Commercial characteristics

Sponsor who lent the product for the review: Tech Vapeur
Price of the tested product: 67.9 Euros
Product category according to its selling price: Mid-range (from 41 to 80 euros)
Mod type: Variable power electronics
Is the mod telescopic? No
Maximum power: 80 watts
Maximum voltage: 12
Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

SMOK or SMOKTECH is a brand that does not date from yesterday but from 2010, in other words the Jurassic of the vape. If, lately, the brand has not really distinguished itself by models of mods or atomizers at the forefront, we must not forget that during its already long history, it has been able to give us a good batch of technical innovations, of various and varied materials and is always present at the forefront of the market, sometimes surprising us with an object particularly in phase with the demand of vapers.

The M80 we're reviewing today is undoubtedly the box mod no one expected from the brand, yet it's going to give the competition a run for its money, as it seems virtually impossible to find fault with it on paper. Just consider: 4400mAh of battery life with two 18650 LiPo batteries, temperature control for all types of wire, 40A maximum output current, 80W, upgradable firmware, a slim profile, and all for €67.90!

The question that arises then is to know if there is no eel under the rock because the bride seems too beautiful ...

This review was kindly offered to us by Ma6x who posted their request via the form “What do you want to be evaluated?” accessible from the community menu. Thanks to you!

Physical characteristics and felt quality

Width or Diameter of the product in mms: 55
Product Length or Height in mms: 85
Product weight in grams: 203
Material composing the product: Aluminum
Form Factor Type: Classic Box - VaporShark type
Decorative style: Classic
Quality of decoration: Excellent, it is a work of art
Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? No
All components of this mod seem well assembled? Yes
Fire button position: Lateral near the top cap
Fire button type: Mechanical plastic on contact rubber
Number of buttons making up the interface, including touch zones if they are present: 2
Type of user interface buttons: Mechanical plastic on contact rubber
Quality of the interface button (s): Excellent I love this button in every way
Number of parts in the product: 1
Number of threads: 1
Quality of the threads: Excellent
Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? Yes

Rating of the vapelier as to feelings quality: 5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

The construction is an aluminum / zinc alloy (AZ or 70000 series) obtained by casting and casting, Zinc adding better mechanical strength to the alloy. The top cap and bottom cap seem to be in chrome-plated brass and provide the box with excellent stability when standing. The finish is soft and pleasant in the hand and the anodization appears to be of high quality. I deliberately tried to scratch the black film a little (yes, I know, it's not good… 🙁) but nothing helps, it holds! So much so that we say to ourselves that SMOK could probably document this process with certain competitors (follow my gaze…) less well off in this area.

The switch is of excellent quality, as are the + and - buttons. The touch is frank, light and pleasant, makes a small discreet click quite informative and we do not notice any clicking when we shake the box. Finally, the different assemblies are perfect. A dream of finish that some much more expensive industrial boxes are unfortunately unable to achieve.

Functional features

Type of chipset used: Owner
Connection type: 510, Ego - via adapter
Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through a spring.
Lock system ? Electronic
Quality of the locking system: Good, the function does what it is for
Features offered by the mod: Switching to mechanical mode, Display of the charge of the batteries, Display of the resistance value, Protection against short circuits from the atomizer, Display of the current vape voltage, Display of the power of the current vape, Display of the vape time since a certain date, Variable protection against overheating of the atomizer resistors, Supports updating its firmware, Clear diagnostic messages
Accu Compatibility: Proprietary Accus
Does the mod support stacking? No
Number of batteries supported: The batteries are proprietary / Not applicable
Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Yes
Does the mod offer a recharge feature? Charging function possible via Micro-USB
Is the recharge function pass-through? Yes
Does the mode offer a Power Bank function? No power bank function offered by the mod
Does the mode offer other functions? No other function offered by the mod
Presence of air flow regulation? Yes
Maximum diameter in mms of compatibility with an atomizer: 22
Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested power and the real power
Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 4.8 / 5

Reviewer's comments on functional features

This brings us to what will undoubtedly be, for some of you, the only real flaw I could find with the M80: the fact that it uses proprietary batteries, and therefore, its lifespan is dependent on the longevity of the batteries inside. That being said, these Lithium Polymer batteries are commercially available with identical specifications (for model aircraft, for example), and I have no doubt that videos from resourceful DIYers will pop up all over the web showing us how to replace them if necessary… There's no way I'm throwing away a box like this without trying everything I can to revive it! In fact, I've already bought a defibrillator!

The features are particularly interesting. The chipset operates in three modes which can be viewed in the menu accessible by clicking the switch three times: Wattage mode, Temp mode and Mech mode.

For the wattage mode (power in watt), no problem, we find ourselves in known terrain, the screen displays, in addition to the battery gauge and the resistance of the atomizer, the power requested as well as the voltage delivered in real time .
In Temp mode (for temperature), the screen displays the real-time temperature and the power variations required to achieve it, instead of the voltage. It's worth noting that the menu allows you to easily adjust the maximum temperature threshold. I personally set mine to 530° Fahrenheit, which is roughly equivalent to 276° Celsius, taking into account that vegetable glycerin decomposes at 290°C and releases acrolein at this temperature. I particularly appreciated this mode because, unlike some chipsets equipped with it that exhibit a significant lag before vapor production, this lag is much shorter and perfectly acceptable.
On the Mech mode, the M80 turns into a mecha and displays the remaining voltage in the batteries and the calculation of the power to which you actually steam.

And, moreover, the mod gives the time and the date… even if I have a watch for that much more practical….

The M80 is rechargeable by micro-USB and its firmware is upgradable. SMOK seems to have thought of everything!

Evaluation of the packaging

Presence of a box accompanying the product: Yes
Would you say that the packaging is up to the price of the product? Yes
Presence of a user manual? Yes
Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? No
Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes

Vapelier's note on packaging: 4 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

I'd like to remind you that the mod costs €67.90! Considering this price and the unprecedented features of the M80 in this price range, I'd be thrilled if it came in a kangaroo pouch! But SMOK goes even further, offering elegant packaging in a rigid black cardboard box with compact foam padding to ensure safe transport, surrounded by an outer box explaining some of the device's features.

The packaging contains a very clear and explicit English manual (I no longer note 🙄 ……), a USB / micro USB cable and a 510 / eGo adapter.

For accuracy, I want to add that the M80 can be reloaded in 2A, which limits the loading time to 3h for 4400maH.

Appreciations in use

Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for an external jacket pocket (no deformations)
Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
Easy to change batteries: Not applicable, the battery is only rechargeable
Did the mod heat up? No
Has there been any erratic behavior after a day of use? No
Description of situations in which the product has experienced erratic behavior

Vapelier's rating in terms of ease of use: 4.5/5

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

Here we get to the heart of the matter because the features offered by any mod should not obscure what we expect: impeccable rendering.

I tested the mod with different atomizers and resistances: 0.2, 0.7, 1, 1.4, and 2Ω. With all of these resistances—and I mean all of them—I varied the power and/or temperature within the limits of the atomizers' capabilities (there's no way I was going to blast 80W on a Taifun GT). I didn't encounter a single problem, even at 80W with a 0.2Ω coil. There were no technical issues, no "refusal to work" from the mod, and not even any overheating. At this level, it's practically unbelievable. The chipset's versatility is remarkable!

But because the vape is not just a set of technical data otherwise we would vape math books, I must also mention the incredible smoothing of the signal and the great quality of vape rendered, rather in the smoothness and precision than in the brutal power, which has nothing to envy, in my humble opinion, to much more famous chipsets.

Recommendations for use

Type of batteries used during the tests: The batteries are owners on this mod
Number of batteries used during the tests: The batteries are proprietary / Not applicable
With what type of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Dripper, A classic fiber - resistance greater than or equal to 1.7 Ohms, A low resistance fiber less than or equal to 1.5 ohms, In sub-ohm assembly, Reconstructable Génésys type metal mesh assembly, Rebuildable type Génésys metal wick assembly
With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Any atomizer, any clearomizer, within the limit of 22mm in diameter.
Description of the test configuration used: M80 + Taifun Gt1, Change, Mutation X, Expromizer 1.2, Origen Genesis V2
Description of the ideal configuration with this product: The ideal configuration will be yours because the M80 will not be a barrier to your imagination.

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.8 / 5

Link to a video review or blog maintained by the reviewer author of the review

The mood ticket of the reviewer

Once is not customary, we will start with the faults, it will go faster:

The fact of having proprietary batteries is an embarrassing fact, it's true.
The box is cut for 22mm atos with which it is perfectly flush on all sides. This can annoy fans of Taifuns, Expro and other 23mm atomizers. And still, it goes ... But avoid putting on your Subtank, the result will undoubtedly be funny but not necessarily aesthetic….
The three-month guarantee …… The major defect in my case and which weighs down the perfect score that he could have achieved with a guarantee of even six months.

I will not reproduce the long litany of the immense qualities of this box. I loved the price, very content or even a gift compared to the possibilities of the machine. I liked the finish which would prove to many other industrial mods. I like the thinness in width (22.5mm) and the very small size for a double battery box which make it fit perfectly in the hand. I also liked the internal construction with good big cables and a controlled use of space.

But above all, I loved the versatility and rendering, hitherto unknown in this price range.

I'm not going to lie to you. You know that at Vapelier, we only use loaner equipment to maintain our objectivity. Well, three days after receiving it, I bought it. Because it seemed inconceivable to me, as a vaping enthusiast, to miss out on such a fantastic product! As for recommending it to you… what do you think? 😉

(c) Copyright Le Vapelier SAS 2014 - Only full reproduction of this article is authorized - Any modification of any kind is totally prohibited and infringes the rights of this copyright.

XPRO M80 plus by SMOK