Few names carry as much weight in the world of vaping as SMOK. Walk into almost any UK vape shop, scroll any online catalogue, or ask a long-time vaper what kit they cut their teeth on, and the SMOK name turns up again and again. For more than a decade the brand has been one of the defining forces in refillable hardware, from pocket-friendly pod kits to the big, bold sub-ohm mods that built its reputation. If you have been searching for SMOK vapes or wondering where to buy SMOK in the UK, this guide is for you. It explains who SMOK are, why their refillable kits sidestepped the disposable ban entirely, how the Nord, Novo, RPM, Nex and mod ranges fit together, and how to set one up so it performs the way it should. It is written in plain English for adults of eighteen and over who already vape or use nicotine, and it sticks to honest, practical information rather than hype.
Who are SMOK?
SMOK is one of the biggest and best-known vaping hardware brands in the world. It has been around since the early days of modern vaping, and over the years it has grown from a small manufacturer into a global household name among vapers. Where some brands stay niche or chase a single product category, SMOK went broad and went bold, producing everything from tiny beginner pod kits to powerful enthusiast mods, along with the tanks, coils and accessories that go with them. That breadth is a large part of why the name is so familiar; whatever kind of vaping you are interested in, SMOK has almost certainly made a device for it.
The brand made its name in the era of sub-ohm vaping, the bigger, higher-powered style that produces large clouds and a warm, airy draw. SMOK's mods and tanks from that period were everywhere, and for a lot of people the brand became shorthand for serious, customisable kit. As vaping matured and pod systems took over for everyday use, SMOK adapted, launching pod ranges like the Nord and Novo that brought its design sensibility to smaller, simpler devices. Today the range spans both worlds, which means a single brand can take you from your very first pod kit all the way up to a full-power mod and tank setup.
What ties it all together is a recognisable design language. SMOK devices tend to be bold, often with eye-catching finishes, resin panels, colour screens on the larger models and a confident, unmistakable look. Some brands aim for understated; SMOK has always leaned into character. That is part of its appeal, particularly for people who want their kit to feel like a piece of gear rather than a discreet gadget. It also helps explain the brand's loyalty: vapers who get on with the SMOK ecosystem, and especially its coil platforms, tend to stay within it.
One thing to be clear about from the start: SMOK is a hardware company that makes nicotine-delivery devices for adult vapers. It is not a wellness product, a stop-smoking service or a health aid, and nothing in this guide should be read that way. Nicotine is an addictive substance, and SMOK devices are intended for adults of eighteen and over only. With that framing in place, the appeal is straightforward. SMOK offers an enormous, well-supported range of refillable, rechargeable kit, with a coil ecosystem so widely used that pods, coils and advice are never hard to find. You can see how the brand sits within our wider line-up on our dedicated SMOK vape page.
Why refillable SMOK kits are UK-legal and cheaper to run
On 1 June 2025 the UK banned single-use disposable vapes, the cheap, throwaway devices you used until they ran out and then binned. That change reshaped the market overnight and left a lot of people wondering what they could still legally buy. The reassuring answer for anyone looking at SMOK is simple: the brand's kits were never affected, because they are built on a completely different principle. Every SMOK device in the current range is refillable and rechargeable, which means it was never a disposable in the first place and was never caught by the ban.
It is worth understanding why that distinction matters so much. A disposable vape is sealed: you cannot refill its e-liquid, you cannot recharge it once the battery dies, and when it stops you throw the whole thing away. A SMOK kit is the opposite. You refill the pod or tank yourself from a bottle of e-liquid, and you recharge the battery over USB-C when it runs low. The device is designed to be kept and reused for a long time, which is exactly the kind of product the ban was intended to encourage rather than remove. That means a SMOK kit you buy today is one you can use with complete confidence that it is here to stay.
The legality is only half the story, though. Refillable kit is also markedly cheaper to run, and the difference adds up fast. With a disposable, you paid a few pounds for a fixed, modest amount of vaping and then bought another one, over and over. With a refillable SMOK kit, you buy the device once and then top it up from inexpensive bottles of e-liquid. A 10ml bottle of e-liquid costs a few pounds and refills a pod many times over, so the cost per millilitre works out dramatically lower than buying disposables or prefilled pods. The more you vape, the more those savings compound.
The only ongoing costs beyond e-liquid are coils, the small heating elements that wear out and need replacing, and these are cheap, typically around two to three pounds each. Factor those in and a refillable setup is still far more economical over time than the throwaway alternative. There is one change worth planning for: from 1 October 2026, a new Vaping Products Duty of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid comes into effect, which will nudge liquid prices up across every brand. That applies to the liquid, not the hardware, so it does not change the basic economics of choosing refillable, but it is a sensible reason to settle on a kit you like sooner rather than later. If you are weighing up where to start, our roundup of the best refillable vape kits for beginners puts SMOK in context alongside the other names worth knowing.
The SMOK range: Nord, Novo, RPM and mods
SMOK's catalogue is vast, but it breaks down into a few clear families once you know what you are looking at. Understanding how they differ is the key to buying the right device rather than guessing. Here is how the main lines fit together, kept general because exact specifications and available versions shift over time.
Nord
The Nord is arguably SMOK's most beloved pod kit line, and for many people it is the device that defines the brand's modern era. A Nord is a compact, refillable pod kit that strikes a balance between simplicity and flexibility. It typically offers a comfortable, ergonomic shape, a decent battery for the size, and crucially a wide choice of coils that let you tune it for a tight mouth-to-lung draw or a looser, airier one. That versatility is the Nord's signature: it can behave like a simple beginner pod or a more capable everyday device depending on the coil you fit. Successive Nord models have refined the formula, but the core appeal has stayed the same, which is a dependable, adaptable pod kit that grows with you.
Novo
The Novo is SMOK's sleeker, more pocketable pod line, aimed at people who want something slim and simple to carry. Where the Nord leans towards versatility, the Novo leans towards portability and ease, with a flat, lightweight profile that slips into a pocket and a straightforward refillable pod system. It is a natural choice for a first device or a discreet everyday carry, and it still benefits from SMOK's coil technology so flavour holds up well. The Novo proves that you do not have to sacrifice much to go smaller; it keeps things easy while still being fully refillable and rechargeable.
RPM
The RPM range sits a step up in capability and is built around SMOK's hugely popular RPM coil platform. An RPM device is a more powerful, more configurable pod kit, often with adjustable wattage, a small screen on some models, and the headroom to push into bigger, cloudier direct-to-lung vaping as well as tighter MTL. It is the pod-mod middle ground: more substantial than a Nord or Novo, with a bigger battery and more control, but still pocketable and pod-based rather than a full mod-and-tank setup. For someone who wants one device that can do tight, high-strength MTL one day and bigger flavour-led clouds the next, the RPM line is a strong pick.
Nex
The Nex is a more recent addition to the SMOK pod family, continuing the brand's habit of refreshing its line-up with new, refillable designs. Like the rest of the range it is a rechargeable pod kit built around the SMOK coil ecosystem, aimed at delivering a clean, satisfying everyday vape in a modern package. As with any newer line, the exact features evolve, but it sits comfortably alongside the Nord and Novo as part of SMOK's current refillable pod offering, giving buyers another well-supported option to choose from.
Sub-ohm mods and tanks
Beyond the pods, SMOK still makes the sub-ohm mods that built its name, including ranges like the Morph and Mag, along with the matching tanks. A mod is a larger, more powerful device, usually with a colour screen, a substantial battery or removable cells, and a wide adjustable wattage range. Paired with a sub-ohm tank, it is built for direct-to-lung vaping and big clouds rather than tight, cigarette-style draws. Mods are the enthusiast end of the range: more capable, more customisable and typically more expensive than a pod kit. They are not the obvious first device for a newcomer, but for someone who wants maximum power, flavour and control, they are where SMOK really flexes. If you want to understand what that adjustability buys you, our guide to the best wattage-adjustable vape kits is a good place to start.
Across all of these, the common threads are consistency and choice. Pod kits typically land somewhere around £15 to £25, making the entry point affordable, while mods cost more given their size and capability. They share a refillable, rechargeable design, they generally charge via USB-C, and the pod kits draw on the same widely available coil ecosystem. You can browse the current SMOK hardware on our vape kits page, where the Nord, Novo and RPM models sit alongside other UK favourites.
Coils and airflow: the RPM/Nord ecosystem
The part of any SMOK pod kit that does the real work is the coil, and this is where the brand has a genuine advantage: the RPM and Nord coil ecosystem is one of the widest and most widely supported in vaping. Get this right and the device performs exactly as intended; get it wrong and you end up with weak flavour, a dry hit or wasted liquid.
A coil is the small heating element that sits inside the pod and turns your e-liquid into vapour. What makes SMOK's system so flexible is that many of its pod kits accept a whole family of different coils, and the coil you choose changes the entire character of the device. Lower-resistance coils with bigger airflow are built for direct-to-lung vaping, producing bigger clouds, more vapour and a warmer, airier draw. Higher-resistance coils are built for mouth-to-lung vaping, giving a tighter, cigarette-style draw with more concentrated flavour and less vapour. Because the same device can take both, a single Nord or RPM can be tuned for very different styles simply by swapping the coil.
The RPM and Nord coil platforms are also remarkably cross-compatible across many devices in the range, which is a real practical benefit. It means coils are easy to find on UK shelves, you are rarely locked into a single obscure consumable, and if you own more than one SMOK device there is a good chance they share coils. That ubiquity is one of the quiet reasons people stick with the brand: you are never hunting around for an unusual part. SMOK's mesh coils in particular tend to heat the liquid evenly across a larger surface area, which is a big part of why these devices deliver clean, accurate flavour.
Coils do not last forever. As a rough guide, a coil typically gives you a week or two of use before the flavour starts to fade or take on a burnt edge, though heavy users get through them faster, and sweeter, darker liquids gunk coils up sooner. When flavour drops off or you taste anything harsh or burnt, that is the coil telling you it is done. Swapping it is a thirty-second job and instantly restores the device, and at around two to three pounds each the running cost is low. The sensible habit is to keep a few spare coils on hand so you are never caught short.
The other half of the equation is airflow. Many SMOK pod kits and all of its mods let you adjust how much air flows through the device as you draw, usually via a small ring, slider or switch. Closing the airflow down gives a tighter, more restricted, cigarette-like draw with more concentrated flavour and warmth, which suits MTL coils and higher nicotine strengths. Opening it up loosens the draw, cools the vapour and produces more of it, which pairs with lower-resistance DTL coils. There is no correct setting; it is purely down to preference. The trick is to match your airflow to your coil: tight airflow with an MTL coil, open airflow with a DTL coil. On the larger mods, you also get adjustable wattage, letting you dial the power up or down to fine-tune warmth and cloud. Spending a few minutes finding your preferred combination makes a real difference to how satisfying the device feels.
Choosing e-liquid and strength
A SMOK kit is only as good as the e-liquid you put in it, and because these are refillable devices, the choice is entirely yours. That freedom is one of the best things about the system, but it does mean understanding a couple of basics so you fill it with something that suits both the device and you. The single most important rule is to match your liquid to the kind of coil and draw you are using.
If you are using a SMOK pod kit for tight, cigarette-style mouth-to-lung vaping, the right choice is almost always nicotine salts, usually just called nic salts. Nic salts are a form of nicotine that delivers a smoother throat hit at higher strengths than the older freebase nicotine, which is exactly what you want in a small, high-strength MTL setup. In the UK, nicotine-containing e-liquid is capped at 20mg, the legal ceiling, and the two strengths you will see most often for pod kits are 10mg and 20mg. As a rough rule of thumb, 20mg suits people who want a stronger hit, often those who recently smoked more heavily, while 10mg suits lighter users or anyone who finds 20mg too intense. There is no prize for going stronger than you need.
If you are using a lower-resistance coil or a sub-ohm mod for bigger direct-to-lung clouds, the picture changes. High-strength nic salts are far too harsh for that style, so DTL vapers generally use much lower nicotine strengths, often 3mg or 6mg in freebase form, in larger shortfill bottles. The general principle is simple: the more vapour a setup produces, the lower the nicotine strength you want, because you are inhaling a lot more of it per puff. Matching strength to style is the key to a satisfying, comfortable vape, and our nicotine strength guide walks through the detail.
You should also pay attention to the PG/VG ratio, which describes the balance of the two main base liquids. Liquids with higher PG are thinner and carry flavour and throat hit well, which suits the small coils in an MTL pod kit; a balanced ratio around fifty-fifty is ideal for that style. Liquids with very high VG are thicker and built for bigger, higher-powered sub-ohm devices, where they produce dense clouds. Put a high-VG liquid in a small MTL pod and you risk poor wicking, weak flavour and dry hits; put a thin, high-PG salt in a powerful sub-ohm tank and it may feel harsh and leak. Matching the liquid's thickness to the device is just as important as matching the strength.
Flavour, finally, is entirely down to personal taste, and the refillable nature of SMOK kit means the whole world of UK e-liquid is open to you. Fruit blends, menthol and ice, tobacco-style liquids, dessert and sweet flavours all work, and the only way to find your favourite is to try a few. A sensible approach is to keep two or three flavours on rotation so you do not tire of any single one, which vapers call avoiding vaper's tongue. Because nic salts come in inexpensive 10ml bottles, experimenting costs very little, and that flexibility is a big part of why people love refillable kit.
What we love about SMOK (and what to watch)
No brand is perfect, and an honest guide should cover both sides. Here is a balanced look at what SMOK does brilliantly and where you should set your expectations.
On the plus side, the headlines are range and versatility. Almost no other brand covers as much ground, from tiny beginner pods to full-power enthusiast mods, which means you can find a SMOK device for practically any style of vaping and stay within one familiar ecosystem as your tastes change. The RPM and Nord coil platform is a genuine strength: coils are widely available, often cross-compatible, and let a single device switch between tight MTL and bigger DTL just by swapping a part. Add adjustable wattage and airflow on many models and you get real control over your vape. The designs are bold and distinctive, build quality is generally solid, and the sheer ubiquity of the brand means pods, coils and advice are never hard to find.
There is also a strong case on value and legality. SMOK's entire range is refillable and rechargeable, so it was never caught by the disposable ban, and refilling from a 10ml bottle works out far cheaper per millilitre than disposables or prefilled pods. Pod kits start around £15 to £25 and coils sit around two to three pounds, so the cost of ownership stays reasonable.
As for what to watch, the main thing is that the sheer size of the range can feel overwhelming at first. With so many models, coils and options, a newcomer can find it hard to know where to start, which is exactly why understanding the Nord, Novo and RPM split matters. The second thing is coil life: like all coils, SMOK coils wear out and need replacing, and sweeter liquids shorten their life, so keeping spares on hand is part of the deal. The mods, meanwhile, are not beginner devices and can feel like a lot if all you want is a simple pocket vape. Finally, because the brand is so popular, counterfeits do exist, so it is worth buying from a reputable UK retailer to be sure you get the genuine article with genuine coils.
SMOK vs the alternatives
SMOK is not the only big name in refillable hardware, and it is worth knowing how it stacks up against its main rivals, because the right choice can come down to small differences in feel and ecosystem.
One natural comparison is Vaporesso, whose pod kits and mods compete directly with SMOK's. Vaporesso tends to be praised for refined, polished devices and its own well-regarded coil platform, and its smaller pods are often pitched at people who want simple, flavour-led MTL. SMOK arguably edges it on sheer range and the breadth of its coil ecosystem, while Vaporesso can appeal to someone who wants a slightly more understated, fine-tuned feel. Both are excellent and both are everywhere in the UK, so it often comes down to which draw and which coils you personally get on with.
Another major name is Uwell, particularly its hugely popular Caliburn pod line. Uwell's strength is simplicity and consistent flavour in small, easy MTL pods, making it a default beginner recommendation. SMOK plays a broader game: it can do that simple MTL pod too, but it also stretches all the way up to powerful mods, which Uwell's core range does not. If you want the absolute simplest first pod, a Caliburn is hard to beat; if you want a single brand that can take you from beginner pod to enthusiast mod, SMOK has more headroom.
It is also worth a nod to Voopoo and Geekvape, both of which make strong refillable pods and mods with their own loyal followings and coil systems. The honest takeaway is that all of these brands make genuinely good kit, and you are unlikely to be disappointed by any of them. Where SMOK tends to win is on the combination of range, bold design and the enormous, widely supported RPM and Nord coil ecosystem, which means parts and advice are never hard to come by. If a friend swears by their Vaporesso, Uwell, Voopoo or Geekvape, following their lead is no mistake either. You can compare options across our wider catalogue on the store.
Setup tips and common problems
A SMOK pod kit is straightforward to live with, but a few simple habits make the difference between a device that performs beautifully and one that frustrates you. Here are the tips that solve the vast majority of issues.
Prime a new coil before you use it. When you fit a fresh coil or pod, the wicking material inside needs to soak up liquid before you vape, or you will burn it on the first pull. After filling, give it a few minutes to absorb, and take two or three gentle draws without firing to pull liquid into the coil. On models with adjustable wattage, start a new coil at the lower end of its recommended range and work up. This single habit prevents the most common complaint with any pod kit, the dreaded dry or burnt first hit.
Fill correctly and let it settle. Open the pod's fill port, tip the device slightly and run the liquid down the side of the pod rather than flooding it straight down the centre, which helps avoid air pockets. Do not overfill past the marked line. After filling, leave the device upright for a minute or two so the wick saturates fully before you start vaping, especially with thicker high-VG liquids.
Match your wattage and airflow to your coil. A surprising number of problems come from a mismatch. If clouds are weak and flavour is thin, you may be running too little power for the coil; if it tastes hot or burnt, you may be running too much, or the wick is struggling to keep up. On adjustable models, nudge the wattage into the coil's recommended range and pair tight airflow with MTL coils and open airflow with DTL coils.
If you get a weak or burnt taste, the coil is usually the culprit. A faint, muted flavour that worsens over a day or two means the coil is wearing out and needs replacing. A sharp, acrid burnt taste means the wick has dried out, often from chain-vaping faster than the liquid can wick, or from running the pod near empty. Slow down, keep the pod topped up, and replace the coil if a fresh fill does not fix it.
If the device leaks or stops firing, check that the pod is seated firmly and the contacts are clean and dry. A little condensation in the airflow channel is normal; wiping the base of the pod and the contacts with a tissue clears it, and storing the device upright reduces leaking. If it will not fire, confirm the battery is charged, the pod is fully clicked in and the contacts are clean, and always charge with a proper USB-C cable. Master those few basics and a SMOK kit will reward you with reliable, flavourful vaping for a long time.
Why buy SMOK at PinkVape
When you are buying a SMOK device, where you buy from matters more than it might seem. Because SMOK is such a popular brand, the market attracts counterfeits, and a fake device or, worse, fake coils can mean poor flavour, unreliable performance and none of the quality the genuine article is known for. Buying from a reputable UK retailer is the simplest way to be confident you are getting the real thing.
At PinkVape, we stock genuine SMOK hardware, pods and coils, and we sell to over-18s only in line with UK law. That means you get the authentic SMOK experience, the correct coils for your model, and the spares you need to keep it running, all in one place. Because we carry the wider SMOK range and the consumables that go with it, you can buy your kit, your pods, your coils and your e-liquid together rather than hunting around. Browse the dedicated SMOK vape page for the current line-up, or head to our vape kits section to see how it compares with the rest of our refillable range. One thing worth planning for is the Vaping Products Duty, a new tax of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid arriving on 1 October 2026, which will nudge liquid prices up across every brand; the hardware itself is unaffected.
Frequently asked questions
What are SMOK vapes?
SMOK is one of the biggest vaping hardware brands in the world, making refillable, rechargeable devices for adult vapers. Its range spans compact pod kits like the Nord, Novo, RPM and Nex, as well as larger sub-ohm mods such as the Morph and Mag and the tanks to match. You refill the pod or tank yourself from a bottle of e-liquid and recharge the battery over USB-C, so a SMOK device is designed to be kept and reused rather than thrown away.
Are SMOK vapes legal in the UK after the disposable ban?
Yes. The disposable ban that came into force on 1 June 2025 targets single-use devices that cannot be refilled or recharged. Every SMOK kit is the opposite of that: it is refillable and rechargeable, designed to be kept and reused, so the range was never affected by the ban and remains fully legal to buy and sell. That is one of the big reasons refillable kits like SMOK's have become the default choice for UK vapers.
How much do SMOK kits cost?
Prices vary by retailer and model, so treat these as a guide rather than a quote. A SMOK pod kit typically lands somewhere around £15 to £25, which keeps the entry point affordable. Mods cost more given their size and power. Replacement coils usually sit around two to three pounds each. You will also buy e-liquid separately, with 10ml bottles commonly costing a few pounds. From 1 October 2026, the new Vaping Products Duty will add £2.20 per 10ml of liquid on top.
Which SMOK kit should I buy?
It depends on what you want. The Novo is slim, simple and pocketable, ideal as a first device. The Nord is the versatile all-rounder, with a wide coil choice that lets it do tight MTL or looser draws. The RPM steps up to adjustable wattage and the option of bigger clouds. The Nex is another solid current pod option. Mods like the Morph and Mag are for enthusiasts who want maximum power and control. For most newcomers, a Novo, Nord or RPM is the natural starting point.
What is the difference between the Nord, Novo and RPM?
All three are refillable SMOK pod kits, but they target different users. The Novo prioritises slimness and simplicity. The Nord prioritises versatility, with a broad coil selection so it can be tuned for different styles. The RPM is the most capable of the three, often adding adjustable wattage and the headroom for bigger, direct-to-lung clouds as well as tight MTL. In short, Novo for portability, Nord for adaptability and RPM for power and control.
What e-liquid should I use in a SMOK pod kit?
It depends on your coil and draw style. For tight, cigarette-style MTL vaping, use nicotine salts in a balanced or PG-leaning ratio, in 10mg or 20mg. For bigger DTL clouds on a lower-resistance coil or a mod, use lower-strength freebase liquids, often 3mg or 6mg, in higher-VG shortfills. The general rule is that the more vapour a setup produces, the lower the nicotine strength you want. Our nicotine strength guide explains how to choose.
Are SMOK coils interchangeable across devices?
Often, yes. The RPM and Nord coil ecosystem is one of the widest in vaping, and many SMOK pod kits share coils, which is a real practical benefit. It means coils are easy to find on UK shelves and you are rarely locked into an obscure consumable. That said, not every coil fits every device, so always check that the coil matches your specific model. Mods and sub-ohm tanks generally use their own dedicated coils separate from the pod-kit ranges.
Why does my SMOK vape taste burnt?
A burnt taste almost always means the coil has dried out or worn out. If it is a sharp, acrid burnt taste, the wick has run dry, often from vaping faster than the liquid can soak in, from running the pod near empty, or from too much wattage for the coil; slow down, keep it topped up and lower the power. If the flavour has gradually faded over a day or two, the coil is simply spent and needs replacing. Always prime a new coil by letting it soak for a few minutes before use, as that prevents most burnt first hits.
Where can I buy genuine SMOK vapes?
You can buy genuine SMOK kits, pods, coils and e-liquid from us at PinkVape. Buying from a reputable UK retailer matters because counterfeits of popular brands like SMOK do exist, and fakes mean poor flavour and unreliable performance. Browse the dedicated SMOK vape page for the current range, or head to our store to shop the wider catalogue. We sell to over-18s only.
PinkVape sells to over-18s only. Nicotine is an addictive substance. This article is general information, not health or medical advice. Prices are approximate and vary by retailer.