Press the red button on a Mate P1 pod, wait ten seconds, click it in and inhale. Before any of that, know this: the Mate 500 kit is just the device, so order pods at the same time.
The short version
- The box holds the device, a USB-C cable and a manual, but no pods.
- Mate P1 prefilled pods hold 2ml of 20mg nic salt and need their seal broken first.
- Refillable Mate 500 pods take 50% VG e-liquid through a side port.
- The 500mAh battery lasts up to 500 puffs per charge.
What is in the box, and what is not
The Elf Bar Mate 500 kit contains the Mate 500 device, a USB-C charging cable and a user manual. The prefilled Mate P1 pods are sold separately, so add a pack to your order or you will have a lovely battery with nothing to vape.
The device is tiny: 8.8cm tall, 1.2cm thick and just 23g. Inside is a 500mAh battery that the listing says lasts for up to 500 puffs before it needs charging.
Nice touch: unlike many budget kits, this one does include the cable, so you can charge it the day it arrives.
Breaking the seal on a P1 pod
Mate P1 pods use an airlock seal that keeps the e-liquid fresh until you are ready. To open it, press the red button on the pod, then wait about ten seconds so the liquid can reach the coil.
After that, insert the pod into the device and inhale. The Mate 500 is inhale activated, with no menus and no buttons on the device to fiddle with. It produces a discreet MTL cloud.
If you rush the ten second wait, the first puff may taste thin or dry. It is a short pause, and it saves a coil.
- Press the red buttonThis breaks the airlock seal on the pod.
- Wait 10 secondsLet the liquid reach the coil.
- Insert the podPush it into the Mate 500 device.
- InhaleDraw gently; the device fires on its own.
Prefilled P1 pods or refillable Mate pods
Each Mate P1 prefilled pod contains 2ml of 20mg salt nicotine in flavours such as Pink Lemonade, Cola, Mango, Spearmint and Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava. Nicotine is addictive, and 20mg is the UK legal limit, so it suits people already at that strength.
The other route is the Mate 500 refillable pods, sold in packs of three. They hold 2ml, have a built-in MTL coil and fill through a side port under a silicone stopper. Use a 50% VG e-liquid so the coil soaks quickly.
Refillables let you pick lower strengths and any flavour you like.
Charging and battery life
With a 500mAh cell rated for up to 500 puffs, the Mate 500 is a light-use device. Heavy vapers will want to top it up once or twice a day, and it is worth carrying the included cable.
Short, regular charges are kinder to lithium batteries than running them flat every time. Keep the device out of hot places, and do not leave it charging on a soft surface like a duvet where it cannot shed heat.
If a pod seems weak while the battery is nearly empty, charge first before blaming the pod. Low voltage can make any coil feel flat.
Three common problems and fixes
- Brand new P1 pod tastes of nothing: the seal is still intact. Press the red button and wait ten seconds before inserting.
- Refillable pod leaks or gurgles: the silicone stopper is not pushed fully closed or the pod was overfilled. Close the stopper firmly and fill to just below the top.
- Device stops mid-session: you have used up the charge. Plug it in; 500 puffs per charge goes quickly on a busy day.
A quick wipe of the pod contacts with a dry tissue also cures a surprising number of intermittent firing issues.
You fit a new Mate P1 pod and the first puff is thin and dry. What happened?
Who the Mate 500 suits
The Mate 500 is ideal for light to moderate MTL vapers who want the smallest possible rechargeable Elf Bar and the option to switch between prefilled and refillable pods. It is also one of the few cheap kits that includes a cable.
Heavy users may find the battery too small. The Elf Bar 600 pod kit takes a wider spread of prefilled pods, and the Vaporesso Xros Mini offers a 1000mAh battery with refillable pods.
Either way, the Mate stays a neat backup to keep in a coat pocket for the days your main kit is on charge.
Quick answers
Does the Elf Bar Mate 500 come with a pod?
No. The kit contains the device, a USB-C cable and a manual; Mate P1 pods are sold separately.
How do you activate a Mate P1 pod?
Press the red button to break the airlock seal, wait 10 seconds, then insert the pod.
Can you refill Elf Bar Mate 500 pods?
The P1 pods are prefilled, but refillable Mate 500 pods are available and take 50% VG e-liquid.
How long does the Mate 500 battery last?
Up to 500 puffs per charge from its 500mAh battery.
