Product intro and specs
The SMOK Trinity Alpha is a pod-style AIO in a shape that’s getting very popular lately. It shares a few things in common with the SMOK Nord but has a boxy form factor reminiscent of the Lost Vape Orion series and a few new additions. The Trinity Alpha utilizes 2.8 mL pods that are cross-compatible with the entire line of Nord coils. They feature a slide-to-open top fill system and a replaceable 510 drip tip. The kit includes a pod and both an MTL coil and a mesh DL coil.
The Alpha has a built-in 1000 mAh rechargeable battery and three different power modes. It’s available in six colors with elegant resin-style panels. I’m interested in seeing how it compares in performance to the Nord and the Caliburn, some of my current favorites.
This device was sent courtesy of Direct Vapor for the purpose of this review.
Colors: black, chrome, rainbow, blue, red, gold
Build quality and design
The Trinity Alpha takes on the form of a traditional box-style vape with a sleek compact form factor. The lines are getting blurred between pod vapes and all-in-one vapes these days. They are starting to look more like walkie talkies, but I’m on board with it.
The Trinity Alpha features resin-printed panels which gives it a high-end look that I really like. It feels much lighter and flimsier than an actual mod, but it’s also more affordable. The overall build quality is acceptable considering its price tag.
The device weighs a little bit over 90 g with a full pod. It’s 91 mm in height, 38 mm in width and 16 mm in depth. It’s a little thicker than the Orion DNA Go, but stands at around the same height. The pod can be released by clicking the latch on top. It has four LED lights to monitor battery life and indicate power modes. Overall, it’s an attractive all-in-one setup.
Trinity Alpha pod and coils
The Trinity pods are made of a tough plastic material and have a 2.8 mL capacity. That’s 0.2 mL less than the Nord, but still four times the capacity of a regular JUUL pod. The top the pod is tinted, which looks great, but makes it harder to monitor liquid levels without taking out the pod. Unlike the Orions, the airflow is not adjustable. But the Trinity does allow you to swap out the mouthpiece with our favorite 510 style drip tips, which is pretty sweet. SMOK also has matching resin drip tips available for each color, but they are unfortunately sold separately.
The top of the pod features a stainless-steel sliding top fill port. It doesn’t lock into place with much authority, but it hasn’t opened without my permission yet, so I can’t really complain. One of the coolest features of the Trinity Alpha is its filling mechanism. All you do is slide the fill port on top and dump your e-liquid in. This is a real game changer if you’re on the go and just need a quick refill. On the SMOK website, there is a TPD 2 mL version available in the EU that apparently has a top fill cap that screws on and off, similar to the one of the Orions.
The coils are replaceable and are held in securely by O-rings, so there are no threads on them. The actual pods could potentially last a very long time, as long as you keep them clean and change the coils when necessary. I find it funny how we went from buying coils, to buying pods, to now buying coils and pods.
The kit comes with one pod and two coils: a mouth to lung 0.8-ohm mesh coil and a direct lung 0.6-ohm mesh coil. There are also two 1.4-ohm MTL coils available, a ceramic coil and a regular one. All of the coils are cross compatible with the Nord series of vapes. The coils produce very strong flavor for a pod system.
I tested the pods using a variety of coils. I have yet to try the ceramic 1.4-ohm coil, but I heard they weren’t so great. The 1.4-ohm regular MTL coils worked well with 50 mg nic salts. I also enjoyed using the 0.8-ohm MTL mesh coil with lower-strength nic salts between 25 and 35 mg.
The 0.6 DL mesh coil puts out the most vapor by far, and pushes the device close to its output limit, which can be taxing on battery life. I didn’t have a problem with any particular VG ratios, but the DL mesh coils seem to be more suitable for high VG content. They also were my favorite coil for CBD vape oils but they also work great with regular old freebase 3-6 mg nicotine e-juice.
Performance
I can’t help but compare the Trinity Alpha to the Nord, since it uses the same exact coil heads. The draw is the restrictive lung hit that I would expect, which is not quite a true MTL draw, even with the MTL coils. They produce comparable flavor to the Nord, which is about as good as you can get for a pod system right now. The “hard” setting allows you to achieve a slight boost in flavor but keep in mind it will wear out the coils a little bit quicker.
I didn’t get that sharp of a throat hit with this device, even using 50 mg nic salts. It has two airflow slots, which provide a wooshy draw no matter which coil you use. You can cover one of the slots with your finger or a piece of tape if you want a bit more restriction, but I happen to enjoy this style. The vapor never gets too warm, it’s usually a bit on the cooler side, even on its max output setting. I really like the addition of the replaceable 510 drip tip because it gives it a very comfortable and familiar feel.
The vapor production is quite impressive, especially using the 0.6-ohm mesh coils on hard mode with a full charge. The vapor production with the MTL coils is more discreet, but still much more prominent than a device like the JUUL.
Aside from the standard condensation on the bottom of the pod, I didn't experience any leaking, spit back or popping while using the Trinity. I did get some minor gurgling which usually subsided rather quickly. For the most part, the coils performed really well with the Trinity.
Battery life and charging
The SMOK Trinity Alpha has a 1000 mAh internal battery. The vape time varies depending on the coil, but the 0.6-ohm coil got me through most of the day with 2-3 refills. The higher-ohm MTL coils use less power and can generally get me through a full day on 1-2 refills of 50 mg nicotine salt e-liquid.
On the highest power setting, the output is not regulated and will be affected by the charge of the battery. The Trinity takes about an hour and a half to reach full battery capacity. It also supports passthrough charging and has the micro USB port located on the bottom side below the mode button. It tends to fall when plugged in so you’re best off removing the pod first.
Using the SMOK Trinity Alpha
Five clicks of the power button turn the device on or off. Clicking the mode button once displays the power setting and pressing it again will cycle through the three different modes. When vaping, your charge power is indicated by the different color LED lights.
Power modes (6-30 watts depending on coil and power level, according to SMOK)
- Green - hard
- Orange - medium
- Red – soft
Battery life
- Green - over 70%
- Orange - 30-70%
- Red - less than 30%
The battery capacity of the Trinity is just 100 mAh less than the Nord, but with the addition of three power modes, your mileage may vary. The coil resistance can also have a significant effect on battery longevity since the output is directly dependent on it. Overall the Trinity has a decent capacity when taking into account its size and weight.
Pros / Cons
Verdict
The SMOK Trinity Alpha is a logical upgrade from the Nord and is very comparable in performance. It’s a nice middle ground between a pod vape and an AIO, which is perfect for people who are transitioning into more advanced vapes from a starter kit. It’s an affordable device that is easy to use. If you already love your Nord but want some added versatility and a slight boost in power, have a look at the SMOK Trinity Alpha. I was never the biggest SMOK fanboy, but you gotta give it up to them lately.
There are a few other devices out there right now that are in direct competition with the Trinity Alpha, mainly the Orion Q and the Geekvape Frenzy. The Orion DNA Go is still the most sophisticated choice, but the Trinity has double the coil options and comes at roughly half the price. It also takes Nord coils, which are widely available at most vape shops these days, so that’s a big plus. All in all, I like the SMOK Trinity Alpha and would recommend it as a slightly more powerful upgrade to the SMOK Nord.
What do you think about the SMOK Trinity Alpha? Leave us a comment below.
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