At the time of its release, the Ion was the first fully electropneumatic marker aimed at entry-level players, at a price point similar to Spyders and other mechanical blowbacks.

[2] Smart Parts addressed these concerns in 2007 with the release of the Ion XE, which allows the bolt to be removed from the back of the marker.

The UK version of the board does not have burst or fully automatic firing modes and is identified by the green power LED.

[4] Due to the large number of aftermarket upgrades available, the Ion can be customized or used stock to hold its own in today's fast-paced speedball tournaments.

Internally, the Ion features a spool-valve design, similar to a Shocker SFT or a Dye Matrix.

In order to expedite the draining of air from the front of the bolt, many users add a quick exhaust valve (QEV) to their marker.