SMOK: The Vape Brand Everyone Knows

SMOK: an overview

SMOK (also known as Smoktech) is the flagship brand of Shenzhen IVPS Technology Corporation Ltd. (called IVPS for short). One of the oldest and most progressive companies in vaping, SMOK has a reputation for pushing the envelope. While many current vapers are familiar with their popular TFV4 sub ohm tank, they have been broadening vaping’s horizons well before that product’s release. From being one of the first companies to use dual coils, implementing Bluetooth technology into vaping devices, and raising the bar for cloud production in sub ohm tanks, SMOK has been a trailblazer.

How do you pronounce SMOK? When they were called Smoktech, most people pronounced it “smoke-tech”. Since they’ve shortened it to SMOK, some people still pronounce it “smoke”, while others say “smock”. When asked for the official pronunciation, the company has responded by saying that there is no incorrect way to pronounce it.

Brief history of SMOK

SMOK was established in 2010 and is located in Shenzhen’s Nanshan district, the global manufacturing center of vaping. The company handles research and development, as well as manufacturing.

The first splash the company made in the vaping world was in 2011, when it released the industry’s first dual-coil cartomizer. At the time, using dual coils was considered bold and uncommon. Through these popular cartomizers, vapers were able to experience a whole new level of flavor and vapor.

2012 wasn’t quite as memorable a year for the company in terms of production, but it solidified SMOK’s reputation for pushing the envelope. The SMOK Telescope had a novel system that allowed it to use different batteries from 18350s to 18490/18500s to 18650s. The company holds a patent for this unique design. The VMax and ZMax mods were the company’s foray into the “new” world of variable-voltage vaping. Like products from the majority of its Chinese contemporaries at the time, Smoktech’s 2012 lineup performed reasonably well, but was aesthetically unpleasing.

In 2013, the company pushed its new “cotton-less” technology in the Pyrex Aro and Tumbler tanks. These tanks used an atypical bottom-coil design to help avoid dry hits. Inspired by one of the most influential vaping devices of all time, the eGo Winder was SMOK’s take on what many consider the original enthusiast e-cigarette. Lastly, the Magneto was an updated version of the Telescope that featured a much better-looking design and a unique magnetic firing switch.

As variable-wattage became the norm, SMOK answered with a bevy of products. The Rocket, Shuttle, and Silenus were variable-wattage mods that were easy to use. The most interesting product in SMOK’s 2014 lineup was the BEC Pro. This was the company’s first vaping device to feature Bluetooth connectivity, a forward-thinking feature that would be seen in future SMOK products.

2015 was a tremendous year for Smoktech. While the company always did well with the mainstream market, this was the first year that the company released products designed to satisfy seasoned vapers. The TFV4 redefined vapor expectations for a sub ohm tank. It was the first tank that allowed the same kind of vapor that, until then, could only be achieved on a rebuildable atomizer running super-low builds. It was a groundbreaking product that changed the perception and expectations of sub ohm tanks. On the mod side of things, its X Cube series combined high-powered variable-wattage vaping with novel Bluetooth functionality. 2015 was a banner year for SMOK in the eyes of enthusiast vapers.

The company’s success continued in 2016. It entered the rebuildable space with the TF-RTA and on the box mod side, the H-Priv offered vapers power and versatility at an affordable price. The company’s Alien starter kit was one of the year’s most popular devices. Naturally, SMOK’s flagship product of the year was the TFV8, the follow-up to the TFV4. Once again, SMOK upped the ante on vapor performance in a sub ohm tank.

In 2017, SMOK raised the bar once again with the TFV12 Cloud Beast King. One of the first sub ohm tanks to utilize duodenary (12) coil heads, it quickly became the go-to choice for cloud chasers. Based on the success of the Alien mod, they also released a device with illuminated lights called the ProColor. Their G-Priv and T-Priv mods continued this trend.

In 2018, SMOK released their first series of pod vapes: The Infinix, Fit and Rolo Badge. Each one was based off of the most popular designs on the market right now. Later in the year, the company updated their pod catalogue with the best-selling Novo, and adopted mesh coils in the Nord, a high performing pod-style AIO device. SMOK has continually demonstrated versatility in an ever-changing industry by continually reinventing itself and staying with the times.

Reputation of SMOK products

Over the years, Smoktech has established a track record of offering reasonable quality at low prices. Beyond that, it has also started some noteworthy trends. When you ask many enthusiast vapers about SMOK, the first thing they think of is big clouds. This is thanks to the TFV4 tank. Prior to this, vapor production was almost exclusively the domain of rebuildable dripping atomizers (RDAs). That the company was able to make its sub ohm tanks synonymous with cloud chasing is a truly noteworthy accomplishment.

The company’s mods have often been experimental. For many vapers, SMOK devices had many firsts. From telescoping tube mods to wood box mods to box mods that can be controlled via Bluetooth, it has broadened the horizons of vaping devices. Its research & development team has created several twists that have influenced the entire vaping scene, whether it be LED lights, touch screens, duodenary coils, etc. While many of its competitors have tried to imitate its designs and technology, vapers were first able to enjoy them on Smoktech devices.

Customer service, firmware updates and warranty

SMOK offers a six month quality guarantee on their mods and hardware. (This does not apply tanks, atomizers, drip tips, pods and e-liquid.) If you happen to receive a defective product, send it back to them with your verification code and proof of purchase. If they determine that it was due to a manufacturing defect, you’ll be issued a replacement free of charge.

They provide general troubleshooting on their website for their most popular products. They also have a toll-free support line that you can reach them at on business days from 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Beijing Time / GMT +8) For after sales support you can reach them via e-mail at support@smoktech.com or for business inquiries at manager@smoktech.com.

Updates for your SMOK device can be found on their official support website. You can google “SMOK upgrade” or just follow the link here. Most of their updates utilize the NuMicro ISP Programming software and they provide simple instructions on how to do it.

SMOK's impact on the industry

SMOK has been one of the most progressive Chinese vaping companies in the industry. It has put a lot of work into developing original products. This hasn’t always been the case with Chinese vaping companies but is the norm now. Back when Smoktech had mechanical tube mods like the Telescope and Magneto, many of its competitors were satisfied cloning existing designs (see Sigelei, for example). SMOK has also shown the value of experimentation: while most of the enthusiast vaping world was hooked on Boge single-coil cartomizers, SMOK’s dual-coil cartomizers proved to be groundbreaking.

But the company’s biggest impact on the modern vaping industry was made, once again, with the TFV series of tanks. It didn’t just set a new standard for sub ohm tanks; it also started the trend of offering multiple types of coils for a tank. There are more than a dozen TFV4 coils available, including multiple rebuildable (RBA) options, and the same can be said for other TFV tanks. The coils range from simple dual-coil setups to stainless steel for temperature control to beastly octuple-Claptons to multi-mesh coils. While it was common for manufacturers to offer two coil options, SMOK introduced a new level of diversity with its TFV coils.

Final thoughts