How to Tell Whether an E-Cigarette Is Good or Bad

In this article, we will discuss the core of e-cigarettes, which is how we judge the quality of e-cigarettes, based solely on my personal opinion;

 
How to judge the quality of e-cigarettes?

1. Safety is paramount

There are two aspects of safety: safety during use and safety after use;

Safety during use refers to the safety while inhaling e-cigarettes and during transport. We often see news about e-cigarettes exploding, with mild cases resulting in shock and severe cases causing injuries to the skin or even serious injuries to the lips and neck, leading to fatalities in extreme cases;

Safety after use is more controversial, mainly concerning e-liquid; during the process of the battery heating the e-liquid in the atomizer, whether harmful substances are released is still unclear. However, based on my industry experience, due to differences in atomizers, some parts of certain atomizers can reach very high temperatures during heating, and whether harmful substances are released remains to be investigated.

2. Flavor

This is a concern for everyone. So what constitutes a good flavor? Flavor is generally determined by: aroma—elegant and comfortable, vapor volume—adequate, harmonious integration, flavor restoration, sweetness, absence of off-flavors, and a pure, comfortable aftertaste with a rich aroma.

Additionally, there are some specific terms: no burning of the coil, meaning the e-liquid should not be overheated; no leaking of e-liquid, meaning no e-liquid should reach the mouth while inhaling (only those who have experienced it know what this feels like); no burning sensation, meaning neither the vapor nor the mouthpiece should burn; no stickiness, meaning the vapor should not feel overly thick upon entry, indicating insufficient heating of the e-liquid; and no harsh throat hit, meaning inhaling should not cause a coughing reflex. Flavor is subjective, much like a dish, where everyone’s taste is different.

For manufacturers, achieving the right flavor is the most challenging aspect, as the final product is often determined by the owner's taste or the taster's preferences. This is difficult because the flavor of e-liquid is not a single factor; it is determined by the e-liquid, atomizer, and airflow structure combined. One cannot simply attribute poor flavor to one issue; it requires a comprehensive adjustment of these three factors. We will elaborate on flavor adjustments in future articles.

3. Vapor volume

This also varies from person to person. Currently, the vapor volume of small e-cigarettes on the market is generally moderate, which relates to the VG:PG ratio; a higher ratio produces more vapor, and different ratios yield different flavors. If you seek larger vapor volume, you can opt for larger devices with higher power.

Personally, I feel that a small e-cigarette should produce slightly more vapor than traditional cigarettes for the best experience.

4. Portability and battery life

Mainly considering that we use e-cigarettes as a substitute for traditional cigarettes, the absence of fire means that if the e-cigarette runs out of battery, it becomes unusable. Currently, there are disposable e-cigarettes that are used once and thrown away, and rechargeable pod systems that need to ensure sufficient battery life.

Currently, most small e-cigarettes have a battery capacity of around 350mAh, which is just enough to correspond to 2ML of e-liquid. Of course, this is a rough estimate. Currently, few small e-cigarettes have battery level indicators; most only flash a light when the battery is low. However, if you happen to be at a low battery level and away from a charging device, it can be quite frustrating; of course, most people carry a power bank with them.

5. Comfort

Comfort comes from both the product's use and the product itself; comfort during use relates to how well it interacts with the lips, which, despite only lasting a few seconds, is a significant experience, as lips are sensitive areas. Comfort during use also includes the draw resistance, meaning how smooth the inhalation is. The two extremes are feeling no airflow at all or feeling a blockage; this varies from person to person, as only you know your inhalation strength.

Comfort also includes the device itself, the overall feel in hand, and the user's habits; the grip feel is mainly about hand comfort. Currently, most small e-cigarettes are made of aluminum alloy with sandblasted oxidation, which feels quite nice; of course, disposable ones are another story. User habits mainly involve whether the product has features like light indicators when inserting pods, drawing, charging, battery level indication, etc., as well as the angle at which the pods can be inserted.

How to judge the quality of e-cigarettes? Aside from the first point of safety, there are no standard answers for the others, only what is suitable or not; there is no good or bad! Just like when you go to the supermarket to buy cigarettes, if your usual favorites are sold out and you want to buy a pack, how would you choose? Today's e-cigarettes are like that; to find one you like, you may need to try them out yourself. Spending money to learn is the most effective way~~~#p#分页标题#e#