If you’ve been a vaper for more than a few
days, it’s almost certain that you’re familiar with SMOKtech, aka SMOK. One of the most prolific brands in vaping
history in terms of their output, they’re responsible for a staggering number
of best-selling vaping starter kits, tanks, mods, and coils. And, with no sign of slowing down any time
soon, vapers around the world are consistently eager to see what the brand has
planned for us next.
Not to mention, they’ve become so synonymous
with vaping technology that it’s hard to remember a time before they even
existed. Still, we’re going to walk you
through their history, as their story illustrates their excellence as it
relates to such a competitive market.
The Early Days
Smoktech, or, as they’re better known, SMOK, is
one of the most well-known hardware brands in the vaping industry, acting as
the flagship brand of Shenzhen IVPS Technology Corporation Ltd. (IVPS). Shenzhen, for those unfamiliar with Chinese
industries, is the center of technological innovation, and has become something
of a mecca for vape hardware brands, being home to other massively successful
companies like GeekVape, Vaporesso, and more.
But, SMOK predates most of these household-name
hardware brands, being launched in 2010.
And, if you were hoping that we could settle the debate about how the
brand’s name is pronounced, you’re out of luck.
It turns out that the company themselves doesn’t really care if you
pronounce it “smoke” or “smock,” knowing that both pronunciations are used
widely around the world.
When the brand was established, it was
determined that they would do all research, development, and manufacturing
in-house, which has given them full quality control, while also enabling them
to sell products more affordably. The
first release from the brand was a first for the industry as a whole – the
original dual-coil cartomizer, aptly named the Dual Coil Cartomizer, introduced
during a time when dual coils weren’t common.
Quickly, the brand received attention as vapers quickly discovered that
this innovative design allowed for impressively superior flavor and vapor
production.
In the following year, SMOK quickly proved that
they’re a trailblazing, forward-thinking company. Although the lineup that year never quite
caught on, they did release many more “first-of-its-kind” products, including
the Telescope, utilizing 18350 rather than 18650 batteries, and the Vmax/Zmax
mods which offered a new concept known as variable voltage vaping.
In the following year, SMOK began experimenting
with “cotton-free” coil designs, with the Pyrex Aro and Tumbler Tanks featuring
bottom-coil configurations aimed at preventing dry hits. It was around this time that the brand began
investing more in aesthetics, as well, which proved to be a wise move, as their
products instantly became more appealing to the vaping public. In 2014, they released their first
Bluetooth-compatible device, the BEC Pro.
The Year That Changed Everything
It was in 2015 that SMOK started to really get
worldwide attention. This was when the
brand began to put more effort into emphasizing cloud-chasing as the main draw
of their product output, leading to the phenomenally popular TFV4 Tank, a
sub-ohm tank that changed the face of vaping gear forever. Instantly, SMOK was launched into the
mainstream, being the first tank that was able to provide cloud production on
par with that provided through rebuildable atomizers. This made cloud-chasing a more accessible hobby,
by offering it in a user-friendly form.
The TFV4 led to many, many popular offshoots from the brand, including
the TFV8, the TFV12, and other now-iconic sub-ohm tank and coil designs.
Still paying attention to the needs of
rebuildable enthusiasts, SMOK introduced the classic TF-RTA in 2016, along with
their first majorly successful starter kit, the H-Priv, which was both
affordable and heavily customizable, all while being user-friendly and visually
appealing. The Alien Starter Kit was
also a hit that year, and a best-seller on the market thanks to its streamlined
yet ultra-powerful nature. The G-Priv
and T-Priv came the following year, and by 2017, SMOK was regarded as an
obvious go-to for box mod starter kits.
Pod Systems: A New Era
Many of us remember the shift that occurred a
few years ago, when the development of salt-based nicotine led to an explosion
of pod systems on the market. SMOK was
one of the first brands to introduce high-tech yet user-friendly and compact
pod systems into the vaping sphere, back in 2018 when they launched the
Infinix, the Rolo Badge, and the Fit – 3 top-sellers, which appealed to a whole
new generation of vaping enthusiasts.
But, it was at the end of 2018 when SMOK released their most successful
pod system to date – the Novo, using mesh coils, dual-nicotine compatibility,
and some of the most powerful batteries seen in pod systems. The Novo series continues to be one of the
most lauded of all time, and the brand has continued to release new versions to
show off their latest technology and design innovations.
SMOK’s Legacy
SMOK’s output hasn’t just been impressive –
it’s been groundbreaking. If it weren’t
for the TFV4, for instance, vapers may very well still be struggling to get the
clouds that they crave without using a non-beginner-friendly rebuildable system. And, perhaps pod systems wouldn’t be as
powerful as they are, nor as customizable.
There’s simply no denying that the brand has earned every bit of its
reputation, launching many “firsts,” like Bluetooth compatibility, advanced
light displays, and more. At the same
time, their popularity has endured because their products are truly reliable,
long-lasting, and up for the challenge of satisfying an ever-growing list of
vaping demands. After all, there’s a
reason why there are so many clones on the market, offered by brands who simply
copy SMOK’s trailblazing designs.
The best way to understand what makes SMOK such
a standout is to explore their products for yourself. Check out the SMOK hardware available at The Vape Mall, as you’re certain to
find exactly what it is that will satisfy your vaping needs.
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