RELX vs SMOK: Features, Price + More (2024)
The epic showdown: RELX vs SMOK. We're here to dissect every puff, flavor, and cloud.
But how do they compare against each other in terms of product range, performance, flavors, value, and more?
Whether you're on team RELX or rooting for SMOK, this detailed comparison guide is packed with juicy details!
And stick around, because we've got a twist for you – nicotine-free vapes from Cyclone Pods. Safer, smoother, and even more satisfying.
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Further Reading: Check out these links: Explore these resources: |
A Quick Intro to RELX and SMOK
Hailing from Beijing, China, RELX has a product lineup that includes sleek pod vapes, disposable e-cigarettes, and a wide array of flavorful pods, catering to both novice and seasoned vapers.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, SMOK offers a bevy of products including vape pens, starter kits, advanced mods, and disposables. Their products are ideal for the cloud-chasing enthusiast and the discreet, on-the-go user.
Brand History and Background of RELX and SMOK
Let’s look at how the two brands evolved.
RELX was founded in January 2018 by Kate Wang and later that year the founder was awarded with the title of “Innovation China 2018 New Entrepreneur”. In 2021, an investor filed a lawsuit against the vaping company claiming that they misrepresented its financial performance and hid potential regulatory risks. This caused the company’s shares to drop by 70% in the NYSE. Despite this legal setback, RELX continues to be a popular brand among seasoned vapers. Its products bagged awards in three different categories at the Vapouround Global Awards 2023, UK. Despite this legal setback, RELX continues to be a popular brand among seasoned vapers. Its products bagged awards in three different categories at the Vapouround Global Awards 2023, UK.
Founded in 2010, SMOK is known for its high-quality disposable vapes, mods, pod mods, vape pens, and accessories. In the Vapouround Global Awards 2021, SMOK’s RPM 4 Kit bagged the award for the Best Pod System. Early in 2024, the FDA issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) for 22 SMOK e-cigarette products (including devices, pods, atomizers, and cartridges) in the US. In response, SMOK has submitted an appeal in the US Court claiming that the MDO is arbitrary and lacks substantial evidence.
RELX vs SMOK Comparison Summary
Take a quick look at the features of RELX and SMOK vapes before we get into the details:
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RELX |
SMOK |
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Product Range |
RELX MagicGo GA600, GA2500, GA3500 RELX MagicGo Plus SA600, DM6000 Disposable Vape RELX Bar, RELX Infinity, Infinity 2, Infinity Plus, Artisan, and Essential (Rechargeable) RELX Pod and RELX Pod Pro (Flavored Pods) |
SPACEMAN TURBO, MAVIC S9000, NOVO BAR B600, RAINBOW BAR 5000, AL6000, ETO BAR, RAINBOW BAR, STICK BAR, MINIONE, NORD BAR, MBAR, VVOW, MBAR PRO, and NOVO BAR (Disposable) ISPEED, IGEE, and IGEE PRO (Closed systems) NOVO PRO, NORD GT, NOVO MASTER BOX KIT, NOVO MASTER KIT, PROPOD GT KIT, NORD C KIT, NOVO 2C KIT, NOVO 5 KIT, SOLUS G-BOX, SOLUS G, PROPOD, IGEE A1, and more (Pods) tech 247, RPM C KIT, RPM 25W, RPM 4, and more (Pod mods) MAG SOLO KIT, MORPH 3 KIT, MAG-18 KIT, FORTIS KIT, and more (Advanced mods) VAPE PEN V2 KIT, STICK 80W, VAPE PEN NORD 19 & 22, STICK PRINCE, and more (Vape pens)
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Nicotine-free options available? |
Yes |
Yes (SMOK NOVO 2 KIT, SMOK NOVO BAR, SMOK NOVO 5 Pod Kit, and more) |
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Device Quality & Build |
Portable, lightweight vapes with a leak-resistant maze-like structure and an ergonomic shape. |
Innovative design, incorporating high-quality materials like zinc alloy and stainless steel |
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Battery Capacity |
RELX Classic: 350 mAh RELX Infinity: 380 mAh RELX Infinity 2: 440 mAh RELX Infinity Plus: 380 mAh RELX MagicGo GA600: 400 mAh RELX MagicGo GA2500 and GA3500: 1000 mAh RELX MagicGo Plus DM6000: 850 mAh |
SPACEMAN TURBO, MINIONE: 800 mAh AL6000, ETO BAR: 650 mAh NORD BAR, NOVO BAR: 600 mAh RAINBOW BAR 5000, STICK BAR: 550 mAh MAVIC S9000, NOVO BAR B600, VVOW, MBAR PRO: 500 mAh RAINBOW BAR: 400 mAh MBAR: 280 mAh ISPEED, IGEE, and IGEE PRO: 400 mAh |
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Pod Capacity, Nicotine Strength |
RELX Infinity, Infinity 2, and Infinity Plus: 1.9 ml RELX Pod and Pod Pro: 18 mg/ml RELX MagicGo GA600: 2 ml (1.55%/3%/5%) RELX MagicGo GA2500 and GA3500: 6 ml (1.55%/3%/5%) RELX MagicGo Plus DM6000: 12 ml (1.55%/3%/5%) Disposable Vape RELX Bar: 2 ml, 19mg/ml |
SPACEMAN TURBO: 5% (16 ml) MAVIC S9000: 18 ml NOVO BAR B600, VVOW, MBAR PRO, NOVO BAR: 2% (2 ml) RAINBOW BAR 5000: 20 mg nicotine (13 ml) AL6000: 13 ml RAINBOW BAR: 3% (2.5 ml) MINIONE: 4.5 ml NORD BAR: 5% (8.5 ml) MBAR: 20 mg (1.3 ml) IGEE, IGEE PRO: 2.5 ml |
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Number of Puffs per Pod |
RELX MagicGo GA600 and MagicGo Plus SA600: Up to 600 RELX MagicGo GA2500: Up to 2500 RELX MagicGo GA3500: Up to 3500 RELX MagicGo Plus DM6000: Up to 6000 Disposable Vape RELX Bar: Up to 600 |
SPACEMAN TURBO: 10,000-15,000 MAVIC S9000: 9000 NOVO BAR B600, RAINBOW BAR, VVOW, NOVO BAR: 600 RAINBOW BAR 5000: 5000 AL6000: Up to 6000 ETO BAR: 8000 STICK BAR: 1000 MINIONE: 1600 NORD BAR: 4000 MBAR: Up to 300 MBAR PRO: 550 |
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Charging Time |
RELX Essential: 40 mins approx. RELX Infinity and Infinity Plus: 45 mins |
ISPEED, IGEE, and IGEE PRO: 40 mins |
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Safety Features |
Designed with a child-resistant mechanism, RELX Infinity 2 has SmartPace vibration alert system, auto-shutdown feature, short circuit protection, low voltage protection, and overcharge protection. |
Low voltage detection, short circuit detection, LED indicator, age verification on website |
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Device and Pod Cost |
RELX Essential: $14.90 RELX Infinity and Infinity 2: $29.90 RELX Infinity Plus: $29.99 RELX Artisan: $46.90 RELX Pod Pro: $11.40 RELX Pod: $10.29 RELX MagicGo GA600: $6.89 Disposable Vape RELX Bar: $6.99 |
SMOK SPACE MAN TURBO: $11.50 SMOK IGEE AI KIT: $23.99 SMOK NOVO 5 KIT: $39.99 SMOK RPM 100 KIT: $57.99 SMOK MAG-18 KIT: $99.99 VAPE PEN 2 KIT: $34.99 |
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Customer Support and Warranty |
Pod: 18 months from the date of manufacture. Device: 12 months from the date of original retail purchase. |
6 months |
Now let’s compare these brands in detail:
1. Design and Aesthetics
RELX devices flaunt a sleek, minimalist design, and are available in chic color options, such as robin blue, indigo denim, bright mandarin, and more. They’re lightweight and compact with an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
SMOK devices have an intuitive interface with LED display, battery life percentage indicator, and touch screens. They usually come in cylindrical or plump shapes and tend to be lightweight and portable. They’re available in various color options.
2. Performance and Battery Life
RELX devices cater to different user needs — from RELX Classic's 350 mAh battery, offering a good balance of size to performance to RELX MagicGo GA3500 with a 1000 mAh battery, designed for extended use. RELX Infinity 2 stands out with a 440 mAh battery and an ultra-fast charging feature – reaching 80% battery in 15 minutes.
SMOK devices offer different battery capacities, catering to the needs of both heavy-duty users and casual vapers. The SPACEMAN TURBO and MINIONE lead with an 800 mAh battery, designed for longer vaping sessions. Whereas MBAR's 280 mAh is the more portable option but won't last as long before needing a recharge.
3. Longevity
RELX is a fine choice for someone looking for a high puff count per pod. RELX Infinity series offers a robust battery life tailored to heavy use and the RELX MagicGo line provides puff counts up to 6000. So there's a good-quality, economically viable option for every user.
SMOK’s product lineup includes the high-capacity SPACEMAN TURBO offering up to 15,000 puffs and also the low-capacity model of MBAR with up to 300 puffs. The longevity is also influenced by battery capacity, ranging from 800 mAh in models like the SPACEMAN TURBO, ensuring extended use, down to 280 mAh in the MBAR, indicating shorter usage intervals. So, while some SMOK models are designed for durability and prolonged sessions, others prioritize compactness and convenience.
4. Flavor Selection and Nicotine Options
RELX offers a wide range of over 30 flavors, including passion fruit, lychee ice, lemon zest, orchard rounds, and more.
SMOK disposables and rechargeables come in different flavors, including watermelon, peach, mango, kiwi, mint, blueberry, strawberry, and more.
5. Vaping Experience
All RELX devices are designed with the brand’s independently-developed Super Smooth™ Performance technology. They are equipped with either ceramic or cotton atomizers, which vaporize the e-liquid at the right temperature to unlock the full-bodied flavor.
With several fruit-flavored e-liquids and nicotine strengths as high as 50mg, SMOK offers a vaping experience that meets the satisfaction levels of heavy smokers looking to switch and casual vapers seeking to try different flavors. It offers a range of products featuring mesh coils – key to enhanced flavor production and vapor output.
6. Health and Safety Concerns
Like most vaping products, RELX isn’t free from risks of nicotine and other harmful chemicals like glycerol, propylene glycol, flavorings, and nicotine salt. However, the brand does offer nicotine-free vapes for a safer experience.
SMOK, like other vaping products, comes with health implications — from potential nicotine addiction to exposure to substances like vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol. However, the vapes with higher nicotine content, especially the 5% options, pose a significant addiction potential. The brand also provides nicotine-free vapes for those looking for a less risky vaping experience in the UK and South Africa.
7. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Issues
RELX hasn’t faced any serious legal trouble in the US in the past.
The FDA issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) for 22 SMOK e-cigarette products (including devices, pods, atomizers, and cartridges) in 2024. The federal agency claims that SMOK failed to provide adequate data related to “product stability and product abuse liability”. SMOK has challenged these MDOs by submitting an appeal in the US Court.
Note: Consumers must also verify adherence to the latest local laws prior to any purchase of devices from these brands.
8. Nicotine Content Potential
RELX pods are packed with varying nicotine strengths at 5% (50mg/ml), 3% (30mg/ml), 1.8% (30mg/ml), and 0% giving you the flexibility to tailor your vaping experience based on your nicotine preference. Vapers may also opt for nicotine-free options to enjoy the sensation of vaping without the harmful effects of nicotine.
SMOK vapes offer a range of nicotine levels, from 2% in devices like the NOVO BAR B600 and MBAR PRO, up to 5% in the SPACEMAN TURBO and NORD BAR, catering to varying user preferences for nicotine intake. Nicotine delivery is also varied, with pod sizes ranging from 1.3 ml in the MBAR to 18 ml in the MAVIC S9000 – quite a broad spectrum of vaping durations and intensities to choose from.
9. Compatibility with Other Products
RELX doesn’t offer any pairing options with third-party pods and accessories.
SMOK’s refillable pod systems like SMOK NOVO 2, NORD 2, RPM40, and POZZ X can be paired with any high-quality e-liquid of your choice. The brand recommends nicotine salt liquids for optimal performance.
10. Availability and Accessibility
RELX products can be bought in retail stores (in the US), online stores (in countries like the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, and more), and on their website. However, there may be limitations on getting products delivered in certain areas, depending upon their local regulations related to tobacco and nicotine products.
SMOK products can be bought in their official website store and are available in more than 50 countries. However, none of the disposable products are for sale in the US. Further, location-based restrictions can apply due to regulations on vaping products, affecting availability and shipping.
11. Cost vs. Quality
RELX Pods are available at $10.29 for a 2-pack, while the Pro version is priced at $11.40 for the same quantity. Both options offer a wide flavor variety, but RELX Pods Pro gives a better vaping experience with its Super Smooth™ Performance technology. In general, the brand offers a satisfying vaping experience at an affordable price.
The pricing of SMOK products, ranging from $11.50 for the SPACEMAN TURBO to $99.99 for the MAG-18 KIT, cater to various budgets and preferences. The brand offers options for entry-level vapers looking for affordability and seasoned users seeking advanced features. SMOK is priced higher than some competitors, especially for their feature-rich kits.
Pros and Cons of RELX and SMOK
To summarize, here are the benefits and drawbacks of both these brands:
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Pros of RELX |
Cons of RELX |
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Pros of SMOK |
Cons of SMOK |
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In short, both RELX and SMOK stand out in the vaping market with their unique strengths and offerings.
RELX operates free from regulatory limitations, unlike SMOK, which is subject to restrictions.
Now, if you’re on the lookout for a nicotine-free alternative without compromising on the vaping experience, we’ll tell you what’s best.
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