The SMOK RPM40 may have many screaming, not another pod system!

It has to be said though, I love a good pod kit. That’s right. A GOOD pod kit. And with a huge abundance of Pod vape kits already flooding the vape world, it’s nice to see manufactures are slowly but surely making the right changes to these kits. And the rise of the pod system is upon us.SMOK RPM40 kit review

Usually featuring the option of both a Direct-To-Lung (DTL), and Mouth-To Lung (MTL) vape, along with replaceable coils and a refillable tank – a pod system seems to be the perfect starter kit.

Especially considering they are generally simple to use and conveniently small, its clear to see why they are on the rise.

What Can We Expect From The SMOK RPM40?

Best known for their cloud chucking Sub-Ohm Tanks (check out our SMOK TFV18 review) and flashy Dual battery mods like the excellent SMOK Morph, Smok have come up with the RPM40 kit.

A kit that comes with 2 different refillable pods which can house the push fit RPM coils in one pod or their Nord coils in the other.

I haven’t had the opportunity to review the SMOK Nord Pod System, but the one and only Kevin Jeffrey rated the Nord extremely highly in his review back in February.

Along with all that lovely stuff, you also get the ability to adjust your wattage, a full bright colour screen and the option of changing the colour of the display.

RPM40 and pod viewSo let’s Crack on with the review and see what this Kit is all about…

The SMOK RPM40 Kit was sent to me for the purpose of review. All views and opinions are solely those of my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of others.

In the Box:

  • 1 x Smok RPM40 Device
  • 1 x RPM Standard Pod – 4.3ml (With 0.4Ω Mesh Coil)
  • 1 x RPM Nord Pod – 4.5ml (With Nord DC 0.6Ω Coil)
  • 1 x USB Cable
  • 1 x User Manual

kit contents

Specs

  • Size: 25 x 25 x 99mm
  • Weight: 99g
  • Battery: Internal 1500mAh
  • E-Liquid Capacity: 4.3ml w/RPM Pod – 4.5ml w/Nord Pod
  • Wattage Range: 1-40w
  • Suitable Resistance: 0.2Ω-2.5Ω
  • Screen: Full TFT 0.96in Colour Display
  • Charging: Via Micro USB
  • Available colours: Bright Black | Prism Chrome | Purple Red | Prism Gold | Prism Rainbow | White | Orange | Green

SMOK RPM40 colour options

Design and Build Quality

Standing only 10cm tall, this cubed shaped Pod system looks fairly solid and I’m really impressed with the different colour styles. Being a Smok product, I was expecting a fairly cheap feeling plastic, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the build quality of the RPM40.

front of deviceI’m also quite impressed with the design. In general, most Pods have a small tank but this beast has over a 4ml capacity in both the RMP, and Nord variations. 2ml pods will, of course, be available for TPD regulated countries.

In the Hand

For something so small the SMOK RPM40 carries quite a bit of baggage, especially once you load it up with e-liquid. However its got that nice sturdy feel that I really enjoy.

For something so compact and portable it’s also bulky and tough feeling – which is something that really isn’t easy to achieve in today’s Pod market.

RPM40 pod in the handRegardless of whether you thumb, or finger fire this device its comfortable to operate. The edges are nicely rounded off making it comfortable to hold and its short enough that you can support the base with your pinkie.

Further to this, the fire button is perfectly placed and has left smok with enough room to fit a nice big colour screen.top of the device

Pods

The pod(s) are removable simply by pulling them out of the device, and they press back into the device with ease.SMOK RPM40 replaceable pods

On the side of each pod is a silicon/rubber plug that opens up like a door for filling with e-liquid.

side fill port on podOn top is a wide mouthpiece which is very comfortable but not removable.

mouthpiece on the RMP40Removing/replacing the coils is super easy thanks to the push fit system that relies on a tight seal to prevent any leaking – but during my testing I’ve had no issues with leaks or flooding of any kind.base of replaceable pods

0.4Ohm Mesh RPM Pod (The Red One)

My kit came with the 0.4Ω RPM Mesh coil but there is also a 0.6Ω Triple Mesh, a 1.2Ω Quartz and a RPM SC coil reading 1.0Ω – There’s also news of an RBA deck which is currently not available but will allow you to build and fit your own coil. Impressive.0.4Ω RPM Mesh coil for RPM40

0.6Ohm RPM Nord Pod (The Black One)

My kit came with the 0.6Ω Regular DC Nord coil, but there is also a 0.8Ω MTL, a 1.4Ω regular and a 0.6Ω Mesh coil available.

0.6Ω Regular DC Nord coilWith an abundance of coil options, I really wished they had supplied me with a MTL style coil to see if this kit can really boast being an ‘All-In-One’ Kit.

With the 2 coils supplied, it’s definitely not capable of a Mouth-To-Lung vape.

Both pods deliver a very airy Direct-To-Lung vape, which you can restrict, but only by plugging one of the 2 airflow slots with your fingers, which quite frankly is difficult to do whilst vaping.

How To Fill the SMOK RPM40 Pod

To fill the pod with e-liquid you firstly remove the pod from the battery part of the device, then:

  1. Lift open the rubber plug
  2. Fill with desired e-liquid
  3. Close the rubber plug and re-fit into the device

how to fill the SMOK RMP40 podOnce you fit the pod back into the device, the device will display ‘POD ATTACHED’ and you’re ready to go. Give it 5 or 10 minutes though to allow your vape juice to soak into the coil.

Display & Functions

The SMOK RPM40 has an excellent clear screen for a tiny device. The full colour 0.96in screen is nicely positioned and is easy to read, even in daylight conditions.

Yes it may be a little on the small side for those who struggle with their vision – But the text on screen is sharp and bright.

On the home display you will see your battery life, current wattage setting, puff time, resistance of your coil, Voltage and Puff-Count.

To adjust the wattage, the 2 buttons below the screen will adjust the wattage from 1w, up to 40watts in 1watt increments, with no round-robin option.

At the bottom of the display are a number of coloured squares which indicate what colour the accents on the display are, which can be selected by quick pressing the fire button, and the PLUS button at the same time.

OLED displayThree clicks of the fire button will lock the device, and pressing the fire button and MINUS will reset your puff counter.

lock the RMP40That’s as far as the Display and functions go – Nice, simple and easy to operate even for newer vapers.

SMOK RPM40 Performance

During my testing, I’ve been vaping on a varied range of e-liquids, from fruits to cakes.

I’ve really gone to town with these pods to test their diversity and also how well they manage different e-liquids on the same coils, which is something I always try to avoid.

Generally speaking, both Pods perform very well and I experienced no dry hits or lack of flavour.

Even at higher than recommended wattage, I really cannot fault either coil for their durability and they both wick relentlessly meaning you can chain vape on the device, even at Max wattage.

battery and two podsI doubt you’ll experience anything close to a dry hit. Very very impressed for a tiny pod system.

Flavour & Cloud

RPM Pod – 0.4Ω Mesh Coil

At around 35w, which is 10w more than recommended, I was surprised by the vapour production at first, and then the flavour which comes behind it is very good also.

Of course vaping at 35w may hinder your battery life, but I’m not going to complain when a small device like this is delivering a flavour-filled vape and a surprisingly dense cloud to boot.

Nord Pod – 0.6Ω Coil

I really enjoyed this pod at the 25w mark which is 5w higher than recommended. I think maybe Smok have underestimated the performance of these coils, or maybe 20w recommended is just to try and stretch the longevity of the coils.

But at 25w I am getting good flavour, and a decent little cloud from the 0.6Ω Nord coil. Not quite as full-flavour as the RPM coil, but still impressive and I can see why people are enjoying the Nord vape pod so much.RPM coils

Airflow

With 2 large airflow slots on either side of the device, it’s clear that the airflow is really dictated by the coil you install into the pod.

So unfortunately I cannot really comment on how this device would perform with a more MTL based coil – However with the 2 coils I’ve been testing, the airflow is slightly restrictive, but about where I like it.

side view of deviceThere isn’t any whistle or turbulence and the airflow isn’t loud either. A pleasant vape all round.

Battery Life

A 1500mAh battery capacity is impressive for a small cube-shaped pod. It almost seems like they’ve just snuck a single 18650 battery in there?

USB portIf you happen to be using the 0.4Ω coil, you’ll probably realise the battery may not make it through a full day. But with a 2hr charging time, and Pass-Through charging as well  -I doubt you’ll have many concerns.charging the RMP40

Pros:

  • Really nicely built
  • Huge e-liquid capacity
  • Nice bright Display
  • Good battery life at around 25w
  • Good flavour from both Coils
  • Extremely portable and comfortable

Cons:

  • Manual airflow adjustment would be nice
  • At present, doesn’t include an RBA deck

Final Verdict

I’m struggling to find negatives for the SMOK RPM40. I suppose my one issue currently is that I haven’t been able to test this system with a nice MTL coil to see how it performs in that style.

It’s easy to slap a label on a box and call it ‘The Real Pod Mod’ but in practice, what I’ve experienced with this ‘Pod Mod’ is a Direct to Lung (DTL) Pod system with the bonus of having a much larger pod capacity than usual, a colour screen, adjustable wattage and slightly better battery performance.

There’s a number of features that I look at when trying out a device, and for something to score highly, it needs to meet certain demands.

‘Would this device be long lasting and still work 3, 6 or even 12 months from now?’

This is the best built Smok device I’ve ever had the privilege of testing. Its solidly built from top to bottom and the fact you get 2 different pods means your options are almost endless.

The 1500mAh battery is more than sufficient and even 6 months down the line, it’ll still be carrying a decent charge to get you through the day

Does this device deliver the flavour, vapour and general experience I require, in order to be enjoyed?

For a compact device, the DTL experience from this device is very impressive. And it packs some flavour to boot. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed vaping on both the Nord and the RPM Pod – however if I had to choose – I’d stick to the RPM coil.

Is this device versatile to suit a new vaper, and an experienced one alike?

As I’ve said earlier in this review – it really is a shame Smok doesn’t include a MTL coil as this is 100% an excellent starter kit for someone new to vaping.

But regardless of your reason to purchase the RPM kit, you will really be impressed by its performance and build quality. And with a Rebuild-able Pod (RBA) coming soon, this device might well find its way into a lot of vapers pockets.

Did you buy the Smok RPM40 kit? Or have you given it a try? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Ecigclick Reviewer Flat Cap Vaper
FlatCap Vaper

Hey Folks. Im Gaz, The Flat-cap Vaper. I’m married with 3 kids and I just love Flatcap's and Vaping! I started my e-cigarette journey in 2014 when I entered my local vape shop and got so well looked after, I ditched my 10 year habit of 15 roll-ups a day within 48hrs. Following on from this, my Vaping journey began. I started a Youtube Channel at the beginning of 2019 and so far has had over 800,000+ views. I quickly upgraded my device and that’s when my geeky side took over and I began to experiment with making my own liquid, building my own coils and even my own mods! As a trained electrician I suppose ohms, wattage and voltage runs through my veins so Vaping has become my hobby and a passion that I want to share with everyone.

REVIEW OVERVIEW
Build Quality - Mod
8.5
Build Quality - Pod
9
Design - Mod
8
Design - Pod
8
Display & Functions
9
Flavour - RPM 0.4 Coil
8
Flavour - Nord 0.6 Coil
7
Replace If Lost?
7
Hey Folks. Im Gaz, The Flat-cap Vaper. I’m married with 3 kids and I just love Flatcap's and Vaping! I started my e-cigarette journey in 2014 when I entered my local vape shop and got so well looked after, I ditched my 10 year habit of 15 roll-ups a day within 48hrs. Following on from this, my Vaping journey began. I started a Youtube Channel at the beginning of 2019 and so far has had over 800,000+ views. I quickly upgraded my device and that’s when my geeky side took over and I began to experiment with making my own liquid, building my own coils and even my own mods! As a trained electrician I suppose ohms, wattage and voltage runs through my veins so Vaping has become my hobby and a passion that I want to share with everyone.
smok-rpm-40-reviewThe only thing I'm worried about right now is how long I have to wait before I can try out an RBA deck on the RPM40 device. The RPM40 is simple, built to last and offers a massive range of coil options meaning it should suit any style of vaping from newbies to those who want a small compact kit for their back pocket.

22 COMMENTS

  1. I have bought 2 of these RPM 40 kits. On one of them after 4 months one of the sliding contacts stuck in and would not connect. It was replaced under warranty. I decided I was very happy with this model and bought a new one with a second one . Both are now 9 months old with no deterioration in performance. I changed the supplied 2 ml tanks for new 4 ml tanks and a spare set of coils have removed one coil and replaced it with a new one. SMOK RPM40 gets 10 out of 10 from me. I gave up cigarettes -20 a day for 50 years- the day the first one was delivered and have never smoked them since and had no desire for them since.

  2. New to Vaping and have started with this device to kick the analog habit.

    As a pack a day + smoker of nearly forty years. I have gone with 25mg or 35mg salt nic e-juice and ramped up the coils to RPM 1.2 or Nord Standard 1.4 at 12-14 watts.

    The supplied coils are far too low ohm to get a decent smoke without a harsh throat hit with high salt-nic and the flavour is awful.

    Don’t even bother trying. If you are new to this it WILL hurt and put you off the whole Vape thing.

    Long story short, get higher ohm coils if you are going with high salt-nic e-juice.

  3. Hello,

    Thank you for this post, it was very informative.

    I’m relatively new to vaping.. I have recently purchased the same pod set. I also bought:

    -20 mg 50VG/50VG nic salt juices
    -0mg 75VG/25PG juice (it came with a 15 MG 70VG nic booster)

    Which coil can I use for which one, the 0.4 or 0.6? Or are neither of them good for these juices? I’m trying to quit smoking so would like nic salt but also prefer tasting the juice and producing a moderate amount of vape clouds.

    Any help is appreciated! 🙂

    • Hi Dani,

      I’m actually using the 0.6ohm coil albeit with a different device. I am using a 20mg nic salt with this and it’s all good for me vaping at around 13-14W.

      If using the 75vg then go for the 0.4ohm.

      If you are looking for a more restrictive mouth to lung vape then there are also 0.8ohm and 1.0ohm coils from what I remember. These would also be good with Nic Salt.

      Let us know how you go on!

  4. I’ve owned one a few weeks now, only leak I had was when in my pocket on my recumbent trike on a rough trail! The issue is that the coils are tasting funny within 24hrs, looking at tank and coil I think when liquid in tank goes below the holes in the coil the coils dry out and burn, I can’t think of any other reason?

  5. I have same leaking issue with Max post on 26Jan2020.

    I have just purchased Rpm40 weeks ago.
    I am using both Rpm Mesh 0.4 Ohm coil which stated recommended wattage is 25w, and Nord Dc 0.6 ohm coil which stated recommended wattage is 20w. E-Juice is 50PG/50VG. It constantly leak out directly from the bottom of coil(not from the silicone cover) just after a few vape.

    I set the wattage between 5w-10w because i can’t stand the throat hit at higher wattage.

    Anyway both default pods is not not leaking when i put them outside on a tissue paper in upright or any 4 sideways for a day.

    I read before some articles mentioned that too low wattage may cause leaking. Is this true ?

    Anyone know what is the possible reason causing the leak just right after a few vape for using both coils ?

    Thanks expert guys for advice and enlightening me.

    • Hi Kenny.

      Its possible that vaping at such a low wattage is causing some pooling of the e-liquid. Basically the low wattage isn’t vaporising enough liquid, causing some to eventually leak out.
      If your comfortable with rebuildables, it may be worth looking into the RBA deck for the RPM40. This will allow you to use a higher resistance coil, and a lower wattage that you like. Which should help with the leaking.
      What your currently doing is kind of like revving the engine, but the engine pulls through too much fuel. Causing a flood/leak.

  6. I got the smok real pod mod RPM 40 kit & I really love it but I also am new to vaping. My problem is by mistake I put a new coil in when it still had juice in it & yes it was a mess. It seems to be working ok but I was wondering if I messed the coil up? Can someone please let me know?

    • Hi Marie,

      Changing a coil out is fine. Only issues is the mess it can cause depending on the device you are using.

      Just ensure all juice is cleaned up on the mod.

  7. Got it last week with the bigger pods of eBay 🤫
    Tried the 1.4 ohm coil in the nord pod at 12 watts
    Ordered some of the 1.0 rpm coils WOW
    Best MTL vape I’ve had for a long time at 14 watts
    Battery is brilliant and charges in no time
    Happy Tooter 😄

  8. I had a smoke nord I was happy with but got frustrated by the small tank it came with. When I saw the RPM had a larger tank I immediately bought one from China. Very pleased with battery life and features, one problem I had with Nord was perishing of rubber seal on tank, hope they have figured it out.

    Month in, no complaints.

  9. So, I’m a rookie to vaping, I purchased this to wean me off smoking. However, the salesman said one coil is strictly for salt nic, and the other for regular. I forgot which was which, but does it truly matter? I don’t understand all the lingo, so apologies if this was covered and I just didn’t understand it. I put regular (non-salt) in the Nord pod, and salt nic in the RPM. The RPM with salt nic is flavorful and smooth, and I can go up to 40w just fine if I need to. The Nord with regular is harsh and hurts my throat even at low wattage (5-10). So maybe I got it reversed or it really doesn’t matter? Thanks in advance for any input!

    • I’m not sure what resistance (ohms) the coils you are using are Allena but there are no coils that specifically for nic salt e-liquids as such.

      Getting a harsh hit with regular e-liquid could be down to high nic strength and/or high PG ratio in your e-liquid.

      If you can let us know the resistance of the coils, the PG/VG ratio and nic strength you are using for each coil we may be able offer more help 🙂

      Thanks

    • The 1.4 ohm is for Nic salt. Anything under 1.0 ohm is sub ohm vaping it produces more vapour so because Nic salts has so much of nicotine compared to freebase liquid you may get nicotine poisoning

  10. Many UK retailers only stock the EU TPD version of the RPM40 kit, the one with the tpd 2ml pods. Are these different from the standard version or is it the identical device but with just smaller pods? If so then will a 4.3ml pod fit the EU tpd version of the Smok RPM40?

    • Hi Lee.

      Have a look on the Smok website, it looks as if there is some form of section installed into the TPD pod to limit the capacity down to 2.0ml. Not sure if its removable at all. They appear to be the same size, in fact im pretty sure the Pod will need to be the same physical size to work on the device. But the capacity is limited via some form of section installed inside the pod. https://www.smoktech.com/kit/rpm40

    • Hi they have a rubber bit inside you can use a screw and screwdriver to get it out its very easy, I did it on both my nord and rpm takes 5 mins.

      • I’ve used the RPM40 for about a month and I’ve found it to be awful. It constantly leaks. I read that the smoke gets trapped under the mouthpiece and condenses back into liquid and leaves the pod covered in liquid. I’ve also found that it spits liquid into your mouth regularly if you’re taking a hard pull. Right now it’s sitting on a piece of tissue because I just filled it up but the liquid seems to be dripping from the bottom of the coil. I’m going to bin it as soon as I buy a new kit. Wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.

        • I know I am literally a year late on my opinion .
          However , for me personally this little guy is what has honestly been actually for the very first time helping me to not want fo smoke cigarettes anymore.
          I’ve been vaping on & off for the last 4 maybe 5 years. More off than on. I kept on quickly returning back to the stinky, nasty cigarette habit because I just never really felt satisfaction with the old style vaping pods. I actually purchased the Smok Real Mod Pod RPM 40 on a whim one late afternoon while I was in my local head shop
          Anyhow this little mod pod can easily assist me in never smoking cigarettes again. I’ve had zero troubles in leaking or any other negative factors on the Smok system
          The only negative factors have been in user error in my little smoking besst machine.
          Maybe that’s why yours has been giving you troubles. Everyone I’ve spoken to about this particular device has had the same beautiful experience as I’ve had.
          I will say coincidentally my boyfriend purchased me new coils , the RPM Quartz 1.2 I am not a huge fan at all of these particular coils. I absolutely loved the RPM coil that was in the original setup. I liked the other cool provided a little bit less than the RPM. I can say that I enjoyed the Nord coil much better than I am liking these new RPM 1.2 not at all a fan of my new coils.
          Overall I planned on purchasing another one of these pods for backup.. Along with the new Smok that goes to 80 Watts

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