SMOK Stick Prince Mod Kit – Optimizing Performance: A Comprehensive Analysis for 2018

SMOK has become so prolific that my computer now auto-fills the company name every time I type an “s” in a document. From all-in-one beginner pens, to triple-battery, 300-watt behemoths, the company can’t stop making vape devices. The latest? The oddball, but high-performing SMOK Stick Prince (available here) mod kit.

This throwback tube-style pen features a 3,000mAh internal battery, direct voltage device is regulated and protected, but operates very similarly to a mech mod, with no adjustments or tweaks to be had. Just battery power.

Does this simplified device have enough gusto to compete with high-end cloud machines? Is it simple enough to appeal to newcomers? Is it appropriate for either crowd? Well, read on…

Regardless of the device inside the Box, SMOK’s packaging and presentation is second to none, right down to clearly labeled and translated safety and warning cards – which is especially necessary here, since the Stick Prince doesn’t have any visual indicators, save for a flashing LED light.

That’s not to say the Mod is potentially unsafe, but unlike Mods that clearly indicate when something is wrong, the Stick Prince flashes and shuts down, with only a few flashes to tell the story. The onboard protections work well, but I can imagine newcomers getting frustrated if they try to use the wrong type of atomizer with this direct voltage device.

The Stick Prince itself is as basic as it gets. Smooth, well-machined stainless steel comprises the entirety of the device, with only a few decorative cutouts in place to add some aesthetic value. Other than that, this looks like a complete throwback mechanical Mod, right down to the hefty 90-gram weight.

The Stick Prince’s hexagonal fire button isn’t bad, but isn’t quite up to par with SMOK’s usual standards. Whereas most of the company’s fire keys are firm, clicky and responsive, I found the Stick Prince to be mushy and a little laggy, even with a fully charged battery.

However, the LED surrounding the fire key is a highlight, since it serves as a charging indicator, battery level indicator, warning indicator, and pretty much any other notification indicator. The wide array of colors and easy-to-decipher flashes make a single light about as helpful as one can be, given the arrangement.

Though the SMOK Stick Prince has been positioned as an “all in one” Kit, the tank is actually a fully functional SMOK TFV12 Prince (reviewed here), though it is outfitted with mechanical Mod-specific M-class coils. In other words, don’t go trying these coils with regulated Mods – the results won’t be pretty. No, the protections ensure you likely won’t get hurt, but the vape will suck.

In that sense, maybe it’s best to treat the Stick Prince as an AIO device, since it is designed to work in this combination. The 510 connection is there for advanced vapers, but SMOK optimized this setup for the included Prince tank and M-coils. I see no reason to not follow this path.

One personal note – The bowed-out glass section of the Prince tank makes the overall setup seem a little unbalanced and top-heavy. It’s not “bad” looking by any means, but when standing, the Stick Prince can VERY easily be knocked over, cracking that extended glass. SMOK included a vape band, but it’s actually too snug and might actually further contribute to the potential breakage.

For once, this section is going to be light, since there’s very little involved with operating a simple “smart mechanical” Mod. Once the battery is fully charged, simply click the hexagonal fire key five times – the LED ring will flash when you’ve activated the Mod.

The Stick Prince will tell you a rough estimate of your battery level through LED flashes, so be sure to pay attention if you’re unsure how much power you have remaining. Upon activating, the number of LED flashes indicates how little battery is left. In short, the more flashes you see, the less duration remains.

Other than the LED warnings, the core of the operations comes down to the direct voltage setup. The integrated 3,000mAh battery is identical to the company’s previous AIO offering, and had about the same longevity between charges. Overall battery life was average.

On a full charge, I enjoyed 2-3 hours of Moderate vaping before I noticed a significant drop in power. Honestly, I don’t know if it would affect the size of the Mod, but 3,000mAh just seems a little limp for a Mod aimed at room-filling clouds.

In turn, this isn’t the most original or innovative combination, nor is it meant to be. It’s not difficult to imagine SMOK simply adding 510 connections to their existing stock of direct voltage batteries and adding their best tank to the package.

That said, considering the SMOK TFV12 Prince tank is $35 on its own, the $40-45 Kit price we’ve seen online is QUITE a good deal, regardless of how limiting the mechanical experience might be for some.

Simplicity is the Stick Prince’s reason for being, and in that sense, it vapes extremely well. When paired with the included Prince tank and M4 coil, I enjoyed a few hours of rich flavor and extremely thick, milky vapor. Other than a handful of weaker hits, the power flow from the internal battery was smooth and steady, if not a little limper than I expected.

Moving to a different RDA with a lower-ohm coil, I recharged the Stick Prince and found the experience to be a little lacking. Though the battery is regulated, and had protections built in, I expected the Mod to act more like a mech than it probably could.

My 0.15-ohm test coil was hardly as low as the Stick Prince could handle, yet the power flow never quite got the coil heated appropriately. It vaped, but again, this setup is not for serious builders and coil junkies.

Again, the SMOK Stick Prince isn’t an all-in-one device, but it might as well be, since the tank and coil are ideal for the battery power and overall functionality offered here. I enjoyed the vape quality overall, but instead of feeling liberated from restriction, only having one or two proprietary coil options seemed at odds with the idea of mechanical vaping.

The Stick Prince is a confusing device. Generally (and I mean GENERALLY – I’m not speaking for all vapers) those who enjoy the mechanical Mod experience prefer having more control over their vape, and usually shun built-in protections and limitations. They also usually want their Mods to provide more power and cloud production than a prebuilt coil and 3,000 mAh battery can provide.

In that sense (and with relatively low battery duration), the Stick Prince doesn’t quite hit the mark. Even after several days using the SMOK Stick Prince, I’m not sure if this is a mechanical-type Mod for beginners, or a safer backup device for advanced vapers. It’s an oddly limited and unfocused combination that just missed the mark for me.

But if you’re content to only vape one tank or type of coil, and don’t want to bother with adjustments and settings, you might find a lot more to like about the Stick Prince.

SMOK Stick Prince Mod score: C+

SMOK Prince Tank (with M4 coil) score: B

Score: C+

SMOK Stick Prince Specs:

• Dimensions: 24.5*85mm
• Battery Capacity: 3000mAh
• Voltage Range: 3.4V – 4.2V
• Standby Current: <200μA
• Intelligent LED Battery Indicator
• Hexagonal Fire Button
• Streamlined & Portable Shape
• Micro USB Cable (Charging)
• Protections: Low Voltage Protection, Short Circuit Protection, 8 Second Cut Off, Low Resistance Protection

SMOK TFV12 Prince Tank Specs:

• 5mm Diameter
• Stainless Steel Construction
• 5mL Tank Capacity
• 8mL Tank Capacity W/ Convex Glass Extension
• Adjustable Dual Airflow
• Locking Hinge Top Fill Design
• Large Fill Port