Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsImpressive level of control, fast to heat up
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
The temperature control and screen seem like they would be overkill, but it's actually very useful to be able to dial in an exact temperature and see whether it has reached the target temp. It also automatically shuts off after a certain amount of inactivity. This is great for not having to worry about burning my house down.
Having used the cheapest low-end soldering iron for years, I was amazed at how quickly this one heats up. With the old one, I would have to turn it on and do something else while waiting for it to get hot enough. This one is fast enough that I don't feel the need to switch tasks while waiting.
Another nice thing is that it is able to accept a range of USB-PD power sources. Lower power chargers simply cause it to heat up more slowly, but you can still get work done. So you don't have to stress out too much about getting the correct charger to make this work.
My only gripe is that the pad you grip could be better. It is too small and doesn't feel "grippy" enough. I would have preferred a more squishy kind of rubber to be able to get a better grip. That, or more aggressive knurling (or whatever it would be called in rubber). The body of the iron is smooth and looks cool, but I wish it was also easier to hold. None of the grip problems have led to me dropping it or accidentally touching the hot part, though.
Another issue that's more a matter of using USB-C in the first place than anything specific to this iron is that USB-C cables, especially the thicker ones which can carry a lot of power, are fairly inflexible at the end. This means that the cable will pull on the back of the iron more than I'd like. There might be other cables with more flexible ends or something I could do with a holder contraption to keep the USB-C cable from pulling, but it is worth mentioning.