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The excellent SMOK RPM80 Pod System – Can we all agree that once a device exceeds 75 watts, it’s no longer a “pod mod,” and rather a pod-enabled, coil-driven, full-on vape device? Because if we don’t, then a million ACTUAL pod mods — you know, those low-powered plastic things we used to feature every day — will be long forgotten.
Actually, come to think of it, maybe it’s a good thing to keep calling devices like the SMOK RPM80 “pod mods,” since it will help us eliminate the garbage and help move this industry forward. As you were, folks.
Let’s discuss specs and details, and we’ll see you after the jump.
Upgrade your old vape with the SMOK RPM80 Pod Mod Kit, an upgrade to the pioneering RPM80, implementing a large capacious 3000mAh rechargeable battery reservoir, dual reversible airflow control system, and is engineer to be the middle ground between pod systems and box mods, making this an ideal travel vape or starting point for beginner vapers.
Equipped with the brand new IQ-80 chipset, the SMOK RPM80 Pod Mod has upgraded many of the components from the original RPM Series pioneer. Keeping the pods from the original RPM, the SMOK RPM80 Pod Kit maintains compatibility with older coils and pods.
SMOK RPM80 Coils
While also introducing a new RGC Pod and 0.17ohm Conical Mesh RGC Coil, allowing the flavor from the mesh coil to act as a reverse funnel, throttling and compressing flavor and clouds for a satisfying vaping experience as it dumps the coil output directly to the taste buds.
Featuring an upgraded battery, the capacity sits at an impressive 3000mAh, providing plenty of flavor and vaping at the touch of a button. With two different pods, the SMOK RPM80 Starter Kit can utilize a myriad of coils and features an adjustable airflow control within the RGC pod and coil combination.
SMOK RPM80 Pod Mod Kit Features:
- IQ-80 Chipset
- Dimensions – 109mm by 31.55mm by 26mm
- Integrated 3000mAh Rechargeable Battery
- Wattage Output Range: 1-80W
- Voltage Output Range: 0.5-4.0V
- Resistance Range: 0.15-3.0ohm
- Zinc-Alloy Chassis Construction
- Intuitive Firing Button
- 96″” OLED Display Screen
- Two Adjustment Buttons
- SMOK RPM and RGC Pod & Coil Series
- Side Refill System – Silicone Stoppered
- 5mL Refillable RPM80 Pod
- 4ohm RPM Mesh Coil
- 5mL RPM80 RGC Pod
- 17ohm RGC Conical Mesh Coil – rated for
- 5-1.0ohm RGC RBA Coil – Coming Soon
- Plug ‘n’ Play Coil Installation
- Adjustable Airflow Control
- Magnetic Pod Connection
- Low Battery Protection
- Short-Circuit Protection
- 10S Cut-Off Protection
- Over-heating Protection
- Intelligent Atomizer Recognization
- Puff Monitoring System
- Bottom MicroUSB Type-C Port
- Available in Black Stabwood, Red Stabwood, Fluid Gold, Fluid Blue, Black and White Resin, 7 Color, and Black Carbon Fiber
Includes:
- THE RPM80 Device
- ONE RPM80 RPM Pod
- RPM80 RGC Pod
- 0.4ohm Mesh Coil
- 0.17ohm Conical Mesh Coil
- MicroUSB Cable
- User Manual
Aesthetics
Stabilized wood (stabwood), resin, carbon fiber. If there’s a luxury material used to make vape mods, it’s available for the SMOK RPM80. And they’re all absolutely flippin gorgeous. I might lean toward the stabwood options, but make no mistake, SMOK is positioning the RPM series toward more mature sensibilities, and far away from their often-overdone 18650 mods.
Between the bold colors and contrasts, the flawless build quality and effortless operation, the RPM80 might just be the most attractive pod/AIO device on the market — a bold statement in a market dominated by Lost Vape products. But it’s a fair call, and no matter which RPM80 you choose, you’re automatically getting something distinctive, tasteful and conversation-worthy.
TFT Color Display
One of the nice carryovers from the previous RPM40 is the fantastic TFT color screen, which is vertically oriented and crams a ton of information and control options in full view, without ever feeling cluttered or overdone. Maybe SMOK has “nicer” screens on their more powerful vape mods, but for something as compact and pocket-friendly as the RPM80, there’s not an ounce of wasted real estate.
In turn, the simplified menu system keeps power control front and center. No temp control, no bypass, no passthrough, no fluff — just a scaled back, but altogether potent setup that leaves the minutiae aside in favor of performance. By keeping those options away, the developers were allowed to focus on smart coil recognition and all the safety preventions we’ve come to expect from a modern device.
USB Port
Finally, in a nice touch, the USB charge port is located at the bottom of the mod, but forward-facing, so you don’t have to lay your device on its side, potentially causing flooding and leaks. It’s the little things that count, and SMOK really nailed the design here.
Vaping the SMOK RPM80
Once you investigate the coils provided in the kit, you’ll quickly realize that SMOK intended the RPM80 as a full-on, mid-wattage vape mod, leaving behind any trappings of lower-power pod mods. And once you first inhale from the broad, round drip tip, you’ll know it. While the RPM80 isn’t going to make you forget that 200-watt rig with the HorizonTech Falcon on top, sub-ohm vapers are going to find an awful lot to like in this supposed “pod mod.”
The included RPM and RGC (conical) mesh coils are plug and play within their respective pod designs, both of which are also in the kit. So, you can swap them for fresh heads in a matter of seconds, and without an ounce of mess. But the good thing is that you won’t need to do this that often, since the included heads both lasted roughly two weeks of heavy use before needing to be swapped.
SMOK RPM80 Delivers the Flavor
None of this matters if the flavor isn’t there, and thankfully, SMOK didn’t cut corners in this department. Though the original 0.4-ohm RPM coil was more impressive to me, while also using less power to achieve the right balance of flavor and vapor production, both heads were standouts in this often lackluster category. The RGC head was definitely designed for higher-wattage use, but even though this is an 80-watt mod, I never felt like the power was enough to make the coil truly sing.
If we were you, we’d stick with the higher-resistance RPM heads — especially since the ones that came with the RPM40 are fully compatible (and pretty cheap these days)!
Battery Life is Poor
Our only complaint — and you knew it was coming — the battery life. Even with an integrated cell more than twice as capable as the RPM40, we still only averaged 2-3 hours per charge before having to plug in. And this was under moderate power. When cranked to the 80-watt maximum, there wasn’t much life to be had after an hour or so.
Plus, the capacitous 3,000mAh battery takes more than 80 minutes to fully charge back up. If you have the means (and want the RPM80, we might suggest grabbing two, so you’re never left without power for very long). We can’t say we were “disappointed” in the battery life, but touting 3,000mAh is a bold claim, and this just didn’t meet the mark.
Pros:
- Gorgeous machining and exterior design
- Outstanding flavor and vapor
- Long-lasting coils
Cons:
- Terrible battery life for the rating
- RGC coils aren’t as good as the original RPM options
- Kinda wish there was 20-30 more watts, just in case
EV Links:
Various SMOK RPM Coils
The SMOK RPM80 Pods
SMOK RGC Coils
Bottom Line for the SMOK RPM80
The battery life, the occasional coil concerns is one thing of the SMOK RPM80. The device sits at or near the top of every pod mod list we can think of. From power to flavor to ridiculous vapor production, the RPM80 might be the best crossover in a long while. If you like the convenience of AIO devices but want more power and potency, your search should start here.
