Smok’s Mag 225W is a box mod built to look and feel like the grip of a handgun, and the later Mag P3 follows the same idea. We are covering the older kit first, because the P3 makes more sense once you know where it came from. Below is how the Mag 225W is built, how it performed in our hands, and where it fell short.
Background
The kit came out around the turn of the year, late December 2017 into January 2018. Smok offered it in 25 colors, which is a very wide choice for one mod. It was also sold in separate left-hand and right-hand versions. Most mods work in either hand, but a dedicated left-hand model means the screen actually faces a left-handed user.
Shape and build
The body copies a pistol grip, and the battery tray is styled as a magazine, which is where the name “Mag” comes from. A button below the trigger-style fire key drops the tray out, and you push it back up into the grip to reload.
Unlike some Smok mods of that period, such as the T-Priv, there are no LED lights. The chip and screen are close to the ProColor, and the menus will feel familiar to anyone who used the Smok Alien from the year before.
In the hand it is very comfortable. The curved back rests against the palm in a way squared-off box mods do not. I have used 3 of them, my own and two belonging to friends, in orange, gold and hot pink. The paint was well done on all three, with black accents on the fire key and the curved body. I dropped the gold one once. It chipped at a bottom corner, but nothing else flaked or cracked.
Fit with tanks
The mod is only 25mm wide, and an atomizer over 30mm will overhang. The TFV12 and TFV16 both sat centered for me. A larger tank, or one from a brand other than SMOK, may not look as tidy. The 510 platform sits at a downward angle, and a round silver plate lets the atomizer rest flush and straight.
Screen, buttons and charging
The display is large and simple to read, laid out much like earlier Smok screens. You can change the menu text color and see the charge level of each battery. 5 clicks unlock the device and 3 clicks open the menu. The up and down keys respond well, although they are not level with each other, which can be confusing at first.
For charging, either release the tray and charge the batteries separately, or plug in the included microUSB cord and charge them inside the mod.
Modes and measured output
- Modes found: wattage, temperature control, TCR, and a preheat setting with soft, normal and hard options
- Rated maximum: 225W; my test reached 223W
- Rated maximum voltage: 9V; I measured 6.94 volts on a 0.51ohm coil
- Amperage in testing: 44, about 4 amps above a typical dual battery mod
I run nearly everything in wattage mode. Hard preheat ramps up extremely fast; switching back to normal gave a smoother, cooler hit. The mod will fire at its full rating, though I do not recommend it. I stayed at 150W because of my 0.12 ohm coil, and a coil of 0.15 ohm or higher will hit harder. No maximum amperage is printed on the mod, the box or the booklet.
The voltage figure is the odd part. 9V normally needs a boost circuit, and what I measured is low for a dual battery device given what Smok advertises. Apart from that, the mod did everything I asked.
Temperature control
TC mode fires quickly. Above 400F I got unpleasant dry hits, so I would not go that high. 350-370F was comfortable for me, since I dislike hot vapor. I doubt I will use the mode much, but it is there.
The trigger
The trigger-shaped fire key is the fun part. It responds fast and does not rattle. My mistake was taking the mod to the beach: sand worked its way between the trigger and the body, and clearing it out was tedious. Some is probably still in there. The mod has many small gaps that collect dirt and sand, so think about that if you carry it everywhere.
Verdict and the controversy
I liked the design. Plenty of people did not. Critics objected to putting something gun-shaped in adults’ hands and worried it might nudge them toward buying a real firearm. Friends of mine who own guns held it and said it felt very close to what they already have. I do not believe a vape mod makes anyone buy a gun, but I accept that the resemblance did the vaping community’s public image no favors. One shop owner reportedly refused to stock it, concerned about the impression it would give her customers.
Whatever you think of it, this is among the most unusual designs SMOK has made. Our next article looks at the Mag P3, which has a quieter, updated look.