SMOK ProColor 225W TC Box Mod Kit Preview

SMOK doesn’t seem to take time off. Seemingly minutes after unleashing the boxy-but-awesome T-Priv on the vaping public, it’s already pushing its attention toward another high-powered, LED-enhanced dual-18650 mod, the SMOK ProColor 225W TC Box Mod Kit

After months of watching competitors take stabs at recreating the runaway success of the SMOK Alien line of mods, SMOK is returning fire – this time, the target seems to be Sigelei’s KAOS Spectrum. That’s because the ProColor’s most notable “hook” is its customizable 12-color LED backlighting, replete with different flash/display menu settings to turn your mod into a conversation piece.

(Or, as SMOK put it, “…brings more enjoyment during your monotonous vaping life.” Ouch, SMOK marketing team… ouch.)

Based on the company’s promotional pictures, the shield/crest LED looks to serve as an accent light, and probably won’t illuminate the room quite as well as the KAOS Spectrum, but who knows? I’ve gotten used to lighting the path to the bathroom with my T-PRIV, and wouldn’t mind seeing the same intensity here.

While the color light show is the company’s top selling point, there’s a lot of other nuances worth mentioning – most notably, the huge 1.3-inch high-def OLED screen, which features an entirely new display format. Instead of the stark, “digital clock” styling used on the Alien and its offshoots, the ProColor’s display appears smoother, more rounded and easier to read than the screen on its big brother.

There’s still a veritable boatload of information to be had, but its spaced intelligently throughout the display, so there’s no confusion when determining modes, temps, wattages and the like. The better use of negative space is much more pleasing to the eye than a cramped display, and I’m looking forward to testing its usability when our test unit arrives this week.

SMOK is also advertising an all-new menu system to go along with this display, but to be honest, I’m hoping they don’t change for the sake of change. While SMOK’s interface is a little long in the tooth, it just works. Other menu systems may be prettier, but few are more intuitive.

One area of SMOK’s design scheme that didn’t need an ounce of change was their trademark firing bar, which started out as a clangy, metallic novelty, and quickly evolved into arguably the best button in the industry.

On the ProColor, SMOK is addressing a problem I wasn’t even sure we had – slipping. The textured anti-slip firing bar is purported to be even more comfortable than its existing design, but only time will tell if this is an evolution, or simply unnecessary window dressing.

Beyond the new additions, the SMOK ProColor seems to fall right in line with SMOK’s recent devices, with a 225-watt maximum output, full temperature control suite for nickel, titanium and stainless steel coils, upgradeable firmware, onboard 2-amp charging, and a board that fires down to 0.1 ohm in wattage mode, and 0.06 ohm in temperature control.

Plus, SMOK seems to have found its “go to” tank for its kits, as the Big Baby Beast makes another kit appearance here. Perhaps the TFV-12 is this team’s “power hitter,” but the Big Baby is proving to be the trusted, most-reliable guy in SMOK’s lineup. Based on size and appearance, this is another ideal match from a company becoming known for its well-thought out pairings.

SMOK has certainly given vapers a wealth of options over the last year, suiting nearly every type of user imaginable. The big questions around the SMOK ProColor will ultimately center on necessity. If you recently bought a SMOK mod – whether it be the venerable Alien, the touchscreen G-PRIV, the compact AL85, or even the all-in-one Skyhook – is there enough different in this experience to justify another purchase?  Is the draw of LED lights and a new front screen going to sway your decision?

We’re looking forward to answering these – and a slew of other questions, over the course of the next week, to find out if SMOK continues to innovate, or is maybe dipping in the same well one too many times. In the meantime, take a look at this video to see if this device is the one you’ve been waiting for.

What are YOUR thoughts on what you see here? Let us know in the comments below.