The SMOK Novo series has always been SMOK’s answer for those who want an entry-level pod vape that’s very small and easy to use but doesn’t compromise on performance and flavor. If you’re shopping for a first vape – or a first refillable vape after starting out with disposables – you can never go wrong with a SMOK Novo.
In more recent years, though, the Novo series has strayed from its original purpose a bit. Newer devices like the SMOK Novo GT Box are certainly very feature filled, but a device like that might be a bit more complicated than what you’re looking for if you’re new to vaping. If that’s how you feel when you look at the most recent Novo vapes, the new SMOK Novo Eco is for you. This device returns the Novo series to its roots with a simple and straightforward design that will feel intuitive and familiar to you almost immediately – even if you’ve never vaped before.
The SMOK Novo Eco also has a brand-new feature that’s been much needed in the world of pod vapes for quite some time. To find out what that feature is, though, you’ll have to continue reading.
View the SMOK Novo Eco now. You can also browse our full collection of SMOK vapes. If you’d like to know more about the SMOK Novo series, read our comprehensive guide.
How Much Does the SMOK Novo Eco Cost?
The SMOK Novo Eco costs just $9.49, so it’s priced to be as attractive to new vapers – or new switchers from disposable vapes – as possible. The low price does come with a slight downside, though, in that the kit only comes with one pod and doesn’t include a charging cable. You can use any USB-C cable to recharge the Novo Eco. As for the pods, part of the device’s charm is that it’s compatible with several types of SMOK Novo pods, which means that you’ll have quite a few options to try.
The following pods all work with the SMOK Novo Eco.
- SMOK Novo Pods: $8.50-8.95 per pack of three.
- SMOK Novo 2 Pods: $7.95-8.95 per pack of three.
- SMOK Novo 2X Pods: $11.49 per pack of three.
You can typically expect a SMOK Novo pod to last about a week before the flavor quality starts to decline, so we think it’s a good idea to add an extra box of pods to your order when buying this device. If this is your first refillable vape, you’ll also want to buy some vape juice. The Novo Eco will work with any type and nicotine strength of e-liquid that you want to use. If you’re used to high-strength disposable vapes, though, you’ll probably have the best experience with nicotine salts.
SMOK Novo Eco: Specs
- Device Type: Refillable pod system with built-in coil
- Battery Capacity: 1,000 mAh
- Pod Capacity: 2 ml
- Pod Resistance: 0.4-1.4 ohm
- Maximum Power: Up to 30 watts
- Vaping Modes Supported: High-power and low-power modes; output wattage depends on the resistance of the installed pod
- Firing Style: Automatic inhale-based firing
- Smart Display: No
- Adjustable Airflow: Yes
SMOK Novo Eco: Features
Removable Battery
The feature of the SMOK Novo Eco that’s most revolutionary – and the reason why it has “Eco” in the name – is the fact that it has a removable battery. That’s a common feature in vape mods, but it’s very rare in pod systems. Although pod vapes don’t cause nearly the same environmental impact as disposable vapes – which typically only last a week or so before requiring replacement – the battery in every pod system will stop holding a charge eventually. What will you do at that point? As long as vaping has been around, it’s still hard to find recycling centers that take vapes. So, just like disposables, many pod systems end up in landfills. The Novo Eco eliminates that issue completely because the battery is in its own removable plastic case. When the battery stops holding a charge, you can simply pull it out of the device and drop it off at any collection point.
Sadly, SMOK doesn’t offer batteries for the Novo Eco separately – so when the battery stops working, you can’t keep your device going by buying a new one and will need to replace the entire device instead. Still, having a removable battery is an important step forward and something that we’d like to see become more common.
Familiar Controls
The SMOK Novo Eco is specifically designed to be instantly familiar to anyone who currently uses disposable vapes and is looking to step up to a refillable device. The Novo Eco has just two controls: a slider to adjust the airflow and a button to switch between the low- and high-power vaping modes. It works exactly the same as most modern disposable vapes, with the exception of the fact that the pod is refillable. You’ll feel comfortable with the process for refilling the pod very quickly, and after that, your experience will feel basically the same as it does now. The immediate familiarity makes the Novo Eco a perfect choice for anyone who wants to start using a refillable vape.
Wide Variety of Pods
Your options for customizing your experience on the Novo Eco itself are a bit limited. You can just switch between the low- and high-power modes, which is obviously the whole point in a device that’s intended to be as similar to a disposable vape as possible. That doesn’t mean, however, that the Novo Eco has no room for flexibility because it works with all SMOK Novo, Novo 2 and Novo 2X pods. The three types of pods have various coil types and range in resistance from 0.4 to 1.4 ohm, giving you a huge variety of potential experiences to explore. You could buy a different type of pod every time you stock up on vape gear, and it would still take months for you to try all of them.
Enhanced Leak Resistance
Nobody likes a leaking vape, and the engineers at leading vape manufacturers like SMOK are constantly tinkering with their designs in an effort to develop new products that better resist leaking. The Novo Eco represents the debut of SMOK’s improved Novo pod design, which features a spring-loaded filling port. To fill the pod, you’ll simply push down on the filling port with the tip of your e-liquid bottle – and when you’re done filling the pod, the port closes automatically. The spring puts pressure on the silicone plug that seals the pod, which helps to make leaks extremely unlikely.
SMOK Novo Eco Review: Our Expert Perspective
When the SMOK Novo series originally came out, disposable vapes in their current form didn’t exist yet. Pod systems set the standard for vapes that were small but satisfying, and SMOK was right there to claim the leadership position in this burgeoning new segment of the market. Times change, though, and disposable vapes eventually became even more popular than pod systems had been.
That’s where we are today, but there are signs that the pendulum has begun to swing in the other direction. For one thing, a lot of people are concerned about what happens to their disposable vapes after they’re finished with them. The devices shouldn’t end up in landfills, but many people have difficulty finding recycling services that take used vapes. The Novo Eco solves that problem because the removable battery is just an ordinary lithium-ion battery. It’ll be accepted at any battery collection point.
Disposable vapes also have other shortcomings compared to refillable devices. Although low-nicotine vapes do exist, they’re rare and may not be available in the flavors you want. Using a refillable vape means that you can enjoy whatever flavor and nicotine strength you prefer, and it also means that you can reduce your nicotine strength if you like without buying an entirely new device. Also, as affordable as today’s disposable vapes have become, using a refillable device still costs less in the long run.
If you’re ready to step up from disposable vapes to a refillable device, the SMOK Novo Eco is ideal because once you’ve gotten used to filling the pod, everything else about the experience will be completely familiar to you. Between the airflow slider and the single-button system for switching between the low- and high-power vaping modes, the Novo Eco feels basically the same as a disposable.
Best Points
- The battery is removable for easy recycling, making the Novo Eco one of the most environmentally friendly pod systems on the market.
- The adjustable airflow and mode-switching button will be instantly familiar to anyone who uses disposable vapes, making the Novo Eco the ideal choice for anyone who wants to step up to a refillable device.
- The Novo Eco has a stylish look that brings some freshness to the classic Novo formula.
Could Be Improved
- The extremely low cost means that the Novo Eco includes just one pod and doesn’t come with a charging cable. That makes an extra box of pods an almost mandatory purchase.
- Replacement batteries aren’t sold separately, so while the Novo Eco is more environmentally friendly than most small vapes, you’ll still need to replace the device when the battery stops holding a charge.