# Aspire Pixo Max, matching the draw to the right pod > Aspire Pixo Max set up properly, which Pixo pod, which ECO, NOR or MAX level and how much airflow for your draw, on the 2 ml TPD edition. Three power levels, an airflow slider, six compatible pods and not a single watt shown on the screen. The **Aspire Pixo Max** looks like a simple pod kit, and it is, provided you understand that its settings start with the pod you fit. Retail listings set out its specification without explaining how the pieces fit together. This guide works from the manufacturer's manual to match each style of draw with a pod, a level and an airflow position. ## Aspire Pixo Max settings for each style of draw On the Aspire Pixo Max, the coil inside the pod decides almost everything, because the device offers no wattage adjustment at all. For a tight mouth-to-lung draw, the 1.0 ohm and 1.2 ohm Mesh pods suit best, with the airflow almost closed. A looser indirect draw sits with the two 0.6 ohm pods. A restricted direct lung draw calls for the 0.4 ohm pods, the airflow open and the MAX level. Only then does the ECO, NOR or MAX level come in, to fine tune how warm the vapour feels. The order to follow has three steps. The pod sets the power range, the airflow shapes the draw, then the level adjusts the result within that range. ## Two families of Pixo pods, and the one sold in Britain The Pixo Max accepts every pod in the Pixo series, each with a built-in coil that cannot be replaced. A worn pod is therefore changed as a whole, and the resistance is chosen when you buy each pod. Aspire splits these pods into two filling families. Side fill pods cover all six pods in the range, from 0.4 to 1.2 ohm, in 3 ml or 2 ml. Top fill pods, in 2 ml, exist only as Dual Mesh 0.4 and 0.6 ohm, the double mesh version. That distinction matters in the UK, where refillable tanks and pods are capped at 2 ml. The TPD edition of the kit meets that limit and comes with a 2 ml top fill Dual Mesh pod in 0.4 or 0.6 ohm. The standard edition ships with a 3 ml side fill Dual Mesh 0.4 ohm pod. Anyone who prefers a tight draw should plan on buying Mesh 1.0 or 1.2 ohm pods from the start. The pod in the TPD box belongs to the most open end of the range. ## Aspire Pixo Max power levels, pod by pod The screen shows only the coil resistance and the battery level, yet the manual lists the actual output of each level for all six pods. The table below groups those figures by style of draw, as a rough guide, next to the range Aspire recommends. | Intended draw | Pod | Recommended range | ECO | NOR | MAX | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Tight (MTL) | Mesh 1.2 ohm | 9 to 13 W | 10 W | 12 W | 13 W | | Tight (MTL) | Mesh 1.0 ohm | 10 to 15 W | 10 W | 12 W | 14 W | | Loose indirect | Mesh 0.6 ohm | 14 to 19 W | 15 W | 17 W | 19 W | | Loose indirect | Dual Mesh 0.6 ohm | 18 to 22 W | 17 W | 19 W | 21 W | | Restricted direct | Mesh 0.4 ohm | 23 to 30 W | 22 W | 24 W | 26 W | | Restricted direct | Dual Mesh 0.4 ohm | 25 to 35 W | 22 W | 26 W | 28 W | ### Tight draw, the 1.0 and 1.2 ohm pods On these two pods, all three levels stay inside the manufacturer's range. ECO gives the coolest vapour and MAX the warmest, without ever leaving the intended limits. With the 1.2 ohm pod, MAX lands exactly on the top of the range, at 13 W. ### Loose indirect draw, the two 0.6 ohm pods The Mesh 0.6 ohm pod sits inside its range at every level. The Dual Mesh 0.6 ohm, which needs more power, drops one watt below its range on ECO and only really uses it on NOR and MAX. ### Restricted direct lung, the two 0.4 ohm pods Here, ECO stays below the recommended range, and MAX never reaches the top of it. The Dual Mesh 0.4 ohm pod tops out at 28 W against a quoted range of up to 35 W. MAX is therefore the logical setting with these pods, with ECO kept for a softer vapour. ## Airflow and firing, the two settings people forget Power level is only part of the picture. The airflow slider and the firing mode change how the draw feels as much as the pod does, and the manual adds a detail about the auto-draw. ### The side airflow slider The slider on the side of the device opens or closes the air intake. Closed, it tightens the draw towards MTL. Open, it lets more air through and suits the 0.4 ohm pods. Both styles are explained in our comparison of [MTL or DTL vaping](/uk/mtl-or-dtl-vaping/). A 1.2 ohm pod with the airflow wide open usually gives thin vapour. At the other end, a 0.4 ohm pod with the airflow shut heats liquid that is short of air and produces vapour that runs too hot. ### Three firing modes and a lock Four quick presses of the button switch between modes, A for auto-draw, B for button only and AB for both. Mode B limits accidental firing, which Aspire also asks you to prevent by locking or switching off the device in a pocket or bag. Auto-draw has a safeguard of its own. According to the manual for the TPD edition, after 7 seconds of continuous operation the device locks and refuses to fire on inhalation. To unlock it, pull the pod out and push it back in. The screen then shows the coil resistance and the indicator flashes blue once. ## Which e-liquid suits the Aspire Pixo Max Aspire publishes no e-liquid recommendation for this device. The choice therefore follows the usual logic of pod kits, where the coil resistance and the draw guide the PG/VG ratio and the form of nicotine. At low power and with a tight draw, the 1.0 and 1.2 ohm pods generally pair with PG-rich liquids and with nicotine salts. The 0.4 ohm pods, more powerful and more airy, take liquids with more VG. In the UK, nicotine e-liquid is capped at 20 mg/ml and sold in bottles of up to 10 ml, and our guide to [nicotine strength in mg and percentage](/uk/nicotine-strength-mg-and-percentage/) explains how the two labels relate. A very thick, VG-heavy liquid is a poor match for the low power pods. It soaks into the cotton more slowly, which risks a burnt taste. ## Filling and priming a new pod The manufacturer asks you to let a pod stand for five minutes after filling, so the cotton can soak up the liquid. It also warns against drawing on an empty pod, which burns the cotton and damages the coil. On the TPD edition, the pod fills from the top. Side fill pods, as the name suggests, fill from the side. In both cases, wipe away the condensation that collects between the pod and the device. ## FAQ These questions come up often around the Pixo Max and are not covered above. ### How much does the Pixo Max weigh? Aspire publishes no weight, either on its product page or in the manual. Only the dimensions are given, 117.3 x 32 x 20 mm for the standard edition and 117.7 x 32 x 20 mm for the TPD edition. ### How can you tell which power level is active? The segment display does not show wattage. The selected level is shown by the colour of the central indicator light, which changes between ECO, NOR and MAX. ### Why does liquid sometimes reach the mouthpiece? Filling to the brim, leaving a pod lying on its side or taking very long draws all encourage liquid to rise into the mouthpiece. Leaving a little air space when filling and drawing more gently sorts it out in most cases. ### What temperatures can the device be used in? The manual asks you to keep it away from overly hot or humid conditions and gives a range of -5 to 50 °C. ### Can any charger be used with the Pixo Max? The USB-C port takes a maximum of 2 A at a recommended 5 V, and charging stops above 6.5 V or below 4 V. Aspire recommends its own accessories, and the published box contents list no cable. ## Getting the Aspire Pixo Max set up properly The **Aspire Pixo Max** offers neither wattage control nor a menu, yet it leaves real room for adjustment if you choose the right pod. The coil sets the range, the airflow slider shapes the draw, and the ECO, NOR and MAX levels refine the result. In Britain, the TPD edition arrives with a Dual Mesh pod designed for an airy draw, and a mouth-to-lung vaper will want to add 1.0 or 1.2 ohm pods. Reading a device through its pods goes beyond the Aspire Pixo Max alone, and our other settings guides apply the same approach to draw styles, coils and nicotine, including our guide to [vape coils and tanks](/uk/vape-coils-and-tanks-guide/). Editorial content for adult readers only. Vaping products can contain nicotine, a substance that causes addiction, and nicotine vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK. This article is not a buying recommendation.