If you’ve been vaping for any length of time, you’re no doubt very aware of the fact that pod vapes are the hottest vaping devices in the world right now. No matter what type of vaping device you’re currently using, if you’re in the market for a new vape, there’s a good chance that you’re at least considering buying a pod system. Well, we’re here to help. In this buying guide, we’ll list the best pod vapes on the market and explain the things that you should consider before buying any pod system.
Why Should You Buy a Pod Vape?
Let’s begin by discussing the features that make pod vapes different from other types of vaping devices. Why should you choose a pod vape instead of another type of vaping device such as a vape pen or a box mod?
The simple answer is that pod systems represent the furthest evolution that the industry has reached to date in terms of making vaping as easy, user friendly and satisfying as it can possibly be. We love pod systems because:
- They’re simple. To vape, all that you need to do is charge the device, fill the pod and inhale.
- They’re satisfying. Pod systems are designed to deliver big, satisfying vapor clouds. Fill your pod with a strong nicotine salt e-liquid, and you’ll experience the same type of throat hit that you’d get from smoking a cigarette.
- They’re user friendly. You can always see how much vape juice you have left just by looking at your pod. Some pod systems even feature automatic temperature limiting, which prevents you from experiencing an unpleasant “dry hit” if you forget to refill the pod.
- They’re fun. If you’re the type of person who enjoyed clicking a lighter open and closed back when you were a smoker, you’ll enjoy the simple satisfaction of feeling a vape pod locking into place when you use a pod system.
How to Choose the Best Pod Vape for Your Needs
Now that you have a better understanding of what makes pod systems so great, how do you choose the best pod vape for your needs? In this article, we’ll list our picks for the best pod systems on the market. Before we do that, though, these are some of the decisions you’ll need to make during the process of buying a pod vape.
Buy a Refillable Pod System
You’ll notice that here at VapeJuice.com, we only offer refillable pod systems and do not sell any of the pre-filled vaping devices that you can find at convenience stores and supermarkets. There are some very simple reasons for that. A pre-filled vaping device can be a great and inexpensive introduction to vaping, but we’d never suggest a pre-filled device for long-term use because:
- They’re extremely expensive to use. A single pre-filled vape pod can cost almost as much as a pack of cigarettes. If you can’t limit your vaping to one pod per day, you’ll end up spending more on vaping than you would on smoking. With a refillable pod system, on the other hand, you’ll use bottled nicotine salt vape juice. Vaping is always more affordable when you buy your e-liquid by the bottle.
- They’re only available in two flavors: tobacco and menthol. You might end up loving tobacco or menthol e-liquid, but the research suggests that you won’t. You’re far more likely to enjoy something else, like a fruity vape juice. The only way to choose from the full range of e-liquid flavors is by buying a refillable vaping device.
Choose Between Simplicity or a Large Feature Set
Most of the pod vaping systems on the market work the way we described above; all that you need to do is charge the device, fill the pod and vape. Some people, though, have already had their fill of the simple vaping experience and are looking for devices that offer more advanced features. The manufacturers have heard that request loud and clear and have begun to develop more advanced pod systems called pod mods. With a pod mod, you’ll get more advanced features like sub-ohm coil compatibility and variable power levels. You’ll need to choose the type of vaping experience that you want.
Choose Between a Replaceable Pod or a Replaceable Coil
The biggest decision you’ll need to make when you buy a pod system is whether you want a replaceable coil pod system or a device that uses disposable pods. The benefit of using a device with disposable pods is simplicity; when the pod’s flavor changes, you just throw it away. The drawback of disposable pods, however, is that they cost more than coils. You’ll spend a bit less on replacement components for your device if you choose one that allows you to replace the atomizer coil while keeping the pod.
The Best Pod Vapes
Now that you know a bit more about pod vapes and how to buy one, let’s look at some specific examples that deserve your consideration. These are the best pod vapes on the market.
Vaporesso XROS 3
Price: $23.75 | Buy It Now | Read Our Review
Sleek and completely straightforward, the Vaporesso XROS 3 is the ultimate refillable pod vape for beginners. Every aspect of this device is designed for maximum user friendliness and to provide a completely consistent vaping experience. This begins with the XROS 3’s dual activation system, which allows the device to activate either when you press the fire button or when you puff on the mouthpiece. Use the convenient airflow tab on the side to configure the device for your ideal puff characteristics.
Have you ever used one of the cheap pod vapes that they sell at gas stations and convenience stores? If so, you’re probably used to battery anxiety because cheap vapes don’t offer much in the way of battery life. The Vaporesso XROS 3 has a high-density 1,000 mAh battery that lasts up to 48 hours between charges depending on your vaping habits. You’ll also love the fact that the XROS 3 has a long-lasting pod with a lifespan of up to 20 days. Vaporesso XROS pods cost just $10.49 per four-pack. For an additional touch of convenience, the XROS 3 uses a top-filling pod that you can refill while the pod is in the device. Just pull the mouthpiece off of the pod and add e-liquid through the filling hole at the top.
Uwell Caliburn A3S
Price: $18.95 | Buy It Now | Read Our Caliburn Guide
When the first pre-filled pod vapes began to hit the market in the mid-2010s, the members of the vaping community almost immediately began to demand refillable devices. Refillable pod vapes are much less expensive than pre-filled ones in the long run, and a refillable device also provides a much better experience because it allows you to choose you own vape juice instead of using the few pre-filled flavors that another company has selected for you. With the Caliburn series, Uwell was the first company to reach the market with a refillable pod vape that people really loved. While other pod-based devices had extremely tiny coils that were severely lacking in flavor and performance, the Caliburn used the same type of coil that you’d have previously only found in a full-sized vape tank. The Caliburn was an instant success, and vape shops couldn’t keep it in stock.
The Uwell Caliburn A3S is the newest addition to this long-running line of pod vapes. Featuring a modernized design with sleek laser etching, it’s an instant classic that will look as good a few years from now as it does today. Even the battery indicator looks fantastic; the “Caliburn” logo on the side of the device changes color as the battery’s charge is depleted. When you do need to charge the Caliburn A3S, you won’t be waiting long thanks to the device’s support for two-amp quick charging. Uwell Caliburn A3S pods cost just $11.50 for a pack of four. The Caliburn A3S is also compatible with Caliburn A3 pods.
SMOK Novo 5
Price: 21.50 | Buy It Now
If you’ve been vaping for a while, you might be looking for a new device with a bit more performance than what you’re currently using. The SMOK Novo 5 is an excellent choice in this case because it offers substantially better flavor and vapor production than a beginner-oriented pod vape with only a minimal increase in complexity. Unlike many high-end pod mods, the SMOK Novo 5 doesn’t require you to replace the coil periodically because every pod has a permanent built-in coil. When you’re no longer happy with the flavor, you’ll just replace the entire pod. SMOK Novo 5 pods cost $8.50 per three-pack.
The SMOK Novo 5 features fully adjustable airflow and wattage, making it a true pod mod with the advanced features of a traditional vape mod. It also supports both button-based and puff-based firing, so it’s easy to configure this device to deliver exactly the experience that you want. The Novo 5 is a tiny device, but it has a high-density 900 mAh battery and operates at up to 30 watts. The Novo 5 pod has a 0.7-ohm mesh coil that delivers instant clouds on demand.