A Review of the Smok Alien – It’s Coming At You

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by Thanush Poulsen

Updated: November 14, 2022

smok alien desktop

Review Score: 88/100

Price Range:
$39.99-$71.80
Dimensions:
44*30*85mm
Colors:
Silver, Orange, Gold, Red, Gun Metal, Blue
Voltage range:
0.35–8V
Works with:
  • Eliquids icon

Pros

  • Solid and lightweight construction
  • Large screen
  • Accepts dual 18650 batteries

Cons

  • No rebuildable deck included
  • 0.8 inches atomizers is overhang

Starting Price: $ 56.95

The SMOK Alien 220W mod and tank combo will fill up the room with creamy white clouds of vapor in no time. It packs quite a surprising punch for such a compact device. The secret behind this success is the combination of a capable sub-ohm tank atomizer and a powerful mod.

The Alien kit carries more power than any vaper needs. Charging the Alien mod is as simple as plugging in a mini USB plug to the existing phone charger.

smok alien desktop

Battery life is great with its dual battery configuration and would easily last a full day of heavy vaping. Since the kit is small, it is also very light, which makes it very easy to carry around in the pocket.

SMOK Alien 220W Mod

The differences in the color combinations are the color of the stripes running through its body and frame the large LCD screen. The device feels very solid in hands and gives the impression that it is actually smaller than it is. It can be fired through a grip or by pressing the thumb on its side, no fiddling around to find the fire button.

The mod could easily pass as a single battery. It holds two 18650 batteries (not included). This certainly improves the battery life and length of the vaping sessions. The 220-watt maximum power output, while an impressive number, is a bit high for most vapers, and really eats up e-liquid.
Alien 220w Starter Kit by SMOKTech img
Another cool detail on the Alien mod is that it has jumbo signs inside the battery compartment and has a neat carbon fiber cover on the back. There are colored manuals and battery safety cards inside the box for those vapers who are just starting out.

The Baby Beast (TFV8 Tank)

The TFV8 blows out large plumes of vapor effortlessly with its octuplet coils. The baby beast has air holes that can be adjusted for both cloud and flavor chasers.
The Baby Beast TFV8 Vape Tank image
The kit contains two premade atomizer heads, a dual coil and an octuplet coil that has the recommended wattage level printed on its side. If you prefer a hotter vape-juice, you can raise the wattage without fear of dry hits. The Delrin drip tip does its job well, keeping lips safe and cool even if the tank gets hot from chain hits.

SMOK Alien and SMOK AL85 Alien Baby

The SMOK AL85 Alien Baby has its distinct reputation, given its connection to the SMOK Alien 220W, which is currently burning up the vaping world with its precision and high-powered vapor production. It is a tiny, pocket mod that houses a single 18650 battery, which can be removed by unscrewing the top battery cap next to the 510 connector pin on the top of the mod.

The SMOK AL85 Alien Baby starter kit comes with the hallowed TFV8 Baby Beast tank that promises to be a fiendishly impressive combination.

SMOK AL85 Alien Baby 85W TC

What’s in the box:

  • One AL85 Alien Baby mod
  • One TFV8 Baby Beast tank (3ml capacity)
  • One pre-installed V8 Baby-Q2 Core 0.4ohm double coil head
  • One extra V8 Baby-Q2 Core 0.6ohm double coil head
  • One USB charging cable
  • One instruction manual
  • Spare parts

The SMOK AL85 Alien Baby is not that complicated to use. It has the same setup as most of SMOK devices, with the numbered menus that other SMOK devices feature that allows to adjust or control everything from the different modes to the screen brightness.

As far as vaping styles go, the SMOK AL85 Alien Baby has temperature control, variable wattage, memory modes, and hard/soft/normal drawing strengths. So, for a starter kit, the SMOK AL85 Alien Baby keeps it low-key with its adjustable features. The screen displays at least six different adjustable settings, from the more standard wattage and temperature readings to things as superfluous as amp power, vaping timer, and puff counter. A battery icon displays the battery level.

SMOK Alien Kit vs. Sigelei MT vs. Vaporesso Switcher

Sigelei MT 220W Kit

The Sigelei MT 220W has a different look than the SMOK Alien, even though they both have large, front-facing screens, only the Alien features an OLED screen, while the MT has a 1 inch TFT display.
Sigelei MT 220W tc_box_mod image
The MT has a transparent, acrylic glass build with LED lights that light up whenever it fires, and they are more of a distraction than anything else. The Alien has a more straightforward, easier-to-navigate user interface, comes paired with the fantastic TFV8 Baby tank.

The Vaporesso Switcher 220W Kit

The Vaporesso Switcher is another dual-18650 device with a 220W power maximum just like the SMOK Alien, and they share similar form factors as well, but the Switcher has a hard-to-reach, central firing button, whereas the Alien’s lateral firing bar is easier to use.

The Vaporesso Switcher 220W Box Mod image
The Switcher is physically more substantial than the Alien, stretching to over 2 inches wide, while the Alien is 1.2inches wide. The Switcher is more expensive, and also comes paired with a sub-ohm tank, although it cannot perform as well as the SMOK Baby Beast tank.

SMOK Alien 220W Specifications

Dimensions: 44*30*85mm
Colors: Silver, Orange, Gold, Red, Gun Metal, Blue
Voltage range: 0.35–8V
Wattage range: 6-220W
Temperature range: 200-600°F/100-315°C
Display: OLED

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Solid and lightweight construction
  • Large screen
  • Accepts dual 18650 batteries for better battery life
  • Side-firing button
  • Awesome TFV8 baby beast sub-ohm tank

Cons

  • No rebuildable deck included in the kit
  • 0.8 inches atomizers will have a bit of overhang
  • Atomizer tends to get hot when chain vaping

Is Smok Alien the Best Starter Kit?

SMOK has put good attention to each minute detail on the Alien kit. It contains extra goodies like an extra glass tank for the atomizer and two rubber bands to protect the tank in case of dropping the device. The manual and warning cards detail the do’s and don’ts of safe battery usage.

It is a very good first device for new vapers and the only hard decision now is deciding what color to get!

Published: December 6, 2016Updated: November 14, 2022
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Thanush Poulsen

Being a regular Sweden student, I discovered innovative ways of living healthier. And with my very first e-cigarette, I’ve got obsessed with all things digital. So vaping collided my interests in electronics, science, and health. I enjoy bringing people into the world of vaping through my reviews, guides, and best-of lists.


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One comment on “A Review of the Smok Alien – It’s Coming At You

  • Alesia Belcher

    August 13, 2018 at 10:59 pm

    Badass piece! It performed and survived several brutal falls. Still my back up vape after 4 years! Now on the g priv 2
    A fan also. Its hardy having survived 2 brutal falls. Tank never even cracked on either mod. Excellent quality all around coming from an avid caper. Thanks Smok.