History of Smok Novo

The Smok Novo 4 Kit is a compelling draw-activated vape design and part of the Smok Novo family. The first Smok Novo was launched in 2018.

Smok Novo was originally designed to be a refillable alternative to the popular Juul system. As such, the Smok Novo was an ultra-portable device optimized for vaping potent salt nic vape juice.

Of all the Smok Vape kits, suffice it to say there have been many, the Novo was always the most portable and focused on ease of use. Today, it makes one of the best disposable vape alternatives on the market. 

With no buttons or screen, the first Novo provided any easy-to-use vaping experience for both beginners and seasoned users. The Smok Novo 2 and Smok Novo 3 were essentially identical devices which had more wattage, superior pod designs, and a larger battery when compared to the original. These timeless classics remain commercially viable and their pods still widely available. There are Smok Novo Master kits which offer enhanced technology yet still can utilize these pods. The Smok Novo 4 tested today does not have this backwards compatibility. 

Vaping.com carries an extensive collection of the best Smok Novo models because they are a less wasteful alternative to disposable vapes and provide a top tier vape experience which is accessible to an initiate and satisfying for long-time users. The Smok Novo 4 kit has everything you need for a discrete and flavorful vaping experience. 

Smok Novo 4

After the rousing success of the Smok Novo 2 and 3, the Smok Novo 4 emerged as a clean sheet upgrade. It provides the preferred vaping style of most adult vapor consumers but offers the user more control when consuming e-liquid products.

Smok Novo 4 Specifications

• Output Range: 5-25W
• Battery: 800mAh
• Charging: USB Type-C
• Airflow Control
• 0.49" OLED Screen
• Enhanced Leak Prevention
• Low Voltage Protection
• Short Circuit Protection
• Dimensions: 93.5 x 26.5 x 17.7mm

Smok Novo 4 Features

• OLED Screen
• Adjustable Wattage
• Adjustable Airflow
• LP1 Replacement Coils
• Durable Zinc Alloy Chassis
• Side Fill System

Smok Novo 4 Kit Includes

• Smok Novo 4 Pod System
• 2ml Smok Novo Pod (Qty 1)
• 0.8ohm LP1 Mesh Coils (QTY 2)
• USB Type-C Cable
• User Manual

Smok Novo 4 Kit Compatibility

• Smok Novo 4 Replacement Pods
• Smok LP1 Coils

 

Pros and Cons Smok Novo 4

Pros: Adjustable airflow, adjustable wattage, and replacement coils rather than an integrated pod design make this the most flexible Smok Novo starter kit yet.

Cons: Not compatible with previous generation Smok Novo pods. Replacement coils add a level of complexity that disposable vape, and prefilled pod users may not want.

 

Smok Novo 4 Review

The Smok Novo 4 kit comes with everything you need. The pod is an easy-to-use side fill system, unlike the later top fill pods. All you need to do is flip the familiar rubber plug and squeeze in some nic salts. The kit includes a pair of LP1 coils, a blank pod with no coil installed, the actual device battery, and a USB-C cable. It is designed for vaping on the go and is only fractionally larger than the original Novo. A single button allows the user to access several new features. The zinc alloy construction feels durable without being too hefty. Now it is time to look at how this spruced up design operates in practice.

 

Smok Novo 4 Battery

The battery size of the Smok Novo 4 is unchanged from the Smok Novo 2 and 3. This means you have 800mAh on tap. The improvement is that it now uses USB Type-C charging. This is a much superior and faster design. Mini-USB ports have a higher failure rate, are not symmetrical and charge more quickly. In practice, this amounts to a 90-minute charging time at up to 0.74A.

Unlike Smok Novo 2 and 3 batteries, the Novo 4 design has an OLED screen, an adjustable air flow dial and a power button jammed onto a very similarly sized frame. The materials feel a bit more durable than older Novos. This is a simple device and engineered to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. 

Smok Novo 4 Adjustable Air Flow

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the Smok Novo 4 is the adjustable airflow ringlet dial. Located adjacent to where you insert the magnetic pod, it can be opened and closed to control airflow.

Previously, airflow control on Novo pod system designs was a matter of crudely covering airflow holes with your index finger. This clever rotating air-inlet ring cleanly obstructs or reveals air vents. It allows you to totally change the character of the Smok Novo 4. If you want less vapor and a tighter draw it forms a tight seal. If you want it wide open, its easy enough to spin the dial. Fans of salt nic juice will especially appreciate the ability to mimic their favorite disposable vape's draw. 

 

The Smok LP1 coil seems to a have a smidge more airflow, size, and performance than the earlier 0.8ohm coils that were in the integrated pod designs of earlier Novos. This means with the air flow wide open, and power jacked up, it can capably handle thicker high-VG e-liquid and really churn out satisfaction when cranked up and operating with potent salt nicotine.

Smok Novo 4 Adjustable Wattage

To get into the power adjustment feature of the Smok Novo 4 you must click the power 2 or 3 times. Once the wattage number flashes, each click increases the power by 0.5 watts up to 25W. Clicking the power button five times powers the Smok Novo 4 off or on.

Some adult vapers may recall that the Smok Novo X was the first Novo pod kit that allowed wattage adjustment. This otherwise lamentable device also had a pod design that did not fit in the earlier Novo series designs and provided no real upgrade in performance or vapor production over the Novo 2 and 3. In fact, the coils seemed to last not as long, and the leak proof design was often anything but leak proof.

This is not an issue with the Smok Novo 4. It is easy to adjust the power to find the sweet spot. A single button provides all the input you need. It doesn't feel like a gimmick, but a real value add that amplifies satisfying vapor production. Turning up the adjustable wattage will reduce battery life.

The 800mAh battery is no bigger than the Novo 2 or Novo 3. The 25-watts of power is also the same as earlier Novo models. But having more control over the output and air flow really does improve the vaping experience for anyone using liquids that aren't 50/50 VG/PG Salts.

Smok Novo LP1 Coil

The meshed Smok LP1 Meshed Coil series are enhanced designs and an upgrade on the earlier integrated coils found in Smok Novo 3 pods.

The traditional two circular holes that feed juice into the coil have been replaced with three larger ovals. In this way, more vapor and a more dense flavor experience can be enjoyed at the same wattage and resistance as earlier models. The larger juice ports also reduce the odds of a dry hit and slightly speed up how long it takes to prime the Smok Novo 4.

All Smok LP1 coils feature 3 silicone rings. If you are worried about how a removable coil may increase leaking, Smok has worked hard to make this design superior to previous Novo pods.

Naturally, there is more than one Smok LP1 coil. They all taste great, and none will be mistaken for a vape mod.

• Smok LP1 Meshed 0.8ohm Coil (Included): This coil works best at 12W according to the manufacturer but adult vapers using anything weaker than a 50mg salt are likely to dial up the power.

• Smok LP1 DC 0.8ohm MTL Coil (Included): Just like the Novo 3, there are a pair of 0.8ohm coils. They are both improved designs over their predecessors. This design is meant to work with the wattage adjustment. It operates best between 12-25W.

• Smok LP1 Meshed 1.2ohm Coil (Sold Separately): This meshed coil is optimized for potent salts and has an enlarged mesh structure for better atomization and flavor. It doesn't ramp up quite as fast as the other two.

Smok Novo 4 Pod

The 2ml pod capacity remains consistent but the use of replaceable coils represents a change in philosophy on the Smok Novo 4 kit.

The most common complaint about the Smok Novo design also applies to other products filled with e-liquid: leakage. They've come a long way since the Novo 1. If you leave this pod alone for a week, you are not going to find juice everywhere in the same way that older Novos spilled their contents.

This is because the Smok Novo 4 Pod, in conjunction with the LP1 Coil, has improved leak reduction technology. The 3 silicone rings are precisely sized and Smok is quite insistent that it is superior to the integrated coil design Novo pods. The filling port design is slightly enlarged with a reshaped rubber plug and the edges are an easier to grip shape.

New Novo pods could at times be hard to pry open and were also prone to wear. This pod is designed to last much longer, as it must as the coils can now be switched off, and it appears that every element is made of a more durable plastic. At 0.8ohms and less than 30W, the 2ml pod capacity remains sufficient for a day of vaping.

Smok Novo 4 Appearance

Whether you want stabilizing wood, black carbon fiber or a colorful design, the Smok Novo 4 kit has myriad options. The shape is familiar and business like. The addition of a screen makes it look positively sophisticated and upgraded compared to the workman like earlier models.

• Smok Novo 4 Kit Blue Grey Cobra
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Cyan Pink Cobra
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Red Stabilizing Wood
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Black Stabilizing Wood
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Black Carbon Fiber
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Silver Carbon Fiber
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Fluid Black Grey
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Fluid 7-Color
• Smok Novo 4 Kit Black Armor
• Smok Novo 4 Kit White Armor

Final Thoughts

The primary drawback of the Smok Novo 4 kit design is that it is not compatible with earlier Novo models, and it has a few added complications. If you don't want to deal with replacement coils or reusing pods, this is not the Novo for you. A first-time user intimidated by adjustable wattage or air flow may also want to look at the Master Series instead.

But if you seek the least wasteful Novo kit design, which extracts multiple fills from each plastic pod and has a long-lasting coil that can hammer through the better part of a salt nicotine juice bottle, the Smok Novo 4 is the apogee of draw activated Smok pod kit designs.