As a seasoned vaper, I’ve become accustomed to using external batteries versus integrated Li-ion devices. Sure, less parts usually means more convenience, but I have yet to see an internal battery match the power and performance of 18650 (or other) cells. That is, until I got a hold of the SMOK V-FIN 160W box mod.

The massive SMOK V-FIN was designed for this very purpose – to be the longest-lasting integrated battery vape mod available. And – barring a sudden drop in performance from its internal 8,000mAh cell — it has succeeded. Though I’m not sure I buy the claims of 700+ charges without any drop in battery capacity, the SMOK V-FIN has proven to be an absolute monster.

For the power fiends who are concerned that 160 watts might not be “enough” for their massive vape habits, please note the 160 watts put out by the V-FIN helped me produce a cloud thick enough to make the Kardashians seem intelligent… and it kept doing so for longer than most dual-18650 mods ever could.

On first glance, the SMOK V-FIN is a throwback to a few years ago, and feels like a cross between the bulky but awesome SMOK H-Priv, and the integrated battery SMOK G150, but with performance that trumps both of those flagship devices.

The basic, but well-machined zinc alloy frame isn’t going to win any awards for beauty, but there’s something striking by the simple black and silver metal, large fire bar, and easy control scheme. Sure, the V-FIN comes equipped with a full temperature control suite and all the protection measures the industry has to offer. But, like so many newer mods, SMOK is really aiming for those looking to simplify their vaping lives with the V-FIN, and that’s how I enjoyed it most.

Our previewer had an issue with the small, top-mounted monochrome display, but I’ve always been a fan of this format – even with the lack of available real estate. On a mod with a front-mounted screen, this would look unbelievably silly in 2018. But for a mod that’s all about the “get in, press fire, vape on” approach to this hobby, it works for me.

(Plus, there’s something reassuring about seeing the display whenever tipping the mod to vape. So there’s always that point, too.)

While the display may seem antiquated, there are few who could argue with the awesome side firing bar, which is as clicky and responsive as ever. SMOK has made these firing bars in many forms – from the low-throw, quiet Majesty interface, all the way to the V-FIN’s slightly clangy and metallic, but still great-feeling offering. No matter how they do it, they’ve cornered the market on making firing buttons that work, and the V-FIN is no exception.

However, on the flip side of the coin is the rocker-style single adjustment button, which is both mushy and UNresponsive when trying to make changes to your settings. For basic wattage use, it wasn’t much of a problem, but I really hated dabbling in temperature control with the V-FIN, because things just never felt precise.

The menu system is clean and functional, if not a little unremarkable. While no one could expect complete ease of use given the small display size, the menus seem to be a streamlined version of the classic SMOK interface. Despite the old-fashioned look and feel, the V-FIN offers a lot more than you think, with Memory Mode, Smart Atomizer Recognition, and a slew of updated safety protections.

Included in the SMOK V-FIN kit is the TFV12 Big Baby Prince – the latest in the growing SMOK monarchy of Kings, Princes and countless babies roaming the royal kingdom. And to be honest, I didn’t love my time with this tank. Given the massive dimensions of the V-FIN, including the original (and awesome) Prince tank would have made a lot more sense.

Here, the Baby Prince is dwarfed by the huge mod, and offers nothing but a new way to vape TFV8 Baby Beast coils – been there, vaped that, bought the t-shirt. If you’ve never vaped these coils before, the Baby Prince is probably the best way to do so. But don’t expect anything mind-blowing or special here – it’s a functional tank, and nothing more.

I wasn’t about to let a tank ruin my day, so I put the V-FIN to work with the Baby Prince, and about 10 other RDAs and sub-ohm devices. And you know what? It shined with all of them.

But first, let’s address the elephant in the room – battery life. Well, kids, like Han Solo said to those annoying new characters in “The Force Awakens,” everything you’ve heard is true. It’s all true. The SMOK V-FIN’s integrated 8,000mAh battery is an absolute beast, offering us some of the best battery life we’ve seen in some time.

Is it the 12-16 hours SMOK promised? Not quite, but I got nearly 10 hours vaping the V-FIN at a steady 80-90 watts. More impressively, I got nearly 7-8 hours when vaping at extremely high wattages, and making a lot of menu adjustments.

Plus, as a nice bonus, the V-FIN recharges relatively quickly, given the size of the internal Li-Ion cell. Within a few hours, my mod went from near-empty to full, and the long, steady cycle began again. Meanwhile, the all-aluminum frame never once got warm, much less hot, even after hours of charging.

In power mode, the V-FIN was surprisingly smooth, with no battery pulsing or occasional lapses – something we’re accustomed to from internal battery mods. I was able to take the device from 40-160 watts in 10-watt increments, never missing a beat. And once I reached the mod’s upper limits, it remained steady and produced massive amounts of vapor without a stutter.

Temperature control was a bit trickier, mainly due to the old-school controls and linear menu trees. It was easy enough once I was able to remember these gestures, but this is one area where the old-fashioned aesthetic was more of a hindrance than a perk. To be perfectly transparent, if you’re a precision-focused TC vaper, you might want to look elsewhere for your next device. The V-FIN handles TC just fine, but this is clearly not designed for DNA levels of accuracy.

One other minor (and I mean minor) negative is the overall width and girth of the mod. While there obviously needs to be room to accommodate an 8,000mAh battery cell, the V-FIN feels a little oversized anyway. And, while it is comfortable to use overall, this is not a mod that you’ll want to hold all day… even if the battery offers all-day duration.

Also, I think it’s pretty obvious that the V-FIN isn’t what we’d call “pocket-friendly” either. But I doubt many of you will care when enjoying your sixth consecutive hour of vaping without plugging in.

I usually get on SMOK for creating too many “same-y” vape mods, but the V-FIN and the equally awesome SMOK Devilkin (another-look review coming soon) show signs of a company looking to take established designs and IMPROVE on them, rather than just reskinning the same experiences.

In the end, the V-FIN has some quirks. It isn’t sleek, sexy, unique or high-end. Instead, it’s a mod built for power, performance, convenience and a decided lack of fuss – and in vaping, that trumps sexy any day of the week.

Score: A-

The SMOK V-FIN Starter Kit is Available Now at Element Vape