Pod Mods

The Suorin Reno is a brand new platform for Suorin, who is one of the few companies that exclusively make pod devices. Suorin is no stranger to the pod market. They have been around now for a little over two years and have constantly tried out new innovations with their devices. How does their new mesh coil hold up?

Suorin Switches To Replacable Coils

Suorin has been in the pod market for quite a while. I remember a time when working in retail when everyone and their mother (literally) had a Suorin Air, or Suorin Drop. It was impossible to avoid, and many other big-name companies started to follow suit.

What made Suorin somewhat unique was the fact they always used a closed pod system. This means that the pods came all in one piece and no parts could be replaced. But with the new Reno, they have decided to follow the Smok RPM lead with replaceable coils. How does this stand up to the competition?

Suorin Reno: Features And Design

• 13 watt maximum output
• 1,0 Mesh Tech coils
• Organic cotton wicking
• Aluminum alloy construction
• LED battery indicator
• 800 mah battery capacity
• 3 ml liquid capacity
• Micro USB charging

If you have seen one Suorin product, then you know what to expect when it comes to aesthetics and design. The Reno is very lightweight and only slightly larger than some of their other devices. The Reno comes in several different colors, I received a matte gold sample.

Inside the box, you will find two of their 1.0 ohm mesh coils, the device, one pod, and a USB charging cable. In the past, Suorin has only included one pod/coil with the devices, so it’s a breath of fresh air to see them adding an extra in the box. It would be nice to see an extra pod for the additional coil included, but this pod is reusable.

The pod has a “duck bill” design that we have seen with many other devices. Most notably, the Smok Nord series. The pod is a “love it or hate it” kind of design that allows a good amount of airflow. Just like drip tips with larger devices, everyone has a preference. personally, I don’t mind the duck bill.

The pod is bottom fill using a rubber grommet. The fill port is big enough to fit just about any size bottle.

The LED battery indicator is located on the side and lights up after each puff. Green is a full charge, blue is 70-40%, and red is below 30%. This is pretty standard for most Suorin devices and many other companies have adopted the same type of battery lights. Other than the micro-USB, the LED is the only feature for the battery/mod.

The Suorin Reno is auto-draw only. This means there are no buttons to fire or change wattage. Almost all of Suorin’s other products have this feature, for better of for worse. But how does it perform?

Testing

As with most of Suorin’s myriad of pod devices, I figured this was most compatible with salt nic. So I primed the coil and filled the pod up. The instructions say to wait for 10 minutes before taking a puff, but I like to be a little more liberal with time so I waited 20 minutes. The device had a full charge right out of the box.

OK. Maybe salt nic shouldn’t have been my first choice. This thing HITS. If I had to compare the airflow and quality of the hit, I would compare it to a Smok Nord 2, with the .4 mesh RPM coil installed. So I did what any reasonable person would, and I tried to let the coil break in.

It took me a second to realize where all of this air flow is even coming from. Their are no ports for the air to come in anywhere on the device. The USB port is the only place that is could be coming from, so I covered it with my finger. I was right, the air is drawn from the USB port area. But even with the port covered, I could not get anywhere near an MTL type of draw.

There is also two tiny ports on either side of the pod that also have air intake, upon further inspection. Again you can cover these with your fingers and reduce the air flow just a little bit. This still seemed a bit much for me with salt nic (35mg). Especially since the opening at the top of the pod, where your mouth goes, is 4mm wide.

So back to the drawing board right? I replaced the coil and filled the pod with a 12mg freebase liquid. I once again let the everything sit for about 20 minutes to ensure the coil gets fully saturated. Now we are in business, right?

Well…yes and no. With freebase I felt like the throat hit just wasn’t there. I can’t seem to find the “Goldilocks Zone” with these coils. 1.0 ohm should be a perfect fit with both liquids I tried when you factor in the 13 watt limit. I used the Reno for the next week or so, going back and forth between coils and liquids. Luckily, my local vape shop carried the coils so I purchased a few extra.

The flavor from the new mesh coil design was pretty good with both liquids for the first day. After that, the flavor declined sharply. On the plus side, I have yet to deal with any burned out coils. They seem to have great longevity in performance.

Another plus, is that I have had zero leaking from the pod itself. Suorin is notorious for designing bottom fill pods that leak into the auto-draw sensor. Once that happens you can expect misfires, or the device will constantly hit and burn out your pod. Once that sensor has juice in it, you might as well buy a new kit.

The Verdict

I suppose I am having a tough time figuring out who this is for. Maybe some people prefer a super hard hit with salt nic devices. For myself, I prefer something like their other fantastic new device, The SHINE.

The SHINE is more like the infamous Uwell Caliburn in the way it hits. I definitely prefer a losse MTL draw when using these compact salt nic pod mods. The Reno is far too airy for my taste and I couldn’t get it to perform the way I would imagine it was designed. I found myself frustrated with trying to find exactly how to use the Reno.

I give the Reno another strike when it comes to replacing the coil. You lose a good amount of liquid when you go to replace the coil, as the coil is centered in the pod. You can turn it upside down, and save a good bit of juice, but expect to lose some if you have recently filled the pod.

On the plus side, the battery life is phenomenal. Using the Reno as my only device for a few days, I found that the battery will last all day. The Reno also charges pretty fast, falling in the same amount of time as it’s peers at about 45 minutes.

So the Reno and I do not get along, and that’s okay. If you’re looking for a hard hitting, compact pod device, then the Reno is for you. I look forward to seeing if Suorin continues to use coils instead of their signature enclosed pods. I also hope that they make these coils compatible with furture devices.

You can click here to get your Suorin Reno for an excellent deal!

 

 

 

Suorin was one of the first refillable pod systems when they released their popular Drop and Air devices over two years ago. Suorin has continued to release updated versions of their products, with new ideas here and there. So how does the new SHINE stand out in an overwhelming sea of pod systems?

Suorin Keeps Up With Their Legacy

It’s hard to believe that over two years has passed since pods started dominating the market. Suorin was the first I remember seeing in the local vape shops. They released the Suorin Air and the Suorin Drop around the same time.

And I can’t lie. I worked in the retail side of the industry for years and I learned to appreciate the simplicity of these device. Especially among new vapers that just really wanted to quit smoking, yet wanted something easy to use and discrete.

So how does the new era of Suorin products stack up to their influential legacy?

Features And Design

The new Suorin SHINE is familiar in design. It has the same type of shape, the same pod designs, and the same LED indicator that all of their devices share. But the SHINE has a few perks that I wasn’t expecting when I first opened the box. First, the specs:

• 13 watts of output
• 700 mah battery capacity
• 1.0 ohm pods
• 2 ml liquid capacity
• Zinc alloy chassis
• Two different power settings
• Quick charge feature
• 8 Different colors

BUY ME NOW!!

Inside the box you will find your device, 2 empty pods, a Micro-USB, and a warranty card. My sample is a great looking blue accent color and all models have black as a base color. The device is very light-weight and compact for housing a larger battery.

The pods are the usual tinted black pods that Suorin has always used. Each pod has a small 1 ohm round-wire coil in the middle that is wiked with 100% organic cotton. The pods are advertised to last for up to 5 refills, equal to about 300 puffs.

There is a large LED at the bottom of the device that implies the name, SHINE. The battery light is green at full charge, blue at 30-60% charge, and red below 30%. The 700 mah battery life is larger than it’s competitors like the Caliburn and it charges in only 40 minutes.

The device operates in two different modes. This is a new feature for Suorin as their products are usually auto-draw only. The SHINE has a button that fires the device at full power as well as the auto-draw function.

 

Testing And Performance

Get ready for some Caliburn references because to be honest, the SHINE is very similar. It works the same with having a button/auto feature, however the SHINE beats the Caliburn in the battery department. The use of a cartomizer style coil is also a nod to the Caliburn and the design is almost identical.

I have been using the Suorin SHINE for about a week as an “out and about” vape. When I first got it, I filled each of the pods with a different style of flavor so I could better gauge just how good the new coil technology is. One pod has a sweet menthol flavor, and the other has a creamy dessert flavor.

After the initial break-in time, the flavor really shines in both pods. I am pretty blown away at Suorin’s new coil design and pitted against the Caliburn…the SHINE wins! Before you question my sanity and judgement, I tried the Caliburn and the SHINE back to back with the same flavor.

To be fair, you can also easily compare the SHINE to the Smok Novo also. Since the smooth but airy puff is very similar. Not to mention the aesthetics, with the SHINE just being slightly longer than the Novo.

I found that there wasnt much of a difference between the two power functions. I guess what it comes down to is preference of using the button or not. Once again, I found the Caliburn to be the same as far as function goes. Sometimes I hit the button and sometimes I just take a puff.

I let the battery get to the point of the device cutoff. The charging process took 45 minutes, just as advertised. I got all day use out of the device before I finally got the red LED of doom. Pretty Impressive!

The Verdict

Look, I think a ton of people out there have an almost blind loyalty to the Caliburn when it comes to these small pod devices. I understand why. I get it. The Caliburn was probably the pod device to really get it right when it comes to features and ease of use.

Other companies are definitely catching up. Suorin is no exception in this category. I like the SHINE just as much if not MORE than the Uwell Caliburn. All the things that make up a great pod system are here in the SHINE and if you’re looking for something to challenge your beloved Caliburn, then I say give the SHINE a chance.

BUY THE SHINE TODAY!!

 

Smok has had huge success with it’s RPM Series of devices. The RPM coils come in all shapes and sizes for every type of vaper. With their new ALIKE device, are they giving Geekvape a run for their money?

Smok Keeps Innovating

At the End of last year, Smok released their first RPM device and received critical acclaim from reviewers and consumers alike. Our original review sums it up rather well: it’s better than you think!

Since that first device, Smok has continued to make devices in all shapes and sizes that use the same RPM coils. This cross-compatibility between every new device has been the biggest selling point for these new devices. Most people have a favorite device and preferred RPM coil at this point.

So what else is left? The RPM series already has 7 different devices for you to choose from, and four of those have alternate versions depending on the battery configuration. What else could Smok possibly do to the RPM?

Features and Design

The Smok ALIKE has taken a page out of the Geekvape Aegis playbook for it’s design. The ALIKE has a new IPX7 waterproof, dustproof, and impact proof technology. But the features don’t stop there.

• 1600 mah battery capacity
• 40 watt adjustable power
• Full color screen
• Compatible with all RPM coils
• Optional Nord pod
• IPX7 waterproof/dust proof/impact proof
• 5 different colors
• 5.5ml pod capacity
• Replaceable 510 drip tip

Inside the box, you’ll find the device, two coils, an RPM pod, USB cable, and instruction manual. The kit comes with two different RPM coils. Both coils are mesh coils rated for 25 watts.

The screen is a slightly updated version of what you would find on the RPM 40. You can customize the colors and it shows your hit count, ohm load, and wattage. The mod maxes out at 40 watts.

The sample product I received is a matte red accent color. The majority of the construction is a soft rubber construction that definitely holds up to drops and falls. Faux leather wraps the outside of the mod and provides a grip.

The pod is reminisent of the original Smok Fetch pod. This one has the same removable drip tip and holds just a little bit more juice. The coil has the same press-fit design as all of the RPM family.

There is also a pod tht will fit the Nord series of coils. Unfortunately, the kit does not come with this special pod. You can purchase it separately.

Testing and Performance

Of course, the first thing I did was remove the pod, and get this thing wet! I tried it under running water, and also submerged in a glass. I’m happy to report that the mod is still working great. Important: The pods are NOT waterproof. If your pod gets submerged, make sure to change the coil and fully clean the pod of any water residue.

I have been using the RPM line since it launched. I prefer the original RPM 40 over just about all of the other devices, however, this ALIKE is making a close second. Mostly because of the size and form factor. The device is slightly larger than the smaller RPM mods yet it still fits in your pocket and remains comfortable.

I have been taking it to the beach with me and so far I have had no problems with water and sand. If it gets a little sandy, I just rinse it off in the sink and dry it with a towel. It really is nice to not have to worry about my vape.

It performs just as well as all of the other RPM/Fetch devices. The key feature with the entire series for me is the coil-compatibility. The RBA, and all of the RPM coils work great. To me, this is the smartest marketing move Smok has ever pulled, as it actually benefits the customer.

The airflow comes from the top and is identical to the RPM 40. I have used the .4 Mesh coil primarily with freebase juice and I find the airflow to be a perfect direct lung hit. Not to mention this .4 Mesh coil is the best for flavor for me and I generally get almost 400 hits per coil.

The battery life lasts me all day if I am out and about. 1600 mah at 20-25 watts lasts quite a while. It took my unit a little over an hour to get a full charge from a 5% battery life.

Pros And Cons

So this is the thing: I don’t really have any cons. I have loved every single product the Smok has released under the RPM line. This is under heavy bias, as I do not generally enjoy Smok’s other offerings. Smok’s mods and subohm tanks have never really stood out to me when you compare them to their peers.

But these pocket-sized all in one units? I think Smok has really found their groove and I honestly have no complaints. The ALIKE is a great addition to an already awesome line of products.

It is a strange feeling suddenly rooting for a company that just a year ago, you couldn’t care less about. I look at these products without any pre-conceived notions about the company’s reputation nowadays. I have really been impressed with Smok lately.

If I have one gripe, it’s my usual gripe that have with everything. No USB-C charging. I suppose that can be considered a con but so far, the entire RPM series has had Micro-USB charging with the exception of the Fetch Pro.

Verdict

So I have really enjoyed my time with the Smok ALIKE AIO. The entire system is easy to use and will be familiar to any seasoned vaper. On the other side of that, I can see this being a great first vape for anyone just starting out. It’s simplicity is definitely the best feature.

Is this a direct competitor to Geekvape and their Aegis boost? To be honest, I think it is definitely a contender! The ALIKE has all of the same great features with the benefit of having an established coil system. In fact, SMOK may even have the advantage in this case!

So who needs an AIO system that is so durable? I used to ask that question myself while working in a vape shop. But after seeing people come in, day after day with destroyed mods and tanks, I think I understand exactly who this device is made for.

The ALIKE is made for people that like to go out on the boat on the weekends, or maybe take a beach trip like me. It is also very handy for people that work in construction, or dirty/dusty environments. And definitely for the person that always seems to inflict pain on their poor vape (you know who you are!). If you need your vape to take a beating and keep kicking, the ALIKE is a user-friendly option.

You can buy the ALIKE Pod Mod by Clicking here!

 

Want a Billet Box but it’s too expensive? SXK makes a magnificent clone. Still too expensive or perhaps too bulky? There’s the Bantam Box. Less a clone of the Billet Box, but a reimagination of one of arguably the best all-in-one device ever made. Think of it as a Billet Box without the weight or price and you’re getting close to what the Bantam Box offers.

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SXK Bantam Box Revision: 73%

SXK Bantam Box Pros:

• Compact and light, very pocketable
• Makes use of a traditional borro tank enabling to use your favorite bridges
• Build quality is on point
• Two different tank styles included

SXK Bantam Box Cons:

• Very few third-party accessories available
• It’s not cheap
• No rebuildable bridges included
• It will never be a real Billet Box

I bet you’re looking at this strange square and thinking “why the should I care?” That’s a valid point as the Bantam and even Billet Box offer nothing other than just another AIO to the average vaper. In essence, it’s just an external battery pod system that uses prebuilt coils, and haven’t we seen quite enough of those lately. A rebuildable deck? Pretty much all AIOs have a rebuildable deck available. So, what is it then, what makes it so special?

Simple, bridges, and accessories. The BB styled devices make use of a tank, called a “Borro” that allows users to fit a wide variety of decks, from rebuildable to stock coils, which allows you to tailor your experience exactly as you want it. Users can also completely transform the look of their device thanks to new buttons, panels, tips, tanks, and more, but does this make the Bantam Box worth a look on these merits alone?

Design

The Bantam Box comes hot on the tail of SXK’s Bantam Box clone. SXK was able to reduce the size considerably by chucking the 18650 in favor of a 18350 (included, thankfully). If you’re familiar with the ridiculously expensive Limelight Fifty 50, the Bantam Box is basically the same thing in regulated form.

Everything but the fire button sits inside the zinc alloy panels that are held in place with fairly strong magnets. A small gripe is that the adjustment buttons/tank and USB port/fire button sit on opposite sides and takes getting used to the layout.

The Bantam Box has its screen on the top (vs inside on the Billet Box) which is a major improvement and other than that, it’s reduced size and battery, it functions as you would expect a Billet Box like device to function.

The real magic of the Bantam Box happens inside the Borro Style tank. Pretty much a blank canvas, it allows users to insert an aftermarket deck (known as a Bridge) to tweak your device to your preferences. There is a massive range of bridges available, but unfortunately, none of them are cheap. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bridge that costs less than the actual device.

The Borro tanks capacity differs depending on the size of the bridge used, but averages around 4.5ml. Filling the Borro is an adventure in itself. There’s no plug, screw, or cap; instead, a sliding glass plane covers the front facia of the tank to allow filling and easy removal or adjustment of your bridges. SXK includes a secondary, more traditional tank that houses their own prebuilt coil, but to be honest, it’s lackluster at best.

The Borro has no airflow control per se; instead, it relying on adjustment being done on the bridge itself and is probably the most complicate part of the Bantam box

By nature, it’s a simple device and there’s not a lot to cover in stock form; BB devices are bought for their customization and sadly, this is where the Bantam Box fails. Very few, if any modders bought into the Bantam Box and this means finding panels, buttons or switches near impossible. They can be custom made, sure, but I would love to see the Bantam gain traction and open the aftermarket segment for it.

Performance

How the Bantam Box performs is not as simple as good or bed. It very much depends on your battery and bridge configuration. What I can well comment on is the 30w SXK chipset used is more than adequate. Unfortunately, 18350 are just not good enough for a full day of vaping at 30w, so keep that in mind. At least SXK took the wise decision to include a battery in the package as it can be hard to come by.

SXK includes 2 prebuilt coils, one of their own, a ceramic unit that slots into the traditional tank and not even worth the time to remove from its packaging. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s pure crap. I primed for 30 minutes and the coil was still bust after less than 2ml. The second coil, a Nautilus BVC coil, slots into the Borro tank. These coils need no introduction, they are as good as it gets for sub-ohm MTL vaping

It’s difficult to cover bridges in detail as they cover such a large scope. Anywhere from DTL to MTL, rest assured, there’s a bridge to suit your style.

Specs:

• Battery: removable 18350 (included)
• Power output: 1/30w
• Tank Capacity: 5ml with no bridge installed
• Charging Port: Micro USB
• Materials: Zinc alloy

SXK Bantam Box Conclusion

The premise of the Bantam Box is simple, give people an option for a smaller and cheaper Billet Box. It may not have the appeal of the real thing, being made in China and all, but it’s built every bit as tight as it’s USA counterpart. The inclusion of a Borro tank means functionality is like for like as well. There’s very little else, in fact, nothing else on the market like it. The Limelight Fifty 50 comes close, but is a full mechanical mod and comes in at a whopping USD170 and for that reason, comes highly recommended.

I must admit, what you’re about to read, is a review of my most anticipated device of 2019. The hype around the Rincoe Manto AIO was massive and for a relatively unknown company, that speaks worlds. Does it perform as well as we all expected? Let’s get on the hype train and find out. Choo choo!

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Rincoe Manto AIO Verdict – 70%

Best Price: $34.90 – HeavenGifts

Pros:

• Large juice capacity
• Takes a 18650 battery
• 80w max wattage
• Temperature control
• Build quality is great
• DTL, MTL and a rebuildable AIO all in one
• The DTL mesh coil is great

Cons:

• The 1.2ohm MTL coil doesn’t last very long
• Difficult to get good flavor from the RBA
• It’s quite heavy
• Missing screw in RBA packaging

Full Rincoe Manto AIO Review

Packaging

Slide open the Manto AIOs box and you will find the device neatly nestled above a baggie full of spares. Some O-rings, a bell-shaped 510 drip tip (a traditional 510 drip tip is already installed on the device) and an extra coil as well as the user manual. The RBA section was sent to me in a baggie on its own, but to be fair, this may have been for sample purposes only. Unfortunately, one of the post screws was not installed and somehow went missing.

Design and Feel

The Manto AIO is an impressive device when held, chunky and solid, it feels like a quality product with some thought put into it. The Carbon Fiber version I got looks great and not as obnoxious as the dragon and strange panda designs also available, but those crazy designs are available if that’s your cup of tea.

While the Manto is pocketable, it is a heavy device thanks to the 18650 battery, an unavoidable trade-off for increased battery life.

A small screen that gives you access to statistics like power, battery level, resistance, and amp output; adjustment buttons just below that is used for power and temperature modes. The fire button sits perfectly where your thumb falls when palming the Manto and even if it’s a boxy device, it’s quite ergonomic.

Pull off the battery cover and you’d be forgiven for thinking the Manto is a billet box, in fact, I’m convinced Rincoe drew inspiration from the DotMod AIO and Billet Box. The 3ml tank is near identical to that found on these devices and so is the coil setup. It would be interesting to see if the Billet Box bridges can be made to work with the Manto. Speaking of the battery cover, I did find it a bit fiddly to get I seated properly back into the metal chassis. The battery cover has a cutout to keep an eye on your juice level, but it doesn’t go down all the way to the wick ports for some of the coils.

Menu

A tiny 0.49” OLED screen is used to display all vital information about the device, but the menu is fairly easy to use. Five clicks of the power button turns the device on or off, three clicks takes you into selection mode and the adjustment buttons take you through the modes, variable wattage, bypass or temperature control. The screen displays resistance, amperage, battery level, puff counter, puff time and output at all times and while small, clear and easy to read. There’s very little to the menu system and it’s this simplicity that has popularized AIO and POD systems.

Tank and Coils

The Manto AIO tank holds 3ml of juice with a large and easy to use juice port. All three coils, a 1.2ohm MTL, 0.3ohm mesh DTL coil and RBA screw into an airflow ring that is press-fit into the tank. The retail packaging contains 1 DTL coil and 1 MTL coil with the RBA being a separate purchase. Unfortunately, I had some bad luck with the original 0.3ohm coil as it somehow consumed the scent of the box, a strong chemical aroma and turned any juice I tried to pass through it into pinesol. The MTL coil was significantly better, but this coil lasted barely 2 tanks before tasting of dirt.

The next logical step was to try the RBA, after digging through my box of spares for an extra post screw, pray yours come with all screws because this proved to be tougher than I imagined. The build deck is fairly straight forward, similar to that of the Hellvape MD and even though tiny, I had no trouble getting a build in there. The wick ports are gigantic too. I found it really difficult to stuff up a build on this. Flavour isn’t amazing (as I’ve found on most rebuildable AIOs) it provides a dense and acceptable vape.

Performance

The Manto AIO delivers 80w thanks to the removable 18650. Now, I’ve used a few AIOs that claim high power output, RPM40, Vinici X and some others, but the Manto is the first device that I feel really delivers the stated power. Sure, it will drain the battery in a second but firing the Manto at high power is almost addictive. Power is there instantly, and it keeps going until the time-out protection kicks in. It’s pointless to have 80w in a pod-based device, but it’s nice to know the option is there.

Specs:

• 3ml Juice capacity
• Power output: 1-80w
• 0.001s firing time
• Charging Current: 5V/1A
• 0.49″ OLED Screen.
• Charging Port: USB-C
• Size: 24.3mmx45mmx80mm

Rincoe Manto AIO Conclusion  

I’m not going to lie, I was super hyped for the Manto AIO ever since I caught a sniff of Rincoe’s plans to manufacture a rebuildable AIO system. The Tix was an amazing device and the Manto AIO could only be an improvement of that, right? Well, yes and no. As an AIO, it performs great, but sadly with all the R&D, it came to the market too late.

It’s a solid device, but in the time it took to bring to fruition, the market was already flooded. Sadly, the Manto AIO will disappear in the crowd because it doesn’t really offer anything new. If you like the design though, it still performs reasonably well. I though don’t see it taking down the likes of the VooPoo Vinci X or the SMOK RPM40 – two of 2020’s most popular pod-system vapes.

Best Price: $34.90 – HeavenGifts

 

Smok, the brand everyone loves to hate. What started as the most recognized vape brand quickly turned into a high stakes gamble of quality control. Smok has made some great products but running the risk of a malfunctioning $40-$60 piece of kit is too much of a stretch for most people. Recently, it appears Smok has gone through a transition phase where not only did the products look to be better made, they seemed fresh and exciting, the Nord as an example. So how does the new Smok RPM40 stack up, is it the only POD system you will ever need?

Smok RPM40 Verdict – 67%

Best Price USA | DirectVapor | $30.95

UK & Europe | New Vaping | £20.99

Pros:

• 40w POD “styled” system
• 5ml juice capacity
• Can use Nord coils
• Huge internal battery
• Great Screen

Cons:

• Quality control is still iffy
• Heavy
• Leaking issues carried over from Nord
• Micro USB

Full Smok RPM40 Review

Packaging

Smok has always been on point with their product presentations and that no doubt helped cement their fame, marketing is what sells a product after all. The RPM40 is no different, a regular sleeved box, but the printing and presentation are done beautifully. Inside the box, you’ll find your RPM, micro-USB cable, manual and warranty card as well as two PODs, an RPM40 POD containing the all-new 0.4ohm Mesh coil as well as a “Nord” POD that can take the infamous Nord coils. The pre-installed coil is the 0.6ohm Nord variant, which had some issues in the past, but we’ll get to that later.

Design

The RPM40 comes in way too many colours to mention, there is bound to be something you like. Anything from plain black, to Gold carbon fibre and everything in-between. Apart from the Voopoo Vinci, there isn’t much that looks similar to the RPM40, it’s a tall chubby rectangle and much larger than we were led to believe from the images. You’ll get 3 coloured panels and one panel with what must be the best AIO screen to date. A Micro USB port adorns the bottom of the body.

The screen fills an entire panel, contains everything from your power output, to resistance, to puff counter, no complaints here. The battery indicator is one of the best I’ve seen on an AIO as well. It’s colour adjustable too, bright and clear and easy to use on any colour modes (There are 8 in total).

Unfortunately, my test unit had a small crack on the bottom left corner out of the packaging. I’m unsure if this was damaged by the shipping company or otherwise, but a bummer none-the-less.

Both PODs click into the RPM from the top with the juice reservoir disappearing into the body once seated. Be sure to pull it out regularly to ensure you don’t run dry. Speaking of PODs, the RPM has a fairly large duck-bill mouthpiece that is super comfortable. 

PODS and Coils

The inclusion of Nord coils in both the RPM40 and Fetch Mini must be one of the best ideas by Smok in a long time, but unfortunately less than ideally implemented. While flavour and longevity is far above average, the consistent leaking issues persevere. While it’s possible to overcome the POD housing getting flooded, it’s less than ideal to ensure that the RPM40 is always stood upright. Bear in mind, the charging port is on the bottom. Luckily, the new RPM POD, which is also lighter in colour, does not leak as badly (on par with AIO/POD systems) and flavour is still stellar on these. Both POD styles use a rubber flap on the reservoir to fill with a huge fill port.

Performance

It’s difficult to place the RPM40 in a specific category as it crosses the lines between AIO and POD system so regularly. It acts exactly like a POD system, but not only are the coils replaceable, it also allows power adjustments up to 40w. Now, I need to warn you, even if the RPM coils ohm out to 0.4 and are mesh, firing the RPM40 at max output will not be pleasant. The fact that I wasn’t coughing blood after a 1.5-second hit is a miracle that I am still thankful for. Drop the power down to 22ish with the RPM coil and a 12mg freebase juice and you’re in for an amazing vape.

The mesh coils produce so much flavour that rivals many a POD system. The Nord coils I found to perform better at sub 20w, yet flavour remains stellar. Unfortunately, the airflow on the RPM40 cannot be adjusted, so be aware that you will be stuck with something in between a tight direct to lung or loose MTL hit, this counts for both coils.

I was able to get two and a half days of heavy vaping out of the 1500mAh battery, but the trade-off is a heftier system. Charging time also suffers thanks to micro USB charging.

Specs:

• E-liquid Capacity: 4.3ml w/RPM POD – 4.5ml w/Nord POD
• Power output: 1-40w
• Battery: 1500mAh
• 2-2.5ohms Resistance
• 96″ Colour TDT Screen.
• Charging Port: Micro USB
• Size: 25mmx25mmx99mm
• Weight: 99g.

Smok RPM40 Conclusion

The Smok RPM40 is an interesting device from Smok and I have a feeling will turn the company around somewhat. There are still some quality control issues that need to be addressed, but comparing Smok’s latest products to let’s say, the GPriv, it’s clear they’ve made a serious effort to turn the company around. The RPM is a neat device if you can live with the leaking and non-adjustable airflow. It’s got a whopping big battery, great flavour, runs up to 40w and is compatible with the infamous Nord coils. There’s also an RBA coil available if you’re willing to risk your fingers building on that dainty thing.

Generally speaking, I think I definitely prefer the VooPoo VINCI – it’s much the same device but has more consistent coils.

Best Price USA | DirectVapor | $30.95

UK & Europe | New Vaping | £20.99