Since its development in the mid 2010s, nicotine salt e-liquid has been a revolutionary product for the millions of people around the world who have switched to vaping and stopped smoking. Even at very high strengths, nicotine salt e-liquid is smooth and enjoyable to use. That’s enabled new vapers to have completely satisfying experiences even with very small devices. If you’re a smoker and are thinking about buying your first vape, that device will almost certainly use nicotine salt vape juice – and the two types of vapes that work best with nicotine salt are disposables and pod vapes.
Disposable vapes and pod systems are completely different from one another, and they both have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to evaluate the differences before buying your first device because knowing what you’re getting helps to ensure that you’ll be happy with your purchase and will transition from smoking to vaping successfully. In this article, we’re going to help you do that.
We’ll begin with some basic definitions, and then we’ll go into further depth by explaining the pros and cons that set disposables and pod systems apart from one another. Let’s dive in.
What is a disposable vape?
A disposable vape is the only type of vaping device that comes with a charged battery and a chamber full of e-liquid. It’s the only type of device that you can remove from the package and start using immediately without any other preparations. Disposable vapes aren’t refillable, though, which means that they’re designed for use only until they run out of vape juice. When a disposable vape delivers its last puff, you’ll need to dispose of the device and start using a new one.
How does a disposable vape work?
A disposable vape is a completely self-contained package that includes all of the implements of vaping. Inside the device are a battery cell, a simple circuit board, a heating coil and a wick that’s saturated with e-liquid. The wick is wrapped around the heating coil, and the coil vapourises some of the e-liquid when you puff on the device.
Some disposable vapes have USB ports. When a disposable vape has a USB port, it means that the battery is rechargeable because it doesn’t hold enough of a charge to drain the device’s entire supply of vape juice. With a rechargeable disposable vape, you can continue using the device until it either produces a burnt flavor or stops producing vapor. Both of those symptoms indicate that the wick is dry, which means that it’s time to dispose of the device. If you have a non-rechargeable disposable vape, it’s time to dispose of the device when the light blinks.
What are the pros and cons of disposable vapes?
The benefit of disposable vapes is that they’re the simplest vaping devices that exist. A disposable vape is the only type of vape that’s completely set up and ready to use when you take it out of the box, just like a cigarette. No other type of vape feels quite as much like a cigarette as a disposable vape.
The drawback of disposable vapes is that they may cost more than pod systems in long-term use because you need to replace the entire device when it runs out of e-liquid. In addition, disposable vapes are sometimes limited in their flavor selections and typically don’t offer more than one nicotine strength.
What is a pod vape?
A pod vape is a reusable vaping device that stores its e-liquid in a removable plastic pod that slides into a chamber at the top of the device. Pod systems are often very small and sleek, as disposable vapes also are. Unlike disposables, though, pod vapes are both rechargeable and refillable. You can continue using the same device until the battery stops holding a charge – and since most lithium-ion batteries last an average of 300-500 charges, that might be quite a long time.
Pod vapes come in two varieties. Most devices come with empty pods that you fill yourself. It’s also common to find pod systems with pre-filled pods in convenience stores. In the US, vapes with pre-filled pods are only available in tobacco and menthol flavors. The refill pods are also quite expensive because they’re proprietary, so manufacturers charge high prices for them. With a refillable pod system, on the other hand, you can fill your device with whatever flavor you like. If you have a choice between a disposable vape and a pre-filled pod system, you should definitely buy the disposable vape. Going forward, this article will focus exclusively on refillable pod vapes such as the SMOK Novo 2.
How does a pod vape work?
A pod vape works in much the same way as a disposable vape, with one exception: You can separate the e-liquid supply from the rest of the device. That’s the purpose of the pod – it’s an e-liquid delivery system that you can replace at will, either because the pod is empty or because you want to switch to a different flavor.
The other difference between disposables and pod vapes is that a pod system requires occasional maintenance. In addition to recharging the battery, you’ll also need to refill the pod periodically when it runs out of e-liquid. When the pod’s flavor quality is no longer acceptable, you’ll need to either replace the pod or install a new coil.
What are the pros and cons of pod vapes?
Compared to disposable vapes, the biggest benefit of pod systems is that they give you more freedom. Since you can fill a pod system with any bottled vape juice, you can use any flavor and any nicotine strength that you want. Disposable vapes often come in only one nicotine strength, making it difficult to lower your nicotine intake. With a pod system, you can reduce your nicotine consumption any time you like simply by using an e-liquid with a lower strength.
Another benefit of pod systems is that they’re often less costly than disposables for long-term use because bottled vape juice is very inexpensive. When you use disposable vapes, on the other hand, you need to replace your entire device every few days.
Although pod systems give you a great deal of freedom, they do have one drawback in that they’re more complicated to use than disposable vapes. The fact that you need to maintain a pod system may make it feel more like a gadget to you. If you’re not a gadget lover, you may appreciate the fact that disposable vapes feel a bit more like traditional cigarettes.
Donald Tobin, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
