It would be redundant to write separate reviews for the recently released vape pens by SMOK. Still,  at the end of April, Julia published her review of the SMOK Stick V8 Baby . Today, I’m going to give you my impressions on that same device, the Stick V8 Baby, along with the larger SMOK Stick V8 and the newest vape pen from SMOK, the SMOK Vape Pen Plus.

For the most part, the SMOK Stick V8 and SMOK Stick V8 Baby are essentially identical, save for the size of the TFV8 tank and milliamps of the batteries, and the SMOK Vape Pen Plus is the same class of vaporizer, but…. but…, well, you’ll see. In any case, here is everything you need to know about these three vape pens from SMOK. You can read our Review on the SMOK Brit One, another vape pen style device we published some months back.

Stick V8 Baby Beast and Stick V8 – $39.99 – $44.99

– Vapor Authority

The SMOK Stick V8 Baby Starter Kit is powered by a 2000mAh battery and topped off with the SMOK TFV8 Baby Beast sub-ohm tank. The larger SMOK Stick V8 offers 3000mAh, and is topped with the SMOK Big Baby sub-ohm tank.

All three vape pens are equipped with a single button, the fire button, no other buttons are needed because there are no settings to change. The batteries are designed to function specifically with their included tanks. Both Stick models use the SMOK “M” class replacement coil (stainless steel heating element). Do not attempt to use a non-M replacement coil with either SMOK Stick pens.

The SMOK Stick V8 Baby and Stick V8 battery functions in a way that the output power directly relates to the amount of battery life that remains in the battery. As the battery drains, so does the output power. This is a common method for most vape pens.

Unlike tubed-shaped mechanical mods, or “mechs” the SMOK Stick V8 Baby and Stick V8 Batteries feature numerous safety protections, which provides for a safe vape experience. Included in these safety protections are an 8-Second Shutoff Protection, Low-Resistance Protection, Short-Circuit Protection, and Low-Voltage Protection.

The SMOK Stick V8 Baby Kit and SMOK Stick V8 comes complete with the 2000mAh, or 3000mAh battery and the TFV8 Baby Beast Tank or SMOK TFV8 Big Baby. The battery is built with an aluminum-zinc alloy, and the TFV8 Big Baby is built with 304-grade stainless steel. The paint job applied to these ‘parts’ creates a seamless look and feel. You won’t notice the difference in materials used simply by holding or using the devices.

The TFV8 Baby Beast has a 3ml vape juice capacity, while the SMOK TFV8 Big Baby is has a 5mL juice capacity. The TFV8 Big Baby is one of my favorite sub-ohm tanks. That said, the M-class Coils are a lot different from the other replacement coil choices for both these tanks.

The M-class replacement coils used in the Stick V8 Baby are the T8-Baby-M2 coil, a Dual-Core Atomizer Coil with a resistance of 0.15Ω. In addition, the kit comes with another V8-Baby-M2 Dual-Core Atomizer Coil with a resistance of 0.25Ω.  It should be noted that the M-class replacement coils are the only coils in the SMOK line that use Stainless Steel instead of Kanthal as the heating element. All SMOK replacement coils use a high grade organic cotton for wicking, but the M-class stainless steel coils allow the user to use the tank in Variable Wattage, Voltage, and Temperature Sensing modes.

SMOK Stick V8 Baby Kit Specs:

• Threading: 510
• Battery Capacity: 2,000 mAh
• Voltage Range: 3.4V – 4.2V
• Liquid Capacity: 3.0ml
• Tank Material: Borosilicate Glass
• Drip Tip Material: Delrin
• Wicking Material: 100% Japanese Organic Cotton
• Drip Tip Diameter: 0.33 Inches (8.5mm)
• Height: 5.35 Inches (136mm)
• Diameter: 0.87 Inches (22mm)
• Available Colors: Black, Stainless, Blue, Red

SMOK Stick V8 (Big Baby) Specs:

• Battery Material: Aluminum-Zinc
• Tank Body Material: Stainless Steel
• E-Juice Reservoir Material: Borosilicate Glass
• Battery Capacity: 3,000 mAh
• E-Juice Capacity: 5ml
• 20amps continuous discharge capability
• Voltage Range: 3.4V – 4.2V
• Standby Current: <200Ua
• Available Colors: Stainless, Black, Blue, Red
• Height: 5.5 Inches (141mm)
• Diameter: 0.96 Inches (24.5mm)

What’s Included with the SMOK Stick Devices?

SMOK Stick V8 Big Baby Kit Includes:

• 1 x SMOK Stick V8 Battery
• 1 x SMOK TFV8 Big Baby Beast Tank
• 1 x V8 Baby M2 Core Atomizer Coil (0.15 Ohms) – (Pre-Installed)
• 1 x V8 Baby M2 Core Atomizer Coil (0.25 Ohms)
• 1 x Vape Band
• 1 x Bag of Spare Parts
• 1 x USB Charging Cable
• 1 x User Manual

SMOK Stick V8 Baby Kit Includes:

• 1 x SMOK Stick V8 Baby Battery
• 1 x SMOK TFV8 Baby Beast Tank
• 1 x V8 Baby M2 Dual-Core Atomizer Coil (0.15 Ohms) – (Pre-Installed)
• 1 x V8 Baby M2 Dual-Core Atomizer Coil (0.25 Ohms)
• 1 x SMOK Vape Band
• 1 x USB Charging Cable
• 1 x Bag of Spare Parts
• 1 x User Manual

Real World Experience

Using either the SMOK Stick V8 Baby or the Stick V8, the performance can be quite something, at least while there is a healthy charge in their respective batteries. The M-class coils produce a decent amount of flavor and cloud production, but they do not come close to the other, Variable Wattage coils offered for these TFV8 tanks.  One of the reasons, of course, is that with a vape pen of any type, there is no adjusting the voltage or wattage. The other reason, the more important reason for my vaping experience, is the decision to use stainless steel wire in the coil. Vendors do not point out this change for Kanthal to Stainless Steel, the ones I’ve seen simply list all the replacement coils that are available for the TFV8 and TFV12 tanks.

Using stainless steel wire in the M coils allows for a lower resistance and the need for less power to fire the coils. There is a slight difference in flavor with stainless steel, but cloud production is almost impossible to quantify.

The SMOK Stick V8 Baby has a better balance between the power of the battery and tank. I was able to take larger, stronger, pulls from the Stick V8 Baby than I could with the Stick V8. In fact, the SMOK Stick V8 put out a stronger vape all around, and when I switched out the Big Baby tank with the M coil installed for the Big Baby I was using on my SMOK Alien 220W, which was equipped with the V8 Baby-X4, (Kanthal) 0.15Ω 45-60W, the vape experience was more to my liking. Although it is suggested to use only the M class coils, you might want to play around with that if you have other TFV8 tanks and coils.

SCORE: SMOK Stick V8 Baby – A

SCORE: SMOK Stick V8 – B

SMOK Vape Pen Plus – $34.99

 Lastly, the SMOK Vape Pen Plus is a very different ‘vape pen’ then the two above. This vape pen doesn’t use a removable or replaceable TFV8 sub-ohm tank. It is a one piece unit that has the glass tank recess into the battery itself. The Vape Pen Plus also uses a totally new replacement coil.

The Vape Pen Plus has a 24.5mm diameter, a 3000mAh battery capacity, and features a top-fill vape juice system that sees the entire “top-cap as drip tip” removed for easy filling. The two air slots are on the battery itself, and provide very good air flow.

The Vape Pen Plus has an intelligent battery system with an indicator of lights around the Fire Button. This battery life indicator blinks 4 times each time the user takes a pull from the pen. When the Vape Pen Plus blinks fast 15 times, it lets the user know that the voltage is lower than 3.3V, and that it is time to recharge the battery with the included MicroUSB cable.

Like the SMOK Stick V8 and Stick V8 Baby, the Vape Pen Plus offers several safety protections, including an 8-second pull protection, low resistance protection, short circuit protection, and low voltage protection.

Performance of the SMOK Vape Pen Plus

Simply put, the Vape Pen Plus performs incredibly well. For the life of me I cannot determine is the heating element is the usual Kanthal that SMOK likes to use, or if like the Stick V8’s M-coils, it is a stainless-steel heating element. That’s an excellent sign, the flavor output is as good as Kanthal, and the cloud production is thick, and voluminous. With its 4 wicking ports the user won’t have to worry about large direct lung hits vaporizing all the vape juice in the cotton and producing a dry hit. The tank itself is a 4ml tank, and the Vape Pen Plus includes two coils of 0.25 ohms in resistance.

Just about everyone here at Spinfuel VAPE enjoyed the flavor and vapor of the Vape Pen Plus more than the Stick V8 Baby and Stick V8, though for a SMOK device, the tank portion of the vape pen was disorienting for a time. It should be noted that the glass is held to the battery, and top cap, with O-rings, and because O-rings do not last forever, the user will need to remember to keep an eye out to avoid possible leaking with a worn-out O-ring.

Score: A

Conclusion

My brother loves to keep a few vape pen style vaporizers around for when he leaves the house to go on errands, or to drive to work. A vape pen is easy to hold, and there is never a question of setting the wattage or the voltage. Just fill and vape. For him, he’s found that each of the SMOK vape pens, including the SMOK Stick AIO ($39.99) have different “moods”.  Leaving the house he might grab the Vape Pen Plus because of the size and performance, or the Stick V8 Baby for its small size and easy hiding. If you have a large collection of devices and add to that collection all the time, that’s easy enough to do.

If, however, you’re looking for a single vape pen device, either as a primary device or something to use on the run, each of the SMOK vape pens will appeal to certain vapers. As for me, the SMOK Stick V8 Baby is my choice, mainly for the flavor and the size of the device. The Stick V8 outputs a little too much power for the M coils included, and only after the battery depletes by a third does it become a device I would enjoy.

Vape Pens are handy, easy to use, and can be hidden away quick and easy. The choice here is all about what you’re looking for. One thing is certainly true; vape pens or AIO’s are plentiful, with good reason. People like using them, and they are certainly affordable.

So, last word? Take your pick.

These three devices, plus many more SMOK products, are available now at Vapor Authority.

John Manzione