How Many Types of E-Cigarettes Are There? What Are Their Principles?

Based on the working principles of electronic cigarettes, they can be roughly divided into two main categories:

1. Atomizer electronic cigarettes that use e-liquid

Atomizer electronic cigarettes can be further divided into two categories:

1.1 Traditional large vapor cigarettes

1.2 The newer small vapor electronic cigarettes.

2. IQOS-type electronic cigarettes that use heated tobacco methods.

When talking about atomizer electronic cigarettes, one must mention e-liquid, as it is the “food” for atomizer electronic cigarettes. Typically, e-liquid is composed of three main ingredients: glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavoring agents as additives.

In addition to these main ingredients, nicotine is also considered an additional additive, primarily serving to enhance the “real smoke” feel of the vapor or to cater to users looking to quit smoking.

Generally speaking, a higher glycerin content in e-liquid will produce larger vapor clouds, while a higher propylene glycol content will result in smaller vapor clouds and a stronger throat hit.

The various ingredients used in e-liquid, when sourced from legitimate channels, are all “food grade,” which is one reason many people believe electronic cigarettes are safe and harmless.

Traditional Vapor Cigarettes “Large Vapor”

Vapor cigarettes are a hallmark of “vaping culture,” but in their development, they have increasingly focused on the aspect of “play.”

“Playing” naturally refers to the vapor.

Of course, there are stick-shaped ones, but these box-like vapor cigarettes are more common.

Moreover, they typically produce large vapor clouds, which enhances their playability. Smokers know that to blow a nice smoke ring, not only is skill required, but the size of the vapor is also very important; without sufficient vapor, no matter how skilled you are, you can only produce a small smoke ring.

The working principle of vapor cigarettes is very simple: a resistance wire is wrapped around a wicking material soaked in e-liquid. The battery powers the resistance wire, which heats up due to a short circuit, vaporizing the e-liquid in the wicking material to form vapor.

In the early days, many vapor cigarettes were quite rudimentary, and the device itself did not have a storage function for e-liquid, so users would directly drip e-liquid onto the wicking material and then attach the mouthpiece to inhale.

Later, for convenience, vapor cigarettes with built-in e-liquid storage gradually became mainstream.

If you want to purchase this type of large vapor electronic cigarette, I personally do not recommend specific brands; browsing electronic cigarette forums and gaining relevant knowledge is sufficient to acquire a good device at a very low price.

Of course, if you want to recognize a brand, the only recommendation is the Boulder mechanical vape, although it is not very budget-friendly.

Small Vapor Electronic Cigarettes

Small vapor electronic cigarettes have only recently gained popularity, and a notable domestic brand is RELX.

When RELX first entered the market, it faced much criticism due to imperfect manufacturing processes, but that is understandable; today, it has become the most popular small vapor electronic cigarette product in the domestic market.

Its new product, the RELX Alpha, is a perfect embodiment of RELX's improved e-cigarette manufacturing technology.

Small vapor electronic cigarettes have three main characteristics:

First, a lightweight body.

Second, a highly convenient disposable cartridge.

Third, the application of nicotine salts in e-liquid.

In simple terms, small vapor electronic cigarettes are designed to meet the demand for “smoking alternatives.” Generally, they produce very little vapor, making them less suitable for “playing.”

In terms of product attributes, they are a direction for replacing traditional tobacco; it is well-known that the essence of tobacco addiction is nicotine addiction, so nicotine has become an indispensable part of them.

Nicotine salts solve the problem of traditional freebase nicotine's insufficient penetration and lack of satisfaction. They have better penetration, allowing nicotine to enter the bloodstream faster, providing satisfaction to smokers, which is one reason small vapor electronic cigarettes have become popular.

The inspiration for the disposable cartridge likely comes from IQOS, which offers convenience in traditional e-liquid filling while also considering commercial interests.

Currently, the domestic electronic cigarette market is mixed, and the only small vapor electronic cigarette I can recommend is RELX; if possible, I would recommend directly purchasing the RELX Alpha.

IQOS-type

To be honest, I am not very keen on categorizing IQOS as an electronic cigarette because it is essentially still tobacco, and the “electronic” part resembles another form of “lighter.”

However, this “lighter” uses a heated tobacco method to process the tobacco.

But its advantages are indeed very clear. First, since its cartridges are made of tobacco, the flavor is completely that of real smoke. In contrast, the “real smoke” flavor of other electronic cigarettes is simulated through chemical ingredients, and there is a natural difference between the two.

Secondly, regarding tar and carbon monoxide, the two most harmful substances in tobacco, IQOS's heated tobacco method can indeed minimize exposure.

The working principle involves a heating element inside the device. When we insert the cartridge into the device, we are also inserting the heating element into the tobacco in the cartridge, further heating the tobacco without reaching the combustion point to vaporize it.

In recent years, many IQOS-like products have emerged in China, some of which you may not have heard of, such as IUOC, which uses regular cigarettes as cartridges, Japan's Ploom tech, and domestic brands like KuanZhuo Kungfu.

Overall, these later brands have risen based on IQOS's “heated tobacco” working principle, which indicates that this method indeed has commendable aspects, so IQOS-type electronic cigarettes cannot be entirely dismissed just because they are still tobacco.

IQOS can only be described as a relatively “healthier” smoking method; perhaps we might quit regular cigarettes because of IQOS, but more commonly, we might just become addicted to IQOS.

Moreover, it is well-known that its cartridges are expensive and not sold through legitimate channels in China, so if you want to purchase them, you need to consider your budget.

Above is the introduction to the various types of electronic cigarettes currently available. If you are looking to have fun, I recommend large vapor vapor cigarettes, while also ensuring that the e-liquid you choose does not contain nicotine, and never try nicotine-containing e-liquids in the future.

If you are looking for a smoking alternative, then small vapor electronic cigarettes are naturally recommended, and please gradually reduce the nicotine content in the cartridges to quit smoking as soon as possible.

If you haven't made up your mind to quit smoking but are concerned about the harms of smoking, then IQOS might be the best choice.