The are now many, many SMOK Nord vapes on the market. But how does the SMOK Nord 5 stack up? Is it enough to make me ditch my Vaporesso XROS 3? Let’s find out…

SMOK’s Nord series is one of the most popular and enduring pod vape series on the market. It’s been around in one form or another since about 2017 – or thereabouts. 

Pod vapes are popular and Smok is a big part of this. It has designed and produced more pod vapes than any other vendor in the vape market. 

But out of all of its models, it is the Smok Nord and SMOK NOVO series that people love the most. And the reason for this is simple: they’re compact, they’re easy to use, and you can buy them everywhere. 

So, how does the SMOK Nord 5 stack up? Is it as good as the SMOK Nord 4 or the SMOK Nord X? 

I spent a solid few months with this pod vape, so I’m pretty well versed in what it can and cannot do. Let’s dig in, shall we? 

SMOK Nord 5 Review

Design and Build Quality – 8.5/10

The Nord 5 has a zinc alloy chassis complemented by padded faux leather panels which make it easier to hold and less slippy. That’s the good bit.

The bad aspect of this, however, is that after a prolonged usage (over 12 months), the leather can and will peel. I’ve had plenty of “leather” clad mods and pods and they all did the same thing (peeled after 12+ months of use).

Maybe this is down to my anxiety-ridden sweaty palms, I don’t know. But it is definitely something to keep in mind. That said, most users do not tend to run their pods for 12 months at a time anyway, so I wouldn’t necessarily file this under “deal-breaker” but it is something you should be aware of.

Everything else about the SMOK Nord 5’s design is rock solid. The button is located front and center, the display is on the side, and using both is very straightforward. Displays are still pretty novel on pod vapes but its inclusion here is handy because you can change the power, so you’ll want to know what you’re doing.

Coils, Flavor & Coil Lifespan – 9/10

• Coils Included: RPM3 Meshed 0.15Ω and RPM3 Meshed 0.23Ω.
• Airflow: Adjustable slide airflow with a coil locking system.
• Ease of Use: Simple setup and user-friendly, accompanied by a quick start guide.

I’ve been through about four boxes of coils and, generally speaking, they tend to last on average around 7-10 days, so just shy of the fabled two-week mark.

This is pretty good but it is orders of magnitude worse than my Vaporesso XROS 3’s coils which tend to get up to the four week mark without breaking so much as a sweat.

Performance – 8/10

• Vapour Production: Delivers impressive vapour output with adjustable airflow.
• Flavour Quality: Offers a satisfactory flavour experience.
• Battery Life: Adequately lasts most of a day with regular use.

The flavor, both MTL and DTL, is impressive. I found it markedly better than both the SMOK Nord 4 and the SMOK Nord X in both contexts. Usually, the DTL coil lets the side down. But here is brilliant, working as well as the MTL one.

Flavor is very much on point, as you’d expect from a fifth generation pod vape. But it is not quite as good as my current driver and VapeBeat’s #1 pick for the the best pod of the year – the Vaporesso XROS 3.

It is still very good, though, and it is nice to see that SMOK is making improvements with its Nord pods.

Final Verdict – 8/10

The SMOK Nord 5 kit is a solid choice in the sub-ohm pod market. It is particularly recommended for beginners in sub-ohm vaping or as a reliable secondary option for experienced vapers.

Balancing performance, build quality, and ease of use, the Nord 5 scores a strong 8 out of 10, making it a worthy contender for anyone looking for a solid pod vape that delivers spades of flavor and will last all day.