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REVIEWS
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NOVO 2 By Benedict Jones
Specifi cations:
- Dimensions: 88mm*24.5mm*14.5mm
- Battery capacity: 800mAh
- E-liquid capacity: 2ml
- Charging: 0.55A Micro-USB
The original Novo was SMOK’s fi rst medium-sized pod device and
was likely one of the best selling starter kits of 2018. Though popular,
the Novo did have a few issues, so has this new iteration eliminated
them?
Construction fi t and fi nish of the Novo 2 remain largely unchanged
which is a good thing. This is a solid little pod device, with minimal
seams, no rattle and nice tolerances, securing each pod properly
without fear of a loose connection. The body is constructed from the
same mix of metal and resin, which may not be to everyone’s liking
but is undeniably more substantial than some other pod systems of
this size. The only real change on the surface is that the Micro-USB
port has been moved to the bottom of the device.
User experience is dead simple. This is a true pod system, which
means once a pod burns out, you replace it with a new unit. There
are no buttons or settings on offer here, just a draw-activated fi ring
mechanism, often preferred by new vapers who are transitioning
from cigarettes. Refi lling the pod is mess free, with a large side port
that allows air to escape as liquid enters, preventing any overflow
issues. A single LED on the body of the device provides three levels
of battery feedback, so you won’t be in the dark about when you need
to charge.
The big change for the Novo 2 are the new 1Ohm mesh pods and
they absolutely deliver. The original Novo pods were very serviceable
but didn’t have the sharpest flavour production and had a rather
loose draw for the power output. SMOK has clearly listened to
feedback in this case because the 1Ohm mesh pods have a super
smooth moderate MTL draw, with warm vapour and fantastic flavour
production. The performance of these coils is so good, in fact, that I
am willing to say the Novo 2 is up there with the very best true pod
systems on the market.
PROS
- Great vape quality
- Good battery life
- Solid build quality
200 VM25
CONS
- Replacement pods,
not coils
Coil longevity is also a signifi cant step up from the previous model. I
was able to run 25ml of moderately-sweet e-liquid through each pod
before a replacement was needed.
In terms of battery life, the Novo 2 again exceeds its predecessor. The
internal cell has almost doubled in size from 450mAh to 800mAh,
which results in a huge improvement to run time. When fi lled with
20mg/ml nicotine salt e-liquid, I found the Novo 2 to last a full day’s
vaping on a single charge, which is impressive considering the size
of the device. Charging from flat to full takes approximately 1.5
hours, which is a little longer than I would like but isn’t a deal breaker,
considering the run time.
In summary, the Novo 2 is a worthy successor to the original Novo,
fi xing all of the issues that were previously noted. This is a compelling
pod system and an excellent choice for any vaper in need of a simple,
stealthy vape.