What types of electronic cigarettes are there?
Electronic cigarettes come in many types. Among the main ones we can list:
- vapes with liquid - classic evaporators that use a solution with or without nicotine;
- cigarettes without liquid - these include IQOS and analogues that heat tobacco;
- vapes with mechanical control - the simplest models are controlled by 1-2 buttons and consist only of a battery and a tank with solution;
- cigarettes with an electronic board - such devices are more expensive, but safer to use.
Any vapes fall into one of two categories, disposable or reusable. The first type is chosen by people who have decided to try vaping for the first time and do not yet know whether they will like it or not. Disposable devices do not last long, but are also convenient for smokers who do not intend to give up their habit, but are forced to do without regular cigarettes for some time.
Reusable vapes are chosen by those who enjoy the vaping process. Such electronic cigarettes are designed for constant and intensive use.
Does an e-cigarette help you quit smoking?
E-cigarettes have been shown to be twice as effective at helping smokers quit smoking than other methods such as nicotine patches, gum and pills. Subjects using this product also experienced less irritability and anxiety, and were less likely to complain of problems concentrating in the first week after quitting smoking.
While many scientists agree that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than tobacco products, they acknowledge that their use is still hazardous to health and can ultimately become addictive due to the nicotine content in the liquid.
Unfortunately, for many smokers, electronic devices are not a means of quitting smoking, but rather an addition to the original habit, for example, in places or situations where smoking is prohibited. This practice is unlikely to help you get rid of addiction.
Types of cigarettes by shape and size
All types of electronic cigarettes with photos and names can be classified, first of all, by size. Specialized stores offer both miniature devices and massive and eye-catching devices.
Super mini
Electronic cigarettes of type A, or “super-mini”, are very similar to regular ones in thickness, and their length does not exceed 10.5 cm. They are equipped with a low-power battery with an average capacity of 85 mAh and a cartridge with liquid of 400 μl or less. The energy reserve in such devices does not last long, the solution is also consumed quickly, but the devices are inexpensive.
Super-mini vapes are worth buying for those who smoke no more than five regular cigarettes a day
Mini
Electronic vapes of type B, or “mini”, are presented in the form of a stick up to 12 cm long. Their battery capacity is slightly larger, up to 200 mAh, and the cartridge or liquid tank holds 500 µl of solution. Without recharging, such a device works for several hours and can replace 10-15 regular cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes of the “mini” type dry up quickly, but their advantage is their compactness
Penstyle
Type C vapes, or “penstyle”, are similar in size and shape to a ballpoint pen. Their length is about 17.5 cm, the capacity is increased compared to previous types. This type of electronic vape can have a battery of up to 290 mAh and can replace a whole pack of regular cigarettes without recharging.
The liquid tank in penstyle vapes holds up to 900 µl of solution
Cigars
In length and shape, type D electronic vapes, or “cigars,” are similar to standard “penstyles”, but exceed them in diameter. The devices are equipped with powerful 700 mAh batteries and hold up to 1.2 ml of smoking liquid. They can be used for 1-2 days without recharging.
Vape cigars produce more aromatic vapor, making the smoking process more stylish
Mods
Box and mechanical mods, or type E vapes, have a square body and increased weight. They are powered by batteries of about 2200 mAh, equipped with capacious tanks for liquid and generate really large clouds of vapor.
Important! Mods are most often equipped with safety features and a heating control system.
Many E-type electronic cigarettes have a small display with settings
Tubes
Type F includes very unusual vapes in the shape of a smoking pipe. The power of such devices is usually average; they come with batteries of about 1000 mAh. The main advantage of the pipes is their original appearance, and from the point of view of use they differ little from other types of electronic cigarettes.
Tube-shaped vapes need to be charged on average once every two days.
How to choose an electronic cigarette?
Before choosing an electronic device, you first need to find out for what purpose you are purchasing it. If you want to get rid of a bad habit and quit smoking classic cigarettes, you should choose a simple, small device and choose iJust 2/iJust S or Eleaf ICare.
But, if your goal is to get a large volume of aromatic vapor mixture from the device, a serious battery life and the ability to install an additional module, for example, a drip tip with different windings, then you need to buy box mods.
If you are a professional viper, it is best to choose a device with mechanical mods.
Types of vapes by type of evaporator
Most electronic cigarettes operate using a liquid vaporization system. But the mechanisms may vary; there are very simple and quite complex devices.
Dripka
A dripper, or RDA, is the simplest type of atomizer in which an aromatic liquid saturates the wick and then evaporates from it during the heating process. The advantages of the system are easy maintenance and a large volume of steam. The disadvantages include the rapid consumption of fluid; it needs to be refilled constantly.
The advantage of the drip tip is that it is reliably protected from leaks
Tank
The tank, or RTA, is another serviceable atomizer, which is a liquid tank with a factory evaporator. Just like when using a dripper, the user must add aromatic solution to the tank from time to time. But it is not necessary to constantly drip liquid onto the cotton wool; the consumption of the mixture in the tank is more economical.
The main disadvantage of tanks is that they often leak
RDTA
This type of atomizer is a hybrid of a tank and a drip tip. At the bottom there is a reservoir for the aromatic mixture, and on top there is an evaporator with a wick. The user can drip the liquid directly onto the coil or pour it into the reservoir and not have to worry about refilling for a couple of days.
Like regular tanks, RDTA tanks often leak
Clearomizer
This type of vaporizer is installed on most mini and penstyle electronic cigarettes. It is a tank with a transparent body that combines a container for liquid and a chamber for generating steam. It is convenient because through its walls you can clearly see how much solution remains inside.
Clearomizers are replaceable and serviceable - in the latter you can change individual elements
Cartomizer
An evaporator of this type is made in an opaque case and consists of a cartridge with padding polyester filler impregnated with liquid. Currently considered an outdated model, it is almost impossible to find it in modern vapes.
Cartomizer evaporators often burn during use and give off an unpleasant aftertaste
Genesis
An interesting type of evaporator is the Genesis, which is a metal mesh that is heated by a spiral wound on top. Such a wick, unlike conventional ones, does not become clogged with smoke and does not give off any foreign tastes, lasts a long time and does not require frequent replacement. The only difficulty is winding the genesis yourself.
Genesis is safer for health than cotton wool and cotton, as it does not emit impurities when used
Attention! All types of evaporators designed to work with liquid are collectively called atomizers.
Electronic cigarette as an alternative to smoking
Today, many ways to quit smoking have been invented, starting with nicotine patches, ending with smart literature, however, the best effect is offered by an electronic cigarette. The device consists of a battery pack and a chamber for evaporating liquid, called an atomizer. There is a spiral installed inside, into which cotton is threaded. Impregnated with a special liquid, it evaporates when heated. Actually, steam is a replacement for tobacco smoke. Unlike tobacco products, there are no combustion processes in an e-cigarette, and accordingly, the level of carcinogens is minimized. Today, many devices have been invented that imitate the smoking process as much as possible, for example:
Electronic cigarette Sigelei Fuchai V3 Kit is a small device that is a POD system with a replaceable cartridge. The gadget operates at minimum power and is designed for heavy cigarette cravings. Used in combination with regular e-liquids or formulations containing nicotine salts. The 400 mAh battery capacity is enough for the whole day.
Vapefly Galaxies MTL RTA is a serviceable atomizer with a capacity of 3 ml, expandable to 5 ml. To adjust the tightness of the tightening, the manufacturer suggests using replaceable jets, which can be changed without removing the spiral. The gadget produces good taste and a sufficient amount of steam. Made from quality materials in an attractive design.
The basis of vaping is a liquid consisting of:
- Propylene glycol. This is an alcohol-containing food additive, which is also used in cosmetology, pharmacology and other areas. According to the results of multiple studies, propylene glycol is completely safe for health and has no side effects.
- Glycerol is one of the main components of liquids, which is a polyhydric alcohol. The additive is used in a variety of industrial areas and is harmless when used up to a temperature of 280 degrees.
- Flavorings can be natural or artificial. Their safety largely depends on the responsibility of the manufacturer, so vapers are not recommended to buy aromas in non-specialized stores.
- Nicotine - it is not a mandatory component of the base. The vaper independently chooses whether to vape liquid with nicotine or refuse it. Vape shops offer products with different nicotine contents.
Types of cigarettes by frequency of use
All electronic cigarettes can be divided into two types:
- Disposable. The alkaline battery in such vapes is isolated in a non-separable case and is not intended for recharging. After it finally runs out, the electronic cigarette will have to be replaced completely, since it is also impossible to remove the battery and install a new one.
Disposable electronic vapes are enough for several smoke breaks, but they do not last longer than two days - Reusable. These vapes are equipped with lithium batteries suitable for recharging. Batteries can vary greatly in capacity; some work without recharging for several hours, others can function for about a week. The body of this type of electronic cigarette has a connector for connecting a USB or 510 connector.
The operating time of a refillable vape without recharging depends on the intensity of use
Important! Even lithium batteries do not last forever; after about 500 recharges, the power element itself must be replaced.
Closed-type electronic cigarette – Egoshka
Having plunged far into the history of the appearance of the first electronic cigarettes, the fact that previously only closed systems were produced will surprise experienced vapers.
Yes, the very first models had only a closed system and low power. But, as technology developed, models with full customization began to appear, which allow you to customize the operation of the vape to your preferences. Despite all the advantages of customizable vape devices, there are always those who prefer the simplest devices, without a huge number of functions that can be used immediately and without delving into the essence of their work. Such devices are called Egoshki or sub-systems.
Types of electronic cigarettes by type of control
There are types of electronic cigarettes with differences in the way they are brought into working condition. There are two types:
- manual - the user must press a button to start heating and evaporating the liquid;
When using a manual electronic cigarette, the user controls the puff time - automatic - to activate the device, you just need to tighten it.
There are much fewer automatic vapes on the market than manual ones
Attention! Users note that vapes without a button usually do not have high power and cannot properly reveal the taste and aroma of the liquid.
What harm does an electronic cigarette cause?
The harm of electronic cigarettes is due to the composition of the refill liquid. Any solution contains the following basic substances:
- glycerol;
- propylene glycol;
- nicotine;
- distilled water.
The first 2 components are necessary to create an aerosol that is inhaled by humans. Propylene glycol irritates the mucous membrane of the mouth and upper respiratory tract. This simulates the effects of tobacco smoke. Using distilled water, the mixtures are diluted and flavors and nicotine are dissolved.
All these substances are potentially dangerous to humans. It is necessary to consider the harmfulness of each of them. Glycerin itself is harmless to the body, as is inhalation of its particles. But in the e-cigarette device, it heats up, resulting in the formation of acrolein. This substance is toxic and has poisonous properties.
But it is rarely detected in electronic cigarettes, only in cases where the device operates continuously for more than 15 minutes and overheats too much. And this also happens when the device is of poor quality. Acrolein is formed when electronic cigarette coils overheat, so to prevent its formation, it is recommended to purchase the device only from reliable manufacturers.
Propylene glycol is known as food additive E 1520. It is widely used in the food industry because it retains moisture in products that are intended to be stored for a long time. Distilled water is naturally harmless. The vaping liquid contains nicotine in a concentration of up to 3.6%. It is its content that determines the harm of electronic cigarettes.
In addition to the main components, vaping liquid in electronic devices contains flavorings. They can have harmful effects on the human body.
The reason for this is that their use is not standardized or controlled, so vaping products may contain harmful and carcinogenic flavors.
Acetyl propionyl, acetylene and diacetyl are often present in flavorings. These substances are toxic and in large doses can cause bronchiolitis. This disease is very difficult to treat. You can recognize their presence in a smoking liquid by its sweet creamy taste.
And also, if the vape liquid is colored, it means it contains titanium dioxide. It is known to be a toxic carcinogen, so uncolored solutions should be chosen to minimize harm. Aerosols of certain types of electronic cigarettes, which are formed as a result of vaping, contain formaldehyde, nitrosonicotine, alphamethylbenzaldehyde, acetaldehyde, nitrosoanabasine.
These substances are harmful to the body, but in electronic cigarettes they are contained in lower concentrations than in regular cigarettes. So, if determined by the composition of cigarettes or electronic cigarettes, then both contain components hazardous to health.
But even in this regard, vapes can be less dangerous, since you can purchase high-quality liquid without flavors and dyes and rid the smoking process of harmful components. Whereas just cigarettes in any form will contain them.
Types of disposable electronic cigarettes
Disposable e-cigarettes are not as popular as serviceable, rechargeable devices. But they are represented by several brands that deserve attention.
Cricket
Electronic vapes of this type are intended mainly for lovers of classic medium-strength cigarettes. Nicotine levels in disposable sticks range from 2% to 4.5%.
Cricket electronic vapes are equipped with an orange LED at the end, simulating the light of a cigarette
Pons
Popular disposable cigarettes are available in many flavors - fruit, berry, refreshing. Nicotine strength is only 1.2%.
Pons cigarettes are made in a plastic case and are lightweight
Nexx
Disposable vapes offer the user a choice of about two dozen different flavors. Electronic cigarettes have a stylish design and come with a soft plug instead of a plastic cap. The nicotine content of strong varieties varies from 6% to 18%.
Nexx disposable cigarettes include nicotine-free types
Luxlite
Disposable cigarettes in a metal case are available in five variations with different nicotine strengths. The maximum value is 2 mg per milliliter of solution, the minimum is 1.2 mg.
The LED on the end of Luxlite disposable e-cigarettes glows blue
Voting for the best electronic cigarette
Which e-cigarette would you choose or recommend?
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Types of electronic cigarettes with tobacco, without liquid
Among the types and differences of electronic cigarettes, it is necessary to mention modern tobacco heating systems. In fact, they represent a separate category of smoking devices, since they do not use either combustion or evaporation of liquid mixtures.
IQOS
The most popular is the IQOS system from the Philip Morris brand. The electronic cigarette comes in a compact plastic case and is equipped with a 2900 mAh battery. Works with special replaceable shortened sticks that need to be inserted inside the device. When turned on, it gently heats the tobacco and allows you to enjoy its taste without inhaling combustion products.
A full charge of IQOS lasts for about 20 uses.
GLO
Another tobacco heating system comes in a mechanical housing and is particularly durable. Rated for approximately 20 starts on a single charge. Supports the useful Boost function, which allows you to heat tobacco in special sticks in emergency mode.
The GLO electronic cigarette is characterized by increased durability and is not afraid of falls
AVBAD X Kit
This type of electronic tobacco heating system is powered by a 2100 mAh battery. Withstands 25 sessions of use without recharging, it only takes about an hour to replenish the battery capacity.
Important! AVBAD X Kit allows you to adjust the degree of heating of the tobacco.
The AVBAD X Kit system includes a carbon removal option
Types of electronic cigarettes with liquid
Classic vapes are electronic cigarettes with liquid evaporators. There are numerous types of such devices, but several well-known brands can be especially highlighted.
Joyetech
Electronic cigarettes of this type are most often chosen by beginners. The manufacturer offers not only advanced box mods for experienced users, but also simple starter kits at a low price. Classic Joyetech vapes are of the penstyle type, lightweight and highly compact.
Joyetech electronic cigarettes are presented in serviced and unserviced types
Eleaf
Electronic cigarettes of this type are a cross between a starter and an advanced version. Vapes have a standard “penstyle” shape, but they have protective functions that extend the life of the device. Some models support the installation of additional batteries and allow you to increase the power of the design.
Eleaf cigarettes have a function for adjusting the vapor volume
Wismec Reuleaux RX
Electronic cigarettes of this type are stylish box mods that can work with 1-3 batteries, depending on the model. They are equipped with capacious liquid tanks and are equipped with a “smart” control and safety system. They hold a charge for a long time and produce very good vapor when used.
With a wide range of options, Wismec Reuleaux vapes remain affordable
Features of electronic cigarettes
At its core, an electronic cigarette is an inhaler with an individual vapor generator of very low power. Steam comes out as a result of the evaporation of a small volume of a special liquid and its properties resemble cigarette smoke. Imitation of tobacco smoke creates the illusion of the smoking process, and the corresponding external shape complements the effect.
Structurally, an electronic cigarette contains the following basic elements: storage (container, cartridge) with liquid; evaporator (atomizer); electrical power source. A number of models contain elements for controlling the supply of liquid and the release of steam. The principle of operation is simple: the liquid, falling on a heated coil, evaporates, and the steam is discharged out through a special channel, from where it is directed to the user’s mouth.
Electronic cigarettes are available in different types and models. Device types differ in size, liquid composition, type of battery and evaporation system.
