The SMOK S PRIV 230W Starter Kit Preview

Although we have not yet reviewed this new, Top-Hatted Skull imprinted SMOK S PRIV, that will come in about a week to 10 days, it is available now as a Starter Kit or as a standalone Mod. The question our in-depth review will attempt to answer is; Does the S PRIV bring anything new to the vape community (besides a rather limited design appeal). Is it time for SMOK to innovate again, as it did with the recent, and major, improvement in the sub-ohm tank market with the TFV12 Prince, or will they continue to simply mold new box designs and stuff them with the same old chipset….

Until our Review, here’s what we know now…

It’s no secret we like SMOK products – well, the ones that are good, of course. But the prolific SMOK is also notorious for going to the proverbial well too many times. That’s why we’re curious about the new SMOK S PRIV 230W Starter Kit, which seems an awful lot like a SMOK ProColor, albeit with an LED-lit, top-hatted skull.

(No, that last part isn’t a mistake.)

Built upon the core design as the madly successful SMOK Alien, and the fantastic ProColor, the SMOK S PRIV is destined to be a polarizing device. For SMOK enthusiasts, this design and format is proven and familiar.

For those who don’t enjoy SMOK products … well, we’re not 100% sure a top-hatted skull is the addition that will change your mind. But let’s look at the SMOK S PRIV beyond the bells and whistles, to see if there’s a vaping demon hidden beneath that top-hatted skull and bold light show.

Experienced vapers will likely be very comfortable with the palm-friendly 86x47x30mm dimensions of the S PRIV Mod. Much like the ProColor, the smoothed curves and beveled edges should help make the dual-18650 S PRIV a Mod that will feel as good in the hand as it does in a pocket.

The center-positioned TFT, full-color display has been a highlight of SMOK’s recent lineup, debuting on the ProColor, and enhanced for the resin and carbon editions of the Majesty Mods. Not only has this screen impressed us with its fantastic clarity and legibility, but also for the ease of use through the chipset’s revised menu system.

The S PRIV seems to have the same user-friendly display in place, with one notable exception – the entire screen is framed by a three-dimensional, bowed-out, top-hatted skull. The display itself sits toward the top of the device, within the top hat portion of the design. The skull head – complete with LED-illuminated eyes – sits beneath toward the bottom of the Mod’s face.

A stealth Mod, it ain’t. But the S PRIV’s design is extremely unique and possesses more than enough “cool factor” to separate your rig from the legions of bland zinc alloy Mods dominating the marketplace these days.

One thing that isn’t clear from preview photos is the operation controls, which appear on either side of the top hat’s brim. Though SMOK has traditionally used tactile buttons for the control scheme, these seem a little flusher, making us wonder if a Revenger X-style tap-tic system has been implemented. If so, we consider that to be even cooler than the well-dressed bones.

Oh, in case the lights and evil top-hatted skull aren’t enough, the S PRIV also comes in a hearty collection of colors, including the standard black and stainless hues, but also a vivid array of red, green, purple and gold. If you’re looking for a vape Mod that makes a statement, your search can end here – the S PRIV might just be your dream device.

Another returning feature from previous SMOK successes is the wonderful, clicky, side-mounted fire bar, which looks just as comfortable and responsive as ever. This might not be as “cool” as the demonic imagery, but as vapers, SMOK’s operation buttons are among the best in the industry.

All this window dressing means nothing if the S PRIV doesn’t vape well. Thankfully, SMOK’s evolving chipset brings 230 watts of raw, proven power to the table, alongside a fully fleshed temperature control suite, TCR adjustments, onboard USB charging, preheat and puff power settings, firmware upgrades, screen customization, and all the Modern Vape Amenities we’ve come to expect.

Recent Mods with this chipset have performed exceptionally well for the most part, and we’re certainly confident the S PRIV will continue this trend.

The SMOK S PRIV 230W Starter Kit is – ahem – topped off with the inclusion of the latest Beast tank variant, the TFV8 Big Baby Light Edition. But no, kids – “light” does not mean SMOK shaved a few grams off the weight. Instead, the Big Baby Light contains an LED light of its own, activated whenever the Mod is fired.

The general design of the Big Baby hasn’t changed, nor have the reliable coils. However, the LED light system actually makes the spare O-rings a crucial part of the kit, since the colors will change depending on which set of rings you have installed. It sounds pretty nifty on paper, and we’re looking forward to our first experience with an illuminated sub-ohm vape tank.

Yeah, the SMOK S PRIV 230W Starter Kit has certainly given us a lot to talk about. Despite the jokes we made earlier about the top-hatted skull, we always look forward to seeing what SMOK has developed, and are hopeful that the S PRIV will share in the success of the company’s recent products. Check back for a full review soon!

SMOK S PRIV Mod Specs:

• Customizable LED-Lit Skull Eyes
• Top Hat OLED Screen
• Customizable Screen Color
• Large Firing Bar Mechanism
• Requires Two 18650 Batteries
• Hinge Latch Battery Access Door
• 230W Maximum Output
• Temperature Control (Ni200, Titanium, Stainless Steel)
• TCR Functionality
• PreHeat Function
• Memory Settings
• Strength Settings
• Full Protection Suite
• Micro-USB Charging Port
• Firmware Upgradeable

SMOK TFV8 Big Baby Light Edition Tank Specs:

• Stainless Steel & Glass Construction
• Hinge & Lock Top Fill System
• 5ML E-Liquid Capacity
• LED-Lit Tank With Customizable Color O-Rings
• Bottom Dual Adjustable Airflow Control
• V8 Baby Coil Structure
• Delrin Wide Bore Drip Tip

SMOK S PRIV 230W Starter Kit Contents:

• 1x SMOK S PRIV Mod
• 1x SMOK TFV8 Big Baby Light Edition Tank
• 1x Pre-Installed SMOK V8 Baby-Q2 Coil (0.4Ω)
• 1x SMOK V8 Baby-T8 Coil (0.15Ω)
• 1x Replacement Glass Tube
• 1x Charging Cable
• 1x Spare Parts Bag
• 1x User Manual