SDG #268 New MiniWare TS101 - Upgraded from TS100 USB Soldering Iron test with PCBs from JLCPCB

The MiniWare TS101 is the long-awaited successor to the TS100, the pocket iron that arguably kicked off the whole portable soldering scene. This review looks at what has actually changed rather than what the spec sheet claims, starting with the switch to USB-C Power Delivery alongside the traditional DC barrel input. That dual-input arrangement matters in practice: it means the same iron can run from a laptop charger, a power bank or a bench supply, which is the single biggest usability gain over the original.

Attention is given to the revised user interface, which is more polished and easier to navigate than the TS100’s slightly awkward menu system, along with the physical changes to the handle, the finger guard and the cartridge arrangement. Tip compatibility is a key buying consideration for anyone already invested in TS100 cartridges, and this gets checked directly rather than assumed.

The practical section is where the iron earns or loses its money. Bare test PCBs are used for a realistic soldering session covering through-hole and surface mount joints, so you can judge thermal recovery, how quickly the tip pulls back up to temperature on larger pads, and whether the available wattage from a USB-C supply is genuinely enough for anything beyond light work.

The verdict weighs the TS101 against both its predecessor and the growing crowd of clones and alternatives now occupying the same price bracket. Useful viewing if you are deciding whether to upgrade an existing TS100, or buying a first portable iron for field repairs and travel.