Eleaf Melo 4 tank, what the published tests found
Search for the Melo 4 and the first page is mostly shop listings, each with a diameter, a capacity and two coil values. None says at what power this Eleaf tank delivers its flavour, or which version to pick. The Melo 4 has not been through our own protocol, so this report sets the manufacturer’s sheet against the published reviews that put it to work, crediting every finding to its source.
The Melo 4 in short, an airy tank that works best below 50 W
The Melo 4 is a sub-ohm tank that screws onto a 510 connection, made in two diameters, 22 and 25 mm. It ships with two EC2 coils, a pre-installed 0.3 Ω and a 0.5 Ω, which retailers rate at 30 to 80 W and 30 to 100 W respectively.
The published tests tell a different story. The three reviews we read place the best results between roughly 30 and 50 W, and describe flavour falling away beyond that. In other words, the upper half of the advertised range adds nothing on this tank.
Its very open draw makes it a direct-lung tank only, and its sealing earned praise from the two testers who checked it. The choice between the D22 and the D25 comes down mainly to capacity, where UK rules weigh heavily.
This report carries no score out of ten, a mark this site reserves for devices that have completed the full protocol.
D22 or D25, two tank sizes for the same Melo 4
Eleaf lists both versions on a single product page, with the same 510 connection, the same top fill and the same coils. Only the diameter, the height and above all the capacity change.
The D22, compact and within the 2 ml limit
According to the official sheet, the D22 measures 22 mm across and 52.5 mm tall, and weighs 46.8 g. Its tank holds 2 ml, which already fits the UK cap on refillable tanks.
This size suits compact mods. Its drawback is well known, since one of the reviews quoted below judged that capacity too small for a sub-ohm tank.
The D25, 4.5 ml on the international sheet
The D25 grows to 25 mm across, 53 mm tall and 52 g, and its sheet lists a 4.5 ml tank. That figure needs a clear caveat for anyone buying in the UK.
Under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, the tank of a refillable electronic cigarette must not exceed 2 ml, and nicotine e-liquid is sold in bottles of no more than 10 ml at a maximum strength of 20 mg/ml. None of the product pages consulted for this report describes a 2 ml D25, so check the capacity printed on the box before ordering.
What published tests found on the Melo 4
Three reviews, published between September 2017 and February 2018, each handled one version. Their findings agree on the essentials, which gives them weight despite their age.
The D25 at Vaping Post
The full test published by Vaping Post in September 2017, signed Trob, covers the D25. With either coil the vapour is already dense at 30 W, and up to around 45 W only its volume grows. Beyond that the flavour degrades, then fades away progressively from 55 W.
The reviewer puts the best compromise at 35 W, airflow three quarters open. No leak appeared, even when filling with the airflow open, and no condensation gathered. The 510 drip tip was judged a little short, direct lung was the only possible style, and the test closed on a mark of 4.5 out of 5.
The D22 at Le Petit Vapoteur
The review on Le Petit Vapoteur’s blog, published in October 2017, covers the D22. Its reading of power is very close, with the tank judged far more pleasant between 30 and 50 W. Past 50 W the drip tip heats up a lot, the vapour turns hot and a hint of burnt taste appears, with no obvious gap between 0.3 and 0.5 Ω.
The same review praises the absence of leaks after hours standing upright, provided the filling order is respected, and notes a non-proprietary Delrin drip tip with a 12 mm bore. Its verdict sums up the gap with the spec sheet, arguing that Eleaf overestimates what its new coils can handle.
The D22 at Smoketastic
The review by Nicholas King on Smoketastic, published in February 2018, met the D22 inside Eleaf’s iStick Melo kit. The reviewer found the sweet spot of the EC2 coil at around 50 W and a smooth draw thanks to the very large airflow holes, but judged the flavour a little muted next to the best sub-ohm tanks.
EC2 coils, the advertised range against the usable one
Eleaf presents the EC2 as an upgrade of the EC coils used in earlier Melo tanks, and the Melo 4 accepts those older EC heads too.
On paper the 0.5 Ω goes up to 100 W. All three reviews nonetheless bring the usable zone down into the lower half of the range, from 30 W to between 45 and 50 W, whatever the value fitted. That is the information shop listings leave out, and it changes the choice of mod.
A mod capped at 80 W, such as the Innokin Z80 Nex, therefore already covers the whole zone these reviews identified. The criterion that matters becomes the width of the top plate, so that a D25 does not overhang.
A new coil should be primed before the first puff, with a few drops on the cotton and a few minutes of waiting, as retailers advise.
Filling, airflow and drip tip on the Melo 4
Filling is from the top with nothing to unscrew, by sliding back the top cap that carries the drip tip. Closing the airflow ring before filling generally limits liquid seeping out through the air inlets.
Air comes in through two wide slots at the base, adjusted by a ring, which explains the very open draw that every review described.
The wide drip tip can be swapped for any 510 model. According to the official sheet, every part of the tank comes apart for cleaning.
Who this tank is for
The Melo 4 suits a direct-lung vaper who wants a simple tank with coils still widely stocked. It does not suit anyone looking for a tight draw.
Between the two diameters, the D22 is the natural pick on a narrow mod and meets the 2 ml limit as standard. The D25 makes sense mainly for looks on a 25 mm mod, as long as its real capacity is checked. The Geekvape Z Nano 2, another 22 mm tank, takes the opposite approach with top airflow.
FAQ
Five practical questions about the Melo 4 that the sections above leave aside.
Does the Melo 4 work with a 50/50 e-liquid?
EC2 coils are designed for sub-ohm vaping, which generally copes better with liquids high in vegetable glycerine. A thinner 50/50 can work, but it makes spitting more likely, especially with the airflow wide open.
How do I know an EC2 coil is worn out?
A fading flavour, a burnt note that persists despite proper priming, or liquid darkening quickly in the tank are the usual signs. A sweet recipe generally clogs the wick faster than a fruit or menthol one.
Can a Melo 4 D25 sit on a 22 mm mod?
The 510 connection allows it, but the tank then overhangs by 1.5 mm on each side. The overhang stays cosmetic as long as the base sits flat on the top plate.
What should I do if the Melo 4 gurgles?
The noise usually comes from a flooded coil, after filling with the airflow open or a long pause with the tank on its side. Drawing a few dry puffs without firing, then wiping the chimney with absorbent paper, usually sorts it out.
Does the Melo 4 fit a kit with a built-in battery?
Yes, any 510 device able to deliver at least 30 W will do, since EC2 coils start at that power. Eleaf itself paired the tank with several kits, including the iStick Melo with a built-in battery, rated at up to 60 W.
What the published tests say about the Melo 4
The published tests describe a tank that stays dry when the filling order is respected, airy by design and far more at ease between 30 and 50 W than at the 100 W on its sheet. Only the D22 fits the 2 ml UK limit as standard.
With no pass through our protocol, the Melo 4 has no score here, and this report sticks to what others measured. Reading a spec sheet in the light of published tests remains the best way to judge a tank.
Related reading
- Geekvape Z Nano 2 review, a 22 mm tank through the protocol
- Innokin Z80 Nex review, an 80 W mod with a removable cell
- Geekvape Aegis Solo 3, power readings from a single-battery mod
Editorial content for adult readers only. The devices discussed are used with e-liquids that may contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, and nicotine vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK. This report is independent, unpaid by any manufacturer and not a buying recommendation.
