SMOK has been around since the early days of vaping, and each year they find ways to improve their products.
One of the company’s biggest hits was the original XCube and its successor, the XCube II.
Now, SMOK has come out with a much improved version in the XCube Ultra.
Capable of putting out 220W, the mod has the power and features to satiate even the most experienced vapers’ cravings.
PACKAGING & DESIGN
The Ultra comes in your standard box without much fanfare.
Inside, you’ll find the mod, a micro USB cable, a user manual, one warranty card, and a qualified battery card.
Design-wise, SMOK didn’t play around much and the Ultra pretty much looks the same as its predecessors save for some cosmetic changes.
On the top of the device you’ll see the 510 connector, the OLED screen, and the adjustment buttons.
Below the device are vent holes and the USB port. In lieu of a firing button, SMOK uses a firing bar (just like the XCube II) that has LEDs that light up when activated.
It’s a nice touch, and the lights can be customised or turned off dependent on your preferences.
KIT CONTENTS
- 1 x SMOK X Cube Ultra Edition Box Mod
- 1 x Micro USB Cable
- Instructional Manual
MOD SPECIFICATIONS
- Dual High-Amp 18650 Battery – Not Included
- Premium Zinc Alloy Construction
- Dimensions: 94mm by 55mm by 25.5mm
- Wattage Output Range: 6~220W
- Voltage Output Range: 0.35-8V
- Min Atomizer Resistance: 0.06ohm
- Temperature Range: 200-600F
- Supports Ni200 Nickel, Titanium, and Stainless Steel Heating Elements
- Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) Adjustments
- Five Selectable Puff Drawing Effects: Min, Soft, Normal, Hard, Max
- Bluetooth 4.0 Smart App Connection
- Over-The-Air (OTA) Technology
- Convenient Wireless Firmware Upgrade
- X3 Chipset – Smart Charge Balancing Management
- Large Intuitive OLED Display
- Two-Button Adjustment
- Full Bar Firing Mechanism w/ RGB LED Indicator
- Magnetized Battery Cover
- Micro USB Port – Firmware Upgrades
- Community Sharing – “Vaping Tour”
- 510 Center Pin
- Available in Stainless, White, and Black
FUNCTIONALITY
When it comes to functionality, the Ultra trumps its predecessors.
It’s firmware upgrade-able with OTA (over-the-air) using Bluetooth 4.0 technology instead of the more common USB port.
This may seem gimmicky, but some experts are praising the added tech, and I think it’s a step in the right direction.
You can set the Ultra to vibrate in certain circumstances such as when you put on a new atomizer if your battery gets low for instance.
These can be useful for some people in certain circumstances. But if you find it annoying like I did then you can turn it off.
The menu system isn’t a simple affair and takes a little getting used to.
Because of the intricate menu system, turning off the device can be frustrating because you will need to dive deep into the menu just to do it.
The wattage range in variable wattage mode is 6 watts to 220 watts, while the temperature range in temperature control mode is 100C to 315C (200F to 600F).
Resistance range for VW is 0.1ohm to 3.0 ohms, while TC mode can handle resistance of 0.06 ohms to 3 ohms.
The temperature control supports Nickel, Titanium, and Stainless Steel coils.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able set wattage in TC mode. Nevertheless, it works well and and the price to performance value is well worth it.
DISPLAY
The OLED display is large and bright and easily readable under the sun.
Information displayed include the battery level, wattage, temperature, resistance, voltage output, and what mode the device is set to.
Since the display is located beside where the atomizer is attached, condensation may appear on the screen.
This can easily be wiped with a finger, and while not a huge issue, you might find it to be a little annoying.
BATTERY DETAILS
The Ultra is powered by two 18650 batteries.
The battery bay is covered with a magnetic battery door, and unlike the XCube II, doesn’t rattle while in use.
Battery life depends on a number of factors, but with moderate use, I easily got a full day’s use in one charge.
While the device does have a USB port for charging it does take quite a while to charge.
I’d recommend getting an external battery charger if you haven’t got one already.
DISLIKES
- Complicated menu system – Not ideal for beginners unless they invest time to learn it
- Turning off the device is a chore – If you need to turn the device off, you’ll have to go through multiple steps via the menu system just to do so
- Vibration toggle – You can turn the vibration on/off, though I doubt you’ll use it much
- USB charging is slow – Unless you don’t have an external charger for your batts, it’s best not use the USB port for charging
- No wattage adjustment in TC mode – When I use TC, I often find myself fiddling with the wattage settings. You can’t do so here, which is a huge minus
LIKES
- Design – While similar to its predecessors, some tweaks make it overall superior
- LED lights – The strip of LEDs on the side of the firing bar is a nice touch
- Battery door – The battery door of the XCube II rattled, the Ultra doesn’t
- Bluetooth capabilities – Adding Bluetooth makes for a smoother updating experience
- Fits 25mm atomizers – With no overhang up to 25mm atties, the Ultra can utilise a wide range of atomizers and tanks
- Screen – Large and bright you can see all the info you need anytime, and its adjustable too
SHOULD YOU GET THE XCUBE ULTRA 220W?
Despite the cons, the SMOK XCube Ultra 220W TC Bluetooth Mod is a solid device with tons of features.
The price is very reasonable, especially for a fully-featured dual battery mod.
While some features are not as useful as the others, I really can’t complain given the price point and what it offers.