SMOK Species & V8 Baby V2 Starter Kit – Revolutionize Your Vaping Experience

The SMOK Species Starter Kit (with the V8 Baby V2) was reviewed after I reviewed the SMOK E-PRIV (reviewed here), and in so doing left me puzzled. You see, I went into the E-PRIV review believing that this vape mod and V12 Prince tank was the powerhouse kit and the Species was not quite in the powerhouse category. I was wrong.

Yes, despite the maximum wattage output of 230W for both the Species and E-PRIV, the inclusion of an atomizer that uses V8 Baby Coils in the Species starter kit had me believing the Species was the “lesser” kit. In addition, the Species is a Touch Screen Mod.  The fact is, the Species is a new creature designed and manufactured by SMOKTech, and it is hard to pin down.

While the SMOK Prince series carries more eJuice than the Baby V2 (8mL vs 5mL), and its Coils are physically larger than V8 Baby Coils, the Prince performs spectacularly with way less wattage requirements than the V8 Baby A1, A2, and A3 Mesh Coils. The fact is, the SMOK Species is a small monster made for Vapers that want to vape well past 80W.

In fact, the Starter Kit for the Species includes the following Coils:

• 0.17ohm Baby V2 A1 Single Coil – rated for 90-140W
• 0.2ohm Baby V2 A2 Dual Coil – rated for 50-80W

The new Baby V2 Coils are:

• Performance-Grade TFV8 Baby V2 Coil System
• 0.17ohm Baby V2 A1 Single Coil
  • rated for 90-140W, recommended 110-130W
• 0.2ohm Baby V2 A2 Dual Coil
  • rated for 50-80W, recommended 65W-75W
• 0.15ohm Baby V2 A3 Triple Coil
  • rated for 60-100W, recommended 80W-90W
• Coils Are Available in Gold and Rainbow Colorway

I’ll discuss both the Species Mod and the V8 Baby V2 below.

The SMOK Species 230W TC Box Mod and its TFV8 Baby V2 are unique, especially for SMOK. The Species features a full capacitive touch screen with a simple two button interface. Using a capacitive touch screen means that the user need not use any kind of pressure to manipulate the display, just touching it is all that is required. After spending several days using the Species, I can say with confidence that its Touch Screen is far more responsive than other SMOK Touch Screen Mods.

The Touchscreen Display is a full 1.45-inches in size, and in color. All the information you might need are arranged on the screen in an organized fashion, and the various modes are manipulated by its submenus.

To access the submenus of the Species is done by touching the top left of the screen while the mod is unlocked. You’ll see a block of 4 small icons, which access its Output Mode Settings, Puff Settings, Screen Settings and System Settings, in that order. It is simple, effective, and quite a beautiful execution. These 4 small icons are the heart of the Species Mod, and the first thing the user needs to understand.

Located directly under the large screen is a screen locking button that is vitally important to a smooth operation. After adjusting any of the myriad of settings the Species locks up the settings nice and tight. It doesn’t stop the operation of the Mod, users can vape while locked, and because it is a Touch Screen Mod, this lock system prevents any mishaps you might otherwise receive.

SMOK is using an upgraded chipset for the Species, allowing a full 1W to 230W, an Input voltage of 6.4 to 8.4V, and an Output voltage of 0.5 to 8.2V. The chipset also allows for full Temperature Control, 4 output modes, Soft, Hard, Normal, and Max. As well as Manual TCR, and Intelligent Atomizer Recognition.

Its 1.45″ Touch Screen has a vibrant hi-def display resolution, totally Icon based display matrix with comprehensive menu settings and adjustment by touch.

The Display reveals a Dual Battery Life Indicator, Menu Selection (the 4 small icon block), Output Mode, Wattage/Temp, Voltage, Amperage, and so on. As the user presses the Fire Panel a circular dial moves up and down in a smooth, attractive animation. The GUI Color can be changed easily in the Settings.

The SMOK Species is a dual 18650 batteries (sold separately) mod, and the batteries are accessed on the bottom of the mod with a secure latch door. I used 3 different 18650 battery brands and did not experience any battery rattle.

Available in White/Red, Black/Red, Rainbow/Black, Chrome Prism/Black, Blue Prism/Black, Red Prism/Black, Green/Black, and Gold/Black.

Defying all my expectations, the TFV8 Baby V2 Sub-Ohm Tank is quite an accomplishment for SMOK. The TFV8 Baby V2 uses maximum mesh coils, identified as A1, A2, A3 coil family. The A1 coil head is preinstalled and features a large heating surface. It is rated at 0.17-ohm, is a single mesh with a range of 90 to 140W, with a recommended wattage of 110 to 130W. My Species registered this coil as 0.14-ohm.

The A2 coil head features dual heating cores for massive clouds. Its resistance is rated at 0.2 ohm, with double mesh coils and a wattage range of 50 to 80W, and a recommended range of 65 to 75W.

The A3 Coils (not included in the Starter Kit) are flavor coils with thick, dense cloud production. A resistance of 0.15-ohm it has triple mesh coils and a wattage range of 60 to 100W.  The recommended wattage is 80 to 90W. Each TFV8 Baby V2 Coils is offered in two colors, Gold or Rainbow.

The SMOK TFV8 Baby V2 adopts the V12 Prince “press to open top fill design” and has a 5ml of E-Juice capacity with the default bubble glass tank section, or 2ml with the standard glass tank section. Like the Tweaked out V12 Prince that comes with the E-PRIV, the glass is thicker than the original Baby or Prince tanks and less likely to shatter when dropped.

Lastly, the SMOK TFV8 Baby V2 is equipped with a new proprietary 16mm bore drip tip. Combined with the high wattage mesh coils, and triple airflow slots at the base, the Baby V2 is a “super high performer” Sub-Ohm Tank. Yet, despite all this, I found the A1 and A2 coils to be less thirsty than the Mesh Prince Coils in the E-PRIV Starter Kit. Go Figure.

As I indicated above, the Species Starter Kit may come off as the “lesser” starter kit when compared to the E-PRIV (which were released at the same time), it is the Species that wins the label of “Monster Mod”.

During the review process I was comfortable vaping in the higher end of the wattage range, even using the Hard or Max Output setting. Breaking in the A1 and A2 are vital to experiencing the maximum flavor fidelity, and it took roughly an hour of moderate vaping to break them in. Once done, the monstrous clouds and startling flavor fidelity was impressive.

Good, but not Perfect

To be upfront, I prefer the SMOKTECH E-PRIV and Prince Sub-Ohm to the Species and Baby V2. The E-PRIV was more comfortable to hold, the Prince tank had an easier draw, and although the flavor was superb here, I liked the Mesh Prince coils better.

Vaping in the higher wattage range warmed up the mod considerably, but not to the point where it was anywhere near uncomfortable. Lastly, the entire kit, mod and tank, is heavy, and the feel of metal is obvious. The paint used on the Species and the Baby V2 is quite thick, but the Cobra pattern on the back of the Mod adds a needed touch of elegance.

The SMOK Species Starter Kit is almost $20 more than the E-PRIV Starter Kit, and I can’t quite justify that in my head. Having said that, it is clear to me now that the Species Starter Kit was made for Vapers looking for high-wattage vaping, and of course the Touch Screen technology is going to add to the price of manufacturing this Mod.

For everyday Vapers I would recommend the E-PRIV over the Species, but for Vapers looking for something new, something that can handle higher wattages, then the Species qualifies easily.

SCORE: A