Today I’ve the pleasure of reviewing a product from one of the vape markets best known manufacturers – it’s the Smok Solus G Box pod kit.
Smok have a long history when it comes to vaping products. Their origins can be traced back to 2010.
When vaping exploded onto the scene so did Smok.
Before long they were attracting consumers worldwide, assisted mainly by their willingness to conform to public demand.
Products such as entry level starter pens, pod kits and hard hitting box mods satiated these demands and put Smok firmly on the worldwide radar.
As the popularity for disposables has grown over the last few years, Smok have been resolute in their efforts to offer an alternative means of convenience to the new or casual vaper.
The Smok Solus G Box pod kit is one such example.
What Can We Expect From the Smok Solus G Box Kit?
In essence the Smok Solus G box kit is a flattened version of the Smok Solus G pod kit.
The obvious clue is in the name. Whereas the battery sits directly beneath the pod on the Solus G, it’s been shifted to the side on the Solus G Box.
So this gives it a characteristic box shape and makes it 35mm shorter but 23mm wider than the Solus G.
Horse for courses, really – it depends on what’s more aesthetically pleasing.
That’s because everything else is identical to its slimmer sibling.
The Smok Solus G Box relies entirely on auto draw to function. This makes it an ideal candidate to the new or casual vaper. It will also appeal for its MTL (Mouth To Lung) airflow restriction, mimicking the draw from a cigarette. We tell you more about MTL in our Guide To Vape Styles.
The upgraded mesh coil of the Solus 2 pod does have more versatility though, as we’ll discover shortly.
You may also be pleased to know the pods of the Smok Solus and Solus 2 are also compatible with this upgraded device.
In keeping with a starter pod kit, the coil itself is relatively low powered. This makes it ideally suited to E-liquid ratios of 50VG/50PG.
Since there’s no screen display, the device uses an internal LED to inform of faults. If you’re the more adventurous type the LED can be adjusted into different modes. Great if you’re in the mood to partay!
Sadly the LED will not display battery charge status, unless you switch it on/off or when charging.
The Smok Solus G Box kit is powered by a 700mAh integrated battery. Chances are if you’re a casual vaper it’s going to last a few days.
.. In my case, a few hours! lol
The transparency of the Solus G pod kit has been carried across and the device comes in a range of funky colour schemes.
Pick from Transparent (under review), Blue, Red, Green, Pink, Yellow or Purple.
The device is available in both TPD (2ml) and standard (2.5ml) versions.
Thank you to Vape Club for sending this over for review!
Oh. Almost forgot. Smok have also kindly included a free lanyard. Useful if you’re the type of person prone to losing or forgetting things.
.. Best I attach mine now then!
Inside the Box
- Solus G Box device
- Solus 2 mesh 0.9ohm pod (2ml)
- Lanyard
- Type C USB charging cable
- User manual
- Warning card
- Warranty card
Smok Solus G Box Kit – Specifications
- Dimensions: 74.9(H) x 46.4(W) x 16.6mm(D)
- Material: Transparent PCTG
- Weight: 46g
- Display: 5 LED light effects – adjustable
- Capacity: 2ml (TPD) / 2.5ml (Standard)
- Coil: 0.9ohm mesh (Solus 2)
- Filling: Side fill
- Battery: Integrated 700mAh
- Output: Up to 18W
- Charging: Type C USB – charging rate unknown
- Activation: Auto draw
- Compatible with Smok Solus and Solus 2 pods
Design and Build Quality
Battery Section
The device only weighs in at an extra 9g in comparison to the Solus G pod kit. The reduced height of the battery section does make the kit easier to cradle in the hand too.
It may be wider but it’s no less attractive, in my opinion. I particularly like the black and white marble effect of the transparent colour scheme.
The lanyard clip is looks a bit awkward on the corner but at least it’s much easier to install.
A power button has been recessed into the side of the battery. It’s in a place where it’s not likely to be inadvertently pressed.
Not to be confused with a fire button, its role is merely to power the device on or off or adjust various LED patterns.
Mid way up, a single pin hole slot is incorporated to feed airflow to the 0.9ohm mesh pod when attached.
The type C USB charging port is on the base of the device. So you’ll obviously be laying it on its side while charging.
That’s a crying shame because the Solus G box behaves itself very well when stood on any surface.
Although not particularly necessary when the pod is full of E-liquid, I always recommend removing the pod and standing vertically to avoid the cotton wicking ports from drying out.
Gravity is the best and worst of friends when it comes to E-liquid!
Now we come to the primary difference between this and the Smok Solus G pod kit.
Solus 2 pod
The pod sits alongside the battery section to produce that classic ‘box effect’. Since its heavily recessed there’s very little chance of dislodging if dropped.
It attaches to the battery via two magnets that surround the coil and battery contacts.
The mesh coil is sealed inside. It cannot be replaced and when it starts to taste burnt a new pod will be required.
What’s great about the Smok Solus G box is that we have a ‘clear on clear’ arrangement.
The pod is transparent (well, there’s a slight frosting to the lower half) and so is its housing on the battery section.
So every single drop of E-liquid is visible through the viewing window. Cool beans!
I’ve made a couple of comparisons to this and the Solus G pod kit. These pods are identical so if I’ve missed out any other details feel free to check that one out.
Quick Start Guide
How To Install the Solus 2 Pod
The Solus G Box kit doesn’t only offer MTL vaping. It’s also possible to RDL (Restrictive Direct Lung) vape by reversing the pod.
With the colour scheme of the battery facing you:
Drop the pod into the battery section with the silicone stopper on the right for a MTL vape.
Drop the pod into the battery section with the silicone stopper on the left for a RDL vape.
How To Fill the Solus 2 Pod
- Lift the pod out of the battery section
- Locate the silicone stopper on the side of the pod
- Lift the upper end of the stopper out of the pod
- Using a suitable diameter bottle nozzle, pour E-liquid inside the fill chamber of the pod
- Replace the silicone stopper ensuring a firm seal
- Prime the pod by taking 2-3 puffs
- Drop the pod back into the battery section
Always remember to let the E-liquid soak into the cotton wicking for around five minutes before vaping. This really only applies when filling a pod for the very first time.
There are no markings on the silicone stopper so take care when removing to fill. Use the image above for assistance.
I mentioned gravity earlier. For best results, fill the pod in a horizontal position. This way there’s less likelihood of spillage.
How To Operate the Smok Solus G Box Kit
- Press the power button five times to turn the device on or off
- Battery charge remaining – this will only show when charging or switching the device on / off – Red LED = less than 30% charge, Blue LED = 30-70% charge and Green LED = over 70% charge.
While auto drawing, the LED can function in various way, depending on how you’ve programmed it.
Pressing the power button twice has five different outcomes.
- No LED
- Solid White LED
- Pulsing White LED
- Blinking White LED
- Pulsing Red, Green, Blue LED
The LED’s will also respond to any faults.
- LED flashes White 5 times – Vaping time has exceeded 8 seconds / short circuit detected
- LED flashes White 15 times – Low battery voltage
- LED flashes White 4 times – No atomiser detected / pod resistance <0.8ohm / pod resistance > 3.0ohm
The LED will briefly pulse through the colours when the pod is attached
The LED will blink Green, Red or Blue when the device is switched on or off, depending on current battery strength.
How To Charge the Smok Solus G Box Kit
The charging rate is unknown at the time of writing.
- Use the supplied type C USB charging cable and connect the smaller end into the USB port on the battery section
Connect the larger end of the cable into a suitable USB outlet- The LED will pulse through Red, Blue and Green as the device charges
- When fully charged the LED will switch off and you’re good to go!
Connect the larger end of the cable into a suitable USB outletIt takes around 60 minutes to recharge the battery. As long as the device is switched on it’s possible to continue vaping.
Please Note! The USB cable does not plug all the way into the device. Do not try to force it all the way home.
How Does The Smok Solus G Box Kit Perform?
I used Serendipity Sweet Nirvana to test the 0.9ohm mesh Solus 2 pod.
It’s a 50VG/50PG juice ratio containing 20mg salt nicotine. An ideal accompaniment for this low powered pod kit.
MTL Vaping
The airflow restriction is bob on! If you’re after a quality MTL vape, the Smok Solus 2 pod should be on your hit list.
It’s not too tight and neither is it so loose that I’m tempted to restrictive lung vape. That’s a tell tale sign the airflow has been tailor made for this type of vaping.
The flavour is scarily good.
The zesty Lemon comes complete with an insane level of citrus while I’m constantly reminded of a mouth watering cold summer beverage.
Sweeter notes are easily on par with current disposable vapes.
Auto draw is highly sensitive and power is delivered instantly to the mesh coil inside.
Yes, I do loose some of the vapour production while MTL vaping but it’s easily on par with that of a traditional cigarette.
That flavour just keeps things popping along very nicely!
RDL Vaping
There’s not a great deal of difference to airflow restriction but I’m all about this style of vaping.
I’d class this as a tighter restrictive lung vape and where 0 would be fully unrestricted, the Solus 2 pod falls at 8.5. So keep this in mind – you could actually still MTL but it’s definitely looser with the pod flipped to this position.
The mesh coil handles the 50VG/50PG juice ratio extremely well and the same insane flavour qualities prevail.
Despite the tighter restriction I’m still able to get a comfortable vape for around 5 -6 seconds.
When doing so I get a pleasant throat hit without any of the scratchiness associated with freebase nicotine. So as a newer vaper you may well appreciate this.
Salt nicotine is the way to go with this pod and the nicotine is swiftly absorbed into the blood stream.
I’m very impressed. I can chain vape on this pod and the mesh coil delivers a constantly great flavour performance.
Battery Performance
I got 10 hours continuous use from the pod kit and that’s taking into account slightly longer vapes with RDL pulls.
It was pretty tricky trying to figure out the three stages of depletion but I do know that when the LED turns Red there’s very little vaping time left.
During those 10 hours I estimate to have vaped around 3.5ml of E-liquid. The pod was only refilled once.
Regardless of LED pattern applied, the battery will flash white 15 times when it’s time to plug into a wall socket.
Charging takes 80 minutes to complete whereby the LED will switch from a pulsing Red, Blue to Green. I noticed it took literally seconds for the colour to switch from Red to Blue.
The bulk of the charge cycle was taken up with the device pulsing Blue.
If you’re desperate for a vape while waiting for the battery to recharge, make sure the Solus G Box is switched on.
Pros
- Lightweight and pocket friendly
- Eye appealing artwork
- Sealed Solus 2 pod doesn’t leak
- Classic MTL vaping
- Awesome flavour when used either as a MTL or RDL vape
- Sensitive auto draw and instant power to the mesh coil
- Snazzy RGB LED light show (subjective)
- Sits comfortably in a vertical position
Cons
- No way of gauging current battery strength while vaping
- Flashing, pulsing LED’s may be an annoyance to some
- Horizontal charging (subjective)
- USB connector doesn’t fit all the way in (subjective)
Final Review Verdict
Despite the snazzy light show the biggest design flaw is actually with the LED itself.
The only way to ascertain current battery strength is by switching the device on or off. Not the most practical way of dealing with things.
However, aside from that there’s very little to fault with the Smok Solus G Box kit.
The little 0.9ohm mesh Solus 2 pod knocks out fantastic flavour and even chain vaping doesn’t faze it.
Vapour production is suitably stealthy when used for MTL vaping and gets a significant boost when flipped to the RDL side.
I think Smok have boxed clever with this one but when placed alongside the slimmer Solus G pod kit it only really comes down to aesthetics.
Same great flavour, same great performance.
i like this build, cute and powerfull