I have spread a lot of digital ink on these pages lambasting SMOK for adding new looks to the same old mods. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I think it’s a hack move, designed to milk fans and unsuspecting buyers into dumping more money into the same experience. So, when I got the all-new SMOK Devilkin 225-watt box mod kit for review, I expected to hate it on principle. Instead, I just keep asking myself why I like it so damn much.

Yeah, I’m as shocked as you are. The Devilkin is nothing more than the latest iteration of the SMOK ProColor, which has been spun into so many other “new” devices it’s staggering. Sure, it’s sporting a slightly more ergonomic form factor, and the chipset seems to be a BIT more responsive than its predecessors, but for all intents and purposes, this is the same mod SMOK has been turning out for years.

On one hand, that could be seen as a negative. On the other, perhaps the Devilkin mod is the pinnacle of this design concept, and the fruit of two years worth of trial and error. No matter how you spin it, the bottom line is that the Devilkin is a great vape mod, which should appeal to a lot of people.

Though it’s not a massive departure from the ProColor or even the SMOK Alien, the Devilkin’s teardrop-shaped curves and palm-friendly aesthetic just fit more naturally in the hand. Plus, more importantly, the larger curved fire bar is the absolute best one SMOK has made to date – not bad, considering the company already had the best in the industry.

Another nice touch is the inclusion of the “cobra” resin pattern that has popped up on SMOK’s higher-end devices of late.  The simple honeycomb look gives the Devilkin a mature, sophisticated feel that’s awfully surprising from a company that just released a mod with a top-hatted, illuminated skull, and another named for an angry bull.

Perhaps this sophistication comes from the various colorways of the mod; all Devilkin devices are black, with the only color variation coming in the frame portions that surround the screen and rear of the device (the kit editions also have a color-matched TFV12 Prince tank in the box). Had the entire mod been this deep blue color, I may not ever use it in public. But the subtle color use is classy, understated and surprising from the company. Oh, and I have to mention that the Devilkin Mod Kit is the only Kit from SMOK in the past 2 months that has shipped with a FULL SIZE Prince, every other new kit has shipped with the Big Baby Prince. We have no idea why SMOK decided the Devilkin was worthy of the full-blown Prince while the others, including the V-Fin and the H-PRIV 2.

In fact, the only things I don’t particularly like about the Devilkin are minor. First, there’s the font choice used for the logo, which is amateurish and generic – a far cry from the rest of the mod’s design. Secondly, the latched bottom battery door is a little annoying, and occasionally pops open when placed on a hard surface – nothing deal-breaking, but not entirely forgivable, either.

Though I would normally save this for the performance discussion, I have to say the most notable feature of the Devilkin is its precise temperature control. SMOK devices have had some hit or miss TC experiences over the last few years, but the Devilkin temp control is both easy to use and accurate, which hasn’t been a guarantee from the company’s products.

Temperature control enthusiasts will probably find SMOK’s system a little too rudimentary and imprecise, but newcomers looking to dabble in the TC arts could do a lot worse than what SMOK provided here. Still, I don’t think TC precision is at the forefront of SMOK’s customer wants, so I imagine this is a winning feature, regardless.

Another notable highlight is the surprisingly excellent battery life. On just two 18650s, the Devilkin is a true 225-watt mod, and gives users several HOURS of top-wattage vaping. At more reasonable wattage levels, the Devilkin becomes one of the more-efficient mods on the market, easily giving me 6+ hours of steady vaping, including countless adjustments and tinkering in the menu system.

Speaking of which, SMOK’s tried-and-true operating system and display make navigating the linear menus a breeze. Though it still baffles me that SMOK hasn’t yet moved to a more modern three-button interface, the process is streamlined enough to make that oversight forgettable.

Despite this, I still hold out hope that SMOK has seen enough of this format, and will be upgrading its firmware soon. This system works, and looks good, but there IS a slight sense of deja vu for fans of the brand.

At the end of the day, no matter how may technical specs I could throw at you, it all comes down to vape quality. And the SMOK Devilkin is the company’s premier mid-wattage vape mod offering yet. Though none of the core features are new or innovative, I genuinely believe all previous iterations of this format were “warm ups” for the main event, and the Devilkin is the headline act.

Why so much hyperbole? Because the Devilkin vapes fantastically. In addition to true 225-watt power, the mod also ramps quickly and smoothly, does a good job identifying coils, and basically just flat out does what it says – an all-too-rare quality in modern vape mods, most of which try to do “too much,” rather than simply offering a great experience.

Working up the ladder to 225 watts, I never once experienced any misfires, even when chain vaping at max wattages. Vaping this way may be uncomfortable for most, but if users do so with the Devilkin, it won’t be because of the mod.

Using the included TFV12 Prince tank (which we hardly need to mention again, considering how much digital ink we’ve already committed to this gem), I felt that the Devilkin kit pairing is a perfect setup for vapers seeking a true “do it all” vape device.

The mod works really well with this sublime tank/coil combination, but also offered the same performance with unmatched equipment. Only a small handful of my tanks and RDAs didn’t sit flush on the springy 510 connection, and these were older RTAs that seem to face this problem on every mod I try them on.

My personal preference would be for the 510 to be centered for a more balanced look and feel, but the offset connection is fine, and allows for most tanks to work without any fuss. Plus, the Devilkin is wide enough to accommodate most atomizers up to 30mm without overhang. Some looked better than others, but none presented any awkward balancing or disproportion. The Devilkin has a broad enough base to make it stable no matter which tank is attached.

Finally, I want to credit SMOK for including ample venting throughout the device. Safety is a primary focus for all of us at Spinfuel VAPE, and it’s great to see an industry leader continue to raise the bar in this area, as well.

We spend a lot of time discussing SMOK vape products and have always been honest about when they “hit” and when they “miss.” But the company is at the top of the marketplace for a reason, and the Devilkin is a shining example of why.

Sure, there are a few tiny complaints that shaved a “+” off the score below but beginners will feel comfortable using the mod. Advanced vapers won’t feel cheated using the mod. And for the first time in a while, temp control vapers will feel satisfied by SMOK’s offerings. This is the best use of SMOK’s trademark design yet, and a likely candidate for 2019’s mid-wattage mod crown.

Score: A

The SMOK Devilkin Mod and Starter Kit are Available Now at SMOKLY.COM