Now THIS is more like it! After months and months of reviewing an endless array of near-identical pod mods, I finally got to use something different – the Smokjoy OPS-1 Pod Mod system. Oh, it’s still a pod mod, but the OPS-1 manages to do what so many others have tried, bridging the gap between beginner mod and advanced vaping device.

And it all comes down to power. Not only the power of the vape itself, but also the power capacity of the fantastic 1,100 mAh internal battery. Having been exposed to countless 200-400 mAh pod systems that fade before the coils even break in, the OPS-1 has legitimate all-day longevity, with smooth draws from first puff to last.

Also, I should mention that the OPS-1 is damn attractive, shirking the usual flat tube or weird disc pod mod designs in favor of something akin to a more-advanced AIO setup. It looks sharp, and gives off a true “adult” vibe, rather than the plasticky, toy-like design of competing pod mods. This, combined with the significant heft and durability, make the OPS-1 feel great in the hands, to boot.

My only complaint about the OPS-1 design? The carbon fiber stickers that sit inside cutaways near the clicky fire key. The decals are cheap, with noticeable warping, and stand out for all the wrong reasons, lessening the aesthetic value the rest of the device offers. After removing them and cleaning the gummy residue with a little solvent, the OPS-1 was much better, more-mature looking than with the two-cent stickers.

One other minor complaint is that the front-facing USB charge port is snug, meaning any yanking of the cable might break the connection entirely. In other words, treat your electronics properly here.

Smokjoy included a pair of identical refillable pods to use with the OPS-1, and they are sizable, considering the dimensions of the device itself. And, in a nice touch, the two pods are designed for different types of vapers. The 1.2-ohm pod is designed for MTL use, while the 0.6-ohm has direct lung capability – a rarity among pod mod vapes.

I’m happy to report both pods work equally well, depending on your preferred style of vaping. Perhaps the 1.2-ohm pod is a little airy and loose for a “true” MTL experience, but the 0.6-ohm offering gives a legitimate sub-ohm vape, replete with thick vapor and better than average flavor. It’s not going to win awards from any drip enthusiasts, but compared to other pods, it’s a standout.

Filling the pods is fairly easy, provided you have a needle or unicorn tip, but I wouldn’t recommend anything larger, since all the nooks and crannies can trap stray juice and make a huge mess for the next time you refill.

Also, we should note that the two pods are identical, save for a minuscule sticker that says either “D” or “M” – direct or MTL. It might not seem like a big deal now, but you’ll want to know which coil you’re dealing with before filling and potentially scorching the coil with VG-heavy juice.

Five clicks have been the standard for vaping since fire buttons were invented, and Smokjoy wasn’t about to change that motif for the OPS-1. Once you see the LED around the mouthpiece light up, you know you’re in business. It’s about as simple as LEDs get – blue = good power, red = low power. The LED will also flash if there is anything malfunctioning, since the OPS-1 has several key protection measures built in.

After filling the pods and letting them soak a bit, I started with the MTL offering and let the direct-voltage OPS-1 do its thing. Overall, the vape quality was quite good here, with a snug, but airy MTL draw, ample flavor, and a decent amount of vapor for a 1.2-ohm head. This wasn’t the greatest MTL vape I’ve ever had, but it’s definitely competitive with other pod mods.

The 0.6-ohm direct lung coil was much more in line with my preferred style of vaping, with rich, thick, flavorful vapor for the first few fills. While I wouldn’t say this pod was standing toe to toe with some of my smaller sub-ohm devices, it was producing a far more satisfying vape than most limp pod systems can offer a vaper like me.

Oh, if only it lasted. Therein lies the first of two major problems I had with the OPS-1 – coil longevity. Though each of the OPS-1 pods are frugal on e-liquid, each one lasts roughly four fills before the coils begin to sputter and die. And once the first signs of weakening occur, it will barely be a few puffs before the flavor and vapor limp and fade away entirely.

I’m sorry, but a grand total of 8mL shouldn’t kill a modern coil, pod mod or not. Not only is this disappointing from a vaping perspective, but it’s also tremendously wasteful. If Smokjoy plans to make interchangeable coils for the pod containers, I’d be more amenable, but this seems counterproductive for the environment, considering how much of the industry is moving toward reusable systems.

The other problem I have is the lack of a viewing window on the side of the OPS-1 device. Without seeing my juice level, I was forced to constantly remove the pod tank and check, making this less convenient than it probably should be.

Ending on a positive, the internal 1,100 mAh battery is phenomenal. Like, “all day” phenomenal. I averaged one charge per day during my testing, and rarely ever saw the LED turn red. Plus, even though this is a direct voltage setup, there was no loss of power in any of the draws, even when the battery life began to fade.

If only the pods took a performance cue from the battery, we might have an even bigger success story here.

Don’t be fooled by the B+ score below – the Smokjoy OPS-1 system is the best, most mature pod mod I’ve tried to date. The flavor and vapor performance were well above what I’m used to from other pod mod devices, and I could definitely see pocketing an OPS-1 for a concert or long day trip. My only knock is that the pods themselves were so weak and wasteful, when other refillable setups last longer, giving more value for the dollar.

But if you’re in the market for a pod mod setup, the OPS-1 is my current gold standard, and I doubt many will disagree.

Score: B+