Full disclosure: This SMOK Veneno 225W mod kit review is going to STRONGLY resemble the SMOK S-Priv kit review from a few days back. It’s not something I planned, and I’ll certainly try not to repeat myself. But, there’s no denying it – other than a different exterior, the Veneno is the same SMOK mid-sized mod we’ve reviewed for the last 6-12 months.

Is the SMOK Veneno good? Sure – it does everything it should. But unless you’ve never owned a SMOK mod, or if you “just have” to own everything the company makes, the Veneno might be one to skip. Let’s read on to find out why.

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

By now, our readers are all too familiar with SMOK packaging and presentation. But it remains mostly top-quality stuff. That is, except for the translations on the box and the instruction manuals, which mangle the language worse than most.

I’m well aware that SMOK is a Chinese company. But considering the amount of product it sells in English-speaking countries, I can’t fathom their quality control team not tightening up the translation.

Inside the box is the SMOK Veneno Mod, a TFV8 Big Baby Light Edition tank, two coils, USB cable, spare glass, and all the usual bags of goodies.

The Veneno itself has a polarizing look. My purple and red test Model is certainly bold, with sharp, arrow-shaped LED cutouts throughout the device. And, to keep up with recent SMOK tradition, those LED lights are prevalent on every corner of the Veneno’s body.

And by “prevalent” I mean EVERYWHERE. Just for fun, I turned the screen font blue, and the LED pattern to a flashing rainbow, to “complement” the shiny purple and red finish. Good GOD, was it loud. When adding the illuminated Big Baby Light Edition tank, the Veneno was a site to behold. If you like drawing attention to yourself, or your vape device, look no further.

On the positive end, the paint job is pristine. SMOK has left the days of chipped Aliens long behind, and the Veneno’s anodized finish is a high point. Maybe the color combinations are a little gaudy, but no one can deny the quality of the detail.

At 85 x 47.3 x 30.6mm, the SMOK Veneno dimensions should look awfully familiar. Slightly larger than the ProColor, slightly smaller than the Majesty, the Veneno sports a proven, ergonomic shape that sits nicely in the hand, even with all the jutting edges.

Finally, the Veneno’s press-fit 510 – which has been hit-or-miss with SMOK’s recent output – was very sturdy, even when tweaked a bit. Though I wish the company found some new ways to implement the connection, it does its job, and it does it well.

When I first learned about the SMOK Veneno 225W Mod Kit, I wondered about the name. According to the box description, the inspiration behind the Veneno Mod design was “like the famous bull in the bullfighting, wild and unbreakable,” and that the Kit will make you, “the dominator of the vapor fight.”

Translations aside, the weird, symmetric patterns on the Mod certainly speak to something Spanish in origin. But the description didn’t sit quite right with me, so I headed over to Google to look further. Sure enough, the site revealed that “veneno” in Spanish translates to “poison” or “venom.”

On a personal level, I really hope SMOK didn’t know this. Because the last thing I want is to associate my vaping with poison. Rant over.

Thankfully, the now-standard fire bar returns, and remains a clicky, solid winner. Though Wismec’s Ravage230 comes close to matching the tight throw and sturdy feel, SMOK Mods remain the gold standard for Mods in this category.

Not so thankfully, the Veneno is another SMOK Mod that would benefit from a dedicated action button. While competing companies have implemented regularly updated operating systems, and simplified, multi-button control schemes, SMOK remains content to ride out this system until absolutely necessary.

But, even without any changes, SMOK’s operating system works well, and is easy enough to learn, even with the antiquated entry scheme. Switching between Modes and settings is intuitive, and  beginners will adapt quickly to wattage and temp control adjustments.

On that note, the winning display introduced on the ProColor returns as well. It’s as clear and bright as ever, though I’m surprised SMOK didn’t make some Mod-specific adjustments to the firmware to match the insane looks of the Veneno.

Finally, there is a USB cable included for firmware updates. However, neither the manual nor SMOK’s website made mention of onboard charging, so I didn’t attempt it.

Now, I know people think I’m hating on the Veneno because of personal preferences. But, let me build on what I said at the top of the page – it’s a good vape Mod that works well and hits its targets.

In straight wattage Mode, the Veneno is a tight, powerful device. In addition to the included TFV8 Big Baby Light Edition tank , I also tested the Mod with a wide range of atomizers from my collection. From tight MTL setups to high-wattage RTAs and drippers, the Veneno never balked, with fast ramp-up time and smooth, flavorful draws.

While maintaining 200+ watts on the Veneno wasn’t perfect, there was no noticeable pulsing or stuttering. A handful of atomizer and battery warnings were annoying, but those instances were rare – and they highlighted the comprehensive safety suite built into this system.

Plus, the Veneno did a very good job staying cool to the touch, even at maximum wattage, and while plugged into the computer. Kudos to SMOK for continuing to make Mods that stay comfortable, even when pushing their limits.

One odd thing I DID notice on the SMOK Veneno – especially odd considering the nearly identical S-Priv performed so well in this category – was that battery life was sub-par. Perhaps it’s from the extra LED lights, or some different internals we don’t know about, but the Veneno barely eked out five hours of Moderate vaping on two 18650s, where the ProColor, S-Priv and Majesty all performed better.

Even with the LED lightshow turned off, the Veneno demonstrated considerably less battery longevity than its brethren. Disappointing, to say the least, considering battery performance in SMOK Mods has usually been top-notch. But if you’re choosing between the S-Priv and the Veneno for performance purposes, the S-Priv gets the edge here.

Alright, so I know I’ve been down on SMOK for going back to this seemingly never-ending well, but the Veneno 225W Mod Kit does its job. It’s powerful, consistent, and hits all the marks of a Modern vape device, which is why it gets a decent score. In other words, if you’re shopping for a new SMOK Mod, and like this color scheme, buy with confidence.

But that’s where my problem lies. To vapers unfamiliar with SMOK’s marketing claims, the Veneno seems like an “all-new,” world-beating device at the pinnacle of vaping technology. In reality, the Veneno is the exact same Mod we’ve seen them rebrand for more than a year. And I think we’re ready for something new, not just a new paint job.

While companies like Wismec and iJOY continue to add features and improvements to existing Mod designs, justifying new purchases, SMOK seems all-too-content to appeal to collectors and fans, rather than innovating toward something truly “must-have.”

SMOK S-Priv 230W Mod score: B-

SMOK Big Baby Light Edition tank score: C- (review here)

Overall Kit score: C

SMOK Veneno 225W Mod Kit Specs:

• Tank Capacity: 5ml
• Tank Size: 24.5mm(d) x 56mm(h)
• Mod Size: 85 x 47.3 x 30.6mm
• Power Range: 1W-225W
• Standby Current: <500μA
• Input Voltage: 6.4V-9.0V
• Output Voltage: 0.5V-9.0V
• Resistance Range: 0.1Ω-2.5Ω(VW)/0.05Ω-2Ω(TC)
• Temperature Range: 200°F-600°F/100°C-315°C
• Color: Black Red, Silver Black, Red Gold, Purple Red, Rainbow

SMOK Veneno 225W Mod Kit Contents:

• 1x Veneno Mod
• 1x TFV8 Big Baby Light Edition Tank
• 1x V8 Baby-Q2 0.4Ω Dual Coils (pre-installed)
• 1x V8 Baby-T8 0.15Ω Octuple Coils
• 1x Replacement Glass Tube
• 6x Pair of Color Sealing O-Rings
• 1x USB Cable
• 1x User Manual
• 1x Set of Spare Parts