SMOK MICO Review | Tiny, But Is It Better?

Last updated on May 21st, 2022

UPDATE! THE SMOK MICO IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. CHECK OUR REVIEW FOR THE SMOK THINER

The SMOK MICO pod mod vape comes in stunning resin colors and fits in the palm of your hand; but is it easy to use? Is it better than other pod vapes?

I was about to find out, as I received a kit to review from International Vapor and I thank them for that. Of course, my opinions and preferences are unbiased and strictly my own.

First Impressions of the SMOK MICO Ultra-Portable Vape Pod Kit

Inside the MICO Box

Here’s What You Get

The SMOK MICO comes nicely packaged in a box that slides open to reveal the contents. The top level holds the device and the 2 Pods. You’ll find the Lanyard, a USB Cable, and a User Manual on the bottom level.

• 1 x MICO Device
• 1 x MICO Pod (0.8ohm mesh coil) (1.7ml)
• 1 x MICO Pod (1.0ohm regular coil) (1.7ml)
• 1 x Lanyard
• 1 x USB Cable
• 1 x User Manual

Design Features of the SMOK MICO Mini Mod Pod Vape

SMOK MICO POD VAPE in Seven Colors

The SMOK MICO really shines visually. The colorful resin coated casings are works of art.

This is probably the smallest, lightest Pod Mod I’ve ever tested. It is only 2.2 x 1.8 x .58 inches. The size, shape and weight (65g) reminded me of a classic cigarette lighter…but flashier.

The MICO is really small and fits in your hand

You can choose Black or Red, but the Gold, Blue, Green, Chrome and Rainbow are all true “objet d’art”.

I received the Chrome design which is a light turquoise and burgundy blend with a shiny chrome edge. I noticed that the casing comes protected with thin plastic scratch guards. You can easily remove them if you choose.

The MICO comes with a protective film that can be removed

Charging Your Vape

My device came almost fully charged, so I put it on the USB charger for an extra half hour. The light was green when I plugged in, and it turned off when charging was complete.

As the battery depletes, it will turn orange indicating you have 30-70% of a charge left. A red light means the battery is below 30%.

Filling the Pod is Easy

I like the new swivel fill cap

To add e-liquid, remove the pod from the battery and lift the rubber stopper on the side of the pod. The stopper design has improved with the MICO as you can swivel it away from the fill hole. After filling the pod, just replace the stopper securely and set the pod into the battery chamber. It connects magnetically.

Testing the SMOK MICO

The MICO is smaller and much thinner than a mini mod. Because it is square shaped, it has a very different feel compared to other pod vape pens. Yes, it’s ultra-portable due to size and weight, but I can’t say that it felt as comfortable in my hand as a larger box style pod mod.

The mouthpiece of the MICO is tapered yet wide which is a very comfortable design.

All About the SMOK MICO Pods

Unlike some other vape pod systems, the SMOK MICO kit comes complete with 2 refillable pods. Each one has a different atomizer coil resistance. Both pods hold a nice amount e-juice – 1.7ml.

The 0.8ohm Mesh coil pod is optimized for Sub-Ohm Experience. It clearly says “MESH” on the pod so there’s no guesswork.

Although SubOhm atomizers work best when you use a high VG e-liquid blend, SMOK says you can use any type of e-liquid in this pod. I used a high VG e-liquid and I got good flavor, nice clouds and a cool vape. 

The other pod has a 1.0ohm regular coil that has “REGULAR” written on the pod. I’ve learned that regular coils work best with a 50/50 or a 70/30 PG/VG ratio, so that’s what I used for my test.

The Regular pod is actually designed for Mouth to Lung (MTL) vaping so expect your vape to be warmer, with a stronger throat hit. 

Also available (but not included in the kit) is a 1.4ohm Ceramic pod which can be purchased separately. This pod is optimized for nicotine salt e-liquids.

Getting Ready to Vape Takes a Bit of Know-how

I found it strange that the instruction manual didn’t recommend any specific PG/VG blend for each pod. Nor did it recommend that you “prime” the atomizer. 

Priming is when you let the e-liquid sit for a few minutes in the tank. This lets the e-juice fully saturate the atomizer’s cotton wick. If the wick isn’t saturated when you vape, you’ll get a “dry hit” that tastes pretty nasty.

Other SMOK open system pod vapes I’ve used, like the FIT and the INFINIX do have inserts that remind you to wait a few minutes after you add your e-juice.

I got anxious and made the mistake of filling and vaping before priming the Regular pod, and it was not nice. Luckily I had the 1.4ohm Ceramic pod as a backup.

What About Using Nicotine Salts in SubOhm Pods?

Many Pod Vape Systems are made for vaping nicotine salts. Nic salts let you vape high levels of nicotine without any harshness. The original Pod Vape – the JUUL was designed for just that reason.

Learn More About Nicotine Salts E-Liquids

I tried vaping some nicotine salt e-liquids in the MICO’s SubOhm Mesh pod, but it was too harsh. I suggest using nic salts only in the MICO’s Regular pod or the 1.4ohm Pod Cartridge. The makers of nicotine salt e-liquids usually say not to use them with SubHhm coils.

Some vapers insist that you can get away with using nic salts in a SubOhm system if the nic level is under 5mg, but expect a hotter vape and a strong throat hit. Nicotine does affect the flavor of your vape!

Summing Up the Best Type of E-Liquid to Use in Each Pod

Mesh Pod – Use a high VG level e-liquid in the Mesh pod. You’ll enjoy the flavor more, and you’ll be less likely to cough.

Regular Pod – I recommend Nicotine Salts e-liquids, but you can also use a 50/50 PG/VG, a 70/30 PG/VG blend of regular e-liquids, or even CBD e-liquids.

Learn More About Top E-Liquids That Are Tested for Safety

How Long Does the Pod Last on the SMOK MICO?

I was able to fill my pod about 6 times before the atomizer wore out.

Conclusion

The SMOK MICO is beautiful to look at and the kit comes with 2 pods designed for different types of e-juice. All the color choices are really vibrant so it’s not likely to get lost in your crowded pocket or handbag.

It’s also lightweight and great for travel. There’s even a lanyard in the kit, so you can just hang your MICO pod mod around your neck…. if that’s your style.

I can’t say that the MICO “feels great in your hand”, as the shape is quite unique for a pod mod. Some will like it, other’s may not.

For such a little vape, I was surprised that it had so many features. It looks simple enough – no fancy buttons; in fact, there are none at all, just a toggle on-off switch, and an easy-to-see e-juice window.

Pros:

The most impressive features are that the pods hold quite a lot of e-liquid and the battery holds a charge for hours. I got about 5 hours of vaping from a single charge. I’ve not experienced that before in such a tiny vaporizer. 

I also like that fact that you get two pods with your kit – each one designed for different vaping styles. SMOK also improved the e-liquid cap on the MICO making filling your pod easy.

Cons:

I was disappointed that the instruction manual didn’t recommend any specific PG/VG blend or best type of e-juice for each pod. Nor did it remind you to “prime” the atomizer.

That said, now that you know what type of e-juice works best for each pod, I think you’ll find that the SMOK MICO ultra-portable mini pod mod is a winner. It looks great and it’s priced right.

Have you tried the SMOK MICO? Our readers would love to know what you think, so feel free to leave a comment.