SMOK IPX 80 Review

There are a lot of pod mods to choose from these days, but when it comes to IP67-rated devices you’re basically limited to GeekVape’s Aegis Boost and Boost Pro. Well, that’s no longer the case, as SMOK recently launched the IPX 80, a shockproof, waterproof and dustproof pod mod featuring variable wattage, dual-airflow control and impressive battery capacity. So without further ado, here is the SMOK IPX 80 pod mod:

SMOK IPX 80 Specifications

• Dimensions: 107 mm x 35 mm x 34.5 mm
• Weight: 130g
• Material: zinc alloy, leatherette
• Battery: 3,000mAh (non-removable)
• Power: 1W – 80W
• Resistance: 0.15Ω – 3.0Ω
• E-liquid capacity: 5.5 ml

SMOK IPX 80 Packaging and Presentation

The new IPX 80 pod mod comes in a rectangular cardboard box featuring a picture of the device, along with pictograms of its main functions, on the front, and a list of contents, the usual age restrictions and nicotine warnings, as well as a scratch-and0check authenticity sticker, on the back.

Inside the packaging we have the SMOK IPX 80 pod mod, along with the included accessories: a USB Type-C charging cable, two different coil-heads, and a user manual.

SMOK IPX 80 Design and Build Quality

SMOK is one of the leading brands when it comes to pod mods. Its Nord and RPM lines of devices are some of the most successful in the business, and the new SMOK Thallo looks very promising as well, but the new IPX 80 is the company’s first foray into the IP67 pod mod sector.

Given SMOK’s history of infringing of infringing on the competition’s most successful designs, I was expecting the new IPPX 80 to look a lot like GeekVape’s Aegis Boost Pro, but it looks nothing like that. If anything, it actually looks like a SMOK device.

The front panel of the IPX 80 pod mod is heavily inspired by the RPM line, especially the RPM 40 pod mod, featuring the same style of buttons and a vertically positioned color display. The refillable pods also look very similar to those of a popular SMOK device, the Novo pod system.

One could say that the leatherette covered body of the SMOK IPX 80 was inspired by the Aegis line, and I’d tend to agree, but in reality this fake leather is so popular these days that every company is using it on their products. Whether it’s fake Alcantara, like on the new VooPoo Drag X Plus, or realistic looking leather like on the Manik Mini pod system, leatherette is everywhere.

One thing that I feel was inspired by the competition is the design of the dual airflow slots of the IPX 80. They look and work suspiciously similar to the airflow system of the Aegis Boost and Boost Pro. SMOK did innovate on the design, though, adding dual slots, that are separated into two halves each and that can be opened and closed individually. I don’t know why you would want to keep one side closed and the other open, but you can…

Like any self-respecting IP67-rated vaping device, the SMOK IPX 80 is wrapped in a rubberized coating designed to both dampen shocks and protect against water. The USB Type-C port on the bottom of the pod mod also features a rubber plug, only it doesn’t go in all the way, so if you try to place the device upright, it wobbles a little bit. That’s one of the few cons I’ve noticed, because the IPX 80 is otherwise a very solid device.

The pods of the SMOK IPX 80 hold up to 5.5 ml of e-liquid, feature a flattened black mouthpiece, the kind we’ve seen on SMOK devices many times in the past, and replaceable coil-heads. The coils are inserted through the bottom, and don’t go all the way in, so don’t try pushing them too hard.

The pods a re held in place by two pairs of magnets, they are not tinted at all, so you can clearly see the juice level inside at all times. The kit includes two types of coil-heads, a round-wire 0.6Ω RPM2 coil-head, and a mesh 0.16Ω coil-head. The former offers a more restricted lung hit, because of its smaller inner diameter, and a cooler vape, if that’s what you’re into.

All in all, the IPX 80 is a solid IP67-rated pod mod that could give GeekVape’s Aegist Boost a run for its money.

SMOK IPX 80 Menu System and Navigation

SMOK’s first waterproof pod mod features a classic, relatively simple and intuitive menu. Essentially, everything is available on the home screen, there are no settings to browse through, and all the different operations are done via button combinations.

To turn the device on and off, press the fire button five times in rapid succession. To adjust the power, you use the two smaller buttons under the display, and to lock the fire button, you just press the fire button three times, rapidly.

You can also clear the puff counter by pressing the fire button and the – buttons at the same time, and change the color of the interface by pressing the fire button and the + button. Pressing the + and – simultaneously will lock those buttons, so you don’t accidentally change the power output.

The screen of the SMOK IPX 80 is really nice for a pod mod; it has decent resolution, it’s fairly bright and it’s a color display. You also get access to all the necessary information, like battery life, power output, coil resistance, puff counter, puff timer and even real-time voltage.

SMOK IPX 80 Battery Life and Performance

One of the most impressive things about SMOK’s newest pod pods is the battery capacity. How they managed to squeeze a 3,000mAh battery into such a compact, lightweight body. That’s a lot of battery life for such a small device, and it should give the IPX 80 a much-needed advantage over the competition.

And to complement the impressive battery capacity, SMOK also added fast-charging technology via the new USB Type-C standard. The charging rate is a respectable 1.4A, which should get the battery from drained to full in just over an hour.

The only con I have about charging is the positioning of the USB port on the bottom of the pod mod. I wish it were on the front panel, just under the + and- buttons, as this way you can’t set the device upright while it is charging.

In terms of performance, I can tell you that the SMOK IPX 80 is a really solid direct lung vaping device. As long as you’re not looking for any sort of mouth-to-lung functionality, you should be very happy with how the IPX 80 vapes.

I’ve found myself using the 0.6Ω coil-head a lot more, simply because I prefer a more restrictive lung hit, with the airflow closed down about three quarters on both sides, but if you like an airier draw and you’re a fan of mesh coils and the flavor they put out, that lower resistance coil-head should do the trick.

The airflow is a bit tough to adjust sometimes, because grabbing a hold of those narrow wheels isn’t as straightforward as it looks, and I don’t like the fact that you can’t even do an MTL draw with the airflow closed all the way, but I guess an imperfect airflow system is better than no airflow adjustment.

I haven’t had any issue with the IPX 80 in the two weeks I’ve been using it for, the coil-heads have been holding up well, and haven’t caused any leaking. I have yet to test its shockproof and waterproof capabilities, so for now I’m just going to take the manufacturer on their word. Hopefully, when I inevitably drop it for the first time, it’s going to take it like a champ.

Conclusion

The SMOK IPX 80 is the first pod mod to give GeekVape’s Aegis Boost a run for its money in this very popular sector of the market, and that alone is worthy of praise. But there is more to this device than a simple competitor to the most popular line of IP67-rated vaping products in the world. It’s a genuinely solid pod mod, with a very attractive design and build quality, great battery life, and an interesting, if somewhat flawed, airflow adjustment system. I honestly hope it sells well, because I’d love to see more products like this in the future.

The SMOK IPX 80 kit was sent to me by Sourcemore, for the purpose of this review. They currently have it in stock for just $28.99.

Tags : IP67,IP67 pod mod,IPX 80 pod mod,mod reviews,pod mods,SMOK,SMOK IPX 80