Today I’ll be reviewing the long-awaited addition to the Mag range, the Smok Mag-18 Kit.
There is no doubt that Smok is a household name within the vape community and I own many of their products! One of my earliest Smok Mods was a device called the Prospect! It was a great pipe simulation for back in the day!
This is a 230W, high-performance dual 18650 battery kit that has been paired with the TFV18 XL tank.
Smoktech is part of Shenzhen IVPS Technology, they are better known as “Smok”. As a China-based e-cigarette Designer/Manufacturer they have an impressive range of kits stretching back to 2010!
The Mag range includes – the original Mag 225W TC Kit, Mag Baby kit, Mag Grip, Mag P3, Mag M270 as well as the Mag 40W Pod Kit.
What Can We Expect From the Smok Mag-18 Kit?
There are 9 colours to choose from in 2 ranges:
Leather version – Gun Metal Gold (Under review), Gun Metal Red, Prism Rainbow, Black Gun Metal and Nano Chrome.
TPU version – Grey Red, Beige White, Black and 7 Colour and Black.
Most of the Mag range is shaped similar to the hand portion of a firearm. I own both the Mag 225 TC and the Mag Grip, both these devices with their unique shaping are comfortable to hold and exceptional in use!
The Mag-18 in comparison to its predecessors is more along the lines of a conventional box mod, with a sleek body that runs on 2×18650 batteries and an output of up to 230W. It has an optimised and reinforced chipset with a colourful 0.96in TFT screen.
Smok has paired the Mag-18 with the TFV18 XL 7.5ml Sub Ohm Tank. However, if the kit is purchased within the TPD area, the kit is supplied with the 2ml TFV Mini Tank!
This sample kit was sent to me directly by Smok for this review.
What did I think about the Mag-18 kit?
Let’s find out and like always my thoughts and views are my own after a considerable testing period.
In The Box
- Smok Mag-18 Mod
- TFV18 Tank (standard & EU standard version)
- TFV18 Meshed 0.33ohm coil (installed) (standard & EU standard version)
- TFV18 Dual Meshed 0.15ohm coil (standard & EU standard version)
- TFV-Mini V2 tank (TPD Version)
- Mini V2 S1 0.15ohm Single Mesh coil (installed) (TPD Version)
- Mini V2 A2 0.2ohm Dual coil (TPD Version)
- Spare glass
- USB Type C cable
- User manual
Features
Smok TFV18 XL Tank
- Size: 66.3×31.6mm
- Capacity: 7.5ml (Standard with 0.33ohm coil) / 6.5ml (Standard with 0.15ohm coil) / 2ml (TPD)
- Coil: TFV18 and TFV16 coils are compatible
- Button swing top fill
- Adjustable Triple bottom airflow
Smok Mag-18 Mod
- Size: 90.2×63.5×32.5mm
- Display: 0.96in TFT colour Screen
- IQ-X Chipset
- Output: 5-230W (1-8V)
- Resistance range: 0.1-2.5Ω
- User modes: Variable Wattage
- Type C USB charging – 2A charge rate
- Battery: 2×18650 (not included)
Design and Build Quality
This review is based on the standard edition of the kit that comes nicely displayed in a card box with a few extras included – a spare glass, type C cable, a spare coil and O-rings.
TFV18 XL Tank
This is a large sub-ohm tank that delivers some great DTL vapour. The tank measures 66.3mm tall with a base diameter of 31.6mm.
Materials and Parts
Made of Stainless Steel, the TFV18 XL is also comprised of Pyrex and Delrin.
This tank has 5 parts including a sleeve mouthpiece and a pre-installed coil.
It’s a shame that Smok has once again gone down the road of giving us a sleeve mouthpiece. I really would like to have seen an 810 replaceable tip considering the size of this beast!
Its fill cap has a spring-loaded button which flips the door open to reveal the vape exhaust and a wide kidney-shaped fill port.
This tank comes with a 7.5ml glass and a spare bubble glass in the box!
The base cap is designed so the coil acts like a chimney, which acts as a bridge between the base and the fill cap.
Inside the base are 5 gold post contact points.
Controlling the triple bottom airflow is a firm-to-turn AFC (Air Flow Control) ring.
And of course, on the bottom of the base, you will see printed all the normally expected legal info.
The TFV18 XL Tank comes with 2 very large coils.
- 0.33Ω TFV18 Meshed Coil (pre-installed) 100 to 110W
- 0.15Ω TFV18 Dual Meshed Coil 100 to 110W
This tank is also compatible with the TFV16 coil range!
Smok Mag-18 Mod Overview
This device has a sleek look to it and at certain angles I can see the subtle relationship to the earlier versions of the Mag range!
My device is made of Zinc Alloy and faux Leather. It is comfortable to hold and fires easily in either hand.
From the top
As normal the mod has a 510 connection and a Gold-plated connection pin.
The chassis has a rounded back with Leather padding that serves for comfort, the Leather has been embossed with “Smok®”.
You will note that like some of Smok’s competitors, the device has a metal cradle.
One side of the body has been moulded with “Mag-18”.
Smok Mag-18 Workface
Located on the front of the device, you will see a large fire button.
The mod has a 0.96”inch TFT colour screen as well as the normal adjustment buttons along with a 2A Type C charge port.
Smok Mag-18 Bottom
The battery door is the flip type, with a slide to open. This device will take two 18650 batteries and the door is printed with the normal safety marks.
The inside of the door and the battery compartment are Gold contact points with battery orientation marks.
The whole kit has a good quality to it, although the design is good it’s not exactly ground breaking.
Quick Start Guide
Smok TFV18 XL Tank
Choose one of the two coils which come with the kit.
- Prime your coil with e-liquid on all exposed cotton and screw the coil into the tank base.
- Screw the base and coil into the main body of the tank.
- Open the fill cap door and fill the tank with E-liquid.
- Close the door and let the tank stand for about 3 minutes before firing so the cotton can soak up more liquid!
Screw the TFV18 XL onto the Mag-18 mod and enjoy!
Smok Mag-18 Device
Place two 18560 batteries into the device following the orientation guide.
You can charge the batteries via the 2A Type C port, but as always I recommend external charging.
Functions
- Click the fire button 5 times fast, to turn the device on and off.
- To lock and unlock the wattage, press both adjustment buttons together.
- Completely locking and unlocking the device, press the fire button 3 times rapidly.
- Adjust the wattage – use the adjustment buttons.
- Changing the screen theme colour, press the fire button and the right adjustment button together = 6 colours are available.
The mod doesn’t have a menu function per se – however, pressing the fire and left adjustment button together, will bring up the puff counter clear screen.
Protections
This device is protected with the optimised and highly efficient IQ-X chipset and has 8 built-in protections.
So How Does the Smok Mag-18 Kit Perform?
For this review, I will be using the pre-installed 0.33Ω coil in the TFV18 XL Tank and I will be filling up with Trillions Apple Candy.
I love this kit, but then I like all the Mag range! It functions great and feels very comfortable in my hand.
TFV18 XL Tank
In my experience, like all Smok TFV tanks, this one functions wonderfully, but OMG is it thirsty or what! Just to show how thirsty the TFV18 XL is, I vaped my way through over 600mls of liquid in 2 weeks! Granted I’m a heavy vaper, but normally 100mls would last me approximately 1½ weeks!
By nature I am not a high-wattage vaper, however, I have been regularly vaping this tank at 100W.
Airflow and Vape Production
The triple airflow is slightly wider than the mini version and very airy, I have received better than average vapour production. And a good but not quite stellar flavour.
Chain vaping this beast has been amusing, at one point I managed to fill my small office with vapour and couldn’t see a hand in front of my face!
I have been using the 0.33Ω coil at 80/100W and the coil lasted me nearly a week of constant use!
I had a strip of TFV16 dual mesh coils hanging around and can confirm they fit and work in the tank just fine.
Smok Mag-18 Device
The mod itself is impressive, it’s great to see Smok release a comfortable-to-hold and easy-to-use proper mod.
Considering the size of the device and the high wattage it is capable of, it’s not as heavy as you would think for a dual battery mod!
The screen font size however isn’t as big as some comparable devices and sadly I do still need my specs to read the screen info!
I was impressed – 2 freshly charged 18650 batteries lasted me nearly 4hrs at 80W.
Pros
- Quality and Design
- Good coil life
- Good flavour
- Excellent vapour production
- Comfortable in the hand
- Easy to use and fire
Cons
TFV18 XL
- Sleeve mouthpiece
- Extremely thirsty
No concerns with the Mag-18 device
Final Review Verdict
Well, the Mag is back and you know what? I think Smok has done a great job with the kit!
I’m always banging on about how 2ml capacity tanks suck, well the TFV18 XL is 7.5ml so that shut me up lol.
The Mag-18 device, if you’re like me and like a big old handful, this might be a great device for you, it’s comfortable to hold and very easy to use.
Would I recommend the Smok Mag-18 Kit?
I’d recommend the Mag-18 device in a heartbeat, but with a word of caution about the tank!
I’m not a big fan of the TFV atomisers, due in part to their high liquid consumption, but no one can argue the tanks don’t deliver great vapour with good flavour.
Would I buy this kit again due to loss or damage?
I would definitely purchase the Mag-18 device again, but I would take a hard pass with the TFV18 XL tank.
Hello, I have a Smok 18 device, but I have a problem. The device does not work unless it is connected to the charger cable, and when I lift the charger cable, it disconnects directly. Do you have any ideas?
I sounds like it is either a problem with your batteries (are they old? Might be time to buy some new ones) or a problem with the battery connectors?
Same bro right at this moment I had it on the charger without the screw top so I can charge it upside down for it but it’s a loose port issue from careless cord pulling
I have the mag-18. For some reason It automatically adjust the € well it looks like this it will start at 0.16 then go up to 0.44 then 1.04 and higher how do I get it to stop. The smoke shop traded it out and this one does the same thing. Thank you for any help.
What reading is it that keeps changing? The resistance (Ohm – or Ω) or something else?
How can I make it work the circle piece of glass doesn’t fit
Not sure what you mean – do you mean the glass tank component?
It should already be fitted to the tank. Have you bought a separate glass?
It might be worth checking it is the correct glass as there are so many variants of Smok tanks – even with the same name but in Prince, Baby, Mini versions.