If you haven’t seen the Smoant Rabox yet, prepared to be pleasantly surprised.
Sporting a unique design, the Rabox is an interesting take on the usual box mod with its transparent case, tubular stainless steel frame, and futuristic look.
As good as it looks? Does its performance match up? Is it even safe?
In this review I’ll be taking a closer look and answering all these questions…
PACKAGING & DESIGN
When you open the box you’ll find the mod, a USB charger, and a user very thin user manual.
On first glance I thought it was un-boxing a mini-PC tower, and if you look closely at the pictures I’m sure you’ll see why.
It’s encased by two clear acrylic panes held together by a stainless steel tubular frame, which is covered by ceramic paint available in black, red, or white.
Immediately I noticed a few design flaws.
For instance, since the mod is open on the sides, there is a good chance you might spill some e-liquid inside the actual MOD, which could be potentially really dangerous.
While Smoant has sprayed the chip with an ultra thin nano waterproof coating, this doesn’t make the rest of the MOD waterproof.
You’ll need to be extra careful not to spill e-liquid and try not to use any tanks that are prone to leaks.
This is not a risk I’m prepared to take since a lot of tanks can and do leak, especially if they’re not wicked correctly, so this is not something I’ll use with any random tank.
I tend to stick with something I know does not leak just to be on the safe side.
The mod is a lot bigger than I expected. It’s certainly not pocket-friendly and wouldn’t be one I’d take out for the day.
I found that some atomizers didn’t even sit flush on the 510 connector, showing a very small, but noticeable, gap.
The small fire button is solid and doesn’t rattle, but the switch that toggles between regulated and bypass mode sticks out making it impossible to sit on its side.
If you like a MOD that lights up you’ll probably like this. It has LED lights that light up whenever you fire it.
It does tend to grab your attention, and unfortunately the attention of children too so it’s not advised to leave this lying around.
Most children will mistake it for a toy and probably start playing around with it.
The fact that this is attractive to children does turn me off of it somewhat, even if it does look cool and trendy.
The last thing the vaping industry needs is more products on the market that appear to cater to the younger generation even if it’s not intended.
It just doesn’t bode well.
KIT CONTENTS
- 1 x Smoant RABOX Mod
- 1 x Screwdriver
- 1 x USB charging cable
- 1 x User Manaul
MOD SPECIFICATIONS
- Mechanical/unregulated mod
- Made from 304 stainless steel
- Dimensions: 70mm x 31mm x 90mm
- Weight: 288g
- 510 threaded connection
- Unique transparent chassis
- One-of-a-kind design
- Namo Waterproof PCB Coating
- Available in red, black
- Powerful internal 3300mAh battery
- Battery LED
- Micro USB charging
- Up to 100 watts of power
- High/Soft modes
- Voltage range: 3.2V to 5V
- Minimum atty resistance: 0.1Ω
FUNCTIONALITY
As high tech as the Rabox looks, this is not a variable wattage/temperature control device.
It’s more like an upgraded mechanical mod since you can switch between mechanical (Soft) mode and regulated (High) mode.
In regulated mode, the output is a constant 5 volts while mechanical mode outputs according to the amount of battery power.
The minimum coil resistance the mod can handle is 0.10 ohms, with a max output of 100 watts.
When it comes to mech mods, the main concern is safety since most mech mods don’t have protections in place.
However, Smoant calls the Rabox a “Smart Unregulated Mod” which basically gives you the versatility of mech mods without the risks.
That said, the mod has low battery protection, resistance protection, over-heat protection, and over-use protection.
BATTERY DETAILS
The Rabox is powered by a built-in 3300mAh battery.
In Soft mode, you can expect the battery to last you a whole day of moderate vaping.
In High mode, however, you might have to recharge once or twice a day via the Micro USB port.
DISLIKES
- Large and Bulky – For a glorified mech mod, the Rabox can be a little too bulky for comfort for some
- Switch Sticks Out of Side – The switch may make for a nice industrial aesthetic, but with it sticking out, it makes it hard to pocket without worrying about damaging it
- Open Design is Potentially Dangerous – Dripping eliquid into the battery and electronics is a real issue, and it can be hard to clean as well
- Battery Information is Limited – The user manual has no information about the type of battery
- Pricey – Expensive for a mech mod
- Atomizer Gap – Some atomizers have a small gap, so there’s a chance you’re favorite atty might not fit
LIKES
- Unique Design – The interesting and sophisticated design makes this a cool mod to show off your vaping friends
- Solid Build – The stainless steel frame and acrylic panels make this a very tough mod
- No Rattles – The button and switch doesn’t rattle, and everything looks snug in place, a sign of quality workmanship
- Lights up when Fired – Whenever you fire the mod, you and your friends will be treated with a mini light show
- No Firing Delay – The mod fires instantly, which is always a good feature
SHOULD YOU GET THE RABOX?
While the inspired design of the Smoant Rabox is, in my opinion, super-cool, it’s obvious that the mod is more of a novelty item than a practical one.
Some of you may absolutely love it, but it’s wild design makes it hard to take seriously.
The open design makes it potentially dangerous since e-liquid could easily trickle into the device.
This is biggest reason I won’t be using it going forward.
Finally, due to how the mod looks, you might have a hard time getting it through airport security, if you dare to try that is!
I have to admit, I did get really excited for this before I received it.
The safety concerns make the Rabox impossible for me to recommend unless you simply want something to show off to your friends or keep as a novelty item in your cabinet.