Smok RPM40 Review – Not to be ig-Nord

The SMOK RPM40 may have many screaming, not another pod system!

It has to be said though, I love a good pod kit. That’s right. A GOOD pod kit. And with a huge abundance of Pod vape kits already flooding the vape world, it’s nice to see manufactures are slowly but surely making the right changes to these kits. And the rise of the pod system is upon us.

Usually featuring the option of both a Direct-To-Lung (DTL), and Mouth-To Lung (MTL) vape, along with replaceable coils and a refillable tank – a pod system seems to be the perfect starter kit.

Especially considering they are generally simple to use and conveniently small, its clear to see why they are on the rise.

What Can We Expect From The SMOK RPM40?

Best known for their cloud chucking Sub-Ohm Tanks (check out our SMOK TFV18 review) and flashy Dual battery mods like the excellent SMOK Morph, Smok have come up with the RPM40 kit.

A kit that comes with 2 different refillable pods which can house the push fit RPM coils in one pod or their Nord coils in the other.

I haven’t had the opportunity to review the SMOK Nord Pod System, but the one and only Kevin Jeffrey rated the Nord extremely highly in his review back in February.

Along with all that lovely stuff, you also get the ability to adjust your wattage, a full bright colour screen and the option of changing the colour of the display.

So let’s Crack on with the review and see what this Kit is all about…

The SMOK RPM40 Kit was sent to me for the purpose of review. All views and opinions are solely those of my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of others.

In the Box:

• 1 x Smok RPM40 Device
• 1 x RPM Standard Pod – 4.3ml (With 0.4Ω Mesh Coil)
• 1 x RPM Nord Pod – 4.5ml (With Nord DC 0.6Ω Coil)
• 1 x USB Cable
• 1 x User Manual

Specs

• Size: 25 x 25 x 99mm
• Weight: 99g
• Battery: Internal 1500mAh
• E-Liquid Capacity: 4.3ml w/RPM Pod – 4.5ml w/Nord Pod
• Wattage Range: 1-40w
• Suitable Resistance: 0.2Ω-2.5Ω
• Screen: Full TFT 0.96in Colour Display
• Charging: Via Micro USB
• Available colours: Bright Black | Prism Chrome | Purple Red | Prism Gold | Prism Rainbow | White | Orange | Green

Design and Build Quality

Standing only 10cm tall, this cubed shaped Pod system looks fairly solid and I’m really impressed with the different colour styles. Being a Smok product, I was expecting a fairly cheap feeling plastic, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the build quality of the RPM40.

I’m also quite impressed with the design. In general, most Pods have a small tank but this beast has over a 4ml capacity in both the RMP, and Nord variations. 2ml pods will, of course, be available for TPD regulated countries.

In the Hand

For something so small the SMOK RPM40 carries quite a bit of baggage, especially once you load it up with e-liquid. However its got that nice sturdy feel that I really enjoy.

For something so compact and portable it’s also bulky and tough feeling – which is something that really isn’t easy to achieve in today’s Pod market.

Regardless of whether you thumb, or finger fire this device its comfortable to operate. The edges are nicely rounded off making it comfortable to hold and its short enough that you can support the base with your pinkie.

Further to this, the fire button is perfectly placed and has left smok with enough room to fit a nice big colour screen.

Pods

The pod(s) are removable simply by pulling them out of the device, and they press back into the device with ease.

On the side of each pod is a silicon/rubber plug that opens up like a door for filling with e-liquid.

On top is a wide mouthpiece which is very comfortable but not removable.

Removing/replacing the coils is super easy thanks to the push fit system that relies on a tight seal to prevent any leaking – but during my testing I’ve had no issues with leaks or flooding of any kind.

0.4Ohm Mesh RPM Pod (The Red One)

My kit came with the 0.4Ω RPM Mesh coil but there is also a 0.6Ω Triple Mesh, a 1.2Ω Quartz and a RPM SC coil reading 1.0Ω – There’s also news of an RBA deck which is currently not available but will allow you to build and fit your own coil. Impressive.

0.6Ohm RPM Nord Pod (The Black One)

My kit came with the 0.6Ω Regular DC Nord coil, but there is also a 0.8Ω MTL, a 1.4Ω regular and a 0.6Ω Mesh coil available.

With an abundance of coil options, I really wished they had supplied me with a MTL style coil to see if this kit can really boast being an ‘All-In-One’ Kit.

With the 2 coils supplied, it’s definitely not capable of a Mouth-To-Lung vape.

Both pods deliver a very airy Direct-To-Lung vape, which you can restrict, but only by plugging one of the 2 airflow slots with your fingers, which quite frankly is difficult to do whilst vaping.

• Read more about mouth to lung and direct to lung vaping.

How To Fill the SMOK RPM40 Pod

To fill the pod with e-liquid you firstly remove the pod from the battery part of the device, then:

1. Lift open the rubber plug
2. Fill with desired e-liquid
3. Close the rubber plug and re-fit into the device

Once you fit the pod back into the device, the device will display ‘POD ATTACHED’ and you’re ready to go. Give it 5 or 10 minutes though to allow your vape juice to soak into the coil.

Display & Functions

The SMOK RPM40 has an excellent clear screen for a tiny device. The full colour 0.96in screen is nicely positioned and is easy to read, even in daylight conditions.

Yes it may be a little on the small side for those who struggle with their vision – But the text on screen is sharp and bright.

On the home display you will see your battery life, current wattage setting, puff time, resistance of your coil, Voltage and Puff-Count.

To adjust the wattage, the 2 buttons below the screen will adjust the wattage from 1w, up to 40watts in 1watt increments, with no round-robin option.

At the bottom of the display are a number of coloured squares which indicate what colour the accents on the display are, which can be selected by quick pressing the fire button, and the PLUS button at the same time.

Three clicks of the fire button will lock the device, and pressing the fire button and MINUS will reset your puff counter.

That’s as far as the Display and functions go – Nice, simple and easy to operate even for newer vapers.

SMOK RPM40 Performance

During my testing, I’ve been vaping on a varied range of e-liquids, from fruits to cakes.

I’ve really gone to town with these pods to test their diversity and also how well they manage different e-liquids on the same coils, which is something I always try to avoid.

Generally speaking, both Pods perform very well and I experienced no dry hits or lack of flavour.

Even at higher than recommended wattage, I really cannot fault either coil for their durability and they both wick relentlessly meaning you can chain vape on the device, even at Max wattage.

I doubt you’ll experience anything close to a dry hit. Very very impressed for a tiny pod system.

Flavour & Cloud

RPM Pod – 0.4Ω Mesh Coil

At around 35w, which is 10w more than recommended, I was surprised by the vapour production at first, and then the flavour which comes behind it is very good also.

Of course vaping at 35w may hinder your battery life, but I’m not going to complain when a small device like this is delivering a flavour-filled vape and a surprisingly dense cloud to boot.

Nord Pod – 0.6Ω Coil

I really enjoyed this pod at the 25w mark which is 5w higher than recommended. I think maybe Smok have underestimated the performance of these coils, or maybe 20w recommended is just to try and stretch the longevity of the coils.

But at 25w I am getting good flavour, and a decent little cloud from the 0.6Ω Nord coil. Not quite as full-flavour as the RPM coil, but still impressive and I can see why people are enjoying the Nord vape pod so much.

Airflow

With 2 large airflow slots on either side of the device, it’s clear that the airflow is really dictated by the coil you install into the pod.

So unfortunately I cannot really comment on how this device would perform with a more MTL based coil – However with the 2 coils I’ve been testing, the airflow is slightly restrictive, but about where I like it.

There isn’t any whistle or turbulence and the airflow isn’t loud either. A pleasant vape all round.

Battery Life

A 1500mAh battery capacity is impressive for a small cube-shaped pod. It almost seems like they’ve just snuck a single 18650 battery in there?

If you happen to be using the 0.4Ω coil, you’ll probably realise the battery may not make it through a full day. But with a 2hr charging time, and Pass-Through charging as well  -I doubt you’ll have many concerns.

Pros:

• Really nicely built
• Huge e-liquid capacity
• Nice bright Display
• Good battery life at around 25w
• Good flavour from both Coils
• Extremely portable and comfortable

Cons:

• Manual airflow adjustment would be nice
• At present, doesn’t include an RBA deck

Final Verdict

I’m struggling to find negatives for the SMOK RPM40. I suppose my one issue currently is that I haven’t been able to test this system with a nice MTL coil to see how it performs in that style.

It’s easy to slap a label on a box and call it ‘The Real Pod Mod’ but in practice, what I’ve experienced with this ‘Pod Mod’ is a Direct to Lung (DTL) Pod system with the bonus of having a much larger pod capacity than usual, a colour screen, adjustable wattage and slightly better battery performance.

There’s a number of features that I look at when trying out a device, and for something to score highly, it needs to meet certain demands.

‘Would this device be long lasting and still work 3, 6 or even 12 months from now?’

This is the best built Smok device I’ve ever had the privilege of testing. Its solidly built from top to bottom and the fact you get 2 different pods means your options are almost endless.

The 1500mAh battery is more than sufficient and even 6 months down the line, it’ll still be carrying a decent charge to get you through the day

Does this device deliver the flavour, vapour and general experience I require, in order to be enjoyed?

For a compact device, the DTL experience from this device is very impressive. And it packs some flavour to boot. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed vaping on both the Nord and the RPM Pod – however if I had to choose – I’d stick to the RPM coil.

Is this device versatile to suit a new vaper, and an experienced one alike?

As I’ve said earlier in this review – it really is a shame Smok doesn’t include a MTL coil as this is 100% an excellent starter kit for someone new to vaping.

But regardless of your reason to purchase the RPM kit, you will really be impressed by its performance and build quality. And with a Rebuild-able Pod (RBA) coming soon, this device might well find its way into a lot of vapers pockets.

Did you buy the Smok RPM40 kit? Or have you given it a try? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.