Product intro and specs
Is Freemax about to change the game again? In 2017, they introduced what is now an industry standard: mesh coil heads. Fast forward to 2025, and they’re taking the concept a step further. The shining feature of the new Freemax REXA PRO and REXA SMART is a line of pods with parallel double mesh coils. It’s essentially two mesh coils positioned side by side in a single chamber. To be fair, Fifty Bar has already implemented this concept in their disposables, but it’s new territory for refillables.
That’s only the tip of the iceberg; the devices themselves are also loaded with ingenuity. They feature beautiful touchscreens and enough functionality to make your head spin. A Bluetooth music player, calendar, alarms, vaping sound effects, timer, detailed puff logs, and more. You want bells and whistles? You got it! These are easily the most advanced pod vapes I’ve ever used.
Intrigue and innovation aside, how do the REXA PRO and SMART hold up after two weeks of rigorous testing? For now, I’ll just say that my opinions are conflicted; keep reading to find out why.
REXA PRO Price: $30.99 (at VapeSourcing)
REXA SMART Price: $31.99 (at VapeSourcing)
Colors: Black, gunmetal, gold, green, white, pink
Build quality and design
Visually, both the Freemax REXA PRO and SMART are stunning. They almost have a “classy futuristic” aesthetic; something deep space explorers might vape at a fancy dinner party. Despite the multitude of cascading ridges and lines, there are no sharp edges or corners; everything feels silky smooth. Both devices have some heft to them, but at 121.8 grams, the SMART is a bit over the top. If you put it in your pocket, be sure your belt is fastened tightly.
The finishes on the units I received are very different, and I much prefer the SMART. Its soft matte paint is subtle, classy, and fingerprint-resistant, whereas the PRO is glossy and reflective. The style of the panels, however, is virtually identical on both devices. At first glance, they’re gorgeous, but the allure fades upon closer inspection. To me, it feels like cheap plastic in a fancy dress. It looks just fine on the PRO, but the robust design of the SMART deserved something more substantial.
Let’s get to the good stuff: the screen. Pod vape screens have advanced significantly over the years, but the REXA PRO and SMART may be a few steps ahead of the competition. Freemax appears to have done everything right here: crisp, appropriately sized fonts, saturated colors, and practical use of space. The touchscreen responsiveness is also phenomenal for such an affordable product; it’s extremely snappy. If the display is the biggest draw for you, buy without hesitation. You won’t be disappointed.
Getting started
How I wish I could say, “Getting started with the Freemax REXA PRO and SMART is so easy!” It’s not. These are incredibly feature-rich pod vapes; expect a learning curve. Here are the basics:
- One click to fire (if button-firing is enabled) or wake up the screen
- Three clicks to enter wattage adjustment mode
- Four clicks to turn button-firing on/off
- Five clicks to power on/off
- Touch the screen for two seconds to change the theme
- PRO: swipe down to access the main menu; swipe up to access the music player and quick settings
- SMART: swipe down to access the main menu; swipe up to access the music player; swipe left to access quick settings
Features and settings:
- Changeable themes and animations
- Bluetooth music player
- Vaping sound effects
- Adjustable brightness, volume, and screen timeout
- Power and Smart modes
- Hour, week, and month puff logs
- Calculator (SMART only)
- Calendar (SMART only)
- Alarm (SMART only)
- Timer (SMART only)
- Two menu styles (SMART only)
While those bullet lists may seem overwhelming, navigating the menu is surprisingly intuitive once you get going. Like modern smartphones, swiping up or down (or left on the SMART) opens various menus, and swiping right takes you back one step. These devices may be complex, but they’re not complicated.
Mechanically, there are three moving parts: a button, an airflow slider, and a touchscreen lock. All are easy to access and have perfect tension. The addition of the touchscreen lock was a great touch. One of the most annoying aspects of touchscreen devices is accidental presses, but with a click of a switch, that problem is eliminated.
Both included pods have a side fill system, but there’s a distinct difference in the design. The standard pods have a rubber plug, similar to XLIM and ARGUS pods (among others). The Duomax pods, however, utilize a sliding plastic door. It’s a straightforward concept, yet it works incredibly well. I love it. The only downside is that the pod must be removed before filling, as the slider is locked in the closed position when attached.
Bluetooth functionality
An especially unique feature of both devices is the built-in Bluetooth speaker. Pairing it with your phone is easy; no app required. Simply enable Bluetooth on your device and scan for it on your phone. When connecting for the first time, the REXA device may request access to your messages, which is unusual. Thankfully, this isn’t a requirement to connect.
Music streaming works surprisingly well. The player is easily accessible (swipe up), and it includes start, back, and forward buttons. Still, the whole concept seems silly. The sound quality doesn’t compare to most smartphones, so why would anyone opt to stream on an inferior speaker? Additionally, these devices could be significantly thinner without speakers, so the unnecessary functionality comes at a cost: portability.
Performance
Both kits include a Duomax pod and a standard REXA pod. While working on this review, I tested two of each; here are my impressions:
0.6-ohm pod (Duomax): Parallel double mesh coils! As much as I enjoy this concept with Fifty Bars, I enjoy it even more with these pods. I assure you, it’s not a gimmick—Duomax technology is truly exceptional. Whether used for RDL (70VG) or MTL (50/50), the flavor is outstanding, and the airflow is remarkably smooth. The longevity is also fantastic—my first pod lasted 34 mL! It’s a shame the kit doesn’t include two of these pods, because I want more.
Performance aside, these pods aren’t perfect. Both have leaked on me: one was severe, the other was relatively insignificant (minor leaking after the first refill). Also, the capacity is 2 mL, which doesn’t last long with two coils. Lastly, it’s difficult to gauge the e-liquid level due to the smoked plastic, the massive coil, and the lack of a viewing window.
0.8-ohm standard REXA pod: This pod is far more basic than the Duomax pod, and my experience reflects that. I used the same e-liquid (50/50, 12 mg) that I used in my XROS 5 review, and the difference was certainly noticeable. Ultimately, this pod feels very average; neither great nor bad. Admittedly, I’ve never been particularly fond of 0.8-ohm pods, so my opinion is subjective. Still, it was like eating a delicious cake without frosting: good but missing something special.
Battery life and charging
REXA PRO: Freemax lists the capacity of the REXA PRO battery at 1300 mAh, but the runtime is a bit underwhelming (5 mL per charge). After plugging it into a USB multimeter, I found that the usable capacity is only 857 mAh. Granted, no device will achieve the capacity listed on the box, but the discrepancy here is much lower than average (ideally, it should be 80% or more).
As for charging time, it takes approximately 40 minutes to go from 3% to 100%. If you’re wondering why I said 3% rather than zero, that’s because you can’t completely deplete the battery. As soon as you hit 3%, it stops firing and flashes the low battery warning. This may be a minor firmware issue with the sample units, but I’m unable to confirm that.
REXA SMART: Being the larger of the two devices, the SMART benefits from a more substantial 1600 mAh battery. And, unlike its little brother, this one tested well: 1377 usable mAh and 7.5 to 8 mL per charge. It takes approximately one hour for a full charge, which may not be lightning fast, but it’s acceptable for a 1600 mAh battery. Unfortunately, it also suffers from a premature battery cutoff (dead at 4%).
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Excellent flavor from Duomax pods
- Solid build quality
- Awesome filling design
- Sharp display with a responsive touchscreen
- On/off switch for touchscreen
- Auto-draw or button-firing
- Battery percentage on display while using and charging
- Five-digit puff counter
Cons
- The screen died on my first REXA SMART device
- Heavy (SMART)
- Overrated battery (PRO)
- Panels feel cheap
- Low battery cutoff at 3% and 4%
- Duomax pods only have 2 mL capacity
- Difficult to see the remaining e-liquid level
- Duomax pods are occasionally leaky
- A magnet fell out of one Duomax pod
- No stealth mode
- Too many unnecessary features (subjective)
Gallery
Verdict
How did we get here? It feels like the evolution of pod vapes has progressed from telegram to smartphone in just eight years. In another eight, they might be self-aware! I have a lot of respect for Freemax for pushing the technology to the limit; that is, after all, the reason the market has reached this point.
Throughout my testing, the obvious standout was the Duomax pod technology. The parallel double mesh coils are flavorful, the pods are easy to fill, and they last a long time. The build quality of the devices is also excellent (aside from the panels); the styling is slick, and the touchscreens are among the best.
Unfortunately, my list of cons is longer than usual in this review. The Duomax pods occasionally leak, only hold 2 mL of liquid, and it’s difficult to see the liquid level. The devices aren’t perfect either. Along with a handful of minor cons, one of my units died on the second day of testing, which doesn’t instill much confidence.
Also, subjectively, the REXA SMART doesn’t feel like a practical pod vape. It’s too heavy and has too many unnecessary features for my liking. However, there are lighter, simpler devices in the REXA lineup (the SQ and NANO), so Freemax has all the bases covered.
Ultimately, the Freemax REXA series seems to be loaded with potential, particularly due to the Duomax pods. With some fine-tuning, they could rival the best on the market.
Jeremy VanOs
Vaping for: 11 years
Favorite products:
Favorite flavors: Tobaccos, fruits, custards
Expertise in: RTAs, RDAs, MTL vapes, coil-building
Jeremy VanOs
Vaping empowered me to kick a lengthy smoking habit in 2014. It changed my life and I never looked back. Although vaping quickly became a hobby, my real passion is helping smokers make the switch and spreading awareness about the potential of these products. I have been writing vape content and working behind the scenes in the industry since 2016.
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