Alternative term for 'smoke test'

Solution 1:

Critical Power-On Failure Test

The system or component tested failed to meet basic power-on requirements, and was unable to be safely activated. No further tests were performed.

Being the son of a member of the USAF, working in an area where electronic systems were frequently tested for this, the best term and phrasing I can think of is the aforementioned. Basically, instead of calling it by the physical-result, you refer to the technical result.

We use the modifier Critical to indicate that it is a significant failure. The test itself is a power-on test, POST, whatever you want to call it. Essentially, we just refer to the idea that power-on failed, and it was a critical failure. This is also a safety test more than anything: you don't continue testing because it's unsafe to test something smoking.

You could also consider the modifier Basic, to indicate that the test truly does not expect much other than a simplistic ability to power the device on without shorting it, catching it on fire, or electrocuting yourself.

Solution 2:

Shakedown Test

(MW): a test under operating conditions of something new [...] for possible faults and defects

Solution 3:

For something more complicated, like a factory or a power plant, initial tests like these are referred to startup and commissioning tests.

It seems like smoke test is a start-up test - you start the device, observe it for any obvious problems, and shut it down.

I believe start-up test is equally unambiguous and clear - it can be reasonably implied that the reason for the start-up test is to look for any obvious problems.