# Eleaf iStick Pico, seven box mods under one name and how to tell them apart > The Eleaf iStick Pico series compared from Eleaf's own pages, power, cells, charging, atomiser diameter and the version traps to spot before buying. On retailer shelves and second-hand listings alike, the Eleaf iStick Pico no longer names a single mod but a whole family. Pico Plus, Pico Le, Pico 2, Pico X, Pico S and Pico 25 all share the badge, and the original itself exists in two versions. Listings happily borrow figures from one model for another, and buyers find out too late that their tank overhangs. We compared the series on four criteria, cell, accepted atomiser diameter, charging and output. ## Eleaf iStick Pico, which model are we actually talking about Strictly speaking, the **Eleaf iStick Pico** is the original box mod. It measures 45 x 23 x 70.5 mm, runs on a removable 18650 cell, delivers 1 to 75 W and takes any atomiser with a 510 connector. On that model's own page, though, the maker attaches six other devices to a single "iStick Pico series". The name therefore covers seven mods that share neither the same footprint, nor the same atomiser diameter, nor always the same cell. ## The seven Eleaf iStick Pico models in one table Every figure in this article comes from the product pages and FAQ on Eleaf's website, checked in October 2026. An empty cell means the maker does not give the information. | Model | Cell | Maximum output | Stated atomiser diameter | Charging | |---|---|---|---|---| | iStick Pico | 18650 | 75 W | | Micro USB or USB-C depending on version | | iStick Pico Plus | 18650 | 75 W | 25 mm | USB-C, 5 V / 2 A | | iStick Pico Le | 18650 | 75 W | 26 mm | USB-C, 5 V / 2 A | | iStick Pico 2 | 18650 | 75 W | 26 mm | USB-C, 2 A | | iStick Pico X | 18650 | 75 W | 22 mm without overhang | contradictory information | | iStick Pico S | 21700 or 18650 | 100 W | 26.5 mm without overhang | Micro USB, 2 A | | iStick Pico 25 | 18650 | 85 W | 25 mm | Micro USB, 2 A | Five of the seven models top out at 75 W. Accepted diameter, on the other hand, runs from 22 to 26.5 mm and decides which tank you can fit without overhang. Our [guide to picking a box mod](/uk/best-box-mod-buying-guide/) explains why that criterion matters as much as power. ## The original iStick Pico and its two versions The founding model itself comes in two versions, which the maker's page separates without dwelling on them. Retailers almost never tell them apart. ### What stays the same Both versions share the same chassis and the same chipset. Three modes are on offer, variable wattage, Bypass and temperature control, the last one covering nickel, titanium, stainless steel and three TCR memory slots (M1, M2 and M3). Resistance ranges from 0.1 to 3.5 Ω in variable wattage and from 0.05 to 1.5 Ω in temperature control, adjustable from 100 to 315 °C. On the cell side, the maker's FAQ recommends a flat top 18650 with a continuous discharge rating above 25 A, and names the Sony VTC4 as an example. ### Micro USB or USB-C, the detail that dates the mod The original version charges over Micro USB and its firmware can be upgraded. The new version moves to USB-C with fast charging, but its firmware can no longer be upgraded. A used Eleaf iStick Pico can therefore be identified at a glance from its charging port, and that port also tells you whether an update is still possible. ## Pico Plus, Pico Le and Pico 2, the updated 75 W line These three models keep the original's output and its 18650 cell, but grow to take wider atomisers. All three charge over USB-C. ### iStick Pico Plus The Pico Plus takes an atomiser up to 25 mm and charges at 5 V / 2 A. The kit comes with one of two tanks, the MELO 4S and its EC-A heads, or the GTL X and its GTL-D heads. Oddly, the MELO 4S kit page gives an output of 1 to 75 W while the GTL X kit page gives 5 to 75 W for the same mod. ### iStick Pico Le The Pico Le pushes the accepted diameter to 26 mm. It pairs with the GX tank and its two heads, a 0.2 Ω GX-K and a 0.5 Ω GX. The mod alone weighs 86 g. ### iStick Pico 2 The Pico 2 also takes 26 mm and charges over USB-C at 2 A, in about an hour. Its resistance range, 0.05 to 3.5 Ω, covers the three GZ heads of the GZeno S tank, a 0.4 Ω coil for restricted direct lung and two heads of 0.8 and 1.2 Ω for mouth to lung. ## Pico X, Pico S and Pico 25, the outliers Three models depart clearly from the formula. One shrinks, the other two raise the output, and each sets its own limits on the atomiser. ### iStick Pico X The Pico X is the most restrictive of the series, with a maximum atomiser width of 22 mm without overhang. It stops at 3.0 Ω in variable wattage. Its page is unclear about charging. The text only mentions Micro USB, while a graphic sets a new USB-C version against an original Micro USB one. ### iStick Pico S The Pico S is the only one that takes a 21700 cell as well as an 18650. It reaches 100 W, accepts an atomiser up to 26.5 mm without overhang, and its spec sheet highlights seven-colour LEDs with no screen mentioned. Charging runs through a side Micro USB port at 2 A. The choice between the two cell formats changes runtime and bulk, as our comparison of [21700 and 18650 cells for a box mod](/uk/21700-or-18650-battery-for-your-box-mod/) sets out. ### iStick Pico 25 As the name suggests, the Pico 25 takes a 25 mm atomiser. It reaches 85 W with a maximum output current of 50 A and keeps the 18650 cell. A side Micro USB port at 2 A handles charging, and the firmware can still be upgraded. ## Which iStick Pico for which vaper The spec sheets name no winner, but we will. Which one suits you depends above all on the tank you plan to fit. ### The newcomer to mouth to lung vaping The Pico 2 is, in our view, the most coherent model in the series. Depending on the version, its kit ships one or two heads designed for mouth to lung, it charges over USB-C and it accepts tanks up to 26 mm. ### The vaper sticking with 22 mm tanks Either the original iStick Pico or the Pico X will do the job, the latter being rated for 22 mm without overhang. ### The experienced vaper who wants headroom The Pico S stands out with its 100 W, its 26.5 mm atomiser limit and above all its 21700 cell, larger than an 18650. The Pico 25 remains the option for anyone who wants to keep the 18650 with a little more output. ## Tank capacity and what UK shelves carry Several kits in the series appear on Eleaf's site with tanks larger than 2 ml, from 3 ml for the GTL X to 6.5 ml for the ELLO VATE in the Pico S kit. In the UK, refillable tanks are capped at 2 ml, and nicotine e-liquid is limited to 20 mg/ml in bottles of up to 10 ml. Each of these tanks also exists in a 2 ml version, under varying names. The MELO 4S kit shows the trap, since its page files a 4 ml tank under the TPD label and keeps the 2 ml tank for a differently named version. A listing that quotes more than 2 ml is worth checking with the seller before you buy. ## FAQ These five questions come up again and again in searches about the series, alongside the comparison above. ### Which coil should I use in an iStick Pico? The mod has no coil of its own, the tank decides. The original kit pairs the iStick Pico with the MELO III Mini and two EC heads of 0.3 and 0.5 Ω. Any head between 0.1 and 3.5 Ω will fire in variable wattage, provided its tank fits within the model's accepted diameter. ### What wattage suits which coil resistance? Follow the range given for each head, which depends on its value and its build. For example, the 0.5 Ω EC-A head from the Pico Plus kit runs between 20 and 40 W, and the 0.2 Ω GX-K from the Pico Le kit between 50 and 80 W. The 0.8 Ω GZ from the Pico 2 kit needs only 12 to 18 W. Start at the bottom of the range and step up gradually. ### How do I change the coil on an iStick Pico? The job happens on the tank, never on the mod. Unscrew the tank from the 510 connector, swap the head following the tank's manual, then prime it with a few drops of e-liquid on the cotton before filling and waiting a few minutes. That pause reduces the risk of a burnt taste on the first puff. ### Which e-liquid works in an iStick Pico? Again, the head is in charge. A mouth to lung coil around 0.8 to 1.2 Ω generally suits a balanced liquid, while a head below 0.5 Ω copes better with a liquid richer in vegetable glycerine. ### Why does my iStick Pico say No Atomizer? The message means the mod cannot detect a coil, most often because of a dirty contact or a head that is not screwed in properly. Our guide to the [No Atomizer message](/uk/no-atomizer-message-box-mod/) walks through the diagnosis step by step. ## Choosing an Eleaf iStick Pico with the facts in hand Behind a single name, Eleaf lines up seven box mods with different limits. Accepted atomiser diameter, cell format and charging port matter more than output, which barely changes from one model to the next. Before buying an **Eleaf iStick Pico**, new or used, note the exact model and check its sheet on the maker's site. The series is a good example of a wider habit in the box mod market, where a successful name keeps stretching until it covers devices with little left in common. Editorial content for adult readers only. Vaping products can contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance, and nicotine vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK. This article is not a buying recommendation.