The Best Pod SMOK Novo Alternatives To Buy Right Now
The SMOK NOVO is a popular vape. But it’s not the best option right now on account of its weak coils and rather sub-par flavor. You can do a lot better, and right now these are our top picks for flavour, performance, battery life and coil longevity.
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Vaporesso XROS 5
👑 Editor's Pick
The XROS 5 isn’t just the best option to buy now, it is the simplest, the least hassle to live with, and the most reliable and consistant. The OXVA's DNA-powered XLIM vape does more stuff but for most people, the XROS 5 is all you’re ever going to need or even want.
Standout Features & Benefits
I’ve used every XROS pod vape since the OG model landed many, many moons ago now. They’ve always been great but from the XROS 3 series, things went supernova, with respect to flavor and performance.
The XROS 5 isn’t just the best option to buy now, it is the simplest, the least hassle to live with, and the most reliable and consistant. The XLIM Pro 2 DNA does more stuff but for most people, the XROS 5 is all you’re ever going to need or even want.
Here’s what makes it so damn good:
- Flavor Consistency: The CoreX 3.0 mesh coils deliver top-tier flavor, right up to the end of their lifespan. The 0.6Ω pod was the clear standout—no drop-off, no burn, just clean, smooth flavor for weeks.
- Coil Longevity: I got around 18–20 days of solid use from the 0.6Ω CoreX 2.0 pod, and expect similar or better with the new CoreX 3.0. That’s miles ahead of competitors like the Oxva Slim 2 Pro and VooPoo Argus G3, both of which tap out in 7–10 days.
- Battery Life: Battery life is significantly improved over the XROS 4. With moderate use, I got nearly two full days on a single charge. The upgrade to 1200mAh makes a big difference.
- Charging Speed: Super-fast charging is real. I went from dead to ~80% in about 18 minutes using the included USB-C cable and a standard wall plug.
- Build Quality: Sleek, durable, and pocketable. No scratches, no wear, no rattles. The pod magnets are tight and secure. Zero leaks after multiple refills.
- Ease of Use: It’s plug-and-play. You don’t need to adjust settings—but if you want to, the OLED screen and three power modes give you just enough control without overwhelming you.
- Airflow: Airflow adjustment works well. Fully closed gives a tight MTL pull. Open it up, and you can RDTL comfortably with the 0.6Ω or 0.4Ω pod.
- Any Issues? The 0.8Ω pod I tested once had slight condensation build-up after two weeks. Nothing major, but worth noting.
Bottom line: It’s the most dependable pod vape I’ve used all year. If you want simplicity, power, flavor, and longevity, this is the one to beat.
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If you’re a flavor snob who wants to dial things in, or you’re just a sucker for shiny displays and airflow options, the Uwell Caliburn G4 is a beast. The coils are much-improved, the flavor is great (though not quite in XROS 5 terrirory), and it looks and feels great in the hand.
Standout Features & Benefits
If the G3 was already great (and it was), the G4 is like the fully-evolved final form. You get more power, better flavor, and actual customization — but yeah, it’s a bit bigger.
What I Loved:
- Flavor Is Top-Tier: That Pro-FOCS 4.0 coil tech really shows. Everything just tastes more — like crisper, cleaner, deeper.
- Airflow Options Galore: You can slide it, flip it, or do both. Tighter MTL? Done. Looser RDL? Also doable.
- Storm & Wave Modes: Want an intense hit? Storm Mode slaps. Prefer a smooth cruise? Wave Mode’s your guy.
- Great Build Quality: It feels premium in the hand, and the display is actually useful (juice window = 10/10 feature).
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DNA chipsets have always been the top-shelf choice in the mod world, so seeing one in a pod vape is pretty wild. The best part? It doesn’t feel overcomplicated. The Xlim Pro 2 DNA just works—flavour’s on point, dry-hit protection saves your coils, and Replay Mode is surprisingly useful.
Standout Features & Benefits
I spent over two weeks running the Oxva Xlim Pro 2 DNA as my daily driver.
Here’s what stood out during real-world use, and why I think it could be one of the best pod vape releases of the year:
- Battery Endurance: The 1300mAh battery easily lasts a full day, even with heavy RDL use. Lighter MTL vapers might stretch it to two days between charges.
- Flavour Consistency: Thanks to the DNA chipset’s power adjustments, flavour stays locked in from pod start to finish. No weird dips or burnt hits.
- Replay Mode: One of those features you didn’t know you needed until you try it. Set your favourite puff and just let it repeat—no fiddling.
- AI Dry-Hit Protection: It genuinely works. No more surprise burnt hits when your pod runs dry.
- Build Quality: Solid, premium-feeling device with a comfortable mouthpiece. The TFT screen is clear and easy to read without looking cluttered.
- Ease of Use: Despite the DNA chip, setup is simple. Pods snap in, settings adjust easily through the menu, and airflow control is smooth.
- Charging: USB-C rapid charging is efficient—full charge in about 40–45 minutes.
- Pod Variety: The new SS pods seriously improve heat control and coil lifespan. Flavour is noticeably sharper compared to standard mesh pods.
Bottom line:
If you’re after a pod kit that delivers serious mod-level performance without turning into a science project, the Oxva Xlim Pro 2 DNA is one of the best all-round options available in 2025. It’s smart, compact, and genuinely elevates flavour to the next level.
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I love that you can do MTL and DTL on it, and everything in between. I like the touchscreen for the adjustment buttons (when I remember they’re there) and I love the flavour from the GTX coils, especially the 0.2 dualmesh one.
Standout Features & Benefits
After putting the LUXE XR MAX 2 through its paces, I’ve gotta say—it’s a bit of a beast in disguise. The battery lasts ages (I easily get a full day out of it), the vapor production is on point, and the flavor from the GTX coils? Solid. Especially with the 0.2Ω dual mesh—that coil slaps.
The touchscreen buttons threw me off at first (yep, I forgot they were there), but once you get used to them, they’re responsive and feel kinda futuristic. Bonus points for the RGB effects and how easy it is to swap between MTL and DTL pods depending on your mood.
The LUXE XR MAX 2 feels premium in the hand—those leather-textured panels give it a classy vibe—and the smart wattage setting is perfect if you don’t want to fuss around with tuning things manually.
If you’re new to pod mods, this’ll be easy to figure out. If you’re more seasoned, there’s enough customization here to keep you entertained. It’s versatile without being fiddly—and that’s rare.
- ✅ 3200mAh ultra-high-density battery (longest-lasting in the LUXE X family)
- ✅ 5–80W adjustable power range
- ✅ Dual mesh GTX coils = awesome flavor + long lifespan
- ✅ Fully compatible with all GTX coils
- ✅ 0.96″ color TFT display with dynamic RGB lighting
- ✅ Precise airflow control for MTL, RDTL, and DTL
- ✅ AXON chipset with Pulse, Eco, and Smart modes
- ✅ Touchscreen adjustment buttons + physical lock switch
- ✅ Fast USB-C charging
- ✅ Pods hold up to 5ml (or 2ml in TPD regions), easy bottom-fill
- ✅ Stylish design with leather-style grip and theme customization
Why I Don’t Recommend SMOK or Its SMOK NOVO Pod Vape…
Why the SMOK NOVO hate? I’ve been reviewing vapes since 2014 and in the time I’ve never come across a brand with more quality control issues as SMOK.
It’s coils are unpredictable, you get duds in seemingly every pack, and its hardware, while usually OK, can also be inconsistant, breaking after a month or two of usage or falling to pieces.
The NOVO isn’t a terrible pod vape; it’s just not anywhere near the best you can get right now. The pod market has evolved so much now that you really don’t need to settle for sub-par performance anymore.
Vapes like the Vaporesso XROS 5 are simple to use, deliver incredible flavour, and the coils last for 3-4 weeks (usually loads longer) between changes.
This is the main reason why I’ve pretty much only use Vaporesso XROS vapes as my daily drivers for the past few years. They’re just so good.
SMOK has good distribition, its vapes are everywhere, but so is its approach to QC.
SMOK NOVO Tips, Tricks & FAQs
What’s The Best Juice For SMOK Pod Vapes?
The best vape juice for the SMOK NOVO is nic salts vape juice, and the best nic salts vape juice you can buy in the UK right now is Crystalize Bar Salts.
It’s 100% UK-made, comes in a range of award-winning flavours and, perhaps coolest of all, varying bottle sizes from 10ml, 20ml QuickMix to even 60ml and 120ml longfill formats.
What’s The Best SMOK Alternative?
The best alternative to SMOK would be Vaporesso or OXVA; both make high-quality pod vapes that run rings around SMOK’s pod vapes when it comes to flavour, performance, reliability, and coil longevity.
Top picks right now for anyone that wants the best possible vaping performance and flavour would be the Vaporesso XROS 5 or the OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA. Both are exceptional.
What Brands Are Better Than SMOK?
Vaporesso, UWELL, OXVA, and VooPoo all make vastly superior vapes compared to SMOK.
If you want a high-quality pod vape that’ll last you 12+ months without issue and not cost you a bomb in spare coils, go with Vaporesso or OXVA.
Me? I like Vaporesso because its coils last longer than anything else on the market (3-4 weeks at a minimum) and they hold their flavour right until the last minute.
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