SMOK Nord 4 Review

My, how time flies in the vaping industry. It seems like only yesterday SMOK was launching its original Nord pod system, and now we’re already at the fourth iteration. The new SMOK Nord 4 improves on some of the most critical aspects of vape pod design and performance, including airflow control and battery life, but also retains all the elements that made its predecessors so popular.

SMOK Nord 4 Specifications

• Dimensions: 105 mm x 33.7 mm x 24.5 mm
• Material: zinc alloy, PC+ABS
• Battery: 2,000mAh (non-removable)
• Power: 5W – 80W
• E-liquid capacity: 4.5 ml

SMOK Nord 4 Packaging and Presentation

The SMOK Nord 4 comes in a rectangular cardboard box featuring a picture of the device and pictograms of its main features on the front, and a list of contents, a giant list of warnings on the back, and manufacturer information and a scratch and check authenticity seal on the sides of the box.

Inside the packaging we have the Nord 4 battery unit sitting snug next to the included charging cable and two refillable pods, each with a pre-installed coil-head. Underneath the Styrofoam holder we have another compartment which holds the included reading material, a thick user manual, warranty card and quality control card.

SMOK Nord 4 Design and Build Quality

The first thing you’re bound to notice when opening this kit is how large the Nord 4 is compared to the previous iterations. The SMOK Nord 2, for example was a much more compact pod system, although it did have a smaller battery capacity (1,500mAh), but still, if you prefer slick vape pods, this may not be for you.

Aside from the larger, bulkier frame, the design of the Nord 4 is reminiscent of previous entries in the series. The pods retain that same wide, flattened mouthpiece and side fill port, the fire button is the same as that of the Nord 2, and the side-positioned display is very similar as well.

However there are some interesting new elements that stand out. First, the newest member of the SMOK Nord family features the USB Type-C standard, but the one I found most intriguing was the dual-sided airflow control system. It reminds me a bit of the style of airflow control we saw on the GeekVape Aegis Boost Pro, but also of the newer SMOK IPX 80.

The airflow control system consists of two plastic wheels, one on each side of the device, which need to be rotated to open and close the airflow slots cut into the body of the battery unit. It’s a simple yet effective system, which allows users to fine tune their vaping experience, but it has one small flaw.

To open and close the airflow on the Nord 4, you need to put your fingernail in a small notch on the plastic wheel and rotate it. It’s ok if you have small hands, but people with large fingers may struggle a bit. Still, the mere addition of an airflow control system is a big plus.

Locating the display can be a bit confusing to new users at first, as both sides of the device look almost identical. For some reason, SMOK decided to use the same display cover on both sides of the device, and the only way to tell which one is the real display is by the presence of the two small power adjustment buttons.

The screen was kind of a disappointment, as it’s really small, black and white and has a rather poor resolution. It’s essentially the same display they used on older models, and not even adjusted for the size the Nord 4. Still, this is a pod system, so I can’t really complain, as most other similar devices don’t even have a screen.

Just like the Nord 2 we reviewed a while back, the SMOK Nord 4 comes with two different style pods. They look the same at first glance, but one actually takes classic RPM coil-heads – the type we’ve seen before on the RPM40 and RPM80 Pro pod mods – and the newer, beefier RPM 2 coils. You can tell them apart by the size of the coil- hole on the bottom, but also by the markings on the red fill port.

The pods both hold up to 4.5ml of e-liquid and are lightly tinted, so you can keep an eye on the juice level as you vape. The pods connect to the battery unit via a classic magnet system that works very well, snapping in place and keeping the pods firmly in place.

Battery Life and Performance

The SMOK Nord 4 is a powered by a non-removable 2,000 mAh battery, which offers about average battery life for a pod system. That said, it does require extra space, so the Nord 4 isn’t the most compact pod system on the market.

The USB Type-C interface allows fast-charging, which means that you will be able to fully recharge the device in just over an hour.

When it comes to performance, I think it’s safe to say that this is the best Nord product yet. Not only is it the first to incorporate some sort of airflow control, which really makes a huge difference, but it also has the highest power output by far. The Nord 2 had a maximum output of 40W, while the fourth generation can output double that, allowing you to take full advantage of those big RPM2 mesh coil-heads.

Although I’ve always been a fan of SMOK’s RPM coils, the new RPM2 series is much better, at least when it comes to direct lung vaping. And the Nord 4 is all about Dl vaping. If you’re looking for a mouth-to lung option, you won’t find it here, this device and the coil-heads it comes with are all about chugging big, warm clouds of vapor.

Conclusion

The SMOK Nord 4 is the most advanced Nord pod system yet. It has the largest battery capacity, the highest power output and the highest e-liquid capacity. It also benefits from a dual-airflow system, which, while not perfect, makes a huge difference towards personalizing your vaping experience. Those RPM2 coil-heads, although visibly thirstier than the older RPM ones, perform amazingly. I really don’t have much to complain about apart from the size and bulkiness of the battery unit, to be honest.

The SMOK Nord 4 was sent to me by NewVaping, for the purpose of this review. They currently have it in stock for just £29.99.

Tags : Nord 4 pod system,pod systems,SMOK,SMOK Nord 4,vape pods