What are pod mods?
First, there were mods. Then there were pods.
Now… there are pod mods!
While vape mods are usually larger, more powerful and more advanced, pod devices are almost the opposite - more compact, easy to use and (usually) lower powered.
Pod mods meet somewhere between the two.
They are larger, more powerful and sometimes more advanced than a pod system, but more compact, easier to use and (usually) not as powerful as a mod.
Pod mods have become increasingly popular in the last few years. In fact, in our 2021 predictions post, Vaporesso predicted that 2021 would be the year of the pod mod. While it was actually disposable vapes that turned out to be that year’s success story, the combination of power and simplicity means pod mods are likely to sustain their popularity for the foreseeable future.
Contents
- Best pod mods summary
- Best pod mods in-depth
- Who are pod mods for?
- How did we choose the kits?
- Finally...
Don’t want to read through the whole post? Here’s a summary of the devices…
Do note that ‘Style’ here refers to MTL(Mouth-to-Lung), DL(Direct-Lung) and RDL (restricted Direct-Lung) vaping styles. If you don’t know what these terms mean, you can find a full explanation in our post: MTL v. DL.
Product Name | What's Special? | Style |
Smok Nord 4/ Nord 5 | Compact power | MTL/DL (Nord 4) DL (Nord 5) |
Vaporesso Luxe X | Futuristic style/great flavour | MTL/RDL |
Vaporesso Luxe XR Max | Compact, powerful, easy to use | MTL/RDL/DL |
Geekvape B100 | Tough yet lightweight DL kit | DL |
Voopoo Drag E60 | Impressive power & battery life | MTL/DL |
Smok IPX 80 | Super tough | MTL/DL |
Vaporesso Gen PT60 & PT80 S | Great flavour, easy-to-use Smart Mode | MTL/DL |
Voopoo Argus Pro 2 | Fantastic flavour & vapour | DL/RDL |
The Smok Nord Series has produced some of the most popular pod devices over the last few years. But the Nord 4 and Nord 5 devices were the first that could be described as true pod mods - with up to 80 watts of power and larger, 2000mAh batteries. While this is fairly standard in the world of pod mods, what’s impressive is compressing that power into such compact, easy-to-use devices.
Capable of producing dense vapour clouds, the Nord 5 is an exclusively DL device, while the Nord 4 supports both MTL and DL inhales. Both devices also feature adjustable airflow so that you can further tailor your inhale to precisely how you like it.
Featuring the Nord Series’ slimline, pocket-friendly design, you’ll also notice the specially designed duck-billed mouthpiece which makes using them super comfortable on your lips.
What’s to like:
- 80W of power in compact size
- Easy to use
- Comfortable duck-billed mouthpiece
The first thing you’ll notice about Vaporesso’s Luxe X is its eye-catching, futuristic style with a transparent, chipset-exposing design. But there’s much more to this stylish pod device...
Combining a 1500mAh battery that lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge with Vaporesso’s flavour-enhancing COREX coil technology, it provides excellent flavour all day long! In fact, our in-house testers were very impressed with the flavour produced, especially given their compact size.
There are no settings to worry about with this device, as the Smart Power Control function means you simply attach your pod and the device does the work for you.
Using convenient fixed-coil pods in a choice of resistances, the Luxe X gives you the choice of Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) and restricted Direct-Lung (RDL) inhales, which can be tailored further with their adjustable airflow feature.
What’s to like:
- Futuristic style
- Up to 24hrs battery life
- Easy to use Smart Power Control
- Supports MTL & RDL inhale styles
Reviewed by: Emily, ECD Team
The Luxe XR Max is a newer, upgraded version of the Luxe X and its replaceable-coil alternative the Luxe XR. Having used, and being very impressed by, the other Luxe Series devices in the past, I was excited to see how this new device compared.
Looks-wise, the device is very similar to the originals, and I love the fact this new version lights up! It’s also very light in hand (if a little bit heavier than the others), so would make a good choice for those wanting decent power without a bulky device.
The battery life was VERY impressive on this device - I’m a heavy vaper, yet the battery lasted around a day and a half of use before I had to charge it again.
My favourite thing about this device, however, is the inhale and the flavour. Although I spend a lot of time testing different devices as a long-time Direct-Lung (DL) vaper who has moved back to a Restricted Direct-Lung (RDL) style, I’ve struggled to find a kit to fit this style…with little success. Then I discovered the Luxe XR Max and it suited me perfectly!
The device supports both replaceable and fixed-coil pods, and, when used with a 0.8ohm fixed-coil pod (which can be bought separately from the kit) and nic salts, it provides a perfect RDL inhale with strong flavour.
I also experimented with the 0.4ohm pod - which produced a more airy inhale that would be ideal for DL vapers.
Overall, I LOVED this device. It fits my vaping style perfectly, has great flavour, impressive battery life and looks great - everything I would want from a vape kit
What’s to like:
- Futuristic style
- Long-lasting battery
- Easy to use Smart Power Control
- Supports MTL & RDL inhale styles
Reviewed by: Emily, ECD Team
The B100 pod mod is everything you’d expect from a sub-ohm Geekvape device - tough and powerful with great flavour and vapour.
The first thing I noticed was the great look and feel of this device. While it features Geekvape’s signature IP68 (water, dust and shockproof) design, it still feels lightweight for a DL device and would be a good option for Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) users wanting to switch to DL without a bulky mod.
Using the included 0.4ohm P Series coil, I found the flavour and vapour production excellent and the airflow control is very easy to find and adjust. Again, this would be perfect for MTL vapers switching to DL as you can tailor the inhale to as airy or restricted as you like.
I was keen to try out the ‘Boost’ mode feature to see how much difference it makes to the inhale. Boost Mode auto sets the output to the highest recommended wattage for the coil and, while I found this definitely enhanced the flavour and vapour, it did come at the cost of the coil burning out very quickly (within 3 hours). With this in mind, it’s not a feature I’d use regularly.
Operating the B100 is easy using Smart Mode - with the device auto-setting the best wattage for the coil being used. With up to 100W powered by an external 18650 battery, I was impressed to find the battery lasted me 2 days when using the device consistently at 50 - 60W. One thing I did find, however, was that the battery hatch is very stiff and needs a good push/pull to open and close.
Another B100 feature I particularly like is the locking system. The lock switch being on the side of the device is very convenient and means no fiddling or having to press the power button a certain amount of times like other devices.
Overall, this is a great pod mod for DL vapers who want to avoid bulky mods, or for MTL users looking for an entry-level DL device.
What’s to like:
- Tough yet lightweight
- Easy operation with Smart Mode
- Great flavour & vapour
While we’re always impressed with Voopoo’s Drag devices, the Drag E60 stood out to us in testing.
Firstly, the power and battery life is notable for its compact size - with up to 60W, and an impressive 2500mAh battery. The battery life can also be further enhanced by the newly introduced, energy-saving ECO mode, which will keep you vaping longer.
For added versatility, while the kit’s included coils support DL vaping, the compatible PnP coils’ range of resistance means it can support an MTL inhale too. The user-friendly Smart Mode means you don’t need to be an expert to use this device as it takes the guesswork out of power settings.
Finally, another thing that stood out to us was the device’s unusual design. While the E60 retains the Drag Series’ stylish metal and leather aesthetic, it is more square-shaped than most pod mods, particularly in contrast to the usual cylindrical Drag devices.
What’s to like:
- Impressive power & battery life
- Supports MTL & DL vaping
- Battery life-enhancing ECO Mode
- User-friendly Smart Mode
Named after its IP67 rating (waterproof, dustproof and shockproof) and 80W output, the Smok IPX80 is a super-tough pod mod perfect for outdoor use.
Powered by a long-lasting 3000mAh battery, this is a versatile device that works with RPM and RPM2 coils for both MTL and DL vaping styles.
Unique adjustable airflow wheels on each side of the pod offer a smooth and easy way to precisely tailor the air intake between airy or restricted and the duck-billed shape of the mouthpiece means it fits comfortably to the contours of your lips.
What's to like:
- Super tough
- Long-lasting battery
- Supports MTL & DL
Great flavour doesn’t have to mean a super high-powered and complicated device. We recently tried Vaporesso’s Gen PT60 and Gen PT80 S pod mods and were impressed with both the ease of use and the flavour they produce.
Available in 60W fixed battery (PT60) and 80W replaceable battery (PT80 S) versions, both devices are lightweight and easy to use - suited to those with some experience but you don’t need to be an expert. The Smart Mode function makes them super easy to use by automatically detecting your coil resistance and setting the best power output for you. (We’d prefer Smart Mode to be automatically selected, though, to make it even easier for beginners.)
The impressive flavour comes from Vaporesso’s flavour-enhancing Corex technology, combining a ‘Morph-Mesh’ coil design and cumulus cotton wicking for even heating and a stronger, more consistent taste from your vape juice.
Both kits work with the full GTX range, supporting both MTL and DL vape styles. The included X tank also has a top adjustable airflow ring so that you can tailor the inhale and create a more restricted or airy vape style.
What's to like:
- Great flavour
- Easy to use Smart Mode
- Lightweight design
Reviewed by: Corey, ECD Team
An upgraded version of the popular Argus Pro, The Argus Pro 2 is another impressive Voopoo pod mod that ticks all the boxes for a sub-ohm vaper.
Design-wise, this is everything I’d expect from a Voopoo device - fantastic build quality with a high-quality leather and metal finish and solid, tactile buttons.
Using the included 0.15ohm coil with high-VG e-liquid, I found the flavour and vapour production fantastic. There’s also the newly-added Boost/Turbo mode option which can be used to further increase vapour production.
The device can output up to 80W and I found the built-in Smart mode a handy feature as it automatically set the optimum wattage for my coil. However, if you prefer to manually control your wattage you can switch to RBA mode.
As a heavier vaper, I was also impressed that the 3000mAh battery lasted most of a day of use even at the highest wattage.
The only small downside was the pod’s side-filling design - meaning you need to remove the pod from the device to refill.
This one, very picky, flaw aside, this is a great overall device perfect for sub-ohmers who value quality and flavour.
What we like:
- High-quality design
- Handy Smart mode
- Great flavour & vapour
One of the advantages of pod mods is they suit a wide range of experience levels.
I always advise anyone starting out vaping to use a lower-powered starter kit. However, most vapers with some experience (or a friend to help out!) should be able to use these devices.
Really, for most pod mods the only thing you need to know is:
- how to prime the coil correctly
- the right wattage for the coil you are using
Many pod mods help out here by providing a smart mode. Depending on the device, this will suggest a power setting, set a maximum/minimum wattage, or both.
If you’re not yet an expert vaper, smart mode is a real bonus because it simplifies using the device and can help extend the life of your coils.
While most pod mods don’t come with advanced vape modes, we are starting to see them emerge with newer devices. This makes the devices suitable for advanced vapers looking for a back-up device.
This leads to another advantage for pods mods.
When you start with a simple starter kit, you often only have one mode of vaping to enjoy. But some pod mods have the ability to grow with you. For example, you might start using a pod with smart mode, which takes some of the guesswork out of vaping, and end up using the more advanced modes as you become more experienced.
One thing to take into account when choosing a pod mod is your preferred inhale.
Some pod mods cater exclusively for Direct-Lung or Mouth-to-Lung vaping. But an increasing number of Pod Mods cater for both styles. This flexibility makes them a great choice for vapers who like to switch between different styles of vaping.
We’ve used three criteria for selecting the kits in this post:
- initial testing
- popularity of the device
- feedback.
Before we put a device on sale, we receive a sample for initial testing. I generally get a good idea of how good it is by how soon it gets to me – if our product manager keeps hold of the sample, it generally means it’s really good!
We also take into account feedback from customers. As we sell thousands of kits every month, this is quite rapid. In fact, unless we are blown away by a new device, we don’t usually list it until we have had plenty of feedback from our customers.
After all, sometimes a device can shine in initial testing but fail to withstand the test of time.
There’s sure to be more pod mods released in the coming weeks and months so we’ll keep an eye open for more top-notch devices, and add the best ones here as the year goes on.
What’s your favourite pod mod so far, and why? Do let us know in the comments!