Smok Nord 4: which generation, which cartridge

There are a good half dozen devices carrying the Nord name from this manufacturer, and that is precisely where the confusion starts. Search for information on the smok nord 4 and you land on pages that cheerfully mix generations, capacities and coil references into one soup. So I went back to the subject from scratch, separating what belongs to this specific version from what has drifted in from its neighbours.

The smok nord 4 is a pod with two cartridge systems

Direct answer before any detour. The smok nord 4 is a pod with an integrated 2000 mAh battery and a stated output of up to 80 watts, supplied with two distinct cartridges. One takes coils from the RPM family, the other takes the RPM 2 family.

That dual system defines the device and explains just about everything else about it. One battery, two vaping worlds, with very different results depending on which cartridge is fitted at the time.

On the British market the cartridge reservoir is capped at 2 ml, as it is on every refillable device sold here with nicotine. The larger capacities you will see quoted on overseas listings belong to other markets and mean nothing in a UK context.

Which generation are we actually talking about

The Nord range spans several generations that look alike from a distance and differ considerably up close. Before buying a cartridge or a coil, you need to know which model is in front of you, or compatibility lands somewhere unhelpful.

What the whole range shares is the compact pod format with an integrated battery and a removable cartridge. What changes between generations is the cell capacity, the presence or absence of a wattage control, and above all which coil family the device accepts.

On this fourth generation, two things are confirmed across several concordant sources: the 2000 mAh battery and the 80 watt maximum, with an adjustable range starting at 5 watts. A small screen shows the wattage and the state of charge, and charging is over USB-C.

The rest of the specifications I see circulating, particularly around protection modes and precise charging times, vary too much between sources for me to repeat them. I would rather leave a blank than publish an invented figure.

RPM and RPM 2, the question that actually matters

This is the point that decides satisfaction or disappointment, and the one product pages dispose of in a single line. The two supplied cartridges are not aimed at the same use at all.

The RPM cartridge accepts the first coil family, including a 0.4 ohm mesh coil in the kit. That is the more versatile side of the device, oriented towards moderate vaping, and it is capable of a reasonably tight draw once the airflow is closed down.

The RPM 2 cartridge takes a more recent family, with a 0.16 ohm mesh coil in the kit. That is a distinctly airier profile, hungrier on both liquid and battery, and it needs a liquid suited to a low resistance coil rather than whatever was in the last pod.

In practice, two people describing the smok nord 4 can be talking about devices with almost nothing in common in daily use, purely because they fitted different cartridges. It is the first thing any review should state and it is almost always the missing information.

A device with two cartridge families also doubles the number of references to track. You need to know which one you run before ordering, or you receive coils that will not fit anything you own. I would pick one family and stay with it rather than alternating, and that is exactly the spares availability question from my six questions before buying, which weighs heavily over time.

That question has become sharper here recently, since some British retailers now list the Nord 4 and its pods as discontinued stock. Before committing to either family, it is worth checking that the coils are held by more than one shop rather than trusting a single listing.

What the smok nord 4 changes day to day

Moving from description to actual use, because that is where the difference lies between a device kept for a year and one shelved after six weeks.

The first positive is endurance. A 2000 mAh cell in a pocketable format leaves a comfortable margin across an ordinary day, provided you do not sit permanently at the top of the wattage range.

The second is the airflow control built into the cartridge. Being able to tighten or open the draw without changing hardware lets you try both gestures on one device, which is rare at this size and genuinely useful if you have not settled your preference yet.

The third, less pleasant, is liquid consumption on a very low resistance coil. On a 2 ml reservoir an airy configuration forces frequent refills, and that is the main practical complaint I would hold against it in Britain.

Finally, the presence of a screen and a wattage control takes this pod out of the category of devices you can pick up without understanding anything. It asks for a minimum of attention to settings, which is not a fault but should be said plainly before purchase.

Which vaper this suits

This format suits somebody who already has an idea of what they are looking for and wants room to adjust. The dual cartridge system becomes a real asset while you are still undecided between a tight and an airy draw.

For very simple use, with no interest in touching a setting, a more basic pod stays more coherent. I set that reasoning out format by format in my comparison of vape formats by profile, and it applies here without modification.

For anyone coming from a two-stage gesture and wanting to move on, the airier cartridge offers an interesting test bed. The subject of the draw is worth understanding first, and I covered it in my notes on the two inhaling styles.

For heavy use at high power, on the other hand, the 2 ml reservoir becomes limiting quickly. That is not a fault of the device but a constraint shared across every refillable device sold legally in the United Kingdom, alongside the 20 mg/ml ceiling on nicotine-containing liquid.

Frequently asked questions

Which cartridge should you choose between RPM and RPM 2?

It depends on the draw you want. The RPM cartridge with its 0.4 ohm coil suits moderate use and a tighter draw, while RPM 2 with its 0.16 ohm coil targets an airy, thirstier vape.

What is the tank capacity in the UK?

Two millilitres, as on every refillable reservoir sold in Britain with nicotine. The larger capacities shown on some overseas listings correspond to versions intended for other markets.

Do you have to set the wattage yourself?

Yes, the device has a control and a screen. It is prudent to start at the bottom of the range recommended for the fitted coil and climb gradually until the result suits you.

Are coils from other Nord models compatible?

Think in coil families rather than device names. Only the RPM and RPM 2 references apply here, and any compatibility claimed for another generation should be checked against the manufacturer’s own listing before ordering.

Is a 2 ml tank enough for a full day?

With a tight draw and moderate power it works for many people. With the lowest resistance coil and high wattage, expect several refills across the day.

A device to understand before buying

The difficulty with this model does not come from its quality but from the confusion surrounding it. Between generations sharing a name and two coil families sharing a device, it is easy to buy the right hardware and the wrong consumables.

Once that is clear, you get a versatile pod, well provided for battery at its size, that leaves the choice between two very different gestures open. That is its real value, far more than the wattage figure everybody quotes.

If I had to put it in one sentence, the smok nord 4 is a device for someone willing to choose their cartridge knowingly and to check the coils are still stocked before committing. For everyone else, a single-system pod will save a great many return trips.

Editorial content for adult readers only. Vaping products contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Not for sale to under-18s in the United Kingdom. This article is not a buying recommendation.