SMOK Rolo Badge Kit Review – Curious Design So How Does It Vape?

SMOK has burst onto the pod mod vaping scene with the recent release of the Nord Kit the Infinix and now the SMOK Rolo Badge which we’re taking a look at in this review.

Looking very similar to the Asvape Defender the Rolo Badge is predominantly marketed towards the vaping beginners given it’s a simple to use mouth to lung (MTL) kit.

Rolo Badge By SMOK – A Vape Design Crime Or A Thing Of Vaping Beauty?

Its design is going to be a bone of contention and pretty much everyone who has seen me using it are split 50-50 between ‘love it’ and ‘hate it’.

As to what I think of it you’ll have to wait and see 😉

OK this was sent to me free of charge for the purpose of review and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.

So would I NOT give you my last Rolo or am I more than happy for the DA to take my Badge and gun [why is that said in every cop movie lol]?

Let’s take a closer look.

Inside the Box

Your usual SMOK packaging with a pull off sleeve and inside you’ll find:

• 1 x Smok Rolo Badge Device
• 2 x Smok Rolo Badge 2ml Pods
• 1 x eLiquid Injection Bottle
• 1 x USB Cable
• 1 x User Manual

SMOK Rolo Badge Specs

• Height: 7.2cm (2.8″)
• Width: 5.0cm (2.0″)
• Depth: 1.5cm (0.6″)
• Weight: 62g
• 250mAH internal battery
• 2ml capacity

Key Features

There’s no getting away from it the keyest of features of this Pod Mod is the design and we’ll get onto that shortly.

OK under the shall we say interesting design of the SMOK Rolo Badge lies a 250mAH internal battery with a power range of between 10 and 16 watts meaning this is mouth to lung device [MTL].

The pods have a wattage range of 7 and 12watts but no sign of the actual resistance though they are probably 1.0 ohm plus.

There’s no buttons or menus and the Rolo is breath activated – inhale and so long as there’s sufficient battery life left you’ll get a hit.

SMOK has added a couple of safety features namely an 8 second cut off [like the Infinix] – low voltage and short circuit protection.

You get a couple of the 2ml refillable pods and packs of 3 can be bought as an extra.

SMOK Rolo Badge Kit Quick Start Guide

• Make sure device is charged
• Open rubber bung/s on pod to fill with e-liquid
• Slide into the battery
• Wait 10 minutes for the e-liquid to soak into the coils
• Inhale to vape

LED Lights

• Light will flash x5 times when vaping over 8 seconds and shut off
• Light will flash x4 times if short circuit detected and shut down
• Device will flash x15 when low voltage is detected and shut down
• When vaping LED stays solid

NOTE: just like the Infinix SMOK says after a time condensation can gather on both the pod and battery connectors – simply wipe dry.

Design and Build Quality

Now I’m pretty sure this like the Defender Kit from Asvape will split the world of vaping into the likes and intently dislikes.

Build wise I really can’t fault it and far from the plasticcy pound store toy feel I was expecting I was pleasantly surprised at just how sturdy and well put together it is, especially given the price.

The pods slide in nicely enough but there’s no satisfying click so do make sure they are snugly in place although a magnet does keep it secure and I have had no rattling or leakage at all.

OK to the design.

I don’t like it – not one little bit.

I’ve used the word ‘toy’ already and to me that is exactly what it looks like and to some extent feels like.

This is definitely one to keep away from the kids.

What I will say is unlike the Asvape Defender – which I haven’t used but have watched more than a few reviews – the Rolo is it’s fair to say very comfortable on the lips.

Filling is easy enough if a little fiddly and if you’re a little too generous with the juice it will leak everywhere so less is more.

The pod has x2 rubber gaskets to open to be able to fill I have opened both and just one and had no issues filling either way.

And just like the Infinix I do recommend using the supplied 10ml needle point bottle to re-fill as it’s less messy and handy for taking out an about – though saying that as you can see I had no issues using standard e-liquid nozzles.

It’s available in a wide range of colours however I have to say the gold version I received is an absolute fingerprint magnet.

The colourful resin shield with the SMOK logo on the front is a nice design feature but you do instinctively press it thinking it’s the fire button – or at least this old fool did and still does lol.

How Does the SMOK Rolo Badge Perform?

Look this is a relatively low powered pod device so vaping on the Rolo Badge isn’t going to be the best of experiences.

Having used more than a few pod kits I would say the flavour isn’t that good and the vapour is let’s say passable. This is with Black Note Prelude e juice that I am very familiar with.

I’m struggling to explain what I mean about the inhale on this – it feels raggedy or turbulent if you catch my drift – certainly not the smoothest of vapes let’s put it that way.

I have used a 50/50 VG PG and it wicked very well indeed however it really doesn’t like higher VG juices at all, struggling to wick.

• View Our Selection of Best E-Juice Brands

As to Nic Salts my apologies as I have run out so can’t comment.

However it is very comfortable on the lips and battery life is very good indeed as is the juice use – the 2mls does last a long time at those sort of wattage.

As a regular MTL vaper I wouldn’t buy this as even a back-up device as the vape quality for me personally just isn’t good enough.

Pros

• Good build quality
• Simple to use
• Decent battery life
• Comfortable on the lips
• Refillable
• X2 empty pods included
• Pass through vaping [vape whilst charging]

Cons

• Not a smooth vape
• Design is subjective
• Poor flavour
• Pricey
• Fingerprint magnet

Final Review Verdict

When all’s said and done the SMOK Rolo Badge is a Marmite kit – you’re gonna love it or hate the design.

Personally I think it’s ridiculous but then I do like plain unfussy kits.

However it’s the performance where I think the Rolo Badge really lets itself down in the Pod Mod stakes.

The flavour is sub-par and whilst clouds aren’t a real issue with any MTL kit or tank the Rolo is weak and misty rather than cloudy.

And trust me the inhale is not the smoothest even with a well bedded in coil/pod it feels quite harsh and turbulent.

There’s no doubting this is a real pocket and bag friendly stealth device useful for topping up your nic levels on the fly – but I can think of many better performing options.

SMOK is marketing this as the perfect vape kit for new vapers which I guess you have to agree with but then most pod mods are – and to be honest this isn’t one of the better ones.

There are very many more beginner’s devices including pod systems out there I would recommend compared to the Rolo Badge but I guess in this case it’s down to the appeal of the design.

Despite being comfortable on the lips I just don’t like it – poor taste in more ways than one…