silicone plug. The pod stays on the device while topping up.
• Activation: draw activated. Inhaling fires the coil; no buttons at all.
• Charging: USB-C at 5V/2A. Flat to full in about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Size: 109.8mm x 21.3mm x 11.7mm, about 33g. A slim aluminium body that disappears in a pocket.
• Battery light: logo-shaped LED. Green, blue then red as the charge falls.

Pick Your Inhale: One Style, Two Draws

The Caliburn A3S is MTL only, with a genuinely tight draw, closer to a cigarette than almost any pod kit at this price. There is no adjustable airflow and no DTL (direct to lung) mode. The 0.8 ohm pod gives a warmer, fuller vape with a touch more vapour. The 1.0 ohm pod runs cooler and tighter, the closest feel to smoking and the gentlest on battery and e-liquid. Cloud chasers should pick a sub-ohm kit instead.

Key Features

• Side-fill pods: the fix for the older A3's biggest complaint.
• Pro-FOCS flavour technology: the coil tuning behind the Caliburn's loyal following.
• Cross-pod compatibility: takes A3 pods as well as A3S pods, doubling the refill options.

Coils and E-Liquid Pairing

Both pods want thin juice: 50/50 e-liquid or 10ml nic salts. Nic salts give the smoothest throat hit; 10mg suits smokers of fewer than 10 a day, 20mg suits heavier smokers, and 50/50 freebase in 6mg or 12mg suits anyone stepping nicotine down. Thick 70% VG shortfills wick too slowly at 16W and burn coils early.

Battery, Pod Life and Running Cost

UK reviewers get about two full pods and five hours of vaping per charge. Owners on E-Cigarette Forum report Caliburn pods lasting one to two weeks before flavour fades. Caliburn A3S replacement pods cost £9.99 for four, about £2.50 each, so a typical week runs roughly £6.50 in pods and nic salt combined, versus £10 to £15 for a two-to-three-bar disposable habit.

Compatibility and Refills

To be clear on the model: this is the Caliburn A3S, not the A2S or AZ3 Grace. It takes A3S side-fill pods and Caliburn A3 pods (top fill), both in 0.8 ohm and 1.0 ohm mesh. Caliburn G, G2 and GK2 pods do not fit. The full range is in the Uwell Caliburn collection.

How to Set Up the Caliburn A3S

1. Charge with any USB-C cable until the LED shows green.
2. Pull the pod off, open the side plug and fill with 50/50 e-liquid, tilting the nozzle slightly so air can escape.
3. Close the plug and wait 5 minutes so the coil soaks (called priming), preventing a burnt first puff.
4. Click the pod back in; the magnets align it.
5. Take a slow, gentle draw. The device fires on inhale.

How to Make It Last Longer

• Keep the pod above a quarter full. Running low is the fastest way to scorch a mesh coil.
• Draw slow and gentle. Chain vaping outruns the wick and causes dry hits.
• Swap the pod when flavour dulls, normally after one to two weeks.
• Recharge before the LED sits on red and avoid leaving the battery flat for weeks.

Which Colour to Pick

Midnight Black is the most searched Caliburn colour and the safe pick for discreet pocket carry at work. Moonlight Silver and Space Grey suit ex-smokers in their 40s and 50s wanting an understated, classic look. Ocean Flame and Iris Purple are the statement finishes, and Lake Green hides scuffs well. All six official Uwell colours are stocked here.

Caliburn A3S Price Check

As of July 2026 the A3S is hard to find in the UK. Vape UK lists it as discontinued and several other national retailers no longer show it. Here it is £12.99, down from £15.99, in every colour. The newer Caliburn A3 Pod Kit is £14.99 with identical pod pricing, so the A3S is the cheaper way into the same ecosystem. More options sit in the MTL vape kits for beginners collection.

What's in the Box

• Uwell Caliburn A3S device
• 1 x 0.8 ohm mesh pod (pre-installed)
• 1 x 1.0 ohm mesh pod
• User manual

A USB-C cable is not included, so keep a standard one handy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What pods does the Uwell Caliburn A3S take?

The A3S takes Caliburn A3S side-fill pods and original Caliburn A3 top-fill pods, both with built-in 0.8 ohm or 1.0 ohm mesh coils. Caliburn G, G2 and GK2 pods do not fit.

How long does the Caliburn A3S battery last?

Around five hours of steady vaping, or most of a day for a light MTL user. The 2A USB-C charging refills the 520mAh battery in about 25 to 30 minutes, so two short charges cover a heavy day.

How long do Caliburn A3S pods last?

One to two weeks each is the typical lifespan owners report on E-Cigarette Forum, depending on e-liquid sweetness and usage. Replace the pod when flavour turns dull rather than waiting for it to fail.

Why does my Caliburn pod taste burnt?

A burnt taste means the coil ran dry, a problem vapers also raise about Caliburns on Quora. Prime every new pod for 5 minutes, keep it above a quarter full and avoid chain vaping. A scorched coil never recovers; fit a fresh pod.

What is the difference between the Caliburn A3S and the A3?

The A3S fills from the side through a silicone plug, while the A3 fills from the top after snapping off the mouthpiece, which many owners found fiddly. Battery, output, capacity and coils are otherwise the same, and pods are cross-compatible.

Why will my Caliburn A3S pod not fill properly?

An air lock is forming inside the pod, the one quirk UK reviewers noted with the side-fill port. Insert the nozzle at a slight angle and fill slowly so air can escape, and never squeeze liquid into the central airflow tube.

Is the Caliburn A3S good for beginners?

Yes. There are no buttons or settings; filling takes seconds and the device fires on inhale. With 10mg or 20mg nic salts it feels very close to a disposable at a fraction of the weekly cost.