Pod Mods

The SMOANT Pasito tries to do A LOT of things all at once, but as a pod system does it actually manage it? Or are you better off with something like the UWELL Caliburn or VooPoo Drag Nano?

SMOANT Pasito Quick Verdict – 50%

You Can Pick Up The SMOANT Pasito Via HeavenGifts For $35 – The RBA Deck is NOT Included.

SMOANT Pasito Pros:

• Nice Design
• Great Idea, Though Execution Isn’t Perfect
• Great Battery Life
• Adjustable Power
• Decent E Juice Capacity

TL;DR – The SMOANT Pasito pod system is a great idea. Everybody’s been asking for a rebuildable pod and SMOANT is the first company to oblige, though I suspect there will be many more in the coming weeks and months.

However, for me, the rebuildable element of the SMOANT Pasito isn’t ideal. For starters, you have to buy the RBA separately. Secondly, the deck is so small you’ll give yourself a migraine building on it – it’s almost impossible.

The device itself, which looks similar to the Lost Vape Orion, is made, more or less entirely, from plastic, so while the pictures of it look great, the reality is far less premium. And that’s not good, not when you can pick up the excellent VooPoo Drag Nano pod for less.

Flavor wise, it’s decent but nothing to write home about. The MTL and DTL coils produce average flavor at best, and neither coil head lasts as long as the UWELL Caliburn’s pods. In fact, I got through both the Pasito’s included MTL and DTL coils within a 8 days, whereas my Caliburn will last me weeks in between changes.

Battery life, however, is very good. You have a 1100mAh cell inside the SMOANT Pasito and this brings with it ALL day vaping. Easy. You don’t even have to recharge the device mid-way through when you’re using the MTL coils, providing you run it on lower power settings.

Bottomline? The SMOANT Pasito tries to do a lot but, ironically, fails to do any one specific thing well. The RBA accessory is horrible to install, the flavor on both the MTL and DTL coils is distinctly average, and the device itself, while well proportioned, feels cheap and plasticky in the hand. And for me, this just doesn’t cut the mustard – not when the competition in the pod space is so strong right now.

My advice? Get the VooPoo Drag NANO or the UWELL Caliburn. Or, if you want a rebuildable pod system, hold your horses until someone like GeekVape releases one because the SMOANT Pasito is not a device I’d recommend…

Full SMOANT Pasito Review

Design & Set Up

As noted in the TL;DR section, the SMOANT Pasito looks quite a bit like the Lost Vape Orion – or the SMOK Trinity Alpha and GeekVape FRENZY. However, unlike those pod systems, there is nothing premium about the SMOANT Pasito. It’s made from plastic, from top to bottom. Even the resin plates are stickers. And that’s, well… not great.

I like the size and proportions (102 x 38 x 18mm) of the Pasito; it’s easy to hold, dissemble and reassemble, and the filling mechanism is simple enough (you unscrew the drip tip and stick it down the sides). I also like that you can switch power modes; there are five possible settings from 10W to 25W, which you move through by clicking the smaller button below the fire button.

On the top, right-side of the pod, you have an adjustable airflow slot. You move it from left to right to adjust the airflow. It works great, giving you a wide degree of control over the airflow. The AFC is great for the MTL coil too, as you can move between super-tight to semi-restricted, depending on your mood.

The coils slot into the bottom of the pod and are held in place by a golden clamp which connects the coil head to the Pasito’s battery. Installing both the MTL and DTL coils is a cinch; the RBA is nearly impossible to work with, however, on account of its tiny size and oddly position posts. Also: if you have vision problems, the RBA will cause you plenty of issues. I cannot emphasis just how small it is…

Performance

I’m a big fan of SMOANT, so when I heard about the SMOANT Pasito, I was super excited. A rebuildable pod system that can also act as a standard MTL/DTL AIO vape device? What’s not to like! Even when I unboxed it, I was still excited – the concept seemed perfect, just what’s missing from the current run of pod mod systems on the market.

But the problems quickly arrived. First, despite priming the crap out of my coil heads, the flavor was muted and flat. This was the MTL coil. I persisted for a few days, but the situation didn’t improve. Next up, I tried the DTL coil. Same deal – OK flavor, but nothing remotely special.

As most of you will know, I’m a big fan of the UWELL Caliburn. And the reason for this is simple: it just works – the flavor is brilliant and so too is the MTL draw. It’s simple and it works. This is why I have used it more or less exclusively for the past three months straight.

On paper, the SMOANT Pasito looks, sounds, and appears to be a vastly superior device than the UWELL Caliburn. But in practice it doesn’t even come close to matching it – not in terms of flavor and the quality of its draw. The SMOANT Pasito has a few tricks up its sleeve, like variable power, but it is the coils that are lacking here. Gimmicks never make up for bad coils.

And in this context, SMOANT’s missed the mark in more ways than one.

The RBA Deck – Nice Idea, Terrible Execution…

Adding an RBA deck option to a pod system is certainly novel, it’s also something A LOT of people have been asking for. Prior to testing the SMOANT Pasito, I was definitely intrigued. Could this pod mod merge the world of rebuildable tanks and AIO vape systems?

It’s a nice thought, but for me the SMOANT Pasito’s RBA deck is a monumental fail. For starters, it is impossible to build on – the deck itself is so small, you’ll need perfect vision to attempt it. Second, you have to bend your leads at an insane angle to get them into the posts. If ever a postless deck design was needed, it is here.

I did manage to get a build installed. It wasn’t pleasant, but I somehow pulled it off, installing a pre-built, extra-small MTL coil. After a bunch of disappoints with the DTL and MTL coils, I didn’t have high expectations for the RBA…

And my expectations were bang on the money. The flavor is muted, worse than the MTL and DTL coil heads, and even with the AFC wide-open, you never feel like you’re getting enough airflow. As I said earlier, this one’s a swing and a miss. Big time.

Battery Life

The SMOANT Pasito excels when it comes to battery life. Inside, you have a 1100mAh battery and, for a pod vape, that is HUGE. With that much power in the cell, you’re good to go when it comes to all-day vaping. Even more so if you keep the MTL coils installed and run it at lower settings. Ramp up the power with the DTL and RBA, and you’ll need to top up the device’s battery at some point during the day.

Should You Buy The SMOANT Pasito

I love SMOANT. I really do. Its one of my favorite vape brands. And I really wanted to love this pod system. But the SMOANT Pasito just is not for me. Nothing worked as I wanted (or imagined) it would and the flavor on ALL coils was mediocre at best…

Battery life is OK, so that’s a plus. But that’s about it. The pod itself feels too plasticky and the RBA is next to impossible to get right. This is mostly down to its insanely small deck which sadly creates more problems than it solves, but also because of the nature of its posts.

My advice? Skip this one and get the VooPoo Drag Nano or UWELL Caliburn instead…

You Can Pick Up The SMOANT Pasito Via HeavenGifts For $35 – The RBA Deck is NOT Included.

The VooPoo Drag was a stunning mod, and now VooPoo is back with a pod system version of it which goes by the name of the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod – but is it any good? Let’s find out…

VooPoo Drag NANO Pod Quick Verdict – 98%

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is a definite hard YES from me. If you’re after a new pod that looks amazing, vapes brilliantly, and costs just $21.95 – get the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod.

VooPoo Drag NANO Pod Pros:

• Truly Stunning Design
• Simple Pod System
• Amazing Flavor
• Solid Coils – They Last AGES
• Decent Battery Life
• Powered By GENE Chip
• Amazing Value For Money – It Retails For Just $21.95!

VooPoo makes good-looking vape devices. Everybody knows this. But the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is impressive, even for VooPoo. Looking like a SkyNet-designed version of the MiPod, the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is quite the looker. And its beauty isn’t just skin-deep.

VooPoo has packed the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod with its GENE chip, and this chipset brings with it masses of performance and safety features. You have draw-activated firing, variable voltage, and “Cold Boot Mode” for kicking out even more flavor from each draw.

Powered by a 750mAh battery, the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod will go all-day-long, providing you top her up during the day. Do this and you’ll be vaping all day and night without any issues whatsoever. You even have fast charge too, so even if you do run out of juice, you can quickly top it up (less than 40 minutes for 70%).

The flavor, the coil head performance, the design – everything is flawless. VooPoo has once again smashed it out the park. And for less than $20 via VaporDNA, it also serves up some monumentally impressive value for money, making the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod a serious contender for 2019’s #1 pod system…

Full VooPoo Drag NANO Pod Review

Design

Right off the bat, the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is easily one of the best-looking pod vape systems I have ever used. The damn thing is flawless-looking. It’s also perfectly proportioned too (54.5mm by 35mm by 11mm), making it ideal for stealth vaping and vapers that want a proper discreet vape device.

The outer chassis of the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod, made from zinc and aluminium, is completely devoid of buttons and/or notches. All you have is the DRAG branding and plenty of shiny surfaces. The USB for charging is located on the rear (sadly, it’s not Type C) and the pod slides out from the top.

The pod system, which is totally refillable, holds 1ML of E Juice. Not a great deal, but we’ll figure VooPoo for that. To access to pod for refilling, simply pull it out of the mod, remove drip tip, and refill accordingly. The pod itself is held in place by magnets and it sits nice and snug once fitted to the device.

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod features three LED lights that indicate how your battery is doing:

• GREEN – Optimal (Above 60%)
• BLUE – OK (60% to 20%)
• RED – Time To Charge (Sub-20%)

And that’s about it, really. The star of the show is the design of the device, it’s utterly stunning. Pictures do not do it justice. I actually think the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod could well be the best looking pod system on the market right now. Chuck in excellent performance, and you’re looking at a near-perfect device…

Performance

So how’s performance then? As expected, it’s bloody good. The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod vapes solidly and consistently, hitting plenty hard on each draw. As noted earlier, it is breath-activated. Normally, I don’t like this style of pod, but VooPoo has nailed it completely. It works perfectly, delivering intense hits every time.

I’ve been using my VooPoo Drag NANO Pod for a solid few weeks now, alongside a couple of others, namely the SMOANT Pasito and the GeekVape FRENZY, and it is definitely a better overall system than those two mods.

It’s also a hell of a lot cheaper too; you can get the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod for less than $20!

The flavor is utterly brilliant too. Whether this is down to the GENE chip’s Cold Boot Mode or just good coil design, I do not know. Either way, the VooPoo Drag NANO’s flavor performance is brilliant. It’s better than the SMOK Nord and the GeekVape FRENZY and is probably more or less an equal to the world-beating UWELL Caliburn. That should basically tell you everything you need to know about how this vape performs!

Pod & Coil Performance – How Long Do They Last?

Again, very solid. I’ve been getting a solid couple of weeks from each new pod. That’s good. Even for modern pod mods. For instance, right now, the UWELL Caliburn is my #1 favorite pod system. The reason? Flavor and the fact that its pods last for weeks at a time. The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is just as good.

The pods the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod uses are pretty small, they hold only 1ML of juice, but they kick out intense, flavorful vapor and last EONS, so all is forgiven. Plus, the pods are super easy to refill, so it’s not even that much of a hassle having to top the device up – even if you’re on the move.

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod vapes like a monster, hitting solidly and consistently every time. I’m usually wary of breath-activated pods, but VooPoo seems to have NAILED the mechanism here; it works without issue and fires nice and hard.

Battery Life

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod packs in a 750mAh battery, that’s pretty much par for the course with pod mods this size. It’s a lot bigger than the UWELL Caliburn’s battery, so it out performs that pod in this context. In practice, with a top-up mid-way through the day, you’re looking at all-day battery life.

My general rule of thumb when using pod mods is to put them on charge whenever I’m not using it. I like to charge mine for at least an hour or so, collectively, throughout the day. This way they’re always firing on all cylinders if I decide to go out after work.

Follow these steps, and you’ll have no problem with battery life.

Should You Buy The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod?

The VooPoo Drag NANO Pod is a definite hard YES from me. If you’re after a new pod that looks amazing, vapes brilliantly, and costs just $21.95 – get the VooPoo Drag NANO Pod.

I genuinely think it is the best looking pod mod on the market right now. Nothing else looks quite as good as this pod in real life. Chuck in the excellent GENE chip, great pods that last weeks at a time, decent battery life, and masses of flavor, and you’re in a very good place.

I got my mine via VaporDNA for $21.95 – and for that price, I’d recommend you do the same!

Aspire’s back with another pod vape. This one is called the Aspire AVP and I just spent the last couple of weeks testing it out. Is it any good? Can it beat the UWELL Caliburn? Read on to find out!

Aspire AVP Pod Vape Quick Verdict – 85%

The Aspire AVP – A KILLER Pod System. And For Just $22.95 It Serves Up Some Mightily Impressive Value For Money Too!

Aspire AVP Pros:

• Gorgeous Design, Super-Compact
• 100% Leak-Proof
• Premium Build Materials
• Very Good Battery Life
• Decent, Warm Vapor & Flavor

TL;DR – The Aspire AVP is a smart-looking, well-designed pod vape. It looks really cool, especially in red and black, and is ideal for anyone that is looking for a small pod vape that packs in very impressive battery life.

The pod system itself is simple to use; add E Juice, let it stand for five minutes, insert onto the device, and vape. There are no fire buttons, everything is breath activated, and the vapor it produces is warm and flavorful. It’s MTL, but it’s not as tight as the UWELL Caliburn. It also doesn’t have adjustable airflow.

For me, the star of the show here is the design. The Aspire AVP looks and feels great in the hand. It performs well too, firing instantly and delivering dense, flavorful vapor. You have two coil options: 1.2ohm and 1.3ohm. Both are decent. I definitely prefer the 1.2ohm ni80 coils, though, as they seemed to deliver better flavor.

Ideally, you’ll run Nic Salts in this pod vape. I got through about 20ml of Nic Salts before the coil inside the pod crapped out. That’s pretty decent. It’s not UWELL Caliburn territory, but it is still very much in the top tier for coil head longevity.

All in, I was very impressed by the Aspire AVP. It looks great, it vapes great, and the price is good too – you can pick one up for $22.95 via DirectVapor (Inc. FREE SHIPPING).

Full Aspire AVP Review

Design

The Aspire AVP is fairly squat and it cuts a rather unusual figure. It’s oddly shaped, but perfectly ergonomic; it sits flawlessly in the palm of your hand and this, combined with its premium build materials, makes for a really stylish and comfortable device for on-the-go stealth vaping.

Constructed from Zinc-Aluminium Alloy, the Aspire AVP features fetching kevlar-style accents on the front and back of the device which give it a thoroughly premium aesthetic. Chuck in its ultra-portable dimensions (82mm by 39mm by 14mm) and you’re looking at one of the most handsome pod vapes around right now.

The only physical button present on the Aspire AVP is hidden inside the front panel; it adjusts the power output through a couple of clicks. You have three potential power settings to play with:

• Red = 8W
• Blue = 10W
• Green = 12W

The Aspire AVP consists of two parts: the mod bit (AKA the battery) and the pod bit (where the coil lives and your E Juice is stored). They’re secured together with magnets, and once the pod is assembled everything sits flush and is held in place securely. The drip tip is comfortable too, ideal for MTL vaping.

As noted earlier, there is no AFC, though you can place a thumb on the air vent to further tighten the draw. I don’t do this, as the MTL vape it delivers is good enough. But it is an option if you want it a little tighter. Assembling the unit is a cinch. The only issue you might run into is refilling it – it threw me out at first.

The refill mechanism is designed to stop leaking. It works great. But it is a little tricky to appreciate without prior knowledge of how it works (basically, unlike me, you should always read the instructions). To refill the Aspire AVP, follow the following steps:

• On The Bottom of The Pod, Locate The Refill Hole.
• Take Your E Juice Bottle and Press The Nozzle Into The Hole, Depressing It
• Once The Mechanism Opens Inside The Pod, Start Squeezing Juice.
• As Soon As It’s Full, Pull The Nozzle Out

Once you’ve added your E Juice, you’ll want to let the Aspire AVP sit for about 5-10 minutes. In my experience, the longer you leave it, the better the flavor – aim for at least 10 minutes. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible flavor and coil head longevity.

Pod System & Coil Performance

How do the Aspire AVP’s pods perform? Pretty good. For flavor, they’re great and you’re looking at a solid 20-30ml of vape juice between changes. On the whole, this places the Aspire AVP inside the top 1% of pod vapes on market right now.

The flavor is warm and packed with notes. It’s not quite as good as the UWELL Caliburn, but that’s no big deal – hardly anything is! The draw is nice and restricted. Not super-tight. But it’s definitely a satisfying MTL draw that packs in plenty of flavor – especially with Nic Salts juice.

As noted earlier, you have three power modes. I like to start a new pod off at the lowest possible setting, then work my way up to the highest as the coil matures. Doing things this way ensures that you don’t tax the coil too hard, too soon which, in turn, extends the lifespan of the pod and ensures more consistent flavor.

Battery Life

Aspire has fitted the AVP with a 700mAh battery. By normal standards, that’s pretty big. In my two weeks with the Aspire AVP, the battery life has been incredible – especially if you run it on the lower modes. I’m talking all day long with only a slight top-up around 7/8pm.

If battery life is important to you, the Aspire AVP is one of the best in the business right now. It’s not quite as good as the SMOANT Pasito, but it is damn impressive, surpassing the SMOK Nord and UWELL Caliburn by a considerable margin in this context.

Should You Buy The Aspire AVP?

If you want decent battery life, great flavor, flawless design, and a compact device then, yes, the Aspire AVP comes highly recommended. I love the way it looks and how simple it is to setup and use; it’s ideal for newbie vapers or those that don’t like fiddly vape kits.

I would have preferred a fire button, this is my personal preference, as they tend to fire more consistently than breath-activated pod mods. It’s not a deal-breaker, as the AVP works fine in this regard, but it is definitely something to consider if you’re coming from a pod like the Nord which uses a fire button.

Overall performance is super-solid, however, with excellent coil performance, great flavor, and tons of battery power. For this reason, I would recommend the Aspire AVP to anyone. I still prefer the UWELL Caliburn, but that’s almost a given at this stage of the game – the Caliburn is damn-near unbeatable right now.

You can pick up the Aspire AVP for $22.95 via DirectVapor (Inc. FREE SHIPPING)

The GeekVape FRENZY is an AIO pod kit that looks equal parts SMOK Trinity Alpha and Lost Vape Orion DNA Go. It can do MTL and DTL vaping, as well as temperature control. But is it any good?

GeekVape FRENZY Quick Verdict – (95%)

GeekVape FRENZY Pros

• Gorgeous Zinc Alloy Chassis
• MTL & DTL Coil Heads
• Adjustable Airflow
• Temperature Control & Variable Voltage
• Simple To Use
• Outstanding Battery Life
• Near-Perfect MTL Draw

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TL;DR Verdict: The GeekVape FRENZY looks and feels a lot like the Lost Vape Orion Go/Q. It’s a similar size, it’s smart-looking, and it carries the same style removable pod system.

The STAR of the show, however, is its versatility; it runs two types of coil heads – MTL coils and DTL coils. If you’re running MTL coils, the FRENZY runs in temperature control mode. Bang in the mesh coil and it switches over to variable voltage.

You have adjustable airflow too, so you can really dial-in your draw. The MTL coil head’s draw is near-perfect with its tight, restricted draw. Even with the sub-ohm mesh coil, you can adjust the airflow to make it either more open or more close off.

The flavor is great. And the power switcher on the side, which features three settings (high, low, and middle) really does make a difference to the vaping experience. The compact nature of the device, combined with its versatility, makes the GeekVape FRENZY one of the most impressive pod vapes on the market right now.

The device itself is stunning. Composed of zinc alloy and featuring resin accents, the GeekVape FRENZY is definitely one of the best looking pod vapes I’ve tested in the past year or so – even though it does borrow a lot of its design quirks and styling from the Lost Vape Orion.

Bottomline? I’m super impressed with this pod. And for the price, it serves up A LOT of features and performance. I got mine via VaporDNA where it retails for $29.95 – that’s cheaper than both the Lost Vape Orion, the SMOK Trinity Alpha, and the Orchid Ultra.

Full GeekVape FRENZY Review

Design

As noted in the TL;DR section, the GeekVape FRENZY is a fantastic-looking pod vape. The styling, while familiar, is totally premium. The zinc alloy chassis feels fantastic in the hand, and the resin accents on the front and back of the device finish the aesthetics off perfectly.

I prefer the way it looks to the Orchid Ultra and the SMOK Alpha Trinity; it just looks more compact and more premium, despite being cheaper than both. The FRENZY feels robust and solid in the hand. Everything comes together simply too, including the coil heads.

The GeekVape FRENZY has a top-loaded pod like the Lost Vape Orion. It features removable coils which are simple to prime and install. The drip tip is NOT removable, but this doesn’t matter – it fits and works great. And below the pod, you have an adjustable AFC which lets you tighten up or loosen the draw.

In the hand or the pocket, the GeekVape FRENZY takes up very little room, making it an ideal choice for stealth vapers. The spartan finish on the device, combined with a single power button, keeps everything nice and tidy. The complete look, in my opinion, is more visually impressive than the more expensive Lost Vape Orion.

Chuck in the fact it does PROPER MTL vaping, and will also run mesh coils, and you’re in a very good place. I love the adjustable airflow, as wells the difference the power settings make. With the GeekVape FRENZY, you’re in control of what you’re doing. And for fans of MTL vaping, I don’t think there are many better options around right now.

Specs & Features

• 86.1mm by 37.0mm by 15.7mm
• 3ml Maximum Capacity
• 0.7ohm Mesh Coil & 1.2ohm NS Coil
• Magnetic Connection
• 4mm Bore Proprietary Drip Tip
• Built-in 950mAh Battery
• AS Micro Chipset

As you can see above, the FRENZY is packed with a lot of very impressive specs and features. For me, the big ones are the battery – it’s a 950mAh cell that’ll deliver ALL-DAY vaping with zero problems.

The other? The AS Micro chipset, which is what makes the variable voltage/temperature control possible with this pod vape, as well as its ability to intelligently switch between the two modes, depending on what coil head you’re using.

GeekVape always over-delivers with its products; it surveys what’s going on in the market, designs with this in mind, and nine-times-out-of-ten comes to the table with something incredibly impressive. The GeekVape FRENZY is no exception to this rule. It has everything – and more – that you could want from a pod vape device.

Coil Head Performance & Flavor

The MTL coil heads the FRENZY runs are the exact same ones that you’ll find since the GeekVape Flint kit, and that means one thing: a beautifully tight, flavored-packed MTL draw. As an MTL lover, the GeekVape FRENZY is one of the purest MTL vapes around right now.

The draw is near-perfect, plus you can adjust it further with the AFC, which lets you get it down to you exact setting with ease. I like to leave mine wide open, however, as it is plenty tight-enough for me as is. But the fact you can go further is definitely a huge USP for this device.

The 0.6ohm mesh coil head delivers a similar vape, one packed with loads of flavor. And because it’s sub-ohm, you can run higher VG E Juice in it, though I would always stick to Nic Salts and/or 50/50 E Juice with at least 6mg of nicotine for maximum flavor and performance.

In my experience, the coil heads last a good long while; you’re looking at around a week and a half from the MTL coils and about the same for the mesh coils. Not the best. But it’s definitely acceptable, and the flavor you get during this time is brilliant.

I think the UWELL Caliburn delivers slightly better flavor, and its coils do last longer, though you cannot adjust anything on Caliburn nor does it support DTL, sub-ohm coils. I own and use both. I adore the Caliburn, as most of you will know all too well, but I really enjoy the versatility of the FRENZY.

Battery Life

Battery life is excellent. Inside the GeekVape FRENZY, you have a massive 950mAh internal battery powering everything along, ensuring all-day battery life, regardless of how heavy your vaping habit is.

I do wish it ran USB Type C, like the SMOANT PASITO, as this brings without fast charging and host of other benefits, but, alas, it does not.

Either way, with a battery that size, you’re never going to have to worry about battery life, especially if you top it up once for 30 minutes or so during the day.

Bottomline? The GeekVape FRENZY has great battery life, so if battery power is a concern, this pod vape comes highly recommended!

Should You Buy The GeekVape FRENZY?

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I’ve had a blast testing this pod vape out over the past couple of weeks. The GeekVape FRENZY is easily the most versatile pod mod I currently own; it runs MTL and sub-ohm mesh coils, it has an adjustable AFC, and it has variable voltage and temperature control. What more could you want?

It also serves up some of the best MTL vaping experiences in the business right now. And as an MTL aficionado, I really do appreciate the work GeekVape has done here – the draw is basically flawless. I’ve been running Tobacco & Peanut Butterscotch from the VapeBeat E Juice Store in mine and it tastes freakin’ DELISH!

But the best thing about the GeekVape FRENZY is the price – at just $29.95 from VaporDNA it is one of the best value pod mod systems around right now.

I’ve just spent almost three weeks using the SMOK Nord pod system more or less exclusively, and it is a damn impressive vaping device…

SMOK Nord Review (Quick Verdict)

I’m not going to beat around the bush here. For about the last three years, I’ve avoided SMOK products like the plague. I disliked most of its tanks and mods as well as its first run of pod mods.

I was pretty apprehensive about the SMOK Nord to begin with. I kept hearing great things about it, though, so I decided to go out and buy a couple of units. That was about three weeks ago and since then I’ve been having a blast with this pod mod.

It’s dirt cheap, especially compared to units like the MiPod and Lost Vape Orion, it runs both sub ohm and MTL coils, it’s refillable, it looks good, and it has stellar battery life. I am actually really struggling to find any actual negatives about this pod vape, as it performs so well.

The flavor is great, the draw, while a tad loose for a true MTL vape, is still very good, and the battery life is splendid – like all-day-vaping splendid. I took mine on a trip to Biarritz over the weekend and it didn’t miss a beat. Not once. And for less than $25, that is truly outstanding.

This thing comes HIGHLY recommended, basically. For value for money, flavor, performance, and everything else in between. The SMOK Nord hype is 100% real. Do yourself a favor and grab one. You will not regret it.

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Full Review of The SMOK Nord (Design, Features, Performance, Coils)

SMOK is no stranger to pod vapes. It has made a bunch during the past few years, and most of them weren’t exactly great in my opinion. The SMOK Nord, however, represents a complete turnaround for the company – in more ways than one.

Read on for my full, detailed review of the SMOK Nord…

Design

Any good pod mod system needs to be portable. That’s kind of the entire point. The SMOK Nord isn’t the smallest pod mod on the planet, but it is perfectly proportioned and sits comfortably in the palm of your hand, making it ideal for stealth vaping.

Exact dimensions are as follows: 94x30x18.8mm and it is powered by a 1100mAh internal battery. The mouthpiece comes off entirely and, unlike most pod mods, it runs actual coils which you slot into the bottom of the mouth-piece.

The SMOK Nord charges via microUSB, and it charges pretty darn quickly too. I like to top mine off when I’m not using it. This way, it’s always got plenty of battery for when I’m out of the house.

It’s available in resin hues as well as standard color hues. For the latter you have the following options:

• Black
• Gold
• Green
• Red
• Purple
• Silver

The resin models look A LOT better, IMHO. If style is important to you, go with the resin options. If not, you’re going to be 100% fine with the standard color models.

Firing the SMOK Nord is simple too: it has a button located on the front, which you can also use to check battery life (two clicks) – green is over 70%, orange is over 50%, and red is below 30%.

Installing coils in the Nord is simple as well: simply prime them with a couple of drops of E Juice, then slot them in and they lock in place – just make sure the indents on the coil heads are putting out east and west. Once you’ve done that you’re good to start vaping.

Overall, the design of the SMOK Nord is super-simple and very classy. I really, really like it. The vape is simple to set up the first time and it vapes great from the get-go. Honestly, it couldn’t be simpler and I love that it runs actual coil heads too.

SMOK Nord Features

The SMOK Nord’s main party trick is that it can do both standard MTL vaping and sub-ohm vaping. It comes with two coil heads: 1x 1.4ohm and 1x 0.6ohm. You can also buy ceramic coil heads for it too, though these come separately.

Both coil heads are great, delivering excellent flavor and plenty of clouds. Even the MTL coil head kicks out a TON of vapor. Personally, I prefer the MTL coil heads. Why? Simple: you get better battery life and I like using Nic Salts E Juice in my pod mods.

SMOK Nord Coils – Sub Ohm Mesh Coils & MTL Coils

As noted earlier, you get two coil heads with the SMOK Nord. One for DTL vaping and one for MTL vaping. Both are excellent, delivering excellent flavor and clouds, but I do generally prefer the MTL coil heads as I like extended battery life and using Nic Salts E Juice in my pods.

I don’t exactly have a good relationship with SMOK’s coils in its sub ohm tanks (spoiler: I loathe them). But in this instance, SMOK has freakin’ nailed the coil heads – they last for an eternity before burning out.

Case in point: the first MTL coil head I installed in the SMOK Nord lasted over two weeks before the flavor started to waiver. The DTL coil head did almost as well too – around 10 days. This is very impressive in both contexts. I have ZERO complaints in this regard.

Flavor with both coil heads is superb. I was actually kind of blown away by just how good the vape is on the SMOK Nord. I mean, I’m a massive RDA user but since owning the SMOK Nord, I haven’t touched my normal setup in almost a month!

Battery Life

The SMOK Nord runs a 1100mAh internal battery, and this is a very good thing because it means you get very good battery life. We’re talking all day vaping with the MTL coil head and a solid 8/9 hours with the more power-intensive DTL coil heads.

I’ve haven’t been let down by the SMOK Nord’s battery life once. Even while on holiday, as long as I remember to charge it overnight, the Nord lasted all day with moderate to normal usage.

For ultra-optimal performance, you’ll want to give the Nord a recharge for an hour or so halfway through the day, or just charge it whenever you’re not using it for extended periods of time. Doing this will ensure the battery is always around 80-100% full.

Bottom line? The SMOK Nord’s battery life is fantastic for a pod mod. Easily up there in the top 1%, so if battery life is important to you know that you’re in very good hands with the Nord.

Overall Performance

Outstanding, basically. I don’t recall ever using a pod mod that I have liked quite as much as the SMOK Nord, with the exception of the way-more-expensive Lost Vape Orion DNA pod.

It looks great, it’s simple to use, it has a great battery, and it kicks out a ton of flavor (with both coil heads). I own a lot of pod mods, but I don’t tend to continue using them after I finish testing. With the Nord, though, I’m still using it as my main vape, day in, day out, and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. It really is that good!

And I’m an RDA user. That’s how I like to vape, but the Nord has kept me interested and engaged for weeks now. I simply cannot remember the last time a pod mod system did this…

Should You Buy This Vape?

Yes, you should. If you’re anything like me, and you tend to give pod mods a wide birth because of battery life issues and vapor quality, know this: the SMOK Nord is nothing like your run of the mill pod systems.

The flavor and vapor quality is immense. The battery life is brilliant, lasting all day long, and the design and finish are near perfect.

I love the look and feel of the pod system itself. It’s well built, super-robust, and it is very portable. But it doesn’t feel cheap or plasticky either which is a common complaint of many pod systems. I also love that it can run two different styles of coil head as well.

I have a bunch of pod vapes in my collection. But the SMOK Nord is definitely up there with the best of them. Is it better than the UWELL Caliburn? Hard to say – they’re both very different. I do think the MTL draw on the Caliburn is better, but the Caliburn cannot do sub-ohm vaping like the Nord.

Either way, both are excellent pod systems. The SMOK Nord is an excellent addition to the market and one that will no doubt make A LOT of friends in the coming months through its awesome combination of epic design and great performance.

I love this pod mod vape and will be using it for a LONG time to come.

But the best part about the SMOK Nord has to be the price – it retails for just $23.95 (and that includes FREE shipping).

The Rincoe NESO X is a small vape pen-style pod mod that is 100%  refillable, meaning you can run your own E Juice in it. But is it any good? Read on an find out!

Rincoe NESO X – Quick Verdict (70%)

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Quick Verdict: The Rincoe NESO X is small, vape pen-style pod mod. It’s super pocketable and it looks smart enough. It does have some slight issues, however, namely that the pods don’t last quite as long as the competition and the battery life isn’t all that good.

I do like this product; I enjoyed reviewing it and using it. But with such stiff competition around right now, it’s hard to recommend this pod system over, say, the UWELL Caliburn which has it beat in most key areas – namely battery life, flavor production, and overall performance in general.

Full Rincoe NESO X Review

Design

As noted in the quick verdict, the Rincoe NESO X is a small, pen-style vape. It fits easily anywhere and is ideally proportioned for those that don’t like any additional bulk on their vape devices.

Exact dimensions are as follows: 1110 x 20.5 x 12mm and the pod will hold around 1.8ml of E Juice. Inside, you have a 350mAh battery (too small for my liking) that is paired with an LED on the device to tell you when you’re running low on juice (red is dead; white is optimal).

The Rincoe NESO X charges via microUSB at the base and the top cap, where the coil and E Juice goes, is completely removable. Filling and priming are simple enough. The pods wick quickly too. But the color of the plastic (it’s black) makes it difficult to see how much E Juice is left in the tank.

The device is breath-activated, meaning there are no buttons to fire the pod mod; rather, the atomizer is fired as soon as you inhale. It works great too; during my time with the device, I haven’t had any issues with this feature (unlike the UWELL Caliburn!).

From top to bottom, this device is very simple. It’s also elegant too; I like the stripped-back look and feel of the device. My only real issue with its design is the choice of color on the pods themselves; it makes it near-impossible to tell how much vape juice is actually inside it.

How Does The Rincoe NESO X Vape?

As you’d expect, the Rincoe NESO X features an MTL draw. Here it is nice and tight, just as it should be. The NESO X is more restricted than the UWELL Caliburn and SMOK Nord, which for me is a definite plus. The vapor it produces is very flavorful too.

The UWELL Caliburn does produce better overall flavor. I was using the Caliburn before I tested the NESO X, so when I switched I kept the same vape juice and noticed a slight difference. It’s not massive, but the Caliburn definitely produces more intense, vivid notes than the NESO X.

Conversely, I do actually prefer the way the NESO X draws; it’s tighter and more focused. And this for me is exactly what an MTL draw is all about. I have to be honest with you guys though, and I know most of you are all about flavor. And if that’s the case, the Caliburn is the victor here.

Battery Life

A pod mod is never going to have GREAT battery life; they’re small devices and they run on internal cells. Small cells. You can get pod mods with 1000mAh batteries, but they’re not all that common. The NESO X runs a 350mAh internal battery which is pretty small, even by pod mod standards.

Rincoe has managed to get a lot of this cell, however, by keeping the power output of the vape nice and low. And this is impressive, as I expected it to be a lot worse than it was. With normal to high usage, you’re looking at 4-5 hours before a recharge is required.

My advice, as always: carry a USB cable with you at all times and top-up the device whenever you’re not using it. This way, you’ll always have plenty of battery power left for later in the evening.

Again, both the SMOK Nord and UWELL Caliburn have the NESO X whipped in this context. But this is to be expected; nearly all pod mods suffer in this department. Excellent battery life and pod mods do not go hand in hand, though some are definitely better than others…

How Long Do The Pods Last?

It’s tricky to pin down exactly. My first pod lasted a couple of refills, then the second ran out mid-way through the third. My third burnt out mid-way through the fourth refill. Up and down, basically. And none lasted longer than a week. That isn’t great, not when you have pod systems that last weeks at a time (hello, UWELL Caliburn).

Coil inconsistency is perhaps the most annoying thing you can encounter as a vaper; it ruins a day and can end up costing you a fortune. My SMOK Nord suffers from these exact issues which kind of ruined an otherwise great product.

The Rincoe NESO X isn’t anywhere near as bad as the Nord for coil inconsistency, but it definitely isn’t as good as I’d like either.

With a pod mod, you should be able to run one coil for about 2-3 weeks minimum. Anything less than that and you’re basically taking your product our of contention. Coil performance here just isn’t as good as the devices’ at the top of the niche. Not by a long shot.

Final Verdict

I don’t want to be too harsh on the Rincoe NESO X because it does a lot of things right. The draw is great and when the coils are broken in properly the flavor is brilliant. Getting a pod mod right is hard; that’s why there are so few listed inside our Best Pod Mod Vape Guide.

I have enjoyed using the Rincoe NESO X but I wouldn’t go swapping my UWELL Caliburn or Lost Vape Orion DNA for it anytime soon. It’s a decent attempt that delivers in many areas, however, it is let down by its battery life and coil head longevity which just isn’t up to the standard of similar pod systems like the amazing UWELL Caliburn…