Smok RPM4 Pod Reviewed

Welcome back you lot! It’s been a little while since I looked at something from Smok, so we’re going to run through one of their latest devices today.

Smoktech have been around for ages, pumping out new products year after year. They’ve had their up’s and down’s in the industry, and have quite the stigma attached to them by many vapers who have been burnt by lower quality products that they’ve purchased, the Smok Alien debacle really have stuck with them, which is unfortunate, because a lot of their newer products are quite good.

Their coils are a lot better these days with their RPM and RPM2 range, a lot of their styling has improved also, where once you might have seen products made of cheaper components, they’ve really done a lot to move forward and their newer gear is quite modern and built with more reliability in mind.

The RPM pod has seen a few iterations in the past, released around the time the Voopoo Vinci came out and carrying a similar form factor, the RPM has always been an internal device designed to be a more portable and lighter offering.

Let’s take a look at Smok’s latest RPM4 Pod!

Big thanks goes to Smoktech for sending this directly through to me for review!

General Info & Photos

Welcome to Smok’s latest RPM Pod. It’s 4th in the series and just like it’s predecessors, is lightweight, portable and packs a punch! Staying on theme with previous RPM’s the RPM is a square shaped device, not quite as long as other companies with similar Pods, instead a little more short and stumpy.

Featuring a 1650mAh internal battery that will run a maximum 60 watt output and a whopping 5ml e-liquid capacity, the RPM4 comes in at a lightweight 102g and small size of 103mm*25mm*27.9mm, making this quite a lightweight but powerful carry around device, perfect for short nights out, or carrying with you to work.

The Body

There are two different types of design for the RPM4, the standard range, and the leather range. Both are amazing looking products, with various combinations of inserts and colouring. I’ve got the Red from the standard range in these photos.

The main body is really light which leads me to believe that it’s made from an alluminium or light steel as a base, with plastic panels as accents which have a lovely pattern on them that create an almost rubber like feel to the grip.

Up top you have your Pod recess which is quite deep with 2 gold plated connections inside. Below this is your adjustable airflow, adjusted via the lever on the back, which blocks the two slotted airflow holes on either side of the device. On the back is a steel panel, depicting the name RPM4, but it’s the front where all of the action is of course.

On the front face is where the magic happens, a large fire button, 0.96in Colour TFT screen, 2 adjustment buttons are below these and on the bottom of the device is a USB Type-C port for charging.

The POD

The Pod, or Pod I should say, because Smok give you two (bonus huh!) are your typical Pod Mod type of Pods, made from clear PCTG plastic, push in coils, and side fill via the rubber stopper. They are magnetic pods even if the magnets are quite weak, and the Pod seems to kind of fall into the Pod recess without movement anyway, so I guess they don’t need to be that strong. The Pods don’t flick out easily either, so I’m calling this a win.

Both the RPM and newer LP2 pods take a huge 5ml e-liquid capacity, and feature duck bill style mouth pieces. Each Pod is specific to the coil type that it takes, which are included in the box (thankyou Smok) and simply push in to install.

The coils that are included are both quite good, pushing out some amazing flavour, and keeping up with wicking really well. I haven’t had a dry hit yet, which is excellent. They both handle up to their maximum wattage really well, and you really only need to choose which coil to use depending on the type of vaping you do.

• LP2 Meshed 0.23ohm DL Coil Preinstalled
  Good for 20-45 Watts
• RPM Mesh 0.4ohm Coil Preinstalled
  Good for up to 25 Watts

Airflow

The airflow is quite good on the RPM4. It consists of a slider on the back, which opens or closes the vents on either side of the device. The adjustment is really smooth and has a nice resistance to it, so you won’t be adjusting it by accident in your pocket, it has a purposeful movement to it.

The airflow range is quite good too, you can actually get an open MTL draw from this airflow, unlike many others, which you can change up at the drop of a hat and open it up to a lightly restricted DTL draw.

Filling

Filling is ok, it’s not fun, and it’s a little cumbersome, but slow going gets the job done. I feel like the rubber stopper was mounted on the wrong side for a right hander, and you kind of have to hold it back while guessing how your filling is going. Because the fill port is quite small, there is a large possibility of overflow, or back pressure, so you’ll need to go slowly. This is probably my least favourite part of this device, it’s a little bit of a let down, now I know how left handers feel!!

Having said all of that, the rubber stopper does a good job of keeping the e-liquid in, just make sure it’s clean enough or you might see some left over juice make it’s way down the pod.

Battery

The battery is of a reasonable size, at 1650mah it’s small enough to keep things lightweight and large enough to give you an hour or two of vaping on higher wattages. You can vape on this while charging from the USB Type-C 1.5Amp charging port on the base, which should get you charged in about an hour. A very typical sized battery for this type of device.

Any Leaks?

I haven’t had a leak, but there has been a little seepage from the coils. I’m guessing that these excellent coils wick so well that they eventually to get juice logged and proceed to let e-liquid through the bottom despite Smok’s latest leak proof technology.

Usage & Features

The RPM4 is a joy to use because it’s so simple. Besides turning the device off/on and adjusting wattage, you can clear the puff counter, change screen colours, lock your wattage, or lock the entire device if you want.
The buttons have a really nice feel to them and the screen is bright and cheerful, with all of the information you might need, neatly presented in a clean font.

Here’s how you do various things:

• Power On/Off: x5 clicks of the fire button
• Lock device: x3 clicks of the fire button
• Lock Wattage: Press +/- simultaneously
• Change screen colour: Press Fire/+ buttons simultaneously
• Clear puff counter: Press Fire/- buttons simultaneously

Pros:

• Small form factor
• Quality build
• Easy to use
• Excellent flavour and vape
• Instant Firing

Cons:

• A little leakage under the Pod
• Can be a little cumbersome to fill

Where to Buy:

As always, you can purchase the RPM 4 kit directly through Smok via the Smok online store. They are listing it at the moment for around the $40 USD mark which is a pretty good price.

Conclusion

All in all the RPM4 kit is a pretty good offering from Smok, they’ve achieved a really lightweight and comfortable form factor that punches power when you need it. I’ve found myself reaching for it, when other heavier devices just aren’t necessary, which is a lot of the time!

I like that the Smok have matched the battery size to the portability of the device, too large and it would have been too heavy, but 1650mah is quite reasonable. Another notable specification is the 5ml e-liquid capacity which is fantastic, large enough to last a good while without adding too much size to the whole thing.

There were a few cons from me, mainly the cumbersome filling and the slight seepage that I’ve gotten from the coils, but they’re not major deal killers, they are both things you can live with, just as long as the seepage doesn’t get too serious!!

My favourite part? How this little device hits. It punches power really well, with a very quick response time, so if you’re looking for a very satisfying, dense vape, the RPM4 does a great job.

Nice work Smok!

Shane Presser

Shane Presser has been vaping since 2013, and has extensive experience with advanced equipment, coil builds and DIY mixing. He is the man behind VapersGarage, and also more recently Aussie Vape Stores, a resource to help vapers find their nearest Vape Shops, and eLiquid Vendors.