Sonder Q2 vs Argus Z2: which cheap pod kit punches harder?

Under a tenner is the most competitive corner of the vape kit market, and these two are among the best value refillables we sell.

The Geekvape Sonder Q2 costs £7.99, weighs just 40g and offers up to 30W from a 1350mAh battery. The Voopoo Argus Z2 is £9.99, 51g and runs 5 to 20W from a 1500mAh cell, with a 2ml pod and a built-in 0.7 ohm coil in the box.

Both top fill, both charge by USB-C and both switch between mouth to lung and restricted direct to lung depending on which pod you choose.

The Argus Z2 has 150mAh more battery, about 11% extra. Voopoo say a single charge will last most vapers a full day, and Geekvape say the same for the Sonder Q2, with a recharge in under two hours.

Power is the reverse. The Sonder Q2 goes to 30W, the Argus Z2 to 20W. That only matters on lower resistance pods. Run a 0.4 ohm pod for a looser lung hit and the Sonder has more headroom; at 0.7 ohm and above, 20W is plenty.

Battery life on any device drops as wattage climbs, so a Sonder Q2 run at 25W will not last as long as one run at 12W.

The pods are where you spend money every month, so they deserve a closer look.

Geekvape Q pods are £6.99 for three, in 0.6, 0.8 and 1.2 ohm, plus side fill versions at 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 ohm. That works out at about £2.33 a pod.

Voopoo Argus pods start at £5.99, with top fill options in 0.4 and 1.0 ohm and V2 versions in 0.4, 0.7 and 1.0 ohm. There is also a two pack of coil-less pods if your setup uses separate coils.

Either way you are paying around £2 to £3 a pod, and a pod lasts most people a week or so depending on liquid and wattage.

If price is the only thing that matters, the Sonder Q2 wins, and it is no compromise at £7.99. You also get more power for experimenting with lower resistance pods later.

If you vape steadily all day and hate charging, the Argus Z2's bigger battery is worth the extra £2. Its 0.7 ohm stock pod also sits in a nice middle ground: warm enough for flavour, tight enough for a mouth to lung draw.

Both are great homes for nic salt liquids. Remember nicotine is addictive; there is no prize for going higher than you need.

The Sonder Q2 comes in ten colours including Midnight Black, Ocean Blue and Sakura Pink. At 40g, it is one of the lightest kits we stock, which makes it a natural pick for people who want something they forget is in their pocket.

It uses a built-in mesh coil in its pod and adjustable airflow, so you can loosen or tighten the draw to suit. Fill it with 50/50 or nic salt, let it sit for five minutes, and it is ready.

Spare Q pods are cheap and widely stocked, which is the main reason this kit remains such a popular first refillable.

The Argus Z2 is available in eight finishes including Rose Pink, Lake Blue and Silk Black. It is inhale activated and compact, with the extra 11g over the Sonder buying you that bigger battery.

Out of the box, the 0.7 ohm pod is a sensible choice for most people. If you want a tighter draw, the 1.0 ohm Argus pod narrows it down; if you want a lung hit, the 0.4 ohm opens it up, though at 20W you will be near the top of the range.

Check the delivery page for dispatch times before you order.

One question on the detail that trips people up when they compare budget kits. It is easy to look at the price and battery and stop there.

Output matters when you want to change pods. A low resistance coil needs more watts to heat properly, and a device with a low ceiling simply cannot give it that. That does not make a 20W kit worse; it just means it is built for a slightly narrower range of draws. Most mouth to lung vapers never go above 15W, so for them the question is irrelevant. If you think you might get curious about lung hits later, it is worth knowing now.