SMOK vs Elf Bar: Features, Price + More (2024)

The epic showdown: SMOK vs Elf Bar. 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 SMOK or rooting for Elf Bar, 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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A Quick Intro to SMOK and Elf Bar

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.

Elf Bars is an electronic cigarette brand that sells disposable vape devices coming in a wide range of flavors, nicotine levels, and sizes. Known for their fruity flavors and colorful appearance, Elf Bars are draw-activated devices, meaning they operate by inhaling through the top of the device.

They are rechargeable devices designed to be used and disposed of after their e-liquid has run dry.

Brand History and Background of SMOK and Elf Bar

Let’s look at how the two brands evolved.

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.

Founded in 2018 and owned by parent company iMiracle Technologies, Elf Bar is the brainchild of active CEO Victor Xiao.

They’re considered a pioneer in the flavor department of vaping, releasing a wide range of fruity blends and colorful device options. 

Elf Bar has faced criticism for allegedly marketing the products toward young adults with sweet, candy-like flavors. For this reason, they’re discontinuing several of their flavors in an attempt to curb the rising use of their products by underage people. 

In the US, they dropped the Elf Bar name because of a trademark dispute and actions taken by regulators to seize its imports. It has been renamed to EBCreate, selling products under the domain “EB Design.”

SMOK vs Elf Bar Comparison Summary

Take a quick look at the features of SMOK and Elf Bar vapes before we get into the details:

 

 

SMOK

Elf Bar

Product Range

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)

Elf Bar BC/NC/TE/CR/BM/FB Series (Disposables)

Elf Bar CIGALIKE (Disposables)

Elf Bar Lux Series (Disposables)

Elf Bar T Series (Disposables)

Elf Bar 600 (Disposables)

Elf Bar Mate Series (Pod Vape)

Elf Bar ELFA pro (Pod Vape)

ELFIQ E-Liquid (E-Juice)

 

Nicotine-free options available?

Yes (SMOK NOVO 2 KIT, SMOK NOVO BAR, SMOK NOVO 5 Pod Kit, and more)

Yes

Device Quality & Build

Innovative design, incorporating high-quality materials like zinc alloy and stainless steel

Minimalist design, compact,  round edges, sturdy body, plastic construction.

Battery Capacity

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

Elf Bar disposable range (non-rechargeable): ≈ 600 mAh

Elf Bar disposable range (rechargeable): ≈ 650 mAh

Pod Capacity, Nicotine Strength

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

BC5000: 9.5-13ml of e-liquid.

TE6000: 13ml

Mate 500: 1.2ml

Nicotine strengths (US): 
- 0mg (0%)
- 20mg (2%)
- 50mg (5%)
- 70mg (7%)

Nicotine Strengths (UK):
- 0mg (0%)
- 10mg (1%)
- 20mg (2%)

Number of Puffs per Pod

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 

Mate 500: 500 puffs

Elf Bar BC5000 (and BC series): 5000 puffs

Elf Bar Cigalike: 400 puffs

Elf Bar ELFA Pro: 600 puffs

Charging Time

ISPEED, IGEE, and IGEE PRO: 40 mins

30 - 90 minutes

Safety Features

Low voltage detection, short circuit detection, LED indicator, age verification on website

LED indicator, auto-shutoff, overcharge protection, overheat protection

Device and Pod Cost

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

BC5000: $15.00

TE6000: $9.99

Pi9000:$21.00

Customer Support and Warranty

6 months

6 months

 

Now let’s compare these brands in detail:

1. Design and Aesthetics

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.

Elf Bar’s design is sleek and compact, with a rounded, lightweight finish. They are very portable, discrete, and minimalistic. Elf Bars have no buttons or LCD screens - to activate them, you draw on the mouthpiece, making them very user-friendly.

2. Performance and Battery Life

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.

Elf Bars have batteries ranging from 500 - 650 mAh, which packs enough punch to keep you vaping for hours at a time. Their larger vapes typically contain a 650 mAh battery, providing up to 4 days of battery with casual use on a single charge of 90 minutes. 

Elf Bars come with temperature regulation and overcharge protection.

3. Longevity

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.

There’s a reason Elf Bars are so popular in the vaping world - large batteries and larger tanks.

Designed as disposable vapes, Elf Bar lifespans are primarily measured in terms of puffs rather than days. Here are some estimated durations based on usage patterns:

  • Heavy Vapers: 2–4 days, consuming around 4–6 ml of e-liquid daily.
  • Average Vapers: 5–7 days, consuming around 2–4 ml of e-liquid daily.
  • Casual Vapers: 7–10 days, consuming around 1–2 ml of e-liquid daily.

4. Flavor Selection and Nicotine Options

SMOK disposables and rechargeables come in different flavors, including watermelon, peach, mango, kiwi, mint, blueberry, strawberry, and more.

Elf Bar has an almost endless flavor range. However, we can break them down into five major categories:

  • Fruit favors
  • Beverage flavors
  • Candy flavors
  • Ice flavors
  • Mixed fruity flavors

5. Vaping Experience

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.

Elf Bars offer a flavorful and simplistic vaping experience. Using only nicotine-salt-based e-liquids, Elf Bar vapor is generally soft on the throat and substitutes well for smoking.

Being easy to use, with an endless flavor range and a variety of nicotine strengths to choose from, Elf Bar can appeal to a wide audience - veterans and beginners alike.

6. Health and Safety Concerns

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.

Elf Bars are generally considered safer than smoking cigarettes, yet they carry risks of addiction and various health concerns. Nicotine content of 6% in some of their products is great for transitioning smokers, but they can get more and more users addicted to nicotine in no time.

These can range from dizziness and nausea to cardiovascular disease, largely due to their high concentrations of liquid nicotine and the general tendency for misuse.

7. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Issues

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.

Elf Bar has faced regulatory compliance and legal issues due to its unauthorized sale in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to 189 retailers in 2023 for selling unauthorized tobacco products, including Elf Bar.

In addition to the FDA's actions, Elf Bar has faced legal challenges and has been involved in trademark disputes. The company has been forced to drop the Elf Bar name after losing a trademark case to a smaller company.

Note: Consumers must also verify adherence to the latest local laws prior to any purchase of devices from these brands.

8. Nicotine Content Potential

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.

Elf Bars contain varying levels of nicotine, ranging from sub-mild 20mg (2%) all the way up to an astounding 50mg (5%) nicotine.

For reference, in the UK, Elf Bars are limited to a maximum nicotine concentration of 20mg/ml (2%) to comply with regulations.

9. Compatibility with Other Products

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.

Elf Bar’s proprietary design limits its cross-compatibility, but its popularity has spurred a market of counterfeit pods and accessories, though these can be hit or miss in terms of quality.

10. Availability and Accessibility

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.

Having found a way to work around the US vape import ban, Elf Bars are widely available in various locations and through multiple channels. They can be found at brick-and-mortar vape shops, convenience stores, petrol stations, and online retailers.

11. Cost vs. Quality

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.

Elf Bars are considered to be a budget-friendly option for disposable vapes, with prices ranging from $5 to $20 depending on the vendor, location, and any promotions or discounts.

However, it's important to note that the cost of vaping products should not be the only factor considered when choosing a product.

Pros and Cons of SMOK and Elf Bar

To summarize, here are the benefits and drawbacks of both these brands:

 

Pros of SMOK

Cons of SMOK

  • Intuitive interface that improves user experience
  • Various flavor and nicotine strength options
  • Mesh coils enable high-quality vapor production and flavor delivery 
  • Wide product range catering to beginners and advanced users
  • Sturdy devices in stylish color combinations

  • Complexity of advanced mods can be overwhelming for new users
  • Occasional reports of firmware issues or device malfunctions
  • Lower battery capacity models, like the MBAR (280 mAh), may require frequent charging 
  • Disposables aren’t available in the US
  • Lower warranty period compared to other brands

 

 

Pros of Elf Bar

Cons of Elf Bar

  • Convenient, easy-to-use design
  • High nicotine content provides a satisfying hit for smokers transitioning to vaping
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Replacement warranty for device malfunctions

  • High nicotine content can lead to addiction, especially for beginners
  • Regulatory and legal challenges hamper product availability
  • Doesn't allow customizing nicotine levels or flavors
  • Restriction in flavor range due to regulations.

 

In short, both SMOK and Elf Bar stand out in the vaping market with their unique strengths and offerings.

 

However, both SMOK and Elf Bar are not without their regulatory challenges.

 

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.

Cyclone Pods: The Safest, High-Quality, Nicotine-Free Alternative

Cyclone Pods is a game-changer for vapers looking to ditch nicotine without losing the vaping experience. We offer a wide range of nicotine-free vapes, making it easier than ever to cut down or stop nicotine consumption.

 

Our innovative products include the Surge, and the Gust Super disposable range. Pick from our stunning range of:

 

We use only high-quality flavorings, vegetable glycerin, and propylene glycol in our vape juice giving you big clouds and the purest of flavors. There’s absolutely no vitamin E acetate, diacetyl, or any other addictive substances, including nicotine.

 

We're committed to providing choices that make your nicotine-free journey both enjoyable and satisfying.

 

So, why wait?

 

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