Smok RPM5 Pods (Pack of 3)

Overview

The Smok RPM5 Pods (Pack of 3) by Smok across 2 flavours at 0mg. Free UK delivery over £20, same-day dispatch on weekday orders before 4pm.

Smok RPM5 Pods (Pack of 3): what you are buying

The Smok RPM5 Pods (Pack of 3) are replacement pods for the Smok RPM 5 refillable pod system, sold as a bundle of three so you are never left without a working coil when one reaches the end of its life. They are supplied empty and you fill them yourself with the e-liquid of your choice. The coil is built into each pod, which means that when the flavour starts to fade or taste burnt you simply remove the whole pod and clip in a fresh one. There is no coil to screw in, no tank to strip down and no cotton to prepare.

The RPM 5 sits in the middle to upper part of Smok's pod range. It is a higher-powered device than the entry-level Novo line, with a 2000mAh built-in battery and an output ceiling of around 80W, and the pods are designed to make use of that headroom with mesh coils rather than the plain round-wire coils found in cheaper pod systems. In practice that gives the RPM 5 a character closer to a compact sub-ohm kit than to a basic mouth-to-lung pod stick, while keeping the convenience of a drop-in pod format.

A pack of three makes sense for most people because the pod is a consumable part. Lifespan depends on your power setting, the liquid you use and how often you vape, but a pod is commonly good for somewhere between one and three weeks of regular use. Three pods therefore cover roughly a month and a half to several months for light and moderate vapers, which is a sensible amount to keep in the drawer.

Here is what the pack does and does not include:

• Three RPM 5 replacement pods with the coil already fitted inside each one
• Pods supplied empty, ready to be filled with your own nicotine e-liquid
• No device, battery, charger or e-liquid in the box, so you need an RPM 5 device to use them
• Intended for adults only, since nicotine vaping products may only be sold to people aged 18 or over in the UK

The page below goes through compatibility, coil technology, performance, flavour, build quality, charging, nicotine strength, troubleshooting and value, so you can decide whether this is the right pod pack for how you vape. Where we are describing typical behaviour rather than a fixed manufacturer figure, we say so, because pod performance varies with the liquid and settings you choose.

Compatibility, capacity and UK rules

These pods are made for the Smok RPM 5 device. Do not assume that they will fit other Smok devices, even ones with similar names. Smok has released several RPM generations, plus the Novo, Nord and other pod families, and pods from different generations are frequently not interchangeable because the pod base, the electrical contacts or the fit into the device can differ. If you own an RPM 5 or are about to buy one, this is the correct pod. If you own a different Smok model, check its own pod listing instead of guessing.

Capacity is where UK buyers need to pay attention. Under UK regulations covering nicotine vaping products, refillable tanks and pods are limited to 2ml, e-liquid bottles are limited to 10ml, and the maximum nicotine strength is 20mg/ml. Versions of the RPM 5 pod with a larger capacity exist in other markets, but pods supplied for the UK market are made to the 2ml limit. Check the variant you select on this page for the exact capacity, and expect to refill more often than you would with a larger overseas pod. The trade-off is a more compact device and less liquid sitting in the pod.

The 20mg/ml nicotine cap that applies to disposable vapes applies equally to the liquid you put in these pods, so you should never need a bottle stronger than 20mg/ml and you should be wary of any liquid claiming to exceed it. Since 1 June 2025 single-use disposable vapes have been banned from sale in the UK. These pods are refillable and rechargeable-device parts rather than single-use products, so they sit outside that ban, which is one reason pod systems have become a more popular route for adults who want a convenient device.

Points worth knowing before you order:

• Fit: RPM 5 device only, so confirm your model before buying
• Capacity: UK-market pods are made to the 2ml limit, so check the variant capacity shown on this page
• Nicotine: the maximum legal strength is 20mg/ml, and most mesh coil users find lower strengths more comfortable
• Bottle size: choose e-liquid in 10ml bottles or smaller, which is the UK maximum for nicotine liquids
• Age: you must be 18 or over to buy, and age checks may be applied at delivery

Coil and mesh technology

The defining feature of the RPM family is the mesh coil. A conventional round-wire coil is a wound length of resistance wire wrapped around cotton, and it heats the liquid mostly at the points where the wire touches the wick. A mesh coil replaces that with a thin, flat, perforated sheet of resistance material, formed into a cylinder or a curved panel, with cotton pressed against it. Because the heating surface is much larger, a mesh coil warms a bigger area of wick at the same time.

That design has several practical effects you will notice when using these pods:

• More even heating: the liquid is vaporised across a wide surface, which reduces hot spots and cuts down on the harsh, dry taste that comes when one part of a coil is overheated.
• Faster ramp-up: mesh reaches working temperature quickly, so the vapour starts almost as soon as you press the button or draw.
• Clearer flavour: a larger heated surface at a steadier temperature tends to separate individual flavour notes more clearly than round wire does.
• Higher liquid consumption: the same surface area that produces fuller vapour also draws more e-liquid through the wick, so you will empty a 2ml pod faster at higher power than you would on a lower-power pod kit.

Resistance matters too. Lower-resistance mesh coils are designed for higher power and bigger vapour, while higher-resistance coils are designed for lower power and a tighter, more restricted draw. The three variants listed for this product generally differ in the coil fitted rather than in flavour, because the pods ship empty. Read the resistance and recommended wattage range on the variant you choose, start at the low end of that range, and only move up if the vapour feels cool or thin. Running a coil above its recommended range does not make it better, it simply burns through liquid and shortens the coil life.

Your liquid choice affects coil life as much as the hardware does. Mesh coils work well with 50/50 to 70/30 VG-to-PG liquids. Very thick liquids above 70% VG can wick slowly and cause dry hits, and heavily sweetened dessert, custard and candy liquids leave sugar residue on the mesh that gradually clogs it. If you vape sweet liquids regularly, expect to change pods nearer the one-week end of the typical lifespan range than the three-week end.

Performance and vapour delivery

Because the RPM 5 pods are refillable, there is no fixed puff count in the way there is with a disposable. What you get depends on how much liquid the pod holds, how much of it each puff uses and how many fills the coil lasts. As a rough guide rather than a measured figure, a 2ml fill at a moderate power setting gives somewhere in the region of 300 to 600 puffs depending on puff length, wattage and liquid thickness. Higher power and longer pulls land at the lower end of that range. Over the whole life of the pod, many users report getting through several refills before the coil needs replacing, but this varies a lot between people.

The vapour itself is the main difference between these pods and the entry-level pod systems. With a mesh coil running within its recommended range, you can expect a warm, dense and consistent hit, with the flavour arriving quickly and holding steady through a long draw. Entry-level pods that use small round-wire coils at 10 to 15W often feel airy and light by comparison, while the RPM 5 can deliver something closer to a small sub-ohm tank when the power is turned up.

It helps to understand the two broad draw styles:

• Mouth-to-lung: you draw into your mouth first, then inhale. This suits higher-resistance coils, lower power and nicotine salt liquids at moderate strengths.
• Direct-to-lung: you inhale straight into the lungs in one motion. This suits lower-resistance mesh coils, higher power and lower nicotine strengths in a higher-VG liquid.

Which style suits you depends on the variant and the airflow your device allows. If the draw feels too tight, a lower-resistance coil or a looser airflow setting will help. If the draw is too airy and the throat hit is weak, a tighter airflow and a nicotine salt liquid will usually fix it. Wicking speed matters here too. Whenever the vapour turns thin or starts to taste dry, stop pulling and check that the coil is still saturated before carrying on, since chain vaping at high power can outpace the wick even in a well-built pod.

Consistency over the life of the pod is generally good. The flavour is usually strongest in the first days, slowly softens, and then drops off noticeably when the coil is nearing the end. Treat a muted flavour that does not return after a fresh fill and a short rest as the signal to swap in the next pod from your pack.

Flavour profile and the three variants

The pod itself has no flavour. All of the taste comes from the e-liquid you choose, and the pod's job is to deliver that liquid accurately. What the mesh coil adds is clarity: fruit, menthol and tobacco liquids tend to come across with well-defined top notes, and desserts and bakery blends keep their body without turning muddy. If you have switched from a basic pod to an RPM 5, the most common comment is that familiar liquids taste fuller and more distinct.

The three variants in this family are listed separately because they typically differ in the coil resistance or coil type fitted, not in flavour. When choosing, think about the liquids you plan to use rather than the pods themselves. A tighter, higher-resistance coil is the better partner for nicotine salt liquids and mouth-to-lung puffing, while a lower-resistance coil suits higher-VG liquids and a looser draw. If you are unsure, the variant description on this page is the quickest way to check which coil you are getting.

Flavour carry-over, sometimes called ghosting, is worth planning for. Mesh and cotton hold a little of the last liquid, so switching a pod from a menthol blend to a creamy dessert often leaves a hint of mint for a few tanks. There are two sensible ways to deal with that:

• Dedicate each pod in the pack to a flavour family, for example one for fruit and ice, one for dessert and tobacco, and keep the third as a spare or for something different
• If you do switch flavours in one pod, empty it, rinse the outside only with a dry tissue and refill, then take a few gentle pulls at low power to flush the previous liquid out before going to your normal setting

Sweeteners and coolants have the biggest effect on flavour over time. Liquids with a lot of sweetener leave residue on the coil that mutes the taste and eventually gives a slightly burnt note, and heavy menthol or cooling agents can leave a lingering cool aftertaste that colours the next liquid. A pack of three pods lets you keep strong-tasting liquids separate and get the full lifespan from each coil.

For the cleanest taste from a new pod, let it prime properly before the first pull. We cover how to do that in the how-to section below, and it is the single most effective way to protect a fresh coil and preserve flavour from the first puff.

Design and build quality

The RPM 5 pod is a moulded plastic cartridge with a coil head fitted in the base, a mouthpiece at the top and a fill port closed by a silicone plug. The plastic is rigid enough to feel solid in the hand and to survive being carried in a bag or pocket, and the pod clips into the device with a firm, positive fit. When it seats correctly there is no wobble, and you should feel or hear it click into place. Contact points on the base connect the coil to the device, so they need to stay clean and dry for the device to recognise the pod reliably.

A transparent window lets you see how much liquid is left, so you can refill before the wick runs low. Checking this routinely is a good habit, because coils fail early when they are allowed to run on a nearly empty pod. The fill port is sealed by a soft silicone plug, which is the main leak-prevention feature on any refillable pod. A plug that sits flush and tight keeps the liquid inside and the air path clear.

The mouthpiece is shaped for comfortable use during a long draw and is wide enough to suit the mouth-to-lung and direct-to-lung styles alike. It is a fixed part of the pod, so there is nothing to lose or swap and you get a fresh mouthpiece each time you change the pod. That is a small hygiene benefit that people notice after a few weeks of use.

Things to check when your pack arrives and when you fit each pod:

• The silicone fill plug is present and seated flush, with no gaps around the edge
• The contact points on the base are clean and undamaged
• The pod seats firmly in the device with no rattle
• The pod window is clear and there are no cracks in the plastic body
• The coil opening shows no visible liquid residue from the factory

As with all pod systems, build quality is as much about handling as manufacturing. Overtightening a plug, forcing a pod in at an angle or filling above the maximum line can all cause leaks that look like faults but are really handling issues. Take your time with the first fill and you will learn the pod's quirks quickly. If you find a genuine defect such as a cracked body, a missing plug or a pod that will not register, keep the packaging and contact the shop, since faulty goods are covered by consumer law.

Battery and charging

The pods themselves contain no battery. All of the power comes from the RPM 5 device, which has a 2000mAh built-in cell and charges over USB-C. That capacity is generous for a pod device and is one of the reasons the RPM 5 is aimed at people who vape more heavily or at higher power than a basic pod stick will tolerate. The pod only affects battery life indirectly, through the coil's resistance and the wattage you set.

How long a charge lasts depends mostly on the power setting and how often you puff. As a rough guide:

• Low power, around 20 to 30W: a single charge will usually carry a moderate vaper through a full day and often into a second
• Mid power, around 40 to 55W: expect a full day for light use, or a working day with heavier use
• Maximum power, around 70 to 80W: battery life shortens considerably, and you may want to top up in the middle of the day if you vape throughout

These figures are estimates, not lab results, and the real number depends on puff length, coil resistance and the age of the battery.

When it comes to charging, use a decent USB-C cable and a reputable wall adapter rather than a cheap unbranded charger. Allow roughly one to one and a half hours for a full charge with a suitable adapter. Do not vape while the device is charging, do not leave it plugged in unattended overnight on a soft surface, and stop using it if the casing gets unusually hot. A device that is warm after a long session is normal, but one that is hot to hold is not.

Looking after the battery also protects the pods. A battery that is repeatedly run completely flat delivers weaker, less consistent power, which can make a healthy coil taste thin. Charge before the device is completely drained and keep it away from heat and direct sunlight.

At end of life, do not put the device or its battery in your normal household bin. In the UK, vapes, batteries and other small electrical items can be taken to a retailer take-back point, a supermarket drop-off bin or your local household waste recycling centre. The used pods themselves contain a small metal coil and plastic, so they should be recycled through the same electrical recycling routes rather than thrown away with general waste. Wipe off any leftover liquid before you drop them off.

Choosing a nicotine strength

Because you fill these pods yourself, the nicotine strength is entirely your choice, within the UK legal limit of 20mg/ml. The right strength depends on whether you use nicotine salt or freebase liquid, how much you smoked or vaped before and how much power you are running. Mesh coils at higher wattage produce a lot of vapour per puff, which means you absorb more nicotine per puff than on a low-power pod, so the strength that suited your old device is often too high here.

A practical starting point looks like this:

• Nicotine salt, 20mg/ml: suits heavy former smokers using a tight mouth-to-lung draw at low power. It can feel harsh above about 25 to 30W, so use it carefully.
• Nicotine salt, 10mg/ml: a flexible middle ground for most people at moderate power, and a common choice for people who smoked 10 or more cigarettes a day.
• Nicotine salt, 5mg/ml: suits lighter smokers, people cutting down, and anyone vaping at higher power who finds 10mg too strong.
• Freebase, 3 to 6mg/ml: the standard choice for direct-to-lung use on a lower-resistance mesh coil at higher power, where the larger clouds deliver plenty of nicotine already.
• Nicotine-free, 0mg/ml: works fine in these pods for people who have finished with nicotine but like the hand-and-mouth habit and the flavour.

Signs that you have chosen too high a strength include a harsh, scratchy throat, dizziness, a racing heart, nausea or feeling jittery after only a few puffs. If you notice any of those, put the device down, drink some water and drop to a lower strength or lower the wattage. Signs that the strength is too low include constantly reaching for the device, feeling unsatisfied after normal puffs and finding that cravings come back quickly.

Remember that nicotine is addictive and that vaping is not risk free. Vaping is widely regarded in the UK as far less harmful than smoking for adults who already smoke, but it is not intended for anyone who does not currently use nicotine, and it should never be used by under-18s. If your aim is to stop completely, local stop smoking services can offer free support alongside a vape, and the aim of many adults is to step the nicotine down over time. A pack of three pods lets you do that gradually without changing hardware, because you can simply switch to a weaker liquid when you are ready.

Who these pods suit, and who should skip them

The RPM5 pods are a good fit for adults who want more than a basic pod system gives them. They suit existing RPM 5 owners who need fresh pods, vapers moving up from a low-power pod stick, and people who want mesh coil flavour in a compact format. They also suit anyone who prefers a drop-in pod to rebuilding or replacing a coil in a traditional tank.

These pods are likely to suit you if:

• You already own an RPM 5 device and need replacements
• You vape daily and want a coil that holds flavour for a good stretch of time
• You like a warm, dense vapour and want some headroom to adjust power
• You want to try different liquids and are happy to dedicate one pod to a flavour family
• You prefer a fit-and-forget pod over screwing in individual coil heads

They are probably not the right choice if:

• You do not own an RPM 5 device, since the pods will not work on their own
• You want a throw-away product with nothing to fill or charge, in which case a pod system is more hands-on than you want
• You have never used nicotine, since the pods are only intended for adults who already smoke or vape
• You want a very tight, low-power draw at 10 to 15W, where a simpler pod kit may suit you better and cost less
• You prefer pre-filled pods and do not want to handle bottles, as these are not pre-filled

It is worth being honest about the learning curve. Refilling, priming and keeping a pod leak-free takes a few attempts, and if you are coming from a disposable you will spend the first week or so getting used to the routine. Most people find it quick to learn and then more economical and less wasteful, since you replace one small part rather than the whole device. If you want a simple, low-maintenance experience, spend a few minutes reading the how-to section below before you start.

Finally, the pods are for adult use only. Keep them, the liquid and the device away from children and pets, and store e-liquid upright, out of reach, in its original bottle with the child-resistant cap on.

How to prime, fill and use the pods

Priming is the most important step with any new pod. A dry coil that is fired before the cotton is saturated burns instantly, and a burnt coil cannot be rescued. Taking five to ten minutes at the start protects the coil and the flavour for the whole life of the pod.

Follow these steps for each new pod:

• 1. Check the pod: take it out of its wrapper and make sure the silicone plug and the base contacts are present and clean.
• 2. Open the fill port: lift or slide the silicone plug open, depending on the pod revision, and hold the pod upright.
• 3. Add a few drops to the coil: place two or three drops of your chosen liquid directly onto the cotton or into the coil opening visible through the fill port, if one is accessible.
• 4. Fill the pod: slowly fill the pod with e-liquid, aiming the bottle tip at the side wall rather than straight down so air can escape, and stop at the maximum fill line or just under it. Do not overfill.
• 5. Close and wipe: push the plug fully home and wipe away any liquid from the outside and the base.
• 6. Wait: leave the pod standing upright for at least five to ten minutes. Thicker, high-VG liquids benefit from the longer end of that range.
• 7. Fit the pod: clip it into the device until it seats firmly.
• 8. Take gentle first pulls: set a low power, within the bottom of the coil's recommended range, take a few short pulls without firing for long, then build up to your normal setting.

For day-to-day use, a few habits make the pod last longer:

• Refill when the liquid is about a third full rather than waiting for it to run dry
• Take short to medium puffs and leave a few seconds between them so the wick can re-saturate
• Keep the device upright when you are not using it, with the mouthpiece pointing up
• Avoid chain vaping at high power, which is the most common cause of premature coil failure
• Check the power setting is within the range printed for your variant

To change a pod, switch the device off if it has a lock, pull the old pod straight out, wipe the device contacts with a dry tissue and clip in the new one. Prime the new pod before fitting, as described above. Do not use cleaning liquids or water on the contacts, since moisture is the main cause of a device that will not recognise a pod.

Troubleshooting common problems

Most problems with refillable pods have simple causes, and the majority can be solved in a minute or two without replacing anything. Work through the following list before assuming a pod is faulty.

• Dry or burnt taste on the first few puffs: the coil is probably not saturated. Take the pod out, let it stand upright for ten minutes, and restart at a lower power. If the taste remains after a fresh fill and a rest, the coil may have been damaged by firing dry and should be replaced.
• Gurgling or spitting: this is usually condensation or too much liquid around the airflow path. Remove the pod, tilt the mouthpiece downwards and blow gently through it to clear the air path, then wipe the base with a tissue.
• Leaking from the base or fill port: check that the silicone plug is fully seated and that you have not overfilled. Wipe the pod and device dry. Persistent leaks after a correct fill may mean a poor seal, in which case contact the shop.
• Device says no pod or no atomiser: remove the pod, wipe the contacts on the pod base and the device with a dry tissue, and reseat it firmly. Do not let liquid sit on the contacts.
• Weak flavour from a new pod: this can be a sign that it has not primed fully, or that the wattage is too low for the coil's resistance. Try a longer rest and a slightly higher power inside the recommended range.
• Flavour that fades quickly: sweet liquids and heavy sweeteners clog the coil. Switch to a less sweet liquid or change the pod earlier.
• Thin, warm vapour with a burnt note: the coil is nearing the end of its life. Do not try to push through it, since a burnt coil is unpleasant to inhale. Replace the pod.
• Flooded coil with large droplets in the air path: the liquid may be too thin for the coil or the pod has been overfilled. Use a thicker liquid, fill to a lower level, and give it a short rest before pulling.

If none of this fixes the problem, test the pod in the device with a different liquid and, if you have another pod from the pack, try that one too. If a second pod works, the first was probably defective. If neither works, the fault is more likely in the device or its contacts than in the pods. Keep your packaging and proof of purchase, because that makes any return or exchange straightforward.

Value for money and how they compare

The honest way to judge value on a pod pack is to look at cost per week of vaping rather than the pack price alone. A pack of three RPM 5 pods typically covers several weeks to a few months of use, and the only other running cost is your e-liquid, which is usually cheaper per millilitre than the liquid sealed inside a disposable. For anyone who vapes daily, a refillable pod system generally works out cheaper over time than repeatedly buying single-use devices, and it creates far less waste, because you replace one small part rather than a whole device with a battery inside it.

Value falls if you buy the wrong pod or run the coil outside its recommended range. A pod used at the wrong wattage can last half as long as it should, so reading the wattage range for your variant is effectively a way to save money. The same goes for sweet liquids: they shorten coil life, so a pack of three pods stretches further with a lighter, less sweet liquid.

For fairness, here is how the RPM 5 pods compare with other popular choices:

• Smok Novo-series pods: these suit lower-power, simpler devices with smaller batteries. They are usually cheaper per pod and easier for beginners, but they do not offer the power headroom or the mesh coil flavour of the RPM 5.
• Vaporesso XROS pods: these are compact, restrained and popular for mouth-to-lung nicotine salt use at low power. They are lighter and simpler than the RPM 5 but give a less dense vapour and a lower power ceiling.
• Uwell Caliburn pods: another compact, low-power system that suits beginners and light users. A good choice if size and simplicity matter more than power, although it will not match the RPM 5 when you want bigger vapour.
• Voopoo Vinci pods: these sit in similar territory, with more power than entry-level pod kits and mesh-style coils. Comparing them with the RPM 5 comes down to which device you already own and which feels better in the hand.
• Geekvape Aegis pods: these focus on rugged, water-resistant builds. If durability outdoors is your priority they are worth a look, but they are a different type of product from the RPM 5.

None of these is the right choice for everyone, and the pods are only relevant if you own the matching device. The RPM5 pods make the most sense for existing RPM 5 owners, and for anyone who wants the extra power and flavour clarity that mesh coils bring without moving up to a full sub-ohm tank. If you only want a quiet, low-power puff, a simpler and cheaper pod system will likely cost you less and do the job just as well.