SMOK Vape Review (2026): Pod Kits, Coils & Pros and Cons

Few names carry the same weight on a UK vape shelf as SMOK. The brand has spent more than a decade building refillable hardware, and its pod kits have become a sort of default recommendation in shops across the country. This SMOK review looks at the refillable pod kits most adult vapers actually buy, the Nord and RPM ranges and their siblings, and asks a plain question: are they worth your money, and which one fits you.

One-line verdict: a versatile family of refillable kits with an enormous coil ecosystem and confident styling, best suited to people who want room to experiment rather than the simplest possible vape.

First impressions

Pull a Nord or an RPM out of its box and the first thing that registers is that SMOK is not chasing the minimalist crowd. These are devices with presence: resin-effect panels, contrast colourways, and on the larger models a small colour screen showing wattage, resistance and battery level. It all signals a piece of kit rather than something designed to disappear in a pocket. Whether that appeals is a matter of taste, and some will find it a touch busy.

Open the box and you typically get the device, one or two pods, a couple of coils and a USB-C cable: this is something you refill, recharge and tinker with, not use up and discard. The build feels solid on the mid-range and upper models, though the cheapest pods in the wider catalogue can feel a little more plasticky. Our overview of SMOK vapes maps out where Nord, Novo, RPM and Nex each land.

Design and everyday use

The SMOK pod range spans a wide spread of shapes and sizes. The Novo line is the slim, pocketable end, closer to a simple pod than a mod. The Nord sits in the middle as the do-everything device. The RPM pushes towards more power and a chunkier body, and the newer Nex series carries the same idea forward. They share a family resemblance but are not interchangeable, so choosing the right one for how you vape matters more than any spec on the box.

In daily use the better models are pleasant to live with. Filling is done from a bottle through a port on the pod, usually under a flap or plug, and once you have the technique it takes seconds. The pods click in firmly, and adjustable airflow, where fitted, closes the draw down for a tighter pull or opens it up for more vapour.

The flip side is that there is more to learn than with a plain pod. A device with a screen, a wattage setting, an airflow control and a choice of coils asks something of you before it rewards you. Most people get there quickly, but a newcomer who simply wants to inhale and go may find the approach involved at first. If a simpler starting point appeals, our roundup of the best refillable vape kits for beginners is a sensible place to look.

Coils, airflow and the draw

The most important thing to understand about SMOK is its coil ecosystem. The coil is the small replaceable heating part inside the pod, and it largely decides how your vape tastes and feels. SMOK's strength here is scale: the RPM and Nord coil families are vast, widely stocked, and shared across many devices, so a coil bought for one kit will often fit several others.

That ecosystem gives you a real choice of style, and the two terms worth knowing are MTL and DTL. MTL, mouth-to-lung, is the tighter draw that mimics a cigarette, where the vapour is drawn into the mouth first and then inhaled. DTL, direct-to-lung, is the looser, airier draw where the vapour goes straight down in one motion. The coil you fit, with the airflow setting, decides which you get.

For MTL, you fit a higher-resistance coil, typically around one ohm or above, and close the airflow down for a cooler, tighter draw that pairs naturally with higher-strength nic salts. For DTL, you fit a sub-ohm coil, open the airflow, and turn the power up for far more vapour and a warmer draw, pairing better with lower-strength e-liquid. The cleverness of the Nord and RPM is that one device can do both: swap the coil, adjust the airflow, and the same kit moves from a tight cigarette-like pull to a small cloud machine. Flavour from the mid-range coils is clean and holds up well, provided you prime each new one properly. If you value that adjustability, our guide to the best wattage adjustable vape kits covers how SMOK sits among its rivals.

Battery and running cost

Battery life follows a predictable pattern: slimmer models carry smaller cells, the larger Nord, RPM and Nex models carry bigger ones. A light user on a compact pod will often get most of a day from a charge, while a heavier vaper, or anyone running a sub-ohm coil, should expect to top up sooner. Every current model charges over USB-C, and the better units support reasonably quick charging.

Running cost is where refillable kits make their strongest case. Because every mainstream SMOK kit sold in the UK is refillable and rechargeable, you buy the device once and keep it topped up from a bottle of e-liquid of your own choosing. Bottled liquid costs far less per millilitre than sealed prefilled pods, so once past the initial outlay your ongoing cost drops sharply, and you keep control of flavour and strength.

On price, the pod kits typically sit around fifteen to twenty-five pounds for the device, with replacement coils around two to three pounds each in packs. How often you change them depends on how heavily you vape and how well you care for them, and heavy users on thirsty sub-ohm coils get through them faster. Even so, a low entry price and cheap refilling keep the long-run cost well below sealed alternatives. Browse current options across the store to compare.

What we like

The breadth of the range is the headline strength. Whether you want a tight MTL pod, a do-everything device, or a more powerful pod that leans towards clouds, there is a SMOK kit built for it, and you can move up without leaving a coil ecosystem you already understand.

Coil availability is the quiet hero. The RPM and Nord families are stocked almost everywhere in a wide choice of resistances, and because they cross over between devices, you are rarely left hunting for an obscure spare.

The flexibility is genuine: adjustable airflow on most kits and adjustable wattage on the Nord, RPM and Nex lines let one device cover several styles, which is excellent value if your tastes are still settling. The styling is another draw, and the entry price keeps the door open.

What to keep in mind

The same breadth that is a strength can be overwhelming. With so many overlapping models, sub-versions and coil variants, working out which device and coil you need takes a little homework, and it is easy to buy the wrong variant if you do not check carefully.

There is also more to learn than with a plain pod. Wattage, airflow and coil choice all reward attention but also ask for it, and a vaper who wants the least possible fuss may find a SMOK kit busier than they would like. Coil consistency has historically been a little variable too, so buying genuine coils from a trusted retailer is worth doing.

As with many pod devices, certain models can leak or gurgle if overfilled or primed poorly, so a little care when filling pays off. And the bold design, a plus for some, will read as bulky or showy to anyone after a discreet device. None of these are dealbreakers, but they are the trade-offs of the territory.

The verdict: who it's for

A SMOK pod kit makes most sense for the adult vaper who wants a refillable device with room to grow. If you like the idea of starting with a tight MTL draw and later exploring more vapour, or you simply enjoy having airflow and wattage to play with, the Nord and RPM ranges give you that flexibility on a coil ecosystem you can find anywhere.

It is a less natural fit for someone who wants the most discreet, set-and-forget device, or a newcomer who would rather not think about coils and settings. But for the large middle ground who value versatility, easy-to-find spares and solid value, SMOK remains one of the safer and more rewarding refillable kits to buy into, provided you pick the right model and buy genuine parts. Browse the full vape kits range to find the one that matches your style.

Questions, answered

Are SMOK pod kits refillable and UK-legal?

Yes. Every mainstream SMOK pod kit sold in the UK is refillable from a bottle of e-liquid and rechargeable over USB-C. Because they are reusable by design rather than single-use, they were never caught by the rules that removed throwaway devices from sale, and they remain fully legal to buy and use.

What is the difference between the Nord, Novo and RPM?

Think of it as a ladder. The Novo is the simplest and slimmest, aimed at easy MTL vaping. The Nord sits in the middle as a versatile do-everything pod that runs both MTL and DTL coils. The RPM is the more powerful pod, leaning towards bigger vapour while keeping pod convenience, and the newer Nex series continues that theme with updated bodies and coils.

Which SMOK kit suits a beginner best?

For someone newer to refillable vaping, the simpler end usually works best: a Novo for pure simplicity, or a Nord fitted with an MTL coil for a bit more flexibility. The bigger RPM kits suit people who already know they want more power.

How often will I need to change the coil?

It varies with how heavily you vape, the liquid you use and how well you treat the coil, but many people replace a pod-kit coil every one to two weeks. Sweeter and darker liquids wear coils faster. The clearest sign it is time to change is a burnt or muted taste that lowering the power and priming will not fix. Always prime a new coil before its first use.

Can one SMOK pod do both tight and cloudy vaping?

On the Nord and RPM ranges, yes. By swapping between a higher-resistance MTL coil and a sub-ohm DTL coil, and adjusting the airflow to match, the same device gives a tight cigarette-like draw one day and more vapour the next. That adjustability, built on coils you can find easily, is one of the main reasons these kits stay popular.

Vape EU sells to over-18s only. Nicotine is an addictive substance. This article is general information, not health or medical advice. Prices are approximate and vary by retailer.

Frequently asked questions

Are SMOK vapes still legal to buy in the UK after the disposable ban?

Yes. The June 2025 ban on single-use disposable vapes does not affect SMOK pod kits, because every mainstream SMOK device sold in the UK is refillable from a bottle of e-liquid and rechargeable over USB-C. They were designed as reusable hardware from the outset, so ranges such as the Nord, Novo, RPM and Nex remain fully legal to buy and use for adults aged 18 and over.

What is the difference between the SMOK Nord, Novo, RPM and Nex pod kits?

Think of the SMOK pod family as a ladder. The Novo is the slimmest and most pocketable, aimed at straightforward MTL vaping; the Nord sits in the middle as a do-everything pod that handles both MTL and DTL coils; the RPM pushes towards higher wattage and bigger vapour in a chunkier body; and the newer Nex series carries that more powerful concept forward with refreshed bodies and coils.

Which SMOK kit is best for a beginner switching from cigarettes?

For a beginner, the simpler end of the range tends to work best. A SMOK Novo gives the easiest set-and-go experience, while a Nord fitted with a higher-resistance MTL coil (around 1.0 ohm or above) offers a tight, cigarette-like draw with room to experiment later. The larger RPM and Nex kits are better suited to vapers who already know they want more power and vapour.

How often should I change the coil in a SMOK pod kit?

Most vapers replace a SMOK pod coil every one to two weeks, although heavy users and those vaping sweet or dark e-liquids will get through them faster. The clearest sign a coil needs changing is a burnt or muted flavour that dropping the wattage or re-priming will not fix. Always prime a new RPM or Nord coil with a few drops of liquid and let it stand for a few minutes before first use.

Can one SMOK pod kit do both MTL and sub-ohm DTL vaping?

On the Nord, RPM and Nex ranges, yes. By swapping between a higher-resistance MTL coil (around 1.0 ohm and above) paired with nic salts and a sub-ohm DTL coil (typically 0.4 ohm or lower) paired with lower-strength freebase liquid, and adjusting the airflow accordingly, the same device covers a tight cigarette-like draw and a cloudier, warmer one. That cross-compatibility within the RPM and Nord coil ecosystem is one of the main reasons these kits remain popular.

How much does it cost to run a SMOK Nord or RPM compared with disposables?

SMOK pod kits typically cost around fifteen to twenty-five pounds for the device, with replacement RPM and Nord coils sold in packs at roughly two to three pounds each. Because you refill from a bottle of e-liquid rather than buying sealed pods, the per-millilitre cost drops sharply after the initial outlay, putting the long-run running cost well below sealed prefilled systems or repeat disposable purchases.

Are SMOK RPM and Nord coils interchangeable between devices?

Many of them are, which is part of the appeal. The RPM coil family is shared across a wide spread of RPM-series devices, and the Nord coil range similarly crosses over between Nord kits, meaning a spare bought for one device will often fit several others in the same family. They are not universally interchangeable across every SMOK kit, however, so it is worth checking the specific coil series (RPM, RPM 2, Nord, Nord 4, LP1, LP2) listed for your device before buying replacements from a trusted UK retailer.