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Wotofo SMRT Pod Kit Review: S-M-R-T or D-U-M-B?

Disclosure: The Wotofo SMRT Pod Kit in this review was provided by our friends over at Wotofo. For a limited time, you can use coupon code “VapeDeal15” to get an extra 15% off your order (one use per customer / excludes bundle deals). I will endeavor to provide a fair, unbiased, and comprehensive review of the product(s) described below, while also giving my personal thoughts and opinions. All product(s) described in the review below contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

Introduction

Wotofo, a powerhouse in the vaping manufacturing industry, recently released a new line of pod systems under the Manik brand name. My fellow reviewer Adam recently did a nice rundown on one of them, the Manik Mini. This time around, I’ll be doing a review of the Manik SMRT Pod Kit. The kit includes a Manik S pod mod, along with the real star of the show, the Wotofo SMRT Rebuildable Coil Kit. Is it worth the money? Yes in some ways, no in others. Let’s get into it.

What’s in the Box

  • Manik S mod
  • SMRT PnP Pod Cartridge
  • SMRT PnP Rebuildable Coil Kit
  • D15 Clapton M Coil (0.2Ω Clapton Mesh Coil)
  • USB Type-C Charging Cable
  • User Manual

Wotofo Manik S Specifications

  • Dimensions: 29.2 x 23 x 117.3mm (with pod installed)
  • Pod Capacity: 4.5mL
  • Output Power Range: 5 – 80W
  • Pod Cartridge Type: Refillable Pod with Replaceable Coils
  • Compatible with Vaporesso GTX & Voopoo PnP Coils
  • Main Material: Aluminum Alloy
  • Display: 0.96” TFT
  • Side Filling Design
  • Side Airflow System
  • Built-in 2000mAh Rechargeable Battery
    • USB Type-C Charging Port
    • Charging Current: DC 5V / 1.5A
  • Colorways: Black, Gold, Red, and Blue

The Wotofo Manik S Mod

Right from the start, I simply have to field my gripes about this mod. The Manik S is quite literally a stripped-down, internal-battery version of Wotofo’s other offering in the line, the Manik. Gone is the nice colored leather grip from the side, as well as the ability to insert one’s own 18650 battery. Also gone is the locking mechanism that keeps the pod inside the device, replaced with a trio of small magnets. That effectively means the pods are not compatible between devices, even if the coils are. The only benefit of the design change I can tell is that the Manik S features a USB-C charging port instead of Micro-USB. But if you’re using removable batteries, you shouldn’t be charging them inside your mod anyway.

My only other nitpick is the gigantic branding of the Manik logo, covering the entire backside. Apparently, Wotofo doesn’t know the meaning of the word Subtlety.

That being said, don’t get the impression I’m just a hate machine…

There are some very nice features on this device. The screen is exceptionally bright and easy to read. You can’t adjust the brightness level, but you can cycle through a set of six display colors (White, Red, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, in that order). Being made of aluminum, the mod feels sturdy in the hand and less likely to sustain terminal damage. All three buttons have a satisfying, tactile click when pressed. And the honeycomb design of the airflow provides a smooth draw, with no excessive noise or turbulence. However, the airflow has zero adjustments, aside from physically blocking the holes with one’s fingers, so don’t expect to be getting a tight MTL draw from the Manik S. This mod seems to have been designed to be a direct-lung, freebase eJuice device from the word go.

The Pod

As stated above, the pods for the Manik and the Manik S are not interchangeable, despite being functionally identical. The pod that comes with the Manik S holds a respectable 4.5ml of eJuice. One thing I did find in my usage of this mod is that it veritably guzzles juice, at least with the pre-made coil they include in the kit. I found myself having to refill the reservoir twice a day if it was the sole device I was using. Going through 9ml of juice a day may not actually be that much, but when you’re used to using an RBA like I am, it feels excessive.

One aspect of the pod that I do really appreciate is that it is made entirely out of transparent plastic. There’s never any guessing game as to how much gas you have left in the tank when you can hold it up to the light and eyeball it. Even the mouthpiece is transparent, letting you know when to grab a cotton swab and clean the gunk out. And while the mouthpiece is integral to the pod, it has a pleasantly ergonomic shape that won’t fatigue your lips with continuous use.

The D15 Coil

Provided for a quick start right out of the box, the D15 Clapton Mesh Coil clocks in at 0.2Ω and defaults in the mod to 40 Watts. As the new Manik coils are meant to be interchangeable, this coil emulates both the Vaporesso GTX 0.2Ω and Voopoo PnP-VM5 coils. Personally, I got a nice cool vape and plenty of flavor out of this coil at a scant 35 Watts, but you could theoretically ramp it all the way up to 60 Watts without fear or damage.

And for being an internal-battery pod mod, this thing can chuck a cloud. Being mesh, this coil simply gushes flavor from every puff, even at reduced Wattage. While chain vaping does tend to heat up the plastic of the pod itself, the coil never gets an off-taste or burnt taste to it until the very end. I’ve comfortably used the coil for two weeks and it shows no sign of giving out.

Wotofo SMRT Rebuildable Coil Kit

Packaged along with the Manik S, the Wotofo SMRT Rebuildable Coil Kit contains everything you need to make six mesh coils for your new mod. As with all coils this small, it’s a bit finicky to actually learn, but once you get the hang of it, it could save you a remarkable amount of money in the long run.

Also, this is the big sticking point for me with this kit, and I’m going to get it out of the way here and now. As of the time of writing, the Wotofo SMRT Kit has an MSRP of $39.95; whereas the superior Manik mod is $34.95 and the Rebuildable Coil Kit is $9.95. So for ten dollars more, you can get the upgraded version of the device in this package, plus the very same coil rebuilding kit. I don’t know who the heck is making marketing choices over at Wotofo, but they should really think about this decision. It’s an utter no-brainer to me that if presented with the option, I’d pony up the ten-spot and buy the mod and rebuild kit separately.

Tutorial?

I’m not going to go into a step-by-step of how the rebuild kit is used. The awesome YouTuber Grimm Green has made an excellent (and hilarious) tutorial (LINK) on how it’s done that would put anything I wrote to shame. I will say this, however; of all the rebuildable coils that I’ve ever worked on, this is one of the easiest. No microscopic screws or hair-thin wires to fuss around with. A couple of snips and a haircut, and you’re back in the vape game. Where I live, you can expect to spend anywhere from $6-8 on a single replacement coil, and I’m certain that’s on the low end. With this kit, you can put together six before you need to buy another. That’s a crazy value, and one I intend to continue using as long as the powers that be allow me to.

Wotofo SMRT Pod Kit – Final Thoughts

It’s fairly easy to see that I have some reservations about completely endorsing this kit. I can see the appeal for someone brand new to vaping; it has everything you need to quit smoking except a bottle of eJuice and a power outlet for at least three months (If you change your coil every two weeks). Coming at it from my standpoint as a veteran vaper, however, and I just can’t parse the appeal of buying an inferior product when the alternative is literally only ten dollars more expensive.

And look, I get it. My first non-eGo vape was given to me as a hand-me-down by a friend. I’ve suffered through the crap eJuice of dubious origin and the weird, no-name batteries that you aren’t sure would explode when you charged them. Hell, the company that made my very first e-cigarette isn’t even in business anymore. I understand that a tenner will buy you an extra 30ml bottle of eJuice. But the truth is, there’s never a good reason to rob Peter to pay Paul. The old proverb is, you get what you pay for. And if what you’re paying for is the lifebelt to keep you from walking down the path of heart disease, cancer, and all the other ways tobacco can end your life, then ten dollars isn’t a big ask.

So, do I like the Manik S and the Wotofo SMRT Rebuildable Coil Kit? Yeah. But there’s a better option from the same company. Caveat Emptor, kids.

Lukas

Having started vaping as a way to stop using cigarettes, Lukas metamorphosed into a regular vape enthusiast over the past seven years. Utilizing his extensive knowledge and problem-solving skills as a regular at his local vape shop, it only made sense to parley that, along with his writing skills, into making vape juice reviews. While conspicuously absent from social media, the 35-year-old former chef now uses his free time by making spectacular home-cooked meals, reading voraciously, and dabbling in multiplayer computer games. Oh yeah, and he vapes too.

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