Small pod-based vaping devices have been the most popular refillable vapes for quite some time now – and in that segment of the market, SMOK is the clear leader. One of the things that helped SMOK become so huge is the fact that they got an early start on the pod-based segment of the market with devices like the SMOK Novo and SMOK Nord series. The SMOK Novo 2 occupies a very specific niche in the market. It’s incredibly small, but it’s designed for high-strength nicotine salts and is every bit as satisfying as a tobacco cigarette. More importantly, it’s so simple that you’ll know everything that you need to know about using it within just a few minutes of opening the box.
If you’re thinking about switching from smoking to vaping and want to keep things as simple as possible while also avoiding the environmental baggage of disposable vapes, it would be hard to find a better option than the SMOK Novo 2. In this review, we’re going to tell you everything that you need to know about this device including how it works and what it’s like to use it. Let’s dive right in.
View the SMOK Novo 2 now. If you want to see even more options, view our full collection of SMOK vapes. You can also read our roundup of all SMOK Novo vapes if you’d like to see what else is available in this series.
How Much Does the SMOK Novo 2 Cost?
The SMOK Novo 2 kit costs just $14.95 at the time of writing, making it an extremely expensive way to get started with vaping. The kit includes the Novo 2 device, two pods, a charging cable and an instruction manual. SMOK Novo 2 pods are sold in boxes of three starting at $7.95 per box, and they’re available in resistances ranging from 0.8 to 1.4 ohm.
The Novo 2 kit includes pods with resistances of 1.0 and 1.4 ohm, which gives you the ability to experience some of the variety that’s available for this device. You’ll find that the pods with lower resistances will produce clouds that are bigger and warmer. Pods with higher resistances produce vapor that’s cooler and smoother. We do recommend adding at least one box of Novo 2 pods to your order when buying this kit to ensure that you'll have enough spare pods available.
How Is the SMOK Novo 2 as a First Vape?
Disposable vapes are the main competition for refillable devices like the Novo 2. If you’re shopping for your first vape, you’ll have a decision to make because disposable vapes and refillable vapes have their own sets of benefits and drawbacks.
Disposable vapes are a bit easier to use than refillable vapes because they’re already filled and charged when you buy them. All that you need to do is remove the device from the box and start vaping. The downside of disposable vapes, though, is that they aren’t refillable – that leads to waste because you need to replace the entire device when it’s empty.
Refillable vapes don’t have the same environmental baggage as disposables. Also, the fact that you can choose your own e-liquid means that a refillable device gives you total flexibility to use whatever flavor and nicotine strength you want. Bottled e-liquids are available in a wide range of nicotine strengths that go as low as 3 mg/ml and as high as 50 mg/ml. Most disposable vapes, meanwhile, are only available in the highest 50 mg/ml strength.
As for the SMOK Novo 2 specifically, we’re big fans of this vape as a first device for new switchers because it’s so simple to use. Unlike many other refillable vapes, the Novo 2:
- Doesn’t require you to go through messy coil replacements because every pod includes a new coil.
- Doesn’t require you to learn how to use complicated menus and settings because it configures itself for ideal performance based on which pod you’re using.
The only real difference between the Novo 2 and a disposable vape is the fact that you’ll need to refill your pod periodically. It’ll be second nature to you within minutes. Otherwise, operating the device is exactly the same – just puff when you want to vape and recharge the device when the light blinks.
SMOK Novo 2 Specifications
- Device Type: Refillable pod-based device
- Battery Capacity: 800 mAh
- Power Range: 6-25 watts; not manually adjustable
- Pod Capacity: 2 ml
- Coil Resistance: 0.8-1.4 ohm
- Vaping Modes Supported: No selectable modes; device configures itself for the installed pod
- Firing Style: Automatic puff-activated firing only
- Display: Single indicator light
- Adjustable Airflow: No
SMOK Novo 2 Features
- The Novo 2 is designed for maximum simplicity, and it’s as easy to use as a refillable vape can possibly be. There are no configuration options because the device configures itself based on which pod you’re using. There’s no need to replace the coil because each pod has a new coil pre-installed. All that you need to do is charge the battery, fill the pod and vape.
- It’s extremely small and stylish. The Novo 2 is only slightly larger than a cigarette and smaller than most cigars. The flat profile allows it to slide into your pocket effortlessly for easy carrying. It’s so light that you can attach a lanyard and wear it on your neck if you like. The variety of colors is also enormous; the Novo 2 may actually have a larger color selection than any other refillable vape.
- SMOK gave the Novo 2 a super-efficient airflow design that channels air through both sides of the pod for maximum vapor production. The airflow channel also includes a groove that draws condensation away from the pod’s metal contacts to ensure consistent and reliable power transfer.
How to Use the SMOK Novo 2
The SMOK Novo 2 includes an instruction manual that explains some aspects of using the device, but it’s a bit short and doesn’t provide all of the information that you’re going to need if you’re vaping for the first time. In this section of our review, we’ll fill in the gaps with a bit of extra information that you’ll find useful.
Charging
To charge the SMOK Novo 2, connect it to your computer using the charging cable included in the box. If the cable ever stops working, you can replace it with any cable that’s certified for power delivery.
As you use or charge the Novo 2, the indicator light changes color to let you know the battery’s current charge level. The light is red when the battery is almost empty and green when the battery is almost full. When the light turns off, the Novo 2 is done charging.
Filling
When you fill a new Novo 2 pod, you need to wait a few minutes before you start vaping because it’s important for the pod’s cotton wick to absorb the e-liquid completely. For that reason, it’s a good idea to fill the pod while you wait for the battery to charge. That way, when the battery is done charging, you can start vaping immediately.
To fill the pod, remove it from the device and open the silicone cover for the filling port. Add your e-liquid through the hole until the pod is nearly full and close the cover securely.
Vaping
One of the strongest aspects of the SMOK Novo 2 is the fact that it configures itself and has no options or controls for you to bother with. To vape, just insert a pod and start puffing. The Novo 2 has an automatic airflow sensor and generates vapor immediately when you puff. Inhale and exhale the vapor like cigarette smoke, and you’re off and running.
The most important thing to remember about vaping for the first time is that you don’t need to use as much air pressure as you would use when puffing on a cigarette. If your Novo 2 begins to gurgle, you’re probably puffing too hard. Reduce your air pressure because continued hard puffing could cause the device to leak.
Replacing the Pod
If your Novo 2 tastes burnt, the first thing that you should do is check the pod and make sure that it isn’t empty. Don’t forget to keep the pod topped up. If the level of e-liquid drops below the holes on the side of the coil, it’s time to add more.
If your Novo 2 produces a burnt flavor when the pod is still full, on the other hand, it means that you need to replace the pod. Residue builds up on the coil as you use your device, and the residue eventually becomes so thick that it ruins the coil’s flavor. At that point, it’s time to discard the pod and start using a new one.
You can generally expect a Novo 2 pod to last around a week, although it’s possible for pods to last much longer if you use unsweetened e-liquid.
SMOK Novo 2 Review: Our Expert Perspective
As a first vape – or a first refillable vape if you’re stepping up from disposables – it would be hard to find a better device than the SMOK Novo 2. It’s incredibly easy to use – just charge, fill and vape. The slim profile makes the Novo 2 easy to carry in your pocket when you’re not using it, and another great thing about this device is that it’s actually smaller than many disposable vapes.
The Novo 2 doesn’t completely lack flexibility, though, because it has a large pod selection with a wide range of different coil resistances. If you want an experience that’s a bit more intense, you can use a pod with a lower resistance. You can use a higher-resistance pod, meanwhile, if you’re looking for a bit more smoothness. Since you can customize your experience with almost no effort required on your part, the Novo 2 is a device that can easily adapt itself for almost any possible use case.
Best Points
- Very easy to use – an ideal choice as a first vape
- Much smaller than most other vaping devices, including the majority of disposable vapes
- Available in a huge variety of colors
Could Be Improved
- Nothing – as a first device for a new vaper who wants to keep things simple, the Novo 2 does absolutely everything right