SMOK Vape Kits, Tanks & Pods

SMOK: the brand that scaled pod vaping

Most of the conventions in pod kit design today were either introduced or popularised by SMOK. The Nord series, launched in 2018, was among the first pod systems to offer interchangeable coils rather than whole-pod replacement. That design decision — separating the coil from the pod body — is now standard across dozens of competing brands. The RPM coil platform, which debuted with the RPM 40, became one of the most widely used sub-ohm coil systems in the UK market.

The Novo series took a different route: simpler, smaller, focused on pure MTL pod vaping with an emphasis on portability and ease of use. The Novo 2 was one of the most popular pod kits in the UK between 2020 and 2022, and that simplicity of concept carries through to the current Novo GT and Novo Classy. The brand's newer Novo designs add screens, adjustable wattage and memory modes while keeping the compact form factor that made the series popular.

SMOK's scale means its coils and pods are widely available and well-supported. If you use SMOK hardware, replacement pods, coils and accessories are easier to find at UK retailers than almost any other brand. The flip side is that SMOK refreshes its product lines frequently — newer generations often replace older ones in stockist catalogues, which can make finding replacement pods for older kits more challenging over time.

SMOK range: from entry pod to sub-ohm tank

A guide to the current SMOK range, covering draw style and who each suits.

Replacement pods and coils available separately.

SMOK Novo GT: the main pod kit in the range

The Novo GT is the most feature-complete SMOK pod kit currently stocked at VapeCity, priced at £22.99. The headline feature is the dual-screen display: one screen shows wattage, the other shows battery level. It is an unusual design choice that gives you a cleaner read of each parameter without switching between screens. Output is adjustable up to 30W, which covers the full MTL-to-RDL range without pushing into sub-ohm territory.

The Novo GT uses the Novo M pod system. Two pods are included in the kit: a 0.6Ω mesh pod for a looser RDL draw and a 0.8Ω pod for tighter MTL. Both are top-fill with a magnetic connection to the device. Auto-draw and button fire are both active, so you can use it either way depending on preference. A sliding airflow control adjusts the draw weight between the resistance extremes.

The 1,300 mAh battery charges via USB-C and supports memory mode, which saves your preferred wattage setting between sessions. The Novo GT is well-suited to vapers who want more control than a pure auto-draw kit (like the Novo Eco or Novo Master) without stepping up to the larger, heavier Nord 6 at its higher price point.

SMOK products at VapeCity

Key SMOK kits and hardware available at VapeCity.

The SMOK Nord and Novo series: understanding the difference

SMOK runs two main pod kit families that sometimes cause confusion: the Nord and the Novo. They share a brand name and a company, but they are different product lines built around different design principles.

The Novo series is compact, simple and focused on portability. Novo devices are smaller and lighter than Nord kits, with shorter battery life as the tradeoff. The Novo GT at £22.99 is the most current device in this line. Novo pods are integrated-coil pods — you replace the whole pod rather than just the coil inside it. This makes the system simpler to maintain but slightly more expensive per replacement.

The Nord series is larger and more powerful. The Nord 6, for example, has a 3,800 mAh battery, an 80W maximum output and an HD touchscreen. Nord kits use the RPM coil system on the top-end models, which offers replaceable coils inside a reusable pod body. This is more economical over time and allows more resistance flexibility. Nord kits suit vapers who want power and all-day battery life; Novo kits suit people who want a smaller, lighter device for everyday carry.

RPM coils — used in the Nord 6 and RPM series — are available at VapeCity across multiple resistance options. Nord replacement coils for older Nord models are also stocked. If you have a Nord kit and need consumables, check the specific coil generation your kit requires: Nord, RPM 2, RPM 3 and RPM 4 coils are not cross-compatible.

Running costs: SMOK pods and coils per month

Novo M pods (for the Novo GT) are the main ongoing cost for the most current SMOK kit at VapeCity. SMOK Novo pods are available in multi-packs. Pod lifespan is typically 10 to 15 refills before flavour drops, which at moderate use means roughly two to three weeks per pod.

For vapers using older Novo kits or the Nord range, replacement coils rather than whole pods are the relevant consumable. RPM 3 coils at £10.79 per 5-pack from competitors come to around £2.16 per coil. At a coil per fortnight, that is approximately £5 per month in coil costs — a low running cost relative to most pod systems.

The Vape Pen 22 uses V8 Baby coils, which are among the most widely available SMOK coils in UK retail. Being a slightly older product line, V8 Baby coils are often available at competitive prices from multiple retailers, which keeps running costs manageable.

Setting up a SMOK Novo GT for the first time

1. 1

   Charge to full first

   Connect the Novo GT via USB-C before first use. The dual screens will display the charge level. Charge to 100% — the device ships at a partial charge.

2. 2

   Choose your pod resistance

   The kit includes 0.6Ω (RDL) and 0.8Ω (MTL) Novo M pods. If you are switching from cigarettes, start with the 0.8Ω pod and 20mg nic salt. If you already vape and prefer a slightly looser draw, use the 0.6Ω pod.

3. 3

   Fill via the top-fill port

   Open the fill port on the top of the pod. Fill with your e-liquid, close the port firmly, then wait 5 minutes before vaping. This primes the mesh coil and prevents dry hits.

4. 4

   Set your wattage

   The Novo GT allows wattage adjustment via the button. The screens show your current setting. Start at the lower end of the recommended range for your pod resistance and increase if vapour production feels insufficient.

5. 5

   Use memory mode

   Once you find your preferred wattage, the Novo GT will remember this setting between sessions. You will not need to re-adjust each time you pick the device up.

SMOK vs other pod kit brands

Against Aspire, SMOK's strength is brand recognition and coil availability. The Novo range sits in roughly the same market as the Aspire Gotek and Loomix. Where Aspire focuses on MTL consistency, SMOK's Novo GT adds a screen and memory mode at a similar price point. On coil longevity, Aspire's BVC system is competitive with SMOK's Novo M pods; both typically last 10 to 15 uses before needing replacement.

Against Oxva, SMOK is more accessible to first-time pod kit buyers through price and name recognition. The Oxva Xlim range generally offers better flavour performance (UniTech 2.0 dual-mesh vs SMOK's standard single-mesh in the Novo range) and more modern pod cross-compatibility. For experienced vapers upgrading from older SMOK kits, the Oxva range is worth considering at a similar price.

Geekvape's Sonder Q2 at £7.99 and Wenax Q2 at £16.99 are direct competitors to the Novo Master and Novo GT respectively. Geekvape's Q pod system offers slightly longer pod life (15-20 refills vs 10-15 for SMOK Novo M), but SMOK's wider retail availability and replacement pod accessibility make it a practical choice for vapers who want a familiar brand.