“Unleash the Superior Performance: SMOK E-PRIV 230W TC Starter Kit Review”

Finally, something truly new from SMOKTech; the new SMOK E-PRIV 230W (Dual 18650) TC Starter Kit, with a slightly modified TFV12 Prince Sub-Ohm Tank, a revamped GUI, and solid, sturdy, and handsome (yes, handsome) body. It’s not perfect, but it’s something new from the ever-prolific electronic cigarette manufacturer. Since receiving our shipment about 10 days ago I’ve been putting the Gold/Black E-PRIV through the paces and it’s done quite well.

About the SMOK E-PRIV Starter Kit

The SMOK E-PRIV 230W TC Starter Kit shows us that this manufacturer has either been infused with some fresh ideas of a new mod designer or has taken a beat to catch the pulse of the vaping public. The E-PRIV, as well as the new SMOK SPECIES, are energized with some creative ideas and detailed craftsmanship.

Using SMOK’s high-performance and proprietary 230W chipset, equipped with a full color 1.45” TFT (twisted film transistor) Color Display, the SMOK E-PRIV is both tough yet elegant. While SMOKTech attempts to tie together this modern design to sports car design elements I never once saw, or felt, any such influence. Instead, the SMOK E-PRIV is, to this reviewer, more akin to a vertical toolbox orientation. Its Zinc Alloy construction gives it a solid, high-quality feel as well.

SMOK writes about the use of hexagonal screws, which do run up the entire backside of the box mod, but to suggest an automobile’s intake manifold is a reach too far. But that’s fine, they can describe the E-PRIV any way they like. To me, and others, it’s a solid, well designed box mod with all the safety protections and modern technologies used by SMOK for quite some time.

The SMOK E-PRIV 230W TC Box Mod has a wide, full length fire panel embedded with a “V12”, which I took to suggest that the SMOK TFV12 Prince Sub-Ohm Tank is its natural companion. (I suppose this is one of the design elements SMOK wants us to associate with an intake manifold).

The overall size of the SMOK E-PRIV is 85mm by 47mm by 31.88mm, or more simply put for US readers, 3.34” tall, 1.85” across, and 1.25” deep. It fits comfortably in the palm and can used with its fire panel on the outside, or turn inward, depending on the users’ preference. Since no one can actually view the display when the drip tip is “in use”, it doesn’t much matter which way its placed.

Upon release the SMOK E-PRIV is available at Element Vape in Gold/Black, Green/Black, Silver/Black, Blue/Black, and Red/black. These colors are deeply saturated, and the accompanying Prince tank uses the same colors for the O-Rings, a nice touch.

Where the SMOK E-PRIV goes a bit off the tracks is its adjustment bars. As part of the overall design theme of the E-PRIV, there are a total of 7 staggered bars on the frontside of the mod, 3 above the display, 4 below. Some of the bars do nothing, one adjusts the settings upward, one adjusts downward, and one has its MicroUSB port embedded in it. No matter what you’re told about the E-PRIV, expect to take a day or two to “know” which bar does what. These bars are opaque black, close together, and it’s plus/minus bars are marked with tiny +/- indentions that are difficult to make out in normal indoor lighting. And if you have large fingers, as I do, it’s slightly difficult to hit the right bar every time.

The SMOK E-PRIV Mod has a wattage range of 1W to 230W, and a resistance range of 0.05-ohm to 3.0-ohm. Its voltage output is a nice 0.5-9V, and of course the Temperature Control is the 200-600 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Mod is a 5/click on/off, 3/click into the menu system. It’s USB port and cable are used for both charging and firmware updating.

The SMOK E-PRIV uses dual 18650 batteries (sold separately) that are accessed by way of a tight, solid hinged bottom battery door, which produces zero battery rattle. There is also a sweet MEMORY Mode that allows you to set up presets for certain replacement coils you use. Lastly, the 510-connector is centered, allowing the user to attach just about any atomizer up to 31mm without overhang. That said, the E-PRIV presentation is best when used with the TFV12 Prince that comes with the Starter Kit.

The Tweaked Out TFV12 Prince

The Prince Sub-Ohm included with the SMOK E-PRIV starter kit has been tweaked when compared with the original Prince. While the base of the tank is 25mm, it extends out to 28mm with the new, thicker, convex glass tube with an 8mL capacity. (the second glass tube is a straight 5mL glass)

The Prince is made with a high-quality Stainless-Steel, with a new High-Grade Glass Reinforcement tube, that allows for high temperatures and is said to be explosion proof. Now, I’ve never had a tank explode before, but I have had glass tanks shatter when accidently dropped. From using the E-PRIV and its Prince tank, it feels as though this new high resistance glass will take a fall much better than earlier versions.

Like the Prince tanks of yesterday, this Prince uses the same convenient Top-Fill Rotary Design with the Lock Button Mechanism. There are two large adjustable Airflow slots on the base of the tank as well. Its 810 Cobra Resin Ultra-Wide Drip Tip is definitely wider than the original Prince, though about the same height. This wider drip tip accommodates the new high-performance coils that SMOK introduces with the E-PRIV. (see below)

This new V12 Prince is called (by SMOK) “Performance-Grade” V12 Prince Coil Structure. The Starter Kit includes the new 0.2-ohm V12 Prince Dual Mesh Coil, rated for 50-80W (my optimal wattage here is 72W, and could easily go higher). I use the “High” preheat setting as well. This coil is preinstalled in the tank. The second coil is the new 0.17ohm V12 Prince Max Mesh Coil which is rated for 80-130W, which I found to produce massive clouds at 105W or more. These coils are shaped differently than previous Prince coils, see the photos here for an accurate look at the coil structure.

To be honest, I was getting a little bored with reviewing SMOK products. Don’t get me wrong, I love SMOK mods and tanks, but they were always just variations on a theme. This time out SMOK has changed up the game. The E-PRIV is, if nothing else, a super high-performance box mod equipped with a tweaked out Prince Tank and new coils that can match the high performance of the mod.

I love the thicker glass of the Prince, these new coils are superb in both flavor fidelity and cloud production, and while I cannot really say definitively yet, these new coils seem to have a long(er) life. As I said, it’s been about 10 days of heavy use with the E-PRIV and Prince, and both coils vape as though they were new. If SMOK has indeed increased the performance and longevity of their replacement coils, they just might win back a whole lot of Vapers who have walked away from the brand due to the scattershot quality of their coils.

SMOK has made box mods in just about every size and shape you can imagine, and the new SMOK E-PRIV is, at first, quite ordinary compared to something like the SMOK Mag (review here) or even the SMOK X-PRIV (reviewed here). However, the E-PRIV is a better mod than either of them, better built, less tolerances, and even better battery management. Clearly someone at SMOK knows what they’re doing and has shaken up the lineup just in time.

The SMOK E-PRIV Starter Kit is available now at Element Vape for a price I first thought was wrong. At under $60 for the Kit on release, it’s one of the better buys on the market right now.

If you decide to buy one, pick up a pack or two of these new coils as well. If you want great performance but don’t need 100W or more than go for the new 0.2-ohm dual Mesh. If you want maximum power and performance, then the 0.17-ohm Max Mesh is the way to go. For me, I’ve decided to stick to the Dual Mesh 0.2-ohm coils for time being.

SCORE: A