SMOK Novo Axis Pod Kit Malachite Black

Overview

The SMOK Novo Axis Pod Kit Malachite Black by Smok in Malachite Black at 0mg. Free UK delivery over £20, same-day dispatch on weekday orders before 4pm.

SMOK Novo Axis Pod Kit overview

The SMOK Novo Axis Pod Kit is a compact, refillable pod system from SMOK, a brand that has built much of its reputation on the Novo line of small, easy-to-run pod devices. If you have used a Novo 4 or Novo 5 before, the Axis will feel familiar both in the hand and in how it behaves: you fill a pod with your own e-liquid, click it onto the battery body, and inhale. There is no menu system to learn, no wattage dial to adjust and no coil to build, which is why this style of kit remains popular with people moving away from cigarettes and with anyone who wants a simple device without the waste of a throwaway.

That last point matters in the UK. Single-use vapes have been banned from sale across Great Britain since June 2025, which makes a refillable pod kit the natural replacement for anyone who liked the pick-up-and-go routine of a disposable. The Novo Axis gives you that same routine, but the battery is rechargeable and lasts for many months of daily use, and when the coil wears out you replace the pod rather than the whole device. That is kinder to your wallet over time and far kinder to the amount of electronic waste you generate.

This guide walks through the kit in plain terms: how it performs, what it tastes like with different liquids, how it is built, what the battery and coil are doing, which nicotine strength to pick, who it suits and who should look elsewhere, how to set it up, what to do when something goes wrong, and how it stacks up on value and against rival kits. Where we quote numbers, they are the typical figures for this class of device and for the wider Novo family. The box and the manufacturer's specification are the final word, so check the product options on this page for exact values before you buy.

Quick facts at a glance:

• Type: refillable pod kit, aimed at mouth-to-lung vaping and fired by the inhale in the usual Novo style
• Pod capacity: 2ml, which is the maximum tank size allowed for nicotine e-liquid in the UK
• Coil style: mesh coil built into a replaceable pod
• Charging: USB-C
• Controls: minimal, so there is very little to get wrong
• Age: for adults aged 18 and over only; nicotine is addictive

Performance and puff delivery

The Novo Axis is built around mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping, where you draw a little vapour into your mouth first and then inhale it into your lungs, much like drawing on a cigarette. Devices in this class run at modest power, usually somewhere in the low teens of watts, and rely on a snug airflow that keeps the throat hit and flavour concentrated. If you expect big, cloudy, direct-to-lung vapour you will be disappointed, and the kit does not pretend otherwise. What you get is a controlled, tidy amount of vapour per draw.

Fire-up is quick. The kit is designed to start heating the moment you inhale, so there is no ramp-up delay to speak of. Output is regulated by the chip, which means the first draw after charging and the draw at 30 percent battery should feel broadly similar. The noticeable drop-off comes at the very end of the battery, when the indicator light warns you, and at the end of the coil's life, when flavour fades and the vapour thins out. Those are the two moments to act on rather than push through.

Puff count is the question everyone asks. Unlike a disposable, a refillable kit has no printed puff number because the figure depends on what you put in it. As a working guide, a 2ml pod typically gives somewhere in the region of 400 to 700 draws, depending on how long you pull, how thick your liquid is and how often you vape. Short, light draws stretch a pod further; long, hard pulls and chain vaping burn through it faster. A disposable advertised as 600 puffs is quoting a similar range, but with the Axis you can top up in seconds rather than throwing the whole device away.

A few habits improve performance noticeably:

• Prime the pod properly. Let freshly filled pods sit for five to ten minutes so the cotton wicks saturate before you inhale. Dry wicks cause burnt, harsh draws and shorten coil life.
• Use the right liquid. Choose a 50/50 or 60/40 PG/VG blend. Very thick 70 or 80 percent VG juices can starve a small mesh coil and cause gurgling or dry hits.
• Take steady draws. Three to four seconds is plenty. Longer pulls only heat the coil harder without adding useful flavour.
• Pause between bursts. A few seconds between draws lets the wick re-saturate, which keeps flavour consistent.

Throat hit is set mostly by your nicotine type and strength rather than the device, which we cover in the nicotine section below. With nicotine salts, the Axis delivers a smooth hit that suits most ex-smokers. With freebase nicotine at 12mg or above, expect a sharper, more cigarette-like scratch.

Flavour profile and what to fill it with

Because the Novo Axis is refillable, flavour comes from the e-liquid you choose rather than from the hardware, but the hardware still shapes how that liquid tastes. A mesh coil heats a wide surface evenly at a fairly low temperature, which keeps delicate fruit and menthol notes clean and avoids the flat, cooked taste you get when a small coil is pushed too hard. At the power levels this kit runs at, flavour is clear and focused rather than loud, and it tends to hold up from the first draw to the last of the pod.

The listing for this kit includes seven variants. For a hardware kit, variants usually differ in colour or finish rather than internal parts, so choose on looks and check the option details on the page if anything else is listed. The e-liquid you fill it with is a separate choice, and these are the flavour families that suit a low-power MTL pod well:

• Menthol and mint: cool, sharp and easy to read through a mesh coil. Menthol suits the tight draw particularly well, and it is the usual choice for people leaving menthol cigarettes behind.
• Blue raspberry: sweet and slightly tart, one of the most popular profiles in UK shops and one that shows off a clean coil.
• Strawberry ice: a bright fruit note with a cooling finish that stays pleasant over a long session.
• Mango: thick, juicy and tropical. Mango liquids often run sweeter, so a 50/50 blend helps keep the coil from gunking up.
• Cola: a familiar fizzy profile that works well at nicotine salt strengths.
• Apple and pear: crisp and light, easy to vape all day without palate fatigue.
• Mixed berry: a rounded blend that suits people who find single-fruit flavours too sharp.
• Tobacco: a dry, earthy profile for ex-smokers who want something closer to what they are leaving behind. Tobacco liquids are usually thinner and sit comfortably in a small pod.

A few practical flavour notes. Very sweet dessert liquids, such as custards and bakery blends, contain more sweeteners and tend to build residue on the coil, so expect them to shorten coil life compared with fruit or menthol. If you want to change flavour, do not simply top up on top of the old liquid. Run the pod nearly empty first, or better, switch to a fresh pod, otherwise you get a muddled mix of both. If you like to rotate flavours through the day, keeping a spare pod for each one is a cheap way to do it without cross-contamination.

Ghosting, where the previous flavour lingers, is minimal on a mesh coil if you change pods rather than liquids. Menthol is the stubborn one: once a pod has held menthol, it is sensible to keep that pod for menthol only. A coil that has tasted a strong cooling agent will carry a trace of it for a long time, and fruit flavours pick it up as an odd chemical coolness.

Design and build quality

The Novo Axis follows the Novo family's compact, pocket-friendly shape: a slim, slightly rounded body that sits comfortably in a closed hand or a trouser pocket without bulging. It weighs little enough to forget it is there, and it is short enough to tuck out of sight when you are on the move. Compared with larger pod mods, it looks more like a small electronic gadget than an obvious vape, which some users value and some find too plain.

The shell is a moulded body with a coated finish. In this class, expect a body made from a mix of plastic and metal parts, with the coating chosen to resist fingerprints. Build quality on Novo-family kits has generally been tidy: seams line up, the pod seats with a firm click, and nothing rattles. Over months of pocket carry, coated finishes do pick up fine scratches, particularly if you carry the kit alongside keys or coins, so a loose pouch or a case is a cheap way to keep it looking new.

Things worth checking when your kit arrives:

• Pod fit. The pod should seat fully with a clear click and no wobble. A pod that sits proud of the body can cause poor contact and misfires.
• Contacts. The connection points between pod and battery should be clean and dry. A drop of liquid on the contacts is the commonest cause of intermittent firing.
• USB-C port. It should accept the cable snugly. A loose port is rare, and it is covered by warranty if present.
• Liquid window. If your variant has a window on the pod, you can see the level at a glance, which saves guessing when to refill.
• Mouthpiece. A shaped drip tip is comfortable and slim enough to suit MTL draws.

Ergonomics are straightforward. The kit is light enough to hold in your teeth for a second without strain, and the mouthpiece is shaped for lips rather than for a wide direct-to-lung opening. The lack of a screen or a row of buttons means nothing to catch in a pocket and nothing to press by accident, which is the real design advantage of a no-frills pod kit. The trade-off is that you get no information beyond the indicator light, so you will not see an exact battery percentage or a puff counter like you do on screen-equipped devices.

It is not waterproof, and it is not built to take drops onto concrete without risk. Plastic parts can crack, and a cracked pod leaks. Treat it like a phone: carry it upright where you can, keep it out of bags with loose liquids, and keep it away from heat, such as a car dashboard in summer, because heat thins the liquid and promotes leaking.

Battery life and charging

The Novo family generally uses an internal battery in the region of 800 to 1000mAh, and the Axis sits in the same bracket. Check the product options for the exact figure. For a low-power MTL kit that is a sensible capacity. It is enough for a full day of light-to-moderate use, and many people stretch it to a second day if they vape lightly. Heavy users, who go through a 2ml pod every day or so, will usually top up the battery daily, often at the same time as refilling the pod.

Charging is by USB-C, so the same cable that charges a modern phone will do the job. Full charge times for kits of this size are typically in the range of 40 to 70 minutes on a standard 5V adapter. Some points on charging sensibly:

• Use a standard 5V adapter. A basic phone charger or laptop USB port is fine. You do not need a fast charger, and a very high-wattage one adds no benefit.
• Do not charge unattended overnight. Lithium cells are safe when treated properly, but there is no reason to leave a charging device unsupervised on a bed or sofa. Charge on a hard, non-flammable surface.
• Avoid damaged cables. A frayed or bent cable is the first thing to replace if charging becomes erratic.
• Keep it cool. Do not charge or leave the kit in direct sun, in a hot car, or near a radiator.
• Top up regularly. Lithium batteries last longer when they are not run to zero every time. Plugging in at 20 to 30 percent is gentler than waiting for the light to flash.

The indicator light is your main battery guide. A steady light while you draw means normal operation; a flashing light usually signals a low battery or a short-circuit protection event; and a light that changes colour or goes out while charging typically indicates charging and fully charged. Different kits use slightly different patterns, so the leaflet in the box is the reference.

Battery life and your pod interact. A fresh, well-primed coil draws steadily; a worn coil forces the chip to work harder to produce the same vapour, which can make the battery seem to drain faster than it should. If battery life suddenly falls off, change the pod before you assume the battery is at fault.

At the end of its life, the kit contains a lithium-ion battery and must not go in household bins. In the UK, shops that sell vapes are expected to take back used devices, and council household waste recycling centres normally accept them too. Remove the pod, empty any liquid, and drop the device at a battery or small electrical recycling point. Putting lithium cells into general waste is a genuine fire risk for refuse vehicles and recycling plants.

Pods, coils and mesh technology

The pod is where the technology sits. It holds up to 2ml of liquid, matching the maximum tank size UK rules allow for nicotine e-liquid, and has the coil built in. Because the coil is part of the pod, you never build or wick a coil yourself; when the coil wears out, you replace the whole pod. Pods are consumables, so expect to buy them in multipacks.

The coil in this class is a mesh coil, with a resistance typically somewhere between 0.7 and 1.0 ohm. Instead of a single round wire wrapped around cotton, mesh is a thin, folded sheet of metal with many tiny holes. That has three practical benefits:

• Even heating. Because the sheet has a large surface area touching the cotton, the liquid heats uniformly. This avoids the hot spots that cause burnt taste and dry hits.
• Faster, cleaner flavour. The larger contact area vaporises liquid efficiently at a lower temperature, which preserves delicate flavour notes.
• Longer working life. Spreading the heat reduces stress on any one part of the coil, so it typically lasts longer than a basic round-wire coil, although it still wears.

Even so, mesh coils are consumables. Expect roughly one to two weeks per pod for regular use, a bit more with light use and less with sweet liquids or chain vaping. The signs that a coil is finished are a muted or burnt flavour, a sudden harshness, thin vapour, or a gurgling, spitting sound. Do not keep going after those signs appear. A burnt coil tastes unpleasant and gives you nothing useful.

Filling the pod correctly is simple but worth doing carefully. Open the fill port, usually a silicone bung on the side of the pod, and slide the bottle nozzle into it. Add liquid slowly until the level is just below the top and no more than 2ml; overfilling forces liquid down the air channel and out of the mouthpiece. Close the bung firmly, wipe the pod dry, and let it prime. Never fill through the airflow hole or the central chimney, as that floods the coil and causes leaks.

One honest caution: do not assume pods are interchangeable between generations. Novo pods have changed shape and connector over the years, and a Novo 4 pod will not necessarily fit an Axis body. Always confirm compatibility on the product page before buying replacement pods, and choose pods that explicitly name the Axis. If you are ever unsure, ask us before ordering rather than after, and we will check against the manufacturer's information.

Nicotine strength guidance

Picking a nicotine strength is the decision that matters most for how satisfying the kit feels. UK rules cap nicotine e-liquid at 20mg per millilitre (2 percent), limit refill bottles to 10ml and limit tanks to 2ml, so you will never see anything stronger legally on sale here. That cap applies to every nicotine e-liquid, whether it is sold as a refill bottle or as a pre-filled pod, and it is the same ceiling that disposables used to carry. The strongest liquid you can buy here is 20mg.

There are two main types of nicotine, and the kit's low power suits one of them better:

• Nicotine salts (nic salts). Typically sold at 10mg and 20mg. They are smoother at a given strength and absorb in a way that is closer to a cigarette, so they are the usual choice for low-power MTL pod kits like the Novo Axis.
• Freebase nicotine. Typically sold at 3mg, 6mg, 12mg and sometimes 18mg. It has a harsher throat hit as strength increases, so it is better kept to lower strengths and higher-power devices.

As a rough starting guide, and not medical advice:

• Heavy smokers (around 15 or more cigarettes a day, or smoking within 30 minutes of waking): start with 20mg nic salt, or 18mg freebase if you prefer it.
• Moderate smokers (roughly 8 to 14 a day): 10mg to 12mg is usually enough. Many people find 20mg too strong in a small pod kit.
• Light or social smokers (under 8 a day): 5mg to 10mg is a sensible start.
• Former smokers keeping the habit: 3mg to 6mg, with a plan to step down further.

Signs your strength is too high include dizziness, headaches, nausea, a racing heart or a harsh, burning throat after only a few draws. Signs it is too low include constant cravings, chain vaping and finishing a pod in half the expected time. If you notice the first set, drop a step; if the second, move up a step. Many people end up needing less nicotine than they expect once they settle into vaping, and stepping down gradually is the usual route to reducing intake.

Nicotine is addictive. This kit is for adult smokers and existing vapers; if you do not currently smoke or vape, you should not start. If you want support to stop smoking altogether, NHS stop smoking services are free and combine behavioural help with medication, and some local services supply vaping starter kits as part of the programme. Keep e-liquid out of reach of children and pets, and store bottles upright.

Who it suits and who should skip it

The Novo Axis does one job: it gives adult smokers and vapers a simple, low-effort pod device. Whether that is the right job for you depends on how you vape, so here is a straight view of who gets the most from it and who should look at something else.

It suits:

• Smokers switching to vaping. The tight draw, nicotine salt compatibility and absence of settings mimic the cigarette experience closely and reduce the learning curve.
• People leaving disposables. If you were using throwaway vapes and want something refillable after the single-use ban, this is a direct step across with a very similar routine.
• Light to moderate vapers. A day of use on one charge fits typical use patterns without constant fiddling.
• Anyone who wants low maintenance. No tank to clean, no coil to build, no wattage to dial in.
• Travellers and commuters. The small size and USB-C charging make it easy to carry and top up almost anywhere.
• Beginners on a budget. The upfront cost is low compared with larger pod mods, and the learning curve is gentle.

You may want to skip it if:

• You want large clouds. The low power and tight airflow are not designed for direct-to-lung vaping.
• You like to tinker. There is no adjustable wattage or airflow to experiment with, so enthusiasts will find it limiting.
• You vape heavily all day. A 2ml pod and a battery under 1000mAh mean frequent refills and charging. A larger device will suit you better.
• You use very thick liquids. High-VG juices do not wick well in small mesh pods and cause leaks and dry hits.
• You want a screen and battery percentage. The indicator light is all you get.
• You are under 18, or you do not smoke or vape. This product is for adult smokers only, and it should never be bought for someone underage.

A note on experienced vapers: many people who own larger mods keep a small pod kit like this as a pocket device for the pub, the commute or travel, where a big device is a nuisance. Used that way, the Axis earns its place alongside a bigger setup rather than replacing it. And if you are still unsure, the honest test is simple: if you enjoy the idea of picking up a device, filling it and getting on with your day, this kit fits. If you enjoy adjusting and experimenting, look at an adjustable device instead.

How to set it up and use it

Setup takes a few minutes. Work through the steps in order and the kit should run properly first time.

• Step 1: inspect the kit. Check the body, pod and USB-C cable for damage, and remove any protective film or stickers from the pod, including seals on the mouthpiece and the base.
• Step 2: fill the pod. Open the silicone bung on the side, insert the bottle nozzle and fill slowly to just under the top line, never beyond 2ml. Wipe away any spills and close the bung firmly.
• Step 3: prime. Stand the pod upright for five to ten minutes so the cotton soaks through. This is the step most often skipped, and skipping it is the commonest reason for a burnt first draw.
• Step 4: connect the pod. Press the pod into the battery body until it clicks. Make sure the contacts are dry before you do.
• Step 5: charge if needed. Many kits arrive part-charged. Top up before first use if the light shows low power.
• Step 6: take your first draws. Take two or three gentle, short draws, a couple of seconds each with a pause between them, to pull liquid into the coil. Then vape as normal.
• Step 7: store it sensibly. Keep it upright where you can, in a pocket rather than a bag with loose change, and away from heat and children.

On activation: the Novo family traditionally fires when you inhale, so there is nothing to press to vape. If your unit has a button or an on/off lock function, the leaflet in the box explains whether it uses a certain number of rapid presses, and it is worth reading once so you know how to lock the device in a bag or pocket.

Daily routine is easy to settle into. Check the liquid level when you charge the battery, refill when the pod drops to roughly a quarter, and charge when the indicator light starts flashing or you notice the battery draining. Swap the pod every one to two weeks, or sooner if the flavour drops. Keeping a spare pod in a pocket or bag means a worn coil never leaves you stuck.

Finally, a word on etiquette and safety. Vaping is generally restricted where smoking is restricted, including on public transport and in many workplaces, and some venues have their own rules, so check before you vape indoors. Keep your device and your liquids away from children and pets, and never share a pod between people for hygiene reasons.

Troubleshooting common problems

Most problems with a pod kit come down to a handful of causes, almost all of them easy to fix. Work down the list before concluding that something is faulty.

• No vapour or no firing. Check the pod is fully seated and clicked in, the contacts are dry (wipe them with a dry tissue or cotton bud), the battery is charged and the bung is closed. Try a different pod if you have one. A pod that has run dry will also fail to produce vapour.
• Burnt or harsh taste. This is either a worn coil or a dry wick. Prime the pod properly, stop chain vaping, and replace the pod if the taste does not recover. Very sweet liquids burn out coils faster.
• Gurgling or spitting. There is excess liquid in the airway, or the juice is too thick. Wipe the mouthpiece, take a few gentle draws with the device tilted, and switch to a 50/50 liquid if you have been using high VG.
• Leaking. Common causes are overfilling, an unseated bung, a cracked pod, or heat and pressure changes such as a hot car or a flight. Fill less, check the bung, wipe the pod and replace it if it keeps weeping. Store the kit upright.
• Flashing light. A flashing light normally means low battery or short-circuit protection. Charge the device. If it flashes with a pod fitted but not without, clean the contacts or try another pod.
• Not charging. Try a different cable, adapter and port. Gently clear any lint from the USB-C port with a wooden toothpick (never metal) while the device is unplugged. If it still does not charge, contact us for warranty help.
• Battery drains quickly. A worn coil, cold weather and age all reduce effective runtime. Change the pod first and see if the problem persists.
• Pod will not seat. Check that the pod is the correct one for the Axis and that nothing is trapped in the connection. Never force a pod that does not fit.
• Weak or fading flavour. This can be a worn coil, a thin or old liquid, or simple palate fatigue from vaping the same flavour all day. Try a fresh pod, or a different flavour for a day.

If you have been through these steps and the device still misbehaves, stop using it. Do not open the battery body or attempt repairs. Contact us with your order number and a clear photo or short description of the fault, and we will help with the warranty or returns process. A genuine fault is something we want to hear about, not something you should put up with.

Value for money and running costs

Value on a pod kit comes in two parts: the upfront price of the kit, which you can see on this page, and the running cost over the next few months, which is where the differences between devices really show. A low sticker price means little if the pods are scarce or expensive, so it is worth looking at the whole picture.

The running costs break down like this:

• Replacement pods. A pod lasts roughly one to two weeks for regular use, so you will need a few each month. Pods are sold in multipacks, which usually works out cheaper per pod.
• E-liquid. This is the main ongoing cost. A 10ml bottle will fill a 2ml pod about four or five times allowing for spills, which is several days of moderate use. Prices vary by brand, so it is worth comparing.
• Charging. Negligible. A small battery costs pennies a year in electricity.
• Extras. A spare pod, a carry pouch or a second cable are small, optional costs.

Set against that, the case for a refillable kit is straightforward. Disposable vapes are no longer on sale in Great Britain, and before the ban they had a high cost per puff and generated a lot of waste. A refillable kit spreads the hardware cost over months and keeps the liquid cost low, so for most regular vapers it works out cheaper than the alternatives, and cheaper still if you compare it with a pack of cigarettes a day.

Where value can disappear is also worth knowing. Cheap, unbranded or counterfeit pods may fit but have poor coils, leak or burn out quickly, so buy genuine pods from a UK retailer you trust. Skipping the priming step and running pods hot with sweet liquid also wastes money by shortening coil life. And a kit that fails within the warranty period should be returned rather than replaced out of pocket, because genuine faults are covered.

The environmental side adds to the value. Keeping one battery body and swapping pods generates far less waste than throwing away a whole device every few days. When a pod is spent, empty it, then take it to a recycling point rather than the bin, as the coil and any residue of liquid mean it counts as electrical waste. Used well, the Novo Axis is a modest cost per day and a modest burden on the environment.

How it compares with rival pod kits

The small refillable pod market is crowded, and the Novo Axis competes on simplicity and price rather than on headline features. Here is a fair view of how it sits against the main alternatives. Treat these as general positioning of each range, as individual models and generations differ, and check the specification of the exact model you are considering.

• Vaporesso XROS series. The closest rival in concept: a compact MTL pod kit with a wide choice of pods. XROS models often carry a slightly larger battery and some offer adjustable airflow or power. They tend to cost a little more. Choose an XROS if you want more tuning; choose the Axis if you want the simplest possible device and a lower price.
• Uwell Caliburn range. A long-running family of simple pod kits with a good reputation for clean flavour and a snug fit. Comparable in size and ease of use, and a sound choice if you already know and like the Caliburn pods.
• OXVA Xlim range. A step up in flexibility, usually with adjustable draw or power and a strong pod ecosystem. It is aimed at users who want to tailor the experience, so it suits someone who finds a fixed-setting kit limiting.
• Geekvape Wenax range. Known for tough, compact builds and a mix of pod styles. A good fit if durability matters most to you.
• Voopoo Vmate. A light, simple pod kit in the same lane as the Axis, with similar draw style and ease of use. Worth comparing on price and pod availability.
• Other SMOK pod kits. The Novo 5 and Novo X sit in the same simple lane as the Axis, while the Nord family offers more power and adjustability. If you already own a Novo body and like its pods, check whether the Axis offers enough change to justify switching.

Where does that leave the Axis? It offers a straightforward, low-effort routine, a familiar SMOK pod style and a modest price. It does not offer a screen, adjustable power or an especially large battery, and rivals that do carry those features cost more. If you want a device you can fill, charge and forget about, it makes a strong case. If you want to experiment, a rival with adjustable airflow will serve you better.

Whichever way you lean, the sensible check is the same: confirm pod availability and price for the kit you are considering, because a device is only as practical as its replacement pods. A kit with slightly weaker specs but easy-to-find pods often beats a more impressive kit whose pods are hard to get.