SMOK X Cube Ultra Review

The SMOK X Cube Ultra is the highly anticipated follow-up to one of SMOK’s most popular mods, the X Cube 2.

SMOK have been on a roll since the X-Cube 2 release (which seems a lifetime ago) with some great product releases such as the TFV8, the H Priv, Quantum and Osub mod, to name a few.

So this was a mod we were particularly looking forward to getting our hands on. Especially considering it vibrates! ooh err…Let’s take a look how this mod holds up.

In The Box

• SMOK X Cube Ultra Mod
• Micro USB Cable
• X Cube Ultra User Manual

Features

• Dimensions: 94 x 55 x 25.5mm
• Weight: 211g (Without the batteries)
• 6-220W
• Temperature Control
• TC resistance range – 0.06 – 3.0 Ohm
• VW resistance range – 0.1 – 3 Ohm
• Wireless Firmware Upgrade via Bluetooth – OTA (Over The Air) and APP
• Vibrating feature

Build Quality and Design

For vapers familiar with the original X Cube 2 the design is pretty much the same. The main aesthetic difference comes in it’s reduced size and weight that will be welcomed by many.

The height of the X Cube Ultra is 6mm shorter, the width has been reduced by 5mm, the weight down 12% and the overall volume reduced by 10%.

May not sound a lot on paper but I think it definitely makes a difference. The Ultra still has a ‘size’ to it but it’s a lot more manageable as well as better in the hand.

The quality of the mod, made from Zinc alloy, is very good, and has a fair bit of substance to it.

The two colours available at the time of writing are the Stainless Steel and black. I personally have some weird thing with SMOK’s stainless steel mods.

As with the original X-Cube 2 and the recent Osub mod, I just don’t like the feel of it in the hand.

Maybe it’s just me, but it has a kind of slick feel to it as if any oils from my hands are sitting on the surface.

Luckily the black has a matte finish and feels great to hold. By far my pick of the two!

Features

The top of the mod features the square OLED screen which is easy to read. Below this sit the two function buttons with the 510 spring loaded thread/pin sitting above.

I was using the SMOK TFV8 primarily with the Ultra and unsurprisingly this sat well on top although it did overlap the OLED screen by a couple of millimetres.

The same firing bar is present on the side with the led light strip appearing in the gap between the trigger and the body. The firing bar works well and unlike the H Priv mod can be pressed at any part, top to bottom, to fire.

The flat sides feature the printed featured of the X Cube Ultra on one side and the SMOK branding on the reverse, where the battery cover sits.

The battery cover is held in place by two powerful magnets at the top and a hook/clasp at the bottom. The hook needs to be set in place before replacing the cover for it to sit correctly.

I had no problems here, the magnets did their job well and there was zero movement from the battery door when in place so all very well engineered.

The base of the Ultra houses the micro USB port for charging and upgrading as well as 21 vent holes.

Not a huge fan of the USB port being placed on the base of any device. While I do most of my charging via an external charger (which is recommended) the odd occasion where I did need to charge meant having to lay the mod down on it’s side.

First world problems I guess! I just like my mods to stand up right, especially when I have a tank sat on top.

Functionality

OTA (Over The Air Firmware Upgrade)

The main difference between the X Cube 2 and X Cube Ultra, aside from the reduced size, is the addition of the OTA (Over the Air) upgrade via the Vaping Tour App.

This is a superb feature that works a treat, basically allowing you to carry out any upgrades by simply connecting your phone (Android or IOS) to the SMOK APP via Bluetooth.

Once connected enter the passcode, ‘000000’ to access and if your mod has an upgrade available you will be prompted by a pop up on screen.

Just be sure, once an OTA upgrade is in process not to touch anything! Just let it do it’s thing and follow the prompts.

If you don’t then you can cause issues that will mean you have to connect manually to a computer and go through various steps to get your mod back up and running.

Vibrations and LED Strip Light

Yep.. SMOK have introduced the worlds first vibrating vape mod.

I was wondering what the actual functionality of the ‘shake’ would be. And from use there really isn’t any that I can see.

It’s different for sure, when you press the ‘+’ / ‘-‘ function buttons you get a little buzz. The same happens when you remove/replace the tank.

Do you need it? Does it make vaping a better experience? Not for me personally. This feature can be toned down or turned off in the menu.

LED Light

Between the firing bar and the body of the mod the X Cube Ultra has an LED strip light that is activated when pressing the fire bar.

The lights can actually be changed in the app to a number of different colours, want pink? You got it. Red? Yellow? Blue? Want it to flash 7 different colours or be random? It can do that too, in various shades of each I might add.

Like the vibrating feature, the LED can also be switched off completely. This could of course, conserve battery a touch.

X3 Chip

The X3 chip used in the SMOK X Cube Ultra also adds a smart charging management module. This balances charge and discharge, extending battery life.

The chipset also supports temp control with Nickel 200, Titanium and Stainless Steel wires.

Overall, I was very happy with the build quality and the OTA upgrade capability is a winner for sure. The vibrating is still up for debate but if you like things that vibrate then you are in luck!

How Does The SMOK X Cube Ultra Perform?

The X Cube Ultra is capable of a massive 220W. For this vaper that is way over what I will ever need. I rarely vape regularly over 50W. But it’s there should I change my vaping habits in the future.

First lets have a quick rundown of the menu system. I found this very easy to use, but I have used a fair few SMOK mods over the last year and they all try and keep a similar functionality to a degree.

Main functions

• Lock/Unlock – 5 Clicks of fire button
• Enter Menu – 3 Clicks
• In Menu – Scroll through options by using either + / – buttons or the fire button.
• Once on desired option you need to just leave the mod to enter on it’s own (without pressing anything).
• Function buttons can then be used to change various settings
• Turn Bluetooth On/Off – Pressing the +\- function buttons together is a shortcut for turning the Bluetooth on and off
• When locked – Pressing the +/- function buttons together shows your total and daily puff counts.

Within the menu you can change the following:

• Bluetooth
• Mode – VW / TC / Memory
• Shake – Change vibration settings and turn off
• LED – Change various settings
• Puffs – Can count puffs and set limits per day to the amount you can vape.
• Settings – Allows doe Ohm adjustments / Screen time / Screen rotation / Contrast /
• Screen Lock
• Power off

The one thing I find on the annoying side with the menu is that when you scroll to a setting you would like to change, you then have to wait for the device to automatically enter that particular setting.

It seems to take an age (in reality probably 2 seconds) but it would be far better to use the fire button to enter so things can be accessed quicker.

I actually found myself going into the app to make changes as it seamed quicker. Maybe that’s the reason?

Power and Temp control

You can choose from Min, Soft, Normal, Strong and Max. My preferred setting was Max as this gave me a punchier hit everytime with little ramp up.

Temp control worked as expected, also recognising a ‘NON’ TC coil well and reverting back to wattage when it was detected. When you place a new tank on the mod you will be asked if it’s a new coil, just select yes or no.

Your temp control settings, again, are easier to control via the app. Allowing you to make the changes you need. For more advanced users it also allows you to add your own coils and settings.

One thing I can say is that the X Cube ultra is a beast when paired with the TFV8 tank.

What I Like

The build quality of the SMOK X Cube Ultra is excellent and the new, and the slightly smaller size makes it a little friendlier for small hands.

The mod has pretty much all the features you need for all types of vaping, catering to even the most advanced vapers.

The OTA firmware upgrade is a superb addition and after using the Vaping Tour app for a while I found it to be a useful thing to have on your phone.

I wasn’t so sure on a previous review when using it.

What I Didn’t Like

There isn’t really anything too major in terms of negatives with the SMOK X Cube Ultra. There are a few things, however, that are mainly subjective.

First is the menu system. While it is simple to use, I don’t like the way it takes time to enter each individual setting. I would have preferred the fire button to be used to selct options here.

Even though it is smaller than the X Cube 2 it still has a fair size to it, so maybe not the best for small handed vapers like myself. Especially when using out and about.

The last thing is the stainless steel finish. This is likely just me but I just didn’t like the feel of it in my hand. The black version is great, however.

Final Review Verdict

Overall the SMOK X Cube Ultra is a great device and a definite improvement over it’s predecessor.

The addition of the wireless upgrading and improved app compatibility make this one of the top dual battery mods currently available. And it vibrates 🙂

If you liked the X Cube 2 I’m sure you will enjoy this.

Pros

• Build quality is excellent
• Over The Air firmware upgrade capability. No need to use the USB cable if you have Android or Apple phone
• 220W output should be more than enough for most vapers
• App is useful especially when changing settings on the mod

Cons

• Menu system is easy to use but takes time making selections
• I still don’t like the stainless steel finish, definitely a subjective thing.
• Still a sizeable mod so may not be for the small handed of us out there